Sew/Blog Sabbatical return

Hello! My sewing sabbatical (9 months) for one reason or another seemed to link with my blog sabbatical. I cannot tell you that I missed blogging like someone that misses a loved one, or a favourite pastime, but it was always lurking at the back of my mind. It was I suppose unfinished business like a sewing or knitting project which lays untouched, or that friend you have meaning to text for ages, or the half painted room.
It all started a few days ago when I spotted the Faith Hope and Charity Shopping fabulous 2012 Jubilee Special swap on my blog roll, my mind wandered and for the first time I felt compelled to write a comment. I wanted to join in, I really wanted to get involved. So I emailed Lakota- when I heard that I had been chosen to be in the swap, I was delighted, and not only that I have a fantastic swap partner Scarlett from scarlett loves elvis blog. Scarlett has the most amazing retro, kitsch up cycle blog, with great style and story's.

The second thing happened a few days ago. My Daughter asked me to sew a fabric bag for our beautiful cat Poppy first birthday- to put all her presents in. Out come the the sewing fisherman's box and my box of fabric, when I spied this lovely British fabric I brought last year. I love the British landmark icons on the material and think they would make lovely buttons or badges.

Poppy's birthday bag

 Then I was inspired to sew DD a hair clip holder, using some beautiful vintage rose fabric and a candy pink ribbon. I filled the pouch with dried lavender and stuffing and using an old recyclable red button to hold it all together.

We all have reasons
for moving.
I move
to keep things whole.

-Mark Strand

Happy Blogging everyone!

Break Away

I have had an unintentional blog break. I do find every year when the Children and my OH are on School Holidays, my whole routine goes out the door. No more quiet mornings scrolling through my favourite blogs, no time in the evenings to write a post, and with 3 people having a pretty good time relaxing, I can't help but join them.

Although...... we have been to Lanzarote for 2 weeks (no wifi), a few nights in Manchester and on Saturday my Dad is coming over from New Zealand for 9 days. So that sort of counts me out till the beginning of September! I have noticed the weeks are flying by very quickly.

Lanzarote is beautiful and we did take advantage of the beautiful beaches and scenery. We went to the local volcanic mountain 'Timanfaya' park, which struck me as very barren and beautiful.

My view of the beach

Enjoying the sun

The Green lake (seaweed)

Before we left for our two week holiday, I managed to find some lovely charity shop/second hand goodies for my Vintage swap partner Karen at 'The White approach' organised by the lovely Lakota at Faith Hope and Charity Shopping. Although I am a bit forlorn as I still have not received mine! Maybe the Post Office are on Summer Holidays as well? Anyway I will wait with excitement for my parcel.

Lastly I ran a Hazel and Blue giveaway last month for Issue 3 of Mollie Makes magazine see here, and I have a winner....... its Max from Blackbird has Spoken !
Congratulations Max! I will been sending your prize all the way over to the South Island of New Zealand soon. (I have heard that its been snowing this week!)

I am looking forward to catching up and commenting on all your blogs. Sorry I have not been able to comment recently.

Bxx

Fetes and Fairs

Hello! Happy Monday to everyone, I am feeling a bit under the weather these last few days. What started as a sore throat, has travelled up towards my ears and nose. I know I have not got Flu as I had the flu jab at the beginning of the year, but the common cold is still not nice and I will be most glad when it goes.

With July comes the annual village and town fairs here in England, sometimes there are more than one fair or fete on at any one time, and you are literally spoilt for choice. Fairs or fetes are lovely events, bringing communities together with a common theme of raising money. This weekend at one of local fetes I was lucky enough to buy some authentic Indian food, the local shopkeepers daughter was selling homemade fresh Indian food made that morning- Vegetable Samosas and Egg bhunas. Yum yum that was lunch sorted then!

Fetes/fairs are also good for the thrifty person, as there are normally charity stalls from homes or organisations that do not normally sell. This Green rose enamel tin reminded me of a 1940's house, where the housewife would store her spare cash flow and pull out pennies for her broad. It was 30p.

