Flowers All Around

Things have slowed down considerably here in the crafty department.  The last few weeks are a blur for me; lots of running around getting ready for Mr. Crafty World's return after a 5 week absence.  A blur of trying to keep it together while a nasty head cold settled in.  Life is leveling out again,  though I'm now on some antibiotics that are making me feel a bit, disconnected, I would say.  Earlier in the week I ducked out for some shopping.  I haven't been to the thrift stores since Jan. 23rd. Yes my friends, I can hardly believe it myself!   Actually with all the basement stuff still sitting in my living room while renovations are being done, I have found it to be the best kind of deterrent to adding anything new to the household.  I was a bit afraid that not having been to the thrift shops in so long it would end up as a kind of free-for-all kind of shopping trip, but I was remarkably resiliant to all the wares available to me for such good prices.  I think still being a bit ill took some of my enthusiasm away.   I did not, however, come away empty handed - you didn't really think I would did you? 

First up is a lovely pale yellow teacup and saucer and sweet little creamer.  I must have had a subconscious need for pink and purple flowers; it wasn't until I got home that I saw how similar the colors are.

I don't really need another teacup, but it was just too pretty.  As was the other one I bought when I went back the next day!

Beside that is my favorite find: a souvenir compact with famous images of Canada.

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I was one happy thrifter to discover this one.  The powder screen and puff inside have never been used, and  it is in wonderful condition.  It fits with my retro needlepoint bag perfectly :)  I don't know how old it is, given it's great shape, but it was made in Great Britain, and you don't find many souvenirs made outside of China anymore.

More oldies came home in the form of an Enid Blyton book about a naughty doll named Amelia Jane (she really is bad!), and some plastic beads.

My next favorite item is this toothbrush holder:

I  thought the flowers on it were so pretty, and it would look nice on my end table with crochet hooks in it.  I even got the thumbs up from Mr. Crafty World on that one.  Now I need to find the rest of my crochet hooks!

I know one of them has been used for this: 

TA DA!!! My flowery tea cozy is finished!

I'm quite pleased with it.  More so because I thunk it all up myself.  I'm sure I bent/broke some cardinal crochet rules in my quest for a flower tea cozy though I had no idea what I was doing.

I'm still debating whether to add more flowers and/or to add buttons to the flower centers.  For now I'm just happy to leave it alone.  Mostly because these anti-biotics are taking the gumption out of me!

I used cotton yarn; just the cheap, crafting kind.  It is kind of an untraditional tea pot shape so I had a lot of problem solving to do.  I didn't want to go to the expense of using wool yarn in case I ended up tossing the whole thing. 

I got lots of practice making flowers and working a shell stitch, so I moving along quite nicely in my crochet journey.  Despite all the unravelling I still wanted to keep going, so I know I like to crochet!

And now the Earl Grey tea in my newly cozied pot is calling out to me, so I'm off to have a cuppa in one of my new teacups. 

Have a lovely weekend folks.