mr. monkeysuit

Carol, Muriel and Mr. T

Andy and I made an agreement when we were first married that he got to name all our pets and our children. Strange, I know, but we are sticking to it, which is how we came around to having a dog called Emlyn and children called Floyd and Cissie. This trend seems to have followed through to the naming of the dollies in the house too. Hence Carol, Muriel and Mr. T, our latest dolly for Cissie (thank goodness this one landed on a dolly). My mum was here to visit recently and I have to say it was hilarious listening to a 70-year-old woman talking to Cis in a baby voice saying, "Where's Mr. T ? Here she is. Here's Mr. T. Give Mr. T a kiss." Andy and I got a laugh out of this *every* time. Anyway, I digress.

Mr. T along with her mates looked like they needed a rest place. I found this cute little wooden doll bed for $2 at a yard sale this summer and I made a new very simple doll quit and pillow for it. Cissie however had other ideas,

(I love when they try and get in things that are really too small for them. Floyd always used to try and get in this little wooden bus.)

Now Mr. T and his two three lady friends can relax in style, fool.

snap

I was reading one of my all time favorite blogs, Soulemama, when I saw an almost identical embroidery to the one I have just finished.

Here's another less seasonal one that is *nearly* finished.

I am loving embroidery at the moment which reminds me to remind you to check out these wonderful things. So stinkin' cute. Good luck on your venture little one.   

Also, if you have me on bloglines you may get notice of me putting up new posts, I am actually editing  all the photos of the kids off the blog after reading this....really creepy (I apologize for the melodrama but I think it's good to be aware of these things.)

Update : I should have mentioned there is a petition to sign here to try and stop people stealing the images. Please pass this on and link to it on your own blogs, so many of us post pictures of our families and we should at least make an informed choice about whether we want to continue doing so. OK I am off my soap box. Enjoy your day.

personalised towels

That's right, because everyone needs one right ?

Why, you may ask, did I bother ?

Well first of all they do look cute (they are bound in fabric at both ends and have matching fabric loop for hanging) and that is always a good reason to have something around. Heather Ross fabric from here and Koi fabric from here (though it looks like it is sold out).

And secondly, and this is perhaps the most important reason is because I am rather hoping this is going to reduce the million towel washing marathon. My husband, I love him, does not do laundry but like the stellar father that he is, he does give the kids their bath every evening. (That's my time re-order the house after the day, pay bills, make some calls, craft or blog.) I am hoping these little beauties will encourage him to stick to one towel. I rationalize it as being environmentally friendly.......oh yeah and I'm lazy.

pink and gray mushrooms

This headed out a little while ago bound for one of Floyd's very cute little friends.

A very simple pink and gray cardigan with some appliquéd felt mushrooms. It is the kind of thing I would love to have, so it felt good to give.  And sure enough they loved it too.
I must have knit dozens of this raglan style cardigan now and I just never seem to get bored of it. It seems to work for boys and girls and I love the way it looks on. In fact I *may* even have another one on my needles now for a certain chubby cheek little birdie.
Speaking of which, that is one of Cissie's first few words, 'birdie'. She learned to say it because the aforementioned birds hang directly above her changing table and she likes me to get them down for her to play with. But now she uses it for everything, the toast I was eating this morning 'birdie', the spaghetti squash I cut up for dinner 'birdie', her doll's bottle 'birdie'....you get the idea.
I love this age, I remember just falling head-over-heels in love with Floyd when he started walking and talking. It is the most amazing thing watching them grow into their personalities and their little idiosyncrasies. It feels like pure magic and I know that this is one of the best times in my life.

Noomi Backhausen

 

I bought them. All three of them. I couldn't help it. They were just so perfect. Floyd, Cissie, Mummy and Daddy. They are hanging outside of our respective bedrooms.

I bought them from this ebay seller they had tons of them but now I can't see any listed. Also I can't seem to find any information about the designer other than she (?) was working through the 60's and 70's and does a lot of very cool stuff. Anyone who knows anything please hit me up.

I can't stop listening to this. Anyone else feel the same ?

And this ribbon just arrived in the post. So cute.

Weather is sunny and cool (perfect for me) and everyone here is settling into a nice fall routine. Sweet sweet sweet.  How's your week shaping up ?

bags of the birthday

This year for Cissie's birthday I opted for re-usable favour bags filled with second-hand books, some handmade goodies and the occasional thrifted toy.

Made with linen, twill tape and some super cute fabric from Superbuzzy. How many obsession-inducing fabrics can one shop have ? A lot apparently.
It eased my conscience about the landfill factor that most favour bags have while still allowing me to include one of my favourite parts of party organization. (crazy mentalist I know but I love the favour bag thing which we generally don't do in England...like Halloween....more on that later.)

I had a couple left over and I have to say they make perfect project bags for my knitting. Now all my half finished projects look nice and neat while they sit there *unfinished* .....but they look cute.

flippin' 'eck

It was (is) a quiet Saturday afternoon and I was just enjoying a cup of tea and an illicit doughnut when the post arrived containing a new catalog, Olive Juice. Quiet time over. Good lord has anyone seen this catalog before ?
It has *the* nicest kids clothes EVER. And that is not a statement I make lightly. Those of you that know me know my penchant for kids' clothes. But the clothes here are so perfect. So simple. So understated. So nicely designed, they actually look like children's clothes not adult clothes shrunk to fit ( a pet peeve of mine).
Look at this adorable baby dress.

this skirt,

this dress

And the boys clothes are just as wonderful.   
All of it really so lovely and not sooo expensive, well not more than Hanna stuff anyway. Plus they have their summer stuff on sale now so that helps too.
Alrighty now back to that doughnut.

 

C-Bird

Cissie-bird's room
(that is what Floyd calls her when he is pulling her round the room by her feet, which I should say she thinks is hilarious)

New little yellow bird from Liberty  (yes I know I am obsessed with that place) made by designer Clare Nicolson. How cute is her stuff ? Especially love these and these.

Plus this thrifty little find from Amvets. It fits so perfectly in her room I can't stand it. I just love the way part of her room looks now. The other part.....well hey at least *part* of it looks cute.

There is a rather large blank wall in her room that I just can not decide what to do with. I keep thinking wall hanging or something fabric-y and soft (because her crib is just below it and I,for one, can't sleep with a picture above my bed - freaky yes but sensible I think you'll agree). Does anyone have any suggestions ? (about the wall hanging not my odd paranoia)

Just can't leave well enough alone

I missed you. So here I am again.

I found these three ladies waiting for me in Taunton (near Dunster). Love the details like the muff and also the tam on the scottish chick. Hmm could I get away with one I wonder ?
 

Buy some :

Make your own :

It's been a lovely summer but it just ain't the same without you.

(You may notice that I have been very busy this summer and have even managed to work out how to do a new banner with these lovely ladies, plus on the side bar I have the new 'pages' feature. One page for favourite shops and one for lovely blogs. Looks like I am back good and proper now and it feels good.)