Meet Aunt Harriet

Aunt Harriet
is a woman of a maturing age with substance and virtue ...
Head of the CWA for the western region sub branch...
She fills her time by organizing herself and all around her...

Sponge cake is her vise and her saviour
winning the inaugural prize for
'Best sponge at show' four years running...
When asked of her success
she replies most politely
"that it is in the care and attention to detail
that makes all the difference..."


When Aunt Harriet isn't committing her time
to her many organizations
or planning her next overseas cultural holiday...
she likes to sit and relax
watching a spot of television
(of course not past 8:30pm as Aunt Harriet deems this not appropriate viewing hours
filled with unjustified levels of violence)
with her companion "Maude"
Maude is a 10 year old Himalayan blue cat
that is now retired from show life and spends her nights by Harriet's side...


Aunt Harriet's husband passes away some years back

and due to having no children
she fills her home with many nieces and nephews
every school holidays...
filling the hours with baking, laughing
and memories...
telling them tales of the past went she and her sisters were young
and rather silly and carefree,

all of these children adore Aunt Harriet
as she does love to entertain and keep company...
"they make me feel young again"
she says...
and with that she reaches for her hankie...

Aunt Harriet was made
one night without a pattern or any real idea
at the time...
she evolved to this stage out of pure delight
and is still a work in progress...
her story and clothes and accessories might even change yet,
I will just wait and see what comes to me...
but for now I do hope you like her so far....

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July

It is finally finished...
The American Flag blanket
I have made for my son...

I am so glad he is a sharing kind of kid...
as I think this is one project
I am finding hard to part with...

I don't usually follow patterns very well
I do change them and detour a tad
This one worked really well
and I only changed the stars a fraction
due to not quite beginning able to understand the pattern
more than anything..
but I am still more than happy with how it turned out...

In recognition of the kindness and friendship
that so many of my American friends have shown to me...
These pictures are for you...
I do hope you have a very happy 4th of July holiday
with lots of stars and fireworks to celebrate
your special day...

Are my granny knickers showing

Are my granny knickers showing
Originally uploaded by Loving The Vintage

Sneak Peek....

Sugar Blooms

Sugar Blooms is a new venue my sister and brother in-law
have started...online...
You can order lovely chocolate and flowers bouquets or
chocolate and cookie bouquets
as well as gift hampers...
These are just some of my favorites
from there range...

As I have mentioned in previous posts
My sister runs a very lovely wedding cake business...
Now they have explained even further
which is fantastic for anyone living in Australia...

At the moment there is FREE shipping to most cities on the east coast...
Like Melbourne and even Brisbane...

They except paypal as well as most credit cards
and ship super fast too...
So if you are after a little something special pop over and take a peek...
It is well worth it!!!

hope they have a few spare chocolates for when I visit...Yummmm...

Grandma flickr favorites...

Grandma flickr favorites...
Originally uploaded by Loving The Vintage

So many lovely photo's in the grandma tutorial flickr group at the moment...

It is making it hard to decide which ones I love the most...


but I was drawn towards these lovelies as they remind me of
the changing seasons...
little glimpses of sunlight and gardens ready to bloom...

Ordinarily extraordinary blanket

I must say a huge thank you
to my dear friend
for such a wonderful tutorial...
for without it I would never have finished my very own
ordinarily extraordinary blanket...
Full of granny goodness...
and oh so warm and cozy...


It is now firmly placed on my lap and there it shall stay...
It will always remind me of what blogging has done for me...
given me friends in far away places who inspire me
and encourage me with there kind words and generous heart...


I know too, that you my dear blog friends
love making my tutorials
and I still am so amazed by your kind words and tales
of far away places
stringing up your grandma twinkle garland and hearts
for all to see and share...


It makes me feel so proud and most humble...
you are all so sweet!!!

Prettying up with some vintage goodness...

While the week seems to have flown by so quickly...
I still managed to find some time amongst
my crocheting ways
to do a tad re-arranging
and prettying up with some
vintage goodness...

For you see I will have a visitor early next week
for which I need to "show" my goodness too...
More on that "much later" down the track...
I am still in the crossing fingers
and high hopes stage...

I know that you are there crossing fingers with me too...

and my "Deer Me" friend above has had a colour change
and is feeling rather blue...
But I quiet like him like that...
I think even thou he is blue he is now rather happy
and very grateful that he found his way to "River Cottage"
and not discarded and thrown on the rubbish pile
where some most nasty fox might see him
as a tasty bite for dinner...

last of all a "borrowed" red phone...
as mine has seen better days and chooses to ring
when it feels the inclination...

Which was not very often
and not very handy...

