On Your Bike

During these summer holidays whilst Mr. P has been at work, myself and the children have been drumming up little things to do each day to keep us entertained. We all really enjoy cycling, though I have to say for me it is at a very leisurely pace when I am on my 1950's Rudge ;) As the weather was  nice one day, we donned our helmets and decided on a little cycle to visit a friend. Hopefully the children could play happily on the lawn whilst us ladies nattered. We stopped halfway for a little photographic session :)

Super speedy Miss. Poppins takes some keeping up with it has to be said....

 And Master P, who at just 5 years old is a super confident and proficient rider on what can be quite busy country roads....

I couldn't resist taking a little snapshot of my vintage bike leaning against the garden gate after we arrived at my friends house....

  Oh and we enjoyed every step of the wonderful walk up the garden path....

Miss. Poppins wanted to take a little photograph of moi at the top of the steps so I could 'pretend' this was my house ;) She knows how much I just love it here and I am forever telling my friend she needs to share it in a home and garden magazine....

The gazebo was up and the tea was brewing....

My friends home is so welcoming, the butterflies are more than welcome too....

And the outside summerhouse is like a pretty home all in itself....

After the children had their lovely play on the lawn....

And I'd enjoyed a friendly natter it was all too soon time to go and make our way back down the garden steps....

We had a lovely ride home and can't wait to get on our bicycles again....

X

Lovely Friends, Lovely Finds....

Oh I do love sweet little items from the olden days, I really do. I don't know what it is but all the new stuff ( and some of it very pretty ) just doesn't move me as much. I think it is the thought that an item has been well loved, used, and perhaps has a story behind it. When a lovely friend ( whose pretty garden you can see on this post ) of mine said she had one or two bits for me, I got a little excited as my friend and I have quite similar tastes....

So sweet were these little foreign vintage rose placemats, so much smaller than the ones we use today, but oh so cute....

Seeing the old money mark, they only cost 12 1/2 p....

They are double sided and really light up the dinner table with their floral design, and have a sort of 3d effect so really pop out at you....

Lovely gold edges make these just lovely....

Ohooo there was more in the little bag, why thank you friend. A really sweet basket weave posy vase in the prettiest of colours....

With a makers mark *H O England* that I really can't find anything about, so makes it for me a very interesting piece. I can't wait to get some pretty flowers in there. Talking of pretty I think this Dunmoy Linen tablecloth she also gave me is just the prettiest of colours....

The colours remind of Love Hearts ....

And the most adorable matching linen napkins....

I just love them, and have to say I am not sure I could bear to wipe my mucky chops on those pretty things. My friend couldn't resist popping one of these in the bag too, I adore the sunshiny packaging, so cheery....

So, what a lovely kind friend I have and who just knows what pretty delights shall bring a smile to my face, I just love, love to be taken back to days gone by....

X

Blogging For Me....

Little Mary Poppins for one reason or another is having an emotional time of it in real life, just life's little hurdles and all that they bring. As I can be somewhat of an emotional person anyway....when I cry, I cry buckets, not just one solitary tear, I can feel a little drained at times and one of reasons I enjoy the blogosphere so much is that for me it is like a little escape, no real life worries here in this pretty place which often on other blogs is bursting with beautiful photographs, dreamy prose, and wonderful, creative, inspiring craft work.

I feel very lucky to have made contact, albeit in a cyber way, with some very lovely people behind the blogs, and even to have met some too. I think about all the lovely cards and little special words that have come my way over the years of blogging....

And I feel touched, I can't bare to throw any of the beautiful cards away that other bloggers have sent. Some even go into frames to be dotted around the house to remind me of blogging and what it means to me. Yes I do reviews, I enjoy doing them and it certainly breaks up the what can be at times monotonous nature of my life...but I do feel my heart is still in it, my soul and for now, however many times I hover over delete, thinking enough is enough, my blogging has come to the end of the road....I cannot do it, something inside me says no, stop! I do not blog for followship, or to be on some bloggy list of top blogs out there, for awards or even to get custom for my handmade pretties. I blog for me, yes, it has taken a little while to realise this, but I blog to just share a little of my life with whoever would like to read, and you know what, maybe I shall still be here blogging into old age....and has actually made me think....I wonder how old the oldest blogger is? 

Happy blogging!

X

Christmas Spirit And Fame At Last....Well Sort Of ;)

Thank you so much dear friends for all your lovely words on my gloomy post, you do a wonderful job of perking me up and making me feel all better. You are indeed the best tonic for me, so thank you. I am doing my best to slowly get round to thanking you all so please bear with me. One thing you have helped me understand is that Christmas for me is not about what the tree looks like, or how the house looks, how many presents are under the tree, or even that the lunch gets cooked on time. It is a feeling, a special Christmas feeling that is there deep in ones heart that makes me smile. We could be living in a pig sty, though as long as that special feeling is there and we are all healthy and happy we couldn't give two figs whether the walls were a little wonky or that there were no doors on bedrooms, no carpet on the floors or paint on the walls.

