... These are a few of my favourite things ...

A little "catch up" for you ...

As the title suggests, this post contains some of my favourite things: quiet days, birthdays, makes, pressies, bargains and ...

Cushions!

I've had a day off work today, my little boy was shipped off to nursery and I've had a husband/child/dog free day. To celebrate I pulled my sewing machine off the top shelf in the craft room and made these two cushions. I found this gorgeous dear needlepoint in the charity shop would you believe! With a price tag of £1.50 I had to have it. It had been completed beautifully by someone that had gave it a lot of time and love (obviously not enough love to want to keep it)

I used it as a simple cushion front and backed it with a vintage floral fabric in shades of green.

The black cushion was made using what I think is a napkin. I found it in the charity shop (surprise surprise) for just 25p, I thought it was charming and even more so now its a cushion sitting on my sofa! I backed it with a black and pink polka dot fabric from a previous post (here) and edged it with pink pompom trim. Lovely.

Teapots!

Yesterday was my birthday, I had the best day. My mum made a delicious cake, we went charity shopping and we lost money on the 2p machines in the seafront arcades... hehe.

My Nanny gave me some money and I blew it in the C-shops. Amongst my haul was this sweet teapot.

I love love love it, I don't drink tea and never will but I love it all the same.

I have a bit of a collection of vintage beaded bags. This beauty was a gift from my mum and dad.

The Lacy scarf in this picture was amongst lovely presents from my older sister. It's so dainty and I love it, it goes really well with my new bag!

I was utterly spoilt this birthday, I had candles, soaps, scarfs, a subscription to my favourite magazine, books, this bag, little heart measuring spoons, a one-sy (he he),  yarn and a gps unit from my husband (which we'll use for Geocaching, if you don't know what this is.... then you should - visit here)

Tonight to round off a good day, my parents will be babysitting Little Chips and my husband and I are eating out with friends. I can't wait. I've decided to wear this, which brings me to another of my favourite things.

A pretty top (fresh from the car boot sales). I love it's lacy details and sweet finishing touches.

Teamed with my new scarf and bag of course...

This post ended up being a lot longer than intended, so I'll leave it there and finish with just showing these little crocheted brooches I've been making....

Thanks for dropping by. I hope everyone is keeping warm as the temps. drop.

Love Katie xxx

A lucky winner & a lucky week ...

First things first, I must thank everyone that entered my Giveaway. Welcome to all my new followers, it's great to have you here.

I am thrilled to announce the winner is .......

Helen Philipps!

Please let me know your address Helen and I'll get your prize in the post.

I also want to share with you the fabulous prizes I've been lucky enough to receive this week.

I entered a giveaway over at Estelle's Blog .... here

... and his is what I won! A beautiful necklace and ring made by Estelle, with yummy chocs and a card. Everything was so beautifully made and presented. The chocolate only lasted long enough to take this picture, in fact is was gone by the time I'd made it down the stairs! Oops.

This beautiful packaged arrived from Pj over at The Snail Garden.

This is definitely the most beautiful (I've said that a lot in the post haven't I?) scarf I've ever seen! In fact I haven't taken it off yet. Her crochet is wonderful, I can only dream of being as talented as her. Thanks Pj xx

Thank you to Estelle and Pj for your generosity. Both the prizes are just wonderful and I so lucky to have won them both! xxx

P.S - Who knew it was national carrot cake day last week? .... I did! xxx

A Booty-ful Giveaway

As I mentioned in my last post, I wanted to have a giveaway to celebrate my 20th follower...

... and here it is....

 These beautiful miniture post cards show vintage photos of popular holiday resorts in britain of days gone by... On the back of each postcard you'll find notes and letters written to the writes friends and family dating to early - mid 1900's. Very sweet. There are 16 of these ones - 8 designs - 2 of each

Here we have the same miniture postcard format, these show people.

There are 18 of these ones - 6 designs - 3 of each

A sweet little toadstool nightlight and travel card wallet

and Empire ribbons

All you have to do to enter is be a follower of my blog and leave me a comment.

For a 2nd entry just mention this giveaway on your blog or add the button to your sidebar and link back to me. Pop back and leave me a comment to say you have done so.

