Here & Now

Not being able to blog for a while has given me bloggers block. I'm hoping that as I write the words will start to flow and my brain will become blogging fit once more.

The reason I blog is made up of so many things. I read an interesting post recently written by Annie about why we blog. I wanted to comment as like so many of her posts it got me thinking and I wanted to chat back. The moment was lost though as I was reading it on my phone waiting outside the school for Miss Rosey. The usual round of rushing to collect Miss Millie next, buying food, sorting out life when we get in at 6 so we can get through the next day means any intention I had to catch up with a comment is lost. Having to grab time here and there, coupled with failing pooters at home has forced me to step outside of blogging world. That's led to me questioning more why I really do it, what spurs me on to take photos and try to order my thoughts into something enjoyable to read. Essentially why keep on, when it would be so much easier to stop?

To be absolutely honest I can't imagine not writing here. It's a place where I order my life into some of the more cheery elements and reflect on all that I love the most in life. When I feel truly moany it's nigh on impossible to write a post as I don't want to share all of my innermost feelings and I can't imagine anyone else would want to read that kind of thing. Blogging is a two-way thing. I write and take pictures to record my creative life for myself, but to be really enjoyable I chose to share it with a whole host of people. Some are friends who catch up with my news, some are people who are blogging pals - people who I've met through this lark, then there are people who are kind enough to leave comments and share a bit of themselves, lastly there are all the unknown people who stop by have a read (and I hope enjoy it as I do all the blogs I pop into), but leave no trace of their visit.

When I write a post I have in mind different bloggers who I think will find something interesting. In essence it then becomes a bit of a chat in my head with them. There are so many wonderful women that I have chatted with through comments or emails that I sometimes wish I could literally pop over for a cuppa and say hello. Instead through blogging I pop into their edited worlds as they do mine.

Because I've been unable to visit many blogs lately I feel like a party's been going on and I'm behind with all the news. I'm going to cut a big slab of the cherry cake Little Bun made for Father's Day and pop on over this morning if my pooter lets me.

Around some horrible jobs that need doing too I'm hoping to squeeze in a spot of sewing, knitting or crochet. I haven't quite decided yet what mood I'm in.  Having this one day off before the working week gets going is fabulous, but it also means I want to achieve so much in it and then end up doing little. This morning I thought I could clear the garden, garage, make a dress, do the weeks food shop and fly to the moon. Now I realise I might have to settle for washing up and fiddling about as major achievements for my day as we have a new tiny furry distraction. 

Lily is three months old and arrived here on Friday morning. Little Bun's schoolfriends cat had a few kittens and it turned out the people who were having Lily changed their minds. Well we didn't even hesitate. A perfect kitten, small cheeky and loving who is toilet trained already, the ideal package. Olly is banned from seeing her as he has gone pretty feral (only turning up for meals and grumping at everyone), Pip our older cat is pretending she doesn't exist and Alfie Blue would like to be friends, but clearly Lily's mum told her dogs were bad. She'll soon learn this one is the bestest boy ever.

Around all of this we've seen Little Bun's end of year dance school show which was a great evening. rounded off perfectly by a man in the tightest skinny jeans and very high heeled boots singing Ring of Fire. My man has visited No 10 and had a chat with Dave himself. Ironically he got in with his British Library card as he couldn't find his driving licence. I think they'd checked him out for any dodgy aspects beforehand anyways. Miss Rosey has been going great guns in her sport and so we've been invited to a sports prize dinner with her on Friday. Me - well I've just been being me, no fancy achievements other than ticking along and discovering on Saturday night just how much I like cocktails.

In two weeks I'll be off work for six whole weeks. Scary and lovely at the same time as it means no pay until September so I'll be trying to fit in a few fairs to up the pennies. Two whole weeks on my own before Miss Rosey breaks up and then another week and a half for Little Bun. Sadly I'll only have two weeks off with the pair of them before I head back to work as we've changed all of our term dates at work.

Well it's been great getting back into the swing of things. I'll try and make it a more regular thing again as I think blogging does my head good. See you soon as I'm now off to go visiting.

