Annabel too ...

My finger has been hovering over the 'publish' button for what seems an age ... but Thriftwood is about me, how I feel, and what is happening in my life ... a journal for me to delve back into, and to remember ....

The 'About Me' on my sidebar tells you that I am a mother of five wonderful children, but perhaps you may have noticed that only four of them are ever mentioned?

Today is our darling girl's 18th birthday ... a bittersweet day - there will be no champagne, no pink birthday cake, no new dress or party ... there will be no excitement, no friends and family dropping in with cards and presents ... no celebrations.

Our first daughter was born 18 years ago ... after a textbook pregnancy, she arrived quickly, 2 days past her due date, weighing 9lbs 2oz, with a head of dark curls and rosebud lips... perfect in every way, but she had already left us.

Although with us for such a short time, she taught me so much ... we already had three gorgeous boys, and although I know that everyone thought I was hoping for a girl, I really didn't mind. I had always wanted four children, and it didn't matter one bit whether they were pink or blue.  I didn't know I was having a girl, that part just wasn't important. She taught me to never take anything for granted again, she taught me for a while to be patient, the little trivialities in life just weren't important any more, and she taught me to be so thankful for what I have, as all too quickly it can disappear.

The following year my beautiful second daughter Millie was born.

So today, there will be no champagne, no pink birthday cake, no new dress or party ... there will be no excitement, no friends and family dropping in with cards and presents, but in my heart I will be celebrating that my precious Annabel was once a part of me ...

Love, Claire xxx

And I know it's gonna be, a lovely day ...

Hasn't the weather been just beautiful. my lovelies? I've got a smile on my face and a spring in my step, the window-cleaner's been and life is good!

I walked down the stairs this morning, and for the first time this year, it just felt like Spring (even though it's not official yet!) ... there was a glimpse of daffodils and the air felt warm ... I just had to record the moment.

March has been very busy so far ... at the very beginning, it was my birthday and I was a very lucky girl, my family and friends know me so well, and I got loads of things that I need and use, but also some lovely things that are just luxurious and lovely to have ...

like two of the new Emma Bridgewater rose and bee mugs  Aren't they just perfect? Pretty, robust and with roses on too ... what more could you want ... a bit of cake maybe?

Well, my Millie came up trumps and made me not just any birthday cake, but my childhood favourite cake! Pineapple Upside Down Cake, served with custard ... just the thing you need after a day of celebrating (hic!) with your sister and lifelong friends.

It was Ruby's birthday yesterday she's now 9 years old (63 apparently!) but still acts like a silly puppy ... here she is wearing her lovely new spotty birthday collar.

The chickens have started tentatively laying again, after having a Gap Year (yes, really!) but think they're going to have to pull their socks up a bit ...

A thimble would have been more appropriate, I think!

They've been enjoying the sunshine too, and digging up the beginnings of summer's blooms ... they may be banished from the back garden!

I've been busy upcycling furniture, and as it was such a lovely day, thought while I had it outside, it was the perfect opportunity to set up a photo shoot.  I've got some fairs coming up, so it's good to let people know what sort of things you'll be turning up with.

I found this adorable tray on my travels a couple of weeks ago ... do you all remember Betsy Clark? I had forgotten all about her, and then yesterday I found a chopping board.  Isn't it strange how you don't see anything for years, and then they all appear at once?

I think that's enough excitement for one day, so I'll love you and leave you ...

Love Claire xxx

Spring will be a little late this year ...

You may have noticed that I try to incorporate song lyrics into my titles, and wanted one that was apt for March or Spring and Google suggested the above, which is very appropriate! I'm not going to bang on about the weather ... we all know about it!

March has been a lovely month so far, I've had lots to celebrate and people have been very kind to me.  On the very first day of March it was my birthday, and my little sis took me to the very posh Rothay Manor in Ambleside for afternoon tea ... very delectable! I received lovely cards, flowers and presents ....

60 golden daffodils from Jacob (that's not my age, by the way) ...

Ooh, can't wait to wear these! Thank you, Olly ...

Lovely reads ...

and plenty of prettiness!

Mother's Day followed on the 10th and I was treated like a queen for the day by my lovely brood, lunch out, lovely gifts and roast dinner made by Steve ... I could get used to being pampered ....

The lovely Lisa from Bobo Bun arranged Four Happy Things Swap, and I was lucky enough to be paired with Ellie from Jelly Jam ... if you aren't familiar with these two delightful blogs, whyever not? You're in for a real treat! I wasn't being very organised and wrapped and packed my stuff all ready to post, without photographing it, but luckily Ellie was on the ball and if you pop over to her, she'll show you what she got from me ... 

Ellie collects beautiful, vintage fabrics and makes bags, cushions and all manner of  delightful things from them ...

She made me a very pretty brooch pillow ...

and even gave me a brooch to pin upon it ...

