local loveliness...

Hello, how are you this week?  I'm slowing down, getting ready for Christmas and looking forward to time off from all the usual routines...the school run seems to get harder every morning!  It's been so cold here, though we've been lucky with bright sunny frosty mornings...but I'd still rather be tucked up under a duvet watching movies with my boys than hustling them out of the door...

I had a busy weekend, starting with the Christmas Fair at Max's school; I'd been staying up late to make stock for a few days beforehand, but as usual the buzz of the fair kicked in and I enjoyed setting up my stall...

 

 

I had great fun painting and decorating this little display house and styling it with little vintage goodies; though I'm not sure about my lovely assistant's novel method of 'helping'...

Luckily lots of M's friends were there so he frolicked off to wreak mayhem while I enjoyed some quiet moments before the crowds flooded in....well, not crowds exactly - but it was busy enough.  I sold enough to make it worthwhile being there, and got some commissions for the New Year, so all in all a fun and successful day! 

Later on M's school took part in the local annual Lantern Parade, which was a brilliant community event involving children from at least 3 different schools and many individuals from all over the area.  It was a cold evening, but the kids had an amazing time as the traffic stopped and we took over the streets as dusk descended...

M's class have been learning about ancient Egypt this term, so they designed a Zombie Mummy lantern...

it looked pretty spooky as the sky got darker!

the parade finished in a park, where as well as all the handmade lanterns we were treated to a glowing hot air balloon...amazing.

After all that we went to a friends house where the kids ran riot while the adults warmed up with cocktails...a busy but very lovely day! 

Sorry it's taken me till now to share it with you...as you probably know I am guest blogging over here this week...if you haven't popped over to see what I'm up to there, please do!

Hope your Christmas preparations are going smoothly, it can be a stressful time of year.  I'm feeling pretty calm so far, but there's still a lot to do!

Rachel x

this moment...

 {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Via Soulemama.

Sorry I've been quiet this week.  I'm struggling with a few things in life right now, and though there's stuff I want to share, I feel quite choked up.  It's nothing too serious, just normal life stuff, and I know a lot of it is a matter of attitude and perception.  I hope you've had a good week and that life is treating you well!

Have a lovely weekend.

Rachel x

99!! and 7!!

Wowzers, I have been so lazy about blogging recently but somehow lovely people have found me and I am up to 99 followers!! Am a bit blown away by this, especially as it's only about 6 months since I started sharing my life and vintage & fabric loves in this little corner of blogworld.  

I am in a bit of a tizzy tonight, wrapping presents for M's birthday (his party was last weekend but he's 7 tomorrow); I can't believe my baby is such a big boy now!

This is my favourite baby photo, it was taken when he was less than a day old...

this is his Dad's favourite photo of him when he was a baby, love the cheeky face!...

And here we are, 7 years later - and I cannot even begin to understand the wonderful, magical process by which the tiny baby has grown into this big, funny, sensitive, imaginative, energetic boy...

 

He's great. Tomorrow will be a blur of Lego, Hex Bugs, cake, and hopefully not too much rain!  

I hope you all have a great weekend, thanks for popping in and taking the time to read my ramblings, you're all gorgeous!

Rachel x

a lucky find....and a goodbye

Hello lovelies, I hope the sunshine has visited you today, it's been lovely here, hooray!

I love the style of illustrations from the 60s and 70s, and since having my own kids I have really enjoyed rediscovering picture books from my own childhood, and finding new gems from past and present.  I have built up quite a collection of special books which will still be on my shelves long after my kids have left home!

The other day I was out for a rare child free potter round the shops, and while browsing one of my many local charity (sorry I just can't get used to calling them thrift!) shops, I came upon a pile of school reading books from the 70s; a lot of them were nothing special, but I'm glad I looked through them all because my goodness there were some treats hiding in there....

 

Aren't they lovely?  Each book has lots of different stories with different styles of illustration, and none of the illustrators are properly credited, there's just a list of names at the beginning of each book.  M has been struggling with his reading - partly because the books they give him at school are boring - but he's enjoying working his way through these stories, and when he's finished with them I think I'll be cutting them up and framing my favourite pictures.

While writing this I found out that Maurice Sendak has died at the age of 83, so goodbye and thanks to him. Where The Wild Things Are is one of my all time favourite books.  RIP Maurice, you were a totally unique and precious talent who brought a bit of wildness and joy into millions of childrens lives. 

Hope you've had a lovely, happy, colourful day.

Rachel x