Do I need another blog?

That is the question...

 the answer is probably not, but a little idea came to me and I was tempted to try it out.

A weekend outing with the jammers and good old Emily Button got me thinking about the places we go. What makes a good day out for them doesn't have to cost much, might be considered a bit old fashioned and basic for some but I bet there are plenty of kids out there who'd enjoy things as much as my two do.

I thought I'd blog about Emily Button's trips out around Dorset. She or one of her Button family usually end up coming most places with us and they are rather photogenic so I'm introducing

Things to do with Emily Button

Will you do me a favour and have little look and tell me what you think?

I realise it might have a somewhat limited local appeal but hey-ho I think I'll do a post a week for a few weeks and see if anyone reads it...

 

In reality 2 blogs, 2 'shops', a serious making addiction and most importantly holding down a proper grown up job looks like a recipe for disaster. The housework went long ago, what next?



I'm back, I missed you!

It's been a long while since I popped into blogland. After a disastrous week with a very poorly arm, a trip to A & E and a disappointing fair we packed our bags and headed off to Spain for half term.

Littlest Jammer was keen Emily Button come too so I obliged and whipped her up a swimsuit from an old pair of pants!

 I didn't realise quite what I'd started. It was announced she'd need a hat too. So I trawled the wonderful world of Ebay and begged the seller to post it quick. A bit on the small side but it arrived the day before we left just in time for a quick trim up.

 Emily and Chester had loads of fun on their first trip abroad and I must say were incredibly well looked after by their little owner who even packed a wooden ice lolly. 

 What did I pack?...

Hmmm. No sewing machine this holiday...

I trawled Molly Makes and decided to make some of the little felt toys that could be hand sewn.

So I went with a pile of felt and as if by magic home came a deer,

a fox and a racoon.

Littlest Jammer bagged this pair for her friend's birthday and took them off to school this morning. Hope she liked them!

Now I'm off to see what you've all been up to over half term.



Take one roller skate.. (What happened when Emily Button wanted a scooter)

Remember these...

Well when I bought them they came with a couple of these...

 

 Duffers, destined for the bin, but wait a minute somebody has been saying for ages that Emily Button wants a scooter. In her book she has one made with cotton reels. Little Jam is always asking me to save them but I throw them away forget (because I've no idea about axels and all that stuff).

Hmmm. Could this be what I needed for wheels? In about two minutes I'd got carried away and in my head designed the most fantastic scooter for Emily and her friends. Trouble is sewing and pasting are my things. This looked like a dad kind of job. So I presented Mr Jam with a roller skate, a piece of old wood that came in a chest of drawers and knew hoped he'd go that extra mile for his littlest daughter.

 Little Jam and Emily were duly thrilled with the creation.

You might think it looks a little on the brown side and you'd be right. I had more plans in my head for a respray but no Little Jam likes it as it is which I guess is a bit of a relief.

 Emily's friends queued up for a ride including next door's cheeky cat!

 

 Now Miss Vanilla is looking on, her button eyes ever so slightly green...

there is one lonely roller skate left...



Funny old week

 It's been a funny old week...

 Said a formal goodbye to my grandad. In reality we lost him six years ago when he no longer knew who we were.

Loving him on the beach with his pipe and daughters!

 and with a great grand daughter.

 xXx

Textile delights in North Cadbury yesterday...

Lots of stalls to browse and bloggers to catch up with.

Beginning to wish I'd taken home those little green lampshades with me.

Lots of lovely things on the same stall. I often buy from this lovely lady.

 The plus side of a funeral meant a catch up family. My sister came from Amsterdam so the little jammers have made the most of some quality auntie time. A river walk whilst the sun tried to shine and some nosing into other peoples gardens.

ending up at a pub with some familiar girls!

Not much making time. A couple of customer orders including this blankety bunny pictured on some of my new fabric.

It's got me in the mood for some Spring making so out came the baby animal fabrics. hopefully some cute ta-dah pictures to share with you later in the week.

x



Emily Button in Haberdashery Heaven and a new coat

Emily Button has a fine new coat and wanted to show you. Can you guess what she's stood in front of?

Peter Wilson's golden postbox in Sherborne Dorset.

 Emily had been looking for an opportunity to show off her newest item of clothing so took the opportunity to accompany the granny on a hosital visiting session.

Do you like her wool coat? - green of course! It's been much admired by her friends Vanilla and Dolly. They're a little green eyed at the moment.

Emily's a pretty smart doll and knew a trip to Sherborne meant a trip to Butterfly Bright; home of her favourite thing - buttons!

Emily in button heaven.

Emily spotted the ricrac and wondered if she'd walked into the hairdressers by mistake.

Extensions Emily? Change of colour?

Emily picked up a few buttons and trims to take home in the hope that if she leaves them out, like the Shoemaker did in the story, the Elves will transform them into more coats for her friends during the night. She knows that's when most sewing takes place round here.

Now all that shopping meant one thing - cake!

Another trip to The lovely Bakery Cafe but the wooden cake just didn't cut it.

Bring on the Rocky Road!

x

 

PS Today the grandad came home. I think we'll miss the trips to BB and the cafe but not the hospital! 



A +1 Weekend

Finally after all that sleeping with their fingers crossed my jammers got the snow they'd longed for!

 On Friday we woke to whiteness and quietness and a bonus day off school. After checking on the feathered and furry friends and digging out the sledge they wanted to go and play.

 Emily Button and Vanilla got their first ride in a sledge. A rather grand contraption, I thought they looked quite royal with their toy car seat placed on the sledge!
Last time we had proper snow was when we lived here

and all the locals made a fantastic giant sized snowman and caterpillar I blogged about here.
Now we are lucky that at the top of our 'new' road is a roman amphitheatre - perfect for sledging.

 And finally the obligatory snowman. 

 I've made use of the indoor time to make some more cushions.

Vintage zoo print fabric, very old I think. I backed them in some vintage mustard velvet and trimmed with grey polka dots. One for Custard Hall and one for De Danann tomorrow.

Meanwhile the jammers were brilliant at entertaining themselves. when all is quiet I let them get on with it and don't interfere. When I did eventually venture upstairs they had made a hotel under a bed and the toys were all checked in at the desk and snuggled down for the night. 

 I know I keep saying it but I just love this kind of play!

Yesterday we took a trip to Sherborne for a spot of hospital visiting.

 These icicles caught my eye.

 I did manage a quick scoot round the shops and picked up this half price toadstool arrangement. I knew it would be perfect for the hedgie house!

I shall leave you with my latest addition to my unit at the De Danann Centre...

The Cath Kidston make to follow in a day or two.

Keep warm.

x