Sunday, 3 July 2011
Saturday, 2 July 2011
Vintage Stationery - Just My Type
The fabulously stylish Molly over at Molly and the Princess has started a great little link-up called Show me your Stationery Saturday which I've been meaning to join in with for the past couple of weeks.
I think it's now or never as within the next few weeks all my worldly possessions are due to be boxed up and left, unloved, in a cold, clinical metal storage unit while we try to hurry up the people who are selling us their house.
In anticipation of this, I purchased these little retro beauties the other week in my favourite house clearance shop. It's the type of place where you have to wash your hands after you come out, there's no style or fanciness to it at all. It's a pile it high and sell it cheap type outlet - just the sort of place I love. There's always a vintage gem to be had if you don't mind the dust!
![]()
I loved these for their vintage typeface. They reminded me of 60's shows like Bewitched and the Pink Panther. 20 postcards for 20p, can't say fairer than that! (By the way, the background strawberry paper is from Paperchase and is due to be turned into my next Scrabble artwork!)
![]()
To make them look even more authentic, when I finally have a new address, I shall be typing them out on this Brother typewriter I picked up from a hospice shop for £2.
![]()
I'd been on the look out for one for a while as I wanted to type labels and gift tags. I love the romance and nostalgia of type written letters, so this is just the ticket.
![]()
Finally, again from the house clearance shop, I spotted this red leather writing case.
![]()
I bought it with a whole bunch of other bits and bobs, but I reckon it worked out costing me less than a pound. Real leather, with a little pocket for envelopes and stamps. It will proudly hold my Basildon Bond, until I can afford something more upmarket (and something that doesn't eternally remind me of Russ Abbott).
![]()
So there, we go. Those are my thrifty, stationery finds. Pop over to Molly's blog by clicking the badge, for more papery lust.
I think it's now or never as within the next few weeks all my worldly possessions are due to be boxed up and left, unloved, in a cold, clinical metal storage unit while we try to hurry up the people who are selling us their house.
In anticipation of this, I purchased these little retro beauties the other week in my favourite house clearance shop. It's the type of place where you have to wash your hands after you come out, there's no style or fanciness to it at all. It's a pile it high and sell it cheap type outlet - just the sort of place I love. There's always a vintage gem to be had if you don't mind the dust!
I loved these for their vintage typeface. They reminded me of 60's shows like Bewitched and the Pink Panther. 20 postcards for 20p, can't say fairer than that! (By the way, the background strawberry paper is from Paperchase and is due to be turned into my next Scrabble artwork!)
To make them look even more authentic, when I finally have a new address, I shall be typing them out on this Brother typewriter I picked up from a hospice shop for £2.
I'd been on the look out for one for a while as I wanted to type labels and gift tags. I love the romance and nostalgia of type written letters, so this is just the ticket.
Finally, again from the house clearance shop, I spotted this red leather writing case.
I bought it with a whole bunch of other bits and bobs, but I reckon it worked out costing me less than a pound. Real leather, with a little pocket for envelopes and stamps. It will proudly hold my Basildon Bond, until I can afford something more upmarket (and something that doesn't eternally remind me of Russ Abbott).
So there, we go. Those are my thrifty, stationery finds. Pop over to Molly's blog by clicking the badge, for more papery lust.
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Big Buzz for the Big Dip
The British Gas Big Dip London takes place in Clapham Common from June 18th to July 17th and the British Gas Big Dip Manchester will be held in Spinningfields from July 30th to August 29th.
The Uk’s ultimate urban swim festival, which is the brainchild of Olympic medallist Steve Parry, builds on the success of the British Gas ‘Pools 4 Schools’ project held on the south bank of the River Thames in London during 2009, which taught over 2,000 people to swim in just four weeks.
Launching the latest initiative to get more people to enjoy swimming, Steve Parry said:
“The British Gas Big Dip offers swimming for all the family and so much more – in fact all the fun of the beach is being taken into two iconic British cities. There’s a real focus on teaching people to swim and also sessions which will give people more confidence in the water.
“People who come to the attraction will be able to see England
Jodie Kidd and Mark Foster were at the official launch, and with yesterday's heatwave there were over 1,000 visitors throughout the day.
