Showing posts with label vintage material. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vintage material. Show all posts

Monday, 11 February 2013

....toadstools have mushroomed!

...the vanilla squirrel's paws have been in overdrive this weekend....
 
..stocking up my toadie supply for 
my etsy shop.....
...it fascinates me how they take on their own personality....
...the same pattern..
..the same person...
..yet they all have a different little twinkle in their eye....
which one winks at you?
(don't tell the others but there's just something about this one!?!)
X



Friday, 25 January 2013

....puppy love.....

...i just can't resist puppy material...
...there was a very large piece of this...
..so i made a few lavendar bags to start off..
..and backed them in this lovely 
french vintage ticking...
.....oh that?
...i think somebody must love me very much..
..because cute parcels arrive in the post...
...and the gifts inside are just so me...

...this perfect little brooch is from
 ..so thank you my secret admirer...
..you know me so well!
x

Thursday, 17 January 2013

....hidden treasure!

..this is a story of surprises....
...of finding joy in unexpected places...
...of lasting friendships...
...a story about a monkey who had a secret!
...every year my squirrelling parents
try to travel to holland to visit 
the utrecht vintage toy fair...
...they always return
 with the most amazing 'finds'(I WANT TO GO!!)...
...they stay with our dear dutch friends..
.. who share our love 
of antiques, vintage, childhood nostalgia...
...this year our 'vriendiin eekhoorn'
(dutch squirrel friend??)
discovered an endearing norah wellings monkey
(remember my binky?)
..fell for that little face and adopted him!
..but once home it was felt that all was not quite what it seemed.... 
..with a little explorative investigation..
...and a delicate operation...
...a large piece of vintage fabric was discovered stuffed inside our little monkey!
....quel suprise!!!!(i know...french not dutch)
...as you can see it is very unusual...
..it has lovely little illustrations...
..and quirky little sayings...
...in english!!!...
...the material was gently packaged up..
..and kindly sent back to england with
my parents......
...to be 'vanilla squirrelled'
 into something crafty...
...hmmmm what to do?
...my mum asked me to make something special
for her friend (of some 30 years)
to send back to holland ...
...a gift of friendship...
...so i mooted and pondered...
...gathered together a mix of materials, ribbons, buttons....doilies!....
...and pondered and mooted...
..and made a trio of lavender pillows...
....that will hopefully last another 
30 years...
...a symbol of a lasting friendship...
...and a special little monkey...

...with a hidden secret.
x

Sunday, 9 December 2012

...squirrel GIVEAWAY!!!!....


...being in a festive mood...
...the vanilla squirrel is having a christmas
GIVEAWAY!!!

...included in the giveaway is
..a cute lavender toadie..
 (made with vintage quilty fabric, ticking and buttons...)
..and..
..a soft gingerbread man..
(handmade also with vintage fabrics and buttons)
complete with his own toy soldier!


to enter all you need to do is be a follower
and tell me what you like best about the christmas season....


...a winner will be picked at random 
on December 14th!

....now back to the decorating....!
..happy christmas one and all x




Thursday, 6 December 2012

....hangover cure.....

...oh dear naughty squirrel...


...unused as you are to gin fizz....
...it is not advisable to drink too many..
...too quickly....
(note to self regarding forthcoming christmas festivities)


...so the day started somewhat shakily..
...with the thought of impending work
not altogether a welcome one...

..but then an unexpected parcel arrived
to distract my thumping head...
...some vintage toadstool decorations,
buttons, material.....


..sometimes mothers do know best...
...and mine had packaged up
some special treats...
perfect timing!


...then a trusty 'melon' arrived!
..she quickly deduced i was not fit
for work...
...and reminded me that ellie
was opening a new shop in dorchester today..
..hurrah for ellie! 


..by this point i was feeling decidedly better!

....so off we went...

...gorgeous christmassy tins...


...and lots of lovely 'jelly jam' treats..


 ...i have been loving this alpine fabric
on ellie's blog for a while now...
...so was excited to invest in a little purse!

....we also visited dorchester's

....oh me oh my....
..it's HUGE and FABULOUS....
...and freezing cold!
(thermals and mitts highly recommended)


..we had heart palpitations..
(not alcohol induced)
...and were unusually controlled...
(it being christmas and all that)

..but a £4 chad valley bun...
.. in need of love and affection... 
..and squirrel restoration...
was not to be missed!
(sorry beautiful straw lamb...but i had to be strong)
(probably see you next week if i can't sleep tonight) 

..so as you can tell...
...my cure was a natural one!
...much better now...
 thank-you one and all 
X

Saturday, 17 November 2012

...the first cut is the deepest.....


...do you ever find material 
that you love so much... 
that you can't bring yourself to cut it?..


..that's how i felt about this lovely vintage
'polar scene' fabric....



...but with christmas approaching...
 i knew the time had come....


...still deciding what to do with it all..
....but it's a start....
...brave huh?


...i made this furry polar bear...
...but my family decided it looked more like a polar-sheep!

...have a happy, crafty,vintagey,
christmassy week-end x





Wednesday, 31 October 2012

....squirrel sister....


....this beautiful embroidered patchwork heart was made by my 'squirrel sister'....



...she crafts critters too!



...you can buy her gorgeous things on etsy..

..or if you are in Jersey you can visit her
at the vintage craft fairs there...


...i wish i could! X

p.s. i told you i was from a family of squirrels!

Saturday, 20 October 2012

retro bear!

...i needed to make a friend for my retro bunny.....


..i gave him a soft cashmere tummy but....

...he was looking a bit sad until......



....they got together!

...that's better!