While clearing out this morning I found a packet of well out-of-date polaroid film, so when I went on my post office trip I treated myself to a ginger beer from the fancy organic place and went a-wandering with my camera. Feeling loads better!

(Edit: new banner good or bad? Been meaning to do that for ages.)

nostalgia trip

I've been searching for socks like these for years, and nearly wet myself when I saw these puppies in a pound shop in Ely (you can find some gems in these places, I swear!). I might even sew ruffles round the top for that real authentic school days look. Now all I need is a gingham dress and a Thomas the Tank Engine lunch box and I'll look exactly like I did in 1993 (and a fair amount cheaper than Topshop!)

New little frame purses. Loads of fun to make, these! Everything's better in tiny.
Thanks for your kind wishes, I am downing huge amounts of honey and lemon.

Having had an absolutely amazing weekend, I'm now lying on the sofa feeling really sorry for myself with a massive cold/chest infection-type thing. While I recover, here are some beautiful things from Olive Manna (found via papernstitch).

Ladies and gents, I am off this evening on my way to have a lovely time in a beautiful field, and will be out of contact range until Monday night. Have a lovely rest-of-week and weekend everyone, and here is a terribly unflattering photo from last year or the year before:

Bleugh! xx

Also while playing with the leather swatch book - new leather moustaches! I've made these pretty much since the beginning, but they've had a bit of a break, at least etsy-wise. These beauties will be available there very soon! Get your moustache on...

remade? renewed? redecorated?

New upcycled (I just can't reconcile myself to that word, but how else to describe it?!) clothing pieces in the shop now...

getting all raw and natural

I've been playing around with a load of leather swatches I found in a junk shop, and some bamboo beads. Loads of fun! What do you think?

Last night I attempted to make redcurrant jelly. Hmph. It was hampered by a few factors, for instance a lack of any particular volume of redcurrants and the fact that the muslin jelly-strainer bag thingy has vanished. Never mind, I've got two small jars of redcurrant and blackcurrant jam now which is dark as the night and powerfully fruity. All's well that ends well, I suppose. Just have to scrape the sticky mess off all the kitchen surfaces!

Remember these multiway chain/brooch thingies? I've had a few more lying around for a bit while I got round to photographing them. Each is a one-off and they're a bit more decorative than the first batch. They will be coming up in the shop this week.

I am totally in awe of Annie Larson's incredible knitted clothing. The patterns are incredible, the colours are perfect and the photography is pretty delicious too. These are just a couple of favourites above but I wouldn't say no to a pair of the amazing leggings too!

Presents and pretties. I've got a craft fair tomorrow, and it's going to be very hot again. I wish I'd invested in some good hot-weather clothes 2 weeks ago when it started, instead of going around in ridiculous flappy ensembles in a desperate attempt not to overheat.

New stuff just arrived in the shop. I'm particularly excited about the ship in a bottle necklace, of which there will be a few more if all goes well.

GORDON'S ALIVE!

Hurray! My laptop lives to have a hot beverage spilled upon it another day. This was excellent news after a mind-numbingly foot-stingingly hot and sweaty day in London for an interview.
Similarly cheering news was that I was lucky enough to receive the lovely rings above from Much Love Illy after winning them in a Paper'n'stitch giveaway that I'd forgotten I entered. Thanks, universe.

Last night the boy announced that he would like to learn to make cranes (again) and so we had a tutorial session. Thank you Emily for the paper!

This morning I spilt tea over my laptop, and it has now died. This is a potential disaster so please bear with me while I try to save my entire life which was on the hard drive...

Here are some photos of Norwich, the lovely hidden bit behind the cathedral where all the cathedral-related people live. It's ridiculously, on-the-telly nice. For overseas readers, Norwich is a bit of a joke in the UK. A marry-your-cousins, six-fingers-and-toes, everyones-a-farmer joke. You know the kind - every country's got one! So I just thought I'd show you that it's rather attractive, really.

It would be a dream to live here but you might have to become a cardinal or something. If you still fancy it, good luck to yas!

Yesterday I had an utterly self-indulgent day. First off I made vegan cakes (using this recipe) not because of any dietary thing, but because I couldn't be arsed to walk to the shop and buy eggs. Surprisingly, they are possibly even better than normal cake. Very moist and almost gooey, anyway. I couldn't resist covering them with hundreds-and-thousands like a child!

I then went and watched the Wimbledon final in the bath. Niiiiice.
What did you do with your weekend?

AHOY THERE

Coming right up in the ship, I mean shop*...

I've gone a bit mad with these great stripey ribbons, so I'm calling it a collection and it'll all be hitting the shop today. Now that I've got a little bit of time to use all the supplies I've been stacking up, jewellery is practically coming out of my ears. So please please pretty please take some off my hands, as I can no longer fit my laptop on my desk. Help!

* ahahahahahahahahahahahahhaaaa

Package Project II

Here are Emily's pictures of the package that I sent her for our exchange. It's so much fun just putting something nice together for a (once) stranger.

Package Project

This is my lovely lovely package from Emily (who has a great blog) as part of Nadia's incredible Package Project. There were even more gorgeous bits in the package but I got too excited and forgot to take nice photos! The map envelops, vintage tickets and such are just SO nice, and who doesn't love red'n'white bakers twine?

So thanks Emily, and I fully encourage all of you to keep an eye on the Package Project blog, and join in the next one if poor Nadia can bear to organise it again!