Ooh la la! Ze Winners of my French Giveaway

Yesterday after lunch, I managed to coax my little helper from her tent in the garden, where she was sweeping...

 She seemed quite pleased to be asked to choose the winners of my giveaway!

A suitable container had been pressed into action and it took no time at all for Sophia to get the idea that she had to choose a piece of folded-up paper from within.

First was the non-sewing draw.

She had a go at the reading bit, at which point I realised I should have allocated everyone a number instead of writing names, as she's red hot on number recognition!  Must come from having two such mathematical parents!

Finally she showed me who had won...

Lunch had already been liberally applied to the clothing 

Congratulations Mystica! 

Next came the sewing draw.

She gave me the winner, but then seemed to think there should be a few more.  However, the first one she pulled out was Mary Ann!  

Thanks to everyone who entered - it was interesting to me that there were equal numbers for the sewing and non-sewing items, as I never really know whether I should concentrate on sewing-related posts or vary things a bit more!

Mystica and Mary Ann, please email me your addresses and I will get the prizes in the post as soon as I possibly can.

(Talking addresses, Biba, I haven't forgotten about the notebook cover - I have put it aside, and just got a bit sidetracked this week.  Will be in touch very soon!)

It has been an unintentionally manic week, but rewarding all the same.  Back soon with what we have been up to!

(Here's a little clue.)

Babies, Bumps and Barbecues...And a Giveaway Winner!

Hard to believe it is still March, with the weather being better than a normal day in the school summer holidays, and us having celebrated yesterday with an altogether unheard-of-in-March barbecue.  

All of Mr U-t-B 'babies' were there - that's his four children, plus associated partners and of course, Sophia...

The 'bump' was there too, prettily hidden beneath a pretty, vintage-style teadress, third from the left.

Sunglasses, short sleeves or sundresses were almost universally adopted. 

Mr U-t-B was having a bit of bother with his glasses...

Time for a new pair, methinks!  (AGAIN!)

Sophia managed to maintain her good humour, in spite of being parked down the path by the bins!

She was clearly of a mind to acquire herself a decent pair of sunglasses...

Hmmm...

Sophia's Daddy seemed to be contemplating a new career in hair design...

Anyhow, we had a lovely, impromptu time, even if it was preceded by a little bit of hard graft in the garden to tidy up the bits that had come back for the allotment and pieces of wood that came from our roof when we had some of it re-done around Christmas.  Those bits of wood are likely to be recycled into another shed - watch this space!

In the evening I was going to draw the Giveaway winner.  

But those little minxes - Millie, Tilly and Posy - had got themselves so over-excited with the outdoor-sy weather, the visitors, the barbecue and the anticipation of the 'Dancing on Ice' final (them being big Jorgie fans) that after I'd rounded them up from the garden...

Millie from the tub of rather sparsely flowering grape hyacinths,

Tilly from the dizzying heights of the ornamental vine on the shed,

And Posy from my 'Boxy Box', which she'd climbed right through and popped out the top of, like a meerkat out of its hole...

...That they were all packed off to bed early (And no 'Dancing on Ice' final for them at all!)

They were in a contrite mood this morning, so meekly   got on with the task in hand.

 Posy and Tilly in the hat,

Millie commanding from above.

Soon two names had been drawn...

Jill who wins the main bundle, and Jooles for the runners-up prize and surprise.

Thanks to everyone for entering - I wish I could send you all a little something!  

I'll try and wish you all some of this wonderful sunshine instead!

And the winner is...

After posing for the camera yesterday, Millie, Tilly and Posy seem to have got a taste for fame and appeared from the top of the radiator the moment 'the hat' came out just a short while ago.

But who should do the lucky dip?  Millie and Tilly got stuck in to a deep and meaningful discussion about how to choose fairly, not noticing Posy shuffling quietly away...

...before taking a hasty dive into the many pieces of paper behind her sisters!  With a quick rustle and tightly screwed up eyes,  Posy grabbed one piece of paper and sprang from the hat...

'Ta-dah!' she sang, 

much to the surprise of her sisters, who clapped and squealed with glee (generous souls that they are, they instantly forgave their sister her sneaky ways!)

'Andrea!' the trio called out, all together.

