At last

At last the snow and ice is starting to melt.

These poor little things in the back yard are struggling, but optimistic and hopeful.

 Not a leaf or even a hint of green on the trees yet

 and there is still plenty of this around.

Back to textiles next week.

Spring cleaning....mittens

Whilst sorting out my vintage shawl drawer

 I came across these hand knitted mittens.I must have bought them at least 20 years ago (see price!!)

 at an Estonian church bazaar.  Memo, must telephone to see if they still hold bazaars

Now there is a great, well deserved revival in Baltic knitting so I shall be just in style next winter.


Whoops, pressed publish by mistake,  don't know how to get back into draft......ah well.

My new Liberty scarves

The collection has grown.

This vivid deep gold/chartreuse paisley is a favorite colour of mine, in fact, I am wearing this colour in a small floral print as I type.

 Art Nouveau large print....unusually it is hand rolled and 34" square. Mint condition. Some how it just does not 'do' it for me, although it has all the right ingredients.

.

 Now, this one does ring all the bells , how 50s can you get! (maybe 1960s) . The  grey and yellow rose print is my latest favorite.

Difficult to date the polka dot scarf, not too old I would guess.

Not sure how many Liberty scarves I have now, its been a few years since I did a little stocktaking.....800??? 

Coming and Going

The shipping activity in Port Nelson is a never ending ( if somewhat noisy) delight.

  

Constantly changing, coming and going.

cargos of logs, containers of apples

 and cars.

The Merlion at 20,928 tons and The Trans Future car carrier is 60,414 tons....I know this as I read the shipping news in the Nelson Mail everyday.

How these sea monsters navigate the cut I will never know, they even back into some berths.

I can barely back  a Toyota into the supermarket parking lot.

Sunday market

Nelson has a Sunday second hand market too.....

I would have bought this old Elna sewing machine ( $20 ) in a heartbeat had I been at home ,

 and one can never have too many bagpipes.

Over the 6 or 7 years I have been poking around this market it seems to be changing from bric a brac to mainly second hand clothes. My other complaint is that many pitches display their goods on the ground....fine if you are just looking, but for me, if I bend over to pick up an item I can barely get up again!

 However, I was very pleased with the hand smocked baby clothes I scored.

Nelson Market

Two very appealing stalls at the Nelson Saturday morning market.

 

 First up'Piccalilli'. Deborah makes enchanting clothes for little boys and girls using re-cycled vintage blankets. ( lots available, and kiwis know their wool)

 They are very well made and  have a lovely, gentle, old fashioned look....... A.A.Milne or  1930s Nursery Rhymes . Heirloom garments for sure,  that also sell on Felt, the NZ craft site.
Note the handmade buttons and the blanket labels.

I was also very taken with Atticusfinch. Using up-cycled fabric, specially wool, Shelley's hand made clothing and accessories

 have more of a Brothers Grimm, or Hans Christian Anderson  folk lore look. I think the above cap is straight out of Hansel and Gretel.

Now, all I need is a toddler to buy for.

Crash bang

Here comes the Maersk Jaun

28,361 tons, steaming in to Port Nelson, just below our rental house. Ready to load and unload containers.

Unfortunately for me, this activity goes on all night, crash bang, crash bang.........

Night time view from my bedroom.

Hurrah....she's leaving on the morning tide

with some tug boat help through the cut

If truth be known, I love the port activity and look forward to it every year.