Bird nerd

Oooooh. What a lovely weekend. 1 very pink back. 2 barbeque's in 2 days with some lovely chums. 3 whole bottles of pimms consumed. More weed clearing and more planting (garden update on its way) and also my first attempt at bird watching. So far its not going well, I can hear them but I cant really see them. So Ive turned into a bit of a bird nerd at the moment, trying to read up on them and make friends.

In the spirit of of the recession, and inspired by my sister in laws blog, I am enjoying 'house shopping'. It involves looking at things you've already got in a new light, and my birds are amongst some of my favourites. Here are my girls...


This one is one of my favourites. A very thoughtful birthday present from my mister, carefully chosen from the design museum. Next to her is a string of mini birds from portabello market...


Ive got these lovlies hanging up all around my flat. From one of my MOST favourite shops, RE found objects Check it out!


She's just lovey isn't she? And she smells nice too, of Lavender to be precise. From Liberty...


We've been spending more and more time in the garden recently, so we've been trying to encourage the birds of Brockley to do the same. Were hoping to achieve this by giving them some stylish houses, like this one (I'm afraid I cant remember where its from, sorry)

I also got some beauties from the Oxfam book shop near my office. My favourite is a book called 'Birds of Field and Forest'. Im hoping it will aid me in my bird identification!

It looks like it may be from the 40's or 50's (no date) and there is a beautiful full colour print of on every double page spread, with a short description on the other page. The illustrations are so intricate and beautiful! A whole host of exciting potential uses (framed, on cards)...


I know this is supposed to be about enjoying what you already have, but if i were to have a wish list, this mug by McCheek would be on it! It made me giggle this week, I love it!



But I wanted to go one step further in my bird love..... May is the happy home of International Dawn Chorus Day. It is celebrated at the crack of dawn on the 3rd of May, and as part of our new bird watching drive, my mister and I decided to get up and see what all the fuss was about. We couldn't bring ourselves to actually go in to the garden, so we opened our windows and stood in our dressing gowns looking out across our garden... And what a symphony greeted us! It really was incredible. Its lovely to know that even In London, you can be immersed in nature like that.

We did record it but I cant upload it for some reason. You could hear it for yourself if you woke up early enough- its not too late in the year!

Anyway. Monday Tomorrow. Sigh.

Its a big week for me this week, and for all of us in fact. Its the European elections on Thursday- and its mote important than ever that we all vote. Its the race for 4th place that counts- and the BNP are aiming for it. Up against them is the Greens (good enough for Joanna Lumley, good enough for me! Only kidding- I am a Green party member and know how I'll be voting on Thursday). Ive been leafleting in my local area to try and do my bit. If the BNP get the seat, it would a be a huge win for the far right- the biggest win in history in fact. So yeah, its kinda serious. It all gives me the heebeejeebies.

On the day I'll be running a 5k for crisis, the homeless charity (any running tips gratefully received!) but I'll be voting first thing.(What am I Mother Theresa?)

Hope you have a great week!

Come on fickle friend!

Today I am thinking about “my fickle friend, the summer wind”, wise words uttered by my friend Frank (Sinatra) back in the fifties (One of my favourite songs ever). Well, some things never change.

Summer is teasing us, isn’t she? Just 3 days ago I was prancing around in flouncy summer dresses, soaking up the sunshine and turning a lovely shade of pink. But today its back to gale force wind, driving rain, and broken brollies. Humph.

Well, one good thing about my new green fingers, is that now when it rains I smile, and think of my plants having a big drink! I really do!

But I am a sunshine kinda gal- it makes be ridiculously giddy. So although my plants are happy, I am not.

As part of my ‘feel inspired in your drab job’ plan I look at beautiful things at lunch time, and today I found myself searching for sunshine. I stumbled across the work of art director Carrie Louise, who has recently worked on a new music video by Florence and the Machine. And its STUNNING!

Oh. My. Goodness. Way to make you feel summery in the wind and the rain! It is one of the most beautiful, summery videos I have ever seen! Click play! Go on- you must! (I love this song too)

(Youtube videos seem to be messing up- you'll have to click on the URL here)


Its like a set from a Mid summer nights dream, which is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays.

(Via David Wilson Creative Blog.)

Drab job lunch break + Summery beautiful images = Happy Hannah.

Sunshine, lace, flowers, quilt and too much white wine...

This weekend I have mostly been:

• Soaking up the sunshine in the garden…I love you sunshine!



(Image from Flicr: 3lambsdesign)

• Drinking in our garden, drinking in the Gypsy Moth beer garden, coming home and drinking in our garden again with our downstairs neighbours, and then drinking next door with some other neighbours...

