Lilly Cottage

Lilly Cottage celebrates July, Giveaway Number 1!

July is my favourite month, it is my birthday month, the weather is cooler and there are so many things happening in July, like Medieval fairs and winter fetes and the oh so exciting Christmas in July events! I have also surpassed 300 posts a couple of posts ago and I really think that is more than enough reasons for a giveaway or 5....yes I shall have five giveaways from now until the end of the month and all you need to do is leave a comment on each giveaway post.

This will be the first giveaway post and the item I am giving away is in one of these pictures, you can guess if you like, I will reveal the item and the winner in the next giveaway post.

This week is a flurry of activity once again...I seem to do lots of flurrying and activitying don't I?

Anyhoo on Saturday the 18th, DH and I are driving down to Warwick ( I think it is down, maybe out to Warwick is better I 'm not sure, a bit geographically challenged I am) to attend The Handmade Expo as part of the Warwick Jumpers and Jazz festival.  It is going to be very chilly and I am very excited...but before then I have lots of stock to make.

I had rearranged the shop on Thursday and obviously it was lovely because on Sunday lots of my displays sold...any suggestions on what sort of display you think I should do?

 

 

 

 

Off to sew some more and probably Twitter an awful lot when I should be sewing.  I have a whole bundle of 'new to me' vintage doileys and I have a plan but first I have to wash and iron them...but that isn't like normal ironing it is pretty ironing! Big difference!

I shall return soon with the next giveway post....make sure you leave a comment on this post for the first present hidden in these pictures ( well it is no really hidden it just doesn't have a big tag on it saying ' I am the giveaway', but it is there and it is good beleive me).

ttfn Kiss Noises Linda

 

 

Interesting new folk have moved in to Lilly Cottage!

No I haven't moved out and been replaced by some alternative new owners, rather we have some new 'visitors' to Lilly Cottage and I thought you might lke to say hello.

They are visitors as they come to us from the the talented Julie and the talented Pam and they are likely to be swooped up soon and taken to a new home by a visitor to Lilly Cottage. Lovely Mr Ele Fant used to live with them too, before he came to live at my place.

I have been having fun with the Picasa FREE online photo editing tool but I just can't work out how to get a photo onto the blog from there but I shall...some day in the near future...I know I shall!

 

I know I know too whooo sweet!

 

She is a bear but I am thinking she would make a lovely Kangaroo, just add tail, sorry Pam but she would. Wheat bags wheat bags wheat bags..need lots of them in this weather. ( she is sitting next to them)

 

Suitcases, now a lovely lady asked me about suitcases and I am still trying to find your email address, so could you email me again if you are still looking for suitcases?

 

Sarah is one of Julies dressed bears...check out this dress and the lovely little chenille jacket.

 

 

Oh I think I just worked out how to make a copy from Picasa...um hit make a copy! Really, I do worry about myself sometimes!

Hope you are having a lovely day, check back in tomorrow as I will be starting a weeks worth of giveaways to celebrate all things wonderful in July, birthdays, Winter, 300 posts and Christmas in July...you will not want to miss it!

ttfn Kiss Noises Linda. 

 

 

 

Vintage Lace, pink roses and a rather nice clock.

 

Nothing much else to add to that title really, except how sweet this little corner looked the other morning at Lilly Cottage.  Everybody say aaahhhh!

Hope you are having a wonderful creative day. School holidays are coming to an end and I appear to be still sane...I think!

Kiss Noises Linda

Perfectly pretty Tea Party Celebration Tea Pot.

Forget fine bone china and vintage roses, this week I am in love with this completely 'gaudy' but wonderful teapot! It arrived after the Mad Hatters Tea Party ( how typical) but I think it is adding a little fun to this weeks tea party displays.

 

 

If you fall in love with this tea pot let me know, from memory they are only $34 so sweet!

Hope you are having a glorious day, don't forget to follow me on Twitter if you care to be Twitter or are already a Twit...hmm that sounds so wrong...anyhoo see my birdy on the side bar if you want to hear me ramble on all day every day....Hope that didn't just put you off...

Kiss Noises Linda

Ele..fants at Lilly Cottage, Vintage Chenille...swoon!

For the first time in ages I headed out to Lilly Cottage for the entire day today. Besides being frustrated that I couldn't re-arrange an entire room right there and then and that I couldn't walk around the park like I used to, it was a good day.

The nicest part of the day was finding this gorgeous creature..Mr Ele Fant created by the talented Pam. I snavelled him up as quick as you like and then hoped like anything that I could adopt Princess Ellie ( who has lost her crown) as well..soon.

I adore elephants and they rate higher than peacocks in my favourite animal stakes, they aren't as much fun to paint as peacocks but I have done a few elephant paintings.

I adore their eyelashes and a couple of years ago when we went to Dubbo Zoo and went on a behind the scenes tour of the elephants, it was all I could do not to burst into tears..they were soo lovely.

