postcard #5...

dearest readers,

my boys are winging their way back to the states and i am left travelling the country lanes with our #2 and Crystal Gail.

i shall miss them most terribly, especially our #3 for i must tell you that since being on the road our #3 has been in charge of 'picture taking' if i require 'moi' in the frame.

he takes the 'shot' and he totally understands what i am seeing in my head and 'voila' a perfect picture has been captured, no cropping needed, i am most impressed...

the boat and myself leaning,

the gate to my imaginary beach house

and the lane that leads to it.

at one point he had a 'to do' with a stinging nettle and still 'kept calm and carried on'. when returning to the shed i am preparing to 'sack' my girls and give him the title of 'photographer extraordinaire to Tif'...

in the meantime me and our #2 have one week left to make the most of 'old blighty'...

and so i send you this postcard stuffed in an envelope along with a few pictures of 'loveliness' from my homeland.

i believe it takes a 'move' to another country to really appreciate one's roots.

so many pretty buildings...

so much character...

so much charm...

and so much of me over here...

ah ha! what a brilliantly clever bit of linking eh!!! oh yes, Tif's still got it after three weeks on the road

("what have you got Tif, and did you really ever have it?" i hear you cry. ummm, good point dear readers...)

so let me move along swiftly but not before i send a "thanking you most kindly" to Victoria for thinking me a worthy 'unexpected' guest and for allowing me to dust off my little cogs and get the old brain 'a thinking'

also inside your super bulgy envelope is a picture of my 'thrifty find of the utmost kind' on this trip so far.

a yellow teapot...

with a pretty lid...

"how much do you think i paid for this?" i excitedly asked our #3 a few days back...

after a pause he said "£2"...

i was most unhappy, i felt sure he would guess in the double digits but no. he was blimen' spot on. yes i paid £2 for it and i was most convinced it was £2 well spent and had hoped everyone would be aghast at my 'canny thriftiness' and 'eye for a pretty find' but it would appear that my boys, after a little discussion would not have paid £2 for such an item and rather take the money and spend it on something worthwhile like 'match attack' cards... they still have so much to learn.

she is bidding you farewell and will return at the beginning of next week with postcard #6 and a 'competition of the utmost kind' (oooh, such thrillingness!!!) ~ Tif

postcard #4...

dearest readers,

the sun has disappeared behind the clouds, not nice fluffy clouds but big angry ones. do we let that get us down. "oh no!" shout i... we just turn Neil Diamond up a little more on the car stereo and sing a little louder. yes, it is quite true 'sweet caroline' is a great mood lifter along with a bit of Elvis...

our usual trip to old blighty results in us standing amongst the candy and music aisles of good old Woolies, but alas, a terrible fate has befallen the British high streets in the past year and so our children's children will never get to feel the 'frill' of going to Woolworths.

every year we would peruse the shelves for the 'must have' sounds of that particular summer, but not this year. sadly there is nowhere since the closure of Woolworths in my folk's town to buy a CD!! isn't that incredible, now of course if i was all 'gadgety' and 'with it' i would instantly whip out my 'gadgety' music player and say "do not fear dearest children, your mother has it all under control"... i would not only be able to download the 'latest and greatest' but also actually know who the 'latest and greatest' are.

but this is not to be, not now and not ever... i do not do little 'gadgety' music players at all. i have reached the point in my life where i do not really wish to bother with such things.

a dinosaur... that is what i have become. i get my 'frills' from thrift stores, piles of doilies, and stashes of yarn but not 'gadgety' things...

so that left me and my clan with a music dilemma. we could choose to travel the wee lanes of south Devon in silence but that would never do, for then we would have no distractions from my driving... so it fell upon my mother's shoulders to select a few CD's from her collection to place in our mode of transport. what pressure of the 'utmost' kind...

my boys of course know Elvis and every word, so that was a hit.

Dixie Chicks was a winner for me... after all i could sing 'wide open spaces' until the cows come home, but 'my clan' did not feel it was safe for their ears or the other cars upon the road.

