The Tale of Two Boxes

In the furthest wooliest corner of my apartment sits a box... 

Its not a very big box but inside it hold a lot of treasure...

I have my whole sewing room packed into this box. 

All the supplies I could squeeze in at least, it just closes... just!

All the important stuff is there. Cute prints, felt, bunny knits, lace, buttons, zips. A little bit of everything but still knowing where to begin is hard...

And then there's the second box...

...the Box of Shop.

Easier to know where to begin, 

Just have to re-open the Little Shop.

And that's what I'll do today...

xox

(If you do happen to stop by the little shop, please let me know you came from here because I want to add a little treat for blog friends. A thank you for the lovely hello's...)

Wed-nesday?

Bear with me with these daily snippets,

my head is not in blog mode just yet...

You may have seen this softie before. A Wedding Cake request from a friend and a sewing theme I will be following again soon...

The past few months I have been indulging my inner princess with lots and lots of wedding planning.

We have set the date for March next year

and found a lovely english garden to be married in.

I have fallen for many of the gorgeous wedding sites and all the handmade touches to add to special days.

I have saved and sourced a million little pretties.

But before I go on I want to ask, 

would you like me to share?

It won't be too much I promise, just a post once a week or scarcer and the pretties, stationary, inspiration, sweet details and craftiness rather than seating plans and bridal nightmares.

Thank you all so much for stopping by,

you made me feel very welcome back!

xox

Hello old friend!

It's been like this for far too long but yesterday it changed...

Needles!

Felt!

Threads!

No room for diner at the dining table!

Actual crafty messiness!

I'm so excited to have my urge to sew back, oh how I miss it!

I missed you too and to get over my "umm...err...so many excuses" embarrassment of neglecting poor little blog here, I think a daily snippet may be called for...

And with that you'll see me tomorrow!

xox

Cake and a catch up number 2...

Time for another little cake and a catch up...

After a little over a week of unpacking, I'm about ready to start all over again... with the packing that is *sigh*

The little craft room is becoming a travelling workshop of tiny suitcases and a sewing box, both in need of a very strict edit. It's so hard to chose my favouritest of all my favourite fabrics and buttons and what nots and lace! And all the stitched little samples and softies... I'm hoping to hold a quick little going away giveaway next week to find some of these things a lovely new home. Fingers crossed for a productive weekend!

Another thing to be packed away is the little shops as I become a travelling sales bunny. On Monday I will close the little doors for a month as I make my big move, so this will be the last weekend if you did wish to treat yourself to a little something and I will be adding little extra thank you gifts to all orders :-)

I'll be seeing you next week for another catch up and hopefully that giveaway!

Squirrelled away in packing boxes...

Today is the first of my two house moves. 

All is going well and in this little quiet moment I thought I'd say hello and make a little list of my favourite things about here before I go...

Lovely neighbours,

having a little wood at the bottom of the garden

and garden thats always seems sunny (thats just how I'll remember it, probably not too true...)

And the lovely woodland folk who pass by, including my favourite pair of cheeky squirrels...

I couldn't leave without stitching a little momento

See you all soon!

Hope you are having the loveliest day!

xo

Cake and a catch-up...

Help yourself to a cup of tea and I'll quickly catch you up...

Since my last little string of posts, I've had quite an exciting time. I became a year older and was spoilt rotten with cake, 3d Alice (oh how fantastic!!) and a surprise trip to the seaside. Most of the spoiling was done by the Boy who arrived home early, and is now home for good... 

 

... and if that wasn't enough it get more exciting!

He is indeed home for good but our home will be changing... twice! I have always lived at home with my parents and we are all about to move to a new house just down the road from where we are now, but very soon after that in May, me and the boy will be making our own home in our own house.  A little further away, a little plane ride away in Gibraltar...

 

I've never been there before but I'm very excited, a little bit scared and still trying to work it all out. I think it will be quite a busy time but hopefully everything will be the same around the little blog here. The little shops will be open for a good long month at least before a short rest to let us move and I know I will have plenty of time for cake and chattering here, if you will join me...

