Vintage Pleasure

Batticus

It's been a good week.A wet week but still a good week.The big girls have been away at camp since last sunday.In tents, in this weather, poor loves.They come home today and from their texts are really looking forward to some home cooking followed by McDonalds and a curry!Not all in one day. The house has been strangely quiet and well ordered without them.Two girls are so mush easier to look after than 4 and my referreeing skills haven't really been called upon.I have some fun stuff share that we have been upto but I just remembered that I never shared this fella with you.

This is Batticus and was made by Lily for Emily as part of a swap.A very, very late on our part swap.I have no idea how we drew it out so long but Emily was very patient.I need to photograph the beautiful rabbit that Emily made for Lily too.I love how these blogs are inspiring creativity in a new generation of crafters.

Lily tried to theme the swap with locally inspired items.She had been making lots of sock monkeys inspired by this book. We don't have monkeys nearby.Well except from Josie but she doesn't count.We do have Pipistral bats however.We think that they have a roost under our eaves.They don't actually come into the roof but use the slates as a shelter.At night time if we leave the bathroom light on they swoop into the yard attracted by the insects.They are so graceful to watch and quite mesmerising really.

A couple of summers ago we actually found a heat exhausted bat in the yard.Yep summers used to be hot! After a week at a bat sanctury being fed up he was returned.When he was released all his family and friends came to welcome him back and flew around him in big circle for a good few minutes.It was really beautiful to watch and listen to.The rescue centre brought a receiver with them so we could hear the noises they make which are out of our normal hearing range.The bats sounded like they were almost singing to him.Then they all flew off together.

We haven't seen them so much this year, with the weather being so wet, but hopefully we might get a few nice weeks before the summer is over.Hopefully.

And The Winner Is....

...drumroll please.....

......Paula ....

Of the Lily swap I mean! Is this the shortest post ever or what?

P.S. thanks to everyone who offered to send a parcel to Lily anyway.I will get back to you all but my email account seems to be having 'issues' and sending emails takes forever.I should have more time midweek.I do appreciate all your offers and I know Lily does too.

Gifts Galore

Edited. See below.

Well what can we say? Thank you so much for all the Lily love this last week.You know how to make a girl feel good. I have so much to say about this young lady and I'm sure I will one day. As a thank you for your kind words I'm offering up, as a swap, these vintage cups I picked up thrifting recently.

They are made of a Pyrex like material and are so vibrant.I do love them and would love to keep them,but...must de-clutter.

The deal is you send a parcel to Lily.Something to inspire her.Either handmade,thrifted or something to add to her crafting stash. Just leave a comment and we will pick a name out of a hat on friday.

Apparently I didn't make it clear.I am offering the cups up for swap and in return I'd like a parcel to be sent to Lily.Take a look at the last few posts to think of anything suitable.She would be over the moon with fabric,buttons,trims and the like.Obviously there is only one set of cups so to make it fair we will draw one name out of a hat on friday.If you want your name in the hat then tell me in your comment.That clearer?

We visited Manda yesterday and suprised her with a online bloggy baby shower.It was amazing but unfortunately I forgot my camera - der!! So we will have to wait for her post to see the goodies. All I can say is that she was spoilt!! So much love around here.

Lets Open It Up.

So today is my 300th post. Do I really have that much to say ? (no comment from you Manda!)

I've been Brave and Bold ,had a few Freaky coincidences,shared the Musings Of A Four Year Old...

...been taught the Important things in life,shared a few birthdays and almost as many swaps (I haven't forgotten Sasha + Jerusalem honest!).

I was wondering though is there anything I've missed? Any little thing you have always wanted to know about me? Any question you have always wanted to ask? Then now's your chance.

I'll try to answer as many as I can and anyone who comments is in with a chance of winning a little prize.So come on don't be shy!

New Girl

Just recently a new girl came to stay with us.All the way from the USA.She is so beautiful and we are all so overjoyed!

Emily sent her as a thank you for a tinsy winsy favour we did for her.Of course everybody would like to think she is theirs but we all know she mine really.That's why she sat up way out of reach on my new craft cupboard.Thank you so much Emily she is so adorable.

