Birthday Part 1: vintage neutrals

So, it was my birthday (again...how?) and I was treated like a proper Princess (as opposed to the house slave I usually refer to!) I spent the day doing NOTHING...bliss. We had planned a walk and a picnic but ended up waiting in the the man to fix the boiler!  

The boys have been working away on some 'projects' up in the loft room for a good few weeks...and I finally got to see the efforts of their labour. 

My presents came in 2 parts - the neutral and the bright. Here's part 1:

Cleggy, known for his present wrapping skills, raised the bar again with the most magnificent vintage case.

We have been collecting cases for a while now to use as storage in the upstairs hall - although I'm not sure I could ever actually use this one for anything other than looking at:

It's adorned with a mixture of papers, doilies, buttons, keys, tags, tickets and other paraphernalia, some from my own workshop. I don't mind...they are usually things I love so much I can't bear to use them...so it's nice to have them on presents made for me! 

[the clay hearts are by clever Naomi, fellow notonthehighstreet seller, here's the link 

http://littlebrickhouseclayworks.blogspot.co.uk/ ]

The real beauty is that all the photos are of my relations - mostly on my Dad's side. They are all long gone, as is my Dad, who died when I was young, so these 

little bits of history are real treasures 

(Don't worry siblings...they are scanned copies, not the originals)

The elegant lady is my beautiful Grandma (Nelly!) Check out that hand! Wish I'd inherited her height!

Anyway - inside was full of wonderful packages

And inside the parcels were a range of pictures and hangings and frames - all ready to adorn the biggest wall in the lounge. And the beauty of these are that they either use, or have been inspired by doilies! Lots of them were made by my maternal Grandma (wee Jeanie!) also long gone. The Granny thinks her Mum would love (and laugh!) at me using them now.

About 14 months ago I blogged about my love of a local Manchester artist called Lee Page Hanson. We have a few bits and pieces of his work from over the years (including a little pendant from Nelly) around the house - and have asked him to make special things for friends over the years too. His work is both beautiful and timeless. Cleggy asked him to do a collection of things inspired by the doily - so round plates and tiles (and nuggets) incorporating butterflies, birds and print (my favourite!)

They are absolutely gorgeous (Cleggy's homemade birthday card = top left, complete with one of lee's nuggets. chuckle)

The work is intricately embossed and adorned with shiny metals. They are hard to capture in a photo - I'll try to take some more when they are all up on the wall.

Cleggy then used Lee's work and combined it with frames, plates and mirrors, mostly vintage, to create a veritable gallery! They will look great next to that giant clock we bought earlier in the year (here)

Lee I LOVE them - you are so clever. I can't wait for you to see them all hanging together.

Cleggy also commissioned Annabelle from three red apples to make an embroidery for the same wall - and it fits in so well. The work is called 'a little bird to tell you I love you'...

I have yet to peruse Annabelle's blog (and shop) - but I'll be off to stalk her later!

[I've just realised I've already pinned some of 

Annabelle's work!]

The boys also made matching cards - here are the neutral ones:

Clearly that is more than enough for any birthday....not so! (no wonder we've got no bloomin' money!)

He also asked my blogging pal Anita to create something special- and  she absolutely did.

This little piece of whimsical art is so adorable - it's called 'you are my perfect fit'.

It's like a little shadow box, adorned with trinkets and a flourish here and there. A bejewelled crown sits on top with a little bird. Inside is a pair of shoes (I LOVE shoes) and outside is one of Anita's little paintings of Cinderella and her Prince.

 

Anita also sent me a wand! I don't recall ever having a wand before - so here I am (playing in the garden with my camera this morning!) with my first wand at 41!

[Anita - I hope you knew when you were making these gifts that they are right up my 'whimsical with meaning' street and that I would love them? They will be going in my bedroom boudoir where I will look at it every morning and know how lucky I am]

I know Anita has lots of visitors to her blog but if you haven't been there yet you MUST! She uses the most exquisite images and writes beautifully - it's good for the soul!

Castles, crowns and cottages

Anita's Etsy shop 

Here are all my 'neutral' doily and whimsy inspired gifts together on the fireplace - still waiting for the large tin of paint to be opened...making me the only person hoping for a couple of dull days next week.

 

Now, recognising that this set of pictures are beyond beautiful, and hearing my little sister and The Granny saying 'how do you make your house look so nice when it's such a mess' I actually took some photos of the kitchen and dining room for a 'real life' show and tell. But I just couldn't do it. 

Bearing in mind that in the last week the dishwasher, washing machine, printer (crucial for chipper nelly) boiler and car have all broken  it's been grim on the cleanliness front! I've even struggled to provide clean pants (my base requirement as a crap housewife). Apart from anything else I was seriously worried that someone would phone environmental health, or at the very least suggest pest control (ant invasion in kitchen - great!)

So I'm not going to share. This is my happy place.

And goodness knows we all need some happy.

Birthday part 2, colour (and giveaway!) coming soon

fee x

I will share one little photo of Minnie though...this pig has driven me literally crazy this week with her escaping and injuring of ducks! Nelly has suggested getting a spit ready for the Jubilee weekend...just to make her think about what she's done!!!