Autumn Adventures with a Vintage Ladybird Book

This vintage Ladybird nature book from 1966 was always present in my home when I was growing up, but it's only been this year that I sat down with it and looked at it properly. Looking turned to admiration at the stunning artwork within its covers, evoking a longing within me to don my wellie boots and go out nature spotting.

So that's exactly what I did. Using this book as my own 'I Spy' guide (remember those?), I captured autumnal images over a period of several weeks. 

Our pre-Christian ancestors celebrated Autumn as the New Year, marking the end of the light half of the year and the beginning of the dark. 

I have always loved getting out and about in nature, but this project made me really notice the little changes that happen as the seasons rotate, and appreciate everything from a hilltop scene changing colour to the arrival of a single mushroom.

As much as I adore Autumn and Winter I do suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, so it's really important that I get out in the daylight during these months as much as possible. Using What to Look for in Autumn reminds me that we are all natural creatures, and that by living more by the seasons and less by the clock, the television schedule and the demands of working life we can feel more in tune with nature and get more out of each season. As the adage goes, 

"Those who never get outside cannot thrive."

I certainly feel much happier when I get outside and don't spend the entire week under electric lighting.

I think I need the other three books in the series, now! What do you love most about Autumn?

Wishing you a leaf-crunching Monday,

The 11 Questions Tag

I have been tagged by my vintage-loving crafting fellow Sheffielder Mrs. Hotchpotch! And I thought in the interests of sharing random trivia about myelf I'd give it a go. Sorry it's taken so long to get round to it. I have also been tagged by Plain Jane Dawson so thank you for that, too! 

The 11 questions tag

The Rules are as follows: 
- Each person tagged must post 11 random facts about themselves
- They must answer the 11 questions posted by the previous blogger
- They must create 11 more questions to ask the bloggers they tag
- They must tag 11 blogs with less than 200 followers
- The bloggers must be informed that they have been tagged

11 random facts about me...

1. I am pretty much always cold
2. I love Disney films and collect them on dvd
3. I adore Marmite anything
4. I paint my nails a different colour every week
5. I love writing fiction but need to make time to write more. I completed NANOWRIMO two years ago
6. I love music and have playlists for every mood and occasion. I enjoy every single type of music... except heavy metal. And that's after giving it a considerable go. 
7. I often have a whole pile of books on the go at once
8. I'm terrible at maths
9. After they invaded my (surprisingly clean) house in my final year at university I am terrified of rats and feel sick whenever I think of them
10. Instead of swearing I am often heard to exclaim, 'oh trousers!' 
11. There are tonnes of really well-loved films I have never seen. I am a member of LoveFilm in an attempt to remedy this. 


Mrs Hotchpotch's Questions for Me: 

1. Radio 1 or classic fm 

Hmm, I only listen to Radio 1 in the mornings if I need some bouncy music to wake me up, and only just started listening to Nick Grimshaw but not sure what I think yet... I'd say Radio 1 in the early mornings and Classic FM when working from home because lyrics are too distracting and I like calm background music! That doesn't answer the question, does it...

2. Favourite tipple

I'm a girl who loves real ale, which surprises people, but a nice glass of red wine is probably my favourite. Ooh but I like c***tails too...

3.If you had one superpower what would it be?

The power of being a calm non-worrier. That's worrier, not warrior.

4.What would you do with one million pounds?

Help out family and friends in these tough times, buy myself a little house and do a spot of travelling too. Oh, and I'd buy a dragon. And perhaps open a tearoom. The dragon could toast the teacakes. 

5.  all time favourite song?

I go through phases and have many favourites and have spent ages mulling this over and I still can't choose! See above - it's the only trouble with liking so much music! I will say that The Killers and Mumford and Sons are getting a lot of airtime on my iPod right now. 

