Gifts, Bears,Thrifts,Stitching and Easter Swap.......

Is it me or does time seem to be going faster? I cant believe its Sunday again, I have lapsed a bit in blogging recently, due to Pantomime rehearsals which I will be talking about very soon! First in my post I would like to mention a gift I was bought for Christmas, although Christmas has come and gone I did not want to miss blogging about my new special little friend..........
His name is Callum, and he is a 'Charlie bear' the company are quite new and can be seen on qvc the shopping channel, which if I haven't mentioned before I am a huge fan of! My grandma first bought herself one in 2006 and the family fell in love with it, this year she bought my mum and myself a bear, mine is a traditional style, mums is more plush and a panda..........he even came with his own tote bag and certificate.....I hope you like him.
If you want to see more Charlie bears you can find them here

Charlie bears.

Friends bringing gifts.................
Just before Christmas I was re acquainted with a friend I have not seen in a while, I was in the middle of painting furniture and lots of crafts! A few week ago she came by again for a coffee and a chat and had brought a gift with her! I have not really known her a long time, and not well yet, but she must of grasped the things I was interested in by what she brought me............ A book on doing up old junk, ha,ha Carefully she then said 'not that I think you buy junk' I was so pleased that in the short time we have gotten to know each other she has figured me out! here is the book........

I can not express how happy I was at been presented this gift.............. 'people sometimes do the unexpected'Inside pages are full of painting techniques and ideas for each room in the house.

Thrift Finds.........

A few posts ago I mentioned taking part in my local church fair with my cake, whilst I was there I also helped set up the items that were given for the stalls. One of the items caught my eye but I didnt attempt to buy it, I just admired the piece. I assumed it had to go with the rest and I was there to help not spend! As the fair ended I noticed it had not sold and was been packed away to throw away! I picked it up for a final look and to debate on how much to offer for the piece, when the stall lady (also a friend) said 'you like that dont you' I asked her how much it was, she said I could have it and the other one?! What other one? So with a small donation I came away with what I think are two beautiful jars.................although I am not too sure how to use/display them? Any ideas?

Spring Stitch.......In my last last post I talked about my love for cross stitch, I thought I would share a few more photos of the piece and the chart pack it comes from. I thought it was 'lizzie kate' I was wrong its Teresa Wentzler

Easter Basket Swap......
I have joined Bella-Enchanted's Easter basket Swap, it will be my first swap and I am looking forward to it! All those sweet treat and crafts to make, what a great time to be had by all...... If you fancy joining in I recommend it, one item has to be crafted and the rest can be bought, and in the form of a Easter basket..............I Cant wait to start, to find out more visit

Bella-Enchanted.

I Hope you all have a wonderful week,

Priscilla x

Projects, Crafts and awards....

At the moment my head is full of plans....... Plans for crafts I want to start, projects I wish to finish and a whole load of books I hope to enjoy! I don't know about you but I can spend hours on amazon looking for books, books on crafts, decorating, food and fiction. So much so in fact that I have decided I need a lap top, at the moment I am sitting at a computer stand on a not so comfortable chair......... oh how I long to sit on my sofa with a lap top on my knee drooling over your amazing blogs!

As I have been visiting you all, I noticed most of you have started back on your craft projects for the new year, this reminded me of the ones I have on the go, currently a Halloween door hanger, which I never did complete for Halloween, a Lizzie Kate Halloween Cross stitch and a Teresa Wentlzer 'Spring fairy' cross stitch from a season chart pack!



When I moved house last year I was working on the fairy, here is a photo of my progress so far.....It is from a Teresa Wentzler collection called four season fairies, they are beautiful and appear to have butterfly wings. I am planning to make her into a pillow for my favourite chair.........
As I mentioned in my last post I am hoping to take up knitting, I have had a go as a child but have not picked up needles for years, the first thing I did was visit amazon where I found quite a lot of interesting 'beginner' books. I think I may order one from amazon and see if my library has the others.


Here is the first book I hope to get.........




The Knitter's Bible: The Complete Handbook for Creative Knitters

Another book I found on Amazon is called warm Fuzzies, I don't think the crafts are all knitted but the book just looked so cute! I am definitely going to find this one......

Warm Fuzzies

Other amazing books I want........ even if my skills are not quite there yet, I am optimistic!



Awarded...........
I want to say thank you to Marie over at
Wild Rose.
for awarding me with two wonderful awards.

Thank you ever so much I dont quite know what to say, I think its great that we can share our appreciation of others by sharing these awards. As one of the awards is called 'You make my day' all I can say is no truer words are spoken, I really do enjoy visiting you all, you lift my whole day and give my mind inspiration. and I am so pleased that I have also made your day! Thank you again Marie........ I am passing the 'You Make My Day' award to Homestead mercantile

And I am passing the 'Amazing Blogger' award to Somewhere In Time.

I hope you all have a wonderful week, see you again soon

Priscilla x

A New Year... Nostalgia, Tagged!

