A fairy tale

Once upon a time there was a tatty but adorable vintage christmas tree that had just been thrifted. In the same house there was a little dolly, wearing an ugly homemade playsuit, who had been bought at a jumble sale many, many years ago. The little dolly looked like she might make a nice little christmas fairy, so her ugly outfit was unpicked

And lo and behold, her makers mark was discovered and guess what? She WAS a real vintage christmas fairy all along. A little fairy in disguise.

The little dolly was ever so happy to have a new outfit, and to be a special christmas fairy once more.

And she lived happily ever after.

The End

dolls and sneezes

oh look, its been cold and autumny for about 2 minutes and I have a cold already :(

I got a few bits and bobs at the weekend, as usual, including some more bedding/blankets (yes I am obsessed). they are in the wash at the moment so no photos yet.

I also got these 2 little ladies (sorry about the dark photo)



I rescued the baby doll, she was all lost and lonely on the street. She was naked when I found her, but about 2 minutes after I picked her up I went into a charity shop and came across this little outfit for 50p. Couldn't resist.

I also 'needed' this little dutch doll. She was the cutest one out of a collection of costume dolls, but she had lost her shoes so I shamelessly nicked the plastic yellow clogs off her friend. I am bad to the bone, oh yes.

Right, I'm off to find a cure for the common cold (may involve tea, blankets, and an evening of TV)

Ladybird Library

You may have noticed that, like any sensible person, I have a bit of a 'thing' for vintage ladybird books. Would you like to see my ladybird library? You would? Well, I must warn you to look away now if you are of a jealous disposition...


Isn't is great? That is an old postcard stand that I got out of a skip. Well, I say 'I', but I sent my mum and dad to get it in their car under cover of darkness after I spotted it on my way home. I called my mum to tell her about it, and she had actually spotted it the day before but had forgotten to tell me about it! Great minds think alike, eh. When they went to get it there was already someone having a look in the skip so they walked past to the end of the road and then came back, hoping he would have left... but when they got back there was a different old man in the skip - with a torch!


It was missing its base so I screwed it into a wooden ikea plant pot stand on castors (which I got for £1 at a CB of course)


And I got this big 'ladybird book of london' canvas print off ebay with some of my birthday money - I have wanted one of these for ages but was not likely to stump up full price (I think one that size is about £50!)

I sorted them all out a few weeks ago, and removed all my doubles to make space for new ones. I allowed myself 2 copies of the 'well loved tales', as they are, ahem, well loved. I took out all the 'read it yourself' ones as I realised I HATE THEM. I also organised them into categories so that I can actually find what I am looking for, as its blimming difficult to see the spines.


This is them lined up when I took them all off to organise them. I think I have about 250, I bought them for about 20p each. I sometimes pay up to 50p, and I have only splashed out on one 'expensive' one - a copy of 'the nurse' for £1.99 from a charity shop, that I bought to cheer me up the day before I had an operation last summer ;) it says in the front that it will 'help to dispel any fears of the unknown which might be felt by a child about to enter hospital'


This is me on the operating table...


Although I must admit I was MOST disappointed not to receive a hand knitted gift from a nurse. You tricked me, ladybird, you tricked me!

'New' Table

Do you spy what I spy out of my window?


Look... wouldn't that be lovely with a bit of oilcloth on top? Looks just the right size for a laptop/sewing machine table...


You can see the potential, right?


Look - it was fate! the binmen came literally one minute after I went out to rescue it!

(hmm I wonder if anyone noticed me taking photos of a bin, running out and dragging in a table, and then taking photos of the binmen???)


A wipe down, a bit of furniture re-arrangement, and a bit of cloth flung over the top to 'get the effect' later and - I think it's looking pretty good already!

My mum and dad did NOT agree when they popped in. Ah, they clearly have no taste!