Mousy Brown's House-Creating, crafting and collecting. Enjoying Life.

A simple summer project.

The urge to make something became too strong this weekend and because the desire and mental ability far outstripped my physical strength, it had to be something easy....

The perfect answer was a simplified version of the Soulemama summer beach blanket, that I started planning last year.  The sheets I had bought to make the patchwork design have instead ended up on my bed. But a flowery sheet purchased for pennies and a chenille coverlet that was going to be thrown away have combined together to make a special place to relax and enjoy our summer, whether on the beach or under the cherry tree.

As the sheet fitted neatly on the coverlet, apart from the top large hem (which I cut off), I simply stitched them together around the edges with a zig-zag stitch and then used the hem to make the tie.

The lovely warm yellow colour will compliment the spring picnic quilt and pillowcase I made last year and I already have dreams of reclining with a book, as the children play and bees buzz around us....

...I think someone else has plans too!

A Perfect Vintage Swap.

I have to apologise to Sue that this post has taken so long to arrive.  Her wonderful package arrived here weeks ago now and I have been meaning to show you the contents ever since. Extra hours at work to cover exams, a Husband away in another country and prior commitments (don't forget today is your last chance to enter) have delayed this moment longer than I meant but I hope to make it up to her today.....

The theme of May's swap was 'vintage' ,which of course is one of my favourite things, so I knew I was going to enjoy this one!  Sue enclosed three wonderful books (full of ideas and inspiration)....

......a selection of the most gorgeous fabric and some fantastic buttons.....

....and the most beautiful hand-made pin-cushion and needle holder, both made from lovely vintage linen.

The reason I describe it as perfect in the title, is that Sue's parcel had a purple hue and in return I sent her a purple package of her own...

....with a pillowcase shopping bag....

....some magazines and a books....

 

...some bits of linens and lace....

 

....and a little bird she admired back here.

 

This was the end of my year of swaps and I have mixed feelings of sadness, that it is all over, but also excitement and anticipation at what will come next....I still have a few snails travelling over land slowly, so there will still be some swaps to show and I intend to get busy updating my Flickr group which has been a bit neglected lately.  Do pop over and give it a peek (and any of you swappers I would love to see some pictures from you join mine!)  I think you will all agree that it makes a lovely record of a year of Snail Mail Swaps, a year I will treasure along with all the beautiful hand-crafted items that bring me pleasure everyday when I see them around my home!

I made some Duffers!

Those of you that read my sidebar might have noticed a pattern for slippers lurking there for quite some time.  I can't remember when or how I discovered the 'Duffers' quick and easy 19 row felted slipper but I do know it has been on my 'to do' list for longer than I wish to remember.

A week ago I cast on my stitches in morning break at school and by that evening, I was finished with one and on to the next (probably under an hours knitting altogether).

By Saturday night they were in the washing machine felting and after a night on the Rayburn drying, I was able to wear my new slippers when I got up Sunday morning, what a treat!

 I love this pattern,

• it is easy to read
• everything is explained beautifully
• the yarn quantities and tension details allow you to use any yarn you already have or one that is easily available (this is a great way to use up odds and ends from other projects or spontaneous purchases that you don't know how to use.)
• they would make really great gifts - even last minute ones!

I used some pure wool, Patons 'Moorland' chunky, that I had bought in a charity shop and had then found too itchy to use for a scarf/hat/vest.  I used it doubled up for the sole and then used one strand along with a strand of 'Creative Poems' aran (that I had left over from my Shalom cardie) for the top.  This has resulted in a slightly thicker sole (good I think?) and the slightly variegated effect on the top and even better now the wool is felted it is super soft not itchy at all!  I can't recommend this pattern highly enough and would encourage any of you to give it a go - after-all it's only 19 rows, how hard can that be?

Don't forget to enter for the 'Fox Diaries' giveaway - you have till Friday to leave a comment here.

Some lovely new drawers!

Yesterday was a gorgeous autumn day, freezing cold and crisp with clear blue sky's and dazzling sunlight.  A perfect day to visit a local car boot sale for a look around. I hadn't intended to buy anything more than a pumpkin to carve (disappointingly my plant failed this year - the first time in six years that we haven't grown our own) but I did end up bringing home three little treasures that really were too good to be left behind.

 

The first was this miniature set of drawers (maybe an apprentice piece?), they are a little battered but absolutely adorable and little bit battered suits our home style anyway!  I haven't completely decided where they will live but for the moment they have pride of place on top of my much bigger chest of drawers in our bedroom and sort of have a slightly surreal effect - drawers on top of drawers.......

 

The second was this little pot with flowers for the handle - I am going to use it to keep my sewing machine bobbins safe along side the little orange pot I bought in 'no spend month', which holds all my quilting pins.

 
 

Finally I couldn't resist this 1950's book of household management, I have only just started looking through it but items such as how to clean your fur gloves (do you think they were worn to scare people?)

 

and this lovely picture of how to feed baby (If only nurses still looked like that!) captured me instantly..

 

....I may leave the article on meat jam till a later date mind you!

 

Holiday Album - What I have been making.

What do you get when you mix a thrifted wool blanket with some dye, add some buttons from my box and a gift and top it all off with a sleepy quote from history?

 
The answer is a lovely new blanket throw to snuggle under on cold winter evenings (or at the moment wet summer days!) and a fun project that made good use of materials at hand....

