Just Listed ... 'Vintage Love' Ring Pillow

Hello my dear friends,

 just a short note to let you know that my ring pillow 'Vintage Love ' is now listed in my Etsy shop.
 

 

 

Don't you think it looks like it is very old?!

 

Last but not least ...

 

... today is my daughter Ashleigh's dress fitting for her wedding dress! The big day is now getting closer and closer and I am so excited but unfortunately I won't be able to share any photos of how beautiful she will look just yet ... her dress has to stay unseen by my future son-in-law but I will as soon as I can!

 

I hope you are well my dear friends and life is treating you kind.

 

Have a peaceful and creative day,

 

 

Karen B.

 

 

A Little Time And The Final Touches ..

Hello my dear friends,

on the day the world was going to see the newest member of the Royal Family my laptop was by my side or rather in front of my face almost all day again but I didn't just sit there, I managed to actually do something whilst waiting to see the new baby boy.

I don't know if you can remember my 'vintage feel' ring pillow but I thought I would be so nice to add a little more detailed work to it just to really give it the final touches and that is exactly what I did.

 I haven't embroidered something in some time now but when I look at Jillayne's ~ A Fine Seam ~ beautiful creations with all the beautiful embroidery work to them, I was so inspired and my thoughts went with that idea and I tried to do so and I love the result!

But I didn't stop there just yet ... I love my little flutter~by design and again I took it one step further and crochet one teeny tiny one ~ it now fits onto a penny ~ from sewing thread and gave it a little body with tiny beads too.

Now I love my vintage feel ring pillow with all it little detail and loveliness even more!

And here it is ...

... my now improved ring pillow which I have also given a new name ...

'Vintage Love'.

The changes are only delicate and subtle ones but beyond perfect to give this creation the final touches at last.
 

 

My teeny tiny flutter~by fits perfectly onto a penny now ...

 

 

... and looks so pretty with the seam binding roses.

 

I remember when I learnt how to embroider like this in school ...

 

 

... I was about 9 or 10 then and now I have discovered my love for it again!

 

It is amazing what a little time, needle, thread, a few tiny glass beads and crochet hook can do ~ something to keep in mind for future creations because some things are not always done when you think they are!

Last but not least ...

 I will be listing my 'Vintage Love' ring pillow first thing tomorrow morning in my Etsy shop. Maybe it will become a part of some one's very special day one day?!

And finally ...

 I am still not sure what my next creation will be but that is maybe a good thing for a day or two because then I can finally finish my daughter's bedroom.

 

I hope you are well my dear friends and life is treating you kind.

 

Have a  peaceful and creative day,

 

 

Karen B.

I Am Doing It Again ..

Hello my dear friends,

I just can't seem to stop my bad habit of taking more things on before finishing others first.
 
I have just taken a custom order making some of my crochet pretties and instead of finishing
something that I should do first ... like my daughters bedroom ... I am crocheting instead. Thankfully her bedroom just needs a few small touch ups and some other small jobs that I am hoping to get done in the next day or two. On the other hand I have almost completed my order which makes me happy since it is another thing of my to~do list!

And this is what I am crocheting right now ...

... little hearts and even tinier hearts, modest violets, my tiny flowers and my little flutterbys and

I should be done with all of them hopefully tomorrow and then off they will go on their journey.

Not even done with this 'project' I am already thinking of what I could create next. I have an old sweater laying in my studio just waiting for me to grab it and turn it into new themed nests or there are several Dutch wooden shoes in different sizes that would liked to be recreated too. Of course there is all that vintage linen from the 4 week long church sale that is patiently waiting for me to donate some time to it! Which one do I pick? ... Choice can be a awful thing at times ~ don't you agree?! Maybe I will take the easy way out and let me daughters decided what I should do next but what ever it may be ... I will share it here on Todolwen with all you lovely bloggers.

It would be nice to see you here some time again.

I hope you are well and life is treating you kind my dear friends.

Have a peaceful and creative day,


Karen B.

'Too ~ Doll ~ Wen' ...

Hello my dear friends,

since I have created my blog quite a few people have asked me how the name came to be which I have explained. I never though that it would be a good idea to explain how you pronounce even though I have been asked about that as well before.

A sweet lady asked me today this question again of how to pronounce 'Todolwen' and I am going to try and explain it the best I can and they way I think it would make sense to.

So if you think of ...

 

'too ~ doll ~ wen'
 

...there you are!
(You are not seeing things if you read this before 12 pm today, I did change it!)

