Rain, Rain, go away .............

1. Rain I don't mind, 2. When it rains, the flowers shine, 3. Sheepherding in the rain, Farkhadona, 4. Cuba Gallery: Cinematic / rain / landscape / umbrella / beautiful / lightroom preset / rose vogue / romantic / water / love

Anyone feeling as fed up as I am with this super duper windy wet weather we are having?

I was thinking about what could I do to brighten the day and lift my mood, and found these beautiful rainy images on Flickr that show the grey weather in a different light ...

I hope you enjoy and have a good rainy day.

bee x

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Etsy Treasury - Tea Time Treat

I'm so excited, one of my lovely tea cosies has been listed in an

Etsy Treasury called Tea Time by Soroka. 

I am thrilled to be featured.

You can check out the collection following the link above. 

Soroka also makes stunning hand felted pieces and I love her felted flower brooches .

http://www.etsy.com/listing/59796512/wedding-felt-flower-a-brooch

The Return of the Wanderer ...............

Well I expect you thought I had disappeared for good .......

No, only taking some time out to rest up as I have been poorly again. 

I've been spending my time reflecting on how to fit crafting into my life and

knitting fits in nicely when one is recouperating. 

I always come back to my knitting, rain or shine, and it's always there,

like a comforting friend in times of need.

So I've been clickity clicking away on those Knitting needles

and been busy making some ...... 

Hand Knitted Tea Cosies 

Pumpkin Pin Cushions

as can be seen in my Folksy & Etsy shops which I am updating at present,

it all takes time and effort but I am getting there!

 Pumpkin Pin Cushions

 Tea Cosies - Terrific Turquoise

Tea Cosy - Rosie

I hope you are all well and busy.

It is nice to be back!

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Magazine Treat

My treat this week was a trip to

the magazine stand in WHSmiths!!

I'm trying not to be seduced by the glossies as I feel they are overpriced

and often I flick through once or twice and then they are left to one side,

only for me to sort out later and pass on to my mum.

However, this mag caught my eye. 

There's a piece on broomstick crochet which sounds good if you are a witch,

or looking for some new challenges on with the hook!

I will have to give it a try and keep you posted.

 

Bee x

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My upcycled table

I grabbed a bargain the other day,

a pine coffee table for £10.00

It needed some TLC .........

sanding out the dents and splashes of  white paint,

and then a bit of wax.

It changed the whole thing into something brand new!

The motto is ........

Upcycle, recycle and save the pennies and the planet!

The table looks great in my living room

p.s Buzz was doing his best to pretend he wasn't in the picture!

Bee x

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When crisis strikes ....... crochet!

What a few days I've had ............. hospital revealed that my stomach is normal! 

So no idea what is going on there and I am fed up with waiting to find out what's wrong.

I'm now waiting again for a letter to drop through the letterbox for the follow up appointment.

I had my dear mum to stay as well, mainly she was doing her mumsy thing in looking after me,

which involved me looking after her too! 

With all this going on, I needed to do something to take my mind of it all and in times of crisis, out come the crochet hooks and balls of beautiful coloured wool.

You may remember me starting a blanket in the winter, well I am still doing it. 

I'm on the downward slope now towards the finishing line.

On Sunday, I spent a lovely, carefree afternoon and evening,

 crocheting squares, one by one. 

I think it is amazing how something so simple as crafting, especially crochet,

 can eleviate troubles and tension whilst creating something special.

Bee x

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A Mat for a Flat

This is my new purchase for my flat,

a beautiful woven mat in yellow and white with a comtemporary bird design

I purchased it from my favourite interiors and gift shop

based in Newbury, Berkshire, called

Tiger Tiger

They have an online shop too which is worth a visit.

I have been looking for a rug for a while but couldn't find one I liked.

I've had my eye on this one for a while.

I finally sucummed to my desire and took the plunge and got it!!  woo hoo!

I am well pleased with it and it goes nicely in my colourful, contemporary, and eclectic home.

It comes from a company called House Doctor

who have a wonderful online brochure illustrating lots of lovely goodies

with a comtemporary, retro feel (uh oh! Warning: it could be dangerous! lol).

