Retro pattern clash

My close friends have recently moved out to the suburbs into a *slightly dated* house owned by the same family for 100 years. I had to get over there and document all of the fab crazy patterns on the walls and floors before they rip them up and throw them in the skip (I've already requested some of the vinyl wallpaper and the cute board with bird transfer motifs...I think the threadbare carpets are pushing it a bit!).

Floor play

Texture, pattern, shape overlay. Accidental compositions.

Henley highlights

A few snaps from a recent day trip to see The Vintage Bride and baby M in their new (gorgeous) cottage in Henley-on-Thames. The day was gloomy and wet but I was happy wondering around the house and just being nosey!

Just to say....

We've received two "Thank You" cards from some of Lily's friends who have recently turned one - a handmade stamped message on manilla card from Corwin whose party I blogged about here, and a colourful zebra card from The Vintage Bride's little man Milo whose celebrations can be seen here. It's so lovely to receive gorgeous cards and thoughtful, personalised messages in the post, a real rarity these days.

Party date

Lots of fun at Corwin's 1st birthday party today. L wore her new (thrifted) dress that everyone thought was vintage Laura Ashley (sshhhhh!!!).

Easter baking

Instead of buying chocolate eggs, we did a spot of baking and made up some little hampers for L's friends.....gingerbread biscuits, chocolate cornflake nests and banana muffins, with the addition of a few foil-covered chocolate bunnies. In return, she received a cute fabric pouch of mini creme eggs and a beautifully wrapped Buttons egg.

Cute packaging

A bit late with this post (although it could almost be for Valentines!) but I love the customised Cath Kidston wrapping on these presents from my friend to Lily and baby J.

Friendship cake

I've spent 10 days looking after, feeding and caring for some sourdough cake mix that was passed on to me from a friend (thanks Carly!). I was told the mixture was called 'Herman' and given some instructions that advised me if Herman stopped bubbling he had died!! Although all I had to do most days was give him a stir, it has kind of felt like I've had two babies to look after.

It's quite a nice little project, and after ten days you split the mixture into four, pass three to friends (who I'm sure will thank you!) and then add lots of ingredients to make an apple/cinnamon/almond sponge cake....kind of tasted like an apple strudel. Unfortunately I had my first baking disaster, and while trying to get it out of the tin it kind of fell out and became more of a crumble....best disguised with lots of custard!

Hello baby George!

Today we had a little trip up to Crouch End to see baby George. We took a train, the tube and a bus to get there, and Lily was such a good little traveller. Baby George showed us his toys kept in a stylish wicker basket, but L just wanted to walk up and down the hallway in her cute Collegien slippers.

Hello baby Jake!

We made the long journey up to north-west London yesterday to meet baby Jake (already nearly 8 months old!). He loved his knitted hand puppet (from Julie's Handmade World) and we loved his little lion socks! We had a nosey around his home and found some very quirky and eclectic things....a brightly coloured crochet blanket, denim toys (his Mum is a very cool denim consultant), a 3-in-1 wooden horse rocker/high chair/table found on eBay, fabric dinosaur bunting from Antwerp, beautifully illustrated books, cute footprint cast and scan pics, and Pinocchio hanging up in the kitchen!