Bits and Bobs

I came across the thrifter's holy grail recently...I found a vintage quilt in an op-shop! I could hardly believe my eyes...and it was only eight dollars. I have since given it a good wash and an air-out and it is now gracing our previously very dull beige couch (the little orange dragon is also a recent op-shop win - she's made of felt and her name is Doris). The couch looks especially lovely under the window in the Spring sunshine!

In other news, I have been...

• Falling in love with A.S. Byatt's books - first up Ragnarok
• Making chocolate fudge 
• Loving the re-runs of Doctor Who on ABC-2

What's news with you?

Winter Musings

Even if the novel I'm in the process of writing is never published, I have to say it is a most excellent journey to be on. I have so much on my reading list at the moment that I really don't know where to start and I have all sorts of ideas coursing through my mind! Which is just as well because this winter is super dreary with rain, grey skies and low temperatures almost every day.

As well as or in conjunction with my writing, I have been getting creative in my Etsy shop, being inspired still by all things Victorian and Edwardian. I think I may have posted some Ernst Haeckel images before, but I couldn't resist these, so typical of the Victorian habit of documenting nature with extraordinary detail.

These images are from http://shewalkssoftly.com/2011/05/19/ernst-haeckel/

So, here are just a couple of images of bits and bobs I have made for the shop, with a photograph of some of my ancestors in the middle. I love his moustache in particular and so I am now using this as my Etsy logo.

This necklace is available at http://www.etsy.com/listing/103953678/edwardian-downton-abbey-style-necklace?ref=pr_shop

This necklace is available at http://www.etsy.com/listing/103953879/downton-abbey-style-necklace?ref=v1_other_1

As well as continuing on with A.S. Byatt's The Children's Book, I am also getting stuck into Virginia Woolf's stream-of-consciousness novel Mrs Dalloway. Have you read it? I've just found a lovely clip from the film version with the always wonderful Vanessa Redgrave as Clarissa Dalloway.

Woolly Goodness

Image from the V&A website

It is so cold here at the moment. If we're lucky, it crawls up to ten degrees (celsius) by lunchtime each day, and it's been widely acknowledged around about the place that it's one of our coldest winters for quite a while. Now I know that those of you reading in Europe and North America are sunning yourselves in the rays of summer goodness (enjoy it while you can!) but personally, I am thinking of wool, knitting and sweaters! So, I was very pleased to find free downloadable 1940s knitting patterns at the Victoria and Albert Museum's website. If you're feeling the chill and you're a vintagey type person, check them out at  http://www.vam.ac.uk/users/node/1744  Personally I have my eye on the V-neck.

Speaking of the V&A and in keeping with my theme of late, there are also lots of lovely bits about different eras of dress on the site too. I made a beeline for the nineteenth century section myself!

And, with yet another segue, I'm reading The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt at the moment. Love it. Lots of lovely Victorian era detail. Have you read Byatt? I think she's a love-her-or-hate-her kind of writer. What do you think?