Now I've found their brochure,

I am covetting several other things for the flat when my pennies allow, and 

 can justify the need.  

I've got a birthday coming up in July.

  Perhaps I can put in a few 'subtle as a brick' suggestions to the ones that ask,

'what would you like for your birthday?'.........

These people are now few and far between, now that I am getting older,

I hasten to add! I'll should be so lucky!

My Covetted Items are as follows

these images were taken from the House Doctor Brochure

There is also a lovely blog to take a peek called

Thoughts and Finds

Bee x

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Win a Camper Van!

Dorset Cereals
are having a great competition

until 2nd June 2010

The prize is this lovely blue camper van pictured below!!

I've always wanted to own one so I've entered with my fingers and toes doubly crossed!!
All you have to do to enter is follow this link and enter your details

http://www.dorsetcereals.co.uk/category/win-lovely-things/monthly-prize-draw

Also,

don't forget you can vote for me in their

'Little Blog Awards'

by clicking on the link below, for some prizes too

good luck

Bee x

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Beautiful Angels

I was clearing out a few things this week, I am still having a sorting out in my flat, and came across this beautiful postcard of these two stunning cherub like child angels. 

Angel Kiss

I love angels and their symbolic spiritual nature. 

There is something uniquely beautiful and calming about this picture. 

 It is called Angel Kiss dated 1921.

I am having to go to hospital again next week in regards to my tummy trouble. 

This time to have a camera down into my stomach to see what is going on. 

I cannot wait, I have been in a lot of discomfort so not been too clever to blog as much as I like. 

Also my crafty vibe has been waining with the pain so not much creativity going on to talk about.

However, I think these two charming cherubs will help me get through the ordeal.

I trust the doctors to get to the bottom of it and sort the problem out

so we will see what the outcome is next week.

Have a beautiful weekend

Bee x

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Start the week with a little sunshine ........

To my great surprise, and delight, I've won my first award.

A lovely
Sunshine Award

My great thanks goes out to Little Red Said for nominating me for this award

for my inspiring little blog.

The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspires others in the blog world.

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Of course, one does their best,
to inspire the rest,
to bring sunshine to my readers,
woo hoo, hip hip hippy horray !!!!
sunshine all round I say!

xxxxxxxxx

As I have been nominated to accept this award, I can now nominate 7 inspiring blogs I like to visit on a regular basis to also receive this award, so here are my nominations

Two Hippos

Kitschen Pink

Her Library Adventures

Yarning

Happy Loves Rosie

Susannah Conway

The Further Adventures of a Thrifty Mrs

I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do

Thanks again to Little Red for this beautiful award.

Bee x

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Friday Finds

As the saying goes, 'good things come to those who wait .....'

or is it 'goodies come to those who wait'?

I am beginning to think that vintage finds are like buses,

nothing for a while,

 and then three come along at once.

Look what I've found on my thrifty travels this week ....................

I've wanted some vintage coat hangers for a while,

for display and photographic purposes and

what do I find, not one but two! 

I couldn't believe my luck.

Whilst on my rampaging rummaging,

I also found this beautiful hand held mirror, a plastic replica of the metal ones we used to have. 

The metal paint is wearing off,

revealing the green below and

the embroidery flowers are just a transfer, but I love it all the same.

As for these dinky clogs,

I thought they were so cute I had to buy them to add to my collection of folky items I seem to be unconsciously developing now.

No doubt, they will be appearing in a starring 'blog' role soon!

I hope you like them and all have a great weekend. 

Bee x

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If you go down to the woods today ....................

I took my lovely Buzz dog for a walk in the woods today, and I came across a big surprise! lol

I spotted a deer sunbathing in the bluebells. 

 Luckily, I had Buzz on the lead at that point,

and managed to take a few photos (slightly blury) but I think you will spot

 beautiful 'bambi' in there somewhere. 

When I eventually moved, it moved too and another deer got up

and they both walked across the woodland into cover.  It was a stunning sight to see.

The bluebells are starting to flower and soon there will be a carpet stretching the whole of the woodland which is a lovely sight, far better enjoyed in person than my pics.

The primroses are basking in the sunshine with their pretty petal heads pointing towards the sky.

