Eye Candy!!!

Its been ages since I've been to Bluewater and I'd forgotten how great it is for inspiration or just to see things that make you go 'ooooh!' and 'aahhh'!

Hubby had to DRAG me away from the window of All Saints - (apparently its not the done thing to stroke shop windows...) not because of the clothes but because the window was FULL of antique sewing machines!!!!

I like antique sewing machines almost as much as I like buttons!  I was in one of our local charity shops a week or so ago (it was a tuesday,  12.30ish - I'm only telling you 'cos its important later) and there was a lovely machine - a treadle machine.  I've always wanted one, and this one was really cute - had a little cabinet but what made it even nicer was that it had all the bits and pieces still with it that the owner had used ... it was really obvious that it had been looked after - the treadle had a piece of carpet on it so feet didn't get cold, there was a sewing kit and threads etc it was lovely... and for £20!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought about it and almost bought it but then my practical sensible voice inside said "really?! why do you want it, where will you put it?". 

I left and went to see a friend and her V cute puppy but in the end it got the better of me and I went back to buy the machine (£20.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! bargain!!)..... at 4.45pm  ... can you see where this is going?  NOOOOO! in that 4-hour-ish gap ON A TUESDAY AFTERNOON!!! somebody else had gone in and thought "hmm thats what I need today! a vintage sewing machine" NOOOOOOOO!!!! what are the chances of that! (and did I mention it was raining?!) (seriously what were the chances!!)

(I blame the puppy - if he hadn't been so damn cute I wouldn't have been cooing over him for so long would I! and I'd probably have a nice vintage sewing machine!) (and breeeeaaathe....)

So the moral of the story is - buy it when you see it!!

aaanyhoo on a less ranting note Marks&Spencer have a lovely colour range of home furnishings at the moment - dark teals, greys and burgundy plums.... mmm v nice! and how nice is the felt flower cushion on the chair...

Oops and sorted!

Doh! on Wednesday my desk was all about the Critters (who are multiplying as we speak) and suggested that if people liked them then maybe they'd like to 'follow' them.... which would've been made much easier if I'd put a follow button on the site - which I hadn't! DOH!  (PS Doone - you weren't being 'blind' there wasn't a button invisible, hidden or other!)
Sorry about that, but its now sorted and the Critters have a button over on their site (to go see click on Critters photo on right).....
Please follow if you'd like too, ... but not too closely as they may scare easily and please don't feed them especially after midnight - if you've seen Gremlins then you know why! lol

Here's another addition - I'm not sure about its face - bit small for the body? Not quite right? but then thats part of the Critters' charm isn't it?! 

WOYWW

Greetings from sunny Westcliff!!  I had to point out the 'sunny' part of that because its been a while since the sun put in appearance  - I don't mean to be picky but its August and so I EXPECT sun!!

Anyhoo back to the subject in hand.... before I post a piccy of my desk this week (and don't get over excited but its a completely different desk! ta da) :
I'd like to thank those of you who gave me some information about New York - much appreciated.. and to those of you who wanted to sneak into my suitcase sorry, and much as I'd have loved your company I'm sure, but the case is quite full already (I'm a 'keep packing until you have to sit on it to close it' type of suitcase packer!  lol only joking...ish). 
So thanks, and sorry in equal measures!

Here's the desk:  Its all about the Critters today - making them to sell next month (it'll be hard to see them go...).  Its all going to get very exciting in CritterVille - new additions in many forms arriving left right and centre (go here to meet the gang...)

The desk is across the room from the one I generally show you.. its the 'sewing' desk - I try to keep it clean(ish)
So, from left right - bind it all (haven't put it away yet, ahem), sewing machine, behind the machines are some of my buttons (you can never have too many can you? (well, yes according to a friend of my who has a phobia of them)), fabric for turning into Critters, cuttlebug for cutting out some shapes for faces etc (oooh I have a new wing die - and I'm not afraid to use it!) and in the backgound are a few of my houses ready for sale.... thats a lot of stuff on one desk isn't it!  When I actually start creating I will clear it off a bit (where I'm going to put it I don't know - might need another table rofl)

Off you all go to snoop about - when I've made my Critter quota for the day that's exactly what I'll be doing!
Happy snooping!

PS - The Critters would love some new followers - so if you like them please follow them!  :o)  You wouldn't want to hurt their feelings would you??

Banana Frog day!

Hop on over to the blog to see what I made this month......

WOYWW - its been a while!

Here it is - my desk - do you notice anything about it? go on, look carefully.... yep thats right - its clearer! I was going to say tidier but then that might be pushing the believability a bit too far - but it is clearer - less 'stuff' around the edges... oh come on course there is look at the white bits- that desk top!  So other things on there are my little sketchbook (in centre with pink spots on page), essential cup of coffee, coloured rubons (recently dug those out of the stash (buried deep!) I'd forgotton how nice they are!), PaperArtsy stamps, Hero Arts stamps and samples for a class, oh and not forgetting the very important general 'stuff'

Right you lovely snoopers - I need your help please (no not another plant identification - got my sambucus!) - I'm planning a trip to New York (oh yeah! New York baby - so good they named it twice!) and I'd like your recommendations for what I should do while I'm there - not the obvious stuff - I've already got a list as long as my arm of that (Statue of Liberty etc) but unusual stuff.... answers on a postcard, sorry, in the comments section please!

Thanks muchly in advance for any info!

And if you want to know what all this desk snooping is about head on over to Julia's blog and she'll explain everything, and you'll find a list of all the other desks that are open for viewing...

Right, other peeps' worktops here I come!