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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Spring Cleaning

The Sun is out and it's time for Spring Cleaning ........

Sorry I wasn't about much last week, I was taking things easy as in a bit of pain.

Glad to say I am not too bad this week. 

What brilliant sunshine we are having at the moment.

I know it is going to change at the end of the week so I've been making the most.

Buzz Dog decided to give me a paw too, in digging up the plants that I had just put in!

Yesterday, I hung out some washing to dry for the first time which got me thinking about Spring cleaning hence I've found these great inspiring pics to make the chores seem more enjoyable.

 Laundry Spring Clean

1. ..., 2. the go-between, 3. Washing day, 4. washing up, 5. pegs on the line, 6. Flaming vacuum cleaner of doom, 7. clean up, 8. Native laundry {Explored!}, 9. laundry day, 10. Laundry Basket, 11. to keep the pegs in, 12. day 12:365 gratitude::bench monday valentine's clean-up fun!, 13. Pretty Spring Cleaning14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available


I also heard a neighbour mowing their lawn for the first time this year so Spring must be here!

I hope you are enjoying the sun as much as I am.  
I am working on the giveaway idea which will be posted towards the end of the week
so keep your eyes peeled.

Bee x

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Wednesday Wanderings

You might recall me telling you about my 'tummy trouble' a short while ago and

that I was waiting for a scan.  I had it on Monday.

After being prodded about a bit by the ultra sound lady, she told me I definitely have gall stones!! 

She said they are between 1 - 2 cms in size and I have a few of them. 

No wonder my tummy has been grumbling alot! 

I've got to wait now to see my GP to find out what can be done.  I can't wait!

 At least now I know what is wrong. 

The worst bit was being nil by mouth, I was gasping for a cuppa by the end,

but the whole experience wasn't too bad though. 

I've been thinking I am going to do a giveaway soon. 

I haven't done one before so I am contemplating what it should be

and what we should do to make it fun, so I think

I will do this next week when I have got my thinking cap in gear.

Sunday afternoon, my man and I, and Buzz dog, went for a walk along the beach. 

 It was freezing but sunny and it blew a few cobwebs away. 

What is it about the sea air that 'knocks one out'?!

We all crashed out one the sofa when we got home.

What a beautiful week we are having with the weather.

Although cold, it's great to have the sunshine.

Buzz dog is sitting in the sun, sunbathing and we have been getting out

for some nice walks in the nearby forest, one of my favourite places.

I hope you are all have a great week and enjoying the spring sunshine.

Bee x

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Friday Favourites ..... Things I would like to Own

Some larger items I would like to own

Upon my travels through my 'virtual journey' and amongst the web of beautiful photos,

I've come across so many things I would like to own,

so I thought I would show you a few of the wonders

that I swoon over .......... and think one day, I might own!
(if I have the room!)

1. Camper Van :), 2. Constance 1956 Vintage Caravan, 3. Vox Stellarum at Wire Lock,
4. tea rooms, 5. I want a VW, 6. Traditional English Gypsy caravan

My grandad and gran had a campervan when I was growing up and I loved going for trips out in this, especially when we used to pull up and put on a brew!

My parents have a caravan and I used to go on holidays in one, by the sea.  I would love to own one to make it into a garden studio, customised by my own fair hands, of course.

I have never been on a narrow boat which is a house boat, I would love to go on holiday on one of these as I like the idea of taking things very slowly on the water.

As you know I love my tea and really love going to tea shops for afternoon tea. I would love to own a tea shop that is combined with knitting and crocheting, and of course cake, and chocolate!
What a combination! lol

As for the Bug car, I have always thought these were fun cars and very girly especially the ones with a flower holder by the stearing wheel.

Gypsy Caravans look so beautiful and I think if I have enough space in my garden I would love one at the bottom of it, as a sanctuary of peace and quiet, to relax in at the end of the day.

So there are my lovely finds. If anyone owns one of the above, it would be great to hear about it or about anything else one covets ............

Bee x

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Thrifty Finds Thursday

Retro Floral Finds

I wonder how many of you like searching for thrifty finds regularly? 

I normally go every week, but as I have been poorly I have had withdrawal symptoms, as I haven't been for about three weeks.  So yesterday, I had a great time rummaging about in a second hand clothing store, near my parents, whilst on a visit to them.  I escaped for a bit of 'me time' as things were a bit tense between my mum and dad, as my dad had lost his mobile phone, which he uses for business!  Thankfully, my mum informed me he found it this morning!  Relief!!  I think my mum was relieved too! lol

tablecloth close up

Anyway, I found some lovely linens to use in my work with a retro feel, and a beautiful hand embroidered tablecloth and napkin set with a view to cutting it up into small pieces, but it is far too beautiful for that.

 I realise it now, as you will see from my pics...........

tea fit for a queen

Has anyone got anything they have bought from a charity shop, thrifty store, car boot sale or jumble sale, ebay etc that they really love and could bear to part with and perhaps couldn't  have found using the  conventional shopping methods?  It would be interesting to know. 

all crockery and books vintage finds

Anyway, it's tea, fit for a queen, I think, just in case she decides to pop by......well, at least for me, in style!

Bee x

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Soopsee Introduction

With a view to 'spreading the Bee and Buzz word' online,

I found a site called Soopsee, through Etsy,

which is FREE to create your own website with details of your work,

photographs and links to your Etsy shop. 

Updates to your shop can be automatically entered to your Soopsee acount
and you can automatically 'tweet' new items too,
which in my book seems a great idea to save time spent online. 

I managed to set mine up within an hour.  It was really easy.

Just thought it might be worth mentioning as it may be of use to you

if you have an Etsy shop,and you are not aware of it already.

click the link to see my Soopsee

I hope this was interesting and helpful

Bee x

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Pin Cushion and Needle Case Sewing Kit

Perfect Pins Sewing Kit

Shop Update

I love little kits and containers for my sewing treasures, especially handmade ones,

and thought that I would create one

with my 'pumpkin pin cushion idea' and a needle case

 for sale in my shops, Etsy, and Folksy

Perfect Pins Sewing Kit

contains

1 Pumpkin Pin Cushion

1 Needle Case

1 Tape Measure

all in a little gift bag with sewing tag

priced at £10.00

perfect gift for an avid stitcher,

for mother's day present

or birthday gift

Bee x

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Spring Lambs & Light

Spring Lambs & Light is here ..... at last

1. Lambs, 2. New Lamb, 3. lambs tails, 4. First Spring Flowers, 5. Préalpes Lamb (French Alps), 6. Fresh spring flowers, 7. Lamb, 8. little lambs, 9. More spring flowers, 10. Spring Flowers, 11. Young Lamb, 12. Spring Flowers - Frühlingsblumen bei Yoga Vidya Bad Meinberg, 13. Local Florist14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

As it is March 1st today, the first day of Spring, I thought

we should have a touch of spring on the blog so I found these delightful

photos of these cute spring lambs and a selection of my favourite spring flowers for us all to enjoy.

I've noticed that it is light in the evenings until about 6.00pm and the spring birds are tweeting away.

I've even got a few crocuses and polyanthus in my garden, poking their pretty little heads out to the sky.  They bring me joy, the knowledge that spring is here, and the better weather is on its way ......

and this gives me a great reason to be cheerful!

Bee x