I cut these from the front garden just an hour ago.  Just your humble Jasmine and Lavender.  I wish you could smell through the screen.  Yesterday there was not a white flower yet on our Jasmine bush just the pretty pink buds, waiting.  Then today, there they were, a few stray and precious blooms that had decided to burst.  Do you think that they know something?

We are going to be away next week.  Our first trip to the snow with the three little Vikings in tow.  They are so excited.  I am excited for them.  Both the Vintage Shop and Paperklip will still be open while I am away, though things will be first posted out on Monday 13th September.

Washi tape how-to over at FatMumSlim

So exciting.  Last week Chantelle, who writes the super blog FatMumSlim (I know you know it) tweeted to announce guest posts would be available on her blog.  So I put my hand up to offer a little Washi tape craftiness.  Today you can read my how-to-do a used tin to make a pretty pencil cup and how to pretty up your pencils over there. Make sure you have a good look around too.  Chantelle’s natural style of writing about the ‘everyday’ is hilarious.  You will go back for more.

Thanks so much Chantelle, I hope that your readers enjoy the project.

PS – Viking boy was not happy when he discovered I had covered his favourite pencil in Washi tape.  He took all of the pink off.

I have popped a few more things into the Vintage Shop.  Like that blanket up there.  Thank you so much everybody for your encouragement.  I think I LOVE finding things almost as much as I love working with paper so it is great to share this.  I hope to have a proper link button on the site soon.  Tomorrow Lisa is coming around for craft group and not only is she ace at baking and knitting, she is really good at stuff like that too so I will ask her for a hand.  Kristen and Helen are coming.  I have invited Lyndall.  Lyndall is a new school Mum who is from Holland and has only been here a week and I thought she might enjoy meeting some local girls and having a cup of tea.  We are looking forward to hearing about Dutch things.  And eating cake.

Happy 100th post!  Thank you for following along with me for this time.  I have really loved this blogging journey so far and I am conscience of keeping it nice and real for you (and a lot pretty).

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was moonlighting on a little project and I am very excited to finally tell you about it.  Even since I took Dotti Angel’s pledge of buying hand-made or second hand for myself and the house a few months ago I have been spending more time at garage sales and op-shops.  My winter wardrobe has survived and I have found a few sweeties for the house.  Someone gifted me a fabulous dresser.  It made me realise that there really is no need to buy new every time, there are many lovely things out there.  More than enough for me. So I thought I could share a few lovely finds in a little Etsy shop of vintage.  I have had to do a lot of sorting,  a little hand-washing, the odd repair.  I am really happy with the things I have to share so far.  Maybe there is something for you (or a friend).

So, the name.  When I lived in Copenhagen I worked as a ride operator in the Tivoli Gardens for 3 years.  What a job.  Outdoors for the entire Danish summer (joy!) in a beautifully landscaped park sending people 57m into the air for fun.  It was a blast.  I even worked a winter season on the lake when it was frozen over for ice skating.  Surrounded by trees hung with fairy lights.  It was cold and amazing.  I have the fondest memories of working in Tivoli, and hence have named the shop Tivoli Vintage after my favourite place in Denmark.  Enjoy.

Good Afternoon.  Hope you have had a great day.  Today’s Etsy Friday find is from Florida based artist Barbara who makes lovely things from polymer clay.  (Is that not the new name for Fimo??).  I know, I thought it was porcelain too.  Barbara’s shop on Etsy is called Floridity, meaning an ubundance of flowers.  You will find lovely nature inspired jewelry designs with a little subtle colour.  I suggest you go and have a look as the prices are very reasonable.  Everything is nice and wearable.

I love the joy pin.  Joy is my middle name.  The next post is number 100.  Wow.  Who would have thought.  Must be time to launch a new something!

Oh, and happy voting. May the right (or left) person win.

It is really not that far away.  Perfect for your next scare fest.  You can find them here in the shop.

Happy Sunday morning.  Just a quick post to show you what arrived in my postbox last Friday.  It was my stationery parcel from April!   April has a little shop showcasing her work over here on Etsy.  April also writes a lovely blog over here all about her life and creative adventures in the Phillipines.  I was hooked.  The thing I think I love the most about blogs is that they let you ’peep through the window’ into so many creative people’s lives, from all over the world that you may normally not be lead to.  Thank you April, I LOVE your things. Especially the little typewriter postcard!

Today’s Etsy Friday find is by Eight Hour Day.  Designed by Katie and Nate who are based in Minneapolis, this letterpress print is a Stationery lovers dream.  Also perfect if you love yellow and grey.  I hit the buy button straight away when I spotted this on the front page of Etsy earlier this week.  (I am hoping it comes under the handmade class in Dotti’s pledge which I am still on by the way!!).  I will hang it on my office door with that little open sign there in the middle.  There are lovely letterpress prints of jars of sweets in the shop too.  In mint and pink.  Be quick though, there is a notice that they will close shop for a little while in September.

Completely working backwards here friends.  This is the garland I made for last Sunday’s Mathilda’s Market.  It was a fantastic morning and a great turn out for such a frosty yet thankfully sunny day.  I am just about to list these pretties in the shop as a OOAK (that’s ‘one of a kind’ for those like me that took a year to figure out the meaning while searching Etsy:)  I have a little news on the Vintage Shop in the next few days – oopps, did I just let that slip??

Have you ever done a swap?  Can you tell me if it worked for you?  I recently participated in my first.  It was all about Stationery (love) and hosted by Amanda over at Calico & Co.  I was matched up with Em from Another Empire.  Em makes fantastic laser cut brooches and things down in Melbourne.  This is what I am sending to her today.  I hope that she likes the package.

Mathilda’s was great.  Thank you for coming to say hello.  Did you see my snow clouds at the entrance?  I will post a picture of them tomorrow.  Also, I missed last Friday’s Etsy Find, it is always like that before a market – a bit crazy and forgetful.  It will be back this Friday.

Have a great day.