This and that

The days have flown past this week. At work, I've had the May magazine to complete and, of course, it's the Easter holidays, too. The boys are older and more independent now, but I am still required in some ways ;) Anyway, that's as may be, my thoughts have strayed craft-wards and vintage-wise occasionally, so prepare for a long and rather rambling post. 

I ordered this gorgeous book from the Book People and it came today. I'm thrilled to bits with it. Although I love crafts, and have loads of ideas, I don't find any of them easy to execute. If I am working from a pattern, I need instructions to be v-e-r-y  s-i-m-p-l-e. This book, which isn't just aimed at children, although there are a lot of child-friendly makes, is wonderfully clear. The ideas are adorable. It shows basic stitches for embroidery, and covers crochet and knitting, too.

Birds! 

Lots to browse through and plenty of inspiration. I'd highly recommend this. £3.99 seems like a bargain to me. 
On my travels today, I had the urge to call in at the antiques centre. It seems ages since my last foraging trip, and I was getting withdrawal symptoms. So, after I'd been to the market for food, I popped in for a mooch. I was so glad I did, as I found this amazing shawl:

It is such a beautiful thing. It is fragile and worn in the middle (I think it's silk), but I don't mind that. The edge looks as if it has been hand hemmed and knotted with wool tassels.

It's modelled here on my late Grandma's pink Loom chair. I wonder if the shawl comes from the 1930s? The tree pattern seems very much of that time.
The charity shops were heaving today, the world and his wife seemed to be in there, so I didn't spend long in them. I just picked up one children's book, which has some fabulous illustrations inside. They are by Joyce Lancaster Brisley, who also wrote and illustrated the Milly Molly Mandy stories, which I love from my childhood.

I like a wooden horse, too. 

This has to be the best drawing of the lot....

I know just how they feel......