A sweet jar full to the brim with rhubarb and custard sweets ...

 and another handmade item, this time a gorgeous, sweet-smelling lavender heart (the swap was to have a nostalgic feel, and the receiver's favourite colour was to be featured ... bet you can't guess what mine is can you?)

Four Happy Things that are making me very happy indeed ... thank you Ellie, and also a big thanks to Lisa for organising the swap.

I was going to show you lots of other things today, but unfortunately Instagram is playing up and saying I don't exist, so I can't download my latest pictures.  So I'm going to have to say sorry to shelly @ all4meggymoo, as I can't show her lovely giveaway prize which I was very lucky to win, and also Dotcomgiftshop who featured one of my cupboard makeovers on their blog and let me choose an item to review for them.  I will be showing you these things as soon as I can sort my pics out.

On Saturday I worked at Violet and the Peapod, the delicious vintage teashop which I showed you last December, once again I can't let you see the updated pictures, but will as soon as they are available (if anyone has any tips how to sort this out, I'd be very grateful).

I'm sorry that this post is only a shortened version of the vision of loveliness I'd intended ... but service will be resumed as soon as possible!

Have a fabulous week, won't you my lovelies?

Love Claire xxx

It's good to be alive ...

I woke up bright and early today, the sun was shining, the frost was glistening in the sunlight, and I knew it was going to be one of those days that make you feel glad to be alive.  As a childminder, I'm lucky to work from home, and this morning we walked to school with Ruby, and everybody we saw just seemed happier and more lively than usual. 

 Even though spring is not officially here for another month, the sunny weather seems to bring out the best in everyone.  Freezing conditions are forecast so we'd better make the most of it!

Come on in, the kettle's always on!

Signs of life are springing up everywhere in the garden ...

and the flowers are turning their faces to the sun, after their long, cold hibernation.

Another thing that makes me really happy, is being able to hang my washing out in the garden ... I love the smell of fresh, clean line-dried bedding ... no scented fabric conditioner can match that!

Sorry, these pictures are a bit dark, the sun comes round to my back garden a bit later in the day!

I'd just like to show you this little vintage peg bag I found in a charity shop for 50p ... complete with old, worn wooden pegs! I absolutely love it, and wonder who made it with love, and did they use the old curtains that were a bit worse for wear, or buy a piece of fabric specially for the purpose? I think it was probably the first, as it probably originates from the 'make do and mend' era ... if anyone recognises the fabric I'd be interested in knowing about it ...

(Not the Primarni towel behind .. I know all about that!)

This little owl came to live at our house this week, by very kind courtesy of Gilly.  She had blogged about some other owls that she had made, and I admired them and asked if they were for sale, as my Millie loves owls.  Lovely Gilly replied by email, insisting that she make me one as a present for my upcoming birthday! Thank you so much Gilly, once again I am swept away by the kindness of fellow bloggers.

I'm going to do my chores now, as I'm not at work until after school, then I'm going to get my crochet bag out (another 50p find) and carry on with the flowers I'm currently addicted to making, from this months Mollie Makes.

As the sun's shining, I think I'll have a little potter in the garden, and see if I can salvage anything from the destruction that my feathered friends have wreaked upon it!

A big hello to all my new followers ... you're always welcome here!

Recently I've been nominated for some awards.  The most recent one was from Ali for the Super Sweet Bloggin Award, and earlier this year I was nominated for the Liebster Award by Gillian and Hazel.  I'm always very flattered to receive nominations as I can't quite believe that anyone actually reads my ramblings, never mind award me for them, and I always have very good intentions to follow them up like a good blogger should ... but in reality, I'm sorry, I haven't organised myself yet, and I'm always worried in case I upset anyone by leaving them out, when they've been nice to me.  I really need to get a grip, but once again, thank you!

Have a lovely week, and I hope the sun shines for you!

Love Claire xxx

Never can say goodbye ...

Hello my lovelies! It seems a long time since I was here, it's only been 2 weeks, but I didn't really feel I had anything interesting to say, so I didn't ...

Have just had a lovely weekend because Jacob came home (he didn't make it last weekend, due to the bad weather in Leeds, and he was worried about getting back for work) and we had our Christmas dinner in February yesterday.  It felt really hard saying goodbye at the station this morning, because for the first time really, I've realised that he's never coming home to live again.  On visits, yes, but not actually to live here.  I'm glad he's got the confidence to live away from home, but it doesn't make it easier for us mothers when our chicks fly the nest. He seemed very grown-up and mature all of a sudden ... and brought me flowers!

Last weekend, to cheer ourselves up (!) because Jacob wasn't coming home, me an Millie went to see Les Miserables at the cinema.  If you haven't seen it, I can thoroughly recommend it.  I bawled all the way through, much to Millie's horror!