And so it was that the giveaway was won by Andrea of Fin and Gabs!

Drop me an email Andrea (you can find the address via my profile) and I will send the goodies on their way!  Thanks to everyone who entered -  I now have along list of places that I would so like to visit.  I think I'll have to retire to fit them all in!

I have a very good reason to do another giveaway soon, so do check back from time to time...

Some things old, something new...

To start with, I thought I'd share a couple of pieces of treasure today. 

First of all, something that had been lurking behind the desk for a year (or maybe even two!) waiting to be given a new piece of glass.  I bought this beautiful tray on ebay, but sadly it was not well packaged and arrived with the glass smashed to smithereens!  I got a piece of glass cut for it quite quickly, but it was too big, and so it wasn't until I needed glass for last week's tray that this one was cut to size.  Here's the result...

I should have taken photos of the embroidery before putting it under the glass!  It is really beautifully done - incredibly neat.

Next, another crinoline lady.

I bought this rather shabby little tea cosy a couple of weeks ago. It's about half the size of a normal tea cosy.

  The first time I saw it in a local Antiques Centre, I resisted temptation, even though I was fascinated by the technique used to create the flower border.  A week or so later, I found myself driven to return, hoping against hope that it would still be there.  

I went to the room where I had seen it and was crestfallen not to find it...

But just as I was about to leave, I spied it out of the corner of my eye and swiftly scooped it up!

The flowers are all made from minute pieces of felt, some of them intricately cut into petals.  Embroidered detail has been layered on top.  You can see that there used to be paving stones drawn on, and possibly some other 'painted' bits - or perhaps this is just colour run from the felt?

Today, I decided to have a go at recreating the felt flower border (if not the armless, half-neckless lady).  

I got a hole punch and cut tiny circles from lots of different colours of felt scraps, and cut other shapes free-hand.  Then I created my flowers and stitched them on.

And here is what I made...

A great way to use up the tiniest of scraps!

I'm now dreaming up other things to decorate with these miniature felt flowers!

In case you haven't read my last post, just to let you know I'm doing a giveaway.  You can read about it, and how to enter,  here.  

One of the prizes is a 'Beach Hut, Bunting and Daisies' Needlecase.  Just in case you're not a red, white and blue kinda gal (or fella, as the case may be!), here's an alternative colourway.  The winner can choose which they'd prefer!

All donations gratefully received + Giveaway winner

You may remember my post about a very kind and generous lady who passes lots of useful bits and pieces on to me?   Well, I didn't get round to posting photos of the bundle her husband brought round to me a couple of weeks ago, as she is unwell and unable to get out much.  So here it is...

 

What an enormous haul it was!

Pretty Laura Ashley bedding, all faded and washed to softness...

Several books of coordinated samples, from pretty pastels to zingy, springy palettes...

Evidence that I'm not the only one with a penchant for Vanessa Arbuthnott  and Ian Mankin fabrics...

I'm going to have fun with that lot!  I'm pleased to say that she was enthusiastic about the book I sent her - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, which I have to mention time and again 'cos it's such a lovely book (in my ever-so-humble opinion) and because it always feel like a challenge to remember the title!

Then, at The Maltings, a fellow stall holder brought me a carrier bag full of old linens.   This is at least the third lot she has brought me!  I haven't managed to get round to soaking them till today, so here's just a little glimpse - I will reveal them in all their glory another day!  There are some real pretties in here...

And then there's my lovely Mum, who is always on the look out for things I might find useful, or nice to have about!  Amongst recent gifts are this box...

...And these old books, which are now firmly installed on the old desk (which you may have seen before)...

 I love the fabric covers, the embossed lettering, the beautiful endpapers and the dedications...

...as well as the illustrations, be they black-and-white, or colour...

So, what else?
Well, true to my word I piled names in the felt hat this morning...
 

And, under the watchful eyes of my ancestors, I pulled out a paper slip.

Et voilà!

The winner is...

Jenny at Winnibriggshouse!
 Just let me know your address by emailing me at usedtobees@gmail.com and I'll send the labels on their way.

Thanks to everyone who left a comment, and those who 'follow' my ramblings - it means a lot to me!

Have a lovely weekend!