It's beginning to look a lot like christmas!

This week my christmas stocking swap parcel arrived! Yay! I was a very lucky girl and got paired with Lyn from everyday life. Wanna see?

Here is my stocking. Ooooooooooh, ahhhhhhhh

Here is what jumped out of my stocking, double ooooh ahhhhh

Clever Lyn must have phoned santa and found out that chocolate coins are always a stocking essential for me!

Now, I wasn't entirely sure if i was supposed to open the parcels right away or wait until christmas?

This little felt pouch wasn't wrapped, so it was clearly fair game to open it!

And i could half see through the tissue paper of this parcel. It looked like christmas cards so I thought I had better open it as well...

Yay christmas ladybird illustrations! I am sooooooo not giving these away, they are destined for my wire heart card holder!

And then i remembered spying this post and, hmmmm

Yipee, I was right! it was a bunting shaped package! And, as you can imagine, by that time I was on a bit of a roll, so I decided to go ahead and open the rest of the parcels!

fabric star decoration, cute polka dot notebook, and chocolates (that are sadly no longer with us...)

Pretty pretty pretty ribbon brooch

And twit-twoo, a little knitted owl! What a cutie!

Group shot!

Thank you so much Lyn, I love my first christmas present of 2009! I literally cannot wait to hang that bunting! not long now, yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaay yipeeeee yayayayayayayay (overexcited overgrown child noises)

I am off to do some wrapping now so I can post a special parcel tomorrow.... am I allowed to put on christmas music yet?

kitcheny bits

I finally found a home for these swap biscuit ornaments from annie. I re-jigged some stuff in the kitchen to fit this basket in, filled it with my vintage apron collection, and decorated it with the biscuits! Hope you like it - I risked life and limb taking this photo (kinda, I got pins and needles while standing on a chair)


While we are in the kitchen do you want a peek at my 'hanging tat' collection (where I put all my teeny tiny kitcheny bits)? I soted it out yesterday...well, it's as sorted as it gets


Eggcups and eggcosy type bits up the top


Teapot stands and teabag holdery bits in the middle (plus a gingerbread man that 'santas wife' fancied up with gingham)


And, em, rusty old tins and cookie cutter bits down the bottom


ps - thanks for all the get well soons - I am still sneezing away though!

another parcel and another blog award!

Oooh, you blog ladies are really spoiling me!

First of all I got this lovely blog award from the very talented Suzie over at itch2stitch. Thanks Suzie, I really appreciate it!


Then I got this fab swap parcel from Annie at birdcages & butterflies

My first swap, yay! And boy was I pleased when I opened it! So many thoughtful handmade goodies!


I asked for this party ring in exchange for some ladybird book magnets (it is supposed to be a decoration but I specially requested it in pendant form so I can wear it ;-) )


But I also got a little bag full of other super cute biscuit decorations!


And as if that wasn't enough, Annie also popped in a delightful set of handpainted magnetic peg clips and handmade heart earings!


All topped off with a pin-up card and a butterfly and birdcage tag!

And yes, Annie, I am in fact a redhead! Well guessed/imagined! although I am auburn rather than strawberry blonde. But really, this pin-up girl could be my twin...


Although this portrait is the spitting image too ;)

So sweet! Thanks Aiden!

So as you can imagine I am a very very very happy bunny! I love it all so much, you're so clever at crafting! Thanks again Annie!

Presents & bed update

Yipee yipee yipee I got a parcel in the post today!

I won my very first give away - very lovely hangers handcovered in CK material by the very
lovely MelMel :)


With cute button frilly bits!


And there was a big bundle of CK goodies in the parcel as well!


A sweet little mirror, floral tissues, rose postcard & cute keyring


I squeaked with happiness when I saw the keyring - it is the very same one I have been coveting! I got the parcel when I came in from (yet another) driving lesson - I seem to be stuck and unable to get better so I was a bit fed up. The parcel cheered me up no end & so I have decided to keep the keyring by for now - one day it will have car keys attached to it!

(hmmm or maybe I should just use it now so I can see it everyday & then move it over if I ever become a motorist!)

Thanks so much MelMel! so thoughtful & generous :)


Look, the hangers have found a new home already! I am using them to hold the 3 seasonal coats I keep on hooks on the back of my cupboard door. (ps I am also proud to point out those 3 coats cost me a grand total of £1.80 ;) minus the brooches - they were a graduation present from my mum. I couldn't choose between the dolly and the gingerbread man so she got me both!)

While we are in my bedroom would you care to take a peek at my first attempt at princess-and-the-pea inspired bedding?



Mmmmmm, mismatched


Had to test it out...


Ouch! I must be a real princess!