Roy Orbison didn't get much of a look in either as we discovered good old Neil... my childhood came flooding back and we can now sing to our hearts content, not fearing the narrow country lanes, the huge trucks whizzing past with inches to spare, or the tractors with big prongy things looking most menacing, causing me to close my eyes and send up a silent prayer to whoever may be listening...

she is thanking you most kindly for all your lovely lovely comments and will be back on friday with postcard #5 and the bestest 'thrifty find of the trip' to date. (don't you just love a cliff hanger) ~ Tif

postcard #3...

dearest readers,

it has been a grand week for thrifty finds of the 'utmost kind'...

although i must confess i have a problem when looking for 'where have you been all my life' items whilst traveling in another country. i keep seeing lovely 'things' that have my name written all over them but of course i am hindered by the reality of a 'suitcase' and what will and won't be squeezed in...

so far i have had to accept my dream boat that lives by my imaginary beach house will not be mine for many a year. if it was not a 'pie in the sky' thought, i would have it shipped back to Mossy Shed where i am quite certain it would add some 'curb appeal' alongside of our Gladys.

i have also had to turn my back on the most 'loveliest of lovelies' wicker chair. it was lurking in the corner of an antiques mall. i didn't get a pic but it's enough for me to tell you it had a 'tulip' shaped base and an 'egg' shaped top half for pulses to start racing... as i 'tippity tap' about it, i am overcome with emotion as to think it will belong to another one day.

but do not fear for me dear readers, nor lay awake at night fretting that Tif has not got her 'thrifty frills' on her visit from across the pond. for i have scored on many an occasion these past eight days to the point of having to sit upon my suitcase, and wondering what i can start to stuff inside the children's bags...

i have found knitting needles galore, single and double pointed.

three lovely pitchers, quite chipped and crazed (sounds familiar) but none the less, they still have star quality. i wasn't planning on buying the three but they came as a set and so, fancy that, i was forced to take all three.

a little natty basket of the perfect shape... now being used to haul my growing wonky granny blanket around in. i do have plans to change it to another color but whether i will ever pluck up the courage to do so is another thing...

and some 'spiffy' books from the early 1950's, with the most wonderful jackets.

a green vase with a cross stitched pattern on the side, which i see, looking most 'dashing' upon the kitchen windowsill with peonies to compliment it's beauty...

and last but not least, a hefty stash of linens and more linens, not all revealed here. some in good condition and others not so... of which i plan to help 'revive' in the future so they may be enjoyed again by others.

before i sign off, i must just apologize to my Godson for being rubbish at jumping off a bench. when my friend Debbie showed him the pic of 'me and my boys' leaping from the bench on my last postcard he exclaimed "mummy, the boys are jumping, but Tif's not... she just kind of falling off" and quite right he is too. i have reached that age when jumping off a bench is no longer seen as 'wise' but more as a 'risk' to one's health... i promise to try better next time...

'till then she is wishing you sunshine were ever you are and postcard #4 will be on your doorsteps by Tuesday next week ~ Tif

postcard #2...

dearest readers,

every year we make a trip to a unspoilt beautiful beach on the coast of south devon just a few miles from my folks place...

four generations of my family have sat upon this beach and every time i return, it feels like i am 'coming home' inside of me.

this visit the sun was shining, quite frankly it was positively balmy and i cannot recall for many a year the need for suncream and a sundress. my usual attire is a thick cardie, towel wrapped around any exposed bits and the only way to escape the wind is to lie as flat as possible upon the pebbles.

and so i reacquainted myself with the green green grass of home...

the blue blue sky and the blue blue sea...

and with silly things along the way...

and then as if that wasn't enough, i found my door.

the door i didn't know i was looking for, the one that belongs to my imaginary beach house.

for forty years i have passed by this door, and never noticed it's existence.

but now i have... and i see it has been waiting most patiently for it's moment to shine within my imagination.

she is off to do some thrifting tomorrow of the 'utmost kind' with her mother in tow and will report 'all findings' on friday ~ Tif

postcard #1...

we have arrived safely on the ancient soil of England... in the space of twenty four hours i have already crocheted 6 granny squares and bought a pair of boots.

my need to make granny squares became most obvious when i stumbled across the stunning work of Wood & Wool Stool, quite honestly her crafty crocheting skills leave me breathless.

until i saw her lovely wood stools with little crocheted covers i had no idea my world was lacking, but now i've seen them it is most clear that every stool across the globe should be clothed in one of her 'little bits of goodness'. of course my crocheting skills are rather basic but seeing the beauty laid out before me, i knew i needed to challenge myself beyond a plain crocheted square or rectangle. armed with my little pile of yarn leftovers and 'three torn out' pages from my 'complete novice' crochet book i set forth.

