brownies and doilies unite

This weeks misadventure features a Kodak Brownie, and a heap of vintage doilies!
I have been hunting for a vintage brownie to use as a prop for our wedding for months, without luck.  But this week, bizarrely, I stumbled across one in the main street of Somerset while I was supposed to be working!! Pays to keep your eyes open!! It was just sitting in a new little second-hand shop, amongst junk and clutter and general crap.  I was so excited, I made my bridesmaid Jess, who also happens to be my workmate, go and pick it up for me on her lunchbreak, as I couldn't wait for it any longer!!

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On a completely different note, Jimmy had soccer in Launceston today, and he and a few of the boys are staying the night in Launceston to celebrate a mate's birthday, so today and tonight I am a soccer widow.  Perfect timing for me to begin some of the crafty projects I have had my eye on for some time now.  My newest obsession, Pintrest, has provided me with much inspiration for new projects!!

Operation Crafty Weekend project #1 completed- My friend Debbie and I went Vinnies shopping for vintage doilies for a couple of projects, the first of which is this table runner, made from vintage crocheted and lace doilies, hand stitched together by moi! This could be a cute wedding project!!

Currently in the throes of project #2

But what will it be? Stay tuned to find out!!

The Beginning.... which will appear at the end.....?

So how does one start off on a blog? I know very little to nothing about blogging or blogs, other than I love to look at other people's crafty creations, and weddingy goodness on them! A recent friend, Allana Parker aka 'High Maintenance Hippy', has encouraged me to start a blog, after seeing my Instagram profile.  And upon further investigation into the blogosphere, it appears that I have, in fact, been using my Instagram profile as a makeshift blog! So here I am, blogging. 

So who am I?  Well, My name is Emma Gleeson, I live in Somerset, Tasmania, and I love to craft.  I have a teaching degree in early childhood education, taught for 12 months, and decided that at this stage of my life, after being at school for all but 4 of my 24 years, teaching is not for me.  Last year, I went to Europe, where my now fiancee proposed in Paris, and this year, after working there part time for almost 8 years, I am working full time in a newsagency, which I completely (suprisingly!!) enjoy!  I now spend half my life explaining why I have chosen not to teach, as people can't understand why I would spend 4 years at uni only to not use my degree.  I loved teaching, and I loved the classroom and the kids, but I felt that I needed to be away from the school environment for a few years, and in the long run, I think it will make me a far better teacher for getting out and getting some true life experience to apply to my teaching. 

As far as my crafting goes, I have had my finger in many, many pies.  I started out as a stamper and cardmaker, changed to a scrapbooker, became sick of scrapbooking and evolved into 'off the page' scrapbook work, and my current passions are kusudama flower balls, cross-stitching and learning to sew.

My fiancee Jimmy and I are getting married on Feb 11, 2012, at Highfield House in Stanley.  Our wedding theme is 'vintage tea party', teacups being my current love, which sends me to the dusty, dank, musty, corners of second-hand stores on the hunt for gorgeous vintage teacups filled with flowers to use as part of my table centrepieces, set amonsgt stacks of vintage hardcover books, and vintage candlesticks and various other vintage props. Hence, my blog name. 

Today's misadventure occured when I filled in for one of the work girls this morning, and a regular customer came in for her regular Saturday lotto.  She told me that she was going to help at a local charity garage sale organised by the Soroptimist's.  I casually asked (with hope in my heart and bated breath!!) whether there were any teacups there, to which her reply was 'oh yes! heaps!' She must have seen the flash of 'omggetmethererightnow' in my eyes, as she offered to put them aside for me until I finished work. They say that a watched clock goes slowly............ Never has a half-day shift taken so long to pass!!  My bridesmaid Jess also happens to be my workmate, so she had to listen to me whinge half the morning about how much I wanted to go.... poor Jess!! When I arrived there, she proudly showed me the Royal Doulton trio treasures that she had set aside for me and carefully wrapped and placed in a box.  Some were marked $8 and $10, and there were 10 sets in the box, which she told me I could have for $20. I almost died and went to heaven then and there!! I also managed to find a box of 22 old hardcover books, a silver tea tray, a serving plate, 2 little vases, a small leaf-shaped plate, and 2 silver serving baskets..... total haul cost? $41.50. Ahhhh how I love being a vintage shopper!
Emma xx