Where The Magic Happens!

I'm not quite sure where this past week has gone, busy busy!

Last Sunday was a turning point in my life, I finally became a grown up... well, maybe not, but I'm closer to being a grown up than every before!

My new (to me) bedroom suite was delivered, the delivery cost more than the suite, but it was cuch good value. Would you care for me to stop babbling and show you? More babbling did you say?

Please excuse that duvet... I've been in a bit of a flap and a duvet just makes life that little bit easier - When I'm feel better, back to sheets we go - Ooh, sheets and blankets and an eiderdown up top! Just a note here, the vintage eiderdown was a bargain, £3 as the seller was allergic to feathers and wanted rid of it!
You can just see my sewing table to the right and Lloyd Loom (style) chair on the left.

I'm thinking of a similar green for me walls... If we're staying here. It's all up in the air and I don't know where I am right now.

The reason for such a good sleep is down to my modern matress on top of the original bed springs. The delivery man had the cheek to suggest I'd better be careful on the bed as old beds have a tendency to squeek!
Having my matress on top also makes the bed rather high, I can sit on the edge and me feet are quite a way off the ground - I have to start the morning with base jumping!

The original paper tag is also attached to on of the springs. The bed has "Vono" on the side too, who apparently made a bed for Queen Victoria!

That was just the bed! Here's the rest:

Such an awful photo, and it doesn't even show the dressing table as a whole. Also, for those of you interested, have a close look at the mirror, those weren't visible when I took the snap!
I used to have a dressing table, but had to sell it when we moved, and the original owner still visited, in a spiritual form - Blythe Spirit has just come to mind!

And inside on of those drawers:

They won't stay this tidy!

And finally, the inside of the wardrobe:

I haven't put everything back in my room yet, so this "show room" is only temporary. I love having the oppertunity to sort through my stuff as it's coming back. My utility shoes are pride of place up front and so is my double breasted suit, made from a man's! Something I always fancied trying, then found this suit... in my size! Bingo!

This was only going to be a short pop in and say "hello" post...

I can smell dinner, pizza! Then back to me knitting sticks, a claret coloured frock on the go - Very quick (so far), another 2 weeks and I should be showing you all the wonders of knitted dresses

Catch you later alligator!

Jennie xx

Cake And Jelly

I do hope you're all having a wonderful cake and diddy sandwiches weekend!

I'd had so many plans, but due to rain and a bit of laziness, not much happened. Though please do keep your fingers crossed for some fine weather tomorrow, it doesn't have to be hot, just rain-free!

So, as it was a special weekend... Though I didn't see much evidence of that, the one weekend I really wanted the telly back! Where was I? Yes, food;

Did you happen to see the Chivers Jelly Crown here? I wanted to make one, but I didn't have enough jelly to make a proper big 'un, so it looks pretty.... child-like. No, that's insulting, a 4  year-old could've done much better! So among my excuses - Not enough jelly, over-whipped cream, the piping bag was leaking, the royal icing didn't set...

It's funnier every time I see it! But I've learnt my lesson, look at the picture and ignore the instructions!

I ought to point out that me and dairy don't mix, so I'm just going straight in for the jelly, cherries and jelly sweets!
My more sucessful delight was this Victoria Sandwich, which I have been told is "better than Sainsbury's".... There you have it!
I used a 1951 recipe, hence the sucess :)

We don't really have much cake, so this is a treat. Remember what I said about dairy and me? I feel awful after only one slice! I'm not ill, but I am trying to decide of that one slice is worth a headache?

Yes, yes it was!

Ma had seen some biscuits in Marks & Spencers, they call them "Jazzie Biscuits" and slap a nice price tag on them - So Ma made some "Jazzie Biscuits:

And finally, after moving around the furniture and trying to make the old dining room worth of a photo...

Please excuse the "home improvements", it was left in more of a state than this - We've actually tidied it up! But enough of that talk, home made bunting, Coronation mugs and one from the Golden Jubilee (10 years ago!)

I have to go now, but I just wanted to wish you all well on this long weekend. Hopefully I'll be back in a few days after having a lovely day out tomorrow... If the weather holds!

Happy Jubilee Weekend

Jennie xx

Canteen Girl

'Ello Ducklettes,

When do you decide a collection is already too big and doesn't need adding to?

That's my question for the day. This comes after planning to use my Woods Ware this weekend - The weather's not looking good, so the picnic is not going to happen and that day out on Monday is looking doubtful (it's an outdoor event with fields and walking involved), so I thought it'd be nice to bake a cake and use my favourite crockery...

But it was packed away, so Ma being the intrepid explorer went under the stairs into the cupboard to go and find the two boxes of Woods Ware - Two boxes later and some was missing, so back into the cupboard she disappeared, and found another three boxes! Five boxes jam packed with plates, bowls, tureens, cups...

Even with 21 dinner plates, 18 cups and 5 tureens (and the rest!) I still don't have a full collection :(

It doesn't look like much when it's neatly stacked, but I'm dreading the thought of re-packing and re-housing it all.

The one thing I'm really missing (apart from coffee pots, toast racks, egg cups...) is the guide/brochure to identify the various pieces. I saw one for free online, but didn't save the picture and can't find it again (!), so some of the pieces are, as Toyah Willcox sang, a mystery!

I'm trying to decide whether or not to open a canteen... Any vintage factories need a canteen, plus girlie to run it? Have Woods Ware, will travel!

Anyway, I thought you might like to see it all it it's glory before it goes away until Christmas! I'll show you the cake when I've baked it, plus the other treat I have in store.

Have a lovely evening,

Jennie xx