Wednesday 17 June 2009

More Treasure, Baking and Boats

Oh dear, that rain (promised last weekend) has finally arrived. Please don't stay too long, I'd like some more sunshine!

Today, before the rain, we took our little bark boats and sailed them down a tiny twisty stream, the water was icily cold, and only the bravest were able to remove their shoes and socks, and in some cases, pants and trousers too!



This boat was the best and fastest.



We climbed through this tunnel



And came out the other end.. pretty, eh?

Here are some of the other things I found at the weekend..



A sweet cushion - 1960s original Habitat fabric.



A new project for me (it's not as groovy as Francesca's but still), it needs cleaning up, painting and decorating and then, the best bit, filling with treasure.



Super-cute Snoopy apron (do excuse the terrible photograph, aprons can be quite uncooperative). I love that pink and yellow together.



And talking of aprons, I got this funny house-coat/apron. I'd like to turn it into a dress. Oh crikey, it's another project.



This sweet, sweet book. It's in quite bad condition so I had to get handy with the magic tape, but it's something of a holy grail in Picture Puffin terms (eh, Katie?)



Ezra Jack Keats has such a unique and wonderful illustrative style using gouache and collage, each page is a delight. Like Margaret Wise Brown and Dr Seuss, he never had children of his own. Which I think is pretty extraordinary given the prodigious talent all three had for really being able to communicate with children through their books.



Some more Young Puffins



I love the colours and birds on Ditta's Tree.

And lastly, Iris and I did some baking today, trying to capture the Proustian strawberry-ness of last week's muffins.



I adapted a blueberry crumble muffin recipe from Ottolenghi's delicious book, they turned out pretty well, but on first taste, they could do with even more strawberries.
So, has anybody got a recipe for Strawberry Crumble Muffins that they'd care to share?

p.s. I have finished two swaps, they'll be on their way tomorrow - Laura and Artemis, stand by your letterboxes!

18 comments:

erin@designcrisis said...

You had me at Snoopy!

Erica Kelly said...

so envious of your little shelf!

Jane O Sullivan said...

lovely apron :) love to think of you sitting in the merry go round book or Ditta s tree wearing it, eating strawberry muffins....nath you have the balance perfectly !
thats not that naughty ditta von teeses tree is it ? (tee hee !)

corine said...

you really scored wit that apron!

littlebyrd said...

So many good things in this post! I love the picture of the tunnel ~ my son would really love that! And it is fun seeing your weekend finds. I am a sucker for shelves that you can put treaures in. I had no idea that M.W. Brown and Dr. Seuss had no children...

Natalie Ryan said...

I love that Ezra Jack Keats book - wonderful illustrations from my childhood. If only my school teacher mother had not donated EVERYTHING from my wardrobe......

Kaylovesvintage said...

I have to do a vintage swap with you soon...enjoy summer

Leigh said...

I love all of your finds! Such pretty colors in everything too. I loved Snoopy growing up, and that curio cabinet will be a fun project to fill with treasures.

Francesca said...

oh, nice find nath! i'll be keeping an eye on what you fill yours with. i feel a whole new flickr group coming on! x

Fine Little Day said...

Oh, so many treasures here Nath.

Laura said...

Oooooh, I can't wait! Will be stalking the postman for the next few days xxx.

The Topiary Cow said...

Lovely finds, lovely apron. Can't wait to see what you fill the shelves with!

Moo!

dottie angel said...

i remember having that 'whistle for willie' book as a child, i had forgotten i did until seeing your lovely 'found' copy...
and yes, that is a catherine holm teapot on my side! not thrifted though, one that my mum used to make tea in when i was little.
it still makes a good cup of tea...

what lovely finds for you too! i feel a spongebob song coming on :)

Artemis Russell said...

HOW ExCITING! a present in the post! I send you one back, then do I do anything else? I'm not 100% sure of the system yet but it sounds so much fun...can't wait to start making up my parcel :)

Those little leaf boats are so lovely...makes me want to have kids so I can do that stuff too! And you got such a good eye for illustrations, they are amazing and so oftern go without a second look from most people. great post!!!

Laura said...

Nath, how did you know? Arived home late last night to the wondrous parcel and had to fight off the little paws to unwrap. You got me exactly right! I love everything, from the little sparkle sequins to the beautiful feather broach. AND you managed to give us two books that we love and don't own. Howard read the Tin Tin book, cover to cover putting Rosa down. Such a lovely thing to do. Thank you so much it made my day! Yours will be winging its way to you soon. x Well as soon as I've stopped enjoying myself too much compiling it.

Dicky Moore said...

You were brave going through that tunnel - but what a reward at the other side! Lovely. Dx

Aya Smith said...

Those are all wonderful finds!!! And I must admit that I've fallen in love with the first set of photos... they seem almost like, "the perfect childhood memory" :)

BTW, thank you so much for your support :)

Artemis Russell said...

Oh Nath! what A lovely packet of joy was waiting for me at home when I got back last night! You know me better than my closest relations I think! I love them all, I think your family must get lovely xmas pressies from you, youre a natural!! Those fabrics are amazing...cant wait to use them in a new project and I'm looking forward to reading my weaving book tonight, aaahhhh! Yours is on its way...once I have your address that is, I'll email you for it now! Thanks Nath!