![]()
We met the Olympic medalist (and very tall!) Steve Parry at a recent launch event, and his passion and enthusiasm for the scheme was inspiring. One in five children in the UK leave primary school unable to swim. Not only is swimming great fun, brilliant exercise and relaxation, but it is also a life skill - drowning is the 4th biggest killer of children under 16.
Confidence in the water is something we can teach our children from a very young age. It's about getting in the pool and having fun. Once that is achieved, then children can move on to lessons - whether they are formal classes, or taught by parents.
The Big Dip is a great opportunity to enjoy the water, so come on down!
You have the chance to win one of 5 family sets of tickets to the London event. To enter, please leave a comment below stating why you'd like to attend. For an additional entry, please tweet the following and leave a separate tweet to say you've done so: "I'm entering @missielizzieb 's competition to win family tickets to @The_Big_Dip You can too here: http://bit.ly/lp2Idl"
The competition will close at 8pm on Sunday 03 July. The event is on until 17th July in London. 5 winners will be chosen at random to receive a pair each of standard entry tickets which allow 2 adults and 2 children (under the age of 12) entry to the Big Dip and swimming in the pools on any day. Neither this blog, not British Gas, the sponsors of this competition will be liable in the event of cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances. Winners must respond within 3 days with contact details in order to claim their prize.
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. Prizes are supplied by the Big Dip organisers. I received family tickets and attended a launch event. No financial reward was given.
Monday, 27 June 2011
Magpie Monday - The sweet smell of...?
It has finally happened. It was only a matter of time really. I think you all saw it coming. I have finally gone stark, raving bonkers. I've flipped my lid.
I have been too impressionable. I've succumbed to peer pressure. I got carried away in the moment.
Yes, I have bid and won an insanely large amount of old lady pomanders from ebay. 186 of the blighters to be precise.
![]()
I was caught up in the notion that there is a pomander revolution on the horizon. Old lady chic is coming into vogue and I wanted a piece of the action. Here was my chance to get ahead of the game and make my fortune. I could see the headlines:
"The sweet smell of success"; "Thrifter comes up smelling of roses"; "Sniffing out a bargain"...
Before you condemn me to an asylum full of crazy online auction purchasers, consider this. And then tell me who is the more affected...
The lady who owned these aromatic fancies displayed them by cementing them onto her bathroom wall. All 186 of them. In fact, I suspect there were more and some were lost in the arduous removal process.
I can only imagine the odious odours that must have been emitted in that water closet which required an entire wall of pot pourri to keep it at bay.
Like a scene from Se7en, without the aesthetic appeal of Mr Pitt. What was she thinking?
Consider this. The offspring of the late owner decided to list the collection for sale on ebay. They apparently didn't feel in necessary to describe how the ceramic nosegays had been plastered onto the masonry. Clearly, it wasn't required of them to explain that all of these pomanders were caked in white plaster and gloss paint from their vertical suspension for years on end on in their late mothers toilette.
Consider this. My obliging and trusting old man, left in charge of collecting the perfumed bounty whilst I was away, thought not to question the encrusted ceramic globes. Quietly he handed over the cash and loaded them up in the car, delivering the bouquet of bounty to me.
![]()
So. Who is the crazy one?
However, all is not lost. I intend to turn this tale of woe around. I have discovered that soaking the sullied spheres in hot water for hours on end, then painstakingly scraping the paint and plaster off does eventually result in a restored pomander. Granted, they will be bereft of their contents and missing their labels, but they are again usable.
So begins the arduous task of disemboweling them, picking out the stale and musty brown rose petals, and destroying my finger nails.
It will be worth it. There are some beauties. Truly, there is a pomander for every occasion and taste. From the kitsch:
![]()
and quirky
![]()
To the quintessentially English.
![]()
Depicting dog roses, primroses and violets
![]()
or retro floral delights
![]()
From the sublime
![]()
to the ridiculous.
![]()
If I have in any way tempted you with my nose candy, please do speak now. I can assemble a small collection to meet your requirements, and on transfer of cash by the magic of paypal, I shall wrap, pack and mail the beauties to you.