("sacre bleu" i hear you cry, "Tif has vandalised a craft book", i fear i had no choice my dearest readers, i could not bring the whole book with me. i promise to reinstate the pages on my return with a nice bit of sticky tape).

and so, i sat down to my first day on a 'small island' to study a granny square pattern. for some time i twiddled around, pretending to know what the instructions were saying. after all not only are my crochet skills most basic they are also rather rusty. after my first attempt i held it up for admiration... there was none, for it was having trouble resembling a granny square.

then i did what i should have done in the first place, i ignored my 'three torn out' pages and made it up... since then things are going swimmingly. i see visions of a wee blanket in no time for 'little olive'. without doubt i will never ever succeed in a large blanket as i have serious 'itchy twitchy' problems when it comes to long term focusing and repeating things. but for now i am most happy with my 6 little squares.

as i have no 'crochet holdall' with me i have taken to carrying around a china fruit bowl i found lurking on my mother's table in her glorified trailer home. i'm not sure it is the most sensible of vessels for transporting my yarn project but then when did 'sensible' ever come into the picture...

and before i sign off postcard #1, i must tell you i found a lovely pair of boots, i was not looking for boots in any shape or form, but they found me. of course they were the last pair in my size adding to my "but i've only just got here, perhaps i should think about it" dilemma.

then it dawned on me as i tried them on for the third time that afternoon, driving the sales lady nuts, they could quite possibly make me have an air of perhaps coming from some Scandinavian country.

now of course i haven't frequented many Scandinavian countries, therefore giving me no authority whatsoever to make such judgements upon a pair of boots and who might wear them. but it makes me happy and after all i am getting into the vacation spirit... chunky boots and yarn in tow...

she is thanking you kindly for the 'our #1' leaving the nest support and will see you next week with postcard #2 ~ Tif

'adieu' but not...

a few hours to go and we will be flying across the pond to 'old blighty'

this year it will be a little different...

my man and 'used dog' will stay behind to 'hold the fort'

our #3 will not be carrying his pen knife in his backpack, when going through security.

but the most difference of all will be our #1 not coming with me.

for she is spreading her wings and going in a different direction this summer, one that takes her to the east coast where she will study textile design for eight weeks.

on one hand, i am so excited for her and the opportunities that await her...

but on the other hand my little body is just 'gasping for breath' at the thought of her out in the 'big world' on her own without me to keep her 'safe'.

i know one has to let go at 'sometime' but i didn't think that 'sometime' would come quite so quickly. in the blink of an eye, seventeen and a half years have gone past and my little baby stands before me, ready to leave... and quite honestly dear readers it's one of thee most 'bitter sweet' moments in my mothering career so far...

but still i have plenty of distractions ahead of me, such as lovely charity stores, british chocolate and of course spending time with my family...

in the meantime i am distracted from my 'last few hours with her' by wondering where on earth my UK driving license is ("phew" i hear you chorus together) and noting that waiting till two hours before the 'off' to cut our #3's hair was not perhaps the best of 'planning'.

and before i say 'adieu' i must tell you dearest readers that i am 'chuffed to bits' to see my sales on etsy add up to 198!!! (i included my meagre excuse of a vintage shop in this count to make it look super duper grand!)... i did have a target of 200 that i set myself a few months back, and quite honestly i thought it 'pie in the sky' wishful thinking, considering how tough times are for many a folk.

so i am blown away by the fact when people are counting pennies everywhere and being most selective in what they purchase, they have chosen to shop 'dottie angel'. a 'thank you' goes out to any of my customers that may perchance be reading this and of course a 'big thank you' goes out to you dearest readers, who have taken time from your busy lives to drop by and visit with me for a while. i am never quite sure what i give to you, but you give to me the confidence to be me. and that my dearest friends is quite honestly the greatest gift of all...

