Random things I'm loving...

Making rainbow celery, a fun use for left over celery when making soup, idea from this book.

(Still LOVING my fridge too!)

My $25 fragrance free (+free shipping) pack from Eco Store arrived today, bargain, especially since I use most of these products anyway. Sign up to get notified of future promotions.

3.2metres of vintage unused ballerina barkcloth arrived today!  Very pleased with this purchase.  Still has original shop tags, and unfortunately cellotape residue, though still heaps of it in pristine condition.  Can't wait to start making!

Our favourite biscuit recipe.  Poppet is a pro at choc button placement... a true lady, she can even multitask and caught up with Sesame Street on her own telly (made from a kids shoebox).

Some new stock.  I'm especially loving the ballet and polkadot combo and the circus pair.

Facebook love! Am having a wee giveaway to say thanks for liking, ends tomorrow, pop over here to enter. 

Be sure to pop back tomorrow night for 'a cuppa with'.... well you'll just have to pop back to find out.

Umm... that's all for now xx

ps. joining in here.

What a whopper competition! (+ a peek at my hollyhock shoes)

So I've joined forces with Stella for her mammoth GIVEAWAY! There's a pair of my shoes up for grabs and some super cute other prizes, I especially love the fox dress.  Be sure to check it out and enter, it's amazing. Have a browse through her blog while you're at it too, it's one of my favourites and if you haven't already discovered it, you'll be glad you have now.

Did you see the gorgeous piece of embroidery on my post a couple of days back?  Well here is a sweet wee pair of shoes I made from it yesterday.  Photo doesn't do them justice, it was another dreary old day, I plan to retake some photos during this brief spell of fine weather.

Have a great day x

Dreaming of hollyhocks and sunshine...

Some lovely hollyhock embroidery on a vintage doily... just waiting to be made into little shoes  

More beautiful hollyhocks from this book, a withdrawn book from my local library, the pictures were too pretty to leave it unwanted.

My hollyhocks in the vege garden, early summer. I fluked it with the pink hollyhocks and sweet peas growing in the same plot, and the white ones in another. 

Apparently I have ALOT of floral in my wardrobe, an observation I cannot dispute.  I love florals in clothing, they make me feel feminine and they also remind me of Spring and Summer, which can't come soon enough I might add! I've got a stash of beautiful vintage embroidered doilies and tablecloths (just waiting to be made into little shoes and aprons) which I've been ironing, while the rain pelts my studio windows. I wonder if the clever women behind them were also dreaming of Spring? I imagine many a favourite hollyhock, or iris, were carefully embroidered through the dreary winter months.

Here's a couple of pairs I've made recently, one with my favourite vintage Sanderson, the other vintage embroidered linen...

I hope it's cosy in your house... if you too don't have any sunshine x

ps. Joining in here.

To market...and a freebie!

Hello again! I've had very little time this past week for blogging, the busyness of the Summer months seems to have lingered, and I've even caught myself fantasising of cold winter days stuck inside by the fire with nothing to do (always omitting the reality of two toddlers climbing the walls, or more literally my beloved lounge suite).  Anyway, I thought I'd share some photos of a market stall I had over the Easter weekend, it was great fun and a very relaxing day.  I also thought I'd share a photo of myself as it's always nice to see the face behind the blog.  I resisted the urge to include a pre children (pre sleep deprivation) shot, oh so vain!

I sewed a bundle of paper bags for the market, made from a 1940's children's book.  It was the sweetest book, though very battered and torn, bit I still felt a bit guilty cutting it up, and now have a pile of loose pages containing stories I thought my kids would enjoy.  Each page contains a complete story as there was one for each day of the year.  I'm loving the polka dot washi tape too.  The little rocking horse package above, contains this sweet reversible floral pair, (made from the vintage Sanderson) for a special first baby.  I hope you love them! 

Here's some sweet wee hair ties I've made recently.  Poppet proudly helped make herself a pair of the gingham ones, and is looking very cute in her pigtails.

I'll be listing them in my felt shop shortly, until then... how about a freebie?  I'll pop one in with any felt purchase for the rest of the week (ending midnight friday), it will either be a single large tie, or a set of two. 

Sarah x

A little shoe cupboard (for very little shoes)...

I picked up this super cute wee cupboard last week, for a bargain $2 from my local op shop.  I love it's little curved corners, bakelite handle and lovely wood grain.  I'm guessing it was once a bathroom cabinet, and that it would have had a mirror, where now it is a piece of board.  But it's just perfect for a little shoe display cabinet...

Firstly I gave it a very light sand and used some danish oil on it, it came up beautiful. I decided to do the front in this pretty duck egg floral, a scrapbook paper from spotlight, that way if I want it in my room it'll suit nicely.  It's glued then mod podged.

But the inside is a gorgeously happy children's party print.  Lot's of bunting, sparkles and clouds (just to carry on the theme).  It makes a lovely cheerful surprise and perfectly suits my little shoes.  Very happy indeed!

For more creative spaces, pop over here.

Sarah x

Deb Hoare Art...

My super talented Mum has just opened her very own studio/gallery space.  It's in a beautiful spot, with sweeping views of the Taranaki coastline back up to New Plymouth, and views of  Mount Taranaki behind it.  One side will provide a lovely studio space for painting, and the main part is her gallery.  So if you're from Taranaki, or here on a visit, you may like to check it out. The open sign will be out most days, or phone to arrange an opening.  She also has a website, and couriers throughout New Zealand and (unframed) worldwide.  

Did you spot the very 'Cath Kidston' tray?  It's my latest favourite trademe purchase, bought especially to display my baby shoes for sale.  A few have sold already, but if you spot a pair you'd like, just email me at mollycoddlenz@hotmail.com and I'll see if they're still available.

Have a great day (mine started at 5.30am, thank you Ben),

Sarah :)

What I've been up to...

Belle and Boo Christmas shoes

Playing with dolls reversible shoes, russian dolls on the reverse...

Vintage Embroidery

Floral and ric rac reversible shoes,  floral and polkadots on reverse...

Retro Scooters

With baby number two on the way in seven weeks (sheesh), I've been doing lots of washing/ cleaning/ purchasing... in preparation for his peaceful, painfree and speedy arrival (one must remain optimistic after all).  I've also been trying to stock up my felt and trademe shops in preparation for Christmas.  So I thought I'd share a few of my favourite designs that I've just listed.

Oh, and the exciting bit... check back here later today as I'll be hosting giveaway, yippee!!

Enjoy your afternoon,

Sarah :)

My creative space...

My creative space is all about shoes lately.  I'm trying to stock up before Christmas, which is looming!  I'm still loving my new red suitcase too, makes a great vibrant prop.  I've made  more of my most popular styles, plus a few newbies, these reversible beauties...

These too...

They're all for sale here and here.

For more creative spaces pop over to our creative spaces.

Sarah

My creative space...

Some new styles for my felt and trademe stores today.  Top pair are from the vintage doily pictured, middle pair are from a 50's style fabric I recently bought at a garage sale, loving the little images, and the bottom pair are from my last Cath Kidston Circus sample, really love the red heel on this pair.

I'm really loving sewing these wee shoes at the moment.  I'll be updating shops with new sizes/designs over the next few days.

Oh, and I'm STILL crocheting away... hope to show you the finished blanket soon, thank goodness it's only a baby size!

To see more creative spaces, pop over here.

Sarah