Grab my button
and link to my blog
I have been too impressionable. I've succumbed to peer pressure. I got carried away in the moment.
Yes, I have bid and won an insanely large amount of old lady pomanders from ebay. 186 of the blighters to be precise.
I was caught up in the notion that there is a pomander revolution on the horizon. Old lady chic is coming into vogue and I wanted a piece of the action. Here was my chance to get ahead of the game and make my fortune. I could see the headlines:
"The sweet smell of success"; "Thrifter comes up smelling of roses"; "Sniffing out a bargain"...
Before you condemn me to an asylum full of crazy online auction purchasers, consider this. And then tell me who is the more affected...
The lady who owned these aromatic fancies displayed them by cementing them onto her bathroom wall. All 186 of them. In fact, I suspect there were more and some were lost in the arduous removal process.
I can only imagine the odious odours that must have been emitted in that water closet which required an entire wall of pot pourri to keep it at bay.
Like a scene from Se7en, without the aesthetic appeal of Mr Pitt. What was she thinking?
Consider this. The offspring of the late owner decided to list the collection for sale on ebay. They apparently didn't feel in necessary to describe how the ceramic nosegays had been plastered onto the masonry. Clearly, it wasn't required of them to explain that all of these pomanders were caked in white plaster and gloss paint from their vertical suspension for years on end on in their late mothers toilette.
Consider this. My obliging and trusting old man, left in charge of collecting the perfumed bounty whilst I was away, thought not to question the encrusted ceramic globes. Quietly he handed over the cash and loaded them up in the car, delivering the bouquet of bounty to me.
So. Who is the crazy one?
However, all is not lost. I intend to turn this tale of woe around. I have discovered that soaking the sullied spheres in hot water for hours on end, then painstakingly scraping the paint and plaster off does eventually result in a restored pomander. Granted, they will be bereft of their contents and missing their labels, but they are again usable.
So begins the arduous task of disemboweling them, picking out the stale and musty brown rose petals, and destroying my finger nails.
It will be worth it. There are some beauties. Truly, there is a pomander for every occasion and taste. From the kitsch:
and quirky
To the quintessentially English.
Depicting dog roses, primroses and violets
or retro floral delights
From the sublime
to the ridiculous.
If I have in any way tempted you with my nose candy, please do speak now. I can assemble a small collection to meet your requirements, and on transfer of cash by the magic of paypal, I shall wrap, pack and mail the beauties to you.
Grab my button
and link to my blog
Sunday, 26 June 2011
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Bath & Bed - sound advice from Boots
Now, here are some tips I really wish I'd had three years ago! Coming from a mum who still counts her blessings if she gets a couple of full night's sleep in a week, I know how important sleep is - to all the family!
Log on to get a good night’s sleep with some expert tips from BootsWebMD. There's advice for parent's of newborns; information on co-sleeping right through to advice on bed-wetting and how to handle the transition from nappies.
From early days, the key part of our bedtime routine has always been bathtime. It's a great way to wind down, spend some time playing and splashing around, as well as getting clean after an action-packed day.
![]()
Boots offer a wide range of products to compliment a relaxing routine, including Boots Ramer Ultra Soft Baby Sponges (£2.00 for two), which are ultra soft and caring on your baby’s skin.
To care for little one's skin, the Boots Baby Sensitive range has been developed by Boots Baby skincare experts in consultation with a leading dermatologist, to produce the mildest and gentlest product for your baby's skin. There are some great value products in the range that help to prevent irritation before bedtime. Each product will help to leave skin soft and smooth, and is suitable for all sensitive and dry skin conditions. The products are specially formulated to be 100% colour and fragrance-free, hypo-allegenic and dermatologically tested.
![]()
They have safety covered too, with the Boots Baby and Toddler Bath Mat (£10.21 each) which creates a non-slip surface when bathing your little one. Its new longer length is ideal for bathing two children at the same time. For both fun and safety, consider the colourful Boots Whale Bath Thermometer (£3.57 each) for monitoring the temperature of your baby's bath water.
![]()
Check out your local Boots store, or online to see their great current offers.
Disclosure: Sponsored post. I was sent some sample products for the purposes of this review, however, any views expressed are my own and are honest.