Just look at this gorgeous creature, would he have not made you feel weak at the knees too?

 

 

With his vintage newspaper hat he is just lovely.  He has come home with me now but great news, Pam will do orders and Princess Ellie and a few of her bear friends have come to live at Lilly Cottage and are ready to go home with someone else...if you are quick and they don't come home with me that is.

Look at the little Princess without her crown...a quick photo on the way out the door.

 

I love the rose at the end of her trunk.

Hope your weekend was wonderful.

ttfn Kiss Noises Linda

If you want to see the sweetest sweetest elephant story.. have a look here...sweet i tell you!

take tissues 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBtFTF2ii7U

Pretty as a Peacock stitching and painting love.

 

I think I might have always had a 'thing' for peacocks, I love the way they fan their tails out and the iridescent colours in their feathers. There was that one weekend on a farm stay that I nearly changed my mind about them when they perched on the roof and made this awful cry which scared the wotsits out of me and our very very small children, the first time we heard  it. I got over it though, fickle woman that I am I was mesmerised by their pretty feathers again in the morning.

I have painted several peacock paintings over the years, the most recent was this one on the circular canvas.  I love all the lines of the feathers and of course the shimmer and shine...the colours really are wonderful.

 

My most recent Peacock creation has been a work in progress for quite some time, I would often take it out to Lilly Cottage to work on on a Sunday as it has a black background and I was making it up as I went along..sort of.  It is still not finshed, as in made up to a wall hanging or framed or put up on a canvas. The stitching and beading is done however so I thought I would give you a little preview. The light was a little bright when I was taking these photos and they do look a little washed out, the colours are much stronger in real life.

 

 

Lots of little tiny stitches and little sequins and some very vintage bigger golden sequins.

  

Just a sneak peek though that lovely body fabric is hand dyed fabric from TrishAlan Designs.

Busy weekend again this one, Saturday is the first day of the Brisbane Trade Gift Fair where I am taking a sensible approach this time so I can see as many beautiful new things as possible to bring to Lilly Cottage.

Saturday is also the day for this

 
Saturday 4 July, St Augustines Church Hall, Racecourse Rd, Hamilton

you can check out their ( our I am a BrisStyler too) blog here with more info. BrisStyle Blog here I ran out of time and oompf to be a vendor at this market but I am soooo going to enjoy being a customer....you never know I may find some new artists who want their wares at Lilly Cottage too!

Of course Sunday will be our busiest day of the week at Lilly Cottage as the markets are also on at Old Petrie Town from 8 to 2pm. Sunday also means a 6.30am shop start for us as it takes that long to do the displays in the morning...and we have a SHOP! I hope the wind dies down before then as it is quite wicked at the moment and I feel like we could take off like Dorothy at any given moment...well slight exaggeration, I don't have plaits and our dog isn't called Toto....OK enough rambling.

Whatever you are doing have a wonderful weekend and if you happen to see me out and about or pop into Lilly Cottage, do say hello!

ttfn Kiss Noises Linda. 

From Tea Party to Handmade Market Fair.

As usual it has been a whirl of activity at Lilly Cottage this week. Thankyou all so much fo joining in our little tea party and I am having such fun visiting you all and I do promise I will get around to replying to your comments as well. Thank you to the wonderful Vanessa of A Fanciful Twist for hosting such a wonderful event. Do go and visit if you haven't already.

  Saturday not only saw our Tea Party extravaganza in blog land, it also saw my Darling and long suffering Husband ( that is DH for those who have seen that abbreviation before, it doesn't stand for anything mean), drive down in the absolute pouring rain at 4.30am to Ipswich showgrounds for The Handmade Expo .  It was a little chilly when we first got there but after lugging several old suitcases and tables and screens and stuff into several different postions as I couldn't make up my mind, we were nice and warm.  We had a wonderful spot at the end of the aisle and some lovely people behind us as well, our thanks to The Handmade Expo Girls, Liesa, Micky and Miriam for looking after us.

In an attempt to make our site a little different this time we used a lot more colour, we didn't want you getting bored you see.  Here is a little look see.

 

 

 

 

There is that long suffering husband.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a lovely day and happy to say we didn't have to pack up quite as much stuff, but still if you see something that takes your eye, just send me a message and I will tell you about it.

Next time I will show you some of the lovelies from our market neighbours ( when I find their links).

Until then, ttfn ( I still have lots of cleaning up to do from that party),

Kiss Noises Linda.

 

  

Welcome to our Mad (Hatter's) Tea Party at Lilly Cottage.

Come in, come in, it is so lovely to see you.  We were hoping that you would drop in and join our little party.  Now don't be shy, I will introduce to people as we go along and of course will explain everything to you.  You have missed the rose painting, when we had to paint the white roses red, that was the other day and thankfully it satisfied the Queen of Hearts ( you can see the work in progress a post or so ago).

