Sneak Peek Reveal

I'm 28 weeks pregnant today!

I spent the entire morning at the hospital being a human pincushion. I had an ultrasound scan that revealed that Baby Woo has very long legs, just like her dad! I had my anti d injection, glucose tolerance test and two rounds of bloods drawn! I had to fast because of the glucose test so I finally got to eat once I'd left the hospital!  It was a long day, but it's all important! 

Can you believe 7 months has past?! I can't!
I'm keeping busy so I know the next 3 months is going to be gone in a flash! 

About the sneaky peek....

Do you remember the Sneaky Peek from last week? Check me out being a poet just then! Aaanyway! I'll refresh your memory a bit...

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Tadaaaaaaaaa! 

A vintage button monogram :)

The bits for Baby Woo's room are slowly coming together. I have more to show you but want to do one bit at a time. I started working on the crib dust ruffle/valance last night. It was the project I was most nervous about but you know what??? I've done the hardest bits now and it was so easy! I can't believe it! All that is left is for me to hem & press and it's ready! Amazing! 

Sneaky Peek!

 

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It doesn't look like much, but it's the beginning of my newest project! I've been hunting and hunting for lovely things to put up on Baby Woo's walls but I'm struggling a bit to find just the right things.
I've found some inspiration on pinterest as usual so I'm getting started because time is ticking! 

I am 27 weeks pregnant tomorrow! Only 13 to go! There is so much still to do! 

One little project at a time & we'll get there :)

The Frosted Petticoat and My Button Bouquet

The Frosted Petticoat  has created a Carnival theme wedding ceremony.  My sweet little button bouquet which now belongs to and was photographed by Clair Penn  was chosen to be part of the fun & inspiration! 
I feel so honoured and tickled pink!

cute as a button treasury!

Yippeeeeeeeeeeee! I've sort of made an Etsy Treasury! The button bouquet I made that the lovely photographer Claire Penn bought and photographed is in the Treasury! Thank you Claire! Again!

You can buy Claire's print on Etsy if you LURVE IT as much as I do!
I feel famous!

Jars of Goodness

I like jars. Pretty ones, which can be jam jars or jars that bath salts came in or plain old Mason jars.

I like to keep pretty things in them like buttons and beads.

oooh i wish these were mine! 

My sister in law, Mrs Lowther, makes recipe jars with ingredients for cookies or soup or brownies layered up beautifully.

Of course I do make jams and chutneys in the summer when I've gone exploring my wonderful foraging spot, but for now I'm going to make up jars of beads and buttons and jewellery bits for sale at Becnicks!
I'll have to see what I can part with! It'll be like pulling teeth, but I promise to fill some recycled jars with treasures. Really! I will! If you'd like one let me know I'm happy to make one up to your budget & fancy :)

Toodaloo x

My Creation Has Become Someone Else's!

Claire Penn's gorgeous photo of my Button Bouquet!

I feel so honoured! I met the lovely Claire and a friend at the Becniks grand opening! Clair purchased this sweet little vintage button bouquet and doily and we discussed wedding photo shoots and vintage.
Claire said I'd be seeing it again - and just look at how gorgeous she's made it look!
If you love it as much as I do you can get your own print from Claire's etsy shop along with other beautiful photographs.

Thank you Claire! It's beautiful!

Button Bag

This baby is PINK & PROUD OF IT!

vintage buttons & cuuuute apple fabric lining and strap

button bunny tail :)

A custom order, this bag took me ages (two months) to knit! I started to sort of hate it I have to admit, but all was forgiven when I got to sew the buttons on! I can NOT get enough of vintage buttons! I was delighted with the apple fabric too! It's a nice heavy cotton canvas.
I said I'd never make this bag again, but now looking back at the photos I might just give it another go. I do like it, especially the moss stitches on the bottom :)
Maybe I'll just do a tiny one for a little purse. That won't take nearly as long right?! But I must finish Baby George's blanket first!
I'm just about to get showered, put on twin peaks and get knitting! *Knit 3, Purl 3*....

Off I go!

Cute Vintage Sewing Stuff!

