elfie & Me

18 and a half years

We are feeling very sad at the moment here in Pixieland. Last week, I had to make the difficult decision to have our darling Bluebell put to sleep. 18 and a half years of my chubby faced cat. She had got terribly thin around her haunches in the last few weeks and I couldn't tempt her with any kind of food.  It was awful at the vets. They did say they could try to keep her going but you know what - I think she'd had enough. It was peaceful for her and afterwards I felt OK-ish and I was more worried about how Alexei was going to feel. But now, a week later, I am ready to pick up her ashes and I am all upset again. 

Awful when you think she is still sleeping peacefully in her bed under my desk and then you remember. . . .

I must remember the good times too. When as a little fat kitten she used to climb the curtains and the Christmas tree . .and knock it over . . .I would come home from work to total devastation. And she had pooed in the all the earth that had come out of the pot. Naughty but adorable and definitely the boss.

How she used to bite the carpet in a really mad way when you scratched her back near her tail. Bluebell, a great big blue furry splodge of a cat.

I think I miss you all the more as you were the only other female in the house and we always thought of you as the Elizabeth Taylor of the cat world -a diva but so glamorous too. Goodbye my lovely girl, we will all miss you so much.

Today, I took out my camera and found this last picture, just a week before. A cuddle from one of her favourite people. I had forgotten I took this snap. I am so pleased I found it. Sometimes those photos at the end of the roll are the ones you end up treasuring the most.

On the horizon, there is something to look forward to- Vintage and Handmade is less than two weeks away so I can keep myself really busy with making and preparing. Here is the latest Christmas card from Made in Pixieland. It is called "Elves of the frozen North" I hope you like it. 

They come in a pack of 8 cards and envelopes and they are suitable for Yule as well as Christmas. 

I've also been cheered by a delivery of lovely festive tree decorations which I keep getting out of the boxes to admire.Aren't they pretty? Both the cards and the decorations will be on the site shortly with a few more new goodies. And remember to give all your furry friends an extra hug from us. xx

A tutorial from Pixieland

Come on in into the beautifully scented pixie kitchen and watch the little folk make candles. It is really easy and the whole house smells wonderful for ages after.

We used soy wax which we got from here along with the wicks, dye and jars with lids.

First spoon your soy wax into a measuring jug. 

 

Then put it in the microwave until it is hot. It will smell a bit like vegetable oil once it is hot and luckily soy wax has such a low melting temperature, you don't have to faff around with thermometers and risk getting burnt. If you don't have a microwave, you can do it in a Bain Marie on the stove.

 

Once it is hot and melted you are ready to add your dye (if you want to). The wax sets to a nice creamy colour so it looks great without dye too. However we are colour junkies here in Pixieland so we've added a purple colour chip (from same place as above).

 

Stir it round until it has dissolved. Looks a bit like Ribena doesn't it?

 

Then prepare your containers. We have used ready waxed wicks which have a sustainer at the bottom. Wrap the wick around a pencil until it touches the bottom of the glass. 

Then take the wicks and pencils out in one piece and lay to one side. You now need to warm the containers so the wax sticks well to the sides. You can give them a blast in the microwave or use hot water (as long as you dry them throughly afterwards).

Then quickly put the wicks and pencils back in position making sure they are as much in the centre as possible. 

 

Finally, add your scent. We used 10% scent to the amount of wax. You can buy scent from the same website or this site also has some lovely smells that are especially for natural wax. Here we are making Violet and Lime . . . lovely. How I wish blogs could smell. 

 

When we made the Rose candles, we added a few drops of Rose geranium essential oil to the Rose candle scent as it smells just like turkish delight. Oh yum  . . .

Then you are ready to pour. 

 

When they have set, they look all pretty and sweetie shop like this. The little shot glasses come from Ikea. 

 

Another plus point about soy wax is that it washes off your utensils really easily. 

There has been a lot of experimenting in the Pixie kitchen this autumn with the jam and candle making but not a lot of drawing has been completed unless you count the candle labels . . .hmmm 

. . .I better get back to the drawing board.

And many thanks to Lucy who opened up this whole new world to me. 

Jam and Jerusalem -all in the same post!

Well, it looks like the house we found was not to be ours. Sob! After talks with the planners, it seems they won't let us extend the house enough to make a reasonably sized home. It really is a teeny house on a massive plot, so not for us sadly. But the jam from the damsons is very lovely indeed.

I am refusing to get down about it as I am seasoned in disappointment when it comes to house hunting and I'm making a concerted effort to fall in love with our house all over again. Our little house is actually finished now so it needs a loving touch after being knocked about for so many years. I thought I'd share the pictures of the remodelled bathroom. I'm really loving this room now.

