Here Come's The Summer!

Yesterday I woke up to a little girl bursting in to the bedroom yelling "HELLO MUMMY!".
As that kind of killed my plans for a lazy Sunday lie in, we decided to head up to our local car boot sale and have a mooch about.
I picked up another picture for the living room and some pretty plates because they were cheap and we need new plates. New to us is new enough.

Then we headed in to town to watch some music. When we got our entry stamps, Pip immediately put her hand out to get one too and spent the next ten minutes comparing her hand stamp to ours. 

Is it silly to be proud of this?

Great music. From left to right: James off of The Magic Lantern, Marianne off of Hot Feet and Sam off of..well, Sam Brookes. Check them out if you like folksy, rocky music.
I think I may have just made up a new genre there, but seriously do give them a listen if you're a music fan. There was a lot of talent in that tent today and I'm so glad we go to go and fill our ears with it.

Time was a little short after that, but we managed a quick wander along the river before I had to shoot home to finish up some sewing. It was nice and quiet as Dan and Pip had a hot play date in the park. What a day.

I bloody love this city.

And before I forget, the Facebook giveaway has finished and the winner is........

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jess! 

Congrats Jess! A pair of cherry earrings will be winging their way to you shortly. Thanks to everyone who took part. You're all a bit fab. XOXOXOX

New In The Shop - 'Three Little Birds' Necklace

My latest addition to the shop is this cute bronze bird necklace. I appear to have a thing about birds on branches this spring!

£8

SHOP

It measures approximately 8cm across and the necklace length is 20cm from clasp to charm.

That will be the last of the necklaces for a little while as I'm going to focus on more kimono jackets and dresses. Keep your eyes peeled!

Make Do and Mend - Patched Jeans

They're not much to look at. Just an average pair of jeans that are past their best. 

They're also the best pair of jeans I've ever owned.

Eight years old with worn knees and stained with wood preservative, this pair of jeans have seen it all. They came to Vegas with me when we got married, have climbed the Empire State Building and danced 'til late to Fat Boy Slim one wet and muddy Glastonbury. The holes in the knees are the result of crawling around the floor with Pip before she could walk. There are SO many fond memories attached to these jeans. There's no way in hell I was going to bin them when they could be so easily mended instead.

Here's a close up of the jeans before I got busy..

And here's a close up afterwards.

I. Love. Them.

I think the patches make the jeans look loved. In this day and age it would have been too easy to just chuck them out and buy a new pair, but what a waste! 

These are special enough to mend and hold on too so I'll wear my patches with pride.

Alessi's Lanterns

The other day I got a back log of paintings and crafts from Alessi's nursery.  In amongst it all was the lantern she had made for Chinese New Year. 

I don't know what it is about it I love so much, but I'm smitten. She clearly had no hand in the cutting and sticking part, but the scribbles are all hers and to me it's precious. 

I love it so much in fact that I decided that we'd have our own lantern making session. I only intended to make a couple, but she loves drawing an insane amount and didn't want to stop. So we ended up making a whole string of lanterns which are currently adding some colour to the conservatory and making me smile each time I see them.

I don't do a lot of crafts with Alessi if I'm honest, but this has given me the bug. It was more fun and less stressful than I'd imagined. Do you have any favourite crafts you do with your kid(s)? Do let me know as I'm now on the look out for more ideas!

I can feel a visit to Pinterest coming on..