Knitting in Henley On Thames 2

Mel has been spoiling me buying me all my favourite treats and taking me to some lovely shops and thrift stores.




Leiny's pre Christmas gift is almost finished. It is made with Japanese Noro wool and is one of the Noro patterns also.



It was late night shopping in Henley last night and I was so happy to see this Morris Minor Traveller (like my own one) parked up outside the Bell bookshop all dressed up for the festive season.



I had lots of inspiration for my own Christmas gifts and crafts. Morris will also feature this year.



THANK YOU BEACHY



I received a Kreativ Blogger award from Beachy(I really appreciate it, thank you for thinking of me) at The Whispering Poppies and it made me so happy, I was really touched by the lovely things she posted about me. Please visit her blog and if you are inclined participate in the Holiday fun on December 12th. I know I am looking forward to it, what a truly inspired idea.

I checked out some of my favourite blogs and saw that two people had been working very hard at Fairs, so I passed on the award to Michele at Cowboys and Custard who is so creative I am always inspired by her work and a little in awe of her energy. Her cards, pocket mirrors and skill at photographing all her wares are amazing and well worth a visit.

Stephanie at My Calico Heart has been working very hard also for a Fair, I hope it is a total success. I used to do the Fairs a few years ago and know the effort and energy that goes into preparing, finishing, packing, unpacking,then meeting all the buyers, other sellers and then packing and unpacking...so much work. Well done.

Knitting in Henley On Thames

I am visiting Mel this week enjoying spending time with her and doing some knitting. She has just started a blog too. Give her a visit if you have some time. Leiny also has a new post up of her college work, it is very inspiring. I am very proud of both of them.

Last Christmas and New Year

In preparation for the coming festive season pop over to Karen's blog A Scrapbook of Inspiration for the Christmas Fair where you are sure to find all your shopping needs and lots more fun besides.




Mel gets into the festive mood wearing a traditional Bavarian outfit.




Leiny prepared goodies and treats for the drinks and snacks evening with all the family in Ireland, we had visitors over from America, Portugal, France and England during the holidays. Then we (six of us went to Belgium for a few days).




Mr.Margie was glad to be in the place of his birth, skating at the Ice Rink in the centre of Antwerp.




I did a spot of shopping at the new shopping centre while the skaters enjoyed the apres skating.




We stayed at the Droom and Daad and had wonderful food each day.

My First Award

Wow, What an honour, I have received my first award from Stephanie at My Calico Heart. Thank you very much Stephanie for The Marie Antoinette Award, a real person-a real award! It was really great to receive as I love the movie, Marie Antoinette, depicting her life, Kirsten Dunst played the leading role. Click facts for some information about her life. Thanks Stephanie.

Here are the Rules for the Award:
1. Please put the logo on your blog
2. Place a link to the person from whom you received the award
3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs
4. Put the links of those blogs on your blog
5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them.


I must choose people to pass the award on to...difficult task, so many inspirational and creative blogs in blogland. Please do not be offended if I do not include you. Thanks to all listed below for such wonderful blogs.

Just A Minute

Cowboys and Custard

my mom's work

A Scrapbook of Inspiration

My Everyday Things

Every New Writers Journey

Barefoot in the Orchard

French Essence

My Lovely Christmas Home

The Whispering Poppies

Christmas trees

While I was enjoying Sabina's Barefoot in the Orchard blog I was inspired to write the story and put up some photos of the work Mr Margie (Marc) has been doing for the last week, he has not worked in this area for eight years.




Mr. Margie has agreed to be part of a team at a farm owned by one of his friends. There are four men on the team and they are all cutting Christmas trees. The trees were planted eight or nine years ago on the farm about half an hour from where we live. All the trees (Nordman and Noble Fir)are colour graded and have been specially pruned each year to have the perfect shape for the Christmas market in Denmark, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Ireland. The soil in the river valley where they grow is the best soil in Europe for the trees and the root stock is of a certain provenance that grows fast and full. The farm has a replanting programme and treat the Christmas trees as a crop. The farm is full of wildlife and each morning before the cutting starts there are at least two dozen wild deer from the Wicklow mountains grazing in the fields. The farm is home to many decidious trees and an abundance of wildlife, pheasants, rabbits, hares, even quail. The owner has also dug a lake on his land, and stocked it with fish. The lake is now home to ducks, water hens, herons and swans.





Mr. Margie is obsessed with chainsaws. He is also obsessed with a challenge, and this work allows him enjoy both obsessions. Each day this week (he worked six) he has felled up to one thousand nine hundred, yes 1900 trees each day. That adds up to some serious bending each day. The target is 33,000 trees this year.






When all the trees are cut in the field, some fields have 5000 trees they are then netted by another team and brought to the yard where the different grades are packed into trucks and transported to the ferry. All the fields will be harvested and the trees out of the yard by the end of November. Mr. Margie is usually still sick at the sight of Christmas trees by December 25th. It will take coaxing and a few glasses of mulled wine to get him to go back to the farm with the family to choose our indoor tree this year. We have four rooted outdoor Christmas trees in the garden. But the indoor tree is always a cut tree due to the heat coming off the stoves during the holidays. I love the smell of the tree in the house.




It is offically ok to drink mulled wine now according to Lotta at My Lovely Christmas Home.

Passion for vintage cloth and embroidery

I love thrift and charity shops and spend hours in them. A few years ago there was a really big one in Carlow. I bought these Crinolene lady embroidery squares from there one afternoon. The shop is no longer in business.





This sampler is so nice and I am not sure if it was made on the date or if it was made afterwards. If it is original then this would be antique. Roxdorf appears in a history of Berlin from that era.




These two pillow covers were from my husbands grandmother, and are so nice to sleep on, I also have the sheets to match. There is nothing quite like laying your head on freshly starched pillow covers.




Another charity store find with these fantastic button covers.

Do you have an interest in or passion for vintage cloth or embroidery?

I would love to hear about it.

Dreams come true

Poor cinderella was not able to go to the ball, she stayed at home cleaning all alone, she did not have a beautiful dress, her tears ran down her face.






Then her fairy god mother waved her magic wand and cinderella was wearing a beautiful dress and on her way to meet the prince.


This is a reversible doll made by Brenda for Mel and Lein fifteen years ago.






Dreams come true in fairytales and also in real life. Change has come. Congratulations to the people of the USA who voted for their new president. Inspiration for all of us who work in the area of social change.
Dreams can come true.

More from the Knitting and Stitching Show

The number of stands increased this year, and the This is Knit shop was easily identified by the extreme knitting hanging above the unit. We had lots to take in and a seminar, workshop and practical project to go to. We made the best of the day, enjoying every minute and buying some great items too.



There were lots of exhibitions and colleges there displaying their work.
Leiny and Rommeij were inspired by the quilt exhibition, with tiny details and hours of sorting and cutting that went into each creation.




The three of us went to The Art of the Book practical project and made a folder and a booklet, choosing our favourite colours and textures. It was really great to sit side by side and chat while we completed our projects. Ann our teacher was very patient and made the whole process simple with her well prepared and thought out stages.




I love the finished items I made, my favourite blue and with little embossed hearts, and ribbons to close the folder.

The Knitting and Stitching Show

Leiny, Debbie Bliss and Rommeij at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Dublin





Leiny models one of Debbies cardigans during her seminar





Rommeij models at the questions and answer session




Leiny wears the one size dress that every one wanted with cables and diamond patterns in soft cashmerino