The Vintage Magpie

The Doll Project

Today I am busy making a doll for this project.

It is made up of nine doll makers and we will each make the start of a doll which then gets added to by everyone else in the group as it travels around over the course of nine months and at the end it is returned to the original maker.

I am very excited to be a part of it, and can't wait to see what arrives in the post for me!

Now, I'd better get on and put this lil' gal together.... more pictures when she's ready to go! x

Unexpected

Hello again.  Last week I took an expected blog break largely due to a weekly schedule of complete craziness.

There were zoo trips, 2 sports days, secondary school induction days, one sickness, a school disco, a dinner party and a few countless other things that all seemed to come at once and I did not officially come up for air until Sunday.

And now today I have finally got back to the studio, but with a little sick one in tow.  He was, however, quite happy to sit in the window with a pot of glue and a tin full of milk bottle tops, tin foil, lollipop sticks etc and make collages and paint.  No tantrums, no sulks and not once asking to play on the DS.  Bliss.

So, I am now back in the saddle hopefully, and have lots to show and tell this week.  I have a new bear design to show you and an exciting doll project to tell you about :) as well as some thrifting goodness!

Hope you all had a good week last week x

Friday Flowers

It's Friday... the boys have got the football to look forward tonight so they are happy, so I thought I'd treat myself to some beautiful flowers to make me happy :) ...

Peonies, stocks and sweet peas... the scents of summer.

I shall be breathing them in all weekend!

Enjoy your weekend everyone, and hey... go buy yourself some flowers! :)

xx

Spending Time..

Last weekend a friend of Isabel's had her 11th birthday, and so we decided to make her something special for her present.

Issy chose the fabrics whilst I searched for the right twig! 

We then found this wonderful free pattern from Spool to make the birdie, and spent the afternoon enjoying ourselves making this sweet lil' gal!

Happy Birthday Megan, we hope your little birdie behaves herself!!

Open Farm Sunday

Yesterday was Open Farm Sunday.  Open Farm Sunday is an annual event that gives everyone the chance to meet the farmers who grow their food and care for the countryside.

So we headed off over the moors to find Pizwell Farm at Postbridge.  Beautiful Dartmoor ponies graced every turn.

Pizwell Farm dates back to and  is mentioned in the Domesday book of 1086.

And this was the original farm building which was split into two parts, the part where the people lived and then the other side where they kept their cattle!

this beautiful old tractor looked like it had been around for a while too!

We saw a bit sheep shearing ..

and met the residents...

 

and admired the flora and fauna as we were led around the working land of the farm

with some breathtaking views.

Tea, cake and local produce were served in the barn (I went home with Old English Marmalade and Tomato Chutney though quite frankly would have happily took the lot to stock the larder :))

 

and a great day out was had by all.... young and ..

old (ish)!!! This is my dad doing his 'I look like an old farmer' impression!!

Did anyone else visit a farm yesterday?

Hope you all had a good weekend, and enjoy the week ahead x

LitTle ElePHant

This delicate little flower was a little camera shy to say the least....

And it took all morning to convince her to come out of the suitcase...

and sit on one of the dresser shelves in the studio.  She did not want to be in the window as people looking in for a closer look did tend to startle her.  She here she sat for the best part of the morning, happy to sit soaking up the warmth of the morning sunshine.

and looking perfectly gorgeous with her vintage porcelain rose brooch

And come the afternoon she was a different girl altogether, bold as brass on Stanley's back in full view of every passer by!  Just shows you what a little time and patience (and a pocketful of peanuts) can achieve!!

Alice is looking for a new home where she can blossom :)

Alice has been handmade by me using 100% German mohair and German glass eyes.  SHE IS ONE OF A KIND due to her ears being made of my last piece of vintage feed sack material!  She is one of my smaller elephants, and she stands approximately 11 inches tall from top to toe, although she cannot stand unaided.  She is loosely 5-way hardware jointed with locknuts and discs.  She is filled with steel shot and sand for weight and texture and poly/cotton fibre for softness.  Her mohair has been distressed by me to give her a time worn appeal. She wears a vintage porcelain rose earring as a brooch and vintage lace.  She also has a dusting of pink on her cheeks. 

