French Knots

Haberdashery haul

On Sunday Amanda Makes and I went to vintage fashion and textile heaven! The Fair at the Armitage Centre in Manchester always has a brilliant selection of sellers with goodies to suit all budgets and tastes.

We were fairly restrained I think considering the goodies on offer, by the second stall we were both squeaking with excitement and the prospect of a few child free hours of browsing the wonderful array was blissful!

So what came home with me

pretty buttons, buckle and thimbles all from the 10p box- yes I know 10p each!!

Crochet thread in lovely soft colours, embroidery silks to join the box full I have upstairs

vintage bias binding - 10p!

and a small selection of the arm load of tiny lace panels and doilies I scooped up for.....yes...you guessed it 10p each! Such lacey lovliness, how I love the 10p man and his boxes of delight!

And then I picked up a few more buttons

The Baby brother likes them too! some pretty beads and sparkly broken necklaces

pardon...not many buttons....well I did get these too....

you can never have too many buttons! I have enjoyed sorting them into jars, red, blue, yellow, white, Pretty. Yes pretty, you know the most lovely ones that will only be used on the most special projects...if at all!!
 
 
  

Yes, I do still make things....

A little draw string bag to hold pegs in the caravan, a few bits of recycled pillowcase and about 5 minutes sewing.

So now the swimsuits wont blow away when they are hanging on the guy ropes.

Then I had an idea to use some of my collection of beads, buttons and other bits and bobs making crocheted necklaces. Putting these together is really satisfying and I've made them long enough to wrap round your neck a couple of times or wear as a single long strand. I'm planning to dust the cobwebs off my etsy shop and list them. Once I get over my current dose of shilly shallying, put it off till another day dithering. Usually I like to get things done, tick them off my list but I've turned into a procrastinator of late. New motto - Just blummin do it!

Very addictive, I see lots of necklaces with little treasures in my future! 

The last of summer

We managed to squeeze in another trip away in the caravan over the Bank Holiday weekend before the children went back to school. We travelled up to North Yorkshire to stay on a site near Robin Hoods Bay, the moors were aglow with heather as we passed

The site we stayed on was on the edge of the moors but close to the sea, we spent a wonderful day at Saltburn by the Sea enjoying a walk along the pier, eating fish and chips for lunch in the sunshine and squidging the sand between our toes.

Such a lovely unspolit place, like stepping back in time.

We also spent a morning at Runswick Bay another picture postcard village clinging to the cliff and the most amazing thing happened. My Little Helper found an ammonite! It was just sitting there on the sand waiting for him to pick it up. Holding it in my hand and  thinking of its age and how many, many millions of years old it is gives me the collywobbles. He is so proud and excited about it, a very special treasure indeed.  

We had a little wander round Whitby but it was heaving with people and so busy that we decided to explore it properly on another visit. Mr FK took the big two into the Captain Cook Museum, which they really enjoyed whilst The Baby Brother and I sat in the museum courtyard admiring the view over Whitby harbour. I think the best view of the trip was driving down the hill from Seaton and looking out over Whitby to the abbey with the sea beyond, glowing blue through the ruined abbey windows.

We also visited a couple of agricultural shows, complete with sheep, horses, lamas, chicken, tractors, candy floss, tea tents, terrier racing, coconut shys, and amazing vegetables entered into the competitions. Perfect for mooching round, taking in the sunshine.

On second thoughts the best view of the holiday might have been the one from our bed in our cosy caravan

Blue summer skies.
 
   

Seaside memories

Whilst we were in Cornwall I persuaded the family to go to Portscatho - with an ulterior motive of course as I wanted to go to The Homespun Fair . They happily played in the children's playground and I happily explored all the goodies on offer inn the Memorial Hall!

It was lovely to meet some fellow bloggers in real life and oh and ah over their tempting wares.

Some pretty fabric from Sal's Snippets came home with me as well as this

a jaunty little boat from Sixtyone A. Kirsty's stall looked wonderful with so many boats to choose from, but this one is my favourite and sits on my mantle reminding me of sunny days and sandy toes.