Log on to get a good night’s sleep with some expert tips from BootsWebMD. There's advice for parent's of newborns; information on co-sleeping right through to advice on bed-wetting and how to handle the transition from nappies.
From early days, the key part of our bedtime routine has always been bathtime. It's a great way to wind down, spend some time playing and splashing around, as well as getting clean after an action-packed day.
Boots offer a wide range of products to compliment a relaxing routine, including Boots Ramer Ultra Soft Baby Sponges (£2.00 for two), which are ultra soft and caring on your baby’s skin.
To care for little one's skin, the Boots Baby Sensitive range has been developed by Boots Baby skincare experts in consultation with a leading dermatologist, to produce the mildest and gentlest product for your baby's skin. There are some great value products in the range that help to prevent irritation before bedtime. Each product will help to leave skin soft and smooth, and is suitable for all sensitive and dry skin conditions. The products are specially formulated to be 100% colour and fragrance-free, hypo-allegenic and dermatologically tested.
They have safety covered too, with the Boots Baby and Toddler Bath Mat (£10.21 each) which creates a non-slip surface when bathing your little one. Its new longer length is ideal for bathing two children at the same time. For both fun and safety, consider the colourful Boots Whale Bath Thermometer (£3.57 each) for monitoring the temperature of your baby's bath water.
Check out your local Boots store, or online to see their great current offers.
Disclosure: Sponsored post. I was sent some sample products for the purposes of this review, however, any views expressed are my own and are honest.
Handmade Thursday - Ribbon Rag Heart Wreath
Yet again I've been inspired by the crafty loveliness over on Red Ted Art's blog. This time it was a beautiful guest post by Mary Poppins Home Sweet Home showing how to make rag heart wreaths.
![]()
You all know how I like making heart-shaped things - it's one of the few shapes I can actually draw/mould/bend/cut out, so I was definitely having a go at this!
In addition, yesterday I received a very timely parcel from Kleenex, containing my hayfever survival kit (thank you very much Kleenex!). It was beautifully wrapped, and finished with a zesty lime green ribbon. Now, I always stash away ribbons and re-use them, but for the life of my I couldn't think when it would be appropriate to use a tissue branded ribbon again. Instead, I chopped it into strips, used some other green ribbons from my hoard, and added some felt too for added interest.
![]()
I cut them with pinking shears - I'd love to say this was a deliberate ploy to give the heart a shabby chic feel, but if I'm perfectly honest it was because I could lay my hands on my pinking shears, but couldn't find a regular pair of scissors. Does that make me a proper crafty person?! Or just disorganised?
The lovely tutorial here suggests using scraps of fabric, and I'm certainly going to make more of these - perhaps Christmassy themed fabrics on a circular wreath for my front door this year. But I do have to say, using ribbons certainly speeded up the process as you don't have to cut to width (just to required length). And I'm all for cutting corners!
![]()
Linking up to White Lily Green's Handmade Thursday - pop over to see what others have been making.
You all know how I like making heart-shaped things - it's one of the few shapes I can actually draw/mould/bend/cut out, so I was definitely having a go at this!
In addition, yesterday I received a very timely parcel from Kleenex, containing my hayfever survival kit (thank you very much Kleenex!). It was beautifully wrapped, and finished with a zesty lime green ribbon. Now, I always stash away ribbons and re-use them, but for the life of my I couldn't think when it would be appropriate to use a tissue branded ribbon again. Instead, I chopped it into strips, used some other green ribbons from my hoard, and added some felt too for added interest.
I cut them with pinking shears - I'd love to say this was a deliberate ploy to give the heart a shabby chic feel, but if I'm perfectly honest it was because I could lay my hands on my pinking shears, but couldn't find a regular pair of scissors. Does that make me a proper crafty person?! Or just disorganised?
The lovely tutorial here suggests using scraps of fabric, and I'm certainly going to make more of these - perhaps Christmassy themed fabrics on a circular wreath for my front door this year. But I do have to say, using ribbons certainly speeded up the process as you don't have to cut to width (just to required length). And I'm all for cutting corners!
Linking up to White Lily Green's Handmade Thursday - pop over to see what others have been making.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)