blah to TADA!

I spent about an hour going through Claire's amazing blog - Blah to TADA! - don't even take my word for it, just get over there. Claire has such an eye for detail it's unreal, she recycles [or upcycles] so many things into beautiful creations. Her creativity is evident over every page. The picture above shows crayons which had all been broken, so she melted them down, then poured them into an Ikea ice-cube tray and allowed them to harden as heart-shaped crayons!!! I know my little girl would just love them!

How about this? Using old eye-shadow with glue as paint to make exotic looking stationary! If you are anything like me you have a tonne of old eye-shadow you never wear sitting in a drawer which is more stale than Tutankhamen!! There is no way I could list all the things she makes/recycles/upcycles, it really is on another level. If you have anything left over - even toilet roll tubes - she could show you how to make headband or bracelet stands to display your jewellery!! 


Delicate Eccentric

Cross Stitcher Magazine

I'm sure many people are glued to their sofa at this current moment in time while the Netherlands play Spain in the World Cup Final. I have spent the match getting to grips with cross stitch. Although I taught myself to knit about 5 years ago and then how to crochet last year [how wonderful the tutorials are on the internet!!] I've never attempted cross stitch before. Browsing the craft magazines in one of my local shops the other day I saw this free kit with the Crossstitcher magazine [actually if I'm honest they were 2 kits and I had to have them both!]. The retro tattoo-style swallow was so cute and not too big I thought "I can do this!" and really I couldn't believe how easy it was - maybe my knitting/crochet brain helped! I'm enjoying it so much I can't put it down, I just want it finished so I can frame it. I have always been fond of quick projects - I think the instant gratification side of me craves it. The other kit is called "Home Sweet Home" by Angela Poole which is too adorable for words!!

As I type, Spain have just scored!! Yay.. okay so the only reason I have been supporting Spain [since England were knocked out] is because Fernando Torres [drools!!] plays for them!! He's as adorable as the cross stitch, well back to it I must go!

Delicate Eccentric

Moulin Roty

Being a regular Tumblr addict I come across some really pretty pictures of items that I would love but have no idea where they came from. This happened this morning when I came across this picture. I had to know... where was it from? Who had created this beautiful little set? A couple of Google searches later and I found Moulin Roty. They seem to strive to recreate our childhood memories, those vintage style toys you would love your children to have but can only find the same electronic [supposedly educational], beeping, noisy and mostly annoying piece of plastic. So I was very excited to look through their range and see none of those. Above you can see their Sewing Suitcase, although I felt it was more knitting and sewing, which has everything from a French knitting dolly right down to the thread and yarn. All the items come contained in the beautiful, sturdy, vintage-style suitcase and can be purchased for £35 from a range of suppliers including a beautiful store called Cottontails.

For the little man [or tomboy!] in your life they also have this Wooden Toolbox for £19. I saw this and the memories came flooding back from my own childhood as my younger sister had this exact set!! I remember her cutting branches with the saw [which is sharp enough so keep your eyes on any young ones using this!] and they do recommend that this set is not given to anyone younger than six. I think any child could have fun with either of these sets or with the others which include a Grand Family Tea Set [£42], a Patisserie Baking Set [£53], a Gardener's Gift Box [£51] and the Crockery Supper Set [£66]. Even if none of these are to your taste there are so many other little gems including kiddie's vintage-style writing desks and cuddly toys - there really is something for everyone!

Delicate Eccentric

The Haby Goddess

Among the gorgeous items in this online haberdashery shop, The Haby Goddess, are the Sweetie Petite Sew Kits. There are 4 different dolls, each with their own little friend, and they come with everything needed to make them. I'm also totally in love with the Be Be Bold Lunch Box Bag Kits [shown below].

Although they're advertised as "For Your Little One" I'm sure there are many mamas [myself included!!] who would fight their offspring for these beautiful lunch bags!

As well as the "kits" there are also many of the items you would expect to find in a haberdashery like buttons, yarn, fabric, transfers and some lovely hand-made bias binding.

Delicate Eccentric

Little Pink House

Little Pink House is a beautiful little shop on Etsy where Melissa Crowe creates these darling hand-made embroidered pictures. Each one is customised and made to the specifications of the buyer. Featured above is "Tavi's Forest" made for a little boy's room in Switzerland. Melissa calls her pictures "feltscapes" because they are all created from felt. The amount of time and effort she goes to, to create these beauties doesn't even bear thinking about. The talent and detail, obvious in the feltscapes, of Melissa is one to only be dreamt of. I suggest you get over to her Etsy shop and grab one for your wall, pronto!!

Delicate Eccentric