pillowcase purchases

So seventies.

So groovy.

So impatient for them to arrive!

lucky pinny

I am not normally the lucky type of soul that attracts free gifts and wins competitions wherever I go.

I’ve had my moments, but generally speaking my luck confines itself to areas of life not involving competitions of random chance.

Until now.

I won something!

Georgina Giles is a mistress of monsters and sewing maven extraordinaire.

Following her exploits on her lovely blog qualified me for inclusion in her Present in the Post giveaway. Into the hat – or rather vintage glass jar – my name went. And out it was subsequently pulled!

I am now the lucky owner of a lovely pinny, made by her own fair hand.

Thanks Georgina!

Be sure to subscribe to her blog. Not only can you find out how to make a pinny all of your own, but your name might be next out of the jar!

fresh fabric fervour

Although I use mainly vintage fabrics for my makes, I am a true fabric addict and just as likely to sigh longingly over contemporary ranges from time to time.

My new Living Etc for June arrived yesterday and I sat down this morning for a good old browse.

My eyes immediately lighted upon a fold-out promotion.

Normally the recycle bag would be beckoning. I hate those wodges of stapled-in advertising bumf that cause instability in my magazine pile.

But not this time.

The fold-out pages tell of fabric and wallpaper producer Scion’s new products. And my! Those fabrics are really jolly nice!

The company has drawn inspiration from mid-century archive documents and modern Scandinavian design to produce a collection called Melinki that’s right up my street.

I have already sent for samples. I just couldn’t help myself.

little monkey

Some things have a hard life. They get scratched and worn, but it somehow suits them.

My little drummer monkey is one of those things.

He is German, made by Schuco, and belonged, once upon a time, to my Nanna, who was born in 1897 and died twenty-five years ago this year. I’m not sure how old monkey himself is, but I think he must have been bought for my dad.

When I and my sister were small, we were forbidden to touch him in case we overwound him or lost his key, despite the fact that he was pretty battered even then.

We were allowed to watch him drum now and again.

Being good girls, we didn’t sneak into Nanna’s room when she wasn’t there to wind him up, nor did we borrow him.

Well, hardly ever.

His face is a bit sad, but then it always has been.

His key was not lost, nor was he overwound.

So here he is, doing his thing. Take it away little drummer monkey. Now is your big moment.

pretty thing of the week

Despite, or possibly because, it’s wet and cold and miserable outside, my thoughts keep turning to summer.

We have a plan. Well, not a plan exactly, because I don’t know yet if it will actually happen, but an idea at least.

We are not good planners. But this idea involves friends, so some element of planning is essential if it is to happen.

But more on that another time.

With reference to all of that, this week’s pretty thing is in honour of the seaside, and somewhere that is not England, and summertime, and happy sunny days to come. Hopefully.

These badges from TeaAndCeremony on Etsy tick all of those boxes.

They are cheerful, affordable and can be worn singly or en masse, by young or old, on bag or lapel. Or even cushion. Or hat.

I love them and think you should too.

There are lots of other cheery things in their shop too.

bye baby bunting

Somewhat incongruously, given the rain coming down like stair rods and lashing at the windows outside, I have been sewing pretty vintage cotton bunting.

Tiny mini bunting. So much more cute than the normal kind.

These happy little strings are destined for a birthday party on Saturday.

I hope the weather improves by then.