A bit of a Change

We've been having a bit of a clearout today. Well I have actually, the Bun's played hospitals, made the sitting room into a land of tents and generally had a lovely time of it. Mr Bun tackled the jungle outside and I attacked the jungle inside.

I moved stuff about, changed cloths and threw random useless stuff that we've kept for an age away.

Every now and then I left the piles of stuff I was sorting and went off to cut out more oblongs for my quilt. By the end of the day I had enough and then the fun of juggling them about until they were in the right order started. I'll show you how it's getting on next time.

I blew away the cobwebs from our china and glass cabinet and had a change about of things. Some stuff got put away and some came out again.

I dumped a lot of stuff in the back hall where our bookcase bends under the weight of it all. Tommorow's plan is to get a load of stuff onto ebay for some holiday pennies. Then we'll be off to add some flowers and food to mum's house as she gets back from a trip to Italy late on Sunday night. She'll have tales to tell us of Assisi, Florence and Rome and we'll just be glad to have her back.

Later on today the Bun's and I made some junk jewellery. At the Street market last week we picked a few bits and bobs from the small bead shop we found.

I did the glueing as we were using superglue. Glad I did as I managed to glue the hamburger ring to the table in a jiffy.

They're thrilled with their new rings all chosen and made by us. With the end of year school disco looming bright jewells are a must.

Little Bun chose the duck and strawberry. Miss Rosey has the hamburger and cherries.

 

I even made one for me too. Glad the Bun's love plastic tat as much as me.

Friday Fancies

The postie had a couple of parcels all for me this morning. A perfect way to brighten yet another grey wet day in July. I found myself on Amazon this week because we'd started getting snotty letters from the library. Miss Rosey took out a book ages ago and then lost it. In the end I had to go and find a cheap replacement, which in turn meant I couldn't resist having a look for a couple of books I'd wanted for a while now.

A friend of mine showed me some of the wonderful kitties she's made from Wee Wonderfuls and that was that I was sold on getting the book. I'm so glad I was tempted as there are a whole host of characters in it that I want to make and already have requests for. I love Melvin and Marian, but then there's also Bjorn Bjornsen and well all of them really.

Miss Rosey wants Evelyn the Inchworm which will have me singing along hearing Danny Kaye in my head (if you're old enough to have seen the film of him as Hans Christian Andersen you'll know what I'm on about).

Little Bun has her heart set on an elephant bag. If they stand a chance of getting any of these critters made then I'll have to get them learning how to do this stitchy business themselves.

My other parcel was even more exciting as I didn't know what would be in it. I'd been lucky enough to be the winner of Kazzy's Summer Giveaway. Well she's been beyond generous with all the lovely bits and bobs she put in a package for me.

I've already dotted the bits and bobs here and there, made plans for the fabric and Little Bun and Miss Rosey have chosen a few things for themselves. Little Bun was off school today, but she was well enough to help share the Wispa with me.

I dragged her from the sofa later in the afternoon when we needed to hunt down some straw and henfood. Somehow we ended up in QD buying a random selection of stuff. Among other things, we had a bag of straw, mugs that I want to crochet cosy warmers for teacher presents and I grabbed a cheery blue laundry bucket for the grand sum of £1.

After that we ended up in the sweetie shop and just had to go into Vintage Mischief. I'm so glad I did as I got the softest piece of pink flannelette which will be perfect to back the quilt I've started. 

Flanelette always makes me think of crimpelene nighties too. All part of the same bit of time I guess. I had a nightie once when I was wee that I think  was crimpelene. It scared the bejesus out of me as it was so full of static electricity and had a lovely care label that told you how highly flammable this thing you were about to sleep in was. Carefree days the 1970's. With all the three and four day weeks and strikes our house was full of candles which upped the chances of me lighting up the night. I only think I wore it once.

Now we're in a house without heating I'm busy making lots of blankets and quilts, just in case we don't get it sorted soon. I'm hoping to finally decorate our bedroom next week as I've got a few weeks off. After five years here, it's the only room to have escaped my paintbrush. I plan to have my Granny Patches crochet blanket to mix and match with the Floral Quilt I'm making to finish off our room. Alfie Blue will most definately be banned from sleeping on my handiwork.

