The Vintage Magpie

Birthdays in the dark and Carols in the Yard

In the blink of an eye, my little Lauren turned 7 last week.  How did that happen?  This is one of my favourite birthday photos ever, taken by the very talented Asti, whose photos are always super gorgeous.  Thanks Asti x

I can't believe I miss this event last year.  The school holds an annual 'Carols in the Yard' evening in the week before the Christmas holidays and it was just magical.

Even though it was FREEZING everyone was singing at tops of their voices, and Issy was in the choir which made it even more special.  The headmaster played the guitar, and there was a tape of the school piano playing along in the background.

and mulled wine and mincey pies all round. 

It truly brought (another) tear to my eye.  Now that's what I call Christmas!

Well, all thats left to say is have a truly magical Christmas and New Year! 

On a soppy note thank you all for making me proud of my blog achievement this year.  Having this blog and the friends and kindred spirits that I have met through it has truly enriched my life. 

Can't wait to see you all back here next year!!

BEST WISHES TO ONE AND ALL xxxxxxxxxxxx

"It's like santa's workshop in here mama"

Yesterday I snuck my babes out of school to do their Christmas shopping and baking... we call it our 'secret santa day'.  I know its naughty, but at this near to Christmas the panic sets in and Mama doesn't care.

Whilst they were doing the baking, I was finishing off these

candles in teacups, for teachers and friends alike.  Thank you Niki for your wonderful idea, which saved my life this week!

We were all dead beat by the evening.  Shopping, baking, wrapping, stamping, singing, followed by a little dose of sibling squabbling, a well thrown tantrum or two and a great deal of wiping cake, biscuit mix and red ink off faces, walls and floors, at which point we I decided enough was enough.  My 'ho ho ho-ing' was wearing a little thin by 7.30pm for them and I alike, but we did have a very special day :).

I'm just not sure Santa's workshop would be quite so, well, loud, frantic and disorganised!

By the way, has anyone noticed the ever growing mountain of ironing that has featured in a lot of my posts this week?  Yes, the ironing is so far down the list at the moment, it just ain't worth mentioning, except maybe on my note to the The Big Man on Christmas Eve,  'please find someone to do it for me, I promise to do better next year ' xxx

 

Drum roll please.....

The list of entrants was complete..

Santa's little helper gets to grips with the game...

Yep, you have to actually pick one out of the bowl James......

and after several minutes of swirling the names around the bowl.. the winner is Jane from Posy!  Well done Jane, I shall put Miss Matty in the post to you today, oh and by the way.. as it is soooooooo cold, I've knitted her a little cardi to keep her warm over Christmas.

.. I'm sure she's going to love her new home x

Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway, it was lovely to read all your comments.  I shall be having another giveway in the New Year, so stay tuned !  xx

Home needed ... CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!

I  have one little bunny left, hoping for a cosy stocking to snuggle into on Christmas Eve.

In commemoration of the fabulous TV series Cranford, which sadly finished last night (weep), this little bunny is named Miss Matty after, well, after Miss Matty in the TV series. 

Miss Matty (Matilda) is rather shy , but of sweet and kind nature.  She loves nothing better than cosying up by a warm fire, with warm milk and buttered toast.  She does not, however, like rainy days or, apparently, mince pies.

Miss Matty is up for adoption in my Christmas Giveaway. 

Just leave a comment on this post and your name will be entered into the draw.  The winner's name will be drawn out of  a hat before midday on Wednesday morning to give me enough time to get her in the post for next day delivery, to make sure she is with you in time for Christmas.

Good luck x

Christmas Spirit

It is very rare to find Christmas spirit in the rush of people busying about this time of year, in supermarkets mothers are screaming at  their children and in department stores people are jumping queues as the pressure and stress start to mount towards the big day.  However, I have been lucky enough to have two doses of the genuine thing this week.  This first ...

My lovely little Lolly's Christmas play, guaranteed to make me weep.   I also confess to shedding a tear when this parcel arrived in the post

from Michele.  On Sunday I was lucky enough to win the Cowboy & Custard Christmas Giveaway.. I could not believe it as I NEVER win anything.  Michele's kindness and generousity sent the gift of true Christmas spirit with this package, and I am still smiling now.

Thanks Michele, It meant a great deal to me xx

A Little Announcement...

I have been busy trying to get my little Etsy shop up and running the last couple of days.   It still needs quite a bit of 'tweeking' but I shall be putting a few little lovelies in there this week and next, and playing around with it over Christmas.  As we are nearing the Big Day, anything that is ordered will be sent out by recorded/next day delivery.

I had to resort to entertainment in the form of a Christmas Card free- for- all, whilst I  battled with  the shop set up.

 

Please feel free to take a peek xx

Farewell Friends

Phew!

Coming up for air...

This is all I am seeing at the moment, with an order for 14 Christmas rabbits...

Numerous cups of tea, the 'odd' custard cream , the continuous whirr of the sewing machine, and 3 little children with very bored faces making desperate attempts to drag me from the studio... 'Mama can you come and see this... ', 'Mama can I sing you a song from my Christmas play', and such like ... it didn't take them long to work out at least two that would unstick me from my chair

1.   'Mama I think the dogs been sick' ...
and
2.    'Mama, how do you get paint (fingerpaint mixed with glitter glue) off the wall?

Ahh yes, .... its been interesting.

Hopefully the little bunnies will be on their way to pastures new tomorrow, and I shall have a few left looking for Christmas homes to put in my little Etsy shop (pending) later this week.

Take a deep breath... .

and  RELEASE!

Not just for Christmas...

This is Hannah, a little vintage rabbit named after the little girl who's stocking she will be sleeping in on Christmas Eve

Hannah is made of 100% mohair, and vintage wool blanket.  Her dress has been made from vintage linen and lace and her cardigan is handknitted from wool from from every growing stash!

Hannah loves warm buttered toast and marmite, but hates the cold and being lonely.  Hopefully she will have many many adventures when she reaches her new home, and lots of warm nights snuggled under cosy blankets.

I have had a few requests for rabbits in time for Christmas, so next week I will be putting some little friends up in my new Etsy shop, and they will be looking for new homes in time for the festive season!

and to fill a Christmas stocking or two!

Have a great weekend everyone! x

Never mind the Christmas cards....

We have birthday invites to get out... Lauren will be 7 on 15th December, and we are planning the mother of all tea parties!

This invite was inspire by the gorgeous work of  Lilia at Flea Market Studio.  What she does with paper amazes me.  I'd love to do scrapbooking, but I just can't fit it in..  I've always loved paper, notelets, pictures on cards etc as well as the whole stationery thing.  The smell of new sharp pencils and fancy pens, pencil cases ... all this comes under the category of 'Obsesssional' for me.  I am therefore easily pleased at Christmas.. a new pens and pencils for me please, oh and some vintage paper.

The above was a little present I knocked up for my gorgeous sister in law, Cathryn.  I just love the fabric.. Moda I think.  That blue is one of my favourite blues.

Every girl loves a new make up bag, don't they! x