Despite the length of time it took (some of you will remember we started nearly 2 years ago  at the beginning of this blog.)

Despite a wobbly moment when the tiles were on the wall and I realised they were grey white rather than cream white. Cue much worrying on my part that it looked like a rather grim sanatorium. 

Despite one of Alexei's friends not noticing that the toilet was not plumbed in on that particular day and did a large poo in it. Well I suppose, in his defence, in most people's houses you would not be expecting this.

The picture above came from This 'n' That in Totnes. I discovered this wonderful shop when we were on holiday in 2008 and I'm really pleased to finally get it on the wall. I would love to visit Lesley's shop again, it is full with amazing stuff.

And the best bit of decorating surely must be when you get out all your treasures and display them. 

And then lie in the bath and gaze at them.

Always makes you feel better when you are feeling a bit crabby.

And great not having to "shell" out for any more building work. (Groan)

A surprising thing happened this month. I have become a member of a new WI group that is just starting in Rochester.  I was a bit apprehensive about going but it seems like it is going to be really good fun with lots of young and young at heart ladies and everyone is interested in learning new skills such as knitting and crochet. (I pity the poor person who tries to teach me). Plus it is right at the end of my road so I think this maybe is another good reason not to move house as I can skip along the road when I hear the piano belting out "Jerusalem". 

Oh, and who put their hand up when they said they need a speaker for the next meeting? Yes me. What was I thinking? 

I hate public speaking but this will be more of a demonstration of my new pastime . . . come back soon and all will be revealed with a step by step tutorial. I guarantee you will all want to do this in time for Christmas . . .

*** just a footnote to say that Made in Pixieland will be at the Maidstone Farmers Market this Saturday 26th September from 9 until 1 outside County Hall. If you are around, do come and say hello!

Bittersweet

 

There is a lot riding on these beautiful damsons. They were given to us by the owner of what may become our much longed for rural idyll. 

Yes, at last, we have found a house that we both love. I am totally and utterly besotted with it already. Alexei is very excited by the massive garden and the prospect of some more pets. Roland, ever the pragmatist, has already uttered the words "money" and "pit" in the same sentence. My brother has come and given his professional option and it may need underpinning. 

It's a great big "maybe" at the moment and is gloomy news for everyone including the chap who is selling it who is one of the nicest people we have ever met. Hence the damsons.

This house comes with seriously good vibes (but maybe not such good foundations).

So I am going to make jam tomorrow and put every ounce of positivity into it and even say a couple of hopeful prayers and spells over the bubbling pan.

Any suggestions for hopeful spells and ways to calm a restless mind are most welcome.

My baby

10 years ago today, our lovely boy, Alexei arrived.  His birth was a bit of a shocker as I ended up under full anesthesia so unfortunately neither Roland or I saw him straight away. I have to admit I was foolishly in denial about actually having to give birth and had not bothered with classes or writing a birth plan so maybe this was fate getting it's own back.

 

 I love the slightly cheesy quality of this studio shot. Alexei has that cheery 1940's baby look about him. He should be being pushed along in a massive pram on a bracing walk wearing something woolly and a bit itchy.

Sadly we did not take any photos in his first hours as we were so floored by the experience and we didn't have the luxury of a digital camera.  So I have to hold on tightly to these precious first memories in my mind. That amazing feeling of instant recognition: he was ours and nothing could break that bond. Already it was impossible to imagine life without him.

This is one of my favourite pictures. Not of me, I might add. I look a bit sweaty –breast feeding always made me really hot and my face is chubby. But I love the blissed out full tummy expression on Alexei's face. My mum has her own word for this expression. In the Highlands of Scotland, this is known as a "boo-see" face. So cute!

Another surprise was his skin colur. At first he alternated between lovely peachy newborn and bright-red-very-cross-baby for a few weeks. Roland is a exotic mix of South American and Russian and I am a not so exotic mix of Scottish and English. I guess my Celtic genes won out - Alexei is now really pale skinned with blue eyes and freckles. Isn't Mother Nature is full of surprises when the genetics are being dished out?

The peachy baby who never slept soon turned into a curly haired scamp. 

And then to a knobbly kneed little chap always ready to befriend a cat or two. 

My boy who dances and turns cartwheels and should really join the circus as soon as he can. 

My boy who makes friends where ever he goes. 

Happy birthday my darling Alexei. 

Love from your very proud Mum x

Unfinished

Look at this beauty I picked up at an antique fair last weekend. Isn't she lovely?

And to think I nearly didn't buy her . .the man on the stall kept lowering the price while I dithered and dithered. (My dithering doesn't always have such successful results).

