Blooms and Graduation!

At the weekend we went on a little jaunt to Brighton for our daughter's Graduation on Monday morning!We all had a lovely time and we are so very proud of her!
Her outfit matched the cloak beautifully, a coincidence as she was going to wear a different dress!
We took lots of photos in the Pavilion gardens too!

There  were smiles all around all day!

The Hat toss!

That's the back of me in the spotty top and Carianne looking very Harry Potteresque!

We went for a lovely long lunch at a Mexican restaurant and we had cocktails to celebrate too!

Back home now and I have been pottering in the garden, the first photo at the top of this post is a Rose that I've been waiting to bloom for ages, such a pretty red!

I'm so pleased that my toms are finally growing too!

I bought these pretty perennials at the boot a few weeks ago, does anyone know what these are called please?  I haven't got a clue!

Thank you so much for the bunting love in the last post, you make my day you really do!

Have a great week, lets hope the sun keeps shining!

Rachel x

Vintage Fabric Runner

Hello Gals, hope the sun is shining on you like it is here today!
Up until this week it seems like an age since I've stitched anything for my own home.
I've had this gorgeous vintage floral linen for a long time, I presume I bought it at the car boot but I can't honestly remember!
It's not really my usual style as such but there is something about it that I adore.It's the same fabric I used in the bunting I showed you in the last post, ( thank you for all the kind comments by the way)It's a linen, as you can tell by the creases!

I have made it for the coffee table in the living room. Our table is huge, we bought after we had moved into the house 13 years ago. It was handmade by a local chap who lives in a village a few miles away.
It needs a rub down as it has taken a bit of a battering over the years!Another job to go on my to do list!My Rosy coasters were a bargain too, just a £1 from the CS
Have a fabulous weekend, lets hope the sun stays out!
Rachel x

Making Makes Me Happy!

Simple and oh so true.

Rachel x

                                                                                                                                                                                

Been meaning to do this for a long time

Hello and how are you all, it's been a little while.

I have been busy in the garden, well in between rain showers and we have had my parents visiting for 4 days which was lovely.
I have received 2 awards recently(well fairly recently)  from two very kind people and I haven't gotten around to doing them!
The first is the  Kreativ Blogger Award from the lovely Karen at 4 Lil GirlsThank you so much Karen, I really appreciate it! Sorry it has taken me so long!I have to give 10 facts about myself so here goes

1. I am a procrastinator, I think this may be obvious because of the length of time it took me to get around to doing this! In fact if I am given a project and 3 weeks to do it, I will think about it for 2 weeks and make it it in the 3rd week. I think perhaps I work better under pressure!
2. I don't know how to sew in a zip, in fact I have never tried, it all looks a bit scary! It is on my to do list though!
3. My party piece is that you can play me the beginning of almost any song from the 1980's, just the first 2 seconds and I will be able to "name that tune". My friend Darryl is also brilliant at this game , we are always trying to outdo each other!
4. When I left school I started to go clubbing (purely for the dancing) with my boyfriend (now husband)We were both underage (no ID cards then)We went to most of the nightclubs in Birmingham city centre. On my 18th birthday I got refused for looking too young! I was dying to say "what are you talking about I've been coming here for the last 2 years!"
5. I think I am instruction dyslexic as I find it very difficult to follow technical instructions.I got very excited when I managed to assemble an IKEA filing cabinet! It's mad, as I can follow a recipe and a knitting pattern!
6. The Hubster and I went to a Lee Evans gig recently, it was flippin brilliant, especially when he did the whole Bohemian Rhapsody thing at the end!
7. In a few weeks, I will have been married for 25 years! 25 happy years How did that happen, the time has flown by so quickly!I was only 19 at the time.
8. I haven't got any Hostas in my garden because they attract snails! If I accidentally step on a snail, my legs go to jelly, I hate the fact I  have just killed it and his shattered his little home! So sad!
9. I was rubbish at sewing when I was at school, I don't think I ever finished a project. I became interested in sewing to due to necessity and lack of cash when I was 21 and had my daughter, I made her a smashing pair of dungarees, with lining and poppers and  pockets !They were pink polka dot and so cute!
10. I love breakfast in the garden on a sunny day!  It feels like I'm on holiday and yes sometimes I am in my nightie!

Now this is the bit I'm not keen on doing, picking out blogs to pass it onto but here goes, I will pass the award onto these gorgeous blogs,
Amanda makes
Poppy
found and sewn
Mary Jane's TEAROOM

It has taken me an hour to get this far, what is going on with blogger? Will have to do the other kind award next time!

Have a lovely week Rachel x

Red is Best

I think I am loving Pinterest too much!

How about you?

Rachel x

Celebrations!

 This past week has been full of things to celebrate!