I have recently found that glass items in charity shops, car boots are rocking my boat, and so I could not resist this glass vase for only 10p. I did notice the bottom of the vase was a bit chipped, but for 10p I had to have it.......That is until I got home and my OH politely told me that if the children got there mitts on it, they may accidentally severe their arteries! So now my beautiful vase is sat in the garage, unsure of its fate.

                                                 

I was really pleased to have found this Gravy boat at the fete sitting outside my favourite 'house clearance shop' on a white table. The colours really complements my blue and gold tureen I brought in Hampshire here and I snapped this up for only £1.00. It did need a fairy wash and scrub and it has a few cracks, but I still love it.

A bit of Norfolk pottery in my house. Lawleys from Stoke?

My 5 year old DD loved this fete as one of the stalls were selling sparkly tattoo's! She proudly had her sparkly butterflies on her arm all weekend. Wow how they grow up fast, from Dora the Explorer to sparkly tattoo's in a heartbeat.

Have you found any bargains at your local fetes/fairs? I am looking forward to seeing your thrifty bargains this week. I am joining in here at Liz's Magpie Monday and Sophie's Flea market finds.

PS Giveaway alert! If you fancy winning the latest copy of the Must have living and loving all things hand made 'Mollie Makes' magazine, I am having a Hazel and Blue giveaway and I would love it if you joined in!

Bxx

Hazel and Blue Giveaway - Mollie Makes Magazine

Roll up Roll Up! I have a brand new giveaway here at Hazel and Blue. Fancy winning the latest issue of the brand new living and loving handmade magazine Mollie Makes?

I am already a massive fan and love this magazine from head to toe and you could too, if you fancy entering the giveaway and getting your mitts on this copy of Mollie Makes!

I have been truly captivated with the new Mollie Makes Magazine for people who like me, love handmade and homemade things. It has it all including Vintage, sewing, craft, retro and thrifting amongst other things. Unlike other craft magazines, Mollie Makes hits you straight away with it's quality. The Magazine is heavy in paper weight and has a feeling of sturdiness. The pages are fill with amazing etsy and folksy finds, beautiful and (dear I say) simple crafts to make, along side interviews with cool vintage crafty people.

I was already hooked from the first issue, and signed up to the introduction subscription straight away.
Issue 3 is fill with beautiful finds and crafty makes, including the crochet flowers on the cover and these complementary felt rings.

I love the complementary craft item included in all the issues and I have already made the Ipod/Smart phone holder from Issue one.

I have a copy of Issue 3 of Mollie Makes and I would love to give it away to one lucky reader. The competition is open to everyone, worldwide (including my beloved New Zealand and Australia). The closing date is August 15th at (GMT) 12pm. After this time I will randomly pick a winner and let you know the winner asap! PS If I do not hear from you within 2 days I will have to pick out another winner. Also I must be able to contact you through your comment to let you know if you have won!

So in order to enter the Hazel and Blue - Mollie Makes Magazine giveaway all you have to do is the following

1) Follow my blog 

2) Leave me a comment to say why you would like a copy of Mollie Makes.

Feel free to tweet about the giveaway if you are on Twitter! I am @hazelandblue

I just want to say thank you for all your lovely comments recently, they truly make me smile and I feel so lucky to have such lovely followers.

Good luck to everyone!

Bxx

PS This is my own copy of Mollie Makes, I have not been paid or asked to write any of the above. They are all my words and thoughts only.  Peace out.

Library Thrifty Finds

Hello there! Happy Monday to everyone. Whilst out and about recently with my two children, we popped into our local library to pick a few books and have a quick play. To my delight I noticed that they were selling some older books to the public displayed on a table as you walk in. Never one to let a bargain go, I sent the Kiddywinks in and spend a few luxurious minutes browsing the table. I picked these 4 books, as each one had something that I knew I would enjoy reading at some point. They were 50p a book.

I have always wanted a Miller's Price Guide' although once I looked it in, I was slightly dishearted as so far nothing I own is Collectable.... (there is still time)

I choose the Mitch Albom book as he writes really thought provoking novels, his novel 'The five people you meet in Heaven' is a great read about a old man who dies and meets 5 people from his past who he had meet during his life.

'Love in the present tense' is a Richard and Judy Book Club shortlist book, I remember one year I read all of their Summer top reads and found some great authors.