 

 

Oh look here is that grinning Cheshire cat, I had heard he was around telling everyone some odd directions and telling them we were all mad here....he might be right but don't let that unnerve you, being mad is all the rage at the moment.

 

As you can see the table is almost set but we appear to have a bit of a problem.  During an unattended moment when we were setting up it appears our tea cups and saucers have flown out into the 'garden' behind and before we can begin our Tea Party we must find a matching cup and saucer and then find the White Rabbit ( of which I have seen more than one of today) to collect and egg and spoon...odd I know but a lot of fun...lets begin.

 

Oh right, this is the White Rabbit we have to find, should have known that Cheshire Cat would be around all the mischief too, oh and we must hurry...can't be late...

 

Looking, looking, lots of looking...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh look in the bush, could it be...yes I do believe it is a match!

 

Right we have our matching cup and saucer ( and no wild animals attacked us, I was a bit concerned around that log when we grabbed our cup). On to find the White Rabbit, I think if we just follow the crowd we will be alright.

 

Oh look here is Rosey, I shall introduce you in a minute...oh I don't think these ladies are carrying their tea cups and their egg and spoon in the correct manner....

 

aah but these girls have the idea, with their own supervisor little K. Aunty Paul is so clever she has her eyes shut too! Wow!

Now we must go carefully as I have heard that our eggs are very precious and if dropped we shall be..oooh oh oh..oh dear Miss K seems to have been unbalanced by some mischief...

 

Now we have everything, lets meet a few of the others.

 

Here is the lovely Miss K with her gorgeous Mother Val and wouldn't you know it it is Vals birthday today ( she won't tell us how old she is though), what a bonus, a birthday to celebrate as well.

 

This is the gorgeous Rosey who wears many hats and has two blogs i can't sew which is also what she calls herself...hmm not sure about that..and her home blog is Agapanthus and Goldsworthy . She is such a star, look what she made for us to share...oh and here are two of her gorgeous daughters as well.

 

Roseys Riboon sandwiches...what fun she had making these..

 

Are these not the sweetest little treats you ever did see? Rosey and her girls made these too, how utterly gorgeous!

 

 

They even brought some pink feathered friends with them, we won't use them as croquet sticks, they can just hang around here.

 

We will have to have a look at the tea table to see what there is whilst we meet the others...some are a little shy, but oh so friendly.

 

 

 

 

Please don't mind the mice, they seem to have invaded the tea party but they are very sweet really and we have lots of teapots!.

  

 

Oh and another White Rabbit wearing a heart I do believe was made by the gifted Lucy Bloom , not sure if that was how she intended it to be used but you know how White Rabbits are.

 

More mice, make sure you have something to eat or drink as we move along, it is a very long table and a huge party, so you may be in need of refreshment by now.

 

 

 

Perhaps you would like to have a game of cards, they rather on the large size though, so maybe a game of snap rather than poker.

 

Oh just be careful when choosing a cake..somethings are not what them seem around here.

 

Have a seat you must be getting tired...I am sure there is a spare chair here...

 

Now I shall pour you a cup of tea from my favourite teapot.  Stay and chat for as long as you long as you like.  Before you go though I would love to know where you are from so please leave a little comment, my visitors book for today, just let me know where you live ,...well not exactly just the country or suburb.

Off to pour some more tea, ttfn Kiss Noises Linda Lilly Cottage, Queensland Australia.

 

 

 

Yes I think we are...

Yes I really do think we are ready for Saturdays Mad Tea Party...see you there...don't forget to put your party hat on...

 

 

 

ttfn, have a wonderful day, kiss noises Linda

Painting the White Roses Red, Mad Hatters Tea Party Style.

I am really going in for those big long titles, I just have so much to say!

As mentioned in the last Tea Party Post during our preparation we were told that there should be no white roses, The Queen of Hearts declared that they should all be painted red!

What was I to do? In the middle of all this work, now I have to paint the white roses red.  There was nothing for it but to enlist the help of some Tea Party Painters, of course there were not expecting to be called upon so quickly but they were a happy bunch of painters, see for yourself....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They even brought in a specialist painter to get to those low roses. What a team!

 

 

 

 

Oh I do hope they get it done in time for Saturday so we can join in this..

  

We of course added Hatters to our party...it gets people in the right mood when they have to dress up don't you find?

Anyhoo the above soiree is being organised by Vanessa..from A Fanciful Twist so you know it will be fun.

Right better check on those rose painters, they need to be all red very soon, they do need a bit of supervision, look what happened when I wasn't there to oversee the painting, that specialist painter got ideas of her own... 

 

Got to love that creative streak...

Off to find some teapots, we need some of those for tea...oh and I have my eye out for White Rabbits and Cheshire Cats too!

Have a fun day, kiss noises Linda.