Loopy

Good grief, where does the time go? It feels like forever since I've dropped into my little blog and so much has been happening. Even the Munchkin has been busy, in his new playroom, putting primer onto the board for his Hornby layout. This moment had to be recorded for posterity!

Meanwhile, I trotted off to Bromley after much eBay searching, to purchase this. Loopy?

In a rare moment of calm, considering all work and no play makes Hen a very dull and knackered girl indeed, I treated myself to an outing to Northcote Road in Battersea, no trip there would be complete without visiting my favourite shop, Living Vintage, which I have blogged about several times before. The pile of eidys had me spellbound and as I remarked to the young lady working there, I would have liked to just fling myself into them with gay abandon!

The cushions were beautiful, too. I could rest my weary little head on those?

What seems like many moons ago (maybe it was?!) there was Red Nose Day and I whipped up a couple of batches of chocolate muffins to be sold at school. The Munchkin did try one first, for quality control purposes. Ah, the might of a choccy muffin to ensure a bit of good behaviour never ceases to amaze.

Last week, I had a visitor of the best kind, one equally obsessed with sewing, patchy stuff and quilting, my partner-in-crime: my sister. We had a fabby week of adventures, visiting the Country Living Fair in London, my local sewing shop and taking a trip by rail to Lewes to its great flea markets and of course, the patchwork shop. Well, we had to work off all that cake somehow.

On the way to the Country Living Fair in Islington, on what was a fabuously sunny day, we wandered from the main drag as I had a feeling a certain shop was nearby. I had not visited since they had moved to these new premises and being in the area, it seemed rude not to! Ahhhhh, where else but mecca of knitters, Loop...

If this window display doesn't tempt you inside, showcasing as it does the work of the super Julie Arkell and a bevy of delectable woolly goodies, nothing will! Gimme that green mini chest of drawers, too. Pretty please.

Inside, it is equally wonderful and everything the window promises it shall be. There are now two floors of sewing and woolly delights. Hope you have big pockets though, as this beauty doesn't come cheap!

I fondled longingly the most stunning coloured cashmere, I am indeedy a fan of a bit of cashmere, but it had to go back. I mean, I can't even knit and I've sort of gone off crochet!

You can't fail to be inspired here though, a visit cheers you no end, to be surrounded by achingly beautiful things whether you buy them or not, is a special thing and the staff is as lovely as the merchandise.

Back at the ranch, paint brush duly wielded, things are looking up for the little eBay-bought Lloyd Loom cabinet (£4.99), and the Munchkin's lair as a whole...

A lick of blue-y paint, some spotty fabric leftover from the '40's chevron quilt backing, et voila. Under the glass, I've placed some vintage cigarette cards with suitably boyish themes and some original railway luggage labels. Oh, I was no 1 mummy (only for) that day!

His room is looking better by the minute, just the small matter of the desk and wardrobe now. Might I catch my breath first?

As if all that is not loopy enough, a certain fourteen year old furry senior citizen stunned me one afternoon by scaling the old apple tree. I really didn't think he had it in him. Goodness me, Charlie Boy! If you could have heard the racket...

Lucky old Charlie Boy though, he certainly knows how to make up for his adventures and have a well earned rest.

Me? Well, there's a special event coming up and the sewing machine is smokin'! More of that next time...

P.S. Might I say a big thank you and a hello to my followers, old and new. We've reached a not-so-little milestone! Who would have thought it...