Introducing Magpie Monday - link up your 2nd-hand treasure

A while back I wrote a post about my tips for bagging a bargain in charity shops.  I had lots of great feedback from that and it reassured me that I wasn't alone in this pastime!

So, I've decided to post a new weekly feature and link-up here called 'Magpie Monday', to pay homage to all those pre-loved treasures out there.

The idea is simple.  If you have purchased something 2nd-hand, whether it be from a charity shop; car boot sale; eBay or whatever, then I'd love you to write a short post on your blog and link up.  If you don't have a blog, you can post a twitpic on Twitter using the hashtag #MagpieMonday and link the twitpic URL below (I think!). Or you can post a photo and a comment on the Me and My Shadow Facebook page.

I am going to trial this feature for the next 4 weeks and see if there is any interest, but I'm really hoping that lots of you will join in.  I love to share in other's joy at rescuing something useful or beautiful that would otherwise be destined for landfill.  Hopefully if will encourage charity shop virgins to buy second-hand too!  So, whether it's toys for the kids; a best-selling novel; a piece of jewellery or a high street skirt - if you've bought it 2nd-hand I'd love you to join in.

I thought a good way to illustrate my Magpie tendencies would be to introduce you to my spare room.  It occurred to me the other day that, with the exception of the bed and the bedding, pretty much everything else in there has been pre-owned (and I have to admit that there is even a vintage Scottish woollen blanket and a charity shop purchased feather eiderdown on the bed!).  So, here goes, let me show you around...

The wardrobe was bought from our local auction house.  If I remember rightly we paid about £40 for it, and it was in a terrible state.  We glued back the bits of moulding that had fallen off, spent hours and hours glossing it with white paint and added some porcelain handles (bought in the sale at Monsoon).  The vintage leather suitcases on the top were from eBay and hide a multitude of sins!

I know it's OTT but I don't care!! Over the mantel is my bling mirror.  A battered and bashed gilt mirror bought from a charity shop for a fiver.  Some people will be horrified at this, but in my opinion the gilding was beyond repair, with huge chunks missing, so I sprayed it silver!!  A spray can is my best friend as you will see...  The white peacock was from another charity shop and cost me £2, the little bird is a ring holder and I got that in a junk shop for £1.

This is my favourite ever charity shop purchase.  This Singer sewing machine cost me £50 from a Salvation Army shop. Way, way more than I'd ever usually spend in a charity shop, but I fell in love with it.  I had in my mind that I was going to turn it into a functional piece of furniture, but the top was a bit battered.  I had some glass cut and the edges bevelled and lined the top with wallpaper to match the room.  Now it's a dressing table!  The piece of paper I found inside one of the drawers has the model number written on and dates the machine to 1928 - I'm not sure if this is correct, I suspect it is older.

Also in the photo, the stool was from a junk shop (up-cycled with help from my mate the paint spray!) and the feather fan was from a car boot sale.  The little mirror with drawer was from a charity shop, as was the tissue box holder.

The drawers in this picture were an absolute bargain - £8 from the Children's Society charity shop.  I matched the handles to the wardrobe ones.  The glass dressing table set also came from the same shop and cost me £4.  The painted mirror jewellery box was from an antiques fair and the modern repro one was also from a charity shop.  The picture above is one of my favourite and is a Japanese silk embroidery which I bought from a junk shop on the Isle of Wight for a couple of quid.  The glass was cracked, so I replaced it, and managed to refrain myself from doing anything else to it.

These two prints by Marty, cried out to me from the Salvation Army shop.  I paid £6 for the pair.  They may be going a bit crinkled, but I love them!

I spotted this picture in another charity shop for £10.  It had a vile, yellowed pine frame so..yes, you've guessed it!!  It actually has a pencilled signature and number which may be a date or an edition number so maybe it's a limited edition print.  I must get round to researching that one day.

So there you have it!! I am obsessed with old stuff!  I realise not everyone is quite as mad as me.  Most normal people go to normal shops.  Most people don't scream 'STOOOOPPPP' to their other halves on spotting a charity shop when driving through a different town.  Most people don't need to be gently steered away from skips when walking down the street...

But if you have ever bought something pre-owned, then please please do share it.  Grab the Magpie Monday badge below and link-up a short post on your treasure.  This post is just by way of introduction, my future Magpie Monday posts will just be a photo and brief description of what/where/how much.

I'm really looking forward to seeing your finds. x



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Silent Sunday - SOS

Click to  Save our Forests

Charity Chapeau

When I was contacted by the girls at Vintage Amours to help promote this fund-raiser, they couldn't have picked anything more appealing to me.  I think it is a wonderful idea and combines my passions of making things, with my love of vintage glamour and raises funds for a good cause at the same time.

