Thursday 26 July 2012

In My Head I'm Molly Flanders.....

then the bubble bursts!

 
 
I LOVE the work Mary produces on Molly Flanders! With my iPad I can zoom onto her stitches, not a one out of place! To me she's the Mary Poppins of quilts! Practically Perfect in Every Way!
 
Mine on the other hand, well.........
 
 
 
 
 
I thought to myself, I'll make some notebook covers for the teachers....they love notebooks! Happily I went off with My Grand Plans....oh dear I thought I can't give them away!

So one of the notebook covers quickly became......
 

 

A cushion! I love cushions! Everything I make turns into a cushion!

 

Conversation With Friend-

"That's a nice cushion!"

"Thanks, it should have been a notebook cover for the teachers"

Funny look from friend " Well why is it on your sofa?"

"The seams aren't good"

"They look good to me!"

"No, on the inside!"

"But they won't look on the inside"

"They will when they get washed!"

Funny look from friend.

Bet Molly Flanders has nice seams!!!

 

Thanks for all your lovely comments on my Award, you are all so kind! Welcome to all those of you who are mad enough to follow this blog, I will try and make sure I visit your blogs soon.

Just a few things to show you, from car boots and charity shops!

 

This cute little cot is about 40 years old, the lady who sold her to me used to play with it. I think this will be my first Quilting Project! Don't mock me, I know it's only tiny but I'm afraid of quilts! I think painted up, some fantastic vintage fabric, she'll look beautiful! Just don't look too closely at my stitches!

 

 
I also picked up lots of 1950s curtain samples! Not sure yet what to turn them into, but the colours are fab.
 
 

 

 
And also some bits and bobs of china.
 
We have also been busy looking at Prom photos....she looked so sweet!
 
 
 
 
And getting out and about in this glorious sunshine...
 

 
 
 
Well the next couple of days will be frantic as I prepare the family for our camping holiday in Norfolk, fingers crossed the sun will stay out!

Hope you all enjoy the rest of your week,

 

Ada :) x

 

Monday 23 July 2012

Thank You So Much....

I am so overwhelmed, Victoria has given me One Lovely Blog Award!

This took me completely by surprise, in fact I was SO surprised I forgot to congratulate her on winning the award herself, so congratulations Victoria!

The fact is I panicked, Oh My Goodness I thought, now I have got to learn to link! Crumbs, I'm not ready for that one! The lovely Sassy has even offered to help, from all the way over the other side of the world!

Anyway, much studying has gone off in my household and I am hanging on to the fact that This Is Good For Me, it will stretch my brain, which does need stretching!

Right, I need to share with you 7 things about myself! I will try not to be too boring!!

Number One-

I am dyslexic, which is why this whole Bloggy Business has been such a quandary to me! I don't particularly mind being dyslexic, it allows me to think 'out the box'. I will often come up with solutions, to problems that other people couldn't see (this does not extend to computer problems!).

 



Number Two-

My favourite colour is duck egg blue, I'm also partial to a bit of pink!

 

 

Number Three-

 
I am a strong person. Life has thrown some huge challenges to me over the last few years. I have faced them head on and learnt a lot about myself in the process. Hope and positivity has helped me overcome so much!

 
Number Four-

I grew up in a sweet shop! Yum yum, think that's where my love of colourful jars came from!

 

 

Number Five-

I am an Early Years trained Specialist. For the last 27 years I have worked in this field, most of that time working with vulnerable children and their families. It has been an honour working with these families, they taught me not to 'judge a book by its cover'. If you treat people with respect then it's amazing what you can be achieve together. Unfortunately I am no longer able to do this special role, this blog is my new baby!

 

 

Number Six-

I love my garden. A few years ago when I was very ill, my garden helped me to heal. I set myself a challenge to weed and plant small sections each day. I felt my body get stronger, and as I saw the plants grow, it gave me hope.

 

 

Number Seven-

One day I might grow up into a Proper Adult, but hopefully that won't be for some time yet!! Until then, I will always love bunting!

 

 

There are SO many lovely blogs it has been difficult to choose, if you aren't on this list it's not that I don't love you, but it would just take too long to link you all!!!

