New Blog Header

I have put a new blog header up. After a year with the same one, I was itching for something different to be up there! I have been playing around with this new design for a few weeks and I think I have finally tweaked it (with a bit of help from my adorable red-head)!

So I have gone from this:

to this:

 

I LOVE it! Especially the gnome.... 

I have also created a new button:

you'll find it further down on my sidebar under everyone I love, so grab it and spread the ♥!

Fairy Mushrooms

While doing a little research for vintage cotton-spun mushrooms, I came across this tutorial for paperclay mushrooms on The Fabled Needle Blog.  I know it is an older post but they were just too cute not to share with you.


On such a cold drizzley morning here in England this brought me a little sunshine happiness.  I can't wait to try making them myself, the possibilities of their uses are endless.

I am already envisioning plans for these little sparkle layered snow kissed mushrooms sprinkled around my miniature zinc Christmas house in December and maybe worked into a wreath with tiny gnomes for some Christmas kitsch cuteness. Oh, now I am getting carried away...

You will find her tutorial here, just click on the polka dotted mushrooms below:

(Mushroom Images from The Fabled Needle Blog, Gnomes from Layer Cake, embellished by Jennifer Michie)

Is Gnomebody at home?

Oh, my gnome obsession has once again come to light!  While looking at some felt on the Magic Cabin website, I came across this little elfin door; adorably decorated for Christmas! This was just too cute to believe! I want this little door, I want to put it on a little tree trunk or place it next to my front door, like the Red Shoes Shop has done (see 27/9/08 post). 

All gnomes and elves need a happy jolly entrance (or at least mine do) and who wouldn't want to come and visit if they got to be invited in through a little door that looks like that?  I am sure this is a Christmas door that would make the Borrowers proud!

I can just see them inside, drinking a spiced winter tea out of acorn cups next to a crackling little fire in cozy plaid arm chairs...

 There is even a door for Summer, I love the little window boxes!

Everybody Neat & Pretty? Then on with the Show!

Today, I am busy attacking my house! Ironing Christmas tablecloths, dusting, vacuuming and putting away things I don't have room for when all the Christmas decorations are out. We are going to decorate this weekend. I can't wait!

The poor house has been neglected at the moment since I have been busy finishing up orders. But it is smiling and gleaming once again! I am still in my pajamas, listening to Christmas music and it is so frosty and bitterly cold outside today it has truly set the tone for a silvery wintry feeling!!

Well unfortunately the elves are busy helping Santa this time of year so I will get no help from them or the Kitchen Fairies, so it is back to work I go.....

Gnome is Where the Heart Is

Well, as you may or may not know I love gnomes! I think they are just cute, whimsical, funny and kitsch. While searching for a particular cupcake item, I went to one of my favorite sites, "Bake It Pretty", it has an array of goodies and lots of those hard to find retro/vintage looking cupcake picks. They were established before "Layer Cake". Although, they have some product cross over, I think each have their own unique qualities.

I started going through their cookie cutter section while I was there and came across this guy! I thought he was too cute for words. He would be adorable iced with a little red or blue hat. Maybe even a little beard piped on with a small star tip.

When I was in high school, our local baking supply store was holding a Wilton Cake Decorating course and being the nerd that I am, I set aside some babysitting money and my mom let me sign up!

I love to bake and cook and I thought this would be a way to expand on that. I had so much fun, making roses, learning how to make the clown bodies to stick the clown head pick in for cupcakes or cakes, and best of all, you got to take home your finished products and eat them, now that alone was worth it for me, a guaranteed chance to have scrumptious cake once a week with that heavenly "wedding cake" icing, mmm!

You can buy him on this own or in an adorable "Pretty Magical Forest" set. Which gives you a really nice shaped mushroom that you could easily decorate to go along with him. He will need a place to sit on and rest of course!

This little gnome was too cute not to share and so sweetly photographed against the yellow gingham, I felt something needed to be said about this little character. If looking at these sites doesn't make you want to run out and start whipping up cupcakes with the cutest toppers to put on them, I don't know what will!


(All Images from "Bake it Pretty" website)

Better Gnomes & Gardens

I have a thing for gnomes; they are whimsical, magical, seemingly
happy little creatures. Usually dressed in bright clothing with pointy little hats. They are friends to woodland animals and charming decorators of their red polka dot mushroom houses.

In looking for some vintage ephemera I went to one of my favorite sources, D. Blumchen & Company and I came across a gnome village they had created with instructions coming soon to tell you how to make your own mushroom gnome men.

Although considered a kitsch object, gnomes have been around for generations. In Sweden and Denmark there are numerous vintage postcards and household items with gnome and pixie themes. It has carried on to the present; many of their Christmas decorations revolve around these magical beings. I, myself have a few Danish pixies that come out to play at Christmas and guard over the presents Santa has delivered.

Like Cath Kidston’s Miniature Garden (blog written 5/13/2009), this little model village is again something I find charming and enchanting. Another little world you wish you can step inside and wander around. A world where ladybugs pull your flower laden cart and cozy candles bring a warm glow to the soft inside of mushroom houses, where you sit, sipping tea out of acorn cups next to a crackling fire.

Click on the picture below to go to D. Blumchen & Company's Website.



"Better Gnomes & Gardens" Image by Artist Ken Brown, embellished by J. Michie