In It To Win It

if you fancy a wee gift dropping through your letterbox please take a moment to leave a comment with a hands up today or tomorrow.

i have restocked my etsy shop with some vintage button magnet sets...more to come along with other little things that are good to give as presents or to keep for oneself. it feels nice to be making and packaging up pretty things again. and i have so many beautiful old buttons it is quite hard to stop!

this red white and blue set will make it's way to the winner on friday 1st june so be sure to enter by thursday 31st may midnight my time. anywhere in the world folks so don't be shy.

we have plans to do lots over the jubilee weekend here. parties and fetes and dressing up...how about you?

friday things

it is all about yellow today.
call it an ode to le soleil.

some creative bits to shout out...button magnets should be ready on the cyber shelves next week.
wee buns have been scoffed between gardening tasks.
***2 year old picking newly planted marigolds alert***
i am practising my cross voice. serious face.

cards of appreciation off to the botanic gardens warden of the year and the dear mr + mrs p who collected monsieur bay and posted him home. good people.

lemon curd made and potted to take up north in the morning. we are wilmslow bound to see old friends and meet new little ones...18 month old twins and a 3 year old...elsa is going to have a pretty swell weekend i reckon.

Soft Toy Sweetheart

 

so the love story started back in january 2010. newborn girl meets bunny (from auntie lynsey).
baby falls big time for bay. the two go everywhere together.

fast forward and said soft toy is looking a little less fluffy but is still number one.
her holy trinity = milk + bay + dummy.
a few travels and moments when he went walkabout. always to be found not too far away.

until this weekend when he took a sleepover at cambridge botanical gardens. totally unauthorised.
wow we are all lucky that someone handed him in to lost property. less than 48 hours and he is home again and phew we are all happy we got a happy ending. see them reunited here.

and we are only at year two. i am starting to fear more of these moments!
i just hope he makes it through to the stage when they kind of fall apart and end up just an ear.
i hear people buy duplicates...but small folk aren't fools.
ideas?

btw i'm back (again)
stay tuned. please!

p.s. said gardens are amazing! we will definitely return soon with bay on a piece of elastic.

A JOURNAL

a gift.

this week i got to hear her voice again. narrating each page. and until i started taking in her words i don't think i'd begun to understand how much i miss my grandma. she has made me laugh and cry as i dipped in to her simple observations and comments on the subjects that she loved. family. food. fashion. food!

how precious to be given the chance to make that connection again. last week my mum and her sisters sorted through their parent's treasures and came across the holiday journals that she written. i can't wait to read more.

two of the diaries from 20 or so years ago when visiting my parents (with me and my brother) when they lived overseas. may i share a little extract?

We were invited to supper with Barbara and Clive next door. It was wonderful. All their best china and glasses and cutlery laid outside with coloured lights and French music. The meal was super. Tiny quail with game chips - mixed casserole with everything imaginable in - lots of veg - crispy bread - then a cake with lemon sauce - French cheese with bread - coffee and mints.

my grandma absolutely loved her food. i'd say about 80% of the writing is culinary themed! it makes me smile...we always talked so much about eating.

1st image taken from mary's diary...her handwriting was always so considered and neat.
2nd image...grandma holding me close in the garden behind her bungalow...probably around elsa's age.

1ST DAYS

of springtime.

welcoming you with open arms. i so hope that the season carries on as it began...wonderful fresh sunny days here. i have spent so much time out in the garden this week and it is a true tonic. i almost forgot how good it is just to be a couple of steps from the carpet of the house.

a couple of today's simple joys...

strong coffee sat on the decking. watching elsa lay next to bosco on a blanket (she calls him "little darling"...he has to be one of the most patient cat companions i've seen.)

listening to the archers through the open window from the kitchen whilst edging the lawn (that probably makes me sound very old. i don't care. it was brilliant.)

picking the teeniest of flowers with elsa. probably some sort of weeds but so pretty! we made a posy for a fairy but then decided it would make a wonderful headpiece for elephant...seeking inspiration for an upcoming wedding. me too.

all the fresh air and i am happily weary this evening. leftover barbeque supper from last night...no dishes!

shari is sharing some lovely spring manifestos. i am really enjoying the series so far. must be time to note some of my own.

SUNSHINE

the very lovely kerry surprised me with a sweet message today...and the gift of an award. a sunshine one and *blush* i accept it most gratefully. thank you kerry! wow i really am rubbish at speeches.

i like the q+a that she has tagged me to do.
here goes...

favourite colour? - has to be green. so many shades but especially that old style powdery one or of course my namesake (kelly)

favourite animal? - cats are cool. i love our bosco but he is a bit too cool (not a lap cat)

favourite non-alcoholic drink? - (hot) a really good coffee or (cold) still water...how wild am i? 

facebook or twitter? - fb because i just haven't got the hang of the #thing as you'll know if you follow me

favourite number? - 3. it's magic

favourite day of the week? - friday

my passions? - i love hunting for treasures in charity shops (which i don't have much time to do these days) and any day that involves *good music-homemade food-fabric creations-taking photos* and my little family too ticks all the boxes on my happy list.

getting or giving presents? - i'll jump in and say giving (i especially love wrapping presents too) but a surprise gift is always a joy isn't it (can't lie)

favourite pattern? - stripes

favourite flower? - lilacs

 

and a rule follower i hereby pass on the sunshine to 5 other bloggers (some new and old favourites)

aux petits oiseaux -  hibiscus bloem - conversation pieces - julie avisar - a quiet corner

looking forward to reading your answers!

WEDDING INVITES PART ONE

(i think there was a bit of cream on the camera lens)

but here are a stack of envelopes i've cut and made from a couple of atlases. 120...sliced...stuck...sewn...and i actually think my geography has improved!

now to the invitations themselves. show and tell tomorrow.

happy saturday. we are off to an 80s party! i am channelling molly ringwald and typing with neon pink nails in the hope they'll dry faster. it is quite scary how easily an outfit can come together once you've purchased an extra wide white vinyl pleated belt...