Blue period

Isn't if funny how some days you are particularly attracted to a specific colour? Well, it seems, the last couple of days I have been in a blue period. I was listing some more French treasures in my Etsy shop, and after a while realised, that a lot of the things were BLUE! Have a look for yourself -

But a few other colours crept in as well, like these pastels -

and these gorgeous rich and sumptuous colours -

And golds, wonderful golds -

And tomorrow? Who knows, I have no idea yet. 

Toodlepip xxx

Lace and paper and sticky fingers

I needed to make some tags to go with customer orders, so I spent a few hours messing around, finding sweet graphics,  paper and lace, and made these tags -


The first one was so much fun to make

so much fun, in fact,  that I made four, lol

I also made a tag with a vintage image of a Canadian thistle, to go with a gorgeous little French Thistle pendant I had in my Etsy shop -

I always love using religious images on my tags. This is one of them -

I must must must get on with my listings, sigh. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, and I hope you all have a great start to the week.


Toodlepip xxx

Camping and Street views

I was a wee bit stuck this week, didn't quite know what to make as everything I could think of had already been done, and much better than I could have done it. It wasn't until I was talking to Suzy this morning about travelling all over England for windsurfing regattas many years ago that I realised that we always went camping at these events. DOH! Of course, being windsurfing events, the regattas were often held on the sea, which meant that we used to have great picnics on the beach as well.  That was it, lol, tag sorted -

The original image came from the wonderful Valerie at The Sum of all Crafts blog. I had to print it out a couple of times to get enough rocks and water to cover the tag. I used a couple of different blue Promarkers for the sky, and not wanting it to look streaky, overlaid it with blue tissue paper. The blanket comes from my son's favourite French camembert, La Rustique. I added a French baguette and a bottle of red wine to the picnic basket, a few shells on the rocks and some birds in the sky.

Darn, I want to have a picnic now, lol. Not likely to happen, it is thoroughly miserable out there.


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The other challenge this week was the inchie challenge at Every Inchie Monday, and I struggled somewhat with that one as well. The theme was "Street". In the end I went with Street signs. Do you know what is even worse than trying to cut out tiny little street signs? Trying to glue them down without getting tons of glue all over my fingers.

Toodlepip xxx

A gift so perfect for White Wednesday

I did promise you yesterday that I would have some gorgeous eye candy for you. I almost posted the photos yesterday, because I was so excited about this, but as it is such a perfect something for White Wednesday, I told myself to be sensible and save it for today. Me sensible, lol, that a novel concept. But just this once I listened to myself. This is what I was saving for White Wednesday -

I received the most gorgeous gift from my textile artist heroine Suzy, of SuziQu's Threadworks. I know you all know her and her absolutely stunning work. So you can imagine how thrilled I was to receive a package from her. I had an idea of what it contained, as she had mercilessly teased me with it on skype while I was still in France. But, no photos or videos can do justice to something so beautiful and tactile. She had made me a beautiful keepsake , in her truly unique style. Words are never enough to describe her work, so I just show you the photos of the keepsake and the equally gorgeous tag she also sent.


The tag -

The keepsake -

The inside -

The back -

I can almost see one or two of you drooling over the keepsake and tag, lol.


But that wasn't all this dear friend sent. She also included some bits and pieces for me to work with, and they are fabulous. One of these days, I will have the courage to attempt a fabric journal inspired by Suzy and then these beautiful things will be part of that -

Gorgeous or what? Now I just have to find the courage and the time to use these beautiful things.


I am joining Kathleen at Faded Charm for the 156th White Wednesday.


Toodlepip xxx

Mermaid ATCs

Well, here I am, back in England again, at least for a few weeks. So much to do!! I had to make the ATCs for this month's swap over at ArtJoyStuff before I did anything else, because they have to go to the States, and you can't ever tell how long it will take for them to get there.  I had so much fun making them, as this month's theme is MERMAID and we all love mermaids, don't we?


I'll try really hard to keep this post short, as I'll start listing some of the new French treasures in the Etsy shop tonight ( parcel carry handles, religious items, enamelware, rather special medals.... ), so here goes -


MERMAID ATCs -

This swap is a 3 on 3 swap, but I had so much fun making these, I made a 4th one to keep myself ;-)

I'll have some wonderful eye candy for tomorrow's White Wednesday post. Deeeeeeeelicious. But for now, toodlepip xxx

Change of Scenery

Tomorrow we are going back to our home in England. We are leaving this beautiful little place -

but only for a few weeks, yay, and then we will be back at the cottage for the summer. I am really looking forward to seeing my family again, I do miss them, even though we skype and phone a lot. Not the same as being able to hug them though.

I know though that as soon as we are back in England, I will miss all this -

The amazing early morning views over the valley, different every day, sometimes crisp and clear, sometimes the valley is filled with clouds -

Rainbows over the little village in the valley, which we belong to -

No more simple French lunches of brie, camembert, pate, tomatoes, red onions, radishes and crusty country bread, sitting in the garden soaking up the view -

or walks with the doggies and smiling at the wild flowers -

I'll miss the roses in the garden as well -

And of course I will miss all our wonderful friends and neighbours. But when we get back in July, there will be lots of getogethers for aperos on mild summer evenings.

I have almost finished packing the car, and guess what is taking up most of the space? Yep, all the goodies from the French brocantes. I will have a very busy 3 weeks or so, listing my new treasures in the shop. I'll get cracking on that on Monday!

Until next week, toodlepip xxx