I think that's all my news for now. 2010 is turning out to be quite an interesting wonderful year for me! How's your year going so far?

oh and just a little about my patient Cakie friend who always enjoys a good catch-up. I used couching to whip up that wonderful fluffy frosting which I learnt from the Hand Embroidery Network's Stitch a Day posts. They finished the posts a little while ago but they are the most fantastic reference of stitches with detailed pics and so many ideas how to use them.

Take care and a second cupcake...

xo  

Blogiversary Cake (and a little giveaway!)

My little blog is 2 years old!

And what better way to celebrate than with cake...

...and cake is the reason I can celebrate!

Just before I started this little blog, I started crafting. I had always made little things and tried new ways, taken art class and learn to sew but I know there was a certain moment where this, this little adventure, all began.

For some reason I can't remember, I bought a few pieces of felt and a handful of embroidery thread knowing I want to make a cupcake. And I did this little cupcake here...

Its not perfect. I keep thinking I'll replace one day, make the perfect felt cupcake but I probably won't because I love what this one started. This little cake meant when I had the urge to sew something, I did it and I kept wanting to sew every time I saw it. I was so proud of this cupcake I showed it to people which led to the opportunity to sell and share these little things. It started my blog, my shops, friendships and lots of happiness. I am very happy with who I am today because of all I have acheived as a crafty person, and this little cake started that.

The cake may have started it, but this blog has also given me so much more than I could have imagined.  A lots of the happiness comes from sharing, being part of something and that isn't really the cupcake or the blog itself but you friends who take the time to visit, if you're sweet enough to follow or just stop by the once and I am so thankful for you.

As you know when I am feeling particularly lucky because of you guys, I like to do a little giveaway to say thank you. Today is definitely one of those days and this time I would like to stitch someone a little cakey friend.

You can pick the colours and whether you would like a Happy the birthday cake, a Baby cake or a Cheery cherry cake softie.

All you have to do is leave a comment below and because I am taking a two week blog break starting any day now (things have been delayed because of the snow) I will leave this open until my return around the 27th, when I'll do the random number picker thing.

Thank you for a lovely two years!

xo

Reward Stamps for Snail Mail (part 2)

Oh Wow!

You guys are so great! I feel incredibly lucky to have such lovely bloggy friends :)

I was a little unsure whether I was being too cheeky, asking too much or just being too nutty and that is the only reason I didn't make squillions of little stamp badges to begin with. I really want to say thank you to everyone so as long as people are happy to send snail mail, I am super happy to keep stitching and scribbling badges so everyone gets one... and thats what I did this morning...

The front five are the newbies, but I hope you'll let me make some more soon. I really enjoy making these. I don't know if you can see but I've been numbering them in pennys on the top right corner and I'm thinking each should be unique. I'm not sure how many stamps it will take to fill my journal page but until it is, I will have a stamp for everyone who wants to join in :)

If you've come straight to this post and have no idea what I'm talking about, this a little snail mail project for my Wreck this Journal where I am collecting the stamps off of my mail. I will send you a stamp badge by snail mail in return for a piece of snail mail with a postage stamp I can tear off the envelope and stick in my journal to make a pretty page. There is more about it in this post.

If you'd like a little snail mail, please leave a comment with your email in either of the posts or email me at jeni_s@hotmail.co.uk, so I can give you my post address and gets yours to send the badge.

If you have already left a comment I am emailing you all now. I am terrible for replying to comments by accidentally sending emails to the noreply@blogger robot so if you haven't heard from me within a couple of days, give me a nudge because that naughty robot has eaten your mail.

Thank you so much to everyone whose replied or is thinking about it.

You are lovely!

xo

Tag! I'm it...

I was tagged by Leah of All Things Nice! If you haven't  visited her over there you really should. She is a total sweetheart and she really does find all the nicest things... 

1. What books are on your favorite shelf?

I don't actually have any shelves, I have a rather large book stack against the wall but I do have many favourite books... 