I am always on the hunt for cute vintage sewing treasures! Lookie what I've seen today!

Vintage Wooden Shoe Pin Cushion

Vintage Promotional Needle Cases

1873 Red Needle Case

Vintage Wooden Spools of Sewing Thread

1940s Calico Fabric

 

Swooooooon!

I could resist no longer!

{thanks bake it pretty!}

Do you remember me telling you about a Vintage Button Chocolate Mold? If you don't you can click those words and you'll see the old post about the discovery of the century.
That's right, of the CENTURY!
Since that time I have trawled the foodie shops in search. I even came across a wonderful button cookie cutter online {which will have to come home to me one day.}

How cute!!!!

Well my friends, brace yourself because I've just made a purchase you need to see.

IT'S THE BUTTON CHOCOLATE MOULD!!!!!

After phoning around I found it on ebay.co.uk of all places! So take heart people in the UK! You can have it without the horrible shipping fees! Soon I shall be turning out little chocolate vintage buttons by the truck loads! WOO HOO!

I'm throwing a 1950s style tea party for a friend's birthday next month and thought ickle colorful eatable vintage buttons would be a perfect party favor! {that's my excuse anyway!} I will have to tell you all about the party ideas later! It's going to be so much fun!

I'm gonna have to go check out Bake It Pretty's blog to see if they have any other button related projects and download the gorgeous cards to go with the chocolate buttons!

You can get a downloadable version from the link above!

Check out this other cuteness that will probably make it's way to the tea party table...

Sugar and Meringue also give you a downloadable card!

Kewpie Cake Topper! Our Birthday girl LOVES Kewpies!

 

well...those would be for me! 

My head is buzzing with buttons and all of the gorgeous 1950s decorations and odd recipes! I still have to design the invites...the possibilities are endless! Do I go kitsch? Do I go classic 50s? Oh! I just don't know! Squeeeeeeeee!

I can't wait to tell you about the party ideas but I'd better save that for next time! Something for me to look forward to!

It's Raining, It's Pouring

I wish I was snoring about now! So it's June 1st. It's also raining in Charleston, SC {which is home} but it's in the 80s....it's 55 degrees here.
This type of weather, cool and rainy, tells my body one thing. Get under the covers!

As we are child free at this time in life I have the pleasure of being able to crawl under my duvet and snooze whenever I want! It is a good, good feeling.

For those who do have small people at home you might be interested in this fun "Rainy Day Recipe" I found at Paper Dolls For Boys. And guess what? It includes the use of vintage buttons! I'm sold. Now I just need to borrow a small person for the afternoon.

Rainy Day Recipe:

Antsy Kiddo

Vintage Buttons

Thrifted Tins

Kitchen Spoon

Camera (to entertain antsy adult)

Go

And now, for the final ingredient in the recipe:

NAP TIME

Aren't her photos just gorgeous! I just love them! 

Holy Vintage Button Chocolate Mold Batman!!!!

 

Are you kidding me?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm dyin here!!!!!
 How many boxes does this check?!

1. Vintage Buttons
2. Chocolate
3. Cooking
4. Cuteness
5. Charming Website

Holy. Moly. 

The gorgeous Bake It Pretty blog  gives us downloadable directions AND those extremely cute labels! Go to their shop for the mold! It's sooo affordable - $2.25! I was totally going to order it...but then shipping to the UK was $29!!! Re-donk-ulous! That ain't gonna happen. Insert pouty lips here.

OH MY There's more!!!

The Bake It Pretty Vintage Village Cupcake Decorating Kit™

The Original Bake It Pretty Best-Ever Cupcake Icing Kit™

Eat More Cake! Cupcake Kit by Meri Meri

Can you stand the fabulousness of it all?! I don't know if I can!

FABULOUS FRIEND FRIDAY AGAIN!

Introducing  ♕  Presentazione

 

{drum roll} {rullo di tamburo}

  The Hens Army - l'esercito delle galline !!!!!