I've broken my 'no spend' rule and received  a couple of parcels recently ...

a little tin picture, that I thought would look lovely in my imaginary caravan/camper van  (one day, one day ...)

a nice new doormat as my old one is looking a bit threadbare ...

a metal verdigris heart (not that I actually need any more hearts, but there you go!)

and a pretty parcel from the lovely Miss CK ...

this actually contains my birthday present,  but I'll give you a sneaky little peek ...

I somehow don't think I can restrain from wearing it until the beginning of March!

I've had a few nice thrifty finds - a pretty glass bonbon dish, some lovely silver-plated dessert spoons and cake forks,  and a handy glass jelly mould ... these look good planted up with spring bulbs!

On the upcycling front, my dear friend Shazza told me she'd like a dresser, and did I think I could find one for her? The very next day I found one ... a lovely little Dutch dresser, just crying out to be prettified!

This is the top of it, before we got cracking with the Annie Sloan!

 And this is the whole thing a few hours later.  Sharon is still waiting for some new china cups to arrive and then it will be complete.  I think she's pleased with it ...

Before I go, I have a little Giveaway for you ... a pre-loved book which came to me via Annie @ knitsofacto called The Fine Colour of Rust.

 It's a feel-good, easy read and if you'd like to read it, just let me know and I'll drop your name in a hat and pick one out next Monday 11 February.  All you have to do once you've read it, is advertise it on your blog as a giveaway, fill in the card inside with your name and then send it on.  It's been all over the place so far!

Talking of good reads, I'm really enjoying Birdsong at the moment ... the tv series was very popular last year, but the book is much, much better ... unputdownable in fact!

I'd like to take this opportunity to say hello to all my lovely new followers ... you're always welcome here!

It's a hard life ..

Have a wonderful week, and see you soon!

Love, Claire xxx

Read all about it ...

Hello my lovelies! Now that all the fuss and kerfuffle of Christmas and New Year's over (and hopefully the coughs, cold and sickness that goes hand in hand with it!) I thought I'd share some of the lovely books I received for Christmas.

The first book, Junk Genius, may be familiar to some of you, as it was reviewed by Anna, and her review completely sold it to me!

It is written by Juliette Goggin and Stacy Sirk.  Juliette features in Super Scrimpers, one of my favourite tv programmes, and the book is full of practical ways of upcycling just about everything! It's full of beautiful pictures, has a very vintage vibe to it, and is just fabulous!

I don't want to show you too much or I'll spoil it for you ...

There are 80 projects and ideas, some very easy and quick, others a bigger project and more time-consuming.

The next book on my coffee table is Wartime Farm, as seen on BBC at the end of last year.  I loved this programme and my friend Kath turned up with the book last week (not even for Christmas, an unexpected present in January!) and said "I saw this and thought of you"

I wonder what it was that made her say that?

It is jam-packed with hints and tips about making something out of practically nothing ... around the home and in the kitchen and garden, but I think I may give the home-made shampoo a miss!

The photographs are extremely authentic with an amazing attention to detail.  The Baked Potato Pudding sounds very strange, but hey, don't knock something until you've tried it!

Times were really hard and a great deal of effort had to be given to use what was available and the inventiveness of the use of food was amazing to produce meals which were edible and tasty.

 This brings me on to another wartime book, The Diaries of Nella Last.  A film was made for TV of the diaries, called Housewife, 49, with Victoria Wood in the starring role.  Nella lived in my home town, where I've lived all my life, and the diaries are written from her home in Ilkley Road, which was the next street from the one where I grew up. I loved the film but am enjoying the book much more as it so detailed, and we are reading it as it actually happened to Nella. Her worries and fears, joys and triumphs are all chronicled in detail. Nella comes across as a very intelligent woman, quite opinionated, who has a great 'make do and mend' ethos, and is fiercely loyal and devoted to her family and home A great read, highly recommended!

 The last book is one that I hadn't heard about before I received it on Christmas Day from my eldest son, Oliver.  He was a bit worried that I wouldn't like it because it was sub-titled 'The Essential Guide to Modern Day Homemaking' .  It was the word 'modern' that caused his concern! He needn't have worried, because as all of us vintage-loving ladies know, vintage is the new modern! Not that being 'on trend' bothers me at all ...

It's written by Clare Nolan, the Lifestyle Editor of You Magazine (Mail on Sunday), and I always enjoy her articles as they are very aesthetically pleasing.  The book did not disappoint at all, and is full of beautiful photographs, very vintage inspired!

It mixes old with new, which is the most practical way of achieving a 'modern vintage' look, as I don't think I could live in a completely authentic vintage home ... although I admire those that are so dedicated to vintage, that it is a way of life to them ... I like my modern day comforts too much!

 A lovely, informative, coffee table book, to be dipped into time and time again for ideas and inspiration.

 So that's it my lovelies, book review over! I'd love you to share what you're reading at the moment, and what books you got for Christmas, as I have a birthday coming up in a few weeks ... Amazon's going to be very busy!

Have a lovely week, and stay warm!

Love, Claire xxx