As anticipated

 it has been back into the Lounge again today. Starting with the declutter again. Very slowly starting to find and recover stuff.  Found the pile of my worked pieces of needlepoint and embroidery which are completed but have not been made up into their final pieces yet.  I have the fabric for those as well (just located one batch of that); a lot are for cushions i,e, inset front panels for the cushions.  I will also need to slowly acquire the cushion pads as well.  There is no rush at the moment for these though, although they are on the assembly list as are the patchwork quilts/throws made from old shirts.  I suppose it is a bit like an assembly line, putting bits that belong with each other in order that long-term will be able to get on and progress with the project.

Slowly getting to grips with items for intended projects as well.  I found a 1 inch free Hexie template which prints off a whole A4 page which will then need cutting out. I have left a link on one of my posts for printing this off as I cannot do this at the moment as no cartridges for the printer.  There is quite a bit of fabric for the Hexie quilt (which is being sewn by hand), although I do need to source some more. I located the box with some of the fabric in it yesterday evening. Therefore, it will be good to do a bit of preparation here and there when I can.    Will have to squeeze it in.  This will be a do a bit as I can quilt, but before we go to the van this year (if we get there) I want to have a load of templates cut and fabric so that I can sit and sew the tacked pieces up.  Anyway, I digress.

I have also found a couple of footstools, including a brand new one.  I have the pattern to work the new one, which matches/blends in with the others but that can be done one winter evening whether it be this year or in any following years.  There are plenty of other items in the queue before then.

I have also found a stash of finished pictures which I intend to get up on the staircase wall more to get them out of the way with and create more room elsewhere.  Have lots of nice finished pictures for this. I will pay attention to some of the frames though as they have the odd mark on them and I will touch them up so that no blemishes can be seen. Some I have worked some have been bought second hand as I had not been able to locate charts for them.  I have several pictures.  Some of them are the All our Yesterdays Victorian seaside scenes.  I also have loads of this range of kits to work still including one with Donkeys at the Seaside; one with the Titanic, one with a group of school children in a Crocodile.  All big projects that will need my embroidery frame, which I have also found.  Success. Unfortunately one or two  of the pictures have had their glass fronts broken (accidentally) so I hope to source some cheap frames from the Charity shop to utilise with new glasses for them. 

The new kits will be worked in due course.  Promise not yet.  The first one is a Coleshill Collection kit.  I have the Crewel work picture panel which I have already started and which is a UFO.  This will pair nicely with that once both are finished. 

There is also this pretty little Bluebell Picture.  I love Wildflowers.

I have several pieces of vintage needlework which I have bought as I have gone along. I have not worked these as these are really old pieces and it is rare to find kits of this quality and detail in this day and age.  If they are framed they can go for an awful lot of money. I was lucky to get this one fully worked for about £15. These pieces need blocking onto Backing Board and framing.  There are quite a few of them but am going to start with these two first.  I have a thing about Victorian/Edwardian things.

I also have a thing about vintage bowls and ewers!  This is just one of about four or five I have and is medium sized.  I love the simplicity of this one.

Whilst sorting I also came across a picture that my step-daughter painted when she was younger of some flowers from the garden. The story behind this is that each time I went out the paints used to come out and a bit more was done on the project.  Only something small, but it is treasured. She was only about 9 or 10 at the time.

I have a beautiful picture which looks like Hydrangeas worked in Crewel work and worked in wool.  The frame and backing were not very good and I ended up taking it out of its frame.  Need to source a nice large frame for this and get it mounted and  up in the front room.  I have several pieces that need this doing.  I do have mounting board somewhere in the back bedroom.  One part of me is always sad when I find pieces like this as whoever worked it had spent a huge amount of time and skill in working it.  I am however very appreciative that they did, as otherwise I would not have had the pleasure of this beautiful piece. In real life it is more detailed than the photo shows. The panel really needs ironing, but I did not have time to do this tonight.  However will show it once it has been tidied up and framed.  This one is for the front room as it is the right colouring.

