Latest treasures #2

Some of my latest charity shop finds, a couple of retro classics and a bit of pattern inspiration. All images via my instagram @sarahandlily

(1) Nursery rhyme sewing cards: market stall, Crystal Palace SE19 (2) Classic He-Man figures: from the in-laws loft! (3) Found price tag photographed on striped linen fabric (4) Toiletry bags: Anorak, Cath Kidston, vintage (my Nans!) (5) Retro Care Bear duvet cover: Guernsey (6) Iconic pull-along horse and chicken toys: charity shop, Darlington, County Durham (7) Stackable elephant toy: charity shop, Darlington, County Durham (8) Retro beanbag: Newcastle

Cobo Alice dolls

We've just returned from a little family holiday in Guernsey with outdoorsy glows and full bellies. Lots of country walks, ice-cream, beach fun and quirky small-village crafts/traditions = lots to blog about!

These cute little handmade dolls, found in the Folk and Costume Museum, originated in the 1870s and were named "Cobo Alice". The body is made from unbleached calico and the head from a stretched vest or stocking, which was then all filled with a fine sawdust filling. The puckered nose and eyebrows were sewn and then the head and hands were dipped in pink primer paint. Then the hair was picked out and painted and the dolls were dressed in bits of old dress materials. For more info on how the dolls were made, click here.

Latest treasures #1

I have found lots of exciting and unusual things from recent rummaging around charity shops and markets....one of my favourite hobbies! All images via my instagram @sarahandlily

(1) Czech handmade wooden toy: charity shop, Penge SE20 (2) Plastic clock: charity shop, Stourbridge, West Midlands (3) 1966 Fisher Price musical ferris wheel: my parents loft! (4) German wooden coat hook: charity shop, Crystal Palace SE19 (5) handmade wooden abacus and clock: charity shop, Crystal Palace SE19 (6) Colour-tinted book on art: FEAST market, West Norwood SE27 (7) 1960s Zoo-It-Yourself Tupperware toys: charity shop, Stourbridge, West Midlands (8) French character glasses: FEAST market, West Norwood SE27 (9) Wooden chalkboard: charity shop, Crystal Palace SE19

Knitted picnic

The only type of picnic we can have at the moment (rain, rain, go away). All the dolls, teddies and toys come out to eat at "Lily's Cafe".....on the menu are knitted cupcakes, ice-creams, pizza, fish & chips, pie, fried egg, cheese sandwich, donuts, and lots of fruit - all lovingly hand-knitted by Lily's amazing Nanna. From this, this and this book.

Wish list....

A bit of window shopping at Crystal Palace Antiques. Huge-scale biology prints, CYRK Polish posters, quirky 1950's illustrations, toy cash tills, sewing machines and mini pianos. Love!

House envy

 I think I let out a little gasp when I walked into Sally and Peter Nencini's front room (as part of the Dulwich Artists' Open House event). What an amazing space! Vintage wooden toys, early Galt puzzles and picture card games with iconic packaging, botanical drawings, maps, ethnic textiles, ceramics and ornate mirrors....every wall, shelf and table covered with collections of objects both small and huge scales, for fantastic colour and print inspiration.

Thank you to Sally for letting me go a little snap happy in the room (wish I'd been able to look around the rest of her house!) and see some of her gorgeous knitted and embroidered products in my earlier post here.

Love Waanaki

I'm loving new online shop Waanaki selling vintage kids clothing and accessories from the 1950s-90s, sourced and hand-selected from markets across the US, Europe and Asia. Gorgeous patterns, quirky designs and great collections. LOVE!

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.