Spring cushions at Mini Magpie

Firstly, thank you all for your welcome back messages! It feels good to be blogging again and catching up with everyone.

Well I promised to show you what those pastel ribbons were for...

I've used them to trim the backs of some Spring cushions.

A major fabric tidy up and sort out in the autumn made me realise how many lovely vintage fabrics I had featuring baby animals. They get their own drawer in my cabinet! Laying them out together they are all very pastel coloured and Spring like.

I decided pastel stripes and coloured vintage wool would make nice contrasting backs.

So a batch of 5 have been run up for Mini Magpie at Poundbury.

Some used the final pieces of favourite fabrics I've had for years which is always a bit of a shame.

So that's enough of the backsides are you ready for the full frontals?

We have pink rabbits, lambs and ducks...

Beige calves, foals and bunnies

Lilac lambs, piglets and a frog

Cream mischievous ducklings

and yellow kittens, pugs and kids

 

So I think that pretty much covers every farm animal you can think of!

I've still a couple of other fabrics to cut and will be topping up my stock for a couple of Spring events (see my sidebar).

 I love them all. Which is your favourite?



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

New ventures

Firstly a huge thank you to all you virtual customers out there. I've been overwhelmed this year by the email, fb, blog and IG requests for my makes! I'm now often found hanging out at the Post Office on my days off.

Another little venture has been selling via a rather lovely shop Magpie in Poundbury, Dorchester.

They have just opened a children's shop next door to their main store and I'm thrilled they are stocking my cushions and some other bits. If you're local it's well worth a visit. Lots of lovely things - perfect for present shopping!

I was even more thrilled when they messaged last weekend for more stock!

So I've been making like mad to fill the shelves..

Love this sweet pink fabric with kitch 50's kittens and ducklings

This atomic style animal print is always a favourite

Can never get enough Noddy in blue

or white!

Using up scraps to make some mini lavender bags for Custard Hall

All backed in old wool.

This was an order for a lovely lady who wanted 6 pillows all with the bird design.

And finally this lovely chap arrived too late for the old toys post last week but spotted on good old Facebook was on his way to a new life in Devon within 24 hours!

So THANK YOU virtual friends and customers!

xXx 



Sooty love

A couple of weekends ago Littlest Jammer had a party to go to. We bought a present but I wanted to add a homemade gift. I know her parents love vintage stuff and she's a huge Sooty fan so...

a rummage in my stash and a Sooty lavender pillow was born.

This got me thinking..

 Thinking I've also got that Sooty fabric in blue.

Then look what happened!

 

 

a similar one with Noddy on...

 

 A little while later a collection appeared all backed in matching vintage wool

 

 

reminding me of Battenburg cake!

 

If you're interested there are just a few sitting quietly on the shelves of my etsy shop. There's quite a lot of wastage of very precious fabric making these so the rest will be cushions to make the most of it!

 

On the non virtual shelves of Custard Hall this month... 

 Squeezing potential presents into every space 

 

Right up to the roof!

We've got Christmas Cracker Night tonight, so a year since the shop opened! It's been great but sadly probably my last month there. When I look through the lists I've sold loads over the year but financially it's a killer. Whilst I completely understand rents in the town centre are high it's so disheartening to give it all the hard earned pennies back in rent.

So next year you'll still find me at The De Danann Antique and Vintage Centre DT1 1NF where I'm in my 14th year - gulp!!



Christmas toys to love

It seems everyone has a soft spot for an old toy. I've been saving a few up ready for Christmas at Custard Hall and enjoying their company in the meantime.

I've snapped them all and try and post new stock on my Facebook page or Instagram to give further afield vintage lovers a chance if anything takes their fancy.

The Little Red Dolly turned into a swap with The Vanilla Squirrel and you can see her at home here! I can't show you what I swapped her for yet as it's a birthday present for a certain little jammer in few weeks.

 This gorgeous pink monkey was a tough one to say goodbye to, but he's off on a journey as I type, to another bloggy home with Bobo Bun! I know he'll be well looked after there.

 I need a big space for this lovely Merrythought elephant pyjama case!

 Can never resist these peg dolls

 This little bun was snapped up straight away by one of the staff at Custard Hall and is on his way to America about now.

 
 

 And to finish I got into a bit of a monkey sharing thing on Instagram with Bobo Bun and The Vanilla Squirrel. I have to say Ms Squirrel wins hands down for the most amazing collection of old monkeys. She even has a monkey cupboard for them to live in. But here are my two...

Love them!



Etsy update

Just to let you know I've popped some new makes in my etsy shop

Let me introduce you to the Winter Bunnies

Similar to their cousins the blankety bunnies but more wintery!

They love to snuggle up against the alpine cushions

 and hey presto

they match the cushion back!

 

These lovely old Christmas postcards dated 1909 were the inspiration

for Christmas lavender pillows

All stuffed with 100% lavender and embellished with bells, bows and hand stamped tags

Naturally they are all backed with vintage fabrics

Well you wouldn't expect anything else would you?



 



Elsewhere things have been too quiet for my liking at Custard Hall so I've desperately been filling the shelves with all things festive and wintery

  

Whilst customer orders have helped keep me ticking along

Thank you to everyone who 'likes', 'shares', orders, pops into Custard Hall and helps keep this little bit of my life going!