This is my absolute, makes my heart swell with happiness, favourite book. "This is for you" by Rob Ryan, a sweet story writen and illustrated with paper cuts. Everyone should treat themselves to this or buy it for someone they love.

2. What DVDs are on your favorite shelf?

I have a quirky dvd collection... There is so many films on telly so I only buy one I won't see on there and think I'll watch hundred times. My favourites are Ameile, Breakfast at Tiffany's and The Science of Sleep... films that feels more like you are seeing a life rather than watching an event are my favourite kind.

3. What are your two favorite cookbooks?

Easy peasy! I just bought Rachel Allen's Bake, so good! Cakes, breads, meals... if you cook it in the oven its probably in here. And Nigella Express - quick, yummy and you have to love the ridiculousness of her :) 

4. Select 1-3 recipes you will cook for your special guests:

My favourite meals are the inbetweeny ones brunch and afternoon tea although I rarely get to have them. But since its special guests... toast, eggs, crumpets, jam tarts and fairy cakes, all that kind of goodness

5. What will we be drinking that's available?

Nice hot tea in favourite mugs of course :)

And  to keep this going, I will tag: 

Hannah at Span's Stitchin' - nothing makes me want to pick up crochet like her blog

Woolywotnots - Everyday is inspirational over there

and Mollie who everyone knows as the super cute Wild Olive - she is crafting for a brilliant charity so be sure to visit her shop too!

This isn't the strange request post I said was coming, I hope you guessed that hee hee!

I have a touch of photo sorting and then I'll be back later to ask a tiny favour...  

Happy Wishes,

Jenny xo

Behind the Screams

I saw that title on a horror movie dvd extras menu for their 'behind the scenes' and just had to borrow it for this :)

The Spooky cute pumpkins were such mini little things you only got a glimpse of their little scene. The whole thing was the twisted tree spooky forest you see above. I still have it set up as a rather creepy corner, just incase I feel the urge to make more Halloweenies.

I'm from the fuzzy felt school of set design. A piece of fabric wrapped over a pin board will magically hold light fabric pieces in place and a pin will always hold the bigger stuff. I made the trees from off cuts of brown fleece. I can't throw anything out that may possibly have a use somewhere in a future unthought of project. I have 4 boxes stuffed with the tiniest offcuts, they slowly find there uses... 

And remember how I said a few posts ago I said I'm trying to make the most of each possible last day of Summer sunshine? This was took on that possible day as its been rainy and foggy since. Making the most of it... with the curtains closed tight at two in the afternoon and a daylight bulb?!

I said to myself I wouldn't do Halloween this year, I'd skip straight to Christmas after my August break. But then I scribbled this Batikins in a sketchbook and he nibbled and nibbled until he got his way...

This Bunnikins didn't get her way! Even with the biggest box of calico strip off cuts, its incredibly fiddlely to mummify a Bunnikins without her looking messy or, bizarrely, like a pineapple. Plus Mumikins sounds like more motherly then monsterly... 

Something that is easy to wrap up is Halloween goodies in the shape of pumpkins, especially when there is a pumpkin inside like this one. I got the idea after seeing this on the My Paper Crane blog last year. Its a square of orange tissue with the corners gathered at the top and brown string tightly wound quite a few times around before being tied in bow that holds a little fleece offcut leaf. It would be a cute way to make pumpkin decorations now I think about it!

Under the parcel is a little freebie something I'm working on. I'll have it ready soon but not for the next post.

No, for that I have a strange request for you with a teeny tiny reward... 

xo

Back with Friends...

So here I am back, a little lonelier, a little blue but bearing up.

Still have enough smile in me to make a bad pun :)

I've had a lovely few weeks. They felt like they were lasting forever which was so nice and more than I could have really asked for, but now a long 6 months of being away from the boy begins.

Crafting will see me through...

