bRing thE sUnShinE iN!

So we have had rain non stop for three days, usually I'm not too upset by this but hello clouds it's half term!

Well with the grey skies and don't get me wrong I love the colour grey but I'm yearning for some sunshine yellow and here are some finds that have helped and my mini1's love these too.....

Thankou to the fabulous online stores that stock and create these bright beautiful treats;

molly-meg

Donna Wilson

Tea and Kate

Lapin & me

Pippi and Jip

wOOdlanD fRienDs....

We have woodland dolls living in our home and then when we had a visit from the wonderful molly-meg at the weekend she brought us two more, mini1's and myself were very excited and we love them. So what have our new and old woodland friends been up to? .....

Well they've been popping up in different windows around the house checking out the views from each, where will they go next and will more come to join them? 

What this space!

These cutie's are reproductions of retro vintage dolls.  Sourced especially for Lapin & me in Japan. 

transformer tuesday #18

Morning all, our Tuesdays are not what they were....Mini1 now goes to her pre-school nursery all day on a Tuesday to get her prepped for her reception class start in September so  it's either TT with me and minimini1 or we do it at the weekend where all 3 of us girls can get involved. This week we took advantage of our Saturday afternoon after a morning trip out and got making and creating with some of our favourite materials....

- empty food boxes (ours were clipper tea and dorest cereal)
- wooden pegs
- liberty fabric ends
- vintage buttons
- pens for facial details
- needle, thread, scissors

and this is what we ended up with, a cardboard animal parade with riding pegdolls dressed for their adventurous travels.....

yellow

Feeling bright and happy with a big yellow sun in the sky this morning and extra special for mini1 because yellow her absolute favourite colour except on days when she says 'all colours are my favourite' but that can be a rainbow post one day!
Back to yellow here are some yellow objects to add to this sunny happy day....

           

neckpiece Artloeria

mini acrylic painting Pinkrain 

whale tissue holder GnomeSweeeetGnome

bird whistle molly-meg

yellow fish Sisters Guild

doll PinselBlues

Alain Grée

Turning on mr mac this morning I discovered some of my lovely pinner pals over on pinterest had pinned up work by the fabulous Alain Grée French author and illustrator.
As soon as I saw them I was smiling so I hope you're smiling too looking at the ones I've picked....

These next two images are actually jigsaw puzzles available to buy here

Alain's biography is a really lovely, inspiring and interesting read, learning about his career his passion for sailing and how he met his wife of 40 years.

My weekend is off to an inspiring colourful start now hope you enjoy yours too.

transformer tuesday #15

The last TT was some weeks back now, but I know how much you all like them so here we have one using a firm favourite of all the recycling materials..... a cardboard box.
Big thank you to Mini1 for doing most of this I just assisted with the cutting and threading of ribbon.

There are no step by step images as it speaks for itself and hoots too ;) but your list of tools are:
- a box (with all sides in tact and removed top and bottom
- sharp scissors
- gluppy glue
- paint
- papers / foils / other decoration
- pen
- ribbon for shoulder straps

.......beep beep, coming through!

Looking for a house.....

Ok, so we're house viewing but not moving.
As some may know minimini1 is approaching her 2nd birthday! wow where has that gone? and I'm on the birthday present hunt, last year I believe I came good with this gift with thanks again to Sisters Guild and Molly-Meg.
This birthday is tricky, with a big sis just turned 4 we have lots that they share and rooms that sometimes feel full and what more could they want, well as with every girl there is room something so I thought it's never too early to start a little one interested in home decor and furnishing so what better than a garden house. I had thought of the whole adventure park thing as the garden would take it but the only problem is it is fairly a no go when it is really raining, at least by going down the house with swing or slide route you can still see them enjoying the outdoor whilst in!
Well show me the finds I hear you say, and please let them be less than four figures I hear hubby say!
Here we go and fab prices too :) from £259.99

wicken toys

sheds world

activity toys direct

shed store

fun playhouses

We all need a superhero....

mine has changed many times, my first superhero was 'Jake' he wore a red jumper and denim dungarees!
Mini1 and minimini1 have their own superhero's; dadda and hophop!
I'm now looking for a softie superhero gift, here are a few of my favourite finds, and I may well have found myself a new superhero......his name is Arthur! (sitting on a star cloud)

from the top...

petits petits tresors

dolls and daydreams

alimrose
des files et des gommettes

More softies and kiddie treats can be checked out over on our pinterest boards, be great to see you there x

Thank you trees

You probably already know how much I love wooden toys, vintage and modern wooden toys are simply fantastic and this morning I just couldn't wait to share these gorgeous wooden sets from the Etsy shopfront "Mielasiela", and thanks to my early morning pinning it was the wonderful Handmade Charlotte that brought these little sets to my attention.

Prices start at £7.73 (chickens) up to £22.52 for the bigger 6 piece set. 

I just love these as a little gift to me, or my little ones. I think we'll be filling a shopping basket soon :)

childhood memories #3

Somy playhouse type toy I cherished and hold fond memories of was The Family Treehouse as shared last week (and thanks for all the DM's and your memories too.)
This week childhood memory is really my sisters, as she is a little younger she got the 80's version of a Family Treehouse which was the Big Yellow Teapot by Bluebird.
Just like the Treehouse we have the Teapot back at my parents house too complete with car, people, furniture, even box.
Oooh our littlies are so lucky to have all these retro vintage toys at hand at Nanna & Grandpa's.

childhood memories #2

So, who out there had/has one of these, The Family Tree House.

