poor donkey

today my poor little donkey ornament jumped off the shelf and broke his leg



luckily i was on hand to glue him (not very precisely) back together



(and to give him some carrots to cheer him up)

in other news i've been getting my swap packages ready and my strawberry themed parcel for the pack it up small swap is ready to go.
here are some bits and pieces from the bundle:



i hope my partner likes it.

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i just couldn't resist

i've been shopping again - tsk indeed - but i had to really as i have signed up for both the coloriffic swap-o-rama and the pack it up small swap this month.

i haven't any pictures to share of things i've bought/made for the swaps yet (they'll be along soon though) but i did manage to accidentally buy some stuff for myself whilst i was shopping, which i will definately share:



^ these pillowcases were 50p each and are so very nice - - -> i am not sure what i am going to use them for yet, maybe some more attempts at purses, or within some illustrations somehow...we'll see. in the same charity shop (which is actually called the charity shop and is the best shop around for rummaging for goodies) i also found this book, for only 50p! i was quite excited when i found it as even though i already have a copy it will make a perfect gift (possibly as part of one of my swaps) as it is delightfully designed. super.



^ i also found these glasses - which were 95p for a pair and are very nice - i'll make sure to post them up in the thrift thursday pool for this week.



^ i got two of these bowls for £1 a while ago now but only just discovered them hidden in my room (i still haven't unpacked all my stuff after moving house, tut) - anyway i thought they deserved some publicity as they are very sweet. perfect for entertaining "crisps or nuts anyone?" heh.

and last but not least i bought this cute little stamper for 50p yesterday:



how sweet!

and here is the stamp it makes:

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tea for two

i'm back from brighton now - had a nice visit to the university for the postgraduate open day and i am very much interested in doing the sequential design and illustration course - i'd better get thinking about a project proposal to hand in with my application.

whilst i was in brighton i went for a cream tea at the mock turtle cafe with derek - it has to be the nicest cafe around, very dainty and traditional. here are some photos from our visit:





mmm...

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where have i been?

sorry i haven't posted in a while, i've been to-ing and fro-ing between here and brighton and haven't had a chance to get much else done. i did however manage to pay a visit to the creative stitches & hobbycrafts show at the brighton centre whilst i was down there and got to see this knitted garden:



how lovely indeed! my photos didn't come out that great and there were loads of little details that were just soooooo lovely. but if you want to find out more take a peek here. (and there are even some knitting patterns on the site if you want to make your own garden item!) - i really want the pattern for the bluetit but unfortunately that is not there. there is a nice robin with birdbox though!

that is all i have to report for now. i am popping back to brighton again this afternoon but will surely have some more stuff to share later in the week.

oh, before i go, here are a couple of illustrations i made last week - a happy cloud and a grumpy one too:



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some more embroidered drawings

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too much shopping

yes, i have been out spending money again (which is very naughty) but i don't feel quite as bad about spending when i am doing it in charity shops, and here are some of the nice things i've gotten hold of this week:




i bought the lovely pink patterned fabric and the miss muffet doll pattern in barnardos and found the gingham bag in the blue cross shop (what good finds!)...the doll pattern is especially pretty and the colours and patterns used throughout are oh so nice. here are some close-ups:



today i also paid a visit to a monthly craft/antiques market held nearby at the farnham maltings and look look LOOK what i found:



what a terribly nice jam pot. i just couldn't resist. my mum bought a really nice flower patterned plate from the same stall - yum. i am not sure if i will actually use it for jam, maybe i could keep sugar in it? (just to be nonsensical) or maybe some buttons? we'll see...right now i am just happy to have it sitting pleasantly on my windowsill.

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a busy week for the postman

i received yet more goodies in the post this morning - a belated birthday package from eleanor:

how very delightful! the little horse button is so terribly cute - i will have to find something extra special to sew it onto. and such a nice vintage card (i like the yellow bird). and no it wasn't my 7th birthday, heh, it was just a super nice card.

and that wasn't all...



^ just look at those pink knitted slippers! - so nice. i popped them on my feet as soon as i opened the post (hence i am still wearing my pyjama bottoms in the picture) i think they were bought from a shop in brighton - i am going to enjoy having a good poke around the lanes when i go down there next week.

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sewing without thread

my sewing machine started refusing to sew paper properly today (tut!). the thread kept getting tangled and messy so i decided to continue without thread and just sew holes in the paper. and here is the outcome:





it only really looks good when held up to the light so i have stuck it onto my window for the time being.

and...i've been meaning to share some links to some cute things i've found for a while now, so here and here and here are some nice things i want from the small object - the nicest of nice online shops with objects all made by sarah neuburger.
yum.

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