I have popped a few more things into the Vintage Shop.  Like that blanket up there.  Thank you so much everybody for your encouragement.  I think I LOVE finding things almost as much as I love working with paper so it is great to share this.  I hope to have a proper link button on the site soon.  Tomorrow Lisa is coming around for craft group and not only is she ace at baking and knitting, she is really good at stuff like that too so I will ask her for a hand.  Kristen and Helen are coming.  I have invited Lyndall.  Lyndall is a new school Mum who is from Holland and has only been here a week and I thought she might enjoy meeting some local girls and having a cup of tea.  We are looking forward to hearing about Dutch things.  And eating cake.

Oh, don’t you love it!  I have been light headed ever since a friend said a friend was giving this away to a good home – was I interested?  Yes indeed.  I had just the good home for it.  I am not really an officiando on furniture makers of this era, so if anyone can help me out with information on Van Treight, that would be great.  I could only find 80’s style furniture from them on Ebay.  Mr Viking was super impressed with the bar ( he likes a congac from time to time).  Everything fitted in really nicely.  Thank you friends, she will be happy here.

PS – the little blue ceramic vase was inherited from Mr Viking’s great aunt Else, it is my favourite, favourite thing.  It has OJ 53 stamped into the bottom and I will research this one day!  The candelabra is Swedish (design House Stockholm), a wedding present from a dear friend.  The glass bowl is Kosta Boda and the Alvar Aalto vase was also a family wedding present.  It is practically the only vase you need.

Print from Yardia on Etsy

Darcy tea towel from Brookish on Etsy

My best friend had a birthday.  The gift had to be handmade, as I am still following Dottie Angel’s diet.  It’s the best diet I’ve ever tried I think.  Tracey loves Jane Austen.  Back in High School when Pride and Prejudice was on the list I just didn’t get it.  Tracey tried in vain to convince me it was romantic, exciting even.  It was all too subtle and I always wished Jane’s characters would simply get to the point.  Something has happened to me.  Older, wiser – now I get it, the subtleness.  I have become a period drama junkie and  I can regularly be found watching re-runs of shows like Lark Rise to Candleford on Foxtel.  It’s my one weakness!  So I hope my romantic friend likes her print from Yardia, and enjoys doing her dishes with this Darcy proposal tea towel from Brookish, both on Etsy.  Happy Birthday dear friend.

On the weekend we had a little party for our friends who are moving back to New Zealand.  In the afternoon Miss D, Miss H and Master L helped decorate this little house and then they demolished it with our friend’s little boy.  They had such a fab time.  Good luck Kelly, Tanya, Dayne and Marley – we will miss you.

Kristen Doran Matryoshka Dolls

Yesterday I went off to the Sydney Stitches and Craft Show for the first time in 8 years.  The last time I attended I was 7 months pregnant with Master L.  So many changes since then and all good.  They have a fantastic section called The Incubator now - a crafty showcase of exciting new modern craft.  Yay!

I met a couple of people that I know – lovely Michelle from Kids with Crayons whom I first met at Magnolia Square in Melbourne last year.  She drove up from Melbourne to be there – her things are always so special and all handmade.  I have a ‘P’ for Paperklip brooch from Michelle.  And one of her crochet flower brooches too.

Then I met Kristen Doran.  Whom I meet a lot in the local Post Office (or butcher shop) as we go about our afternoon business!  I first met Kristen at an Amy Butler talk in Sydney last year.  Unbeknown to me at the time Kristen was (and still is) a bit of a craft celebrity, and you can see why – her fabric prints are just devine.  So I purchased one of her panels and the two Misses and I have spent the afternoon making this little family of goodness.  Thank you Kristen – the girls and I had so much fun doing this together.

I just wanted to share a gorgeous party with you – my friend Suzi from Alannah Rose stationery created this gorgeous Duck party for her 3 year old little duck Ella.  It is based on one of her lovely invites.  I had a great time theming a Happy Birthday banner just for the party.  Wow!  What do you think?