What Katy did...

Grrr. My digital camera has been contrary this week, and I couldn't bring myself to blog without all the lovely pictures to come. I have also been feeling a little bit grotty and sorry for myself, so have comforted myself by curling up with a bit of comfort reading (with pictures!)...

Nothing like a bit of sentimental morality and childhood paralysis to cheer a girl up. I had quite a spring in my step afterwards I can tell you.

I was probably subliminally drawn to it by a visit from our very own Katy from imagingermonkey who trip trapped over the hills last week to visit my lovely Fent Shop, where she whirled around exuding general fabness and quite charming the fent shop folk. You can see all the fabric that she bought on her blog, and I have just spotted that pesky Liberty babycord has already found its way onto a really quite lovely bunny. You know how when someone lives in a foreign land and only speaks the language they begin to dream in it - sometimes I think I dream in Libertyprint.

The postman has been my best chum this week. First, this lovely lady swam into view from Tantehilde...

And a brown paper package tied up with string is, as we speak, wending it's way to her in return. I love this swapping lark. Then, after winning my first ever prize in anything ever, look what came from Sarah (Pink Petal Designs) who ran a little competition in celebration of her hundredth post. Hmmm. Eight down, only 92 to go.

I think I need a bigger teapot (and that ain't something you hear every day).

Bye folks x

Is it a bird...is it a plane...?

Apparently, there are only so many rag dolls a chap can play with, so after much four year old pestering I reluctantly stepped down the superhero road, with surprisingly satisfying results. Look at this fella! Lucky old Fin woke up this morning with him on his pillow - leading to much giddiness and superhero jumping all round...


So the question is... should i let him stay as a brief moment of glory or should clang clang superheroes go on sale. I'm going to go and figure out how to do a poll thingy so you guys can help me decide.

We've been having lots of bonfire fun this week. Last night we went to a fab one at some friends' massive allotment (field). Lots of fun sparklers, toffee apples and the like, right up til the sun went down and children started falling into potholes. So that's the end of the autumn celebrations then. what's next. hmmm. can't bring myself to mention the 'c' word quite yet....

Squeak...

Sweet eh?

Funny bones

I am just about halloween'd out, and it isn't for another two days! I have had a small vampire/four armed monster careering about the house for days, and we've just been to Hebden Bridge for a halloween weekend with seventeen kids (lots of fun but blimey!). Check out these for some gruesome fodder...

I was cheered right up when I get home to find this cheeky little one waiting for me...

She reckoned she'd been lost on the way from I'm a ginger monkey but I think she's been having some adventures that she is keeping to herself. She is luckily, as you can see, quite lovely, so gets away with all sorts of nonsense. I have been being sensible (urgh) though, and am keeping her squirrelled away for the baby bean's Christmas present. Hmmm, I wonder if she will go on some more secret adventures when I'm not looking.... watch this space.

After the half term hecticness (is that even a word?), I am very excited to be getting out some lovely new brown corduroy I bought last week and am planning a small mouse or two. I'll have a go tonight and post some pics tomorrow to see what you think.

squeak x

Brown paper packages, tied up with string.

Bye bye pretty lady, off to your new home with I'm a ginger monkey. Can't wait for our pretty pink merrylegs to come and take your place. Let us know when you get there safe and sound...

The house of icicles

Mine, that is. I am like a small ice sculpture fantasising about some kind of fantasy efficient central heating system, with settings between 'living in a snow globe' and 'gasping for water'. Have spent the past twenty minutes debating whether fetching my slippers is worth the baby-waking risk of venturing into my bedroom. Hmmm.

While I'm on the topic a hot water tank that heats up more than a thimbleful of water at a time might be nice. I know I'm into vintage and all that but reenacting wartime water rations is a step too far.

Clang clang fans might be happy to see the renaissance of the rag rabbit. Yes, the very same one who caused grown men come to blows at the nursery Easter fair last year. Don't ask, it was ugly. But hey, with those eyes, who can blame them....


So it's half term next week, and Halloween - hooray. Is it natural for a grown woman to be about ten times as excited at her four-year-old about dressing up scary-like? Luckily, I have the excuse of next weekend's Halloween weekend bash in Hebden Bridge. I am thinking scary voodoo lady, along the lines of that one from Pirates of the Caribbean. Am planning to fashion a dress from an old layered muslin skirt that I have knocking around, but it may well look a lot better in my head than in real life - isn't it always the way. I'll post some photos when I have it done , so you can ooh and ahh and think 'won't she be a bit nippy in Yorkshire in October in a few scraps of muslin'. My boy is planning to be much more sensible and wear all his dressing up garb, so will be some kind of spider/spiderman/knight/vampire medley but will, at least, be warm.

But before that, ooh ooh, am more excited about the fact that I am going out (gasp) tomorrow night with my husband (swoon) without any children (faint). Being skintest of skint, we are going to have tea at home and then go to the pub. For those of you with children, this is a building otherwise known as a public house, when people go to drink alcohol of an evening. Your memories of visiting one may have been obscured by the mists of time. We'll go to the Porters in Macclesfield. I tell you this only as an excuse to link to this frankly hilarious game where the landlady of our very own pub fends off the evil council men by bashing them on the head with a big stick. Strange but true.

I am giving up on sewing for tonight. I have a lovely little batch of dolls and rabbits which are nearly there, but I just reached that 'bit tired' stage where the thread does nothing but catch, the tension is never right, and the bobbin runs out right in the middle of a complicated manoeuvre. Have called it a day.

Goodnight folks, hope you all have a fab weekend x

It's oh so quiet...

Something strange has occured, and my house is all quiet, at half past eight. Baby, boy and fella are all fast asleep, which is really quite nice. I have been having a lovely time making some doll dresses from one of my all time favorite fabrics, this beautiful liberty print babycord...



It came from a lovely treasure trove of a fabric shop, the fent shop, which lives just down the hill from me and which I just can't stay away from. I'm just getting to the end of my stock of this fabric, and they haven't any left either boo hoo.

Had a bit of a thrill today meeting the domestic goddess herself, and getting my well thumbed copy of Feast signed. I became pitifully starstruck and as you can see here, a bit pink and giddy...



While I was there I spotted a few books that I crave. I know they say don't judge a book by it's cover, but I just can't help it, you know what I mean:

















So pretty!

So tomorrow I am on a mission to find the perfect pumpkin, and are venturing to the potting shed. Looking at their website, I think we might be on to a winner! I'll keep you posted x

Hey Hey Hey

Oh my this is so exciting, my very first blog! I'm a recent convert to the wonderful world of etsy and I'm totally hooked. The only problem is that I keep wandering off track and lusting after things like these little madam dolls from Belle and Boo, and this yummy bag from knitwits. Oh well, what better way to spend a grim gray day? I've been geting in the autumn vibe with my pippi doll...

and have been busy doing some knitting for my babes. Check this out, how cute, but how much will she hate these photos when she is a teen!

Toodle Pip