'Mr Golightly's Holiday' by Salley Vickers, caught my eye as its about a gentleman author who is struggling with modern day life until he finds himself living a quiant village life in Rural Dartmoor.

I am hoping to take these on Holiday, as at the moment it tends to be the only time I am reading at the moment!

With our new addition to the Hazel and Blue family we went to the car booty last week and saw these kitten toys, when I explained the lady we had a new kitten, she said we could have them all for £1.00.

Poppy loves them and she is just adorable, she follows me around at night time when the children are asleep and will sleep and purr on my chest, nestled right by my neck, its a bit claustrophobic mind, but I don't mind:)

We also went to our local town fair last weekend, and amongst the food and charity stalls the local cat charity stall were selling these handmade granny woollen blankets for £1.50. We choose this pink one for Poppy  (or was it for me?!) You can never have enough granny blankets.

Lastly: I am thinking of having a giveaway soon, so keep your eyes peeled for my next post.

For this weeks thrifty finds I am linking in here at Liz's Magpie Monday and here at Sophie's Flea Market Finds.

Happy Thrifting!
Bxx

A Quaint Little Granny Shop

Happy Monday! On Friday morning my friend and I decided to meet for coffee and have a look around our local house clearance shop. It is a quaint old Victorian shop with the smell of a Granny's house full to the brim of old things. I have been inside a few times and you have to tip toe around all the items hanging from every little nook in the shop. The shop is like a hoarders house, the space is quite small and you are almost encouraged to rummage around if you want to find things. Well unexpectedly on Friday (as the sun was shining) the shop owner lady had opened up the back of the shop which now an area for vintage clothes, luggage and pictures in frames and further on, an outdoor area with everything displayed for a £1.00. 
                                             
I had to laugh as when I first went 'out the back' there was a blackbird bathing in the far table in the photo in a bowl of rain water. I felt like I was interrupting his privacy, but one look at me entering and his outdoor bath he flew off.

You literally had to dust of the dirt and rain water from these items, as I am sure they are left displayed outdoors over night.

All items displayed outside were £1.00!

My first item I brought was this very funky Spanish retro doll it was  displayed on a old teas maid trolley with all items for a 50p. I loved her face and was even more impressed when I picked her up and when you turn her she plays music.

I really like her cream flower in her hair and she has her original dress and underneath the skirt the original lining is still intact. The marking on her is 'Sempo' Tokyo Japan- never heard of it?

I hope this works! Here she is playing her music.........(please work)

In hindsight, I am not sure what to do with this doll, I may give her away or sell her as she doesn't seem to fit in with our house at the moment.. who knows? She really is beautiful but I don't want to put her away in a box.

I also picked up this glass trinket jar outside on the £1.00 display shelves.

Perfect for the top of my chest of drawers where I keep my jewellery and bits and pieces.

I brought a few more things but will show them in my next post, as I am having trouble with my laptop at the moment. I think it needs a MOT as it is sooooo slow at the moment and it is taking me hours to post.

Thank you for all your lovely comments recently, I really love reading them and I am looking forward to seeing all your thrifty finds this week. I am linking in here at Liz's Magpie Monday and Sophie's flea market finds.

Happy thrifting
Bxx

Strawberry Heart Monthly Make

I recently found a great link to join in and show case your monthly makes. Annie at Felt Fairy has organised A Monthly Make, where you can showcase your hand made items you have made during the month. I particular like that this as it is a monthly challenge, thus taking the pressure off trying to make something every week!

This month I wanted to have a go at appliqueing. (Appliqueing is when you iron/sew fabric onto another piece of fabric and sew into place.) I have seen other people's items finished with appliqueing and I have always thought it looks really nice. I decided to use my new fabric I wrote about here brought from My fabric house.

I satin stitched the free hand applique heart using my sewing machine.

Thrifting comes with a lot of bubble wrap!

So I made a strawberry heart appliqued bubble wrap holder

And lastly a sneak peek at my beloved sewing box. The box was given to me from my Father in Law (who also sews). He gave it to me as a surprise when I first started sewing again last year, he had filled it with lots of bits and pieces for me and I was so thrilled to recieve it. 

Bxx