Wednesday 31 August 2011

cake stands



I made tonnes of these cake stands about a year ago, sold a few to friends and at craft and vintage fairs, but today I unearthed these beauts while attempting to tidy up the house in preparation for inevitable house move.
So, they are looking for a new home.  Trouble is, I'm not sure how they will travel so not keen to post.  Collection from me in Leicester or Luton is ideal or I may be able to deliver.
Contact me if you are interested, and please tell all of your friends/colleagues/family etc!

Tuesday 30 August 2011

pierrot clown

                                          Source: la-mignonette.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest


I have loved Pierrot clowns since I was a little girl.  My older sister had some wallpaper in her bedroom when she was little in early 1980s, and I keep searching eBay and vintage shops for a roll for myself, but so far no luck!  I found this little trinket box for 50 pence at a car boot sale, the same one where my Dad found the 1960s dolls house.  One day, it shall sit on my vintage dressing table (which I am yet to actually own!)

Sunday 28 August 2011

Norfolk


We decided to take an impromptu trip to Norfolk for a couple of days last week.  I called up a campsite and booked us in then off we went, car loaded with tent, food and cameras.  We stayed near Blakeney, a part of Norfolk that I had not yet visited.  It was really quaint and pretty, with a quay and lots of boats.  On our first afternoon there, we had a delicious cream tea, sandwiches, scones, cakes and tea - nom!  We ventured into Cromer, Sherringham, Morsten and Wells next the Sea during our stay - all of equal beauty.  I really love Norfolk, there are lots of nice places to eat, cute little cafes and interesting shops - and the sights are always awe inspiring.  Our campsite was nice, very small and basic but clean (very important!) and everyone was friendly.  It bucketed it down on Thursday night, but it was actually quite nice being all snuggled up in layers of blankets and listening to the rain - until the time came to take the tent down and pack everything away!  It was a really nice, relaxing break away - just what I needed.

Photographs courtesy of Steve Poxson, who also has a brand new blog showcasing his wide selection of vintage cameras - go and take a look!

Monday 22 August 2011

hello, have we met?

So I made another dress - all by myself and with no big mistakes!  I even followed the pattern instructions for a change!  This dress was made using the same pattern as my red floral one.   What do you think of the fabric?  It's from Ikea, it's pretty crazy.  It has flowers, bananas, cocktails and er, lobsters on it!  I really love Ikea fabric, if you've never thought of looking before, I thoroughly recommend giving it a try.  I think that this dress pattern is slowly becoming a favourite.  I might try a plain version next time.
I might wear it tomorrow night, I'm going to see Jimmy Eat World (cue nostalgic sixteen year old gig excitement!).

Friday 19 August 2011

little orange fille




 headband Little Fille
dress Cow Vintage (Nottingham)
flip flops Accessorize

Here I am, proudly wearing the wonderful Little Fille bow headband that I won in the Wallpaper Rose blog giveaway about a week ago.  (I also won a very pretty Wallpaper Rose necklace, but more on that very soon!)
This dress is the second and final item that I found on the sale rail at Cow, the first being the red skirt.  I was a bit worried that it was a tad too orange, but I am embracing it's citrus colour due to the sudden change of weather - it is pleasantly hot!  The dress was a bargain price of £5, and like the skirt, it fits really well.
I have nearly completed another dress, using the same pattern as I did here.  Inserting the sleeves was really trying my patience last night and this morning, but I did it! Hooray!  I need to take the dress in at the sides a couple of inches, make the belt and hem it, but then it will be finished - photographs to follow shortly!

Thursday 18 August 2011

all the leaves are brown...

Autumn



...or they may as well be, judging by the terrible August weather we're having here in the UK.  Today is so cold and it's been raining for a few hours.  I even woke up with a cold today!  
I am loving all of the Autumn/Winter clothes that are in shops at the moment, it's just a pity that I can't really buy anything at the moment!  Everything everywhere is shades or orange, brown, yellow and burgundy - my current favourites!  I'm very glad to be over my beige phase.

I know it may seem a bit depressing talking about the weather getting colder already, but Autumn is my favourite season, and I secretly can't wait to pull on some woolly tights, a big knitted cardigan and a cosy scarf :)

What's your favourite season?

Wednesday 17 August 2011

what I wore


top Threadless
cardigan H&M
skirt Cow vintage (Nottingham)
sandals Primark

This skirt is one of my recent thrifty finds - it was on one of the many sale rails at Cow in Nottingham a few weeks ago, and was only £3!  I had almost given up hope rooting through what seemed like tonnes of unwearable garments, but this red and white skirt caught my eye.  It's a perfect fit too!  I am just struggling to find things to wear with it at the moment, I have too many brightly coloured, patterned (mainly floral) tops, and I have never really been able to pull off that whole 'clashing' look.

