Sparkle and shine

The girl with the sparkle in her eyes and I love a bit of sheen and spangle, so out came the baubles...

She makes me feel like a kid again...

Everyone needs some sparkle and glow in winter. Toasty toes are good too...

I bought this jug recently from Whittard's, which appears to be quintisentially English and is all the more charming for me to see here.

The mantelpiece has some sparkly twigs...

In Whittard's, I also found this fairy cup...

They have a teaset which I am tempted to get myself 

Eliska for Christmas.

For those brute winter mornings, I am going to try some of this...

Maybe it will give me that superb glow only seen in the Ready Brek ads. Failing that, curling up under a blanket will have to do...

As you can see from this previous pic, a love of blankets is not a new thing, although her love of Sophie Dahl has abated somewhat...

Have a sparkly and snuggly day. xxx

Working for Santa...

So, I'm working for Santa. At least, that's what I've been telling Eliska when she looks at me fixedly, wrinkles up that pretty little nose of hers and says, 'What are you doing, Mummy?' Despite his outwardly ovial, beardy countenance, Santa is a pretty hard taskmaster, but I¨ve finished these...

She has some fabric flowers with spangliness on them, for we all must sparkle at Christmas. It is the LAW...

I don't know if you can see too clearly in my badly lit pic, but this lady  is a bit of a trendsetter, with an asymmetric dress and lace socks.

In the spirit of Christmas, we also have an elf...

Like many of the dolls I make, she is wearing some little shoes...

This is my favourite of the three, which I have amended slightly so that she sort of looks like she is wearing a little bear hat...

It is mildly terrifying making things for other people. Will they like them? Will they be disappointed? Will they think they're a bit... erm.. crap?

I also now have a fully functioning fuel burner. It has been there a while, but wasn't really ready to burn. Until now...

Paddington, or 'Padders', as I like to call him, sometimes looks just a bit TOO comfortable.

The cosyometer is bleeping it's way almost to ten.

I have a little hanging thingummy from Ikea newly hung today. It brightens up the very extremely white tiles.

 I am thinking of painting the kitchen. Should I or shouldn't I? On the brick arch you can see in the pic below, I am thinking of some sort of festive hanging spangliness.

In previous homes, I have often painted my kitchen a similar colour to this little cupboard...

I LOVE magazines. Yes, you can find lots of prettiness these days on the tinterweb, but for me it just ain't the same as having a fresh new mag full of gorgerama pics in my little mitts. I sometimes buy women's magazines. To some, this makes me a bit thick, but I don't buy into the wrinkle free diet obsessive camp, I just like the prettiness.  India Knight's home is in the December Red magazine.

I mentioned it when I painted my chimney breast a while back. She says how shocking pink is India's navy, which I love. I used to live in Bradford, so am very partial to the pink, purple and red sari hues. I used to have saris hanging around my bed, funny little thing that I was then. Anyway, I do love her house. Look at the cute owl cushion! I also think India herself is rather gorgeous.

I haven't bought any Christmas pressies for anyone yet, but I am thinking about them and admiring lots of Christmas eye candy. Want to see some? Go on, join me in my sickness...

Gorgeous Maileg bunnikins.

Maileg Christmas gorgeousness. The sad thing is, I don't even want it for Eliska so much. She prefers tool sets to pretty things, although she is partial to a baby doll. I want it for me. There. I¨ve said it.

Roman is trying to dissaude me from buying dolls for Eliska. To be fair, she doesn't play with them that much and I do make them anyay. But could I make anything as lush as these dolls by Moulin Roty, which I LOVE?

Monsoon fairy fashion. Cue wistful sighs all round.

Ok ok, I'll stop. The state of wanting can be a tad unhealthy. However, I do love the dreamy Christmassy seasonal magic feelings. I hope you still get them and are as much of a kid as me.

Hope you are all having a super weekend wherever you are. xxx

Birthday Bliss and Other Stories

Does this gal look familiar?

I got this doll for Eliska for her birthday. I don't normally like plastic dolls much, apart from the odd one, but I loved the outfit on this one and the fact that she looked remarkably similar to...Holly Hobbie!!! It is clearly a pic of Holly Hobbie on the box and the doll, complete with basket seems to be styled like her.

The box said 'Sarah Kay' on it, so they have been a bit cheeky and there may be copyright issues, but she is sweet. I like her jeans and shoes.

Eliska had a little party for her third birthday.

The little boy above, Lukas, goes to the same nursery as Eliska and she was very excited to see him.

Our friend, Martina baked her a cake. This was totally on her on volition, how thoughtful and lovely. I was very touched by this gesture. I don't speak much Czech, but I think friendship is there. Sometimes we worry about making friends, don't we?  But sometimes, when we are searching for them, they find us.

There was some trekking in the living room...

Some quiet times. Just setting the world to rights...

Some fairies in attendance....

It's great, knowing you have wings...

The language barrier wasn't a barrier. Looking back at the pictures from the day, it was great to see such utter joy in her face. Friends, dancing, fun. What's not to love?

Granddad joined in the dancing...

My friend, Jana gave Eliska some play dough and they loved it. Here they are under the table with their dough factory.

It was funny to see the interesting array of things on the table at the end of the party.

Then time for bed in birthday, 'My favourite things' pjs from lovely grandparents.

The next day, I felt like it was my birthday. I recieved a beautiful parcel in the post from my Christmas swap partner, Maaike, from Holland. The swap was arranged by gorgeous Cat from Catalina's Cottage. She made me this amazing Tilda doll, hich fits in my living room perfectly. I love her! An angel...just in time for Christmas!

I also recieved this exquisitely sweet Matroyska doll. Such beauty...

Look at this super sweet birdie...

This cute candleholder is gorgeous.

It all looks lovely and I felt so festive opening it.

There were treats too. Yummy looking chocolate and biscuits. I also found some stickers in the parcel. I love the reds.

So, feeling festive, a few little arrangements will be springing up around the house...

I have been doing more sewing...

I made this doll wearing a hat with ears, for my friend in the UK, Sarah. I hope she is not too quirky! Is she too peculiar? Also, does she need to lose her big bow?

I am also making this one for her. It just needs a few finishing touches.

My friend Patrik has been over from the UK and very nicely brought me some magazines. I have been in daydream land today, listening to Kate Bush and feasting my eyes on some gorgeous images. I love the angels made by the lady featured in the article below in Country Living. The remind me of the fairies made by Sam McKechnie, of The Magpie and the Wardrobe. I love making discoveries in magazines.

Another cosy image...

How cute are the wings?

Festive nostalgia...

Well, that was a long one. Did you enjoy yourself?

Can I just say, I love all your comments and have been sewing so much that I have been a pants commenter recently. I will be over to see you all soon. Big hugs to you all and thankyou so much to those who said they missed me. You're all grand, so you are. xxx