We would be smiling and we would be happy because it is Christmas :) Thank you dear friends for helping me reflect and realise this. And thank you for saying lovely, gentle, caring words for my little baby boy who lives on in my heart.

Of course a little Christmas spirit can be found elsewhere as well as ones heart, how about the local garden center.

Cute little decoration.

Singing Santa's.








Polar Bears.





Alright, not very Christmasy but thought some of you UJ lovers would like a looky ;)





Visiting Santa's Grotto. The little jacket Master P is wearing is one I wore as a little child, it was handmade by my lovely Grandmother, who sadly I never really got to know, she passed away when I was three. It is so lovely to see him wearing it, the slevees are far too short now but I am resisting putting it in the out grown pile.

Happy children coming away with a special present from him, am I the only one who makes my children wait for Christmas day for these special, off Santa presents to be unwrapped, I sometimes think I am. Though they don't mind and like to keep them wrapped, under the tree.





And a special and magical Christmas train ride.





Please excuse the red stripe in my daughters hair, twas put in on the Friday at the Christmas fair, and norty mummy has left it in all weekend. Talking of the Christmas fair, I can't believe I am saying it, but I made more money in two hours than I have EVER made in two hours, I suppose is rather uncouth of me to say how much, but we are all friends, £144.70. Of course I haven't taken into account how much it actually cost to make my pretties but hey shan't bother with doing that, what I shall bother with is spending the money ;)

I had a little play on the kitchen table before the fair.








I like to make and sell things that I would buy, I know some would say that is not the right approach, but the way I see it is, if I don't sell them then I can keep them ;) So I made plenty of cute and simple doorstops, cushions, pretty shoppers, hearts, of course ;) bunting and much more. The shoppers were a real hit as were the doorstops and hearts, I even sold some cushions, and had to ask for bigger bags from other stalls as I didn't think I would sell them as they were over my £5.00 is mostly what people want to spend thinking, and only bought small ones with me. What was making me smile were so many of my friends who knew me but didn't know I did the SEWING thing were really, really impressed with my pretties. I even got asked for a business card as a lady wished for me to make some pretties for her daughters bedroom which she felt was due a makeover, business card, now that did make me chuckle, tis only a hobby madame ;)

A little photograph Mr. Poppins took of my Table at the fair.





Hope you don't mind my little trumpet blowing. Hope you come back.


Anyway if by any chance you would like a little looky at some of the pretties that made their way home with me after the fair and are now hoping to find new homes, I am in the process of popping some into my little blogshop Vintage Daisy all at craft fair prices as I think that is fair, don't you. Don't really feel comfortable with this plugging ones stuff malarkey, I musn't be a very good business woman, but well a little mention won't hurt ;)

Well we have made a start on Dressing up Miss Poppins' shared for now bedroom, they both have their little christmas lights around their sweet Ikea Minnen beds, the lights are a perfect match to her beautiful Paris Rose wallpaper, a pretty lit pink tree for Miss. Poppins and a little fibre optic one for Master Poppins and now their room is certainly feeling like a little grotto :)





So, can't really believe I am mentioning as I shall probably now have to leave the country, but for me Fame at last, sort of. Being a wanna be actress BH is probably the nearest I shall get, I had the bestest time with my blogger friend, there is a little story to tell too about one of our purchases





So am keen myself to see if the little Story gets told.


Right off to hide behind a pillow, please don't throw tomatoes at me.

X

Pomanders And Pretty Pretties....

Thank you for your lovely comments on the Shoes They really are a jazzy little number, a sweet wedding anniversary gift from Mr. Poppins and are really girly. Yes, I had a little topple when I slipped them on in the shop but soon remembered how to walk in sky scraper heels, they used to be my best friend BC, before children ;) and like riding a bike, felt like we have now become super pals once again :)


I have really been enjoying making sweet Orange Pomanders. The lovely Lalabibaby inspired me to make them and I enjoyed thinking of things to hang on the pretty twine. I have seen similar pomanders selling for so much more in Shabby Chic shops than I hope to sell mine for at the Christmas fair, I may even pop a couple in my little blogshop, I hope you like them too.






I have used some pretty bay leaves, kindly sent by the lovely Lalabibaby some festive chillies from here and sweet smelling cinnamon sticks. I think the burt orange polka dot ribbon looks perfect too.