1993

Yesterday, my Mum found a bag full of my old school reports, cards I had made for them, letters I had written and newspaper cuttings etc.  I loved riffling through it all, and there were some laughs shared based on the sheer wit of my writing circa 1995.  I remember that I really loved writing letters, I still do to be honest, but am just terrible at finding the time to do it.  
This school report from year two entertained me the most - especially the paragraph on my progress in History.  "...has showed interest in looking at photographs and objects from the past" and "she enjoys listening to stories about the past and can talk about old pictures and photographs".  I can't believe that at only 7 years old, I was already fascinated by days gone by!  Isn't it strange how your character can be so apparent when you are so young?
All these things made me smile, I'm so glad that my parents have kept them all this time, they're wonderful :)

Tuesday 16 August 2011

what katie's dad found

We have just returned home - we've been visiting my family in Bedfordshire for the past few days.  On Sunday, I was eager to get myself to a car boot sale, and my parents decided to come along too - they love a bargain as much, if not more than me.  Myself and Steve lost my parents in the first row of stalls, and I said that I bet my Dad would have brought something completely random!  This 1960's doll house bypassed my beady eye and was snapped up by my Dad for £1.  Little did my Dad know, but I have wanted one of these for a few months now.  I have seen a few at previous car boots for between £15 - £20, and logic has played its part - I have no room and no children and am definitely not in a position to buy things that are unnecessary!  But £1?  How could you say no?  It's just amazing.  My Dad, being so lovely, said that I could have it, so the doll house is now mine :)
(although currently in storage in their shed...)


I also found myself a few vintage dresses at the same car boot sale, some need a little altering, but I will be sharing those with you very soon!

Friday 12 August 2011

Peter Pan collars

There are now some brand new Peter Pan collars in my etsy shop
£8.00 each.

Thursday 11 August 2011

fabric pin badges

So I spent my Thursday morning watching This Morning and making all of these new vintage fabric pin badges :)  I'm not sure yet whether I will be making these into packs as usual, or if I will be selling them individually when I hold stalls at fairs, I think that latter though.

Just to let you know that this is your last chance to use the 20% off discount code wewantsunshine in my shop, offer ends tomorrow evening.  I added two fabric headbands today too!

sorbetto top

A couple of months ago,  I was wowed by lovely Marie's version of the Sorbetto top, which is a free download from Colette patterns.  She has since made two more tops using this pattern - as far as I am aware - and I can completely understand the addiction!

I finally finished my top this afternoon, after I managed to buy some bias binding.  I had never added bias binding to anything before, and was really worried that I would mess it up, but it was fine!  Lots of pinning, sewing, repinning, more sewing....

So here is the finished garment :)

I used some of the recycled sheet that I previously used to experiment with making this dress.  All in all, I am pretty pleased with the result - it is a little bit big though.  I took the sides in a couple of centimeters when I started the top a few weeks ago, but really should have double checked before I sewed on the bias binding.  Never mind, you've always got to expect some mistakes when you first try out a pattern haven't you?!  

I have some plain navy blue cotton and beige bias binding a the ready so I can try out a second version soon.  I have to say, for those of you who are new to sewing, this is a great pattern to try out!

Monday 8 August 2011

making a house a home

Source: leberpr.com via Katie on Pinterest


Source: etsy.com via Katie on Pinterest



Source: purlbee.com via Katie on Pinterest


I have recently become more obsessed with homewares than ever before.  Certainly for the past few years, I have loved buying things for either my room at University, and then for mine and Steves current home, our first home together.  We will soon be moving, and I'm starting to feel quite overwhelmed by it all.  We have already started sifting though our belongings and making piles for the bin, recycling, charity shop, car boot sale and ebay.  I have been ruthless in getting rid of anything that I wouldn't mind if I left behind.  Surely there is nothing worse than packing and unpacking things that you don't even like or want anymore?  There will most definitely be tears shed when we leave this place.  But it's also exciting.  There will be a new home, and then I hope, one day in the not too distant future, we will finally be able to own a property (although, judging by the current financial circumstance, that will probably be a long way off!).  The photographs above were found on the delightful Pinterest, I have got into the habit of spending just a few minutes a day having a peruse through all of the wonderful and inspiring things.  The home themed photographs above are all taken from my home sweet home board, and I feel that they sum up the aspirations I have for our home.  One day :)

I think that these riots in London have made me all sentimental tonight.  What a sad thing to be happening.  I feel very lucky to be snuggled up on our sofa.

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