It sounds like a perfect way to spend the day and I'm busy trying to organise someone to come with me and someone to babysit so I can go along.

Stand out of the crowd and make your own cocktail hat with Vintage Amours.

Whether you’re a stay at home mum looking for a fun filled girly evening or a new graduate wanting to leave your work at the office - this beginners workshop is definitely for you!

No experience is needed our experienced Amour Girl Charlotte will be there to guide you. An experienced milliner working with the renowned Jenny Packham, Stephen Hakes and Marchesa she is currently designing a range of fascinators for a London accessories designer, Anjili Shah on the internationally famous South Molton Street. 

With Charlotte you’ll learn basic millinery techniques to keep for life as well as making your very own cocktail hat that you’ll be able to treasure forever!



Picture credit Bubbles and Frown via Vintage Amour


So come on down to The Railway on Clapham High street on the 31st March from 12pm to 5pm and help us raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Places cost only £38 - with that includes your cocktail hat base and other necessary materials (as well as a sneaky cocktail). After all if you’re going to do something you might as well do it in style!

Places must be booked in advance as places are limited! We’re trying to raise as much money as possible for a brilliant cause - Cancer Research UK so please do book now http://www.vintage-amours.com/

twitter/vintage_amours

www.facebook.com/Vintageamours

www.facebook.com/Amourgirls

You're kidding me, right?

The other day I nearly spat my tea all over the laptop when I opened up a post from Sian at Mummytips, giving a sneaky peak of Wikio's February blog rankings.

I didn't dare jinx it by writing anything on here until I saw it confirmed on Wikio.  I'm convinced there has been a massive mistake or someone's playing a practical joke on me.  But, there it is.  I've been ranked as No.2 top parenting blogger and No. 10 top blogger!!!

I am up there on a list with the great and the good and I'm going to revel in it while it lasts! Next month I shall no doubt be bottom of the pile again.  Annoyingly my little badge won't update, but still, you can click here and see the top 20.  They are all fantastic reads.

Yes, I've worked hard on my little blog, but never in a million years did I think I'd get to this.

So a massive massive thank you to all who read my ponderings and everyone that has supported me.

Excuse me while I celebrate with a rather large glass of something chilled. x

dfs Crufts Dog Show - I'm a VIP mum!

As a dog lover and owner I'm proud and excited to be a VIP mum at the dfs Crufts dog show this year.  The show, organised by the Kennel Club is in it's 120th year.  Although I've often watched it on TV (usually in awe at the behaviour and presentation of the dogs, compared to my own) I have never been.

So I'm really excited to be attending what promises to be a great family day out.  This year's show is held from 10-13 March at the NEC in Birmingham.  Keep an eye on my blog as I'll be running an exciting competition later this month in conjunction with dfs Crufts.

I thought now might be a good time to introduce you all to our lovely, lazy dog.  Although she is actually a pedigree, fully registered with the Kennel Club, you wouldn't think it to look at her!

Ella is a Chocolate Labrador, she's coming up for 7 years old and we've had her since she was an 8 week old bundle of fluff.  We had her long before our daughter came along - in fact for several years our dog was our baby!

Before she'd had all her jabs, we used to carry her around in a little dog-bag.  She was so adorable with her big brown eyes and velvet ears - a total babe magnet (which the old man took full advantage of).  I remember going into a shop in town, leaving him standing outside with her.  When I returned he was surrounded by gorgeous young women all gooey-eyed and cooing!

When I fell pregnant we were worried how she'd accept the new addition to the household.  But dogs are very instinctive and I swear she knew I was pregnant.  Before I even had a bump, her behaviour changed totally, and she went from an over-excited pet who'd jump up at me and leap on my lap, to a protective and gentle dog.

She took to Ruby right away, and accepted that she was no longer our number one priority.

Having a small child around has made our struggle with Ella's weight more difficult.  Labradors by nature are absolute pigs.  They will eat anything.  She's been known to scrape bubblegum up off the pavement with her teeth!  Going through the mess of weaning, inevitable dropped food at the dinner table and a toddler who leaves half-eaten snacks lying around has made for a slightly overweight canine.  Added to the fact that she's always had unusually short legs, she does look more barrel-like than the lean and lithe gun-dogs you see!

She may never win Best in Show, but we love her.  We love her for her lazy ways.  Her super-loud snoring.  Her tolerance and patience.  For lying down and allowing Ruby to balance on her back and use her as a step.  And most of all for saving me an awful lot of hoovering!

The Kennel Club are sponsoring my attendance at dfs Crufts.