Grab a latte and biscotti you're about to meet una signora bella {a lovely lady} from sunny Italy! Katia is a generous and creatively talented lover of things vintage, polka dot and cupcake.
Katia is, among many things, the creator behind  A Thousand Ideas in a Cup  {Mille Idee in una Tazza} blog and The Hen's Army {l'esercito delle galline} etsy shop! 


Katia's blog is in Italian but you can translate the entire page all at once with Babelfish!

{mw} Hello Katia :) Why don't you introduce yourself and tell as a little about YOU!

{tha} I love my name. I wouldn't have had a different one..I'm Italian, living in sunny south Italy. I have two girls, Angelica and Arianna, who are the best aim I could ever reach! I love them, they're my inspirations and guides. Angelica, the eldest says to me what to make, she's dramatically creative and I'm very proud of her. I'm a teacher, a french teacher, and my works with young people allow me not to get older:). I like everything cupcake, I pray angels, my daughter's name comes from this love for everything winged. i do love Great Britain, i have a particular attitude into recycling..and..of course i adore vintage. I'm vintage inspired in everything i made.

{mw} Your Etsy Shop has such a fun name {the hens army - l'esercito delle galline}! Where did that name come from?

{tha}My work let me stay home half a day. So in the afternoon my girls and I have so much fun. We play, we cook, we draw, we create, we dance and we sing...these last two inspired me in giving such name to the shop. We feel such happy hens all together. Army is ironically against everything war...do not forget we're hens! We keep flowers under our arms and beads in the hands! {rather than guns!}

{mw} What was the last treasure that arrived in your mail?

{tha}Your cards Felicia of course! I love your work and the simple but treasured stuffs you do!

{I am blushing, big time!}

{mw} Where in the world would you like to visit? why?

{tha}As previously said I love Great Britain, i feel home there, everytime I come I feel better and better with my Scottish friends..however when I dream I do it about the for ever, the north globe islands {Scottish northern Isles} I would like to see closer.

What 8 records or books would you would take with you to a desert island?

• I would take The Little Prince ------- I adore it!

• Gibran's The Prophet

• The Alchemist of Coelho and the fairy tales, not forgetting Chocolat, a beautiful story

• Then, as I love the 1960 music I would keep the beatles with me, as much as Sade's songs and celtic music to find inspiration

If you could go back and live in a past decade or century, when would you choose and why?

Nice question:) if there is more than one life..and I strongly believe in that, I would have been in rural romantic england, in the countryside: I always dream a cottage in the fields with poor inside but with a fantastic sightseeing, I think it could be around 1800, considering the surroundings.

What is your favorite thing about creating something by hand?

I love to recycle. I recycle almost everything. Every jewel [I make] is made from recycled materials, every pouch too. It's quite hard for me to buy for creating, except the findings I need to make stuffs. My lucky is to own my granny storage box which is full of goodies, vintage and antiques..it is enough for me to have a look inside o be inspired.. so I do not have a particular attitude. Everything depends on the day, the weather, the granny's magic box and what my children wants me to do.

Please list three of your favorite things. Why are they favorites?

I love walking along the seaside at sunset because you can be so close to nature.

I love cooking pasta, which is actually my favourite food.

I love making stuffs, as I imagine my ideas coming off my brain, from an idea to something.

What could you eat/drink every single day and never grow tired of?

Ohh, coffee, of course..I'm a coffee addict! I drink alot of coffee every day. It is a way to feel better, to stay with friends, to share moods. I think you should feel similar when drinking tea.

{I totally agree Katia,  I am a tea addict! But in honor of Katia I had a cup of coffee while writing this blog entry ♥}

 
What is your favorite place? Will you describe it to us?

My favourite place is my incredibly full of stuffs crafty room.a sewing machine, lots of sheets and fabrics, ribbons, buttons, tons of beads, wires and magazines. a couple of soft winged plumed angels watching over me, 2 pictures of my girls, a mp3 to hear good music.. it's simply my world. I know that when I came inside I go out with something new, swirly, creative. I would stay there for ages.

Here are a few of Katia's wonderful treasures from The Hen's Army shop: 

 

please enjoy and visit often x