New Girls, Bunting, Dorothy's Shoes and Latest Purchases

Well, that's a busy title but I have lots of photos and updates for you.  Firstly I have had chance to get back to doll-making and created two new girls who are now residing in the lovely shop, La Vie en Rose awaiting new owners.

I have also been making bunting.  As I previously mentioned, I bought a Toile du Jouy/gingham duvet and pillow from a charity shop and created a cushion and tablecloths for the patio set.  The bunting is now complete, and I have made vintage-style royal wedding bunting from old Union Flag material and nautical-themed bunting from charity shop shirts.

Finally, Hurray!  Some great new charity shop purchases yesterday!  These included the first red shoes I have had since childhood.  They are quite vintagey with their pretty suede bows, not as sparkly as Dorothy's but I'm very satisfied with them.

"There's no place like home"

The next item is a metal plaque for 50p that defines all that is vintage and the final item a tatty little "leather" covered footstool for £2.  Watch out for this being completely reworked at a later date.

Can't wait to repurpose this one - mmm... vintage or retro ...

 Happy bargains to you all on your next trips out!

Little Peeps

Here is the cutie update I promised.  An array of lovely little girls.  Sadly no window-licking photos, bibbitybob! 

Niamh and Jasmine

Amelia

I want a sleepsuit like Amelia's!

The Dark Side

I'm not all shabby chic, vintage and Cath Kidston roses - I have a dark side too and I indulged in that on Thursday when I went to see "Vampires Rock!".  It's a comedy musical packed full of fabulous rock anthems, belted out at top volume by fabulous singers (and me!).  I have secret Goth moments, love the clothes, the style, some at least of the music (Emilie Autumn is wierd and a very acquired taste but I love her). 

On the fluffy and lighter side, my lovely friends and children visited me for a tea party on Saturday.  I attempted to add photos but they didn't work for some reason.  I'll post this anyway and try to work out what went wrong.  I'm sure you can't wait to see the little cuties so there'll be a new post soon.   In the meantime, keep an eye out for future bunting pics when finished!



Patio Set Out!

Yes, I know it's not really summer yet but the lovely weather has encouraged me and the mini patio set has come out to play.  We had lunch out there today and boosted our vitamin D a little.  The big patio set is staying indoors until I'm sure it's going to stay nice for longer.  Talking of the patio set, do you remember the single duvet and pillow case I bought from the charity shop?  The ones with the appearance of Toile du Jouy? And Gingham?  So far they have become a cushion and two tablecloths and are being modelled below by two-thirds of the patio set.  (How many times have I said "patio set" - too many, I think...)

Today's charity shop purchase was the part tea set below.  So pretty and summery with the little rosebuds.  They are now packed safely away in a little wicker basket until a tea party beckons.

What are you reading at the moment?  I'm leafing my way through "The Book of Tomorrow" by Cecilia Ahern.  I'm not good at sad books so I'm hoping it's less heart-rending than her "PS, I Love You".

Cough, Cough, Sniffle

Full of cold this weekend - one of those throaty, coughy ones that dry you out and make you all tired and floppy.  Still, I managed to steam the wallpaper off the walls in the spare bedroom.  I don't know if that was good for me or not but I discovered a new love in the steamer thingy - it was great!  The state of the walls is dreadful with crumbling plaster and holes all over the place.  Luckily carrad Jr (the woodwork king) is going to make them lovely again.  I can then paint/paper/etc and get things back to normal.  I've changed my mind about the shade of blue.  Going for a cooler, fresher look which will match the bedding I bought at the charity shop.  I tried Cloudless by good old Wilko and I think it's the one.  It doesn't have the class of Farrow & Ball but it's cheap and leaves more cash for nice accessories.

By the way, my few blog friends, do any of you know how to get more followers?  I don't want to be friends with the world but would love a bit more interaction.  All tips gratefully received xxx

Bedded Bliss!

Oh, the call of the charity shops had to be answered again today.  Hadn't been up town for a while and could have bought St Andrew's Hospice shop outright!  I limited myself to what I could carry on the bus home in a black bin bag...