Alice is a collectable bear and is not suitable for children under 14.

ADOPTED, thank you x

Alice's adoption fee is £95.00 plus travel fare.  If you are able to offer Alice a new home please email us here and we can make her travel arrangements!

I accept paypal or cheque and can also arrange layaway (see details on my website).

Have a great weekend everyone xx

Sssshhh!

This nervous little girl  is getting ready to look for a new home on Friday.  She doesn't like any sudden movements or loud noise so we are trying to keepthe noise level down here until then.   A somewhat delicate little flower, but can be coaxed into doing most things in exchange for a peanut or two :)

See you Friday xx

Six Days Of Art

 

We have been treated down here in our little corner of the West Country to a Six Day open studio event where you can visit the studios of local artisans to view their work and meet the creators.

 

There has been a wealth of art to explore, from painters, jewellery makers, textile designers, photographers, printers, ceramisistsand sculpture artists.

I could kick myself as I didn't get to see half of what I wanted to see as we were away last week in London and Kent doing the annual family tour.

Artist studios right under my nose that I never knew were there. 

So much passion for their art and talent, it truly warms the soul.

Have a great week everyone xx

  

New Bunnies!

 

A little while ago, a lovely lady contacted me and asked if she could send me some fabric.  I was more than overjoyed when the beautiful fabric arrived, and as a result here are the new Summer bunnies available to order.

Starting off with the ever so sweet Prue.  Prue never misses her Thursday morning choir practice :)

Prue is made from 100% pure mohair and cotton fabric.  She has a hand knitted cardigan and name tag.

Prue's adoption fee is £40 plus travel fare.  Please email us here if you would like to order Prue.

 

Next up it's the beautiful Beryl! 

Beryl loves nothing better than lazy summer days in the sunshine.

Beryl is made from 100% pure mohair and cotton fabric.  She has a hand knitted cardigan and name tag.

Beryl's adoption fee is £40 plus travel fare.  Please email us here if you would like to order Beryl.

 

Next up it's the lovely Iris.

Iris always takes tea at 4pm sharp.  Milk, no sugar :)

Iris is made from 100% pure mohair and cotton fabric.  She has a hand knitted cardigan and name tag.

Iris' adoption fee is £40 plus travel fare.  Please email us here if you would like to order Iris.

 

Next it's Arthur.

Arthur's favourite days are always spent on a boat :)

Arthur is made from 100% pure mohair and cotton fabric. He has a hand knitted cardigan and name tag.

Arthur's adoption fee is £40 plus travel fare.  Please email us here if you would like to order Arthur.

Next it's Enid.

Enid wants to join a circus when she grows up, but has a morbid fear of heights.

Enid is made from 100% pure mohair and cotton fabric.  She has a hand knitted cardigan and name tag.

Enid's adoption fee is £40 plus travel fare.  Please email us here if you would like to order Enid.

Next it's Grace.

Grace loves to dance, and tap dancing is her favourite passtime :)

Grace is made from 100% pure mohair and cotton fabric.  She has a hand knitted cardigan and name tag.

Grace's adoption fee is £40 plus travel fare.  Please email us here if you would like to order Grace.

 
  
Next it's Olive.

Sweet Olive falls in love at the drop of a hat.

Olive is made from 100% pure mohair and cotton fabric.  She has a hand knitted cardigan and name tag.

Olive's adoption fee is £40 plus travel fare.  Please email us here if you would like to order Olive.

And last, but by no means least, it's Frank.

Frank would love to see the world but doesn't have the stomach for long journeys.

Frank  is made from 100% pure mohair and cotton fabric.  He has a hand knitted cardigan and name tag.

Frank's adoption fee is £40 plus travel fare.  Please email us here if you would like to order Frank.

 

ALL BUNNIES ARE APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES TALL FROM THE TIPS OF THEIR EARS TO THEIR FURRY TOES. 

THEY ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 3 YEARS DUE TO SMALL PARTS.

DELIVERY WILL BE WITHIN 7-14 DAYS FROM DATE OF ORDER :)

Have a great weekend everyone xx