....I told you I had an idea of how to use those lovely buttons!

Have a good weekend and don't forget this is your last chance to leave a comment here and enter to a chance to win my 'Be Brave' paper-cut...I will be back on Monday to announce the winner! 

Thank yous, sheets and suitcases!

Sunshine has returned to my life and all those decisions that were weighing heavy are gradually dispersing.  When will I learn to trust in what will happen and do without the pointless worry?  Today things have resolved themselves in a way that appeared impossible a day or two ago and energy and time spent mulling over solutions to problems seems sadly wasted.  Loose ends need to be tied but on the whole everything has sorted itself out very nicely and all without a spot of interference from me.  Thank you all of you who commented on my last post and those who emailed me as well.  So much support was gratefully received and the wisdom of your advice has definitely helped me clear up the knotty bits in my thoughts - I will keep it all for next time I choose to get in a spin!

Now I am feeling a spot more relaxed I can return to the post I meant to do before I made life all complicated and show you some of the treasures I found with a friend on a day out on Saturday.

 
First there was a pile of flowery sheets which I plan to use to make Soulemamas beach blanket quilt thingy.

 
A pretty painted glass pot - perfect for storing precious buttons.

 
And finally two immaculate 1950's suitcases.

 

I have been searching for ages for something to store my fabrics and linens in and these are the perfect answer!  I do have to offer thanks and gratitude to my friend Emma, who has over the years suffered many embarrassments at my hands (stripy socks and endless knitting in coffee shops to name but two.)  Her endless patience when carrying a big (full of sheets) suitcase around shopping with us for a couple of hours on saturday afternoon, deserves prizes and medals for friendship beyond the call of duty!  I wonder if she will risk a day out with me again? 

Snail Mail June Swap - My gifts for Tif.

With my package safely in Tif's hands and the contents no longer a secret, I can now show you what I sent for my end of the swap.  I had great fun with the vintage kitchen theme and enjoyed lots of trips to local thrift shops searching for the perfect ingredients.  In the end I found...

some cute red pie tins...

and an old wooden crimper to go with them.

Some useful recipe books ....

and some less useful but hilarious 1960's booklets.

A pile of vintage napkins....

and a cherry oven glove (I was very excited to learn Tif's kitchen had a cherry theme!)

The handmade component was realised with a kitchen theme paper cut, that started up mounted on blue but ....

  ended up on a less eye startling white!

Everything was carefully wrapped in tissue and little notes were attached.

Thank you Tif, for being my first swap friend, I enjoyed every moment of it.  I can't wait to see what else gets sent snail mail over the next twelve months, how about you?

My thrifty apron backpack.

Inspired by "fixin to travel" on This Vintage Chica and a old hand-stiched apron I found in a charity shop, here is the backpack I came up with this weekend.  I can only show you it displayed on a chair as I totally agree that it is virtually impossible to photograph your own back (or at least it is impossible to do so in a way that you would be willing to show to other people!)

 

It is not as beautifully designed and sewn as the original inspiration but it used what I had to hand perfectly and is a whole lot more me!

I sewed the apron together along it's sides and then joined along the bottom.  I cut the ties just beyond the edges of the waistband and then turned it over to create a casing for the straps.

 

The straps were made from some of the tablecloth I had left after I finished my Spring Picnic Quilt and I made them long enough to adjust just like my quilt bag and apron bag.

I was able to use that pretty blue cloth as a big pocket and the apron pocket now makes a useful interior pocket for valuables.

 A 'Mousy Brown' label and a dainty doily add detail...

....and along with the Amy Butler hat, I made last summer, I am ready to go!

  I just had to add this shot below - can you spot the rainbow I am carrying in my bag?

Another apron and more plans for the weekend.

Another good visit to my favourite Charity shop this week.  With apologies for the creases, I was trying to get photos before the rain came down, here are some of the bits I managed to find.

I loved the colour of this little blue tray cloth and think it might end up as a pocket on something soon!

This large embroidered table cloth is so beautifully stitched - I love the fact that although the pattern is repeated, it has different colours used in each corner.

 
  

 I found two large wool blankets in rather lovely colours, although one has already had the dye treatment as I am running out of a favourite shade. Can you guess which one and what colour it has become?

Isn't it gorgeous the way the ribbon fades on these old blankets?

Finally, I was very excited to find this delightful checked apron (it has great ric-rac detailing on the pocket and waistband).  I discovered an apron backpack on 'This Vintage Chica', one of my regular reads, and am determined to try one of my own this weekend. If I have time I might have a go at her tea-towel bag too - I always love a new way to display my collection! 

My new/old cardi and a pretty ring.

 

In between spinning, at the weekend, I also spent some time stitching. I decided to treat this little soft, grey cardigan, I found at a charity shop for 50p, to a rainbow makeover.

First, I replaced the plain grey plastic buttons, with a selection of lovelies from my vintage collection.

 

Next I made a one of my brooches (the first one I have made for me) using some hand-dyed red felted blanket and some colourful scraps from my basket.  Finally I stitched a running stitch of variegated thread along the middle of the ruffle.  Now it makes me smile and I have even popped a 'Mousy Brown' label in to complete the look!

 

Another item making me smile at the moment is my new ring from Neke Designs.  It is so unusual and has already had lots of compliments.  I bought it with the money I saved re-vamping charity shop clothes instead of buying new - I think I still come out as pretty thrifty what do you think?