Included in the items was an array of bedding, which was the main reason for the huge bin bag.  This was a £1.25 single duvet and pillow case in white and crimson with a lovely Toile du Jouy style pattern on one side and a country check on the other.  I can see a flowery cushion with crimson ribbon adornment OR fabulous bunting in alternate toile and check OR picnic tableware OR a vintage frock for Jasmine.  Oh, what shall I do?

 I mentioned the chateau styled spare bedroom with a cool woad-blue colour scheme in a previous blog.  Well, I found the bedding for it!  This wonderful quilted bedcover and pillow sham set was £15 but a bargain all the same.  So clean, so fresh, so french country.  I really must get on with that room!

Putting it in Perspective - Updated

Last Monday I and some colleagues from work went on a course regarding "Taking Control" for people either already made redundant, at risk of redundancy or going through major work changes.  At the moment I'm in the last of those, luckily but who knows for the future.  Anyway the lady who took the course was great and we all left feeling pretty positive about our ability to cope with whatever hand we're dealt.  As the course took place just up the road from my house, we all went to my home for lunch.  I'd baked Fat Rascals for the first time and they worked brilliantly (and yummily).  It was just like being at Betty's Tearooms!

I recently bought a new enamel breadbin for £3 from a charity shop, so took the old battered dark wood one, painted it Winter White, distressed it and changed the handle for raffia, buttons and lace.  Love it but don't know where to put it or what to put in it!   Any ideas?  It's two loaves high.

Later that day ...

I've been watching the news on and off all day, and the horrors in Japan have truly put my situation in perspective.  Even if I don't have a job in the near future I have my family, my friends, my home and everything around me that is familiar.  Many others have lost all these things today, and many others have lost their own lives.  The Japanese are a resilient people - I believe they will quickly get on with the job of repairing and rebuilding, but a great sadness will remain with them for ever.  Thinking of them today, and all the other countries who may be affected by this as the damage develops.



Bags of Bags

Found these photos of bags I made lurking in my files today.  Just thought I'd post 'em as they look so bright and spring-like with all the sunshine today.

World Book Day and International Women's Day

Two excellent events.  On World Book Day on Thursday I sat on the bus to and from work reading.  It wasn't a meaningful book, just short stories about vampires (a worrying love of mine...) and travelling and looking at the words jolting about made me feel queasy, but at least I joined in.  I just love books, the look, smell, texture.  The joy of opening that first page onto a new universe.  It's so much more personal that any other type of media and I just can't visualise World Kindle Day!  My friend, author Nick Triplow, has two new books coming out this year and I can't wait to buy them.

See what I did here?  Linked books AND women in one go!

We are strong.  We are invincible.  We are Woman!  Helen Reddy was right.  Celebrate all your women friends and family on Tuesday.  Mine are such a fabulous bunch - love you all xxx   This picture of my littlest woman yesterday looks rather sad and pensive.  Strange because she was supposed to be posing for happy pics of her new flashy-light trainers!

World weary at two.  Hey ho...

 Just had to add the final pic below.  I'm finally getting round to decorating the spare bedroom.  Jasmine picked out Farrow and Ball Blue Ground and you can't beat a colour-conscious two year old for taste so we bought a tester pot and tried it out on the horrible old woodchip

Somehow this turned into an attack on the woodchip and a chunk of the wall was stripped to plasterwork.  The thing is, I used to live in this house as a child and the last layer of paper was mine.  How 60's is this?

Flower power lives!

Lake District Loveliness

Last weekend I had a wonderful trip to the Lake District to see a great friend who has moved to Kendal. 
The train journey there was a little fraught as there was a delay and both connections, Manchester Piccadilly and Lancaster, were only achieved by a burst of running.  Whew!  First real exercise for ages! 

Jane was there to greet me at the station and we did the usual girly squeakings on meeting.  I hadn't been to Kendal for years and it was fab to see all the old stone buildings and little streets, with the mountains looming in the distance.  It's a harsh landscape but so starkly beautiful.

Kendal

More Kendal

Grange over Sands and Sunshine!



Can't see on this, but there's still snow on them thar hills!



So many lovely shops, so little time ...

We spent the weekend walking, driving, eating lovely veggie food, drinking wine and visiting so many galleries and charity shops.  The only sorrow there was that I had no luggage room to bring home all the bargains I saw.  I bought a couple of little items to repurpose and intend to return at a later date with a big empty suitcase to fill.  Roll on the summer and Woolfest!