Frolics

This week has been full of festivities. On Wednesday evening we waited ever so patiently on the streets of our city to see a flash of the Olympic Torch whizz by. Don't get me wrong, I'm no sports fan, but we thought the Bun's should see what all the fuss was about. A warm summer's evening going out after school, followed by pizza was also a pretty darned good reason for being there.

On Saturday the festivities continued for the Lord Mayor's celebrations. We planned to see the procession that evening and then try out another restaurant. Before we went, I made sure I had a play with a few fabric piles and then I bossily sent my lovelies off to see if there were any roadside sweetpeas for sale.

I couldn't resist chopping into a few bits of my stash with the thought that I'd be able to make a bed quilt another day. My plan's to cut larger oblongs and then hopefully it won't take too long to stitch together.

After a busy chopping session, it was time to head off and find a good roadside viewing spot. A band of pipes and drummers opened the procession, followed by Snap the Dragon, the Town Crier and a few other gaily dressed odds and sods.

Little Bun managed to get covered in stickers as she threw money into collection buckets. We waved to and sang along with all the different floats and groups that went past us.

One of my favourite's were the Sumo Synchronised Swimmers. Might be because they have the same hairstyle as me, but they really did shimmy and shake well.

Today there was a choice of quite a few things to do. We fancied a country fair in one direction and the Norwich Lanes Fair in the other, or we could just cosy up and watch films. As always I fancied doing it all. The rain helped us make our decision, we decided we'd get wetter in a field than we would hiding in shop doorways and then we could have our snuggle up at home later on. So off we went in search of vintage markets and to see street entertainers.

First stop was St Gregory's Church where regular vintage markets are held. I've long fancied one of Sugar and Hatter's floral mini hair fascinators and luckily for me they had a stall there today.

Dreadful picture of me follows where I look partly sozzled, but it's a good shot of the floral thing happening on my head.

Then as if by magic I've sobered up a treat.

Miss Rosey also spied a sparkly piece of Sugar and Hatter hair jewellry that caught her fancy and so after a wee think about it we rushed back to buy that for her too. It's the school disco this week so I think it'll be having its first outing then.

One of the highlights for me was going into the Kier Hardie Hall for Bunty's Bazaar. I'd been asked to have a stall, but I fancied being a customer this week instead. I didn't take any photos as I was just caught up in the atmosphere of the place and completely forgot. I'll just have to describe it to you. 1960's wallpaper covers the entrance hall with a short flight of stairs in front, with a handrail down the centre. From the room at the top of the stairs came magical dance music. When we stepped in the disco ball was spinning and casting flickering touches of light all around a hall filled with a wonderful selection of vintage stalls. I felt as if I'd stepped back in time and it all felt so calm and just so. When I talked to Bunty she told me about Swing dance classes that are held here every Monday. I can't think of anywhere more perfect to start learning how to swing my hips.

Once I'd stopped soaking in the magic of the hall (which apparently was stinky of old fags and yucky dirty first thing) I pulled myself together enough to grab a couple of treats. Two 1950's picnic pots with screw lids and a 50's water carafe all for £6. Mr Bun wanted the Teasmaid, but I just couldn't get excited about it. Mind you he's been on and on about going to see the kitsch bar and now with all your encouragement on my last post he'll probably be dragging it home tommorow.

When we got home I managed a bit of my own magic - look I made the picture in the book come to life.

If you have Apples for Jam then I really do suggest you try out the Hazlenut Meringue because it's so delicious that we just about ate all of it tonight. 

The tale of this & that

After a wonderful week of celebrations and new museum visits thrown in as part of my job Friday finally came around. On Friday's I have hours stretching ahead of me. On Thursday I get excited about all the lovely things I'll have the time to do. I always want to do it all, but I only have time for a few things. Sometimes I'm sociable, I have great friends that I love catching up with, but sometimes I choose quiet time. My job is talk talk and listening all day so I relish the peace and quiet in my own head for a while before the weekend comes round. 

