...economy drive.....

...we are all aware of the current

economic climate..

...and everybody is feeling the pinch....

....none more so than the

 vanilla squirrel herself....

...who is about to embark on a new phase

in her life...

..requiring her to put all her homespun,

thrifty, nut saving skills to the fore...

...but i think i may have misinterpreted

 the idea behind the homespun/d.i.y ethic

 of quilting...

...because in my quest for a truly crafty

economy-driven homespun heaven.....

...i BOUGHT this!!!!

(cute though eh?)

oh well...i'll be better next month...

...and keep away from etsy....

...so i don't see lovely things like this...

....for those of you who have not recently

indulged in vintage quilts...

you can wisely invest in one of these 

darling pastel buns

here

...or treat yourself to one of these 

from the divine

ruby rockcake?

HEEEEEEEELP!!!somebody lock me up....

i think i'd better hibernate!

x

....the problem with bunnies......

....we all know the problem with bunnies...

...but they are so adorable....

...it is impossible to have just the one...

...and therein lies the dilemma...

...because invariably they multiply...

...ahem....

...what can i say?....

...it's nature...!

X

....love hearts.....

..i love hearts..

...no hook or handle is safe...

...some are simple...

...some are crusty...

...or girly...

...dotty...

..patchy...

(check out the new delivery in my

 squirrel sister's shop!)

...one can never have too many...

..thank goodness valentine's day is just around the corner!

x

....hidden treasure!

..this is a story of surprises....

...of finding joy in unexpected places...

...of lasting friendships...

...a story about a monkey who had a secret!

...every year my squirrelling parents

try to travel to holland to visit 

the utrecht vintage toy fair...

...they always return

 with the most amazing 'finds'(I WANT TO GO!!)...

...they stay with our dear dutch friends..

.. who share our love 

of antiques, vintage, childhood nostalgia...

...this year our 'vriendiin eekhoorn'

(dutch squirrel friend??)

discovered an endearing norah wellings monkey

(remember my binky?)

..fell for that little face and adopted him!

..but once home it was felt that all was not quite what it seemed.... 

..with a little explorative investigation..

...and a delicate operation...

...a large piece of vintage fabric was discovered stuffed inside our little monkey!

....quel suprise!!!!(i know...french not dutch)

...as you can see it is very unusual...

..it has lovely little illustrations...

..and quirky little sayings...

...in english!!!...

...the material was gently packaged up..

..and kindly sent back to england with

my parents......

...to be 'vanilla squirrelled'

 into something crafty...

...hmmmm what to do?

...my mum asked me to make something special

for her friend (of some 30 years)

to send back to holland ...

...a gift of friendship...

...so i mooted and pondered...

...gathered together a mix of materials, ribbons, buttons....doilies!....

...and pondered and mooted...

..and made a trio of lavender pillows...

....that will hopefully last another 

30 years...

...a symbol of a lasting friendship...

...and a special little monkey...

...with a hidden secret.

x

....squirrel sister....

....this beautiful embroidered patchwork heart was made by my 'squirrel sister'....

...she crafts critters too!

...you can buy her gorgeous things on etsy..

..or if you are in Jersey you can visit her

at the vintage craft fairs there...

...i wish i could! X

p.s. i told you i was from a family of squirrels!