Weebles make for Happy Days

A snippet of a tune floats around in my head "Weebles wobble, but they don't fall down". A girly weeble saved from my childhood sits happily beside ginger bear on our bedroom mantlepiece. I'm reminded of how I wished and wished for the weebles playset where I could sit my eggy pals in the roundabout or push them on a swing shaped just for their round bums.

Our home is filled with bits and bobs from our childhoods, things from our parents lives and memories added from our family life.  Shells, flowers and stones are collected up on our outings and stuffed into pockets for pouring over later when we return. New things are made to add to the collections as an when the urge demands.

Sometimes we head off to carboots, charity shops, fleamarkets and emporiums of old stuff in the hope of finding some of those things we have on the lists in our heads. Miss Rosey wishes for a 1950's picnic set, Little Bun loves dresses, toys and books, Mr Bun has wanted for so many years one of those collecting boys you used to see outside shops. You know the wee lad with his leg in callipers. God knows why, but he loves the design of these - I've said if we ever ever come across one then the boy can live in the garden. Me - well my list is endless, but I always know when I've seen just the thing that is on it.

This afternoon we headed off in search of treasure after Little Bun had some of her Rapunzel locks shorn at the hairdressers. It's all very well wanting hair down to your bum, but it's a swine to brush out. She feels very swish with her hair a bit shorter.

At the emporium we saw lots to take our fancy and had a fabulous browse. I collected up a jolly tin and a few more buttons before I saw the wee weather house Little Bun had had her eye on waiting in the corner.

I had one of these when I was small and loved it so. At the till I spied this most perfect plastic kitty and so I quickly added that to my things. More new things that have already found their places in our home and remind us of good days together. 

This week we've had a wonderful half-term, just gone at our own pace and made the most of our days. We had a fabulous day in Cambridge mooching, eating and then ending up at the Fitzwilliam. I adored seeing the pre-Raphaelites and then moving on to the world of Stanley Spencer. I also treated myself to a wee bit of fabric because it was irresistible.

On Thursday the girls and I had a home day. I found time in the afternoon to make up a brooch that's been kicking around in my head for far too long now. My wedding bouquet was made up of anenomes which contrasted with my deep blue velvet dress, I've wanted some lasting anenomes ever since. I'm so thrilled with how it's turned out, in fact I've worn it ever since. Today at the emporium it was the first thing Daniella the owner noticed. I was thrilled when she asked if I'd be happy to have a few for sale in the shop.

Now finally in memory of that rare blast of sunshine that appeared again at the end of the week I'll show you where we went for a wander with picnic in hand. Fairhaven Gardens is a magical place where fairies most definately live set within the Broads. Alongside the inland waterways are masses of these Candleabra plants.

After walking through paths made into tunnels by the trees overhead we came out onto the Broad where we ate our lunch.

We waited awhile to see this beautiful boat sail past before heading back into the woods in search of bluebells.

Tommorow Miss Rosey and I will be in Hatfield while she plays in a netball tournament. I'm filling my bag with knitting, hexies, books and memories as it's going to be a long old day. Please lets have some more of this here sun as it won't be much fun out in the rain for seven hours will it.

See you soon.

A Fair, Colours, Black & White and Things

We had a fantastic time at the Country Fair yesterday. As usual I enjoyed what we were doing so much and only remembered to take the odd picture. This is the front of the hall and how I imagine it would have looked with visitors for a 30's house party having just arrived. Turning round and a view from the terrace, past the Punch & Judy show and across the Ha Ha.

While we were waiting for naughty Mr Punch we queued up for icecream from this great vintage van. Pity I couldn't edit out the lovely shot of the rubbish.

The Buns had a much needed run around the grounds with their friends after watching a bit of wooden violence. I had a catch up on news with my friend before a bit of craft stall browsing. I bought these square Greengate tins (off another friends stall) and some turkish delight. Sadly we got there too late for the Morris Dancers.

Today, despite the rain, and the general greyness, there were a lot of colours. Colours of the day - A fabulous Purple cardigan from Topshop.




I love the detail on the shoulder, so I treated myself.

