Find(s) of the week

It's all about the kid this week in op-shop land.

My favorite this week? The dearest titchy handmade felt kiddie belt, perfect for my skinny-kid-with-forever-falling-down pants.

Not retro, but cool! Sophie the giraffe. Most (cool) kids in NZ have one, but I was too stingy to spend

 (was it $20 or $30 at the fancy-kids outfit, for a placcy-squeaky toy, madness!)

50c, thats more like it!

and yet more retro bedtime reading...

Plus, an old tin lunch box. You can't have too many red knick-naks aye? As it's a little bit too rusty for the sammies now, I'm thinking (another) button box.  Claud meanwhile thinks its just the thing for toy mice transport.

Thats all folks!

Apart from the COOLEST thing I found for my Faith, Hope and Charity Shopping swapee, which will be revealed in due course of course...

Linking up with all the other op-thrift-charity-shoppers at Sophies

Come and join us x

Celebrating

Yesterday was my birthday, and concurrently my 5th wedding anniversary. Amongst all the birthday busyness I spent a small part of the day trying to remember a little of all the 38 previous birthdays, perhaps because I'm now only a year off the big one, and ended up diging out the last 10+ years of diaries to refresh my birthday memories.

Incidentally, how is it that my diaries have got smaller and smaller when incrementally I have more and more to do, and less braincells to remember it all?

 I do remember long-to-your toes party dresses being fashionable a la Hollie Hobbie at those earlier birthdays, along with Cindy doll outfits and butterfly buns. Drinking my body weight in booze was popular at some of the middle ones, which might explain the poverty of birthday recall. I vividly remember Fiji on my 30th, sunbathing on a tiny spec of an island thinking I'd never felt so relaxed, and of course in 2006 I was in Rarotonga getting wedded. On the less exotic side apparently I ran 18 kms on my birthday in 2001, went to Alton Towers in 1998 and studied all day long for an exam in 2007.

Though I'd love to jet off somewhere exotic as always, even going to a restaurant for birthday lunch was requiring of more energy than I really wanted to expend on my birthday, when I have the licence to do what-ever the hell I like, in theory anyway. Thanks to the getting-lovelier-every-year hubby I had a great time opening gifts in bed and eating chocolate for breakfast, socialising and scoffing at lunch with friends and dinner with the extended family, but secretly all I could think about was sleep! Sleep, beautiful, sleep. Soft, warm, comfy sleep. Long, deep sleepy sleep. Sigh.

I decided that next year I could stay home and sleep if I want, and to hell with the social niceties. Except the hubbys keen on my idea of a big holiday to match the BIG birthday next year. YIPEE! 

We already have New England, Tahiti, or Tasmania on the possibilities list. HURRAY! All I need to do is make sure we book a quiet place, with a giant feather mattress and complementary earplugs, just in case!

These days these sort of things make my birthday/anniversary very happy, if not permenantly memorable!

My faves; still attached to their roots

The transition from one week late present still in the plastic carrier bag from the shop it was bought in, to this beautifully presented number over 5 years has been miraculous, well done hubby you x

J'aime les Macarons soft as pillows...zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Ah, yes and...

My op-shop gift to the hubby!

You can't beat a board game by the fireside of a winter when you get to our age aye?!

Oh, and of course little Miss Sleep Stealer herself 

Find of the week

It may be due to having a thriftshopswop coming up, but I felt postively drawn to the op-shop as I wandered by this week, and call me superstitious but I have also started to get really lucky, with multiple exciting finds. Ye-ha!
I don't think I've mentioned before, but for the most part all my op-shopping happens at just the one store.
I live in a small town with *gasp*, only 3 op-shops. One has cooties; another is rubbish. However the Rangiora salvation army op-shop is as good as they get. Still, I tend to only find one 'goodie' per visit, and occassionally leave empty handed.

