TEN THINGS

Thought I would join in with this '10 Things' challenge from Shimelle's Blog. As I have started the long needed job of sorting out our loft, here are ten things I found on the first stage of this project. It will take a few weeks to finish this job as I am sorting and repacking as I go. I want to be able to find my craft materials and other things more easily and get rid of all the stuff we don't need. So with one black sack for the dustbin, two bags for the charity shop, a box of paper for recycling and one end of the loft tidy! Here are some of the things I found.

1. First  Embroidery - I believe this may have been my first attempt at any kind of embroidery. I remember making this at primary school. We were allowed to choose from several designs and colours of fabric. I chose this cream piece with Eskimo and seal. We were taught chain stitch, french knots and cross stitch, there is even some double coloured chain stitch in there. The thread is Cotton Perle.

2. Linen and lace, passed down from both my family and Alan's. I have washed and ironed it all and decided to use some of it and store it with my other table linen rather that in the loft. Some of it will need a little repairing.

3. Many boxes of scrap fabrics. This I intend to sort out, so recycle all the tiny scraps which are no use and store what I want to keep, organised in such a was that I can find what I want when I need it. I have several projects in mind for this little lot, which I have been saving for when this job is done rather than going out to buy more fabric.

4. These are old tobacco tins. My grandfather used to smoke a pipe and these are the tins from many years ago. As you can see from the postage stamps stuck to the lid he used them for his stamp collecting. They have since been used by my mother to store buttons. As I have reorganised the buttons into glass jars, the tins are empty, but I'm sure I will find another use for them.

5. These two fantastic toys the children had when they were small. A medical kit and a tool kit. The endless hours of fun they all had with these! They are complete and well cared for and will be kept for future generations to enjoy.

6. China tea set and post and pans etc. again these were another favourite of the children, the are from IKEA.

front of work

back of work

7. Shadow work, this was worked by my mother-in-law.

8. Part of my Grandmother's wedding dress. This is the over skirt, in a coffee coloured lace and fabric with embroidery.

9. Shoe bag, one of the three colourful shoe bags I made for the children when they started primary school. I ended up making lots of these for friend's children too.

10. Silk paints and the small pieces the children made some years ago.