I love to make things.
I have lived in Birmingham all my life, my family are Irish I was the first one to be born in the UK.
I haven't travelled far, only been to London twice in my life, I have visited France once and Ireland, more than once or twice.
I'm a cancer survivor.
Over the years, I have done very different jobs, barmaid, shop assistant, receptionist, personal assistant, my last job was a manager of a charity (thrift) shop.
Up until 18 months ago I was a carer for my mother, now I am at home full time.
Favourite things
Cake - New York cheesecake although carrot cake comes a very close second.
Chocolate - Green and Blacks milk chocolate
Favourite book - Little women by Louisa May Alcott
Favourite film, I have two - 84 Charring Cross road, and This happy Breed (when I grow up I'm going to be just like Celia Johnson.)
7 Crafty Facts about me.
- The first sewing machine I used was a Singer treadle, (my mothers)
- My favourite Summer as a child, was one I spent time making petticoats.
- My dad taught me how to knit.
- A lady that used to volunteer at the charity shop I work showed me tapestry and I went from there onto cross stitch.
- I have always dreamt of making a quilt, something I will be starting this year.
- Although I never got to meet her, my Grandmother was a seamstress, I think making things are in my blood.
- My husbands family owned haberdashery shops in Ireland.
Over to you, tell me a crafty fact about yourself.
Bye for now
18 comments:
Hello Shirley, its always nice to put a face to a name. Although I haven't seen the film, 84, Charing Cross Road is one of my favourite books, and the first sewing machine I used was also a Singer (were there any other brands?), but it had a handle at the top to turn round instead of a treadle.
Joy xx
Dear Shirley
Nice to meet you. I love 84 Charing Cross Road and the DVD is, as we speak, winging its way to join my DVD collection. I can't wait! Another favourite (well, I have loads of favourite films)is 'Enchanted April' with Josie Lawrence, Miranda Richardson, Joan Plowright and Polly Walker. 1920s dresses, a castle, a month in Italy - what more could you ask for?
I still have a 1955 Singer sewing machine with a handle which was my first 'proper' one. Great for using during a power cut too!
I enjoy making felt, making jewellery and am going on a beginner's crochet course and a spinning wheel taster course to learn how to spin wool. How exciting is that?!
Sorry, this has turned into rather an epic...oops!
Best wishes
Ellie
Hi Shirley
Great photo of you. I've never watched 84 Charing Cross Road, but I think I'll put it on my 'must see' list. I also own a Singer hand machine which I still love to use rather than the electric one........I love singing and dancing, particularly in the kitchen for some reason,usually while doing the dishes or ironing. My favourite nibble is sugared ginger. Like you I love cross stitch, but my first love is knitting.......I can crochet but I hold the hook all wrong, (as if to knit)and my most favourite place to be is in the garden on a warm day.
Kim xx
Hi Shirley, we've been 'talking' for a little while now, so it's lovely to find out some information about you. My Nan was a tailoress and I'm sure that is where my passion for fabrics has come from. Jille xx
What a lovely post Shirley... great to know a bit more about you....
I dream of owning a treadle machine... only because I fancy having a platform under a tree where I can sit and sew....
Hugz
Nice to meet you "in person", Shirley! I also started sewing on a turn-the-handle sewing machine (it may have been a Singer?!). I have done cross stitch, knitting and crochet (and many other things), but after being bitten by the quiltmaking "bug", I've hardly done anything else!! Thought it would only be fair to warn you ;-)
Nice to actually "meet" you so to speak! Love this post..so interesting Something about me...ummmm... I once met Sir Cliff Richard. That was NiCe!
I am so pleased to have found your blog, and now to find out more about you. I learnt to sew on my Grandmother's Singer treadle. She was a tailoress, and her father was a tailor. I have tried lots of crafts but love quilting and embroidery the most.
Lovely to meet you. It is nice to put a face to a name and I really must do the same thing one day too.
Hi Shirley, it's fun to see you and read about you. My mum taught me to sew , knit and crochet. No embroidery. I have been doing stitchery quite a bit now. I don't think I could ever say that I can embroider. I love making all sorts of things. I think bags and purses are my favourite things.
Me again!
Shirley this is a lovely post...
A crafty fact about me is that I was taught to cross stitch by my cousin when I was pregnant with twins, and I think that's where I learnt true patience & care with the rest of my stitching & sewing x
Hi Shirley.
Great post and a nice way to introduce yourself to people. A crafty fact about me would be that I taught myself to crochet last year and am currently making my first blanket. I also love to cross stitch too, but I wish I had more time!
Thank you for sharing a little bit of you - my first sewing machine was a singer treadle as well - hope you have a lovely sunny week x
A crafty fact about me....i think you know most of them.
Joining a cross stitch website, a stranger at the time asking me to try a private cross stitch club and becoming a great friend...Thanks Shirley xx
Hi Shirley, lovely intro! I learnt to sew on my moms hand operated Singer machine, when I was thirteen years old!! And I have just donated same machine, still in working order, to our local SPCA who are passing it on to a ladies community group who make clothes for needy people .... Pat xx
Hi Shirley, you know that I am addicted to cross stitch and have tried many crafts in my time but always come back to cross stitch. Love the post about you and your crafts. Happy crafting Jean xx
Hi Shirley!
My mum taught me to sew on a sewing machine a couple of years ago, she also taught me to cross stitch. My grandma taught me to knit when I was a child. I learnt to crochet, nuno felt, drop spindle spin and lots of jewellery techniques at classes, everything else is self-taught
How lovely to put a face to the name, it's probably about time I did the same, but I seem to prefer to be behind the camera! I have two treadles (sadly without the machines) and we have used a butler sink draining board as a top for one and it sits on the patio, the other is currently hidden in the summerhouse and has a pine top which will need weatherproofing before it comes out into the garden too. As for crafty facts, I love all types of crafts and I think it has helped keep me sane since breaking my elbow at the age of 24 and having to give up work!
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