New Year, New Blogging

I'm back with apologies. My poor little blog has been a bit neglected whilst I've flirted elsewhere in the world of social media. Lured in by Instagram and the knowledge that 'everyone' is on Facebook I seem to have forgotten this little corner of my world.

So I'm kicking off with a day out...

This year has been a bit of a bummer so far. Starting with the Grandad in hospital, taking the Granny to visit and ending up with her in A&E after falling over on the ward! The boiler packed up last week and a expensive new beast is being fitted as I type. To top it all my old next door neighbour who we've looked after in the past and I've blogged about before sadly died last week.

None of these things were unexpected but have taken their toll!

So a day out was needed. My friend picked me up and we headed off to Sherborne...

She's a maker too so I knew she'd like Butterfly Bright.

Lots of bits and bobs to tempt us and I stocked up on some pastel ribbons for Spring projects. More of that to follow. (Yes, I have more than one post in mind).

Next we went in search of the main event. Through Instagram I'd heard about a newish place called Gathered and would you believe they were having a bit of an event.

We found them upstairs on Cheap Street in a lovely space...

Gathered sells lots of handmade and quirky products by lots of different makers.

I recognised these super bunnies straight away. The Vanilla Squirrel's finest were the centrepiece of a Valentine's table.

Lovely brooches by Pygmy Cloud

and a stunning chandelier!

I shall certainly be back for another visit.

And I shall try and get back to this little place a bit more often. Thank you people for hanging on in there. When I logged back in I was amazed people are still looking each day and I even gained a couple of followers! Welcome and best I give you something to read.

Happy Half Term

x

Hedgehog Day

Yesterday we took a little trip to Sherborne in search of a very special creature...

Hedgehogs are the littlest jammer's absolute favourite animal but unfortunately I think she's only glimpsed one once as she's an early to bed kind of girl. When I saw Hedgehog Day advertised at Castle Garden Centre I knew I had to take her!

I'd not been to Castle Gardens before and found it in the grounds of Sherborne Castle.

 
Nestled in the old walled gardens it is a beautiful setting.

even the hanging baskets were tastefully planted with solid colour.

 As well as rescued hedgehogs there was an albino

 and an exotic hedgehog. There was me thinking a hedgehog was a hedgehog.

We learnt loads including the fact that hedgehogs evolved over 15 million years ago! 

 The Little Jammers did a hedgehog trail,

hunting out 12 little creatures around the garden centre

 to earn a chocolate hoglet.

They drew hedgehogs to enter a competition

 

and refuelled on hedgehog cake!

  There were hedgehog stories to listen to courtesy of Waterstones.

 They were read on the steps of this lovely shepherd's hut

 which has been loaned by Plankbridge; local makers of stunning huts. It's the mini hut which featured in an award winning garden at the Chelsea Flower Show last year.

Chester the hedgehog warmed his bottom on the tiny stove - perfect!

Thank you to all those who took the trouble to find my Emily Button Days Out blog last week and for your feedback. I shall persevere but time is short this week with many deadlines to meet so that next post will have to stay up my sleeve for now!

Have a lovely 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! 



Has it finally sprung?

Yesterday Little Jam took Emily Button on a 'Spring Outing'. Emily had enjoyed her trip in Tintin so much she wondered where else he'd take her. Somewhere to dance in the bandstand maybe?

 Sherborne!

 No coincidence that there was a vintage bazaar on too but bizarre was more the term to describe it! "When did laptops and Dysons become vintage?.." Emily pondered on the bridge.

 The little jammers were delighted to see the pond in the park jelly-jam-packed full of frogspawn. Not a plant in sight mind you so I guess there'll be a lot of cannibalism going on!

With the sun on our backs we enjoyed more springiness...

Emily was pleased to take a seat, of a peculiar kind, at the Town Mill Bakery.

Always easily bribed by a cake.

or three!

Don't know where she gets it from?

Truly her mother's daughter.

Rubbishy photo of the bakery just to lead you to this...

Jim Johnson's HDR photos of Sherborne shops

They are currently displayed in their respective shop windows.

The jammers favourite shop where a new jigsaw was purchased.

 And a new one for me.

 Butterfly Bright is run by a woman after my own heart. She keeps her buttons in colour coordinated jars, well who wouldn't!

 Only a mini purchase for me but I shall be back when I'm running low on ribbons.

Take a look at their website for workshops.

At home someone else was enjoying the sun.

And finally on the fridge this week...

Have a lovely week. A busy one here with late nights at work, an MOT and a two day course! Promise to catch up with your blogs by the end of it all - it'll be some light relief!

x