'Jack frost nipping at your nose' -View from my back garden

Hi everyone,
I hope you all had a great time over Christmas and the new year. This is the time where I start thinking about what I want to do in the new year, I am hoping to pass my driving test! although I have to say I have no set goals, sometimes you can not plan things they just happen, or they change from the original plan ......... but there are a few small things I am hoping to do, one of them is knitting! In the past I thought knitting stretched as far as scarfs and grandmas cardigan, but I have come to realise that there are so many lovely things to be made, I have seen amazing socks, modern hats, and even a woolly jumper of a hot water bottle cover! So that is what I intend to try, I will go to the library and begin from scratch................ wish me luck!

'Its all Fun and Games'

Last night I went of rampage! yep, looking for a cable......... Over Christmas I remembered that I used to love playing computer games, they keep your mind active. Does anyone remember the early computer called the Commodore Amiga A600? Well, I still have mine and decided I wanted to take a trip back to childhood and make use of the machine. I searched the house for one missing cable, 3 hours I frantically searched, but didn't find it. As a last resort I tried it with just one cable and it works!!!!!! So all the old games are back out and I am going to be spending hours of simple pleasure, down memory lane........... I also used to own a ZX Spectrum, does anyone remember the' Dizzy' games? All based around an egg called Dizzy and all his adventures. Hours and hours of fun, here are a few pics to remind you......

I never imagined talking about computers on the blog, it seems out of place somehow, yet I wanted to mention what I was up too at the moment. So I hope you find something of interest....


I have also been tagged to mention 7 random unusual/weird facts about myself by my new blogging friend Michelle over at Cottage-Home , not too sure what to write, but here goes.........


1. I have a issue with books, It makes me cringe to the point of asking someone to put the book down if they bend back and crease the pages of a brand new book, I also pick up and examine every book on the shelf to find one in the best condition, if it has a slight bent or split edge I will not buy it! Does everyone do this or just me?


2. I love the Titanic, anything to do with the ship and the film, I also own official replica jewellery that was found in the pursers case. I own 2 rings, a brooch, necklace and a hat pin.I have only worn them a few times, they are safe in their boxes. I also went to London to see a titanic exhibition! it was fantastic...


3. I dream a lot! and nearly every morning I remember something from what I have dreamt. Have done ever since I was young, apparently some people cant remember a thing, I couldn't imagine that.........


4. I have visited places I might not have seen if I had not been to college. I have been at college for many a year, studying different things, with each course I got to visit some really interesting places, I am thankful for the chance, although I enjoyed my years studying at times I did not enjoy it and was unhappy, but if I had not done this I would not have the experiences I had. And years later it is the places and things I saw that remain in my memory, so I am happy..........


5. I have never worn a dress as an adult! really I don't wear them, I used to as a child and as a bridesmaid, but in summer I wear skirts, blouses top etc, I think this is habit more than anything, but still I have not wore a dress as long as I can remember........


6. I sometimes eat lettuce sandwiches, no salad, no meat, just salad cream and lettuce..... people thing I am strange.... am I?


7. I collect cups, mugs........ I have many different ones, a few collectors ones and fun ones that come with Easter eggs, like smarties, kit Kat, Oreo. Also 3 Harry potter, and a musical tetley tea, and a Alka Seltzer Pink Panther mug that he changes from green to pink when water is added, they are quite old. I also brought home mugs from Egypt when I visit! 5 visits so I now have many themed cups! ha,ha oh yes and Wallace and grommit...........can you tell I love cups!


There we are, 7 things about me, it was a challenge trying to think of things, I am not sure who to tag at the moment, everyone seems to have been tagged already, so if you visit and would like to join in , consider yourself 'Tagged'

'No Business Like Show Business'


Now something that seems posts ago, I mentioned I was in a play, Arsenic and old lace, I thought I would share the picture with you I am sorry it is so blurred! I am the police woman on the landing at the left!
Here is another picture of me in 2006 in a play called 'When We Are Married' I am sat in the centre chair on the stage in the cream blouse and beige skirt, nearly hidden by the man in black, who is our director! Happy new year to all my blogging friends and I look forward to getting to know you all better through 2008!

Bye for now
Priscilla x

Christmas Eve! and tree trimming part 2

Happy Christmas Everyone.............

'Its Christmas eve and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse'.......

Its Christmas eve and I am in the middle of the normal last minute placing of tags on gifts, finding the presents I have hidden around the house and trying to find something good to watch on tv. All our Christmas food is out and chestnuts are roasting in the oven...... I wanted to take this moment to show you the rest of my Christmas tree decorations and thank you all for your lovely comments on my parents tree.....

Last night I captured the view of my living room from where I was sitting, I always sit in the same corner of the sofa so enjoying this cozy view.......

I had been planning to decorate my tree for a few days but my gas fire broke down and had to be cleaned, I was worried soot would go everywhere so delayed the tree trimming. A week before I went on a shopping trip to B&Q where I bought lots of new baubles...... I wanted to create a simple country cottage effect, so I didn't use many of our old vintage baubles. That is my mums woolly hat next to 'Toffee' the bear....... he lives in the corner of the chair and as you can see watched over the whole proceedings.......