In was so pleased to finally have somewhere to display my vintage cracker tins.That is until hubby asked if I knew someone had put a load of rusty tins on my new cupboard? The cheek! He has no style!

I'm not the only one who's introducing a new girl and I couldn't be happier for her!

Pay It Forward!

I love the idea of 'Pay It Forward ' swaps and especially ones where the deadline is 365 days away so when I saw Kittythimbles post I couldn't resist.

Hopefully it will give me a proverbial kick up my crafting bum! So here's the deal.

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week… LOL… but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

Quilt Love

Remember my last attempt at quilting? Well I finally got around to trying again.

I went with the tree again but instead of the skipping girl I added a little deer.

I left off the button embelishment as it's new owner is only 2.I was a little worried about the safety of them.I decided on hand quilting too I didn't want to risk messing it up again on my machine!

The binding was a happy accident.I wanted to use the floral binding but only had enough to do 2 sides.I used a co-ordinating blue for the top and bottom and am really happy with the way it looks.I am even happier since it's my first attempt at binding too.

The top and backing are from vintage cotton pillowcases and are so soft.I used a lightweight cotton batting and am much happier with the end result. Finally I can let go of the quilt guilt.It feels good!

I just hope it comes out of the washer in one piece! Then I can post it on it's way at long last.I'm sure my swap partner has given up all hope and I truely hope it's worth the wait.

You can see a photo of the lovely quilt we received here.It was a round robin swap and my sender was Angela.It was immediately pinched by Lily and has been in her room ever since!

Gagging For Cup Of Tea!

Now is the time of year for my girls school trips.They always need plenty of parents to help make sure no-one gets lost!I have never been able to tag along before as I always had a little one at home to take care of.This year however I think school have had their monies worth out of me.I have been on 3 school trips in the last week and each time I have come home gagging for a cup of tea!

Firstly there was Kittys trip to the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester including a visit to the Doctor Who exhibition.Let me tell you 50+ six and seven year olds can make so much noise!

Then there was Maisies  trip to Portland Basin Museum.Which meant walking  50+ ten and eleven year old along the canal path for an hour each way.I was sure someone would fall in!

Then today was Josies trip to The Blue Planet. 50+ four and five year olds who were all so sweet and well behaved.My group of little people were just adorable and it really made my day when one little girl said she was so glad that I came.We had such a great day and nearly half of them fell asleep on the way home.So tiring but so sweet!

Lilys school don't ask for helpers but she did rope her dad into a sponsored rock climb last weekend! (...you see my play on words there? Funny eh?)

No photos of the actual trips unfortunately, child protection and all that!

Kittys Dress

I showed you this dress way back in march last year.Afterwards I decided that Kittys christening dress deserved to be saved and displayed.I just had to figure out the best way.

When Manda sent me a piece of wrapping paper, that she kindly picked up in NYC for me, I knew exactly what to do.

So with the help of an IKEA Ribba frame we can now all enjoy this beautiful dress for years to come.

Vintage Button Swap Part Deux

I think you all know and understand how much I love vintage buttons right?So of course when Sally organised the vintage button swap deux I signed up right away.

It sounds easy doesn't it to chose just 12 buttons,parcel them up and post them away? Well it was so difficult.First I ummed and ahhed about which ones to chose.Could I part with some of my favourites?Would my partner like what I'd chosen.Then there was the search for the owl buttons I knew had somewhere because I know she likes them.

Once they were chosen then there was how to package them and what else to include.The last swap saw some amazing ideas and I really wanted to make a beautiful parcel.

I even almost made the swap deadline which is amazing for me.I always end up stressing that my parcel is so late.

After all that effort though guess what?That's right I completely forgot to take any photos!So you can't see how I stitched the buttons onto vintage butterfly cigarette cards ,one on each wing or the other little extras I included.Oh well never mind I'm sure Cristina will post some photos soon!

Edited :You can see them here thank you Cristina!

What you can see are all the lovely things I received in return.These two are my favourite buttons.I love red and aqua combinations so will find a way to use them together.

In the parcel was also some delicious vintage ribbon.

By the time I got to the rick rack I was in heaven!

Thank you so much Cristina I really do love everything you sent.