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

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! 



Tintin goes in search of Annie

A busy day for old Tintin today. We headed off to Bergere Interiors at Lytchett Matravers for some Annie Sloan paint. Lots of lovely painted French furniture...

 

 

 

But sadly they've stopped selling paint.

Tintin even spotted a replacement door, should he ever need one!

A lovely courtyard full of pretty garden bits and pieces.

Nice enamel jugs and pots. We've got quite a collection of these at home.

This bench caught my eye mainly because of the colour. I do love old garden furniture. It reminded me I have some rusting frames of chairs in the garage to redo...

Had to pop into the cafe of course.

Stopping to admire the bluebells.

So Tintin came home. We consulted the web, grabbed a slice of leftover pizza and headed off up the Piddle Valley to Stalbridge. Shy Violet is now my nearest stockist. A lovely shop full of beautiful things. I can't wait until I need more paint to go back for another look!

Now my paintbrushes await...

Back in a few days with that giveaway I promised.

Speaking of giveaways. Pop over to Torie Jayne's for a chance to win some pretty Cornishware.

x

Distracted by green stuff

Today I packed the jammers in Tintin and we headed 'up north'! Not that far mind you but far enough to glimpse some snow, much to their delight. There were shrieks to stop the car, go home and get the sledge but really there was very little left.

We were heading to this little place...

Gold Hill Organic Farm at Child Okeford

to take a peak inside this place...

The Art Stable 

As always I was cutting it fine. Yesterday my email told me today was the last day of their Homage to the Hambledon exhibition. For those of you who aren't local, The Hambledon Gallery is currently a rather delicious shop in Blandford selling clothes to covet and stylish home wares. This year is its 50th and the exhibition celebrates the artists who hung out there in the '60's when, as the name suggests, it was a gallery.

The colours in the Mary Fedden works reminded me of the mid 20th century fabrics I've been saving for my sitting room. Perhaps I should start saving.

 
 I'd love to say you must go and see and so I should but sadly it's too late. So, if you're in the area, what about this instead? Kelly's next exhibition starts after half term, lino cuts.

 
Thank you Kelly, if you're reading, for being so welcoming to my children!
They got distracted by this sweet calf...

and me by this lovely green 2CV!

I've got a bit of a thing about green.
Would love to see what's behind this green door.

Next stop the The Hambledon Gallery shop where I just about restrained myself.

Littlest jammer didn't show much restraint in the cafe though.

And neither did I in Papyrus when I saw a green dress/top/tunicky thing and it fitted - hurrah!

The fridge has changed this week.
Bye bye daffs, welcome tulips.
x

Want to see my drawers?

No not those drawers!

My wardrobe drawers.

Firstly I must confess to a little habit of mine - the chazza run. Let me explain. A chazza run usually happens on one of my days off and involves me dashing from one charity shop to the next as quickly as I can. I'm a dab hand at scanning the rails, checking the china, sniffing the blankets... In fact I can do all ten of Dorchester's chazzas in an hour and get a coffee too.

so let me introduce you to a Christmas prezzie. This top was my present from Mr Jam which made me feel a bit bad as I didn't get him anything. However did he pay the White Stuff loads of dosh for it? No (and no he's not a shoplifter either). It was an impulse buy. Hanging on the rail outside Leonard Cheshire marked at £1!!! Yes just a one, no zeros at all.

I rather like it and when I let you take a peak in my drawers you'll see why. See I have a bit of a turquoisey blue thing going on...

... alongside the green habit...

...and just occasionally I let a smidge of pink and brown in.

So, now you're acquainted with my wardrobe you'll understand the chazza ecstasy I experienced a few weeks ago. I was doing my weekly chazza run. Popped into Feral Cat Care and the lady was cooing over a bag of donations. As I squeezed past (very small shop) she looked me up and down and asked if I'd like to see what she'd just been given. Well I found out what all the cooing was about. A bin bag full of gorgeous clothes from Boden, White Stuff, Monsoon etc. Best of all most of it matched my colour drawers and was my size. She told me I could take my pick at £3 an item! I did have a wicked thought about buying the lot and putting it on Ebay but that would not be in the chazza spirit. So I put a load by and headed for the cashpoint. This is what I bought...

So you see I wear green with turquoise, turquoise with brown, brown with a smidge of pink and pink with green. My wardrobe goes full circle! So a big thank you Mrs Donator whoever you are, you have very good taste. Just keep donating please!

Got a bit carried away with the clothes photographs. I love all the embelishments.

Today I went to Bridport to look at my blue surprise and was not disappointed. I have a half written blog post that the blue 'one' will fit into nicely but will keep you wondering for now...

So for today's bargain - a lovely green linen dress from the Scope shop in Bridport.

Bit chilly for today but got me thinking Spring thoughts so I bought some flowers and bulbs for my fridge.

 And today in the bathroom mirror I'm wearing green and pink (to match?).

Emily in the Lyme Light

Well it's drawing to a close. I mustn't complain as it's lovely to have a whole fortnight off but I do hate the last day of the holiday feelings. Last night I couldn't sleep. Not because I don't want  to go to work or love my job but because I'm a lazy old bones and being at home is easy peasy! So this afternoon we made an effort not to let the last day together slip away too quickly. We headed off to Lyme Regis as we realised we hadn't managed to get there to see the lights before Christmas and I had some new stock to deliver to Caroline.

 

 

 I love the pretty trees on the shops with decent size lights that show up - take note Dorchester!

And of course Emily Button came with us as she does now.

It was her first trip to the sea and she'd been wrapped up in a borrowed cardigan but still found it a bit nippy.

How she wished she had new snug long socks like smug Mrs Jam...

 She admired the houses and dreamt of living in this beautiful blue one.

And then in a flash the peace and tranquility of Emily's first trip to Lyme were dashed. The jammers spotted an amusement arcade.

The lure of the 2p machines beckoned and Emily was led astray. Led into the colourful neon world of gambling only to emerge a short while later with her pretty apron pocket £1 lighter. Poor Emily she's a lot to learn!

 After that we thought things couldn't get much worse, so chips it was!

 

Finally it was dark enough for a look at the lights. Loved the tree!

 But prefered it when they used to string loads of bulbs on wires across the street instead of the stars. Maybe I just don't like change!

As we headed back to the car I spotted Caroline had put my favourite Foxy Lady in the window of Ruby Rock Cake.

Now life will take over and posts will go back to being infrequent watch and see!

x