My daughter came back from Brighton for a few days and while she was home her Degree results came through. I am so proud as she received a  1st class with Honours!!She has worked so hard on her course, setting up an art magazine that she has sold all over the world she really does deserve it!
It was the Hubsters birthday too,  a double celebration so we went out for a family meal.This was my choice.Chicken and Smoky Bacon Cheesy Avocado bake, it was delicious!

 My daughter also made a Chocolate Brownie cake which my son decorated with fresh raspberries and   cream!A team effort!

One of my gifts to the Hubster was a day out in London. We went to the Titantic exhibition at The O2.An amazing experience, although very sad and  moving  too!We also visited here   which was fascinating! Not for the faint hearted though!

We nipped to Covent Garden for an icecream and a wander. Lots of people were buying the Paella, it smelt delicious!

We had already eaten here  the Mousakka was gorgeous! It really was a lovely day out!

Yesterday I went to an Open Gardens at a local village with my friend Karen!Here are some piccies from the event!                                                                                                                                                                                

I found out that I loved Philedelphus athlough I have not got a picture of it!

Must get me one of those!

Thank you for all the Pergola advice, you were all very helpful, I knew I could rely on you!
It has taken me ages to write this post, the text is all over the place, I have fiddled and faffed for ages but can't get it right!

TTFN

Rachel x

In the garden...

My brother has been kindly building a Pergola for us, in between the summerhouse and the patio.

I am sooo pleased with it.
He built it in a weekend(I did help though, sanding and chiseling)
But I am still painting it. It.Is.Taking. For. Ever!!

My bro advised me to keep it wood coloured , but I couldn't, mainly because the idea in my head is a country cream pergola covered with sweet scented roses. But also because the trellis is the colour of David Dickinsons tan!Not the look I was aiming for really. It is taking me ages to finish due to all the rainshowers but I'm hoping to get it done this week!

I've bought a pretty bench in a sale at greenfingers.com too!
I think we will use sleepers and gravel for paving underneath or we will never get it finished in time to enjoy it!

I have been potting up plants too!Love the Lavetera as it grows so quickly.

I know lots of you ladies are brilliant gardeners and I'm wondering if you could recommend any fast climbers or scented roses!
Hey, hey, Suns out, so painting here I come!
Have a great week!

Rachel x

Todays loot from the boot!

Todays loot from the boot

It took me ages to clean up the heavily tarnished candy dish! I'm so glad I did though!I love the tiny glass decanter and I may keep it for my bedroom!

This Royal Albert sugar bowl is so pretty!

Another little find I forgot to show you last week.Such a sweet little vintage brooch, made with the teensiest tiny stitches! I have popped it here.
Actually, I'm surprised the boot was on, as it looked as though it was going to rain any second!
I went mainly for plants, Sweetpeas and geraniums for a little colour in the garden!
Although I'm waiting for the sun to come out to plant them
Apparantly it is going to rain all day tomorrow! Hey, ho, I shall crochet all day then!
Hope you are having a lovely weekend!
Rachel x

Floral garlands

Thank you for your sweet comments on the last posts, they are much appreciated!

Now this week I have been making fabric flower garlands as my tiny little craft room is overflowing with vintage fabrics!
I have also made FQ for my stall and I will get around to popping some on Etsy too!

Anyway I have really enjoyed making these. Once I have cut the circles, it's very much a sit down and handstitch kind of a project which I love!

I shall make some of these for my summerhouse too I think!
In fact, now the wind has died down a little bit, I may take my little project outdoors!
Have popped a few here too!
Have a lovely afternoon!
Rachel x

A Little Makeover

Last year, in October, I noticed a dressing table on Freecycle. It was described as having 3 drawers.I  thought this sounded ideal for my daughters bedroom (she's got the smaller room now she's at Uni)
Luckily the lady who owned it only lived a few roads away and we promptly went to collect it!
However,It was not a little dressing table, it was HUGE with 4 drawers either side!
Never mind I thought, I will still find a place for it.Hubby and I wrestled it down the lady's stairs without damaging her wallpaper and carpet (it weighed a ton and I could see the Hubster was doubtful! We thanked the lady and wrestled it into the back of my car (which is a tiny KA) it was half in half ou!. I drove home VERY carefully!It lived in our dining room for a good few months.

BEFORE

Then I finally got around to painting it Old White by Annie Sloan
 I decided to paint it as the top was quite scratched!
That is also Wilson's bum in the picture!
Anyhoo, it now lives in the lounge, topped with goodies I have found from local car boots, mostly costing about a £1 each, except for the lamp which we already had!

AFTER

Even the Hubster has grown to like it!

AFTER

I have lots  of other makeovers I need to get on with but it's so breezy outdoors today, not  ideal painting weather!