I tried to pick items that looked good together, I especially like the woody aspect, it reminds me of a log cabin somewhere with tartan blankets and hot cocoa! The little robin and deer baubles have a stitch effect, I was hoping to make some fabric decorations like them, I ran out of time maybe next year.....

'The stockings were hung by the fire with care in the hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there'.....

I just love the cozy atmosphere the tree creates, It will look very bare after christmas, although I keep the lighted twigs all year..... I kind of achieved the look I was going for, I am extremely pleased with the tree, I would of liked to add a few more decorations to the rest of the room, I had planned to make some primitive gingerbread, but I am happy to gather and create the decorations over the years.......

This is one of my new favourites, a chocolate glass bauble with gold glitter........ simple and elegant

I thought it would look nice if I kept the decorations to a few colour tones. Silver,gold cream and woodsy. The heart in this photo is quite lovely, I think it will be one of those baubles you keep safe and always treasure. It is porcelain with small crystals, I bought two.............and they are my favourite!

I quite like rustic/primitive items and this little snowman is so cute don't you think? He looks like hes made of wood but hes made of a resin, quite effective though........Gold glitter reindeer, I had to have a few sparkly items on the tree, woodsy is fine but a girl needs some glitter too!

In the woody collection I got these open wrapped baubles, the same idea but shaped as bells, and glittered cones.......

Although this photo was taken before the baubles were added, I wanted to show you this one as it shows the beautiful glow of the lights. Although I do love coloured lights on my parents tree, in my house the white lights do look so pretty! Its nice to have the best of both worlds, old traditional family cozy colour and the simple elegance of clear.......

I have been writing this between wrapping presents and now christmas Eve is coming to an end!

I hope you have a warm and happy Christmas Day............... Wishing you all the very best for the New Year,

Blessings to all

Priscilla x

Christmas Tree Decorating Part 1.....And Nice Matters Award

On the 10th December it was my 29th Birthday and as always a few days before we put up our Christmas tree and decorations. This year I have two trees to decorate, my own and my parents. Every year my mum and myself decorate the Christmas tree, it is a tradition I really enjoy especially as years go by I have a new fondness for the vintage baubles in our familiar box of decorations. I am so pleased that through my blog I get to talk about our traditions and decorations, as it is something I hold very dear in my memories. This year I thought I would take a few photographs of our favourites to share with you all as I know many of you also enjoy the beauty of vintage items...........

This year we are decorating a new tree, we loved our old one but thought it time for a change. The new tree is a Canadian spruce, tipped white at the tips and adorned with red berries. The post man sent me two trees when I only ordered one, so my parents now have a new tree also!

The first job in the proceedings................. bring down the box of tree decorations, I have been placing many of these baubles on the tree since I was a child, most of them are from the 60s-70s.
Here are a few close up shots, the gold glass bauble in the centre is one of my mums favourites, I remember it receiving pride of place on the tree!

These pink glass baubles were treated with such care, As a child I always knew which items were precious! Most were delicately wrapped in tissue paper, or carefully placed back in their box until another year..........

Here are another set that are going on my parents tree this year, my mum bought them in the 70s. The baubles are frosted white with pale lilac, and the others are frosted with white glitter. I never really noticed until recently just how beautiful these baubles are...........

A few of our Favourites

And this red one? My Favourite bauble! Every year I would place this glass and fabric bauble on the centre of our christmas tree............ I think it used to drive my family crazy, as I look at it now it is so plain in comparison to others we own.........but it was always special and I gave this one pride of place. As I was decorating my parents tree I was wondering If should take it with me to my new home.....but decided its place is where it has always been, although this year not at the front of the tree! ha,ha

Doesn't this clear reindeer look lovely amongst the new tree? His antlers, tail and collar are glittered, again another that lived in tissue paper!

Little Robin Red Breast has also had a place in our home a long time, he now looks right at home in this new tree,
I d like to show you my new collection of glass figures from Thomas Pacconi, I am a huge fan of qvc the shopping channel that's where these came from. My mum gave me this new set from his range, they are miniature figures and baubles. I really like Thomas Pacconi items, they are very similar in style to Christopher Radko............ They come in a gorgeous wooden crate, with a certificate and plastic to shoe you where each figure lives.

They are hand blown and hand painted, I think they are just very sweet, I will have them a long time.............

The christmas tree is almost finished, just needs another string of beads to place around the top. I think it looks cozy with colour lights and I know white lights are sophisticated, and I do love them.....but sometimes you just need a little bit of colour! This is my mum and dads tree, I will be showing some photos soon of my tree and decorations, I have gone for a more woodsy look..........

I wanted to say thank you to Linda at 'Somewhere In Time' for awarding me with the 'nice matters' award, I am truly honored. I can not imagine what I did without my blog and all you inspirational ladies, What a lovely award to receive! Nice does matter and I will be passing this wonderful award along soon. Thank you again Linda, you are a lovely lady and I enjoy reading your blog also ..........

Love

Priscilla x