I finally got my purse out and I'm so glad she came home with me as she has been exquisitely painted. But I wonder why the artist never finished her?

I rather like her unfinishness (is that a word?). I like her battered canvas casually leaning on the bathroom mirror but she can't really stay there as my make up bag sits on this shelf. I feel quite strongly that she should live in the bathroom and remain unframed as she needs no more adornment. I worry that the canvas may not like the steam of the bathroom; although we have got a bathroom fan and she is painted in oils. Do you think I should risk it? I am dithering again.

Which brings me on to one of my many unfinished works. This trail of dancing imps and fairies which is inspired by Margaret Tarrant's "The Fairy Way". 

I haven't got round to colouring it yet but Im quite liking it as a line drawing. I may put it in the Pixieland colouring book which is yet another unfinished project. I'd like to feel that I am not alone with works that have been discarded along the wayside. I would feel a whole lot better if you shared yours with me.

I'm really enjoying Tuesday night's telly: Desperate Romantics, the BBC  drama about the Pre -Raphaelite brotherhood and although they have made the characters a lot more laddish than they probably were, it is fun to watch. I love, love, love Amy Manson as Lizzie Siddel, she is perfect.

And if you still want some more beautiful things to gaze upon, go visit the new emporium from this lovely lady and this one too. It's simply stuffed full of delights and such lovely design. Aren't we lucky to be able to visit chums whenever we fancy?

wild goose chase and souvenirs

The place: San Diego, Southern California.

The time: Early on 1st day of the hols (jet lag sure has some advantages).

Destination: The flea market at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena as suggested by Erika and Victoria.

Willing parciptants: Roland and Alexei.

Vibe: Not such happy bunnies after a 2 and a half hour drive when a jolly man at the Rose Bowl said " No flea market today ma-am. 2nd Sunday of the month only"

Cue much rolling of eyes by the male members of the party.*

"Sorry," mumbled by very humble female member of party who then checked on Roland's Blackberry to see that she had got the date totally wrong. 

On the plus point: Pasadena- sure is pretty. Lots and lots of cute little houses with cottage gardens. And there is always a late opening Borders store and Walmart somewhere in the vast metropolis that is LA to keep everyone happy.

I picked up a whole load of fabulous magazines as the range was phenomenal; a blogging magazine would you believe, Arts & Crafts Home as we both love the furniture, a weird illustration art mag that had some really strange stuff in and my favourite: 100 ideas Flea Market  and especially this page but it doesn't give you any idea of what that quilt is made out of. I want that quilt.

Whilst we were in LA we drove up to Michael Jackson's house late one night to see the shrine outside. It was massive. I took lots of pictures so I could stick them together in one big long line but it went a bit fuzzy when I put it on the blog so this is just the middle section.

Roland was a big fan of MJ when he was a child and Alexei loves his music and dancing. And me? Well, I'm sorry he's gone but I couldn't get over the weirdness factor. I hope I don't get lots of crazed fans visiting this blog and ranting on about him because I couldn't bear that. 

Anyway, I was most amused to see this carefully placed portaloo just over the street. 

I'm guessing that the residents of Bel Air don't want fans weeing in their flower beds.

Now everyone likes to pick up some interesting souvenirs from their travels and bloggers surely must be amongst the most talented at spotting the treasures from the tat. 

My favourite bit of San Francisco was Haight Ashbury as it was the centre of flower power and it is still very far out, man. The psychedelic patches were a must for my jeans particularly the groovy toadstool. And you can never go wrong with a snow globe.

I was served by a dude who was surely left over from the first summer of love and Alexei is now the proud owner of a tie dye T-shirt made by someone who designed a Grateful Dead record cover or something. I forget.

The heart with wings decoration and the Mexican Day of the Dead figures came from a shop we were just driving by in San Diego. It is called Vintage Religion and is run by the very lovely Philip and he has lots of fabulous religious artifacts from all over the world. We had quite a chat as you could imagine. 

I think it must have been divine intervention for me to find his shop in our few days in San Diego.

 Here's another Heart from Philip's shop that is now on the back of the Front door. Hearts with wings are a very personal motif for Roland and I as it is on the Maraldo coat of arms. Which, incidentally, I designed when we got married because in my world every new couple needs a touch of heraldry more than a toaster.

I bought some summer sandals -silver Flip flops. I cannot recommend them highly enough. They are possibly the comfiest shoes I have ever owned and  promise a complete workout for the bum and legs and I'm hoping mine are gonna look like the ones below very soon. Here's hoping . . . 

Anyway, the streets of San Francisco proved very tiring on the legs so these were a timely purchase. But we could always relax in our "boutique" hotel. 

