Friday French favourites

I'm a bit late joining Selina today (curse you work!!), but seeing her yummy macaron pics reminded me of the little patisserie we found in the town of Beaune. I had actually had a coffee and pastry at the same place in 2005. I dragged Selina all around looking for it and Voila! it was still there. I had a delicious raspberry tart. Mmmm....


This picture of pastries wasn't taken there but you get the idea. Most little villages have a range of pastries that is unbelievable.

Lovely Sunday

Yesterday I spent the at day Wolston House. As I have mentioned previously, I volunteer there regularly, however, yesterday was a particularly lovely day, both weather-wise and work-wise. We had a reasonable number of paying visitors who also wanted morning and afternoon teas, so I was busy delivering trays of goodies all over the garden and verandah of the house. My beautiful daughter and grand-daughter also came for a visit, so some time was spent chatting and soaking up the sunshine too.


A lot of the other volunteers are crafty and our gift shop is chock full of hand crafted goodies as well as vintage items, books and jewellery. The shop is in an old railway building brought to the site. The other end houses our education centre.


My latest contribution to the shop was this crocheted rug and hat. I was glad to see them on their way at last, they have been hanging around waiting to be finished off since last winter.

All things French

Selina at Selina's Vintage, has come up with a great idea for all those Francophiles out there in blogland... Friday French Favourites. I'm happy to join in, having been in love with France since high school and also since I was recently there on a visit (my second). There are so many wonderful things about France, it's hard to pick a favourite. I decided to go with Monet's garden at Giverny, not all that far from Paris. The weather on the day we visited was perfect... blue skies, sunshine, and it was spring!

Gorgeous tulips, magnificent blossom and the famous Japanese bridge... ah! Perfect! No water lilies- they come in summer.

I don't understand why blogger will let me link one day and not the next. You can visit Selina through my blog list.

Winter dreams

With the colder weather we've been having recently in South-East Queensland, the idea of getting cozy with some knitting has lots of appeal. With only vague thoughts about what I might want to knit (keeping in mind my vow to use my stash whenever possible), I began browsing to find free patterns on the Internet. Lots of sites, such as Ravelry, offer an amazing number of patterns, but the yarn companies like Cleckheaton and Patons, also offer a stack of free stuff.



On the Jo Sharp website I found a pattern that I think would be great for making up the grey mohair in the picture.
A couple of weeks ago I visited this gorgeous store ,Threads and More in Sherwood ( a Brisbane suburb), which was also a bit of an inspiration. Here's hoping I am inspired enough to begin something before the weather warms up!

Tuesday treasures

I have mentioned my sisters in a previous post, and today's treasures were made for me by the crafty one. These are by no means the only items I have, over the years there have been lots of small gifts; a coat hanger with silk ribbon embroidery, a patchwork table runner to name only two. She also attempts to keep me inspired by giving me lovely pattern books and encouraging me to continue with my craft, even when I am being terribly negative about my lack of organisation etc. The label on this quilt reads "From one 'spring chicken' to another".
This candlewicked cushion was completed while B was recuperating from surgery. I entered it in the local show (under my sister's name of course!) and it won first prize in its category.Beautiful work from a treasured sister.

Don't forget to pop over to see who's sharing with Melody today. Just click the link at the side.

My lips are sealed

Have you ever committed to buying something without actually checking the cost first? Then been shocked but so embarrassed that you go ahead and spend the money anyway? My treasures today definitely fit the profile.

A few years back, I decided that they were all looking a bit the worse for wear- plating worn and the handle on the sandwich tray had become detached. So off I went to the silver plater to have them redone. Didn't I ask for a quote?you ask. Well, no- and the amount I did pay is a secret I will take to my grave.

The sandwich tray was a twenty-first birthday gift, sadly I don't remember who was the giver.

This sugar bowl came from my grandmother's house and I acquired it the way I have acquired lots of other old family things. My sisters say- This is old and shabby, I'm sure Carolyn will want it.
The coal scuttle sugar container was a birthday gift from my in-laws over thirty years ago. Obviously I have been a collector of old stuff for a long time.

Having paid more than I probably should have to make these things look new again, of course they must be considered treasures.

Don't forget to visit with Melody to see who else is sharing today. Having trouble linking again (grr) so just click on the link on the right.

Reflections

Just six months ago I launched into the blog world following the urgings of my daughter. I started by listing some of my goals for the year and, since it is now half over, I thought the time was right to do a bit of reflecting. I had hoped to finish heaps more than I have, but I think the trip to France in April has left me dreaming rather than doing. I tend to be a bit of a procrastinator, and find it hard at times to make a decision about which project to tackle first.

I had also hoped that reading about all the craft that others were doing might spur me on, but alas, it just makes me feel like a lazy toad. There are so many talented people out there. Oh well, I suppose whining won't make things better so I just have to hope I can be better organised for the remainder of the year. Isn't it strange that someone who can be really on top of it when working (my other life as a relief teacher-librarian), is so disorganised at home. It's a mystery!!!

I notice that there is a 'teacup challenge' out there in blog land- must dust off the collection and share later this week.

By the way, the flowers have nothing to do with this post- they just look pretty!