I had thought about painting the outside doors and attacking nettles that are taller than me, but darn it, the rain fell and fell lots more so I couldn't. Instead I found myself starting to make new stuff and then I went off treasure hunting.

I added some more squares to my Hotchpotch of grannies while I sipped my morning coffee and made my plans. As I always choose colours that complement each other, I thought it was about time to see if I could move away from that and just jump in with all sorts of colours that I wouldn't necessarily put together. I think this will be good for me and give me a new way of looking at colour. If I ever - ever finish this and it becomes a blanket (I've two more waiting patiently for something to become of them) I fancy it draped across our bed for a spot of cosy cheer.

By lunchtime I had the treasure hunting itch, so I dropped my hook and yarn, kissed Alfie Blue on the nose and headed off into the soggy day.

The fabric I'd seen last time was luckily still waiting for me at Vintage Mischief. As I was chatting to Danielle at the desk she was sorting through new things that had just come in. In a nano second I'd added the Kaleidoscope to my pile. I'd forgotten how fabulous these things are. We've all spent a happy time since oohhing and aaaahing at the patterns it makes. 

Then I was off to the papershop and added a magazine to my bag, bought jelly cherries and cola bottles for the Bun's and bought some lovely Larkspur from the Friday market flower stall.

Once I'd finished my shopping I drove my car back into Vintage Mischief's yard to collect a table that Danielle was very kindly letting me try for size (good sales technique I must say). 

We've really missed having room for a table in the kitchen, but as it's a cottage, the rooms just aren't that big. Not great when we all love stuff everywhere. Already Mr Bun has got excited about the formica cocktail bar I told him I saw at the fleamarket on Thursday and then there's the kitsch glass fronted cabinet I saw in a charity shop the day before. I said we've no room, but he says there's always room when it's luvverly stuff. His idea was to ditch the TV as a bar would be more fun than the rubbish on the telly. See we're as bad as one another really. In our heads we're already spearing maraschino cherries onto cocktail sticks and shaking cocktails furiously.

Anyways, back to my table. It's a drop leaf formica table and is just gorgeous. Too big for the room really, but we can work around that can't we. When Mr Bun got home before we headed off to the Bun's drama performance that night he fell in love immediately.

When the Bun's got home they took up residence with bowls of sweets and pens and paper. They're still sitting at it now and want to have all their meals in there too. So I guess the table's a hit and is staying. Now I've no space to put the ironing board up I might have to give up ironing too which is a sadness I guess I'll come to terms with for the love of our new table.

Now onto an announcement. You may remember that in May I decided to start a Craft it Forward where I would choose two winners for one of my makes each (plus a wee package of this and that). Once they received their parcel they would then hold the same Craft it Forward on their blog to spread the creative goodness around. With all that has happened with our family lately, it got postponed somewhat, but now, finally I've chosen two winners. I put the names in a bowl and my two lovely assistants picked out one each. Miss Rosey pulled out Annie from Knitsofacto and Little Bun pulled out Fee of Chipper Nelly. Well done lovely ladies and thank you once again for everyone who took part and left such interesting comments about why they love to create.

I think I'll have to sort out another giveaway very soon as I noticed this morning I now have 600 followers. It's always an odd thing to realise that quite a few people stop by here to read my tales of this and that. I always try to write as if I'm having a chat with just a couple of people so when I'm reminded that there are more of you out there all sharing the same love of things as me it's a wonderful thought.

Before I go I also thought I'd let you know I've  added a few new fabric bits to Bobo Bun's etsy shop and will be adding some more Happy Shopper's to the shelves very soon.

Now I think a day of stitching beckons before we head off for the Lord Mayor's Procession tonight (please don't rain again sky).

Have a wonderful weekend won't you.

A Thoroughly Vintage Weekend

One of our favourite summer fetes was on this Saturday. It's an amazing fete arranged by a really small village school (41 children only) in an idyllic village in Suffolk. The village is part of the Somerleyton estate and has a real Midsummer Murders feel to it. Each year the fete has a different theme, this year it was the 1940's. The fete is held on the village green with stunning cottages and post office all surrounding it. Guess which idiot forgot their camera? I took some great pics on my phone, but I still can't work out how to get them from there onto here.

