Tea Party

Yesterday we went to a Scarlett's best friend Rose's house, for a tea party. Tea drunk from a china cup, cake stands full of treats and some over-excited toddlers! It was a lovely afternoon.

I cannot resist tea party themed designs......so here are some for little ones, not forgetting the grown-up ones!

Box of 24 'Lucky Dip' Cupcakes, £34.99, www.buycake.co.uk
English Afternoon Tea Soft Play Set, £29.99, www.notonthehighstreet.com
3 Tier White Cake Stand, £41, www.heals.co.uk
Wooden Honeybake Teaset, £22, www.aspace.co.uk
Wooden Toy Cupcake Stand and Cakes, £24.99, www.wooden-toys-direct.co.uk
Handmade porcelain Tea Set, Sylvie Coquet for Couture Lab, £593, www.couturelab.com
ABC Tea Cup and Saucer, Letter A, £22, www.mydeco.com

Owly Christmas Gift Ideas

Here are a few of our Owlet products....A cushion or canvas to adorn a new baby's nursery, or maybe a lovely brooch as a stocking filler? We have lots of eco-aware, hand stitched gift ideas on the website!

www.lettiebelle.com

Brooches, £4.50 each
Canvases, £45
Cushions, from £25

Knitting Pattern Loveliness

These vintage knitting patterns are truly delightful! I must confess that I cannot actually knit, though I covet the 1950s style of these covers. They would be perfect framed in a nursery.....and maybe I'll learn to knit, one day.
Here is one of Scarlett's first booties, knitted by a dear family friend. They were finished even before we'd chosen a name - very appropriate colour!

Knitted Rabbit Family Knitting Pattern,www.theretroknittingcompany.co.uk
Templetons, knitted rabbit, doll & teddy Pattern,www.theretroknittingcompany.co.uk
Monarch Knitting Pattern, £5, www.ioffer.com
Nomotta Knitting Pattern, £5, www.ioffer.com

It's in the post........

One of Scarlett's favourite toys at the moment is the wooden post box above, which is in her stash at Granny M's house. Seeing as we're regular visitors to the Post Office, I thought I'd investigate more post related products.....

'The Jolly Postman' is one of my very favourite children's books, though Scarlett is a bit young for it just now. The pages are envelopes containing letters or cards which follow the story, and the Christmas version is great!

The Stamp cushion and rug designs are such great fun! I inherited my father's stamp collection years ago. I view them as books of tiny prints, recording our history and telling stories.

Just need to make sure we make the last post.....

Velvet Royal Stamp Cushion by The Colour Union, £69, www.rockingpony.co.uk
Postage Stamp Rug 16p, £695, www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk
Set of 4 vintage stamps-Europa/Toys & Games, from £2.10, www.bmclean.co.uk
The Jolly Chritmas Postman, by Janet & Allan Ahlberg, £7.99, www.amazon.co.uk
Wooden Postbox, £15, www.elc.co.uk

Vintage Alice Prints

Continuing today's emerging theme of 'Alice in Wonderland'.......Here are some rather lovely 1960's vintage prints. I particularly like the fact that Alice has a 60's hair style, and eye make-up in the tea party scene!

Vintage Alice in Wonderland Prints, £4.50 each, www.vintagefabricmarket.co.uk

Fabric Nostalgia

A gorgeous cushion made using 'Alice' fabric, by Charles Voysey and sold at Habitat in 1988. I had the duvet cover and pillow in this fabric as a child, and just loved it. In fact I continued to use the pillow well into my teens! My dream was to actually be Alice in Wonderland, and I have re-read the books countless times.

The 'Alice in Wonderland' earthenware tiles were designed by Charles Voysey in 1930 and sold at Christies in 2002. I would love these to surround my (imaginary) aga....

Seeing this cushion makes me want to ring mum and see if my old bedding is still in the linen cupboard, and get that sewing machine out!

Cushion, £17 by Cupcakes and Cotton Candy at www.folksy.com

All grown up, well a little bit......

Looking back at pictures from one year ago, I just can't believe how time has flown by!
Above are pictures of Scarlett at 2 months, 5 months and 17 months old.The last one was the calm before an epic tantrum....butter wouldn't melt!

Pramtastic

While having a little search for prams for Scarlett's Christmas present, I came across these lovely specimens! I was looking for wooden products, rather than flimsy plastic. Red will be our colour of choice, as it often is. These designs are perfect for pushing beloved bunnies about, or anything else that gets picked up along the way!
Moover Toys Dolls Pram Red £65,www.olivers-baby-care.co.uk
Norbert Toys Wooden Toy Dolls Pram £99.99, www.ptolemytoys.co.uk
Bunny pram - red - by Maileg £16.95, www.sistersguild.co.uk

Meet some new friends

Here at Lettie Belle HQ we are always busy creating new designs. Here are our latest creations; larger cushions featuring favourite friends! The bunnies are part of a new collection coming soon called 'Mummy & Me' or 'Daddy & Me', featuring a big character and a teeny one.

As with all our cushions, they are made from organic, hand-loomed cotton with eco-fi felt and leather details. Hand stitching finishing completes the look.

Lots more larger designs on the way, as well as lighting and prints..........so may ideas, so little time!

New brooches

Here is a little look at our new brooches. These will soon be on the web site, and I have a box full to take to St Albans Artisan Market next wednesday.
Perfect to brighten a bag or coat, and at £4.50 each - everyone can own a piece of Lettie Belle! Made from eco-fi felt with leather detail and hand-stitching, just pick your favourite......

Lettie Belle will be at St Albans Artisan Market (Herts), Old Town Hall, Wednesday 10 November & Wednesday 10 December, 2010. From 10am-4pm. Do come and say hi!

Autumn

This sunny morning, Scarlett and I went for a nature walk at our local nature reserve. This is a little oasis in a slightly unattractive area! We collected some leaves, splodged in mud and observed some huge, scary, black crows/ravens. Very invigorating!

I do love a coat......

I must confess that I have been 'collecting' coats for many years. I have military style, duffle, parka, trench...... It's just so easy to wrap yourself up in one, and forget the mess of an outfit that may be underneath.

Since the arrival of Scarlett, I have put together many a questionable ensemble! I am determined to smarten up and return to my former self (well, a bit at least).

I bought this coat last week and just love it. It fits in all the right places and hides a multitude of sins - fabulous! I have started as I mean to go on.....

Pleat Back Reefer Coat £95, Warehouse

www.warehouse.co.uk