The Vintage Magpie

Here we go....

 

Apologies for my sporadic posting this week... it has been a blur of sewing and taking photographs amidst the general chaos of a general week!  Anyhow, here are some photos of a few little fellas who are accompanying me to the Hugglets bear show in Kensington on Sunday.  Above, Sonny the spaniel,

Next up, Harry the Lurcher.  I took my inspiration from the gorgeous Harry who lives across the road, Harry of Lily's House....

and finally

 

Little old bear.

If anyone of you can get to Kensington on Sunday the show is in the Old Town Hall from 10.30 am to 4pm and I am in Hall No. 4 stand 141.

Wish us luck!

Have a great weekend xx

Progress..

The above picture has been torn out of a magazine (probably Country Living) and stuck up on my inspiration wall, and I have been staring at it for ages, wishing I was sitting in that kitchen being made cups of tea and given a slice of cake.  It's so spring-like it is keeping me cheery, as the reality is I have been nailed to my sewing machine, whilst staring out at the rain.. and it keeps raining and it is SO DULL, its almost depressing.  I have the Hugglets show this Sunday so I am busy whipping up quite a few little characters to take with me.

and then there's this little distraction!  The puppies have finally opened their eyes and oh my they are cute.  I don't think they can focus that well, but its so lovely to see them, and for them to see us!

More puppy pics tomorrow and some show and tell of who is coming to the show with me!

Have a good week x

A long way to go ..

This little gal has a long way to go... she is off on her travels across the pond today.  I had a commission from a lovely lady in America, who has a fondness for a 'circus elephant' .. :)

So off she goes to pastures new...

Sweet little Elly.

and while this brood snooze the day away ...

we are all still patiently waiting.

for some little baby eyes to open.

Maybe over the weekend ...?

Have a good one, see you Monday xx

The Little Things..

I had no intention of parting with any cash when I breezed into a local charity shop yesterday afternoon, I was 'just looking' :)  ... and I find that its when I'm 'just looking' I stumble upon my greatest finds!  This little glass bottles were tucked away in a corner, with a price tag of £3.00 for the lot.  Well, I knew immediately what I was going to use them for, so I rushed them to the til and sped home triumphant!

and then, just as I had finished cleaning them with a toothbrush and soapy water, a lovely friend arrived bringing me sweet flowers.... isn't it great when your friends know just what you love.

So today I have taken the greatest pleasure in spreading the little bottles of  hope around the house, hope that Spring might be just around the corner!

Some of them are measuring bottles, can you see the word 'teaspoons' down the side of this one?

some are ridged

and some of them I think were ink bottles

I just love them. 

And for the puppy update.... 

All the pups are growing and pups and Mum are doing well.  Hopefully they will open their eyes in the next couple of days.. more photos to come before the end of the week! x

Paperwork... or pups??

Over the past couple of weeks the paperwork in this house has been piling up.   I haven't been able to face it.  And everytime I try to tackle it... it begs the question.... 'shall I do the paperwork, or shall I fuss over the pups?'

Hmmm...

Decisions, decisions...

Florence isn't too bothered one way or the other.

Her hands are full enough.

But I'm all out of excuses.  I just can't tear myself away.

Thank you for all your kind comments about the loss of our beloved boy.  Your wise words and comfort meant a great deal to me and the family, so thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Have a great week.

xxx

Losing a best friend

Yesterday was a very sad day for us.  We lost a very dear old friend.  Trafford had been with us for 14 years, in times before the children, which now seems unthinkable.  Through all the births and additions to our family and through our losses too.

A solid, dependable friend who adored me more than I deserved, always.

It seems so strange that this time last week we were celebrating new life in the house, and now we are feeling the pain of a great loss.

Wishes by Kristen Sharer

We wish we could have told you,
in words you'd understand,
We wanted you to stay with us.
This wasn't what we'd planned.

We wish somehow to tell you,
How empty we now feel.
A part of us went with you,
A part that time can't heal.

We wish we'd once more hear you,
in your softly, rumbling purr,
to hold you on our laps again
and stroke your softest fur.

We wish we had you back again,
to fill this empty space.
But one day we'll be together

in a far, far better place.

xx

Puppy Love ..

 

Teacup pups... I know  -   I should have prepared you before ...

Can it get any cuter than that????

Everyone who squealed say ' I '  !!!!

LoVinG HoMe NeeDEd

Meet William.  William is Winston's baby brother.

William, like most younger brothers, is the braver of the two.  More mischievious.

Loves to play , chew shoes, and hide socks.

Another Whimsical Jack Russell to add to the collection!

I took my inspiration for this JR from this gorgeous man...

Oscar.  Who belongs to this lovely lady.

William is made from 100% pure mohair, which has been aged by me to give him the time worn appeal.  He has German glass eyes and is filled traditionally with wood excelsior, steel shot and sand to give him weight and texture.

William stands approximately 12 inches tall from his head to his paws, but cannot stand unaided. 

William is a good old boy.  He has a sweet nature, full of life, and partial to meatballs :o

If you would like to adopt William please contact us here.  His adoption fee is £135.00 plus travel fare.  He is fairly inexpensive to maintain, just needs a warm bed, loving home, and a good supply of sticks and meatballs

ADOPTED, thank you x

I have some beautiful puppy pictures for you tomorrow.  They will be one week old.  I can't believe it... they should open their eyes in the next couple of days.. oh the suspense! 

See you tomorrow xx

BerTie, RoSe aNd MinNie

Bertie is one hell of a lucky boy..

He has two beautiful valentines to choose from.  The lovely Rose, sweet, loving and demure or ...

the lovely Minnie, full of fun and laughter.

I'm not sure which one girls he's waving his flag at... perhaps its both.  Who knows...!

Each of the bunnies are handmade by me using 100% pure mohair and filled with polycotton fibrefil.  They have safety eyes and soft cotton fabric ears and bodies.  From tip of ear to toe they measure approximately 12 inches.

THESE ARE COLLECTORS ITEMS AND NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN DUE TO SMALL PARTS

Each bunny's adoption fee is £40 plus travel fare.  I have several of each design already made ready to make your loved one smile on Valentine's Day :)

If you would like to adopt a bunny they will be available in my shop from 10am GMT Monday February 8th.

and here's a sneaky peak of someone else looking for a new home for Valentine's Day... I will introduce him to you on Tuesday.

See you then.

Have a good week xx

Gorgeous Little Puppers

Here are the first pictures of Flossie's little miracles.

so tiny

so helpless

 

so beautiful.

Last night in the wee hours, when all her pups had been born and we were with her, I looked at Florence and she looked at me, and it was truly as if she was trying to say 'hey mum, look at me, I'm all grown up'.  She had changed before my eyes.

I remember my mum coming into the hospital ward when I had just had my first baby, and we shared the same moment.   Motherhood - the bond of understanding that we share between us whatever our species.

Woody is taking it all in his stride, he's had a peek at his offspring, but not too much as Florence started to growl .. I put that down to two reasons from experience (1) it bloody hurt and she wants him to know it and (2) she's very very protective over her newborns!

God, I'm an emotional mess today.  The relief that my baby is ok is overwhelming.. we were so worried the pups were going to be too big for her.  I feel like I've been hit by several buses... lord knows how Florence must be feeling!

From this experience, I think I shall make a mental note that if and when the time comes that my girls ever have children, I shall need an emotional crutch as big as a house, if not bigger.  On second thoughts it might be best all round if I get stretchered off sometime before the event to spare everyone my emotional tidalwave!

xx