I normally snort at a hotel that is described as a "Boutique" as that usually means a poky room with one wall painted in an accent colour. However Hotel Frank proved to be very glamorous indeed as you can see from our room. Shame it had to be shared with a 9 year old boy,even though he is very lovely. But there you go.

And finally . . the cutest, sleepiest koala bear from San Diego zoo. Reminds me so much of our Bluebell.

* I am lucky. Neither Roland or Alexei get stressy about my inepititude although no doubt they will store this one away for future amunition.

California

It would be hard not to fall in love with California. Perfect weather and oh-so friendly and helpful people and the chance to do all those touristy things that I privately thought I might hate but actually enjoyed.  I am not a fan of Disney in general . . . I don't know why but I can't get over the thought that it is a slightly sinister organisation . . . but I really did want to see the big pink castle at Disneyland. We soon found out it is not at Disney in California. However, one small disappointment isn't bad going for two whole weeks. 

This is the closest we could get to the Hollywood sign without a long dusty hike but it was thrilling nonetheless to get an iconic shot. Uncle Sam the bush baby has got in on the picture as Alexei found an American one to add to his collection. Uncle Sam proved to be a most affable travelling companion.

 As you can see Venice beach was perfect for a spot of showing off your muscles although the weather was a bit iffy on this day. And Alexei is a bit pale and skinny to look like a true Muscle Beach regular. It was also great for people watching as you can probably imagine. 

Now it can be a trifle boring seeing other peoples holiday shots so that's your lot. The next installment will have some more unusual things I promise. Like some of the treasures I picked up along the way and the tale of the wild goose chase to Pasadena. Let me just say, the measuring of time and distance are not my strong point.

Naughty, naughty.

Naughty me has not been near the blog for weeks. It has become a sad and neglected space so I'm going to shower it with pretty pictures to make it feel better.

Now let me share with you a gift that came to Pixieland from the lovely Teena. Vintage hankies by Mabel Lucie Attwell. Aren't they sweet? I remember having a set of these when I was a little girl but they must of got lost along the way somehow. 

I'm gonna frame these as they are too cute to put in a drawer (or blow my nose on).

I'm signing off for two whole weeks as we are all off on an epic road trip. Sunny California here we come! It's tea time, I haven't even started packing or even got the cases out of the cupboard and we're leaving at dawn. Do I get the prize for the world's most disorganised traveller? But I have downloaded loads of fab Beach Boys/ Mamas and Papas/ the Doors for that West Coast feel. A girl's got to get her priorities right!

See ya soon!  Claire xx

P.s Any tips on where to visit will be gratefully received. And any addresses of California purveyors of kitsch, vintage and fancy tat most welcome. I should be checking in on the blog if Mr M doesn't forget to pack the laptop!

Vintage and Handmade

What a wonderful day of delights it was at Vintage and Handmade! Here is some of the Pixieland stall which had lots of lovely visitors.

 

Thank you to everyone who said came and said hello, it was lovely to put names to faces at last.

And I admired Frank who was created  by Nicky. Isn't he gorgeous?

And as the pixie camera is generally rather crap, the lovely Sal has let me use these pictures. you can see more at her flickr group.

Firstly, Sal's amazingly colourful stall -what a feast for the eyes.

 

My favourite stall: Cowboys and Custard. Michele  created this wonderful display as well as organising the whole fair with Jayne. They did a brilliant job! 

Of course there was much feasting on cakes too. Did you know that tea and cakes were free for stall holders? I was rather worried I would have to be shoe-horned out of the doors at closing time but luckily the busy atmosphere kept me on my feet. And a lovely gentleman brought round dainty cups of tea at regular intervals. Oh yes, we were spoilt.

But do you know what the worst thing was? Not being able to shop because I was on my own. Sigh! But then my fairy godmother arrived in the form of my good friend Jo, who kindly offered to man the stall for a bit while I rushed round buying all sorts of treasures.

And what did I get?

These two tins from Cowboys and Custard. The one on the left was made for me as I am a painter of toadstools, don't you think?

 I have no idea what chocolate table violets are, but they sound delicious. 

Lots of tiny vintage Chinese lanterns. How I love these!  I've put them in a jar so I can look at them every day until Christmas. 

Finally it was time to pack up and off for my last night at Jo and Scott's beautiful house. They made us so welcome, it was like being on holiday with the good weather and fine food on offer :-). Alexei and I slept in Finlay's magical room tucked into the roof. 

We were sorry to go but looking forward to seeing Roland who had been looking after the furry friends and in our absence, had done a lot of tidying up and had even mowed the lawn. (I normally have to do this and I grumble about it.) It's good to be home but the weekend away was fab! Can't wait for the next one.