Friday, August 08, 2008

Catching-up......

We've recently returned from a beautiful week spent in sunny Devon. Hubby and I took our youngest daughter and her best buddy for a relaxing break in this charming little Victorian cottage in Kingsweir.
We had this stunning view from our bedroom window over the river Dart, with Dartmouth quay in the distance....yes, I could get used to waking up to that view every day.....
Being based here, meant that we rarely had to use the car. A quick passenger ferry trip over the water and we could be in the town for our evening meal. One of the best evenings was spent in a restaurant on the river, in a converted Dutch barge.
Naughty....but very nice!
The girls were able to chill and enjoy crabbing from the quayside in the evenings too; it was good to see them revelling in these simple childhood pursuits and such fun when it generates competition and light-hearted rivalry between other kiddies doing the same, with parents rooting them on!

We even rubbed shoulders with the stars at Brixham harbour! ;-))

My souvenirs from our lovely holiday were all vintage, of course!

This French chocolate box.....
Two tiny handmade silk lampshades and a roll of French wallpaper printed with bulbous summer fruits were my best-buys.

*************************
On our return, my eldest daughter turned 21.....another milestone...gulp!

******************************
So, I am now back and trying to get into a working frame of mind! The sewing machine hasn't stopped the last couple of days......
I've also been trying to come up with some new ideas.
I have collected vintage costume brooches for a long time and always enjoy adding them to my hand made items and looking for ways of displaying them for instant selection. They are easily damaged when tossed inside a jewellery box, so I have come up with this hanging display frame.

It creates a way to recycle antique picture frames that have lost their glass and also to showcase an attractive vintage fabric. It consists of a pad for fastening brooches to and the strap provides a place to clip earrings or to hang bracelets and necklaces from. I shall hopefully add some to my website when I update the on-line catalogue soon.
I have some pretty vintage eiderdowns to launder and list as well, so must get on......
Hope you are all enjoying the summer and have a fab weekend,
Niki x

18 comments:

  1. Anonymous12:35 pm

    OH What lovely treasures, my parents live in Dartmouth, and we are going down tonight for a quick weekend visit.

    love your brooches, sooo sparkly.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous1:24 pm

    Hi Niki, glad to hear you had a restful break, i'm sure you enjoyed every minute of it. Happy to see you back on your bog and looking forward to seeing your new creations.
    Jeanjeannie.x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Niki,
    Looks like you found some real treasures,i hope i will be lucky enough to grab one of your lovely bags soon.
    Keep up the good work.
    Debbie.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your trip looked fabulous. I love your vintage frame idea! I can't wait to see more!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a lovely place for a holiday. I have to go to England some day. I love the display piece for brooches.

    ReplyDelete
  6. WOW, YOU SURE WERE MISSED!
    AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO COME BACK... WITH MEMORIES OF YOUR STAY IN DEVON AND YOUR NEW TREASURES PLUS WHAT I`VE BEEN LOOKING FOR THE MOST... YOUR BEAUTIFUL NEW CREATIONS!
    SO MUCH EYE CANDY, IN JUST ONE POST... WHAT A TREAT!
    KISSES KISSES
    DEBBIE MOSS
    XXX

    ReplyDelete
  7. Glad you had a good break Niki, I love Devon, I have so many fond memories of holidays there. Glad too you found time to go treasure hunting. Happy belated birthday to your 21 year old
    Kimx

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Niki

    Glad you had a good holiday. Love the eiderdown on the top of the pile!

    Sue x

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a great holiday you had! The pix are wonderful!

    I have an eiderdown just like the one on the bottom of the stack. I love love LOVE that blue cabinet. What a great color!

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a lovely trip. Ferry rides are among my favorite things. Love the key hanging from the lace.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Happy 21st oldest girl - time to start counting backwards now!
    Any chance there were chocolates in that yummy little box? Something to sort out methinks!
    Fantastic brooch frame - clever you and all your original ideas!!
    Cottage looks like a dream - might ask for a contact as we've been thinking of a hol down that way. That chocolate pudding looks disgusting, terrible, yeuch....if I were there I would have eaten it for you to save you the trouble!! Glad you're back! Missed you. t.xxx

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous6:31 pm

    wow, that does look like agreat place. I have never been there but have heard so many good things about it. Was it sunny the whole time you were there? If so, you missed out on all the horrble weather, lucky girl! Love the eiderdowns, particularly the top one, so bright and pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Such lovely photos, we have not been to Devon but I feel we must soon - perhaps for next years holiday.
    Lovely blogging as always!
    Sandra.x.

    ReplyDelete
  14. So much lovely eye candy on your blog today, Niki! Happy Birthday wishes to your girl! =) My kids enjoy catching little crabs at the beach, too! Every once in a while we spot Japanese spider crabs... those are not as gentle on the fingers as the little hermit crabs are. =)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hello Nikki looks like the most wonderful holiday. Birthdays as well how lovely
    Hugs Lynn xx

    ReplyDelete
  16. So glad you had a lovely holiday! Love the new treasures you found!

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a perfect holiday Niki and a place so close to my heart.. I even noticed some of the bright stuff in one of your photos... sun!

    A very belated .. but sincere Happy 21st to your daughter..

    Michele x

    ReplyDelete
  18. Greetings from germany. Your blog is stunning and pure romantic :-)

    Lovely regards Maide

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for finding the time to visit me...
Niki xx