I love my walk in the wood, and every time I go I spot the changes and feel my spirits lifting.

Bee x

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Vintage Sewing Tools of the Trade

Sewing Tools of the Trade

1. Vintage scissor & needle sharpener, 2. thrift score, 3. sewing still life, 4. Grandma's Thimble

To celebrate my love of vintage sewing items,

I found these beautiful photographs on flickr that I thought

do my love of them justice.

A few years ago, I would have gone mad for the latest

fashion but now its vintage all the way .....

Anyone got any vintage sewing or knitting item from the past they can't bear to part with?

Bee x

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Knitting Again

 A tea cosy in the making again!

I had an urge to pick up some knitting needles yesterday, after all my hard work in sprucing up my flat, over the last two weeks, both inside and out.

I have to be in the mood for knitting because I find I have to concentrate on it a little more than crochet but then I hooked for a while, until my arm starts playing up!

I am an impatient knitter, so I like to keep my projects on the small side, or do big knits with big needles that grow very quickly, so I am knitting one of my infamous tea cosies again!

I like the fact that knitting, and crochet, allow me to switch off.  
I enjoy the process of creating the stitches and making a fabric and watching it grow right before your eyes.

I would say that I am not a novice knitter, but I think I would benefit from some advanced teaching in shaping with pattern stitches as I always seem to get myself in a muddle with shaping these.  If anyone knows of classes, or books that could help me with this, any suggestions would be most appreciated.

knit one, purl one, make one!

put the kettle on, brew up and knit some more!

Bee x

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Decorating Diva

1. Tray, brush, roller, paint, 2. paint, 3. Decorating (204/365), 4. Decorating

Just in case you were wondering where I disappeared to,

my vanishing trick was due to my transformation into a decorating diva. 

 Alongside my prince charming (my lovely man),

we painted my flat from top to bottom

and it now looks sparkling and brand new. 

Never in such a whirl before,

the Spring cleaning and clearing out

has left me sitting in a beautiful flat.

Certain new items were purchased for

the bathroom (a toilet brush and toilet roll holder)

and now it looks like 'little girls room' fit for a princess.

With still a few jobs to do, I will be a busy bee, as

I am starting on the garden today.

I hope you all had a great Easter holiday.

Enjoy the sunshine.

Bee x

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And the Winner is ..............

Well it is April Fools Day today, but this is not an April Fool, but 

it's the day to pick the winner of  Spring Time Giveaway

So I've put all the names in a hat (well in a bowl)
and hand picked the winner .........

and the winner is 
Beki from Bekimaries

and she is now the proud owner of the

Spring time Necklace and Rosette

My many thanks to all who took the time to enter and
special thanks goes to Anna at Ark Designs
who put a post about my giveaway on her blog

who I will be sending a special gift of thanks to shortly.

Bee x

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Spring Time Garland

I thought we would have a Spring theme this week as its is coming up to Easter.

What with all the spring flowers about, the daffodils, the crocuses and the primroses.  I've even got a tulip poking its head out in the garden.  It inspired me to make this Spring Time Garland using vintage doilies, embroidered table mats, and lace. 

First of all, I washed and then hand dyed the doilies

powder blue dye

then halved the doilies and cut the table mat into four

and stitched them to a long strip of fabric, evenly spaced apart. I then stitched the lemon lace trim on both sides so it is reversible and edged the ends with a big lemon bow.

heres the result ..........

not the best pics

but it was raining so I had to find

 a suitable hanging place inside

I hope you like it,  It has inspired me to make some more to put in the

shop so I will keep you posted on these in due course

I hope you are all having a good week.

Bee x

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Thrifty Friday Finds ..............

a little late ....... but better late than never!

I've been out and about this week, on my travels, 

and on the hunt for some beautiful thrifty finds, to use in my work in some way

My treasures I found

a beautiful lacy top to upcycle or customise

a pretty blue embroidered table cloth

some vintage books

and zips

and a selection of beautiful old buttons

one can never have enough

Don't forget to enter the Spring Time Giveaway, you have until the

1st April, when I shall pick the winner

I wish you a splendid weekend!