I found a load of tablecloths.  I have quite a collection of beautiful embroidered ones including some in not perfect condition which I hope to make a quilt out of with pretty fabrics and hand embroidery details eventually too.  It does not stop me gathering things together when I can. There are also white pillowcases with crochet edging and bed linen. Part of another collection.  They are intended for a makeover for my bedroom.  I have a wrought iron cream and brass 5 foot bed and the beautiful vintage linen is intended to be used in this room once I get to the makeover. I have the Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady bedding and ephemera.  I have been collecting for a very long time. I am one for gathering things together and curating in readiness for projects.  Sometimes it can take me ages to get things together I also found some clothes I was looking for.  Ooohps!

There are also some whitework Lingerie and nightdress cases.  Such intricate work.  They will definitely be put into use once the bedroom is done.  I love pretty bits.

By way of explanation, the Lounge was used for stacking some stuff in a while back after we had some work done in another room where they were stored and which of course was the room that needed attention.  Now time for them to go back where they came from which we could  not do at the time.

I have been finding loads of lovely bits and bobs.  I found the remains of some fabric from my Mum's home that has a few memories for me from when I was a toddler (a lot of years ago).  Originally this material was used in a quilt square that went on top of a double bed. It had a matching trim which was the same fabric with tiny pleats in it. Over the years the wadding became thin and Mum recycled the fabric from it to covering her Lloyd Loom chair and Ottoman. It was a very good quality sateen cotton when new. The Lloyd Loom suite has since been passed to a Charity shop, and I found the material today as I was sorting.  I intend to recycle this fabric again with what there is of it into a quilt with similar colours; it has too many memories from childhood and from before my brother was born.  Daft am I not.  I am more into the stories behind the items than what they cost!

I also have curtains in this fabric for the Lounge for when we redo that (which is a long way off).  I found the fabric I had bought to match to make some cushion covers or backs from.

I have also located quite a few vases.  I was lucky to inherit a flower jug from my Nan which is a beautiful Turquoise green colour.  I today found a bowl that I had purchased separately for £3 from a Charity shop and it is the sister to my jug.  Very happy about that.  I just love the colour.

This is my Nan's jug sitting on top of the bookcase in the front room.  This bookcase is full!

I have found more baking equipment, frying pans, a pancake pan, baking sheets, measuring jugs, bowls.  I think there are a few pestle and mortars of different sizes too; however not located them yet.  I am sure no one is shocked by me having lots of cooking equipment!  

More books have been found including my classics and a lot of crafting books.  The bookshelves are going to have to be sorted out in the Lounge before these can go back in though (some of them fell off the wall complete with books). G is aware of this. I am also hoping to get my William Caxton's Red vellum and gold Encyclopaedias back in there as well.  I have a lot of books in the house and elsewhere!  I was taught from an early age that if you have a book, then you always have a friend.

I have also located two new books that I had bought and forgotten that I had.  The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett and World Without End. Will have to get this room sorted out before I get my nose in a book or books as otherwise nothing will get done.  Perhaps ideal for a lazy Sunday afternoon (when not watching DVDs)!

Finding the Lounge is going well, and although as expected it is a slow old job. I am finding so many lovely items though. I am also washing items to get them nice and clean as I go along and trying to get them dried in the house.  I am thinking of stringing a line in the dining room between the dressers.   I have also found my Red-Rumtopf and also my Bean Pot!

Once the Lounge is sorted maybe I will be able to get on with more sewing on the sewing machine as I will not be distracting G with the Whirr of the machine which would interfere with his TV gazing.  Bit like a Moon crazy Hare!  He will be able to watch the TV in the Lounge.  Fingers crossed and toes plaited that this happens soon as I have quite a lot of machine sewing to do. When I sew I need to concentrate so its better he is not about when I do.

Right am off to do some knitting.

Keep warm and safe.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

x