Something old to something new

At the start of every year, I always have a good clear out - most goes to charity some gets free cycled, other bits and bobs either get sold on Amazon or Ebay.


This year, I thought I would do that, but also utilise my crafty stash and other items round the house to give everything a bit of a lift.


Re-work scraps of wool and an old hanger into a nice woolly one

an old treacle tin into a container for some bulbs

some old jumpers into a cosy winter cushion

vintage fabrics and scraps of lace into lavender sachets

and an old tin of paint to add some colour to the bannister rail

Who know what else I'll come up with!  What's on your agenda this month?

Up I come!

Hello folks - remember me! You may think I've been hibernating all this time (since September), but you know how life just gets in the way sometimes?  No excuses, just plain day to day stuff here at The Blueberry Patch household.


I hope everyone had a good Christmas and New Year?  Isn't the weather different to a year ago.  Unlike the last few days, it could almost be Spring here (albeit cold).  The birds are singing, the bulbs are growing, I still have pinks and roses flowering. All very odd.

Anyway, plans are afoot for lots of projects and makes - most of which I'll share with you, but here's one I made earlier!

I'll be back again shortly (I hope!).

Have a good weekend.



Too many projects

and not enough of this

Why oh why do I start endless projects which I probably won't end up finishing any time soon!

Christmas stockings for the website

Wool to start a scarf

A random knitted tortoise (I think it was the patchwork which attracted me to it!)

Knitted 'paper' chains for Christmas

However, I did finish one project off last week - my patchwork ironing board cover - at last.  It's only taken over a year to complete!

How many projects have you on the go at the moment?

A spot of vintage

Morning all - remember me! I can't believe it's almost 3 weeks since I was last in blog land.  I must do better.

The month hasn't been turning out as well as I would have liked - lots of faff and grief, and more importantly getting used to a new routine of one child in secondary school and one still in primary. We have a very tired 11 yr old at the moment who's going to bed earlier and earlier!  Mind you he's out of the house for a total of 9 hours, then homework to get on with - all good stamina building I guess....

It can only get easier (I hope).

Back to 'a spot of vintage' - whilst in Greenwich in July we had a jaunt round the vintage fair and shops.  I'm always a lover of the vintage clothing but I'm not a dress person so never end up buying anything but I love the style.  Anyway, I came across this -

a vintage crochet sleeveless cardigan-esqe number.  I tried it on and actually quite liked it.  As it was a reasonable price, I snatched it up.  Having had it hanging on the hanger since we returned it may well stay there.  I'm not sure of it's age but it's in good condition and is made from wool.

You know the phrase - 'if you keep something long enough, it'll eventually come back into fashion' - that's never held quite true for me but I'm obviously getting to the age now that things are coming back into fashion which I remember.  I now have a pair of shoes which went out and are now back in again!

I bought these

brogues from Laura Ashley about 15 years ago, obviously wore them and they have been languishing in the back of the wardrobe for some time.  I'm always reluctant to get rid of shoes and I'm glad I didn't with these, as lace-up brogues are all back in fashion.  I'm not sure whether a 15 yr old pair of shoes counts as vintage but I can pretend!

These vintage costume dolls were a bit of a 'random' purchase and a very bizarre one according to the rest of the family, but as they put a smile on my face, why not!

Have a good day and I'll pop along to say hello shortly, along with sharing some holiday snaps which are still on the camera...

A spot of customisation

Today was day 1 of a child free house and it feels so quiet - no friends door knocking, the dull sound of electronics and TV's in the background, the clank of lego being tipped out, the bickering.....,requests for endless food and drink - I actually miss those sounds! even though they drove me mad.

Jack went back yesterday and Toby had his first secondary school day today and boy was he excited - despite the early start to walk to the bus, not relying on me to remember things, learning how to do a tie! and not returning till 4.30 each day.  We took a photograph of him in exactly the same spot as we did when he first went to school 7 years ago - how time flies.

I'm really looking forward to his return and the success of accomplishing so many 'firsts'

Anyway, with the onset of chilly mornings, I thought I would customise an old denim jacket.  I've had it the best part of a decade and really wanted to jazz it up a little.

I sewed a CK patch I've had for a while on the arm

and with some Liberty print bias binding I then sewed this around the cuffs.

and then round the bottom edge

I'm pretty pleased with the overall look and has given my old jacket a new lease of life.

(double click to zoom in)

Have a great weekend!

On the turn

I'm back after a little break down in the beautiful Kent countryside.  I'll share more of that with you once I've sorted through the enormous amount of snaps taken!

The end of August is well and truly upon us and there is a distinct 'change' in the air.  The morning and evenings are getting darker, the leaves are on the turn and the berries are bursting with colour.

All in all we can't complain too much with the weather this summer (maybe in my part of the country at least).  I do however, always feel robbed when the summer comes to an end.  Perhaps because the winter is not my most favourite time of year.

For now, I shall take pleasure in a few balmy days, the dew on the grass, the last few flowering plants and the glory which September brings.

I'll be back shortly with piccie overload, but for now, I better catch up with your lovely blogs!

TTFN.

From one to another

Hope everyone is keeping well?

We took a jaunt to Greenwich last weekend, and what a pleasant time it was too - even more so when we can indulge in some free museums which entertain the boys and a couple of vintage markets for me!

The weather was beautiful, if not a little hot (if I dare say it).

This view, I could never tire of..............

The beautiful building is the National Maritime Museum.  In front of the building was where the Olympic Equestrian Trials were taking place.  It'll be in beautiful surroundings next year, and there seemed to be a lot of active work going in to make everywhere look good.

At the top of Greenwich Park is the Royal Observatory, again another beautiful building.

I was pleasantly surprised by the number of lovely old buildings in Greenwich - a lot of which I ashamedly didn't take pictures of.  If you're near the area it's well worth taking an amble there.

On Sunday we went into London and took a walk along the Southbank to the Vintage Festival which was taking place from the Friday to the Sunday - lots of free activities for children, music and most importantly a Vintage Market Place.  Serious lack of photo's, in fact none - oops.

Good old Cath K was there with a great pop up shop.  My purchase was this vintage fabric peg bag.

My old one -

also a Cath K one, but it's seen better days.  Interestingly enough, it was my first ever CK purchase over 12 years ago!  It's done well!  She had a concessionary shop in Harrods at the time and my mum took me to it saying I would love the style, which of course I did.  I didn't know who she was and probably most other people didn't either.  I can't remember how much I paid for it back then, but of course the cowboy print is no longer.

It's certainly not going in the bin, but I shall keep it for prosperity - you never know it may be worth a bit in a few years time - despite the damage!

TTFN.