6. your idea of a perfect Sunday

Well if it was really perfect I'd have a long lie in but it would magically be 6:30am when I get up. I'd have a cuppa before a stroll around some car boot sales bagging lovely vintage bargains, have tea and pastries, then go on a very long country walk with Beatrix before tea (sensing a theme?) and cake with friends and maybe a glass of wine and sofa time in front of a good film in the evening. If there was time and I had the energy to pop in a drink or two at a bar with friends before bed that would be smashing. 

7. tea or coffee?

Need I even answer?

8. If you could invite one person over for dinner who would you choose?

Stephen Fry. I want him to be my uncle so he can turn up for dinner whenever and impart his great wisdom.

9. What's the best piece of advice you have ever been given? 

There's probably been lots, but my dad's always telling me not to be so over-sensitive. He's right - I over-think and over-analyse everything then tend to assume I've messed up or embarrassed myself. Sometimes I'm right; more often I'm wrong. 

10. What one word best describes you?

Bookworm 

11. What infuriates you?

Snoring! Can't be in the same room as a snorer. It irritates me to tears and I need my sleep! Also bad grammar, rude, ignorant people, animal cruelty and women who think they need to bitch to get ahead in life. Not much infuriates me, as you can see. Breathe...

My Questions for You:

1. If you could meet one person from history who would it be?
2. What did you want to be when you were a child?
3. What's your favourite flower?
4. Birthdays or Christmas?
5. Favourite character from a book?
6. A baboon steals the one possession you can't do without. What was it?
7. When would you time travel to?
8. A word or phrase you say far too often
9. What do you do after a bad day?
10. Chocolate or cheese?

11 people to tag:

If I may break the rules here... I've tagged a lot of bloggers recently so this time will say, if you want to take part in this tag, please do, and let me know so I can have a read.

Have a smashing Friday!

Vintage Newspapers - A Narrow Squeak for Some Paper Treasures

Having featured a number of treasures gifted to me by my nan recently, this time it's my gran - my dad's mum - who has really come up trumps. Every time one of us sees Gran she hands over several carrier bags full of newspapers for my guinea pig. So when she handed over another bag to my parents when they saw her last week, none of us expected what we found inside...

Apparently she said that if they were of no interest to me I could still use them for the guinea pig. Sorry Alfie, but there's no way you'll be parking your furry behind on these!

One person's ephemera is another's treasure...

Latest Thrifted Finds Part 1: Vintage Tea Set

This thrifting lark can be a funny old thing at times. It was only on Monday that I flopped on the sofa after work and found myself drooling over a gorgeous four piece vintage tea set recently acquired by the lovely Liz over at Shortbread & Ginger. 

Sixteen hours later I popped into my regular charity shops for the first time in a good few weeks and stumbled across this fifteen piece bone china tea set in the same colours and a very similar pattern. It seemed like serendipity had decided to make my week.

A little worn in places, I love these timeless colours and really like the fact that it must have been used and enjoyed a lot over the years.

It took four ladies to wrap it all up and I actually felt guilty for only having to pay £2.00 for the entire set! Fortunately I donated more to charity in the form of a few more lucky finds which I will show you in part 2 on Friday.

Have a lovely day (did you know it's National Chocolate Week?)

Patchwork 1970s Style

I have the last of the acquisitions from my visit to Wales to show you! My nan gave me most of her haberdashery supplies, and tucked in among it all was this booklet full of patchwork patterns from the 1970s. I think it was originally part of a kit because I received some plastic hexagonal templates as well. This was really handy as patchwork is most definitely back in! 

Erm... cosy!

Does this guy remind anyone of Humpty from Playschool? Am I showing my age now...

This is just an advert in the booklet but it made me smile for obvious reasons. Can I have a patchwork quilt with Benjamin Bunny on it please?

I may go in for more muted colour schemes (though I hear mustard yellow and orange are back in this year, folks) but I'm pretty enthusiastic about making a patchwork cushion now!

Have a perfectly tessellated Monday,