I would like to nominate 2 special ladies, who don't don't know it, but their blogs have helped me through some tough times over the last couple of years, thank you to Lisa from Mrs Bo Bo Bun and Jane from Teawagon Tales.

Also Lynne from Textile Treasury, who inspired me to start blogging.

And lastly to Hoots Cove and The Polka Dot Petticoat for your lovely blogs.

Phew!! Let's hope the links work, if not I apologise profusely!

Ada :) x

p.s. sorry for the random pictures!

Saturday 21 July 2012

The Story of Ada Bea

Last week someone left a message saying they loved my name, Ada. Ada Bea isn't the name I was christened with, it was my Mums nickname for me.

When I was small, she would call me 'little Ada' when I rearranged my bedroom. When I got my own home, she dropped the little, and would just call me Ada, as I would always be busy decorating and buying nick-naks (ornaments!) for my shelves.

 

Ada Bea was my Grandma. She was a no nonsense Yorkshire Lass, who had very little money but lots of flair!

Mum told me how she would often return home from school to find all the furniture in the dining room or living room or bedroom, had been swapped with Mrs X, Y or Z from down the street. Mum said Grandma would always be the one who had got the better deal!

Ada Bea had a keen eye for detail and knew how to make the best of what she had.

 

I loved Grandmas bedroom, it was painted in her favourite colour lilac and smelt of lavender. I used to sleep with her, in a huge feather bed, and in the morning we would always be squashed together in the middle.

I played for hours with Grandmas button tin (each button seemed to have a story attached), her jewellery box (nothing of any value but lots of bling!) and i loved her wooden biscuit barrel (always full of goodies!).

I haven't been called Ada for ages, Mum can't even remember my real name anymore. When I was thinking about starting this blog, Ada sprang to life again, she's a mix of my Mums Crafty Ways and my Grandmas Eye For Detail ( on very little cash!).

My real names Amanda by the way, I have nothing against the name, quite like it actually, although when I was a kid, I desperately wanted to be called Sophia (think that might have been due to the fact there were 2 other Amanda's, alongside 4 Tracey's, 3 Sharon's and 2 Angela's, well it was the 70s!).

 

So that's the story of Ada Bea, she was a great woman and I loved it when Mum called me that, (although when she was cross with me it was always Amanda!).

I got this fabric last week, the dark green floral is from the 1950s, unused curtain fabric, and the white floral fabric was brought from a charity shop. I think they will make a lovely bag for Autumn, they remind me of Mum and Grandma.

 
 
The books were found at a car boot, just in celebration of the lovely names we girls had in the 60s and 70s!
 
Ada :) x

Friday 20 July 2012

Thank You Mrs H, Thank You Mrs R....

We have been so blessed with our teachers this year, they are wonderful. Both teachers have a natural teaching ability, they understand instinctively what children need.

 

Both of my daughters are special. One is extra special, in that she sees the world from a slightly different perspective, in her own unique way. Because of this fact, the adults around her need to dig deep in order to find her. Mrs H is excellent at Digging Deep, she has her own enormous spade and she has indeed dug deep. She has found the treasure in my daughter, and my daughter has known that, and she loves Mrs H for it.

Today she leaves primary school behind her, and she finds change very difficult, but because of Mrs H, it will be a little easier. Thank You Mrs H.

 

My other special daughter has really blossomed this year with Mrs R. Sometimes when you have an extra special sister, things can be a little difficult and it can make you want to stay in your shell where it's safe. Mrs R has helped her come out of her shell.

She now has Grand Plans, she is going to be an author and an artist ( and I actually think she will!). Mrs R knew exactly what she needed. Thank You Mrs R.

 

I made these gifts for them, I love handmade gifts, the stitches might not be all straight, but they were made with deep appreciation for the kindness and skill they have shown. I hope they like them ( I have since found out Mrs R buys Mollie Makes every month, so I should be OK there!).

 

 
I hope your children too, have had such wonderful, inspiring Teachers!

 

Ada :)

Wednesday 18 July 2012

Crafty Friends....

