~Simple Pleasures - Old Books~

I know that like me,  a lot of you fellow bloggers also find your books thriftily at car boot sales and charity shops.  I am a member of the library in the village, which is good for reference and craft books, but apart from that on my last visit I felt there were shelves and shelves of chick lit and I came away empty-handed.
One of my Simple Pleasures is searching out old books. I am inspired by old book covers - the nostalgic typography, illustrations and colours are so pleasing- and I also love the smell and feel of old book pages.
This image would stress a mimimalist; but I could live surrounded by books like this...

Image reproduced from Country Living March 2012

My recent finds have been a 1969 Pan Classic of Persuasion by Jane Austen for 20p (you can see where the charity shop staff have written 20p in blue biro near the title - why would you do that?). I've just finished it and I enjoyed it as much as Pride and Prejudice, which is my all-time favourite re-read.

...also this 1974 copy of Daphne du Maurier's My Cousin Rachel. I've read a fair bit of D du M recently, and this is wonderful, I highly recommend it.

We're off to the Yorkshire coast near Filey for a few days away in Chateau H, fingers crossed for decent weather! See you when I get back. Have a lovely weekend x

~Simple Pleasures - Weekend bunny make~

I got this lovely book by Sarah Moore for my birthday back in February.

 Gorgeous photos, gorgeous layout and design - just my kind of book. Country Living are serialising some of the projects from the book; so despite missing the Easter Bunny deadline, I thought I'd have a go at the lavender bunny (p.111) which is shown on the front cover, using scraps and trimmings I already had.
Bunny's front is made from some pale pink fluffy wool fabric...

...with a vintage wool tweed reverse, complete with a pom-pom tail...

I especially enjoyed making the carrot from leftover linen scraps...

...and a tote bag to keep it in!
And every bunny needs a comfy place to sleep...

Not sure with who or to where she is destined to go - she may go to Rivers Meet 'A Market in May' with me when I have a stall at the craft cafe in Methley, near Castleford in May.
Hope everyone has had a lovely weekend, despite the rain!

~Happy Birthday~

Firstly thankyou so much for all your lovely comments on my last post and to new followers too!
Not sure where time this half-term is going to - I know I'm fortunate to work term-time only but it's hard to get anything practical or creative done when the kids are off too. Whinge over...
Yesterday was my birthday! We had a family day of lunch at Pizza Express then the joy of seeing the new Muppet movie. I loved the Muppets as a child of the 70s, and the theme tune brought nostalgic tears to my eyes.
I baked myself a chocolate cake with cherry jam and fresh cream...

Multiply the candles by 7, and you will have the correct number!
My favourite card, courtesy of one of my brothers. What is he insinuating?!

Generous gifts from lovely friends and family...A new CK bag...

Enough smellies for the next 12 months!

Some seeds...

Some beads...

...And a lovely read!

Lovely presents - I am very lucky.

My mood definitely lifts when I reach mid-February...the sun is out today, I hope it's warmer where you are too.  I'm off to do a bit of gardening now!

~Sewing Project~

Today's day off has been busy, busy, busy with catching up with gardening, thrifting, housework and more frantic sewing for my stall at the weekend (Saturday 15th July) here at this local festival. I'm really pleased at how these coat hangers have turned out

- a fab way to upcycle vintage embroidered cloths, the ones that have holes or marks but are too lovely to throw away. I used this lovely new book by Emma Hardy which I'm finding really inspiring at the moment.

If they don't sell they will look lovely in my bedroom!