Now I do love my lavender so thought it would be a nice change to use some different scents, so these are infused with a hint of Mandarin, Clove and Cinnamon, and is a perfect scent for getting me in the Christmas mood :)





Talking of Christmas do you like the sweet vintagy Christmas decorations I found in a CS, I have been looking for some for yonks so was delighted to find my little selection. I spent a fiver, which could possibly buy one or two of the new shop bought decorations that are on sale, so very good value I thought.


My favorite :)





Love the pretty colours.





Childhood memories of these.





Now I adore the little sparkly snowflakes, I thought of hanging these in the window with pretty ribbon.





So sparkly :)





Also for my fiver some pretty ribbon and a little gift for the Giveaway some sweet little snowflake candles in their own special box. I was tempted to keep them but need to share the prettiness with you all :) Please do feel free to enter the Giveaway a name shall be picked from the pretty tin tomorrow after the Birthday candles have been blown out by Miss. Poppins, her birthday too :)





Well I couldn't only go into only one CS now could I, here is what else I bought.


A cheeky and cheerful 1975 Jackie Annual, the first one ever published, so quite nice to have I thought, was 50p. Also helps that I have seen one selling for over£40.00 ;)





My children love reading these old Disney books found in Jumble Sales and CSs.





So was delighted when we saw these.






One aspect I love about Christmas is reading and watching all things Christmas themed. I can never find the children's Christmas books, can you, I don't know where they disappear to. I love Richard Scarry's books so was chuffed to find the Christmas book for 50p.





Best £1.00 I have EVER spent on Master. Poppins.





Well now you can imagine my little smile when I found a pretty with me on the cover ;)





Sweet little buttons, 10p for 10.





I fell in love with a cute Royal Selangor mirror and brush set for Master Poppins, in perfect condition looked like an unwanted gift.





Was £3.80 which for me I really have to think about for a CS purchase.





It really is clean as a whistle. I remember Miss. Poppins being given a little Royal Selangor pewter egg cup for her christening, so thought I would have a little gander, you can see how much the brush and mirror retail for here


A couple of pretties for the Giveaway very me, but hope they are very you too :)





And a couple of sweet floraly pillowcases.






Well, do you think you have seen your quota of Mary Poppins pretties, would like to see some more, Ohooo my arm is so easily twisted.

I had a lovely visit form a very special SC Cafe friend, Elaine and look what delights Elaine bought with her, I was very overwhelmed with her special, thoughtful, generous and pretty gifts.
Well look what delights for the children.





Now I think this was for Miss. Poppins, I hope she doesn't mind sharing it with me, and as it is her birthday on bonfire night, and has a lovely little pile of pretties to open I reckon she won't mind if i borrow it ;)





How sweet.





Look at her pile of presents, not once has she asked to open any, wouldn't catch me being so coy when I was 7 ;)





Would you like a little peek, hopefully tonight won't be the night when she asks to look at my Blog ;)

We have somehow choosen presents for her that are on the Top Twelve list for Christmas so have done well really well the get them. Yes alright I love her present off Mummy and Daddy too ;)





The Go Go Hamster from Grandma and Grandad though did prove a little difficult to find, I am glad to say though is all wrapped up now waiting :)

I was treated by Elaine too. Elaine knows I love decoupaging HOME letters so very, very kindly handed me these.





How thoughtful to hand me this little book too.








A lovely Catalogue for inspiration.





Adorable, and Ohooo so pretty pair of curtains and the perfect length to hide my modern looking washing machine I thought, and also fabulous for Christmas crafting.





A gorgeous lacey tablecloth, a delightful and very Christmas inspiring pair of pillowcases, I thought would make lovely Christmas stockings, and a pretty fabric sample from LA.





Thank you so much Elaine, so very kind of you. I sent Elaine off with one of my pretty rag hearts and a packet of ginger heart biscuits to hang on the Christmas tree.


Talking of Rag Hearts, I am going to be sending a couple on their way to the shop that sells some of my pretties and I have made one I was thinking of listing in my blogshop, they really are very sweet, quite time consuming but I love choosing the pretty fabric to make each one, as of course no two shall ever be the same. I have used lovely Rosali, a little CK, a dash of vintage and pretty ribbon to make the one here all prettily tied onto galvanised strong wire.




The pretty pink inspired fabrics.





I adore the check wired ribbon too.





Looking pretty.





One more pretty to keep you going, a little treat off my mum :)

Any guesses what you think it is.





Now do you know ;)





It is so pretty and look forward to wearing it on Miss. Poppins birthday. She is going to the cinema with some friends to watch Fantastic Mr. Fox, anyone seen it, and then some pizza. So we shall have our hands full, though I do have a blogger friend who is helping me out :)


If it is anyone elses birthday, Happy Birthday and have a good one :)


X