My Dream Shop!

[RedRubyBlue]

I want a little shop with a bow window and bullseye panes. The door would be smaller than average and have a little brass bell attached. Inside you would find a highly polished wooden floor and white shelves filled with vintage textiles and patchwork quilts, old sweet jars filled with buttons and reels and reels of ribbons in all colours and finishes.

It would smell of lavender and bergamot and would have a wood burning stove.
My shop would be a wonderland of colours and textures, rather like working in a rainbow and you would find buttons in the shape of ladybirds and blackberries and cunning little bouquets of silk roses and applique daisies.

Ribbons would be in gingham and velvet and silk and the patchwork quilts would be in reds and creams and cream silk squared with black velvet. White cotton pillow slips would be edged with broderie anglaise and ironed with starch and lavender water.

I would have stained glass lanterns that I would light in the winter and at Christmas the shop would smell of cinnamen and cloves and the decorating theme would be tartan and Scottie dogs.

I would have a black cat that would sleep in the window when it was sunny and by the stove in a rocking chair in the winter.

Would you come and buy from me?

Gicanticus

I will be in late tomorrow so hold the shop. There's a love.

Have been seduced into coming in and would like to sit and look whilst cuddling Tolstoy please.

Sugar

Tea is brewing. No pressure to buy my lovey.

[Takes a sleepy Tolstoy from the patch of sunlit window and hands him to Sugar]

One lump or two?

[Puts cushion behind Sugar's back]

Put yer little feet up.

Ahh, comfy! Good job Tolstoy is on my lap or would be skipping round like a child in a sweetie shop! Look Tolstoy, ribbons and lots of lovely fabric.

[wonders if could sew with Tolstoy on lap or if he would chase the needle and thread like own cat does]
If I give you some hot chocolate, can I have that instead Ruby?

:o

Sugar

Hot chocolate? Nay problem hen. It is hot chocolate sooo strong a wee moose could trot across it and would never have to wade.

I have marshmallows also. Have a slice of my treacle tart pet.

Is it ribbons yer after?

Well I have plenty.

Tolstoy wants his tummy rubbed by the way.

You have the face of a wee angel my love. Settle right in.

I shall bring everything to you.

Big cuddles and tummy rubs to Tolstoy [offered him some hot choc but he turned it down]
Yum yum, treacle tart :) Will bring in some cupcakes in return.
Am liking this shop, can I move in on lazy Sundays? Could teach a cross stitch class for you :)

Sugar

Cross stitching class? That would be grand. Start next week.

Tolstoy is a contrary cat. If ye keep a prawn or two about yer petticoats he is yours forever.

Also. To the lovely lassie who PM'd me.

My advice is this;

'Blue and green should never be seen
'Cept on the back of an Irish colleen'

Mix the velvet with a red or yellow twill.

And to answer yer second question?

What I did with Angus when he got a touch frisky? Drop of bromide in his tea. Worked every time.

Every evening for supper we would have cheese, soda bread and pickled onions.

When I felt frisky I left out the pickled onions and the bromide.

Hope that helps my wee lamb

Anyone want a few yards of boucle for a good thick winter skirt?

Anyway.

Please forgive any tardiness on my part. Cross stitching replies to all my letters takes a wee bit of time.

Good 'eavens and lawks o Lordy, i had no idea I would need to be a northern period shop assistant, I may have to resign!

Ruby am gathering my stitching bits up now ready to start next week.
Tolstoy would you like some butter icing instead? Made some cakes earlier and sure I have one about me just for you. Ruby, Giganticus would you care for one? Mini wedding cake stylee with lemon curd and butter cream filling? Lovely Lakeland moulds, am sure some ribbon could be added too.

Mmmmm....cake....yes please

Giganticus

Ach my wee love. How are the bairns?

[Whispers - can you be Welsh?]

Have ye been gathering slate all this while? Ye must be glaikit. In the rain as well?

Did ye get the French ribbons and the Regency embroidery waistcoats at the auction?

shop here?? I'd want to move in! I'd like some midnight blue silk velvet embroidered with silver stars and a tiny deep red silk pin cushion with the weeniest little bells sewn at each corner....oh and a big slice o' lemon sponge please

Sorry, I'll move away from the fire a bit for you. Would you like a cuddle of Tolstoy too?

you also need lots of old crystal drops from chandeliers hung up at the window so that you would have rainbows casting about

yes please...all my cats have gone to the happy hunting ground and dh and ds highly allergic; miss them...sniff

Urm no, I don't think so, sorry

I got the ribbons but the waistcoats weren't good enough. I did get a few bolts of Indian silk from the 40's - lush.

I could do with a course on covering buttons - I've never managed to do that successfully.

Any scones left? I do love a scone.

Is there a reason Tolstoy is staring at the counter like he's seen a ghost?

Pudden

Welcome, welcome, welcome. I heard the bell ting but my scones were rising. I was a little bit tied to the oven my love.

[Murmers away].

Midnight blue velvet, stars, red pin cushion and bells

Midnight blue velvet, stars, red pin cushion and bells
Midnight blue velvet, stars, red pin cushion and bells............I have them somewhere..............Giganticus would know.

I think somewhere in the back shop labelled 'Pre-Revolutionary Russian textiles- Romonovs'

Ach - found them. Four yards of the slik and the pin cushion belonging to Anastasia the Grand Duchess.

Seventy two pence please lovey.

Kerchhing!

Tea and a lemon sponge on the way while I wrap your parcels.

Tolstoy! Naughty boy - get out of the knitting basket and tend to your kittens!

I am suffused with warmth (possibly red wine)

thank you...I'll be back ...toodle pip

Pudden

None of that red wine. Tis the devils's own urine.

Have a wee nip of Napoleon's brandy. The British Museum won't miss it. Good for the constitution my lass.

See ye soon.

Next customer please.

Oops, maybe the shop isn't just for lounging in and cuddling Tolstoy. Maybe I should be off too then .

sugar

Shush now and shush again. The cat is searching for yer lap and yer left yer tea.

Such stuff and nonsense I have never heard in my whole time.

I have a whole heap of georgette satin squares in all colours for your perusal.

I also have a particular treat for your eyes if can abide a minute while I go and look.

[twinkly smile]

Sorry Tolstoy, would you like some salmon to make up for it? Fed some to my own kitty and saved you a bit.

Ooh, satin squares [sinks back into chair and looks for cat]
Been tidying and sorting old clothes and have kept some to turn into bunting, maybe I could use your squares too,

Cornflake cake anyone?! Just out of the fridge. Been baking whilst popping in and out and had a yen for these! There is lemon, chocolate and vanilla cake if you prefer (eat it now, this is a novelty in our house at the moment!)

Ahh the treat.

I have some quilts left over from the Mayflower that I found in New England. The colours are as fresh as a daisy.

Maybe one for your bottom drawer and one little one for a crib? Maybe in a year or two?

Ooh, pretty. One for crib definitely for friends - 4 boys born this month!