Year of the Rabbit - how to make a Chinese Lantern

Ruby has been learning all about Chinese New Year at nursery, so I thought it would be nice to do a craft activity at home to celebrate. This year Chinese New Year officially falls on 3rd February, but it is a 15 day long celebration, so plenty of time to get crafty!

Inspired by my favourite craft blogger, the wonderful Maggy at Red Ted Art and her lampshade lanterns we set to.

You will need:

• A paper lampshade (you can pick up the globe shaped ones cheaply, mine was from Wilkinson for 97p, but Ikea do larger ones for about £2)

• A battery operated 'tealight' or push light (mine were £1 for a pack of 2 from Poundland, and were what I used in our Halloween pumpkins)

• A long pole/dowel/cane with a cup hook screwed in one end

• Black paper

• Scissors & glue

• Tissue paper

• Any decorative bits and pieces you want to use i.e ribbon; sequins; stickers etc etc

1. Make up your lampshade following the instructions. Just a simple case of opening up the concertina and inserting the metal holder inside.

2. Depending on the style of shade and the light you are using, you may need a little engineering to give you a base at the bottom of the shade to attach your light to.  We used a lolly stick and some tape, but as we're covering the shade it doesn't need to be too neat.

3. Tear or cut up your tissue paper and glue all over the shade.  Layers give a better effect. Don't make the pieces too small or it will take forever!  Ruby got a bit fed up after a while and wandered off, but she's only very little, so I guess older kids will persevere until it's finished. Alternatively, you don't need to use tissue paper at all.  the 'au naturel' effect with just silhouettes looks great too as you can see on the Red Ted Art link.

4. Cut out some simple silhouette templates in black paper.  We chose rabbits as it is the Chinese year of the rabbit. A word of warning though, a Google search for rabbit pictures may bring up some unexpected results!!

5. Arrange and glue on your silhouette shapes.  Decorate as required.  We went for full on red and gold bling and added a little gold tassel on the bottom!

6. Once dry, switch on your light and attach your pole.  Suspend from the hook with a bit of ribbon for a more 'swingy' effect!

Happy new year! The year of the rabbit promises to be a much calmer and more placid year than the previous year of the tiger.  Here's hoping.  xx

Thomas the Tank Engine Live Show - a theatre review!

It's never too early to take your kids to the theatre!  I know it is not exactly Shakespearean tragedy, but taking a toddler to see a live show of their favourite characters is a great experience for them.  It introduces them to the world of live performance, and shows that there is more to entertainment than the TV.

We were very lucky to win a family ticket to see The Thomas the Tank Engine, a circus comes to town live show at the Hammersmith Apollo from Mirka at All Baby Advice.  Going to London is an adventure in itself for Ruby and her cousin and by the time we arrived and took our seats they were literally trembling with excitement!

The show's storyline is a tale of friendship and co-operation, as all the engines have to work together to ensure that the visiting circus to the Island of Sodor get to perform.  There's lots of singing and dancing which Ruby joined in with enthusiastically, clapping along.  I thought the audience interaction was great - a bit pantomime, but very engaging for the kids.

The sets and scenery were lovely, and I was pleased that the engines were 'realistic' (well, as realistic as a fictional talking train can get!).  Rather than being rubbishy cardboard cut-out efforts, the trains were just like scaled up versions of Ruby's toys, and the animated eyes and mouth brought them to life.  My one criticism would be that some of the scenery backdrops weren't quite tall enough, and it was distracting for the kids to be able to see the engines behind manoeuvring into position.

The train cast was great, featuring all Ruby's favourite engines - there was even a few brief appearances by Harold the Helicopter.  The circus performers brought humour to the show, and I think most of the girls in the audience loved the dancing acrobat with her sparkly red tutu and twirling ribbon.

The performance was 90 minutes, but with an interval half way through, I think this was about the right length of time for toddlers.

The show is currently touring the country, and you can check dates and venues here.  It is visiting down our way again in March and I think we'll probably book to see it again.

Obviously each venue is different, but from my visit to the Apollo, here are some tips!  If you can manage without a buggy, then leave it at home.  The buggy park at the Apollo was upstairs, and the sheer chaos of hundreds of parents trying to lug pushchairs upstairs was a nightmare.  There was also a small charge for the buggy park, which was basically compulsory as you weren't allowed to take them into the auditorium.  Arrive as early as you can, again the queue for ticket collections was quite hellish, as was parking.  Finally, make sure you have cash to buy any souvenirs - or preferably blinkers for the kids so you don't have to!  The programmes were £5 each, and although they were full of activities, after spending £10 on programmes, we didn't feel inclined to buy any of the other posters; helium balloons and glow stick things that were on offer.

All in all, a fabby day, I'd certainly recommend you see it if your kids are into Thomas.