The giveaway is open to worldwide followers.

I will draw the winner Monday 6th February

Thanks for dropping by and Good Luck!

Katie

xxx



The promised bunting ...

I mentioned in my last post that I was attempting some crochet bunting, well it's finished as is hung in my top hall. The colours aren't great but I'm still really pleased with it. I shall try something a bit more challenging next time.

I also wanted to share with you this beautiful chalk board my Dad made for me.

The slate was salvaged from an old abandoned workhouse nearby, many years ago.

My great grandfather was born at the workhouse, so as well as being just FABULOUS, it's a bit of family history too.

Hanging from the chalk board is a little chalk rubber, a stick of chalk in a sweet little holder and a wooden heart.

Thanks again Dad xxx

I'm currently getting together a giveaway to celebrate my 20th follower...

So come back soon and tell your friends!! ;-)

Katie xx

Im alittle "hooked" ...

... As I mentioned in my last post I've been trying to teach myself to crochet. After buying the lovely book "Cute and easy crochet" I was inspired to try some of the simpler projects.

I gave the jam jar covers a go (excuse the colour combo, It's enough to put you off your dinner but I'm still in use it or lose it mode)

Any way I thought it came out OK, considering I'd only held a crochet hook for the first time a few days previous.

It was my Mum's birthday on sunday and I made this "dishcloth" for her. Again the colour combo has much to be desired, but I must say it's kind of growing on me...

Last night I started the bunting out of the Cute and easy book. So far I've finished 6 flags, but will do a few more then that will live out it's days in my living room... pictures to follow

as I mentioned it was Mum's birthday on Sunday. I made these felty earrings for her and carrot cake too.

The cake turned out lovely, I strayed from the recipe abit, as I didn't have all the required ingredients but I thing it was better for it. Filled with a sweet vanilla butter cream... I couldn't resist a 2nd slice!

Perhaps I'll bake one for my own birthday next month! hehe

Thanks for reading and I hope everyone has had a lovely weekend.

I hope to do another giveaway once my followers reach 20, just need one more!

Katie xxx

Rug update ...

 Firstly I wanted to share with you the gingerbread Charlie (and I) decorated. He received it as a Christmas pressie from his auntie Bec. I had to stick the chocolate drops on quickly, once Charlie realised they were edible they kept disappearing!

 Do you think the boys like the rug?

Keeping to my new years resolution, I've been pottering about in the craft room "using up". I've made some gift boxes out of old Christmas and birthday cards, a few decoupage owl cards which are yet to be finished and messed about with some shrink plastic and turned the finished pieces into Easter Dec's.

I'll be back soon with a "proper" post. I've been teaching myself to crochet this week. Too embarrassed to upload any pics yet! There are bits I still need to get the hang of, but watch this space.

Back soon

Katie xx

Rag rug and tiny tassles!

I made it my new years resolution to tidy out my craft room and make use of all the things that have hung around for just too long! This post shows just a few things I've managed to do whilst "using up".

 I've had this box of tiny pieces of wool, left over from a latch hook rug kit. It's hung around for longer than I care to remember and needed to go. So I turned them in to tiny tassles of all different colours that can now be used on cards, gift wrapping and adoring other projects.

I am rather pleased with this little rug, I started it aged ago and it's been in a huge tub in the craft room unfinished. It's been out, it's been unpicked and re-done and I love it. It's so nice to finally have it finished. It's going to sit near my front door (which doesn't get used, so it won't get trampled on!) Hehe, kind of defeats the purpose of a door mat?

 I backed the mat with some hardy vintage cotton, which had to be floral of course.

 I've also been snipping, stacking and sticking to make these greetings cards from decoupage papers I've been hoarding. They will soon be on their way to their new owners.

Finally I'll leave you with a few purchases I've made, (I know I know, I'm ment to be clearing out!)

This lovely floral fabric jumped out at me in the charity shop, it was a total bargain and there's loads of it. I had to have it....

and this pretty little iron will make a great paper weight. Foolishly I brought it in the first shop I went to yesterday and had to carry it around the town while I nipped from shop to shop. It's surprising heavy!

Thanks for dropping in and taking time to read my rambling!

Love Katie xxx