• Nursing my head and skin which was four shades of pink the next day...

• Watching Grand design repeats until I felt well enough to start sewing...

• Feeling Inspired by this lovely idea for the lacy squares and ever growing pile of doily's from Deptford market....




• Falling in Love with allthemountains.blogspot.com (where the above image is from) This is one of the most beautiful blogs I have found recently. I think I'm in love with every single post, check it out!

• Pottering around in the garden and planting our window boxes with marigolds, Bizzy Lizzie's, and Begonia's...



• And finally, I made a baby quilt with some of my fabric hoard from Deptford. Ive been excited about making this quilt since I did my crafty baby post here


First, Using template I cut out the rectangles and then pressed them.

The I sewed the long edge of the rectangles together to form strips...

Then sew the long strips together, and finish with some edging.

Voila!



Not bad for a first attempt eh? I'm very pleased with it actually!

So yes. I like 5 day weekends. I like them very much. I had a feeling I would... And I don't want to go back to work! Boo to work! BOOOO!


I am Currently listening too Prodigy, Out of Space! Odd choice I know, But BBC 6 Music had a 'rave' day which I have interpreted into 'rave sewing". Id highly recommend it! Very productive!


P.s experimenting with putting my images in the centre of the page. Looks much nicer doesn't it?! Why didn't I do this before?!)

P.s

... I thought id share a little more information about Deptford. There are some people who doggedly guard Deptford market as a top secret destination, lest the masses cotton on and 'get all the good stuff'. Admittedly I was one of them for a long time, but I have recently had a change of heart. There are some tell tale signs that Deptford is 'on the up' which is great news for us locals. Property development, deli's and art galleries are great but I fear that in a couple of years time it will look very different to the Deptford we know and love today, perhaps having lost some of the charm that has drawn local shoppers to its stalls for hundreds of years now.

Especially after articles like these!

From the New York Times: (New York times?! What on earth?!)

"In London, New Cross and Deptford attract the Hip..."

and from the BBC:

"Could Deptford be the new Paris?"

So my point is enjoy it whilst it lasts! In my humble opinion, the current combination of old school Deptford mixed with a bit of middle class wankery is optimum. I dont know about you but like to finish my flea market bargain shopping with a soya latte and a croissant, thank you very much.

Below I have shared some of my favourite Deptford haunts, and strongly encourage you to visit if you haven't been before!

The junk part of the market is the best bit; this can be found at the bottom of the high street on Douglas Way. This is the part that I fear will change the most in the next few years- but one can always hope!















Total bargains to be had all round...















This part of the market, incidentally, is right next to The Albany, a performing arts centre, which is undergoing a transformation of sorts. I recently went to an amazing club night here called OOXXOO where I heard one of my favourite bands Your Twenties play. I hope there will be many more nights like these, so watch this space...

Once you have exhausted yourself by rummaging amongst the flea bitten gems to be found on the market stalls, you have a number of lovely refreshment options.

My first port of call would be the Deptford Deli which is up the road. I enjoyed an amazing Toulouse sausage sandwich with rocket and mustard on granary bread here recently...delicious!

Over the road is WH Wellbeloved Butchers and a lovely little antique shop called Gim Crack.















(Image from BBC)

Another lovely cafe is the Deptford project which is in an old train. I think there are plans for a craft market near the train in the near future, so again, watch this space...


























(Images from the Deptford Project website)

Or there's the Bear cafe and gallery.... (Cant find an image, apols)

There is a fantastic sewing machine shop on the high street too. I got my Nina second hand from here for a very reasonable price a couple of years ago. They also do repairs etc.

















(Image from the sewing machine centre website)

And there's a great vintage shop called the Rag N Bone opposite Deptford rail station selling all sorts of vintage loveliness...

This is just a snap shot of some of the treasures to be found around the high street.

Anyway, there's only so much rambling about second hand junk one can take, so that's it from me for now.

Im off to enjoy the last of the summer evening sunshine with a cold glass of Rose in a beer garden... I hope you are all doing the same!

Oh Oh Oh!!!

I have had a very pleasant day indeed. For starters its my long weekend,so no work for me today Hurrah! Secondly, we started the day in my favourite way; with some scrumptious crumpets covered in butter and jam with fresh coffee at our kitchen table, and thirdly we decided to go down to Deptford market. I have talked about my Depford love affair before, but today might be one of my personal bests...

We found a veritable fabric FEAST! I bought so much fabric that we had to get a taxi home! But this is enough for about a million dresses and cushion covers and birthday presents, and will save us thousands in the long run... (I said earnestly to my mister as he grumpily lugged my fabric filled bin bags into the taxi...)


