Bee x

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Mad Hatter's Tea Party Finds

After yesterday's post on

Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland' film,

I thought I should explore, with fear and intrepidation, the online world of designer/makers to see what I might find with my looking glass.

 Putting myself in Alice's shoes, and with her adventures in mind, here are the beauties I discovered
for you all to see .......

I hope you like, some are whimsy, weird and all are wonderful.

Gotta go, or else I will be late, late for a very important date!

bee x

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Alice in Wonderland

I am a great one for using my imagination and love films which take me to another world, especially children's films and fantasy films.

So I had to go and see
 Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland
at the weekend with my lovely man.  We saw it in 3D which I think was brilliant.  
It was slightly different from Avatar! 

I loved it for the special effects, make up and costumes. 
Johnny Depp did his usual wonderful thing in playing the 'Mad Hatter' and there was a great cast of voices for some of the characters, Barbara Winsor, Stephen Fry and Matt Lucas to name a few. 
 Helen Bonham Carter did look a little big headed in it though!

It's one to go and see. 

The Mad Hatter's Tea Party

bee x

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Spring Time Giveaway

Only one entry so far ......

So far i've only received one entry to the Spring Time Giveaway,

so I am changing the rules so it should be easier to enter, if you so wish.

 (PLEASE PRETTY PLEASE!)

Maybe I made it too hard! 

So sorry about that. 

First time nerves and all that to get over, and we all make mistakes .... lol!

All you need to do to enter is to send me a comment on this post on what you like about the Bee and Buzz blog and where you found it (if you can remember).

and I will pick the winner on Thursday, 1st April 2010, with the best comment.

good luck!

Bee x

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Dish of the Day

My favourite Dishes of the Day

1. Pyrex Collection, 2. March27/ my dishes. ::affectionately::, 3. Dresser, 4. Lola and Dishes, 5. clean up, 6. 90/365, 7. Plate Wall, 8. Filigree Bowl Surprise, 9. My favorite finds

Following on from the spring cleaning post,

I found these beautiful images of dishes

that you might like, to keep you entertained over the weekend, a new

slant on 'Dish of the Day'!

Instead of a dish you can eat, a dish (or a few dishes) that you can admire! lol

Have a great weekend and don't forget to enter the giveaway.

Bee x

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A Great Giveaway

The very first 'Bee and Buzz' giveaway

After a lot of deliberating with Buzz dog,

along with many cups of coffee, stratching ones head,

and hmmming, and arrhing about what to giveaway

and what to get my 'Bee and Buzz' friends to do, and what to give away,

 I have decided to giveaway two great things:

1st Prize of Goody Two Shoes Goodness

is a

 beautiful spring time necklace

 handcrafted by my own fair hands

with machine embroidery and hand crocheted embellishments with
vintage buttons using recycled vintage fabrics

and a

 prize winning 'Spring Time Rosette'
with hand crocheted flower, vintage fabric and matching button
and kilt pin, hand crafted from recyled fabrics

And ...................... a runner up prize too!!!!!!

Linkty Link Conselation Prize

A link on my blog to your blog
(subject to my approval of course)

When I was little, during the holidays, my gran would organise some games for my brother and I to play. There was always a prize for the winner, and a conselation prize for the looser, so everyone won something and was happy, so in memory of my wonderful gran, we have the linkty link conselation prize!

To enter this giveaway:

 With a view to 'connecting' with my fellow bloggers, creatives, readers, and spreading the 'Buzz word', and to creating a blog list of lovely blogs, all you need to do if one of the following: 

For my fellow bloggers:

all you need to do is to put a link to my blog, or mention my blog or giveaway on your blog
and then post the link to me in the linky widget at the bottom of the post.

For my fellow readers:

for those of you who drop by for a regularly read who don't have your own blog,

you can enter by sending me your email address and comment on how you found me on the linky widget below.

The Winner:

1st Prize!

Will be picked at random on  
Thursday 1st April, 2010, in time for Easter
(no not an April Fool!)

                                 .

A four leaf lucky Clover ....

I hope you will take a few minutes out of your busy day to enter and enjoy this giveaway

and the best of  luck.

Bee x

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