Last week I visited my Crafty Friend Sarah. I have a few crafty friends and love spending time with them, there is only so much talk of buttons, fabric and ribbon my non-crafty friends can take! When you spend time with crafty friends you can go on and on for hours and no one seems to mind!

 
Sorry my photos really don't do the quality of her work justice!
 
 
 
Her home is lovely too.....and she is a talented singer and pianist!
 
 
 
New garden in progress.....
 
 
My Crafty Friends and I are going to start our very own crafty get together in September and I am so excited, I may even learn to crochet! Any ideas for 'crafty time' would be greatly appreciated!
 
One of my other crafty friends, Penny, gave me this wonderful vintage Feedsack top a few weeks ago, the colours are fantastic, it is very fragile and is all hand sewn, I wonder who made it and why it wasn't finished. In years to come I wonder if someone will find some of my Works In Progress under a pile of stuff in a charity shop!!! Enjoy the colours......
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thank you all to my new followers and the lovely comments you are all leaving me. In a couple of weeks I am going to do a Vintage Wallpaper Giveaway, to say thank you to you all! I am soooo excited! Love giveaways! it won't be until after our family holiday, camping would you believe it, in this weather!! I have promised my brood I won't make them go if it's too rainy!
So watch this space........
 
Have a lovely day!
 
Ada :)
 

Monday 16 July 2012

Introducing Clarice.....

Hello Everyone I would like to introduce you to Clarice, my very special sewing machine. She belonged to a lovely lady, funnily enough she too was called Clarice, who used to live next door to me.



Clarice and I would have Most Important Conversations over the garden fence, regularly putting the world to right! Sadly Clarice began to disappear too and when she left her home I missed our Most Important Conversations.

It has been very difficult for her son to sort through his Mothers belongings so you can imagine my delight when he gave her to me, it is an honour to use her. I think she is truly beautiful, she even sings gently to me as we make things together!

I have 'dressed' her for the occasion, sadly her cover is not quite so grand...

 

However I have a plan....I have just brought my first pot of Mod Podge and think it should be adorned with vintage wallpaper, what do you think?

Talking of wallpaper, I dragged my very own tea trolley home from the charity shop last week, I may add in the pouring rain! I was going to fold lovely piles of fabric on it, however it is the perfect size for....

 

Wallpaper! It needs a makeover, but it's perfect!

 

Thank you all sooooo much for the lovely comments you all left about my Mum, I know many of you are also touched by this awful illness. Mum is Ok, she has remembered she loves chocolate and cuddles and she gets plenty of both! She is in a lovely care home where she is loved and we visit her everyday, and I always have a treat in my bag for her, like she used to have for me!

 

 

 

Busy week this week, last week of term, lots to do....still need to make teacher gifts!!! Will be back later in week with some treasures from the car boot!

Ada :)

 

Sunday 15 July 2012

A Poo-tal around Southwell ( again!)

Disclaimer! If you are reading this and think you have read it before, you have not been sucked into a parallel universe and you haven't lost your marbles! This is the post I sent into cyber space last week! Don't ask!

Definition of Poo-tal: To amble and stroll at a steady pace with Good Friend. To wonder in and out of lovely shops and exclaim "oohs" and "arhs" at regular intervals. To stop for coffee and cake. To have no regard for time (except deadline for picking children up from school).

Last week I had the good fortune of a poo-tal around the lovely little village of Southwell with said Good Friend.

A Fly Went By is a lovely little shop selling childhood memories and vintage furniture.

 

 

 

I had a house just like this!

 

8A King Street Interiors sells a fantastic mixture of up-cycled goodies and handmade one off crafts.

 

 
 
 

My friend brought this gramma phone, she says I'm a bad influence on her!

 

The Hen House is a foodies dream, lovely items to kit out the kitchen!

 
 
 

 

We had a lovely poo-tal around Southwell, there are great little cafes, some great charity shops as well a fantastic Minster to wonder around.

(let's hope I don't send this one off to outer space- the little green men will wonder what I'm doing!)

Ada :)

p.s. Don't feel you need to comment again, your comments are still on Friday 6th July! Why is my life so complicated! :)