The Family Tree House is a classic, simply fabulous and whenever we are at my folks out it comes and generates as much fun as it did back in the late 70's early 80's so luckily for me and my Mini1's the girls in my family are not as the men might call us 'hoarders' but 'collectors' and keepers of those special memory items.

The memories and nostalgia these toys hold is warming and not only do I love watching my Mini1's enjoy imaginative play but it's also the recalling of the memories of what The Family Tree House holds for me. It's like that game when someone says a word and you then say a 'linking' word. For me if I was to play that game thinking of The Family Treehouse it would build a whole chapter or two of my childhood and those very special friends and family, some of who are not with us today but they are there in The Family Tree House.

Enjoy those toys of the past, bring them out, dust them down and let the happy times play.

Transformer Tuesday #12

Todays transformation is not only a little late in the day but also it is not one of ours but of Martha Stewart especially for my sister!

We have oodles of plastic creatures and the kids love them when they're playing on their adventures, i do however think if a few could go missing it would be good and more aesthetic to do this to them!

Not only glitter I'd love to get the fluo paint on them, when we get round to our we'll share.

Martha used:

- plastic deer

- small paint brush

- white glue

- powder glitter

- bowl

transformer tuesday #10

i spy with my little eye(s)....

bird spotting was carried out by transforming the following items into brilliant binoculars for the mini1's

we used
- cardboard tubes
- scissors
- gluppy glue
- tape
- fabric squares
- fabric trims
- ribbon

got to dash i can see something far away......

tumbling animals

Tumbling animals by Bobles is based on simple geometric formed shapes. The animals double up as  childrens furniture but are designed with creative play in mind. Tumbling, rolling, jumping and rocking are some of the fun activites your child can have.

grey and happy

Okay I know it's super sunny out there, but a little grey collection doesn't mean it's not still happy and sunny on the inside, especially with this set of wonderfulness.
Here are some classics and brands set to be future classics and some newies (well they are for me)
All links below; sort of in order!

mini fanfan
maria hatling
donna wilson
rocket st george (chair and pendants)
jennifer collier
ferm living
bambaks
thorstenvaneltan (pigeon light)

knitted creations

Whilst finding fab find #3 last week I also discovered more delights by Donna Wilson. For me (and I'm sure many more) when looking for a fab knit she always gets a visit, however here are some others i'd like to share with you.

Top row Donna Wilson
Middle row Sara Carr

First from the bottom row Lucky Boy Sunday

Last two in bottom row Black Rabbit

sisters and new lovliness for september shopping

today we are having a sister day, my little ones seem to be loving the sister thing, i'm missing my sister but know all is well in her hands, and as many of your are probably aware another great sister duo is Becky and Carla from Sisters Guild.

Here are just a few picking form their current collection of wonderfulness.
Circus Flag Garland £31.00
Peacock Candle Holder £31.80
Matchbox Mouse 'Big Sister' £21.95
Japanese paper balloon, flower ball £2.25
Milk Carton Mouse House £45.00
Toy box Storage Highrise  £58.80

Got to get shopping...... love the milk carton mouse house sooooooo much

transformer tuesday #3

Foraging around our big recycle box for this weeks Transformer Tuesday we discovered an adundance of cardboard tubes, so on cloud cuckoo's 'Transformer Tuesday' this week we have "once six tubes, now...a skittle family"
The theme for our skittles came from mini1 wanting to do a 3d version of Grandpa! well you can see; here he is  along with a few other family folk too and our collection of recycled goodies...

We used...

- 6 cardboard tubes (toilet rolls) or 3 bigger ones cut in half

- fabric, we used left over snips from other projects

- masking tape cut out for faces, paper can be used as a substitute and glued down

- pens for decoration

- gluppy glue

- newspaper rolled into a tight ball and covered with some more fabric

Once you have your recycled bits and bobs you can decorate your tube skittles into an assortment of creations. We went for 'family members' but we have also done animals, houses, birds and there is lots more. 

If you'd like to have a transformer tuesday be great to hear from you, enjoy transforming and recycling

NOW LETS ROLL!

todays colour is......

A house of girls plus dad you could be mistaken for thinking it's quite pink.
Well not at all, and then today I seem to be drawn to all things pink, and I'm quite enjoying it, mini1 is too, but minimini1 continues her long nap.

So we pegged the washing out and in fear of the weather turning like everywhere else seems to be i thought I'd capture the moment, also that was when I started feeling the love for the pink!

Glorious gladioli flowers from a special bud that fill me with cheer since the weekend and still looking great in beautiful bloom

Goggle eye cat named Pia by mini1 from Molly-Meg

Flower shots from the garden

Bright pink feathers that we seem to be getting through at a tremendous rate with all our cutting, making, gluing, sticking, tying...... 

So what is your colour of the day.....

transformer tuesday #2

Staying with our cardboard box transformations this week we have created our travelling cloud cuckoo puppet theatre, during the making and since it has become something of a hidey-hole / peek-a -boo for the mini-mini1, she just loves sneaking in and popping her head through the front.
We really have enjoyed putting this one together and using our cloud cuckoo crochet animal characters as the 'actors', and our prints for covering the box. We love the mix and match fun look.

We used:
-2 boxes! 1 large for the main part and smaller one cut and shaped for the 'lid'
-glue (favourite gluppy glue)
-patterned printed fabric, in our case cloud cuckoo printed organic cotton (for covering/decorating)
-extra card (cut out for wheels)
-characters; toys or puppets
-imagination...lots....children....fun.....

Hope to see you again, 'next show at 2pm!'