Tuesday, June 28, 2011

A really, really long blog post

It's been a while since a posted (again) but only for good reasons.....too much socialising has kept me away from the computer. So I have a bit of a backlog of things to tell you, and little treasures to show you. A real mixture! I was really lucky to receive some lovely gifts, I made a couple of things that I'll show you, AND I did some shopping!

I know that posting about Easter gifts in mid June is awfully late, but these are photos that I took just days before our computer died. Just before the Easter weekend, a little package arrived from Mercedes (Liberty Biberty). It was so beautifully wrapped - there is definitely something awfully exciting about a "do not open until...." sign!It was so lovely to have a little gift arrive out of the blue, and when I opened it there were the most beautiful little Easter miniatures that Mercedes had made! They are so sweet! Aren't I lucky!
The rusty rabbits are now in the garden of the Shabby Cottage, and the little boys room has some very sweet bunny accessories! The little cushion and Country Bunny book are delightful and I love the little blackboard (it even has chalk) and the rusty "tin" items! Thank you Mercedes - they are lovely
I think my favourite item (is it ok to have favourites??) is this little table and potplant. Here they are in a corner of the bedroom. I had always meant to make a little stool or table for this corner, and this just fits beautifully. Such pretty colours. You can see one of Paris Minatures Laduree cupcakes there as well, on one of my vintage plates. And in the corner, on a tray made by Frederica, is another recent arrival at the shabby cottage....the little patchwork doll. I must admit I was blatently copying Flora when I bought this little doll. I saw it on her blog and just fell in love with her - thank you Flora for the link to Pamela's Etsy store.

Another gorgeous gift arrived in the mail a few days ago, this time from Norma, who recently came to visit! When I opened it, I was amazed to find that she had made a little beanbag for the little boy's room ....the fabric is gorgeous - covered in tiny stars. It looks so comfortable and now the cushions I made don't have to lie on the floor any more. Here is the beanbag in its new home.
And that wasn't all!! Norma had also gone to the trouble to make a selection of Biggles books - she had seen one of my posts mentioning that Biggles books were on my wishlist and had made some! I love the vintage covers and my little boy, Matthew, is most impressed. My daughter Ella says that her favourite thing in the Shabby Cottage is the beanbag. So thank you, Norma - you gift was a real hit! You are so kind.

I thought I would post a picture of the little presents I made for Norma when she came to visit. I made her a breakfast try in pink and green, and a little toiletry tray in similar colours. Norma chose a really lovely selection of plates to take home and I slipped in some New Zealand miniatures as well.


As far as other additions to the cottage go, I was really pleased to find these gorgeous vintage picnic boxes on Etsy. They are so lovely and have found a new home in the kitchen.
I was happy to have finally found an image of one of my favourite plates - it is by Royal Winton and has a picture of a caravan on it - I made a miniature version for the cottage!

Finally, I was reading through some of the blogs I follow a while ago and I found a wonderful blog post by Suzanna. What gorgeous things! Like her, I would like everything from this shop. Since they can't be had here (and I probably can't afford them either), then the next best thing is to make them in miniature. I really like these new sets - they are happy-looking.Goodness, you deserve a medal for reading all the way through this blog post. I've nearly finished now and I promise not to do such a long one again. The last thing I wanted to show you was this gorgeous plate set - my new favourite - aren't these just the picture of shabby chic!!

16 comments:

Rosamargarita said...

La medalla la mereces tu, a mi me gustan los post largos y con fotos, tus platos me encantan!
Un abrazo

Lataina said...

All of your gifts are wonderful! The vintage boxes are so adorable. I had also seen them on Etsy and totally fell in love! They're all just so darn cute!!! I love how they look in your kitchen. =)

Christine said...

I love a lovely long post with so many beautiful things to look at! Everything in it was my favourite until I saw the next thing, then it started again when I went back for a re read and another drool! Lovely gifts from Norma and Mercedes and your new plates are absolutely stunning!

erika said...

ciao complimenti sei molto brava,ti ho conosciuto da poco ma il tuo blog mi e' piaciuto molto...se vuoi visita il mio.Erika

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Judith said...

Your plates are beautiful and I love the 'metal' picnic boxes too. They look so effective in your kitchen. Beautiful easter gifts too - what a lucky (and very talented) lady!
Judith x

Maria Ireland said...

I didnt notice if it was a long post it was so interesting :). It is all fantastic you got beautiful gifts. I love the plates. Greetings Maria

miniacollection said...

A very interesting post! Such beautiful gifts and purchases!
Geneviève

Flora said...

I read twice with great pleasure your long post :-)
I am really honored to have you inspired a purchase so pretty like Pamela doll :-)
And I love all your new plates :-)
So, many mini hugs
Flora

KK said...

All your new goodies are gorgeous Carolyn! Those new plate designs especially! Mini hugs! :) x

Lucille said...

Socializing is good for the soul, Caroline. You can't be working all the time. Your gifts are all so lovely. You were so blessed. Thank you for the link to Pamela's Etsy store. Her creations are adorable. Those quaint picnic boxes look at home under the table. I'm so disappointed that I was only able to enlarge the first two pics, the ones showing the boy's room. I would have loved a better look at that cute little doll.

LaLaLand said...

What lovely gifts and I can think of no better reason to 'delay' postings than socializing :)
I am so happy and humbled that you like the boxes enough to display them.
Daphne aka AtomicBlythe
http://courtofgypsiesminiatures.blogspot.com/

MelyGiunta said...

Ciao sono una nuova seguitrice del tuo blog,mi piacciono molto i post lunghi e con foto,da esse si può sempre trarre ispirazione. Ho visto i tuoi piatti, sono una meraviglia!
Un abbraccio MelyG

Norma Bennett said...

I'm a bit late dropping by :) I love those little picnic boxes of Daphne's, and all the other things in her Etsy store, I'm glad to see she's commented here ahead of me so that I can check out her blog as well. Her work is so pretty.

Your new plates a lovely too, Carolyn. Deliciously pretty I'd have to say!

I'm so happy that the beanbag does look at home in the little boy's room, as you know I was quite concerned the colour might be a bit too bold. And I'm over the moon that the bean bag and books have got the tick of approval from your most precious minis, your kids :) Couldn't ask for more.

Mercedes' Easter collection is just great isn't it! She's got buckets of imagination that girl and I think Liberty is following in her footsteps :)

Maria said...

A love all the mini's they gave you and also adore the vintage boxes.
Your kitchen looks very nice with the old and the modern combination.
Hugs
Maria

Phred said...

You are so lucky. They are adorable. I love the bear on the shelf. He is great. Did you make him.

Lv Toria