This little fellow sits on my desk as I get into said stitchery. He has been there over a year now, but now seems a good time to share. There was an early 20th century designer, Madame Vionnet who never sketched any of her dresses but made each one as a 24" miniature. Though I'd never do anything without a sketch, this always stuck with me. Its good for not wasting 'hard to come by' thrifted materials but also you end up with teeny tiny cute things all over the place... not a bad thing at all! So when I make something and I'm not too sure its going to work, I try out a little version first. Little bear is from a pattern I didn't use for the sweater bears.

Stitched on the machine in calico, sometimes they look like ghostly versions of their bigger selves, but a little embroidery and they can become quite lovely little things that steal your heart...

Hope everyone had a lovely summer!

I look forward to spending Autumn with you...

jenny

xo

officially back blogging

Hello!

I'm back from a very lazy, lovely time in the land of sun and towel monsters.

Technically its a crocodile, but if you refuse to take it pieces and instead have it sat in the corner of the room, where one night you forget about it, they definitely become towel monsters!! :)

Its nice to be back

xo

...and she's off again...

Just popping by to say hello,

 I feel a little sad that I let a whole week go by without stopping by...

...and I feel quite naughty that it not even a proper post, just a note to say...

...I'm off again for another week for my holidays...

I look forward to seeing you all then,

Love and Happy Wishes,

Jenny

(a v. bad blogger indeed!)

xo 

Thank you...

...so much for all the pre-Birthday wishes!

My actual B'day is a whole week away still so I feel a little princess-y having presents and days out already :)

(Another buy I missed but had to share, sorry!)

This is a big tote for shopping, PO runs and general lugging from Artbox again. One side has this super sweet Cookie/Gingerbread cutie and the other a recipe for... a cup of tea. Whoever would need the recipe I don't know, but it was too cute and odd not to take home.

Well, on top of B'day gluttony, I have to admit a slight craft famine which is never a good thing for a 'craft' blog. Next week will be better, I promise.... and I'm trying to think of a little freebie for you all too...

I hope everyone has lovely weekends

xo

Perfect Days

I just had the best day ever!

As a pre-birthday treat, I spent a wonderful day wandering around London. There was a couple of place and a couple of things I wanted to do. First stop, Ryantown 

I am stood in the middle of the shop trying to pick my treasure. It was hard enough, picking just one thing, that I have to carry around all day and not break without the fact I wanted everything in there, but I get close to picking, narrowing it down to a sherry glass with a bird and says "I love what you hate" and a short list of 4 tiles, when the door opens and Rob Ryan himself walks in the door...

Gaz had asked would I recognise him? Uh yea!  and I was a little star stuck! My brain instantly turned to noodles, couldn't pick, couldn't think anything except "omygod omygod" Then this tile just spoke to me...

Oh how I love it!

Bird, thread, small brains, inspirational... could it be more perfect!

There was one other, a sweet-yet-creepy note about stealing buttons from someone's shirt and sewing them on your own, which I see now may have summed up my slightly obsessive love and awe of his work... 

So I maybe arrived in London an hour ago and there, already, great great day, could go home happy! But it just got better with...

*Lunch in the middle of Covent Garden Market while listening to Royal Opera House musicians

*A string monkey from Octopus

*Giant Jelly Baby topped Cupcakes 

*Raspberry cocktails 

*the Japanese kawaii goodness of Artbox 

*general wandering, lovely weather and good company :)

 

All resulting in a lovable stash of pre-birthday goodies and big smiles!

I think I could quite happily say I've had my birthday now and can miss the getting older next week...