We listened to the most amazing band while we ate our ices, Mr Bun won a coconut at the coconut shy, we won wine and sweeties on the tombolas, had a rummage at the bric-a-brac and then my clever man spotted a huge pile of annuals hidden at the side of a stall. At £1 each we grabbed quite a few. The Bun's have roared through all of mine and it's getting really difficult to find any more for them.

Alongside pretty embroidered tablecloths I also grabbed this mini pyrex dish which was perfect to hold my business cards the next day.

After the fun of the fete we rushed home to pack my car up for Little Vintage Love Fair on Sunday. We had a good plan to send the Bun's for tea with grandma, then Mr and I could unload all my stuff at the village hall and have a refreshing drink at the village pub. That way I wouldn't have to get up so ridiculously early the next day and we had a mini date for just the two of us.

Heydon is another idyllic village which is part of another large estate. It's unusual in that there's only one road in which leads down to the big house.

Whilst the cottages are lovely and there's a great pub, tearooms, bakery and beauty parlour we decided we'd find it a bit creepy living there.

I did fall in love with the rambling and slightly messy gardens mind you.

Just opposite the village hall, which was built just after the First World War, is this cottage with it's grand gate.

After a shandy and leisurely stroll, just the two of us, holding hands and being able to talk without being endlessly talked over, we headed back to get the Bun's. We found all three of them playing badminton in the garden just as I did on summers evenings with mum and dad.

Early the next morning I headed off to market to sell my wares with a new member of staff in tow. Little Bun had decided she wanted to have a go at being a shopkeeper this time. She was an absolute star and loved every minute of it. She did a lot of the selling and money handling. When friends turned up she went off for a spot of vintage shopping of her own too. I paid her with a brooch of mine that she chose and a hairslide she wanted from a stall outside. I always wimp out and go indoors as I've had things ruined by being caught out in the rain.

We had a fabulous day. I always love Zoe's events, they are spot on with a great selection of stalls to buy from and lovely people to meet up with. I came home with quite a buys which I guessed you might like to have a peek at. I even bought a small wicker basket to put all my goodies in which wasn't a bad idea was it.

Little Bun found Good Golly for her daddy who adores them and has quite a huge collection now. He's now in our bed along with John the Golly that Miss Rosey bought for him.

Plastic kitsch fruit baskets were added to my pile as I strolled around the stalls outside the hall.

I found some fabulous fabric along with a small piece of vintage patchwork which I might line the basket with. I also spied the most stunning Horrocks day dress which was long enough and looked big enough. I wanted it badly, but it just wouldn't fit across my bazooma's which was most unfair, but saved a penny or two to be sure.

I've been searching for a tray like this one for a while now and I absolutely love it. The 1970's fabric and tray go together perfectly for me.

I also found this wee kiddies dish to match a mug Mr Bun was given a while back. It was the wee Golly asleep in bed that caught my eye first.

When I went back to pay for my basket at the end of the day, I saw another basket filled with gorgeous handmade felt brooches all made from original 1940's designs. I adore anenomes and as they were my wedding boquet, I chose these to have as a permanent boquet.

One last buy is a secret for now. I saw this fabulous linen military waiters jacket and fell for it. I tried it on and it just looked great. It would be perfect with jeans and looked just as good over my floral dress yesterday. I decided to buy it for Miss Rosey's 12th birthday which is at the end of the summer, mind you it might be better to have it before then to get some wear out of it. Hopefully she'll let me share it sometimes.

After a lovely time buying and selling we packed up and headed off home to our lovelies. A jug of Pimms was waiting along with some sweet smelling Roses which Mr Bun had cut and put in the bedroom for me. The perfect end to a lovely vintage weekend.

Just to remind you I'll be closing the Craft it Forward today. So if you fancy your chance at winning either a brooch, Whoopie Doo Pincushion or Jolly Good Egg Cosy then please add your name to this post. Don't forget to say what you would like from the three choices. There'll be two winners who will get a few buttons and fabric snippets along with their make. All the winners have to do it post about it once they receive their parcel and then hold the same Craft it Forward on their blog to share the making around.