New listing and Vintage Find

I've recently added a two new Lavender rabbits in warm amber orange. This particular colourway proved to be very popular and the first batch sold out last month. Each rabbit is made from recycled, vintage fabric. Its ears are filled with chemical-free, French lavender.



You can see the current range of Lavender Rabbits, by clicking here

I've also just purchased this vibrant piece of vintage fabric which is earmarked to make more lavender rabbits and owls




This type of vintage, open-weave, man made fabric is becoming harder and harder to source. I find it is perfect for the lavender rabbits and owls because it is just the right thickness and the colours are normally very bright, even 30-40 years after its been manufactured.

Self Sufficient (ish) part two!

I decided this year that my gardening goal would be to grow some vegetables that I had never grown before.

I blogged about my rhubarb success in June.

By far my favourite vegetable I've grown this year is new potatoes. The taste of spuds grown in my own back garden far surpasses anything you can get in the shops. They are absolutely delicious!

Like I mentioned in my rhubarb blog post, I don't have a large veg patch, just containers on the patio. I used these potato planters from Natural Collection, some smaller black grow-bags from ebay and a large plastic pot.




Each container provided a very good yield, the only thing I would say about the large Natural Collection bag is that you have to use alot of water to soak the soil right the way down to the bottom. If there's one thing potatoes like, it's lots of water!

I will definitely grow potatoes again. Not only is it satisfying to know that my evening meal's food miles have been cut dramatically (literally a few metres from pot to plate), but the taste of freshly dug spuds is fantastic.

If you fancy trying to grow your own veg and herbs, check out the excellent self-sufficientish website for loads of helpful information
selfsufficientish.com

UK Handmade Summer Issue

The Summer issue of the UK Handmade Magazine is out now
Available to view online, for free, it's packed with interesting interviews with UK-based designer-makers, crafty tutorials, gardening advice and craft-related business info!
Click here to visit the UK Handmade website

If you think you could write an interesting article for the next issue, we are always happy to accept your submissions
To find out more, please follow this link:
Submission Guidelines

New Listing: Raspberry pink vintage velvet clutch purse

This clutch purse is made with a sumptuous pink velvet. It's so soft to touch and adds a touch of glamour to any outfit.
Pink is widely-tipped as the must-have colour for this season!
It is fully lined with beautiful, vintage cotton fabric, featuring a floral pattern in shades of magenta, pure white and lime green.



If you have a Summer wedding, garden party or special night out on the horizon, then this is the purse for you.
You'll be bang on trend when you carry this little pink number with you.



Raspberry pink vintage velvet clutch purse

And the winner is...

Last month Pouch ran a blog giveaway, up for grabs was a vintage Liberty fabric peg bag.

The winner picked at random from all the comments and followers was...
babalisme
her comment read:
"I'm not kidding when I said everything is wonderful because, they are hard to pick!! Really, I love lavender owls, I had a hard time choosing the fabrics, so I guess i love them all and reversible bags are so on top of my list. but, if you really insist me picking only one, it would be Burnt orange and rich brown vintage fabric Dilly tote, just maybe. because I love them all!!"

I hope the winner enjoys their prize and that it makes laundry day just that little bit more cheerful :)

Many thanks for all your lovely comments and for taking part.

vintage find: recipe tin

I thrifted this tin for £1 in a local charity shop. I fell in love with the colours and the images. It represents a snapshot of times gone by when wheeling out your latest creation on a hostess trolley was the height of sophistication.



Judging by the images, it seems that you had to smother everything in aspic jelly in the 1960s or 1970s! This tin indicates that shops were starting to stock 'exotic' food such as bananas, peppers and grapes. After the rationing many people had to endure in post-war Britian, it must've been a relief to cook with some interesting ingredients again.





When I got home, I was slightly taken aback when I opened the lid and saw the writing inside 'Recipe for Preserving Children'.


It's ok though, not as sinister as it sounds at all. It's actually quite sweet and again highlights a time gone by when people allowed their children the freedom to play outside, get the sun on their skin and heaven forbid, get a bit dirty!



I think it's a really unique piece and I look forward to putting some of my own recipes in it.