Job lot

My latest E-bay acquisition is this job lot of beads and jewellery bits for only 5 pounds! The little bags are cute, too. Something for a rainy day - this weekend, according to the weather forecast! I will show you the fruits of my labours.

Before and after...

I made this little corsage for Joanna's birthday - the fabric was from an off-cut bundle I got at the Royal School of Needlework sale, the silver crochet cotton I already had. It's a Suffolk Puff, with two crochet flowers, one slightly smaller, all finished off with a silver/grey button. Nice and winter-y.

Nice work, Mr Johnson

Every time I go to Paris I always take lots of pictures of the Metro station entrances, and  the New York subway as well. As I use it every day, I tend to forget that the Tube signs are just as beautifully designed. This is Knightsbridge, just by Harrods. Overseas tourists appreciate the work of Mr Edward Johnson, and I think we should look up occasionally and enjoy the clean lines of his great contribution to London's architecture as well.

I went to a lovely concert this eve, all about birds and beasts, by the BBC singers. It was a live recording for Radio 3 at St Paul's church Knightsbridge, a beautiful neo-Gothic church with the most beautiful tiled bible scenes and gilt-wood carvings. No photos sadly, other wise I could show you. Thanks to Anthony, who got the tickets for me.

tea for two

Our neighbours seem to throw away an awful lot of things that are beautiful / useful. We have 'liberated' from the rubbish amongst other things a lamp base with glass balls, a wicker trunk which is great for stashing books and magazines, various textiles and this very pretty tea set. I found some plates at a pound a piece to accompany it in a charity shop in Winchester for genteel tea.

The roses teapot was a wonderful bargain at just a pound from the Cancer Research shop in Hounslow, and the not-quite-matching-but near-as-damn-it cup, 50p.

Relatively speaking, this cup and saucer was expensive at 2.50! It may yet become a candle.......

All this talk of tea has made me want to go and put the kettle on - spitting feathers, me!

Crochet on the go

Having expanded my crochet skills, I needed some way of carrying my acoutrements on the Tube other than the freezer zip bag I was using. The hook roll was free in the People's Friend magazine last month, and my fave shop Cath Kidston had these bags to match in the sale; the zip for scissors and yarn, and the tote for work in progress. Fab! And pink!

Roses

Ages since my last blog! Sean made me a beautiful keyring for Christmas - I think I was the only one not to have one!



I also had this beautiful hat, scarf and gloves trio from my superstar pianist pupil Trinh - and pink, too! I feel very fragrant!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! A peaceful, healthy, joyful and prosperous 2011 to everyone, everywhere!