 If you say these three words together, that is how it is said!

I think you all are so sweet and caring in showing interest in the little details, like how to say my blog name. Thank you for that ... because it's the little things that matter at times the most in some one's life!

It would be so nice for you to stop by some time again and visit me here again at Todolwen.

I hope you are well my dear friends and life is treating you kind.

Have a peaceful and creative day,


Karen B.

Now Listed ... 'Pansy Love'

Hello my dear friends,

just a short note to let you know that my newest creations are now listed for sale in my Etsy shop.

 

There are three new pincushions all fancy with pansies.

And these three fabric pouches are listed reserved for Judy at this moment so may have first choice.

 

 

If you have a spare moment ... grab your coffee and pop over and take a look!

 

I hope you are well and life is treating you kind.

Have a peaceful and creative day,

Karen B.

And I Calledl It 'Pansy Love' ..

Hello my dear friends,

whilst the weather was being still very hot it was nice to sit inside in the coolness of our house and take some time to create and recreate a few little pretties again apart from painting walls.

 

I had taken 3 pincushions out of my Etsy shop and recreated them using my stash of crochet pansies.

 

 

 I also worked on a few more little fabric pouches with the same theme of crochet flowers for a lovely lady, who missed out on my first one. They will be listed as reserved in my Etsy shop. The pincushions will also be listed as a open listing for anyone to purchase the same time, which will be very early tomorrow morning.

Here is a little preview of my newest creations ...

 

One, ...

 

two ...

 

 

 

and three pincushions.

 

And ...

 

 

 

 

... three new fabric pouches!

(Don't forget the pouches will be reserved until Judy has seem them first.)

 

It was so nice being able to sit down and not dig or paint again. I have still so many things to do ... I just received a custom order for some of my little crochet pretties, so that will be my next to~do I need to tend to.

 

I swear I always do this over and over again ... start too many things all at once! Right now I have so many things that I would like to start but still so many I have to finish! Well, more the reason to get myself in gear and work harder.

 

I hope you are well my dear friends and life is treating you kind.

 

Have a peaceful and creative day,

 

Karen B.
 

Just Like The Rest Of The World ..

Hello my dear friends,

yesterday was a very busy day but like many others in the world I didn't want to miss the news of a new baby being born, so whatever I did I made sure my laptop was there with me and tuned into the live web cam outside Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London.

 

 

 

 

Even when it came to painting my younger daughter Caylagh's bedroom the live coverage was there with me and as soon as the volume went up on the screen, my paintbrush went down and I sat just like many others and waited to hear the news. 

And finally after painting for about 2 hours I was almost done with the room and a new baby prince was born ~ how lovely!

 

And believe it or not, whilst I am writing this post and doing some of my household chores, a second window on my laptop is open, tuned into the same doorway as yesterday and again I am just waiting to hear a lot of noise that will give away that the new parents are ready to share their new baby boy with the rest of the world.

Getting back to yesterday, I think I over did it a little and today I feel like I am worn out but then again ... painting an entire room, cutting the front and back lawn and watering the entire property and to finish off also washing the car and all within 6 hours was maybe a little over doing it. Especially with it being quite warm and muggy here. I am not sure what I am going to get up to today but I will for sure try and take a slightly slower pace.  

The bedroom will need a second coat of paint to cover the green paint and I would love to sit down and do a little creating in my studio as well today. I feel that my bigger projects take over all my time these days and I don't seem to have much time to create. Right now I have new fabric pouches I am working on and need to finish. All in all my chore list is quite long again and I guess I will just have to wait and see how things will go today and how much I can get done.

(photo courtesy of Hello magazine)

 

Finally ... there is the happy couple with their new baby boy!

I didn't get any painting done today but I was able to work on a few little creations though and tomorrow is another day where I have plenty of time to work to finish the room.

When ever you have moment, do stop by again and visit me here at Todolwen.

I hope you are well and life is treating you kind.

Have a peaceful and creative day,


Karen B.

 

Shiny Silver Stars ...

Hello my dear friends,

since some time ... actually it's been over 4 months now ... I had my eye on some shiny silver star pendants at Michaels but the price they were asking for them was just silly. Even when they were put onto clearance the price was still high and therefor I still didn't buy them. Then a few days ago Michaels had a sale and there they were ... at a price I couldn't say no any longer to.

And now ... they are mine!