So for now I will leave you my dear sweets
and hopefully very soon I will show some pictures of
crocheting goodness...

A busy week...

A busy week here at the Cottage...
Lots of writing, scanning, and printing...
My first class last Thursday was just
wonderful...
Thanks to the sweet dears that came along of course...
Grandma Twinkle were made...
and lots of question and answers
and a last minute biscuit, due to going overtime

as we were all having such a lovely experience
we quiet forgot to look at our watches...

This week I have also started on a patchwork crocheted blanket
thanks to the amazing Dottie angel...


Check Dottie Angels blog
HERE...
Or click the gorgeous photo below of
an "ordinarily extraordinary blanket"
by Dottie angel herself...
Lovely eye candy and a must read 'How To'!!!

I adore the lovely mix of colours Tif comes up with...
It makes me want to race to the shops and stock up on
Peachy perfect colours...

Oh how I would love to find a nice Granny knicker pink...

The blanket is made up of the first 5 coloured strips crocheted together as usual.
then the other rows are crocheted to it as you go...
Don't you just love projects that you don't have to spend hours joining together
when you really just want to cozy up and enjoy right away...
Well this project does just that...

So for now I must get back to
my writing and printing of the Grandma Trees,
which will be for this weeks class...

and hopefully I will be back sooner than later with a
unusual deer thrifty find...

Granny Who Wristwarmers

I have called these
'Granny Who Wristwarmers'
after the show "DR WHO"
as while making these I was thinking
how much they reminded me of the Daleks on the show...
They are very warm...
and very comfy too...
Need to finish the other one!!!

Also thank you all so much for "loving" my granny slippers as much as I do...
I will try to keep them listed...
and remember to add your pics to the
Grandma Tutorial group...
I would love to see them...

can you pass me a spare hankie my dear...

Oh my dear friends...
How generous you have all been...
You have opened your hearts and shared
moments that I know have been very emotional for you all...
Reading through the amazing comments I was finding
so many similarities with my own Grandma experiences...

And the memories that for some are not so
vivid or clear...
I have found that you are the ones that are making
changes in yourself
to make some special granny moments for
your own children and grandchildren...

I think sometimes my desire in all this granny goodness
is not only to remember the past
but to insure that it is passed on to my children...
To make their memories as beautiful as mine...

Deciding on a winner was extremely hard
for I do believe that every comment was conveying something personal...
But as I read through,
one in particular stood out...
For I do believe the even trying to read this comment to the end,
even on the third occasion to my husband,
I still found I couldn't do it without a hankie in hand...
Ok lets be honest...Bursting into tears...

Lola Nova...
Congratulations...
and for all my dears here is Lola's comment..
If you get through it without a hint of a sniffle...I will be amazed...


When I was young, I was rich in grannies. I had three.
So it is hard to think of just one granny moment. All of them were fantastic bakers.
Each had their own specialty. My most granny moments are when I bake.
Cookies: I think of Harriet.
Pies: my granny Midge.
Bread: grandma Alta.

When I was 8, I was dying to have my ears pierced.
I had begged my father for a year and he finally relented.
There was no one to take me and I thought it was the end of the world.
Then my grandma Midge volunteered,
she took me to a fancy department store where I suddenly lost my nerve.
She then sat herself on the stool and said, "I'm getting mine done."
Mind you she was well in her 60s and had never pierced her ears.
She smiled through the whole thing and said it was no big deal.
Up I went and had it done.
I was so inspired by my granny, that she would do this for me.
She told me years later that she was terrified
and had wanted to yell and cry because it hurt like the dickens but,
she couldn't let me see.

In my late teens, I had gone for a visit to see my grandma Alta.
I had gone outside to sneak a smoke and a beer and she caught me.
I thought she would give me such a tongue lashing.
Instead, she took a beer, asked for a smoke and said, "Don't tell grandpa."
We then sat in the dark listening to the crickets.
We talked a long time...about life I guess.
It remains one of the most meaningful conversations I have ever had.

Near the end, my grandmother Harriet "lost her marbles",
she forgot who we were,
she didn't know where she was and didn't know what year it was.
This was interrupted by occasional spells of lucidity.
During one of these, I found myself in
an incredibly profound conversation with her about dying.
She told me she was ready and that she had been lucky in this life.
She then asked me to sing to her,
"Will you sing me to sleep? I'm going to see my mama soon."
I wrapped my arms around her impossibly tiny body,
I held her like a babe in my arms (like she once held me).
I rocked her gently and sang old lullabies softly until she fell asleep.
It was the last lucid moment she would have...
a few days later she was gone
and I can not tell you how grateful I was to have that moment with her.