This week was different though. The moment I walked in I spotted this box of old glass christmas westling balls, each wrapped in an old fashioned paper napkin, with a thick wad of ancient cotton wool and dried up bit of fir tree in the bottom. Pure christmas-past loveliness.

Seconds later I saw another dream find, a nordic jersey, sadly in the hands of another customer! As I was in no particular rush, quite desirous of the jersey, and having been trained recently by the hubby in some of the finer arts of sucessful op-shopping, I trailed her discreetly until I she headed for the changing room whereupon I parked outside, hopeful it would be cast aside. A rather tall lady leaned over me then, casting a shadow and blocking my view, and mentioned what a great find the glittering baubles were. I agreed, clutching them closer suspiciously, and was amused to find as I moved off, to follow the lucky nordic jersey lady heading for the cash desk, that I too was being trailed! I was tempted to offer the tall lady the baubles if she wrestled away the nordic jersey for me but I got distracted by a massive pink meakin plate, perfect for my 'any-excuse for high tea' parties.

What else?
Well, more retro-pastel towels, in pink-purple this week. Hoping beyond hope they put out the pale green ones I'm sure they must have next week. I'll be lurking.

Also, a miniture, functioning sewing machine with footpedal and all for Claud to have some gender imprinting mimic mum play when she's a bit older! (to go with the wooden iron we made her today, heh!).

Erm and loads of other, secret stuff too. Something kylie-esq. Something for the hubby on our anniversary next week which will crack him up, and other stuff I'm having a tug of love over; keep-selfishly or send-selflessly-to-as-yet-unnamed-swopshop-partner...

Oh, and I almost forgot to say...when I went back to the oppy a day later accompanying hubby on his day off

                                                                         Hurrah!!!!

Paper Lanterns for the craftiness-challenged... or children!

In what could perhaps become a theme, of 'lighting up the darkness' or something, I give you...paper lanterns!
I really love paper, and papercraft, no matter how simple, is a high art to me. So, I was overjoyed when I found these Dutch paper lanterns, with similar paper boats, flowers and angels. But love them as I do, and I soooo do, the lanterns are just too flippin skinny. Argh! I’ve op-shopped until I turned blue in the face trying and failing to find tall glasses skinny enough to fit inside these lanterns and wide enough to hold a tea light candle (in the photo above the lantern is undone at the back). Bah! Pretty but useless=pretty useless.

However, last night the hubby (an op-shopper extrodinare, I’m so proud) came home with a pile of retro kids books including this one which features instructions, so simple I feel silly having not had the nous to think I could make them myself, for those very lanterns.

 

Here are ones I made earlier (in like 2 mins each, a perfect project for the flighty Gemini crafter, heh!).

Basically, pick yourself some snazzy paper and see if it will circle your glass with a wee overlap. Then fold your paper in half longways. From the fold cut, with 1.5 cms gaps, a series of lines which end approx 1cm from the end end of the paper. Open out and stick the ends together with double sided sticky tape and “bluepeter”, you’ve got a stylish little lantern to fit whatever size glass you possess.

I used paper from my extensive but not expensive paper stash (like Nigella clears peoples plates of meat bones for stock, I’m a womble for even the tiniest scrap of cute paper. Other peoples bins, the ground as I walk by, I really have no shame when it comes to paper recycling). However, a slightly firmer than paper card would be more durable if you want to re-use them. And a pattern of your own devising and printing would be much craftier!

I'm thinking nice for dark evening birthday parties (mine, next week!). Also good for cheapskates prezzies, especially as they fold flat all the better for cheapo international postage. If only I'd thought of it in time for your birthday sis!

Autumn=Pumpkin

Growing up in the North of England it was unheard of to ever eat a pumpkin. They were to be scooped and lit once a year, that is all. I recall having the vague idea they were poisonous, at least until English telly became saturated with American shows and I learned of pumpkin pie.

Philistine!

