....school project....

...today i found some funghi...

...not in the usual places...

(i.e all over the house)...

...wooden, felty, 

crochet(thank you miss daisy)....

....or just hangin' around...

...i love 'em all...

...no these ones were outside...

....and spotted whilst walking the dog...

...i thought they looked so amazing

i'd take pictures....

.....and as i was snapping...

...and admiring them...

i thought it would be the sort of thing

you would do a school project about...

...research them...

...sketch them...

...design a fabric...

...write a little poem about them...

...i got quite carried away in my imagination...

...oh the mushroomy possibilities!!!

...i was far too young to go to school

 when i did....

...i'd be SO much more interested and

enthused now....

....what homework would you choose tonight?

X

..beating the blues......

i always struggle in september...

...the end of the long holidays..

....the children are back to school...

... it takes me a while to adjust

....to the old routine....

...so i'm trying to keep positive this year...

...and fight the blues...

...i found these amazing vintage japanese 

paper decorations in norfolk...

...and was going to save them for christmas..

...but as i was unpacking them last night..

...i decided i needed them now

...to cheer my workspace!

...i then decided to frame some lovely

wrapping paper to hang in a prominent place..

....and with some fresh flowers...

 and a bit of re-jigging....

i think i'm ready for you september!

X

...i wonder......

...is it me finding them?

...or are they finding me???!

( getting a bit spooky but this one was lurking in my post office

......waiting for me!)

it has been a wonderful summer....

but i'm trying not to notice how quickly time is passing....

and that before we know it we will be back to school...

.....and autumn will be creeping in....

.....those nights are already starting to get dark earlier..

...but we are enjoying some amazing sunsets 

and a bright full moon!

....on my summer travels I have been busy squirrelling

some lovely vintage items.....

...and i have at last got round to some serious stitching too...

...look out for a re- stock of my etsy shop shelves

at the beginning of september!

X

....toadstools have mushroomed!

...the vanilla squirrel's paws have been in overdrive this weekend....

 

..stocking up my toadie supply for 

my etsy shop.....

...it fascinates me how they take on their own personality....

...the same pattern..

..the same person...

..yet they all have a different little twinkle in their eye....

which one winks at you?

(don't tell the others but there's just something about this one!?!)

X

....out with the old.......

....and in with the new....

...happy new year from the vanilla squirrel!

X

...squirrel GIVEAWAY!!!!....

...being in a festive mood...

...the vanilla squirrel is having a christmas

GIVEAWAY!!!

...included in the giveaway is

..a cute lavender toadie..

 (made with vintage quilty fabric, ticking and buttons...)

..and..

..a soft gingerbread man..

(handmade also with vintage fabrics and buttons)

complete with his own toy soldier!

to enter all you need to do is be a follower

and tell me what you like best about the christmas season....

...a winner will be picked at random 

on December 14th!

....now back to the decorating....!

..happy christmas one and all x

....hangover cure.....

...oh dear naughty squirrel...

...unused as you are to gin fizz....

...it is not advisable to drink too many..

...too quickly....

(note to self regarding forthcoming christmas festivities)

...so the day started somewhat shakily..

...with the thought of impending work

not altogether a welcome one...

..but then an unexpected parcel arrived

to distract my thumping head...

...some vintage toadstool decorations,

buttons, material.....

..sometimes mothers do know best...

...and mine had packaged up

some special treats...

perfect timing!

...then a trusty 'melon' arrived!

..she quickly deduced i was not fit

for work...

...and reminded me that ellie

was opening a new shop in dorchester today..

..hurrah for ellie! 

..by this point i was feeling decidedly better!

....so off we went...

...gorgeous christmassy tins...

...and lots of lovely 'jelly jam' treats..

 ...i have been loving this alpine fabric

on ellie's blog for a while now...

...so was excited to invest in a little purse!

....we also visited dorchester's

curiosity centre....

....oh me oh my....

..it's HUGE and FABULOUS....

...and freezing cold!

(thermals and mitts highly recommended)

..we had heart palpitations..

(not alcohol induced)

...and were unusually controlled...

(it being christmas and all that)

..but a £4 chad valley bun...

.. in need of love and affection... 

..and squirrel restoration...

was not to be missed!

(sorry beautiful straw lamb...but i had to be strong)

(probably see you next week if i can't sleep tonight) 

..so as you can tell...

...my cure was a natural one!

...much better now...

 thank-you one and all 

X

..movember.....

....i have to confess...
...i was a little concerned when toadie
 suggested joining in...

..but i think i quite like it!

Congratulations to everyone who got involved in movember

x

...oops.....

....in my quest for seeking out

the most glorious, original,crafty,

vintagey, christmas gifts for others....

.....i find that i just keep discovering

glorious, original,crafty,

vintagey,lovely gifts for myself!?!

...this has to stop....

....but i confess i am struggling....

..am i supposed to just walk on by...

...and pretend i haven't seen that basket winking at me?

(needed to hold ongoing christmas projects as it's green and therefore totally perfect for the cause).....

...am i to avoid all direct eye contact with etsy?
(..and therefore not be tempted by lovely things like these cute snowmen...
...made by adatine...
although this was restrained behaviour 
as i also have a yearning for her bandit foxes and postman rabbit!!)

...ok so here it is....

...i hereby publicly promise most solemnly...

...not to buy another single, darling

irresistible item for myself.... 

(unless i can't live without it)

X