Hope you had lovely weekends and half-weeks too!

xo

Random Acts of Photography

I have been having a photo clearout as poor little laptop here is being quite stubborn about working properly while holding on to my 4500+ (un-back up) photos. Turns out I have lots of 'I should blog that' pictures so here is a few:

 

Chocolate Cola Marshmallow Muffins

recipe from 'Muffins Galore'

They sound disgustingly sweet and sickening, but surprising not! The chocolate is unsweetened cocoa and the cola can't really be tasted at all, just makes them all floaty light. I can't really say how much sweetness the marshmallows add... that creamy coloured stuff on the top of a couple is all that remains of them and that stuff was solid like toffee. The marshmallows are supposed to be a gooey centre hidden in the muffins, but just like the halloween muffins they escaped through the top in the first couple of minutes. These muffins were made back in November, but I made them again at the weekend without attempting the soft centre and they were just as good and dairy-free so I could give them to my poorly friend :)

Black-eyed Bluebird

This little guy hops around my craft room and makes me smile everytime I notice him - I can't believe I haven't shared him sooner. He flew all the way here from Squishy Cute Stuff's etsy shop with a cute little story of a bird seed scuffle and I am a sucker for little creatures with sad tales to tell. He also makes me wonder how many other lovely etsy bits and bobs I've forgot to share....

...and a black eyed heart

No fisty-cuff here, just a prototype for the lovely hearts.

Buttons galore!

Santa brought me a 2kg bag of loose charity shop buttons this year, oh happy happy happiness! I have slowly been sorting through them, but above is the scene from 2 weeks ago and not much has change, except that empty jar is full of white 1cm buttons... I need more jars!

So little laptop can be happy to have a tiny bit more memory all to itself, but I had to give it one more picture as I went to get my cup of tea to blog with (a tiny tradition here) this had appeared by the kettle...

I don't know how it got there, but its is always good to spot swirly baked goods when the rest of blogland is making you crave them.

Happy Random Mondays

xo 

Hooked!

Ever year I make the longest list of resolutions for the new year.

There are the things I will add to a daily routine and last about a week.

Big things I will do this year, which are forgotten by February,

and small things which can wait until 'next' month.

This year I actually seem to be making one happen!

*Learn to crochet....

...tick!

Yes, thanks to Santa, the wool shop and the super fantastic "Stitch 'n Bitch: The Happy Hooker" I have an odd little assortment of samples and am completely ga ga about crocheting. I thought I was going struggle as I have not-quite-successfully knitted on and off for years, and two attempts of stitching into a chain almost drove me insane but then something clicked and wow crocheting is fantastic and so natural to me (sorry Nanna!). I am so proud of my little green circle up there, I was dancing round the house :)

A couple of my other resolutions are going well too including *Be Happy and *Never run out of socks but I think most will need a bit more time - *Act my age springs to mind! 

How are your resolutions going?

And finally for no other reason that she is the same colour as my favourite wooly circle, meet my new garden friend...

Miss Green Woodpecker

The squirrels have all but disappeared with the frosty weather around here and in their place, I keep spotting her pecking worms and the like out of our lawn. Today she was so close I manage to get a photo from the window and be sure she was a girl (males have a red stripe under their eyes apparently), so here she is my little green friend with a bright red hair-do! 

Hope you're having lovely Thursdays!

xo

Lost to Tales

I spent a sleepy long weekend engrossed with fairytales.

On a sunny day after a lovely late lunch, I went to the book shop and this book just called to me...

The lovely papercut cover, the greed of its 279 stories and the curiosity of what I had been reading in another book, it all got the better of me and I had to have it.... and I had to curl up and start reading it immediately.

I love how short but satisfying each story is. They are and yet they aren't the stories I know from childhood. There are ones that I know, ones that are fuzzy in my mind, ones I never heard of and parts I wasn't told - I wasn't told how the stepsisters cut off their toes to fit into Cinderella's slipper by Disney or Mum for example. Whenever I have felt the need to take a break from sewing or scribbling, or chores much less interesting all together, I sit and read just one tale, after which I feel much more refreshed than by a cup of tea. They really are so much fun to read, maybe more so than as a child!

The other book was "Off with their Heads!", a look at the meanings and lessons of fairytales in childhood. Its rather wordy and studious but fascinating, especially if you like a darker side to your fairytales - you won't see them quite the same after.

***

A bit of an itty-bitty post today. I was going to share some pieces I was working on during my sleepy weekend but I've let it get so late without uploading the photos, they will have to wait for another day as I must go and prepare a little something for tomorrow's post before I curl up with another tale...

xo

Picking out gifts (and another happy list)

After little looking through my project box, I picked my Happiness Giveaway Gift...

