Spring is coming. Well I hope it is.

Isn't it great to wake up to some lovely sunshine? Isaac my 5 year old asked me a few mornings ago after looking out of his window - Does that mean its not winter any more? I wish the answer had been yes! Later that day I took the boys out for a ride around on their bikes. I was standing with my head tilted upwards and my eyes closed enjoying the sun on my face. I opened my eyes to find a guy looking at me as if I was a weirdo!


Above is a lovely Spring inspired treasury from A Second Life who makes some fantastic polymer clay magnets. I likes these lacey ones


and these rocky ones

and there is 25% off your order at the mo. Great!

B x

Owls, Gnomes, Babushkas - Oh my!

Ok so its time to tell you about some of my new handmade goodies. I have been trying to come up with an owl design for some time. So on a cold January evening I felt inspired to get out my pencil and sketch pad. Isn't it funny? Some days you can draw and draw and draw some more but you just can't come up with that great design you are looking for. Then on other days it just appears on the paper with very little effort. That winters evening was definitely the latter - yippeeee!

So excited was I that I had all the felt cut out and was playing around with ribbons, buttons and fabrics. I can often be found doing this for no other reason than I like looking at them, sorting them, eating them..... Well may be not eating them but you've got to admit some of these buttons look good enough to eat.

This one would make a perfect pincushion.

Hang them by the fire - Not to close though, I don't want be responsible for anybodys house burning down!

Pop one in your underwear drawer for nice fresh undies.

Carry one in your hangbag and wip it out and take a big sniff when the kids are driving you potty.

Hang in your wardrobe to keep moths at bay.

Oh and remember I am always happy to make some with out lavender, I know not everyone loves lavender like I do.

I don't really have much to say about this except that I love gnomes! Not enough to have a garden full, enough to make a Gnomey brooch . I do think they are cute and cheerful and they make me smile.

What silly things make you smile?

Lastly my babushka purses. I made a few of these last year and found them a real pain to make. I realised I was going about it the wrong way and now they are a breeze. I really, really love these and hope you do to.

I use mine to carry my business cards, you can get at least 20 (yes I have counted!) in it.

Think thats enough from me. Loads to do and I'm off to London for the weekend with the girls so really should do some ironing and packing. Child free weekend - Yay! I love them but I love time away from them.

Thanks for reading,

B x

Hello doll face!

I have decided I needed to write about my babushka dolls, they seem to be very popular at the moment. I cut out enough to make 100 and still found it wasn't enough. Heres a pile ready to be sewn.

I love making these little dolls they are so bright and lovely and they make me smile. Some have Lavender in so stuffing them is very relaxing. My boys always get really excited by them and always want to play with them. So much so that I have given them one each, with lavender of course.

I had to take lots of photos of the dolls to use on Etsy and Folksy. I think they look great all lined up like this.

I even think they look cute all packed up, even though it feels a little cruel to wrap them in plastic! Yes, i know they're not real. I have one as a pincushion and I can't bring myself to put pins in her face. 

Here is a photo kindly sent by Emma of my dolls hanging in her shop  White Doll Arts

she also has a shop on Etsy

Where she sells pottery if you hadn't guessed.

Phew they are keeping me busy and I still have outstanding orders for 20ish. B x

Crockery-tastic

Ok so I wanted to join in the crockery showing. I store my needles in my midwinter coffee pot bought from ebay. Used once as a teapot and the tea stained the crazing on it so it was demoted to a needle holder. Also my Petra Boase mug that I dearnt use for fear of breaking.

More mid winter the top of the teapot and I have 6 of these cups and saucers but they are far to small to use. I used to have dinner plates but could never find any bowls to match. After many years of using a mismatching dinner service I have replaced them with a Habitat one. We bought it last Christmas with vouchers we asked for. 
I love these, bought at a car boot for not very much. The stall holder only had these two and  my birthday is in June and the mans (Dan) is in November. They had to be purchased.
Oh and how cute are these? There are four children in our family all with unusual names - Leon, Jordan, Sharna and Bonita. Growing up you couldn't get anything with your name on, until my mum found someone making these. I was so chuffed when I was given these recently.
Well thats enough crockery for one day. Hope you have enjoyed mine and their stories.

B x

Buttons finally!

Finally my new buttons have arrived. I have been waiting patiently for these, so have a few customers - oooppps! They will be in the my shop soon. I am still missing the black and white, but I told my supplier to just include them in my next order. I think they look fab here on Isaac's nuirsery painting.

All ready to go!

Out with the old overlocker....

and in with the new!

I haven't even had it out of the box yet, just haven't had the time what with bunting and doll orders. I have never managed to get the old one working properly. I will let you know how I get on soon. Today was a good day as I have managed to find dresses for fancy dress nights at the pub. They are being washed as I write and I will give you a peek soon.

B x

Hunting for Bunting!

Ok so it been a while. I choose today to write as my bunting has been featured in the Sunday Times, Style magazine!  This is the face I pulled when I saw it.

I was told it might be in but there was no guarantee. I am so excited and chuffed (I was the photographer too).

All thats left to say is a big "THANK YOU" to Alison at www.hunkydoryhome.co.uk for putting me forward.

I promise not to leave it so long next time. xx

A Roaring Success!

I can not tell you how nervous I was when setting up my wares on the day of my Yummy Mummy craft and gift fair. As I had never organised anything like this before I couldn't be sure any one would turn up. To my amazement we were really busy and managed to raise 330 GBP for Clic Sargent, which I think is truely fantastic. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that got involved in this event for making it a very enjoyable and successful fair.

I also had a really good day as you can see from my depleted stall. I forgot to take the photos before the fair started.

More stalls including Hedgerow with their yummy chutneys, dips and jellies.

The arts and crafts table! It was busy earlier before they discovered the boucey castle out back.

The boucey castle! I managed to snag this at the last minute (well the evening before) as a little birdie told me the weather would be fab. Thats my 4 year old in the blue t-shirt having a good old bounce. Cheers Rob!

Face painting anyone?

After all that everyone enjoyed a much needed sit down with a cup of tea and a slice of cake. Theres the lovely Joan hiding her face behind her tea cup. She worked so hard and sold masses of raffle tickets. Over on the left we have Phoenix trading which is Debbies stall. Debbie is the lovely lady who had the idea to do something for Yummy Mummy week and who ran this fair with me. We have decided we will do another next year for another charity - any ideas?

Yummy Mummy Charity Fair

I am organising a charity craft and gift fair which takes place on 20th September @ Littlethorpe village hall, Leicestershire. It is being held as part of Yummy Mummy week which runs from the 20th-28th of September in aid of CLIC Sargent a charity that raises money for the care of children with cancer.

The stalls will be selling accessories, bags, books, cakes, chocolates, chutneys, jewellery, massages, refreshments, toys, treatments and lots more. There is a list of some of the stall holders on the right --->


We are also holding a raffle with prizes donated by stall holders and other local businesses. For the kids we have colouring in and a face painter.

If you would like to make a donation, take part or just want more info here is the official website-

http://www.yummymummy.org.uk/

Scarflette season has begun.

Ok so I have been meaning to start writing here for over a year. Today on a cold and wet Saturday that also happens to be my sons 2nd birthday ( hes having a nap!) I have decided to make my debute. It looks like summer is over and I have started listing my new collection of winter warmers.

I am going to be bringing you some bright eighties inspired Scarflettes like this one -





and some funky mitts like these -

I am also working on some new hats with chunky brooches like this one -

The birthday boy is awake so we are going for pizza. I will be back in a few days to give you details of a Charity event I am organising this month.