A combination of moving to New Zealand and establishing a veggie garden have turned me into a pumpkin fanatic. Autumn=pumpkin. The kiwis are mad on pumpkin. Despite the fact we’ve eaten pumpkin in some guise nearly everyday this week (Penne a la Zucca, pumpkin Arancini di Riso; pumpkin risotto, pumpkin and potato pancakes etc) Mr Blackbirdhasspoken was really reluctant to put the knife into the butternuts for anything but eating purposes.

The lack of winter festivities is one of the very few difficulties of living in New Zealand. Reading ‘Celebrating the Southern Seasons’ by Juliet Batten (here, she blogs too, hurrah!) gave me confidence to institute some round our place. In recent years I’ve held a midwinter Christmas, with a secret santa and a big dinner in the middle of the day featuring a turkey, chestnuts and all the trimmings (sprouts!). As most of the invited kiwi’s had eaten neither turkey nor chestnuts, I think I’m excused on the initial pumpkin avoidance front.

A slightly pumpkin stained wee ghostie

This year with Juliet’s inspiration again and especially for THE little pumpkin entertainment purposes, we’ve also introduced a mini pumpkin fest. Pumpkin lanterns last night, and Pumpkin Moonshine for Claudine’s bedtime book this week, a classic tale from 1936. And more pumpkin eating.

We’ve also been taking Claudine outside at night, now it’s dark before her bedtime, to do some star gazing. She can say both ‘star’ and ‘moon’ now. Beautiful stuff.

                                                                  Two little pumkins

Cool crisp cotton sheets

Crisp cotton sheets, vivid colours, no fading. Possibly never used? N.I.C.E! For the big girl bed (when we get there, if we get there).  I'm planning a baby bedroom make-over on the basis of these happy sheets!

Playing along with thrifters from around the globe, hosted by Sophie Isobel at HerLibraryAdventures

Rua and the Sea People

I’ve been reading some great blogging about children’s books this week, in particular here http://www.vintagechildrensbooksmykidloves.com/   I can’t wait to find the time to sit down with a pint mug of tea and a packet of macaroons to peruse her blog of several years in depth, especially since I found out she used to work for the Muppets! Me and the hubby have amassed quite a collection of New Zealand specific, retro and art related children’s books since our wee whippersnapper was expected.

The 16 month old has been a fan of the illustrations in Rua and the Sea People, by R.L Bacon & Para Matchitt (1968) since she was very small indeed; and there is much about the writing and the story which lend its self to remaining a favourite in the future.

 

 Matchitt is a relatively well known New Zealand artist, whose work successfully blended traditional Maori art and mid-century modern art. The art for this book is representative of his work and is done primarily in the traditional Maori pallet of black, white and red.

Being European I find the drawings unusual and interesting, and certainly not typical of a children’s book, then or now. Like the folklore story itself, of the Maoris first impressions of the arrival of Captain Cook in New Zealand/Aotearoa; they are drawn using a Maori specific representational style.
If you imagine them from a very young child’s point of view, the limited colour range and simple outlines are the sort very young children are able to visually grasp. A little more interesting and absorbing than the typical book for infants of animal outlines!

 

I really enjoy being a typical Gemini. The being interested in everything, but only in a shallow way part; not the two-face bit! Being picked for the pub quiz team with enthusiasm feels sooo good, in a way I'm sure being smart in an in-depth way just isn't. You know, sugar high instead of complex flavours, or something. Anyway. One facet of being a typical Gemini has been my enthusiasm for night classes. Cheese making, dress making, Italian cooking, Thai cooking, pottery, French, harp, trampolining, film appreciation, and art appreciation are the ones I still practice if only occasionally, there being so many, many more for which my enthusiasm fell by the way side soon after course completion.
Anyways, autumn to me is the starting-a-new-night-class-or-two season. I just need something new and exciting to try to drag me from my warm fireside and a never-done-that-before night class is usually just the ticket. The pull is still strong, but I can’t join the local ikebana night class this year much as I’d like to, as my wee cherub isn’t a reliable sleeper. (I just love anything zen/Japanese, and it’d give me something to put into all those mis-shapen pottery class vases!).

