1st Post In The New Year

Hi everyone,

Its been a while since I have blogged, and my God has it been extremely hot here in Melbourne.  We got up to 46 degrees at one stage and it was practically impossible to sleep.  Luckily for me, the heatwave for now is over and I'm back to making things, collecting antique textiles and whatnot.

                                         















Above we have some of the things that I've done this year.  I made 4 oya lace scarves, some eye glasses cords and a cross stitch pillow case cover with lace edging for my spare room which I have matched the colours to.

I still cant believe I now OWN these beauties.  These cloths are HUGE, and are embroidered with metal using a special technique called "Tel Kirma" in Turkish.  Each stitch is individually done and there is no moving between stitches.  You finish one stitch and then start another.  It is very pain staking and comes from the northern part of Turkey from an area called Bartin.  These 2 cloths are antiques and would've taken the woman who made them 6 months at least for each one, so I'm quite happy to have these in my collection now.

Ahiretlik Oya- "friends to the end Oya"

Zeki Muren Eyelash

Deer Horns

Wasp Oya

Leblebi (roasted chickpeas) Oya

Above we have some new comers to my collection.  The first one Ahiretlik Oya is from Kutahya, Turkey.  A girl makes this for her friend on her wedding day to signify that they will be friends no matter what.  We then have some bead oya scarves from Balikesir:  Zeki Muren Eyelash,  Deer Horns and Leblebi oya, while Wasp bead oya comes from Namrun.

I hope you've enjoyed reading this, my first post for the year.  Don't forget to visit my facebook page and give me a like (click HERE to be redirected to my facebook page)

Till Next time! Take care!

Merry Christmas To All Those Celebrating!! Mums Antiques Part 1

 So every christmas time I go up to my mums to have lunch with her and the family and I stay a few days to just relax from the hussle and bussle of the city.  My mum lives 3 hours from Melbourne in a town that is pretty isolated from...well anything, and the closest town to go shopping in is 30 minutes away.  Anyway my mum has been collecting dolls and fine china and other things ever since I can remember and her house is and always will be a somewhat "ever changing museum"  Every year when I come here I rush around the house to find out whats new and whats changed.  The thing I like about my mums things are that even though the house is big, shes put the things in certain ways or positions as to not clutter a room, but to beautify it.  Anyway I always remember that when my mum had time she'd often sew together a dress for a doll or knit a jumper or cardigan or whatever.  Maybe this is where my crafting skills have come from! who knows...So this is just the 1st installment of some of my mums things, shes also an avid gardener and has around 25 gardens on her property...I suppose if you live in the middle of no where, you have to find lots to do lol.

Hand Painted Hand Saw

A Doll on the end of my mums bed

Doll in pram with parasol

One of the doll cabinets

Bears and dolls!

One of my mums many displays of fine china and figurines.

Gollywogs!

Like me my mum has a soft spot for chickens and has many chicken related art around the house

This jug and bowl have been here ever since I can remember.