Sorry, didn't mean it to be so long.

Oh Lola...
What can I say...
Thank you!!!
From the bottom of my heart...

Granny Slippers...

Granny Slippers...

My granny slippers
are cozy and warm,
They keep my soles
from getting old and worn.
I wear them all day
to put them to the test,
down to the shops
I do not jest.
There been in the wash
and the dryer too,
pulling them out
they look brand new.
How can this be
are they just well made,
Or something quite extraordinary
in a granny sort of way.
What ever it is
I'm one not to quiver,
For these granny slippers
more than deliver...

PDF out soon...
The pattern will have a range of sizes...
From kids, women's, and men's...
and of course I will love to give away a free PDF to one my dears...
So leave a comment...
and I would love to hear about what
your favorite granny moment is...
It could be something that you did with your grandma...
Or maybe something that you did that reminded you
of begin a very granny moment...
I would love to hear your thoughts...


So thinking caps on
and this time instead of picking a winner
in one of my granny bowls...
I will be reading all your comments
trying really hard to not get too emotional...well maybe a little...
and let everyone know in a couple of days...
Till then...
Keep up the granny goodness...
Edit:
Entries have now closed...
I will be posting the winner...With hankie in hand...
Very soon...
Thank you my dears
for sharing some very special granny moments with me...

All Swirly...

My it's rather brisk here at the moment...
Starting to rad the
winter pile of clothes...
Found my wristwarmers...
and lucky me
now have a cute short sleeve cardigan
from mum and dad...
The rest is pretty much thrifty finds...

I am making a swirly scarf as I think it would be a great project
for my crochet class...
Nice, easy...
can't really go wrong...
I am using 2 strands of yarn...
One acrylic
and one a bit finer and slightly fuzzy...
Crochet hook size 5.5mm
but I think a number 6mm could have been better?...
If anyone wants the pattern...
Check it out below...
But there are lots of swirly scarf patterns online...


5.5mm hook...2 strands of yarn...

Chain 190...
3 chain(first tr(dc)), tr(dc) in next and all chains to end.
Turn.
3 ch(first tr(dc)), 1 tr into same stitch,2 tr(dc) in next and all to end...
Turn.
3 ch(first tr(dc)) 1 tr into same stitch, *1 tr(dc)in next, 2 tr(dc)in next*.
* * Repeat pattern to end.
Turn.
3 ch(first tr(dc)) 1 tr into same stitch,
*1 tr(dc)in next, 1 tr(dc) in next, 2 tr(dc)* Repeat to end.
Trim and sew in ends...

If using only one strand of yarn.
Use a 3.5mm hook...and make about 220 ch to start project
or more if wanting it longer...

I hope this is easy to understand
as I have just thrown it together...
But it really is just a matter of starting out with a plain row then increasing...

Edit... Some pictures of the swirly scarf finished...

Inspiring Color

Inspiring Color Originally uploaded by Loving The Vintag
I thought I would share some inspiring images via Flickr...
I love the colours in these amazing images.
and even more so putting them together to make almost a story...



I imagine this beautiful vision...
almost running out of time,
happily lost in a world living in the past...
and not wanting to return to the future...
A time of simple beauty, smelling of loveliness
and the comfort of life as it should be...

I hope your week is just as beautiful as these images...

Winners...

Yes indeed I have two winners...
You see, as I draw out a sweetie
I hadn't taken into account that I had one comment removed from the author...
So 90 numbers went into my good luck bowl...
and number 67 came out...
It wasn't till I looked through my comments that I realized my mistake...
So to be fair
I though that the comment that would have been the original number 67
and the now 67 (due to comment begin removed)
shouldn't miss out...
If you get my drift...

So Congratulations to...
Anita
and
Baa Me Kniits

I will be sending
you your
Grandma Love Cushion PDF...

Thank you all so much for the amazing comments
I have loved reading through them all...
And the pattern will be listed in Etsy soon...

Giveaway Grandma Love Cushion PDF

Oh my dears I can hear the squeals of delight...
Yes I can't believe that I have finished it...
and
will be in my etsy shop very very soon...
So for a giveaway
to celebrate...
Just leave a comment
and I will draw out a lucky sweetie...
I will be only leaving this open for a few days
as I am keen to list it for all
that have waited very patiently
for so long...

This pattern is for a intermediate to advanced crochet...
In English crochet term...
There are lots of pretty pictures but this is not a
step by step tutorial...
The pattern I do think is nice and clear to understand...
and spaced out nicely over 7 pages...


Regards my dears...
Edit...
Thank you all my very sweet dears...
The giveaway is now closed
and I will drawing a winner very soon...
Good luck to all!!!

