My new phone cover!

My very talented friend made this brilliant crochet phone cover for me. Aparently she is thinking of making a Royal Wedding set featuring Wills and Kate in Crochet, now THAT I have got to see!

Stamford

I went to Stamford in Lincolnshire at the weekend on a fantastic sunny day. It's full of lovely stone architecture, gorgeous shops and plenty of places to eat. Stamford is steeped in history dating back 1000 years with five Medieval Churches, the spectacular Burghley House (where many films and T.V shows have been shot) and the famous George Hotel.  After a brilliant day we stopped for tea and a HUGE slice of homemade cake - perfect!

More wirery (sp?) stuff

Wire

I got together with my crafty chums today and we decided to have a play with some wire. I attended a wire sculpture workshop last year and learnt a few of the basics so we all had a go at making a bird. It was great fun seeing the birds emerge and as always it's lovely to see how differently they all worked out, some of them had lots of personality - here is mine!

It's warming up...............Yey!

Comic Relief

   


































The brilliant illustrator Paul Blow has illustrated the cookbook "Jamie's Monster Bake Sale" sold in aid of this years Comic Relief. I love Paul's quirky, colourful, graphic style and his work is often in The Times, Gaurdian and The Independant. To see more of Paul's work please follow this link www.paulblow.com.What a  fabulous combination: Jamie's simple recipes, a good cause and wonderful design. Get your book online here or from Sainburys. Happy Red Nose Day Everyone!

Button madness!

Inspired by an earlier post about the lovely Etsy shop Fluffington, I have been collecting covered buttons. You can buy buttons already covered (sometimes in vintage fabrics from ebay or charity shops) or you can cover them yourself in any fabric you like and they can be embellished too. They are bit fiddly to embroider but look lovely on a cardi, as a brooch or they can be added to cards and embroidered pictures.

Archiects of Air

We visited the "Architects of Air" last year and I have just discovered it's a touring event. The "exhibit" is like a giant blow up bouncy castle that you go into.  Once inside, the colours and patterns that natural light creates is amazing and it feels very relaxing and womb like too. You can just lay around and chill out! If you get a chance to go, it's a fantastic sensory experience and will be in the UK in Nottingham on the 27th May till the 5th June. See this link for more info. and for the other places in the world that it will be touring to http://www.architects-of-air.com/touring.html

Some more cards designed by ..................

...........me and can be found by you at all good card shops. Copyright Stephanie Thannhauser.

Bletchley Park

Bletchley Park is the historic site of secret British codebreaking activities during WWII and birthplace of the modern computer, it also has a small toy museum. Luckily the park is local and we are able to visit it regularly. My children love to look at the old toys dating from the 1930's to the 1950's, some of which they are allowed to play with. It's an inspirational place full of quirky dolls, gorgeous packaging,  posters and many handmade toys made from recycled materials. What is amazing is how many toys are still hot favourites with kids today. I love the fact that most of the toys are wooden. There is very little plastic in sight!

Wish list

 I spotted these lovely items in John Lewis the other day. They are by Disaster Designs and are a fab. eclectic mix of fabrics, embroidery, tags, ribbons, buttons and charms. I love the quirky "Britishness" of the range and would love the cake stand and London bus purse. Hint hint, Mothers Day is coming up folks!

Spring is here!

Well it is in the Geranium pots that were on holiday in my parents shed to protect them from the Winter cold. I had forgotten that I had planted bulbs underneath and got a lovely surprise when I saw them up and flowering. What an optimistic flower a Daffodil is!