Laverstoke Park Farm

There was a day we took a ride out to Laverstoke Park Farm, a local organic farm and farm shop to pick up some quality meat. The animals are field-to-fork at the farm and sold at the farm shop along with seasonal produce. We picked up some grass feed buffalo and other meat and some gorgeous vegetables. You can find out more about Laverstoke Park Farm here.

I think I am a craft-a-holic...

And sometimes I have no idea why I buy things, I just do. I think it might be an addiction ;)

But these little cuties are just so kawaii.

And I found this antique thread and spool at an antique fair. 

And I do know why I bought this one, it's because I really want to learn how to use my sewing machine for more than basics.

Goodies brought back from Greece

I love shopping in Greece - the shops are small, family run, crammed with goods to the ceiling and often out on to the street and the staff are so helpful and friendly. Many of these shops are specialists in one type of goods, herbs, ribbons, beads, boxes etc and this means you can find any type of these things in the shop. There are also dozens of markets and second hand shops crammed with the most unusual items.

A beautiful piece of antique stitching found in the Athens Centre Square junk shop. I fell in love with the curves and curls in the piece.

The frame is cracked and shows signs of age but it's so beautiful.

A close up of the stitch work, this is tambour work, a chain stitch embroidery worked on silk held tight in a hoop (the tambour) whilst you work on it. It was very popular in the Victorian era but not so popular these days.

And here it is looking totally gorgeous on my lounge wall, it really pops on the dark purple.

Three pieces, each a metre, of gingham fabric, I bought them to try some primitive embroidery on as well as cross stitch. I still haven't done this!

Some silk embroidery thread made by Tsiakiri from Soufli in the North of Greece. Soufli was on the silk road and has been the centre of the silk trade and manufacturing industry in Greece for centuries. I always try to find something made in the country I'm visiting to add to my stash.

Two pairs of antique embroidery scissors found in the Monastiraki District. 

Some of the crafty magazines I picked up:

"Doilies"

"Alexia"

"For Her"

"Needlework Embroidery"

1970s science fiction - Gor series by John Norman. A couple of these are first paperback editions. Next time I'm there I'm going to have to look and see if they have any more in the bookstore I went to. There were boxes and boxes of books but not so many English ones.

Gorgeous steam punk necklace bought in Thissio.

Two pairs of cufflinks.

Pickle forks. I don't eat pickles so don't know why we bought these but sure I'll find a use for them.

Pysanky eggs, and a tin to keep them in which looks like it might be 1950s or 1960s. The eggs are wooden and hand painted, each one different. I found these in several different shops.

Postcards & stamps from various second hand shops. The postcard for Lorain, Ohio is fabulous!

Two pendants, a seahorse and a celtic knot, two of my favourites.

Some tempera paints, they are pretty old and probably not usable but again I think from the 1950s or 1960s.

I also brought back some textiles to add to my collection.

Typical Greek designs on a tray cloth found in a junk shop.

The following pieces were bought at Kentimata Katerina (κεντήματα κατερίνα), a shop I found in Kato Patisia (κατo πατήσια), a district of Athens.

Blue centre piece for a table, modern but the colours and design are great.

And here it is on my kitchen table with some spring daffodils.

A pillow case or cushion cover, I use this one to brighten up the top of my filing cabinet!

This is an antique piece from Thraki (we know it as Thrace), it's the bottom of a woman's dress. I'm not sure what I will do with it or how old it is.

Another antique piece, a cushion cover that is mostly worked in a variation of buttonhole stitch. This piece has some major areas of damage to the fabric that I intend to repair using threads from the back of the cushion cover.

And last but not least the gorgeous gift from my friend Mairi.

I have neglected my blog for such a long time

There have been so many things going on in my life that it's been put to one side. My temperamental laptop has finally been replaced and I've decided I need to devote more time for me so I'm going to play catch up on the blog and post some pictures from the last 18 months that I want to share.

I'm sorry I've been absent so long..

There were some quite huge family issues going on which seem to be getting better slowly so I'm taking a step back for my own health. With fibromyalgia I have learnt that I must respect and listen to my body as it has limitations now that I didn't imagine I would have.   I've been on two amazing trips, to Malaysia and Singapore and later to Athens which I haven't put the photos up but I will do that once I get the energy together to sort them out. I'm returning to Athens again shortly I hope as the warmer weather does help my fibromyalgia a lot.   I've been stitching on the days that my medications and pain levels allowed and have accomplished far more this year than I thought possible and have only 5 works in progress. Hard to believe that at one point I had 53!   I've bought back lots of good stash from my trips abroad, always make an effort to find something hand made, a stitchy shop and something crafty made in the country I am visiting.   I've also been given the craft goodies that belonged to Alan's mum, Lorna, and have been slowly working my way through unpacking these and putting them into my own collection. Lots of looks like it was packed somewhat carelessly or hurriedly. I am about half way through but being careful so nothing gets ruined or wasted.   The house and the garden both need some attention and I'm looking at getting someone in to help with the cleaning and someone to clear the garden.   Be back soon with another update and more information on Ancestor #1 Cecil Bertram James Hook including some photos that I was sent by my Auntie Pat.