Happy and humming

It's been one of those weeks which seems to have left me running along behind. My big brother (Ian) is visiting from the USA, a surprise for my Nannie who turns 80 tomorrow (yay happy birthday Nannie!). We are heading out on the Derwent for a lunchy cruise and if the weather turns bad, testing out my Uncle's new spa and BBQ. Really, they are both fabulous options!

I am sitting in bed writing this, happy and full of tasty food from a wonderful dinner party with Ian, Blair, Luke and Em. We ate and laughed and played Killer Bunnies. Hosting dinner parties always makes me feel so grown-up, then Luke talks about using glad-wrap to blow your nose and I realise some things never change, and that makes me amazingly happy.

Above it a cute illustration from a vintage book, bird, toadstool, acorns, très chic!

In love with ... ZIMUON

Fascinating sound sculptures by ZIMUON.

via design vagabond

My collection

I collect buttons. Old, new, borrowed and some blue. My collection is a culmination of my Grandmother's and my Mother's collections, plus what I've added over the years. Some are thrifted, some are gifts and some have been bought at an exorbitant price. They sit in a grand jar on the shelf like delicious lollies. Sometimes when I walk past I open the lid, dig down to the bottom and pull out a few to admire, or just run my hand through them. I rarely use my buttons, they are just too lovely.

The button pictured in the bottom left was a gift from my Mum and is vintage czech glass, the photo really doesn't do it justice, it looks like a beautiful Christmas beetle. The ones next to it were a gift from my friend Magda, when she visited New York, I adore them.

Thanks to Kate from Foxes lane for this weeks theme, and to Pip from Meet me at mikes for hosting. More 'My Place and Yours' goodness here.

Through the front door

Better late then never! When I walk through my front door I am greeted by the sibling of this awesome retro light-fitting. The one in the top picture is about 1.5m, and they both make a great feature! Sadly out electrician said we need to re-wire the house and that he wont be able to save them, maybe I should find a more accommodating sparky.

More my place and yours meme goodness at meet me at mikes

Below is a sneaky peek at what I've been making for my Christmas ornament swap partner.

A vintage affair

christmas market stall, originally uploaded by things to make and do.

'A vintage affair' is the new label of my good friend Madeleine and I, and we had a grand ol' time at the market. We had a wow creating designed objects and stationary from vintage repurposed materials. The pictures above show a few of our wares including: music paper christmas ornaments, moss terrariums in vintage glasses, map gift bows and children's book illustration cards.

Our next market will be The mothers market on the 4th and 5th of Dec.

The [Christmas] Market

Yay, the 1st Christmas Market is here. Madeleine and I will have a stall (A vintage affair) come along and say 'hi', I'd love to meet you!

It will be at the masonic temple, opposite St David's Park, 10am-5pm, this Sunday the 15th of November.

Thrifty finds - Vintage books

How cute is this illustration I found vintage book I bought today!

Welcome little one!

I have a new niece! I can't wait to meet her, we'll be heading up North weekend after next to visit, yay! Congratulation Jonathan, Karen and family!

The happy news got me thinking about baby/birth gifts. While I was in hospital after giving birth to The Boy, I wrote down some notes about labour, things I'd do differently, things to bring to hospital for next time and passing thoughts. One of these passing thoughts was what I thought would be the perfect gift/s for a new Mum in hospital (it's pretty funny reading it all these months later!)

- Flowers (this was underlined several times)

- Chocolate for the new Dad - which he would obviously share with the hardworking new Mama!

- A trashy magazine - or 2!

Ha!

Below is a picture of the gorgeous flowers given to us by Erica and Ben. Even though they were in Kenya at the time, they made such a special effort to send these beautiful flowers, I was touched and felt so special.

In love with ... Johnny Miller

Wow, Johnny Miller's photos are amazing! Check them out here.

via design sponge

Things to make ... crochet acorn

I've been working on my Christmas ornament swap, which is an adaptation of this cool pattern (thanks Erica) and I had an overwhelming desire to make an acorn (not for the swap, but for fun). In my usual hap-hazard way, I made it up on the fly, so I am now 're-making' it and writing down the pattern. Will I ever learn?

ps. when I finish the pattern, I'll pop it up here :)