and at long last enjoying some much appreciated sunshine! Oh it is so good to be back at the cottage again, I have missed the beautiful views and the peace and quiet so much.
We have managed to get a bit of work done in the garden, and I have finally managed to unpack my suitcase full of craft stuff and set it all up in my craftavan. So tomorrow I can start to catch up with the challenges I have missed.
And guess what, lol, yep, I went to a tiny little brocante on Sunday! Only about a dozen stalls and of those only a couple with old bits and pieces, but it was the only one in the area and I so enjoyed haggling for a few things. Wanna see what I got? Well, if you don't, then you had better stop looking now, because I am going to show!
I got to show you the sweetest little things first, because I love them so much -
DUCK MOULDS! The vendor thought they were pate de fois gras moulds ( molds, for you gals in the US ) but I can't quite see how that would work. But they make excellent chocolate moulds! I have a couple on display in the kitchen now, and love them.
I also found this big apothecary bottle, same style as the little ones I have in my Etsy shop at the moment -
Two very ornate metal pieces, I think they look terrific on a mantlepiece -
Some gorgeous old embroidery magazines, they fold out into huge sheets and look great on the wall -
Wine bottle carrier -
The most gorgeous large and heavy copper tray, such an unusual shape -
You know I got a thing for old tools with wooden handles, and this dibber has the most tactile gorgeous wooden handle and brass tip -
Advertising plaque for apple juice, it will make a fabulous kitchen display -
Drawing book, with drawn images for you to copy, how neat is that? -
Spigots, barrel taps, the smaller one made me giggle, because it says " Eau de vie " on it, and thats the stuff that the old folks in the countryside distil themselves -
Sugar cube grabber, I am sure there is a proper name for it, but it escapes me -
and another pie crimper, with, yes, a very tactile wooden handle -
Wine bottle holder -
As I said, it was only a little one, but I was pleased as punch that I managed to find and haggle for a few little bits and pieces. Some of them might make it into the Etsy shop when I get back to the UK.
Wish me luck for coming Sunday, weather forecast is horrid, so there might not be any brocantes at all......
Toodlepip xxx
If you read my last post, then you will know already that I signed up for ArtJoyStuff's Fabric of Nature ATC swap. I got myself organised because I thought I would take all the bits and pieces to France with me to work on them there, but....... once I had done one, just to see what the ATC would be like, I couldn't stop! I had three slightly different designs planned, and I wanted to see three ATCs done so that I wouldn't forget by the time we got to France. So I made three. And then I thought, oh what the heck, might as well make them all. So I did. I can't believe I have done all twelve already, except for the backs that is. The backs I will have to do today and then I can send them all off to the wonderful swap hostess, Kimberly.
Here are the three different designs -
Big thank you to my dear friend Alexandra, who gifted me with these beautiful bird images. And another big thank you to Vicki for making the gorgeous shabby chic nest I used to photograph the ATCs on.
Gotta go and get on with this week's challenges now, I forgot all about them because my head was filled with ATCs, lol.
I am linking this post to Becky's Blissful Whites Wednesday party over at the TIMEWASHED blog. Aaah, such a beautiful blog, go have a look at all the other links as well, if you have a few mins to spare.
Toodlepip xxx
You may have noticed the link to ArtJoyStuff's latest swap on my sidebar, the Fabric of Nature ATC swap. Goes without saying that I couldn't resist that one, even though it is a 12, yep, TWELVE for TWELVE ATC swap. And not just any ATC, sigh, FABRIC ATCS! Not a scrap of paper allowed. Just fabric, and lace, and embellies.
This really needed careful planning, especially as we are about to head off to France again in a couple of days. I didn't think I would have time to do them all before we leave, so I had to make sure that I had everything I needed for them ready to take to France. Preparation, girls! Thats a new concept for me, lol.
I had some images in my mind for the ATCs, but when my lovely friend Alexandra emailed me the most beautiful images of birds, I just had to use some of those. They kind of dictated the rest of things to use as well.
Here are my supplies -
I loved sorted all the embellies into vintage baking tins and French wine tasting cups, gosh, I am so organised today!
And here is the first one completed -
As I said, one down, eleven to go........
Toodlepip xxx
Not really, I was just trying once again to get both challenges into one blog title.
The challenge over at the Every Inchie Monday blog was TRAVEL, and I decided to make a teeny weeny TRAVEL guide -
And over at the Tag Tuesday blog we have arrived at the letter M. I knew I had a very old book on MOTHS somewhere, and once they had nibbled away at my brain, that was it. I scanned in one page from the book, and for the background, I used a photograph I had taken of the night sky in France a couple of years ago. The metallic lace is there to represent the moonlight shimmering on, ermm, stuff. I also couldn't resist making a little moth out of a printed image, a bit of wire and a tiny piece of pipe cleaner -
We are still in the UK, as we need to take care of some elderly parents and elderly auntie stuff, but we are hoping to be on our way in a week's time. Can't wait.
Toodlepip xxx
Spring might not have sprung outside yet, it is still bitterly cold, but it certainly has arrived inside my home. In the form of a parcel from dear Vicki, nest maker extraordinaire. Yes, you guessed it, my nests from Vicki are here, and I am such a happy bunny! Many of you will have seen, coveted, or even held Vicki's amazing nests, they really are the most beautiful creations. I finally ordered two nests, one for our home in the UK, and one for our home in France, last year. And here they are. This is how they arrived, beautifully wrapped in tissue paper stamped with the sweetest bird nests -
Isnt' that just the cutest little birdie tag?
Deep breath, carefully peeling back the tissue paper, and there it is, the shabby chic nest in all its white glory -
I carefully took it out and rested it on a chalice -
and then spent ages oohing and aahing over all the beautiful laces and embellishments. Vicki said she had used some of her mother's laces in the creation of these nests as well, I wonder which ones?
Two sweet little eggs were nestled in the middle of the nest -
Isn't it just so breathtakingly beautiful?
Yep, but just as beautiful is this one, the woodland nest, oh my -
Such a profusion of beautiful soft greens and browns, just like taking a walk in the woods. See the tiny little duck blue eggs?
There are so many beautiful embellishments
And here they both are. Now I just need to make a decision which one to take to France and which one to keep here in the UK. That is going to be sooooo difficult!
Thank you so much for visiting. If you would like to find out more about Vicki's nests, please visit her blog here, and her Etsy shop here.
Toodlepip xxx
I am linking this post to Becky's delightful Blissful Whites Wednesday party so that lots of people can admire these wonderful nests.
