After the mini party with her grandparents, we will have a party with her friends...

it was supposed to be a picnic in the park but the weather forecast has predicted

buckets of rain for Sunday, so it will be at home (dear me).

I'm not a fan of hiring places or people to throw a children party
and I'm trying to be as much green as possible
(sometimes I've been told that like an offence:"ah yes you're a green person, yuk!").

Most weirdly I don't even use balloons to decorate or plastic (junk) toys in their party bags.

And yes I'm guilty of baking my own cake, making real sandwiches,
even cooking food and perhaps offering lemonade and
popcorn (made in my kitchen without using a microwave argh! what a horror). 

I use fresh flowers and fabric bunting as decorations. 

The goodies bags are paper bags filled with edible and recyclable stuff... 

I know I'm total bonkers and helpless...what a weirdo!.

Why do I bother? 

Because I like to think my daughter will remember her home made parties.

And because I can't stand plastic, waste and plastic food!

and it is not true that is more expensive if you make your own ; )

(The origami pictured here are made by Chihoco, arigato my friend!)

On my desk : 

(the only sort of furniture I've got right now in my tiny studio room + two chairs)

a miniature chair from her dolls house that needs some repair

a Minnie mouse alarm clock and two origami paper boats

leftovers of cotton yarns in a jar

I've been given a "sunshine award" by sweet Leonôr of Lollipop. 

Merci madame, je suis très heureux et honoré de recevoir ce prix!

Now I can give this award to 7 blogs I love for different reasons: 
at swim-two-birds, bohemian girl, fuoriborgo, mediterranean on line, single crochet, 
tales of a junkaholic, talking to volcano.

Although I have to say that there are many many more that I love...

My studio room is pretty messy right now!

I painted the walls in a colour called "linen" from The Little Greene.

I actually only have the space for my old office desk and perhaps some sort of furniture that I still have to find, maybe a window cabinet or something to display nice things.
The rest will go inside the built in wardrobe...I hope!

Anyway I'm so slow in sorting things out as I get too easily distracted!

Saturday I went to the local market and I found this little suitcase, the perfect place to store my inherited laces (from my great grandmother, my grandmother and my husband grandmother) there are only few but I love to look at them and think of ours family.
The black one belonged to my great grandmother (as my mum told me)
and it's at least 100 years old, it is falling into pieces but I will take good care of it.

Now I'm off for a well deserved coffee and bun!

X

Yay!

 "Uguiso Sakura Giveaway" has arrived from Japan (despite the Volcano ashes)

...kawaii, it's nice to have a bit of sakura here in England!

Thank you Hiki san ( I love these colours) and thanks Elisabeth for hosted it.

^.^

As my husband started to work again from a real office I took possession of his office at home.

he he he, I didn't waste any time!

Hence these days I'm busy re-decorate it and put all my stuff there,

the room is tiny 180cm by 200cm but finally no more sewing in the kitchen table and
mess everywhere while I'm working on something, urrah!

I'll be back as soon as I'm done with it, with more vintage in my shop 
and hopefully the second sock  ;)

Lovely blogs here and here ( but you might know them already!)

Have a sunny weekend!

The school re-opened today... quiet is restored ; )

(although I have to admit that I miss her already)

Meanwhile I'll show you my favourite necklace I made with vintage murrina glass beads,

a gift from a friend who lives in Venice.

The first spring sock almost finished, now I need to make the other one!

It's my first attempt to make socks, I find it a bit complicated at times because of the 4 needles
(I tried the loop needles but for some reason I like to learn the traditional method).

Once you turn the heel, that's it, all downhill.

Socks tutorial here

Made a top with the Vichy fabric (or gingham) I bought in London, using the pattern on 

this book. I love this kind of easy sewing.

Definitely needs a bit of ironing though ^.^

(Mother) Earth Day
What I like to listen today

We went for a picnic today, I love cloud spotting,

the sky was so beautiful, so peaceful, so quiet...no planes at all.

Not even the military ones that often fly too low in these skies!

BLISS!

Then we bumped into a friend whose partner is stranded in Spain, trying to come back home...

Although I sympathize with all those people who are trying to go where they have to go :)

I cannot deny that I enjoy to see our skies free from air traffic.

So here's a picture of the contrails free sky, today.

Here's more contrails free sky pics via here.

Flickr gallery of Eyjafjallajokull

I have to admit that after two weeks and a half of school's holidays I'm pretty tired,

but she relax on her "new" rocker chair "reading" KU:NEL magazine !!!
*it's in japanese, anyway, I cannot read it too*

I was delighted to find this chair in a nice vintage shop in Cambridge yesterday.  

By the way, I couldn't resist to the micro book of  kid's chairs "Collection Minuscule"

and now I'm waiting for the poster ; )

Happy Sunday to you all.

^.^

I have received the rest of the "bonanza giveaway" from Nath, remember?

I'm now the happy (and lucky) owner of an upcycled plate made by her,

( if you like to see her collection go here.)

I like the fact that she recycles plates and then revamps them with geometric patterns

in bold colours that totally contrast the original design of the plates.

So clever and so green!

I think this is just the beginning of a new collection :-)

The Soviet Union wooden doll (wow!) and the brooch are already in Anita's room!

Thank You Nath!

A nice day out today to Anglesey Abbey

French, spanish, italian and english were the languages spoken.

Everytime I go out with my friends is like this,
if we meet all together it will be like the tower of Babel!

Another beautiful aspect of this country, 
or let's say how things should be everywhere in the world!
"."

New addi(c)tion in my shop soon...

Mmmhhh still have to decide if I keep it or not!

That's the problem, I cannot easily let go the vintage things I found.

But also it makes me happy to find things for other people who might love them!

Thank you for your kind comments in my last post! Anita was delighted :))) 

Bagpuss

(the dress I'm wearing is from "Noa Noa" a danish clothes company but I bought it few seasons ago).

^.^

Nonna e nonno (her granparents) came from Italy to celebrate her birthday.

Pink gerberas and a homemade choc cake.

On the day she was born 5 years ago...my gosh it seems yesterday!

Happy Birthday my love.

X

Mummy. 

Walking around:

inspirations.

A stylish lady.

Happy weekend to you all.

X

We went for a walk to the river this morning.

Anita "the little mouse" wears the cape and the hat from the talented Madame Barbara.

She put smiles on the faces around!

Squeak!

Hello ^.^

hope you had a happy holiday.

Thank you all for the comments in my last post... I feel much better!

My shop has been updated with new items, some handmade and some vintage.

Ciao for now!

X

I have a huge cold... sniff-sniff,

but I did finished a couple of things:

a new teacosy and a cushion.

I sorted out the box of buttons that belonged to my mum

and went on memory lane mode looking at some buttons, especially the metallic ones.

Anita helped me and now she has her own little box of precious, sparkling buttons

or as she says in italian "sbrilluccichi".

I told her a bit about my mum, little stories about the buttons and how as a child I

spent hours sorting them. 

I guess my mum was a button freak too.

Then the sun came out and I realised how neglected the windows are...

The white flowers (which I like so much) are fresias but I can't smell anything!

(Please, have a look at the last link, some of the images are amazing
especially towards the end! there's a link at the bottom to see more).

X