Family Show And Tell

Two posts in a week - I'm surpassing myself.         This week I had a lovely commission...from this point on I'm all over Ladybird blocks. Vintage Tospy and Tim is where it's at! (just kidding lovely people at Ladybird..there's room for both!) 

Jo over at French Knots asked me to make something using a beautiful old circus book for her brother who is soon to turn 40 (just FYI, I'm all over the 30's too...40 is where it's at!)

The paper was a pleasure to work with - already aged and such adorable familiar images. I hope he likes them as much as I do...

Meanwhile I've been working on some new baby blocks. The little images are also really cute (don't tell anyone...but one block features Noddy! The kindly people from Chorion might send P.C Plod over!)

 

I also found myself without any blocks for a couple of days so took to making my first perpetual calendar (why not?) 

...and mod podged up a birdhouse that's been calling me for a few months. It's now part of a display in Amanda's beautiful salon (more next post when I have some good photos to do her justice)

 

Now, around this time last year my lovely Mum (The Granny) moved into our basement. 

Don't misunderstand...a lengthy conversion took place first! Her gorgeous little 'garden cottage' deserves a large posting all of it's own, but here's a sneaky look at what we've been working on together. 

My Mum has never fulfilled her creative potential (I can hear her laughing as she reads this)....but recently she has unleashed the flair we always knew she had!

This old chair was rescued from a  a school Cleggy was visiting - it was heading to a skip. The wood was stained dark and the fabric was obligatory staffroom colours (orange tweed!). Granny has given it a lick of antique white paint, made some cushions out of a blind sample, and created this thing of beauty. Shame we don't have a picture of how it looked before!

I made my first cushion cover (of course that's a huge exaggeration...I make a rectangle of granny squares and Granny made it into a cushion with that lovely trim on the back!)

I also made a couple of jam jar covers (still obsessed!) to match, with beautiful wool from here - thank you Stocki.

Sorry about rubbish photo!

Here it is in all it's cosy gorgeousness. We have started the best bit of her new home - the finishing touches. I will do the big ta daaaa when the first room is finished...

It's no secret that I would have loved a few girls around these parts (in addition to the boys you understand) 

so imagine my delight when #1 appeared with THIS cushion from his design and technology lesson:

Better still he made it for his little nephews Sonny and Luca - it's coming your way boys!

So, we have packed our sledges (really!) and are off to (very) rural Scotland - with family Bryce-Kisby and the Granny too, for half term.

We use any long journey as an opportunity for a musical education! Last time was Michael Jackson past and present (not that present, obviously!) which went down very well with all boys. At some point we'll introduce Radiohead and The Smiths - but it just doesn't lend itself to the jolly hols vibe!!!

This time, with Granny in the car, we're going for The Beatles. So, think of us, skidding around on the ice, singing Yellow Submarine. Again! 

Heading here:

How bad can it be?!

fee x

(thank you Helen from 26 minutes past and Stocki for your generous award - I'll be following the rules and posting my 'interesting' facts on return from the hols...when hopefully I will have thought of some!)