 

When I first saw these stars I thought of another creation that I wanted to use them for. It would be another Wynken, Blynken and Nod creation that I have in mind. When I am going to be able to start it, I am not sure but I need to work on the idea a little more on paper first. I also have a few more ideas in mind but nothing for sure just yet. The only thing I know for sure is ... that it was good that I waited so long to finally have them to work with and I can't wait to share the creations that I am going to use them in once the are completed.

Until then ... please still stop by from time to time and visit me here at Todolwen.

I hope you are well my dear friends and life is treating you kind.

Have a peaceful and creative day,


Karen B.  

Another Original Michelle Palmer ..

Hello my dear friends,

I just couldn't resist gifting myself with another little original sketch on fabric by Michelle Palmer.  I just love her work and it didn't take long ...

 

... to arrive in my mailbox!

 

Accompanied with another little note and tag ...

 

 

... this little sketch is just beautiful!

 

Just take a closer look ... you can see every pen stroke ... it is amazing!

 

I still haven't framed my first sketch from Michelle but now I will have to get myself in gear to hang both of them very soon ... I just have to find the right place.

 

 

 

http://michellepalmerart.blogspot.com

 

Why not take a moment and take a look at Michelle's artwork ~ I am sure you won't be disappointed and you might just find yourself a little original for yourself!

 

I hope you are well my dear friends and life is treating you kind.

 

Have a peaceful and creative day,

 

 

Karen B.  

 

A Four Week Long Church Sale ... Part 2

Hello my dear friends,

today I am sharing the second part of my visits to the 4 week long church sale. I was not only very lucky in finding all of the linen treasures but I also found many other lovely pieces too.

And these are the other treasures I found ...

... a few tarnished pieces and ...

 

... a little knife and spoon. 

Just look at this little cute face! 

I found these lovely vintage pieces of beauty!
 

 

Lots of old crocheting yarn and ...

 

... a very neat embroidery hoop and many old buttons!

 

A pair of vintage knitted baby booties and ...

 

... an antique baby shoe dipped in copper and all tarnished.

 

 

A tiny brass padlock with key and it still works ...

 

 

... and finally a small embroidered cloth bag - so pretty and sweet.

 

 

I forgot to share this piece with you in my last post. It is a lovely piece of vintage linen that is just beautiful. I am not sure what it is ... maybe a little linen towel.

 

I have been so fortunate to find all these lovely treasures and I already know that I will return to the 4 week long church sale again in search of more new treasures.

 

All I need to do now is to find the time to create something lovely from some of my newest findings and of course once done, I will share them here on Todolwen.

I hope you are well my dear friends and life is treating you kind.

Have a peaceful and creative day,


Karen B.

A Four Week Long Church Sale ... Part 1

Hello my dear friends,

I can't believe it has taken me until now to write this post and share it with you lovely bloggers. Maybe it was the fact that I put the bags away in my closet shortly after I brought them home and then forgot all about them ... but how could I?! ... They were bags full of treasures!

I am sure I told you about the 4 week long church sale that happens here in our town. The London Orchestra organises it every year and it is amazing! Every day many, many new things arrived and it was a constant renewal of goodies for sale and it is oh so addicting!

I must admit I went there I think 5 or 6 times or maybe more and found many lovely treasures. My most favourite table was the linen table. There was so much beauty in one little space ... how could I resist? ... Well I couldn't and I didn't! But there was so much more ... tarnished pieces, old crocheting yarn and many other bits and bobs ... I was in junker's/horader's heaven!

 

There are many photos to share and because I didn't want to wait any longer to share them with you ... yes, I am impatient at times ... I didn't wash or iron them first. I know, I should really!

 

I am sharing my treasures in two posts because I have so many photos to share with you. And here are some of treasures that came home with me ... 

 

 

 

... lots of beautiful vintage hankies and ...

  

... this one is made from silk and embroidered so pretty.

 

Many, many handmade old doilies and ...

 

... hand embroidered napkins. 

 

The most beautiful embroidered table linen, some large and some small.

 

 

 

These are 5 sets that I found that have been hand embroidered so beautifully and ...

 

 

... this lovely embroidered table cloth.

 I actually thought about buying this beautiful piece every time I went to the church sale and in the end I just had to have it. It is such a stunning piece! The birds ~ which I think are swallows ~ are made from French knots and look wonderful! I am so happy I decided to buy it in the end because not only do I love vintage linen but I also love white on white embroidery.

Tomorrow I will share the second part of my treasures that I found at the four week long church sale, so maybe you can stop by and take a look?!

I hope you are well and life is treating you kind my dear friends.

Have a peaceful and creative day,


Karen B.