Big cat, little cat

I had a lovely day in Winchester with Mummie yesterday, and in the Abbey House gardens I spotted this sweet marmalade cat emulating his African cousins.

More pretties

I discovered some beautiful ceramics at the weekend, half price (the princely sum of £3 each!) in a charity shop in Brighton. My friend Sue picked up a heather brooch she had seen on her last visit for £20, and walked away, for just a fiver!

 Nice 1950s Nowegian gravy boat, stamped 'Egersund'

 



Pretty cake stand

 



And while I am showing you things - this rather nice dressing table tray was just £2 in the Animals charity shop in Lower Marsh, near Waterloo. I always find something worthwhile in there, but have to hotfoot it on a Tuesday if I don't have a leadership meeting - it closes at 4.

Congratulations to . . . .

. . . .  Hollie at Mia Fleur! 'Sewing in no time' will hopefully be with you in no time! Send me an email with your postal address and I will pop it in the post.

 

 

Happy sewing, Hollie! Check out Hollie's lovely blog and shop at: http://www.miafleur.com/blog/

Don't forget my Giveaway!

I forgot to show you these sweet milk jugs; the flowery one is Royal Osborne, the pink one is Colclough, which will go beautifully with my mis-matched cups and saucers, and these hand-crochet trimmed anti-macassars / things that go on the arms of armchairs, not sure which! 

Don't forget my Giveaway ends tomorrow - if you'd like a chance to win a lovely crafty sewing book, comment on this post:   http://sky-blu-pink.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/sewing-in-no-time-giveaway.html   now! 

Bumper crop of pretty finds!

I have just returned from our annual Senior Managment Planning weeknd in Hythe, sorting out all the things we need to before the next school year. We stay in a 4 star hotel, the Mercure. We had Saturday afternoon free, so I did a tour of the charity shops, of which there are plenty! The best one is the Cats' Protection League; excellent variety, very competitively priced and with very friendly service.

 

I have one of these pyrex ramekins already, so nice to find two more to match it.

 

 

I can't resist any Hello Kitty bargains!

 

 

Silver pickle fork and pretty glass dish / tray. I think the glass cups will look nice with a candle inside - show you when I have made them.

 

 

Bon-bon or trinket dish, not quite decided which it will be yet.

 

 Rose pretties

 

 

Smart pinny for culinary activities. Total spend: less than £10!

 

 

Susan sneaked Poppy along! We took her for some very windswept walks along the seafront before breakfast each morning.

 

Don't forget to enter the draw for Sewing in No Time; just leave a comment on my previous post!

Sewing in No Time Giveaway

I have a sweet little book to give away, with lots of lovely ideas for gifts or just something pretty to keep for yourself.

Everything from beginners' projects to things for more experienced sewing fans, it's a fun book that will keep you busy! Lots of ideas for all over the home and garden.

Bedroom

 



 

Useful notions for craft projects

 

 

Pretty cutains to dress a window

All you have to do to enter the draw is comment on this blog post, and I will draw a winner at random on Thursday next week, May 10th. I will post anywhere - this isn't limited to UK readers.

Stop press: Oops! Of course I mean May 16th! Got the date wrong, my apologies! So keep commenting, you are still in with a good chance to win this fun book!!

Good luck!

Another concert

An orchestral one this time, the Thorington Players, in the beautiful Pre-Raphaelite All Saints church on Putney Common, with amazing Burne-Jones stained glass windows.See here to catch a glimpse:

http://sky-blu-pink.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/music-for-lent-and-brahms-requiem.html

Wonderful music; Brahms, Bizet and Berlioz, and great musical company. It was a charity concert, to raise funds for the West London Churches Homeless Fund. This concert was dedicated to the memory of a violinist from the very beginning of the orchestra thrity years ago, Dr John Mathews, emeritus Consultant of Rheumatology, pioneer of the Musicians' Clinic, who died recently. RIP, John, we will miss you.