It's Coming...

Yep, Christmas is on its way - first day of advent tomorrow, and as I currently have enough wallspace (around the oh-so-elegant fireplace) I thought why not just put up all my advent calendars?
A slightly weird addiction I know.

A few years ago I felt like it was really hard to find a good traditional advent calendar so when I saw good ones I felt justified in buying them... now there are LOTS of really lovely ones around, so I have to limit myself to one (or two) a year.



Both the National Gallery and Liberty do lovely advent calenders of their buildings.
I have a Matthew Rice (Emma Bridgewater's husband) one from last year, his new ones for this year are temptingly quaint, but my favourite ones have got to be the Kreuter Advent Calendars. I have the one of Venice and one of Schloss Neuschwanstein.
I'm hoping I don't see too many more for sale this year as I'm not sure I can trust myself.

Of course I know I SHOULD be making an advent calendar... I'm just not as convinced by all these felty/Christmas tree pocket creations. And also, lets face it, advent starts tomorrow, so I've missed the boat on that one for this year.

A morning in Brixton...

Spent a pleasant morning in Brixton - best described as mooching around.
Before my sister opted for chickens and a life in rural Wales she used to work at a veggie cafe called Cafe Pushkar in the market - this is long gone, and I can't really remember spending much time in Brixton since those days (late 1990's!?). The market still has an amazing range of veg and meat stalls but in addition there are some seriously tempting shops and an array of very photogenic cafes. Unfortunately I only have a few iphone photos to show for my morning, was too busy browsing and eating delicious food.
Above Cornercopia (full for lunch unfortunately) and Federation. No photos of my lovely lunch at Rosie's Deli either.
I'll be back and will take my 'proper camera' next time.

A lot of work for one little three year old!

I got slightly over excited in the crafting department for Coco's birthday. I made these goody bags from left-over lining fabric and used some transfers from the Mike Perry 'Iron Me On' book to personalise them - I know, probably wasted on three-year olds, but I couldn't resist.



Other faff, including a month-by-month banner of Coco's life so far* and the loot for the party bags which included colour-in cards based on the guests names, an edible digital watch (was pretty chuffed with finding those) a cookie cutter and some chocolate money.



The cup cakes in their tea cup bake-ware from Urban Outfitters and the 'picnic' boxes. Despite having her birthday in mid-November Miss C had requested a picnic for her party.



Finally - can you guess what we gave her!?

Thanks go to; Eric for cake baking, Iain and Grandma for picnic box assembly and Mel for bike wrapping!

* Three hours well spent in the hospital waiting room!

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Birthday Bunting

So I'm now the mother of a three-year-old. Makes me feel old and it's only going to get worse... oh well!
Coco had a great birthday weekend, all her friends on Saturday for a 'picnic party' - more info on this to follow. Doting family on Sunday.
This is some bunting that I made for her first birthday - above in our 'new' house and below as it was when she was just one, amidst the clutter of our old kitchen.
Feeling nostalgic now.

Our new (non)furred friends

Every now and then as an Urban Outfitters employee I get a bit of an extra discount at Anthropologie; which is where I recently bought these two beauties!
They were meant for Coco's room but I love them so much that I've put them above my desk - they'd probably cast enormous looming shadows in the middle of the night that would be sure to scare a nearly-three-year as well (good excuse)?
When I saw the display in the Regents Street store I literally gasped out loud I was so excited. I'd been looking for some fake trophies for a while; am in love with the ones below by Emily Warren (first seen via Shelf). Am saving for the bear, or fox, or hare... hmmmm can't decide.



Seems to be a little mini-trend for animal heads as I've since seen felt lamb heads made by Andy Cordy in Abode in Chiswick, who also stock a wicker bull's head on their website.
All a little bit more my style than the real thing which I feel really would spook me in the middle of the night.

Paperless Post - A Fireworks Invitation

Our house has a great view of the fireworks at Chiswick Park and this year we invited a few local friends round to enjoy the view from inside, rather than having to endure frozen fingers and toes and crowds of people (although, maybe that is just part of the fun of Guy Fawkes Night)?

It was also a good excuse for me to use try out the Paperless Post website where you can make a posh-looking e-card. In mere minutes you make and send your invitation/card and then you can manage your guest list online. My invitation felt like it was as near to Smythson stationery as I'm going to get - until I become a 'proper' grown up - quality looking envelopes (even with lining paper), traditional type-faces, speaking as someone who has a slightly unnatural obsession with stationery I think they do a good job.



I've a feeling that the party is going to become an annual event - having a bonfire in the garden, kids running around and causing mayhem due to all being up way past their bedtime, hearty food* and mulled wine**... and a free firework display. Yep, it was fun.

*Hotdogs and minestrone soup followed by my first attempt at treacle tarts (not that good - but I got some advice from the Just Deserts man at the market on the weekend; so I'll be practicing for next year!)

**For the mulled wine 'we' (H) used a Jamie recipe with very good results.

FINALLY - thanks to Rob for the great firework photos!

My new workspace

A window of opportunity is briefly open. My maternity leave has started, so for the moment this is my new workspace (thanks to the girls at work for the flowers)! I've - hopefully - got two months until our lives are turned upside-down by the arrival of baby #2. My to-do list is unrealistically long, improving this desk area is somewhere quite high up.
And yes, I'm going to clear up my desktop too.