A Mustard top I was wearing today. I love adding a print top under a cardigan as every day is a jeans day for me so need some variation. Something floral always finds its way on there too.

A new and literally very Green book that caught my eye. It has some great ideas, information and designs inside. I've wanted to work these colours together into something crochety for a while now so I picked them up too.

One of the ideas inside are these Hot Pink slippers made from recycled jumpers.

Which have most definately been inspired by little Bun's slippers. I know I'll keep these slippers forever as everytime I see her wearing them they make me feel very happy indeed.

After buying school summer dresses today I had a look in Oxfam and I found a few more things. A vintage Patons knitting and crochet magazine which has some wonderful designs in ranging from the hideous to the whimsical.

Next time Mr Bun needs to fight with a branch he would be glad of a pair of these.

I liked this as it's pretty much a design of the moment as a doorstop, not that I think I'll ever bother making one.

But I could be tempted by this variation on the round cushion with its frilly bits.

Then there was this small sewing box, a sugar bowl with a hanging spoon and these floral plates. Some weeks there is nothing and others real finds, it's part of the pleasure of the hunt.

Further down the road and I discovered an old store which is now used by antique dealers to rent their individual space. In the front was the most beautiful deco dressing table. Something I would love to have if we had a bedroom that had space for more than just a bed and what else - oh yes tons of cash to buy things when I fancy them. I think I prefer the dreaming anyway. I spent a lovely half an hour in there (browsing as I'd spent all my money in Oxfam). I will definately go back. Today I had no money and two lovely girls to get from school so off I went.

Later on back home, I was searching for something or other and I re-found this box of bits and things. That childhood feeling of the pleasure of searching through known things that haven't been seen for a while was just the same.

Inside was a little handmade felted floral box that has embroidery threads for stockings in it. I bought it from Louise Loves ages ago. Next to that one a little pig purse donated by the buns to hold buttons.

Some buttons that I covered in vintage embroidered cloths alongside sparkly threads.

And lastly - just what I was looking for. Toadstools.

Nostalgia

On Monday our one and only laptop went kerboom. I think it did it louder than that actually -KEEERRBBOOOOOOOOM is more precise as the hard drive died. Sigh. Then my lovely mum said she had wanted to buy one for my fledgling business anyway as a birthday present. So now we won't have to share around here anymore. I thought this picture of our Rayburn was better to look at than a laptop blowing up. So that' s the only reason why it's here.

I also wanted to show you Bobo who inspired the name I sell under and now this blog. For 39 years she has been very well loved. I have to keep re-stuffing her and patching her up, but well worn toys show how much they've been loved. I'm too much of a softie really, we have The Velveteen Rabbit, but I've never been able to face reading it as just knowing he gets lost and forgotten is enough heartache for me.

My Nanny gave Bobo to me when I was one, knitted by Great Aunt Elsie. Apparently she had the most beautiful felted outift on, but I ripped that off and lept on the sofa with her shouting Bobo. My nan made the trouser suit she's wearing now. She was my best friend all through my childhood and went everywhere with me. I took her to school every day and held her bobbing under my arm, even when the teachers told me to put her down. At night she laid across my neck keeping me safe and warm. Littlest bun cuddles her now at night, even though she is angry with me for not doing it more as she says she is mine after all. So when it came to choosing a name that summed up everything I wanted my work to be about Bobo Bun was the only choice.

The other thing I loved when I was little were tins. I remember tins with toffees in them, covered in kittens and hidden at the bottom of my stocking at christmas. I used to keep all my secret messages, buttons, ideas anything in them. Somehow I haven't lost this. Now I have so many I forget what I've put in each one, so it's always fun when I do have a peek inside and find something I'd forgotten about.

This one was from louise loves couple of years ago. It's really bright and cheery and so I love it.

I got this one for my husband as it's from Dubarry of Hove. He grew up near the factory so it was a bit of home we could bring with us. It still has the original contents in, but we can't open it so don't know what it smells like now.

These ones remind me how whimsical and fun tins used to be and just make me happy. The buns are getting a bit of a tin thing now too. In fact they're getting a bit of a collecting habit like their mummy and daddy and now want these tins for themselves.