Rachel x 

Doing a Happy Dance!

Oh how I wanted to squeal and do a Happy Dance when I spotted this little beauty in the C/S today. Yes she's a bit grubby and bashed at the sides but lets look past that, the fabric print is a lovely design and she's beautiful on the inside and that's what counts!

Wanna take a peek?

Such vintage lovelies inside! Look at the sweet wooden spool and the tiny knitting needles and the threads and the suspenders!This tray lifts out too and there's more room underneath!I'll be taking her to Oxford with me tomorrow and she'll hopefully find a new home!

I'd love to keep her but I only have a tiny craft room with waaay too much stuff!

Thank you for all the sweet comments about Wilson, he has now decided blue is not for him and he's back to his old colour!

A warm welcome to new followers and commenters I am so thrilled you pop by and take a peek at my little blog!

Edited- I wrote this post on Wednesday but it wouldn't publish, so the dates are out now but Hey ho I have sorted Blogger now!

Have a lovely weekend gals!

Rachel x

Wilsons New Look

Wilsons New Look, a photo by RubyRed06 on Flickr.

Wilson was fed up of being pale and interesting and decided to go for a new look, a little more 'out there'
He calls it summerhouse blue.
This look can be achieved in seconds, just stroll past the freshly painted summerhouse and back again! Hey presto!

A New Find

A New Find, a photo by RubyRed06 on Flickr.

Found this lovely tea set yesterday!The Carlton by Swan, from the 1950's I think!
I bought it for my stall but I won't be going to Oxford tomorrow.Usually Hubby works from home on Thursdays and looks after Wilson but he can't tomorrow. I have taken Wilson with me before but its a bit of a pain as there's another dog there who barks when he sees dogs and I don't want to upset other traders.Wilson is fine with other dogs, but he used to do this too! He's a big boy now!
I could leave Wilson at home but it's quite a long day and all our furniture from the lounge is teeerting in piles in the dining room as Hubby cleaned the carpet at the weekend and it hasn't fully dried yet! Well it has but leaving a nasty smell in one area that he overwet with the cleaner!
I did advise him not to do it as it was a rainy day and I knew it would dry too slowly. Did he listen? No.
Anyhoo I can't leave Wilson in case something topples on him!
If you are still awake and not fallen asleep with the humdrum boringness of this story, I hope you have a lovely day tomorrow!
Rachel x

My New Bracelet

My new Bracelet, a photo by RubyRed06 on Flickr.

Freshly made today! Once I start yoyoing I can't stop.I bought the fabric off Ebay a while ago, a ditsy little floral.
I bought my freshwater pearls in Spain, only 1 euro each bracelet, such a bargain!
Hope you had a lovely day, we had lots of sunshine here!
Rachel x

A bit of Painting and Decoupage and Pinterest

A bit of Painting and Decoupage, a photo by RubyRed06 on Flickr.

Really enjoying painting and decopage at the mo! Loving Pinterest too! It's so addictive and I spent waaay to long on it yesterday!

So much inspiration, prettiness and many gorgeous ideas!
Now the complicated bit for me, was that I had to join Facebook to connect to Pinterest.

I may have mentioned before that I am not good at technical things but my son assured me it is easy to join Facebook! It wasn't, well not if I wanted to do it as RubyRed. First I had to register in my own name, then I could open a page as RubyRed.

Apparantly I can only be known by my username when I have 25 followers, but how will I find 25 followers if they don't know where I am on Facebook!

I am totally confuzzled!I don't get 'following' or a 'fan' either!! Grr!! I think it will take me some time to get to grips with FB, but I will probably be onhttp://pinterest.com/rubyred/ much more than I should be!

Now I must be away, I have orders to post and a mountain of Heart Garlands to make!

Have a Sweet week everyone, and thank you for the lovely comments and emails on my patchwork garland, I really appreciate them!

Still can't post from Blogger, just don't know whats wrong with it!

Rachel x

Flower Patchwork Garland

Flower Patchwork Garland, a photo by RubyRed06 on Flickr.

Wrote a long post on Blogger today but it just won't upload, even from draft! Thought I'd just try from Flickr instead! Made this Patchwork Flower Garland yesterday using all my tiny fabric pieces !Bit fiddly and time consuming, but I do love a bit of handstitching! Hopefully I will catch up with you all soon!
Rachel x

This is a keeper

This is a keeper, a photo by RubyRed06 on Flickr.

Freshly found today, in fact I'm still on a bit of a high about this sweet little print of a Blue Tit on Cherryblossom, but I didn't just find 1, no no no, there were a few, so I thought of my bloggy chums and bought them all! I have popped a few over here if you'd like to take a peek!

Wonderful thrifted fabrics too! My lovely friend Karen found them for me!

Have a sweet day!

Rachel x