Warming the heart and tummy...

When it starts to get cool
I love nothing better than cooking...
And eating...
Today I had the fuel stove stoked up
and a pot of pea and ham soup bubbling away...
Just a perfect lunch...

Oh not forgeting some chocolate sponge rolls for
an after snack...
and a little light reading...

I also had an interview today for a story in one of the local papers...
Yeah...
Spreading the hooky love...

Speaking of Hooks...
Do my lovelies know of a online shop to bulk buy crochet hooks?
I need size 3.5mm
and do prefer metal
but candy bright are ok as well...
And I need them to accept paypal...
Big ask I know
but if anyone has any suggestions they will be much appreciated...

So back to the stove I go...
Just to warm the hands...
then a bit of pattern writing for my classes...

I have had some sweeties ring already...
Eeeekkkk...

Window Display...

Thanks to the lovelies at the Scone newsagent
for allowing me to have such an amazing display
to launch the June issue of Notebook...
They were very sweet and helped me put it all together...
I will be promoting my crochet classes that I will be teaching mid June...

And while I will say I am very nervous...
It is also very exciting
to meet some more dears with a passion for
the hook and yarn...
and enjoy a chat and a tea and biscuit or two...

A huge thank you for all the comments
and sweet e-mails I have been receiving about the issue...

I now believe that if you put the time and love into what you do
and try really hard to be true in what you are passionate about
you can really make your dreams come true...

Well that and a lot of luck, sweet dears
and plenty of
Tea and Biscuits!!!

Notebook is out!!!

Hello my dears...
It's out!!!
Notebook June issue...
EDIT: Sneak Peek Here
There is my crocheted pretties on the front cover...
and oh the lovely pictures inside...

I am still a bit in shock at the moment...
It's all very surreal...
and can't quiet believe it has all happened.
But I know that it has all been because of you
my sweet Granny loving readers...

It is times like this thou that I do miss telling the one person that made it all happen.
The loving, supportive treasure that taught me so much...
For without her patience and guidance from such an early age this would
never have come about...
Grandma these crocheted flowers are for you...
I miss you all the time.
and know that you are always with me even when I can't see or hear you.
You are there making sure I am alright
and pushing me to do my best...

And there still is some more sweeties that
have helped me and been there for me in "blogland"...

So a lovely bunch for you too...

Cam
Liz
Jodie
Tif
Luce
Linda
Bethel

Thank you my dears!!!

And the speed I am crocheting at the moment
I may have some bunches left...
They go to you
the many, many dears that leave comments
and pop in very post and say lovely words of encouragement...

Hoping your week if full of
Granny goodness...

Tea and Biscuits.

Tea and Biscuits.

Does grandma love biscuits more than her tea?
I ponder this thought, and then it occurred to me.
If she loves biscuits more than her tea,
could she in fact, love them more than me?

The crunchy topping, the creamy inside,
a chocolaty taste you can’t deny.
Heaven in a moment some would say,
or pretty close to it in a round about way.

Begin compared to a biscuit, isn’t that bad.
At least if it’s a good one, and not some cheap nasty brand.
Individually wrapped and sealed with love,
not tasting all lumpy like a clump of mud.

So as I weigh up the pluses and minus of sorts,
I came to the conclusion, after much thought.
She couldn’t possibly love biscuits more than me,
as she gave me the last one at afternoon tea.


My grandma loved Delta Cream biscuits.
Many a special moment was shared over a cup of tea and a few.
So here are my crocheted versions...
I really had to make them...
To add to my little shop display...
As I don't think the real deal would have worked...
I think they could have been eaten up very quickly if left out...
I don't think it is quite crossing over to the world of begin to twee...
as I see it more a little prop extra...and not total Nanna crazy...
I do hope you all like them...
I could have just found my new favorite crocheting pastime...
Seeing as though I really need to buy a few packets to make sure I making them look authentic...

Happy Day...

I hope all the Mum's and Grandma's
had a lovely Mother's Day on Sunday...

My day was just sweet!!!
A lovely breakfast...
Some very special handmade cards.
and some bright and cheery flowers.
What more could a mum ask for....
Hmmmmm...
well a few spare hours to crochet of course...
So I had that too...

I will be spending all my spare hours crocheting
and printing up flyer's and projects etc,
as the news agency in the town where I will be holding classes
are allowing me to do a whole crocheting display in there window
when the magazine comes out...
I am so nervous...
and so excited...
can you tell!!!

So till next update...I do hope that you are all
having loads of fun crocheting what ever you can get your hands on...
and decorating your life with some Granny goodness...

P.S...Happy B'day to someone special...