A hand-drawn pencil pocket with a blue bow and some small notelets - blue 'Thank you' notelets and some brand new bunnies notes (which I haven't shared yet so this is a little sneak peek too)

I hope you like them!!

Remember to leave a comment here or there before sunday if you do :)

*

And a few more things that make me happy:

Crispy Autumn leaves and pine cones on the floor

*

Caramelised onion and poppy seed bagels

*

Strange gothic style mushrooms at the bottom of the garden...

and  little ones opened by the nibbling of this little guy... 

... he spends his days nibbling  mushrooms, digging tiny holes and throwing pine cones and prickly chestnuts at you! I kid you not! He is either cheeky and carefree, not minding you are about as he does his stuff or a mean little thing. One of the funniest things I ever heard about squirrels was from someone who didn't like them, arguing that they were just "rats with cuter tails and better upbringings" I am completely confused by that statement, but it made me giggle. I'm pretty sure it was the wisdom of Karl Pilkington on the Ricky Gervais Podcast

*

Just spend some time playing in the garden with Ollie

Hope your day has been full of little things that make you smile

xo

Happiness (and a little giveaway!)

I have been a bit of a misery lately. Things seem to keep going wrong, and it's really been getting to me. One after one I can list all the reasons life is crappy right now...

...but (a very large but!) so many little things have happened that make me super happy too. It should have ruled out all the bad bits automatically, but its funny how we dwell on the bad (or at least I do)

So some of my super happy little things:

Trips to craft shops and farm markets

*

Tea and hot buttered toast after coming in from Autumn rain

*

Being able to give little Hugo a home!

(photo from Frazzy Dazzles' Etsy shop)

This little cape-wearing mouse from Frazzy Dazzles has been waiting at the top of my must-buy etsy list so long and I finally got the chance to adopt him this week. He is on his way and will show up in person on a "things making me super happy list" soon, but for now knowing he is on his way makes me smile, not to mention finding this gorgeous drawing in my inbox the next day

(Caution: may cause delightful squeals!)

(picture from Frazzy Dazzles' blog)

And squeals of delight were definitely hear in my house :)

*

The most beautiful paper doll and pin from Elsita

(pictures from Elsita's etsy shop)

Also bought on Etsy. Elsita is one of the most amazing artists ever! Her work is so gorgeous, loads of tiny, thoughtful details, I was totally blown away seeing it in person. She is on a blogging break at the moment, but you should visit her often, each post is filled with magic. Her post about the paper doll had me instantly 

*

My Sex and the City Dvd came!  I didn't want to spoil the movie by finding out what happens before seeing it and then missed it at the cinemas (I have no idea how I managed that!!) I have spent the past 5 months avoiding anything about this movie! Its been tough but now I can finally see all those gorgeous clothes. Patricia Field is my ultimate fashion icon!

*

Winning a giveaway I accidentally entered! 

(If I had known it was a giveway post, I would have definitely entered and had my finger firmly crossed the whole time! But not knowing made the email even more thrilling!)

*

Lots of making!!

I really do love making stuff and think its the best cure for my crappy days. I always make things I like or find cute of funny and just cross my fingers and hope they bring smiles to others as well. It fills my heart went I find out they do! Joey of Joey's dream garden blogged my Halloween pieces, a little ghostie is on her way to a new home and then there is all the lovely comments you guy leave... well my heart swells with happiness.

So now I want spread a little of the happiness that sneaked up on me when I needed it the most. This calls for;

A impromptu Giveaway, me thinks!

I haven't decided what to give away yet, but it will be something small and made with love.

If you'd like the little something, please leave a little comment here (or long comment, if you prefer) and I will pick a name from the giant teacup on Sunday the 28th September

Many Many Happy wishes to all!

xo

 (I'll still be having a Halloweeny giveaway on the 1st of October, I just wanted to spread some Happy today as well! hee hee)