Instead I’m going to have a go at picking back up with some of those poor discarded hobbies, especially the can-do-at-home with kid in bed/on lap hobbies. With the added motivation of posting on my blog about it to, ahem, try and keep this Gemini on task. We wont mention the projects alreay started, they're in hand and will be posted about soon...

So, the new project is:-

 

 

Ok. Recognise this? I’m pretty sure these are marketed world-wide. For the unfamiliar, they play actually quite relaxing lullaby instrumentals interspersed with bubbly water noises, by the light of a flickering, fading (LED) light. My daughter LOVES it. But it’s a minging nylon and neon looking thing, and so I want to craft-ify it!

The good bit (music and light) is removable and looks like this.

So the challenge I’ve set myself it to craft-ify it into a cute wee home-made looking something-or-other softie/dollie thingy. However, I never did a soft toy class. I did make this 'thing' though, a few years ago for a friend’s baby from a pattern in my mother in laws Woman’s Weekly.

Heh! When they forgot to take it home the third time I took the hint and ignored any further softie making impulses. My daughter has never ever cuddled it (it is made from itchy wool) so I really need to up my game.

I’m giving myself a month, starting…NOW!

Op-shopping find of the week

Love the colour, love the shape. Been to busy to research the label. Not sure if it's for cream or maybe even gravy? At the moment it is simply part of the lovely looking clutter of little teapots and jugs in similar shades on my kitchen window sill.

Oogle others, and post your own finds at HerLibraryAdventures http://herlibraryadventures.blogspot.com/2011/05/flea-market-finds_08.html

Claud in Autumn

Claudine goes wild in the woods, at the Cheviot Domain. The domain has lots of English trees, oaks, sycamores, the lot, which I do find my self nostalgic for in Autumn.

Then it's off to help Dad in the garden, wellys on  gum boots on.

Before relaxing with a chestnut by the fire.

Poor bear

My poor wee bear is injured. There only door in the house without a foam whatsit on it and I did it.
Despite having trained as nurse and seen some gore in my time, I went into tailspin. Fretting over 'ambulance or GP-in-an-hour-when-it-opens' as our wee town's wealthy doctors won't do on-call and I won't drive to a hospital an 1 hour away, at rush hour, on earthquake ravaged streets, many (which ones???) still closed, with a screaming bleeding toddler whilst wailing myself. Oh my poor bear!
Of course on arrival the ambulance staff say she doesn't need hospital and disapear with a 'gosh your pathetic its only a cut' look. An hour later the GP says she needs to see a plastic surgeon.
Claudine of course stopped crying long before I, and has been untroubled since, instantly ambidextrous, her infamous climbing skills unaffected. Luckily surgery is not required. Her finger tip should grow back, but probably not the nail. Oh bear, I'm so sorry.
So this is what "mummy guilt" feels like. It's bad.

My almost-nearly dream bag

I don't have many things on my hope-to-find-down-the-oppy list, I'm more of a surprise-me-universe kinda girl. However, my find-of-the-week is almost nearly the dream bag I've had in my head for at least a couple of years. Pre-baba I used a horseshoe shaped leather version, but craved a larger, squarer version after seeing Heidi Klum in a celeb mag sporting a no doubt mega-bucks designer version.
Hilariously, I actually let out a little squeak when I saw this beauty, and was only slightly disappointed to find it was vinyl to the touch. At the cash desk my delight was compounded when the oppy-ladies said all bags were free because the bag shelf was getting choked. I fair skipped out of there!
And I haven't been disappointed by my almost dream bag; its so roomy, and I do feel ever-so slightly supermodel-ish, taller and more hair-swishy, when I wear it on my daily trip down the swings!

*Featured to celebrate flea market finds day with Sophie et al over at herlibraryadventures