and last but not least, i will not be leaving you for long, ("oh no! can't we get rid of her just for a bit" i hear you cry)

nope, i'm going to be hanging around. for i have a plan, a cunning plan and it involves sending you postcards from a small island, an island that i am proud to call my homeland and the first one will be on your 'cyberspace' doorstep by the end of the week...

till then she is wishing you a lovely few days and herself 'sanity' wherever she goes ~ Tif

essential packing...

today is a 'headless chicken' kind of day... (i said that in hushed tones so as not to send a 'shiver of fear' through every little chickies body in the vicinity)

you know the sort of day, the day before the 'off'...

i have spent the last few days tidying and cleaning so everything looks 'peachy fresh' around the shed, i went to bed last night feeling in control, practically laughing in the face of 'Miss In Control' herself.

i awoke this morning and it all became clear, 'Miss In Control' was laughing at me...

oh the fool that i am, my list of 'must dos' has grown from one or two things to an enormous mountain of 'oh crap, i need a miracle' pile of things.

of course some very 'quick thinking' ones amongst you may actually be saying "well really Tif, do you think blogging is a priority, on a day like this".

and yes, your wiseness is once again above mine. but it's an addiction is it not, a fix that must be 'got' to be able to get on with the day, otherwise in the back of my head this continuous 'babble' is going on. a 'babbling' i experience everyday, whirling around... all these imaginary conversations i am having with you, dearest readers.

but do not worry for me and my packing of 'undies' and other utmost important items, for i am well stocked with delights to get me through today.

and with that, i must away to my piles of essential packing... determined this time to take with me 'crafty' projects that i have been wanting to work on for a wee while now...

a crocheted blanket for little olive (thank goodness she won't be too critical as it's been the longest time since me and my hook have hooked up!!! ha, wasn't that just the best pun ever... "she's crazed, she's losing it, she's drowning in piles of undies and other such things" i hear you cry).

and some linens that i wish to embroider ramblings upon... i also have a journal with me this time, so i may ponder moments and register them onto paper, thus making me feel like i am a deep and mysteriously creative person who travels around with children in tow, looking eclectic and bohemian and not as i fear

'like a headless chicken'...

she will see you tomorrow for a final 'adieu' ~ Tif

things of 'note'...

or perhaps not...

1. my dishwasher has been restored to it's full glory, and so has my sanity. (for the time being...)

2. the 'mouse that happened' in my studio has gone on vacation several miles from here.

however it has become apparent that before he left, he had invited his cousin to stay...

3. i have found the secret to looking youthful... when you have no time for the little luxuries in life like 'five minutes to paint toe nails' then 'chipped polish' makes you feel eight years old again.

4. there is a gremlin living inside the shed, first the dishwasher and now my printer. in my hour of need, with 38 ramblings requiring printing, it became sick. at eleven o'clock last night after several hours of cursing my man helped it make a full recovery. as my 'art installation' ramblings and everything else were due at their destination 10 am this morning, this did not do my 'graying hair' any good at all...

5. i am totally in love with being a 'mother hen', they are such time wasters to watch, and unlike children they don't talk back and appear to appreciate every little thing you do for them.

6. i feel a path is opening up before me... where it will take me, i've no idea but i'm sure i will find out sooner or later.

7. i may take 'perfect looking' pictures of our shed, but i can assure you there is chaos to the right of it and chaos to the left. when i look at these 'small windows of tidiness' it makes me feel calmer.

8. school is out for the summer... and i am so happy to be spending ten weeks being waited on hand and foot, ha!!! once again i'm living in a dream world...

9. i have been bequeathed the title of 'admin' to a group called 'all colours in' by the lovely emma lamb. it is a most important role and i have to tell you the power has gone straight to my head and i am wielding my 'flickr' invite privileges all over the place...

10. i shall be spending this weekend in a whirlwind of cleaning, washing and packing for i will be touching down in old blighty next week and i cannot wait.

she will see you on monday and is wishing you the 'fabbiest of fabby' weekends ~ Tif