I photographed the first 5 lots of fabrics all in one go so it didn't look like I was being too greedy... These are the fabrics I am going to use to make Jacks baby quilt...

I bought 2 of these floral curtains...
















and this striped floral single duvet cover















and this stripy bed sheet...
















and this curtain...
















and this 60's pink floral single duvet cover (if only it was double!)...















(nearly finished...)

The following two curtains are the best buys by far. These bad boys are huge, measuring about 3 meters wide and about 4 meters long. The fabric is pure luxury and they are very thickly lined, almost padded with brass fastenings. I like to imagine that they came from a ball room or a stately home o something.... The pair were £10, which is stupidly cheap; if these were sold in a curtain shop they'd be 'undreds n undreds' of pounds!
































As I was waiting for everything to go through the washing machine (this is the first thing you have to do if you buy anything from Deptford!) I thought how very big one of the curtains looked next to my washing machine....
























Big enough, and thick enough to look like a duvet in fact.... and then I had an epiphany. I would (thoroughly) wash them, and then free machine on top of them, and turn them into Quilts! I cant wait!

Your going to think I'm a greedy so and so, but I also got these lovely extras...















And FINALLY I got these lacy squares!















































Great, huh? Now where am I going to put it all...

Ode to the streets of Brockley

Oh Brockley streets how I love you so!

Even though you are sometimes covered in broken glass and fried chicken boxes and dog poo.

I like it when your trees are groaning under the weight of their leaves.

And when their blossom carpets the street in pink petals.

Yes. I really like that.

And I like peeking in the houses I wish were mine.

And I especially like it when you give me free gifts.

Like this fireplace guard...




















and this coffee table...




















and these pictures...




















and these books and tins...




















and, most recently this suitcase...





















which had these vintage wallpaper rolls in them!



















All vintage, all recycled and all free.

Little gifts from Brockley! Just for me!

Crafty baby...

Are you all sick of hearing about my baby brother? Really? Well this will be the last baby post I do for a long time. But its good un, you'll see. If you skip over this post because you're sick of gooshy mushy baby talk, then I'll forgive you. Promise.

Anyway I have been eyeing gorgeous home made baby goodies for months now, (and no, you wont be hearing 'the pitter patter of tiny feet' OK?!). Its because of The Dude! (my baby bro)

So I decided to dedicate a whole post to crafty baby goodness. Mmmmm.

I found many of these treasures from the lovely blogs I follow (/stalk, lets be honest). So this is also a celebration of some gorgeous crafty blogs! Yeah!

Ive had these baby shoes from Tiny Happy Shop saved in my favourites ever since my favourite blogger Katy Elliot featured them back in February. Just LOOK at them!!!






























Katy Elliot popped my blog cherry, so to speak, and her blog remains one of my favourites. She's doing up her house AND GARDEN which is very exciting! She has been responsible for my ever increasing wish list....


My epic search for gorgeous handmade baby presents led me to the 'Shescrafty' blog. Hadley, the lady who writes it specialises in vintage handmade knitted baby clothes, and they are quite simply TO DIE FOR. (I must must must improve my knitting)















This would be a cool present for a cool mum wouldn't it?




















Gorgeous baby bonnet too...

One of my more exciting (and somewhat convoluted finds) is Jasna Janekovik. She was featured on the lovely blog cloudfishing, who I found via my sister in laws blog I will make do and mend! Phew! I told you it was convoluted! Anyway back to Jasna: Look at these great ideas for baby presents! Yummy yum yum. (I must must must improve my sewing!)











































I also found this quilt via another one of my favourite blogs, early bird special. I cant believe I never thought of doing a quilt like this before!!!













Amy from early bird special is expecting a baby so her blog is a good source of crafty goodness.This is a great project. All the rectangles are the same size so you just sew the long ends together to make strips- then sew the strips together! Oh wow!

This really cute idea is from A merry mishap; embroidered baby grows! But I cant for the life of me remember how I found it?! Oh well never mind, I shall just enjoy















And for when they are a little older- Tshirts! They would be the coolest kids in the playground, don't you think?

Very cute baby t shirts by littlechook


















And finally, these gorgeous baby booties, found via Girls are crafty. These girls are also fellow south east Londoners- whoop!















This sock idea is from recycledcrafts.craftgossip.com. Great site- and full of eco products too- so it receives extra brownie points!

Goodness! I feel my Nina calling... (My Bernina sewing machine, that is)..... I booked a long weekend off work next week, and guess what I'll be doing?! I'll be holed up in my little study surrounded by fabric and threads and patterns, listening to my beloved radio and talking/ singing to myself.


















I cant wait.

















Whoop for babies!

Whoop for craftiness!

Whoop for long weekends!