My swap parcel from Blighty Boutique

Well, it was definitely worth organising the Faith Hope and Charity Swap, as I got my goodies from the lovely Amy at Blighty Boutique yesterday. She's been really busy organising her own Vintage and Handmade Fair - if you're near Warwickshire this Sunday do go along -  but despite this managed to find time to shop for, make and wrap lovely gifts for me. The postman handed me a box beautifully covered in polka dot paper, but I ripped it all off wantonly before remembering to fetch my camera. Inside were 5 tissue paper wrapped gifts for me, and a stripy package for my two boys. This was really thoughtful and the boys were thrilled.

Inside their parcel was a gorgeous painted spinning top each (they have been christened 'Pirate Plank' and 'Captain Jack') and a healthy supply of Fizz Wiz - that popping candy that explodes on your tongue. [Incidentally, if you step on Fizz Wiz with bare feet on a slate floor, you'll discover it explodes like that too] This was their first experience of popping candy, so as you can imagine Amy is very much in their good books. No school either, due to striking teachers, so probably a perfect day for Boy1, given that a lovely old man later insisted on buying them an ice-cream each (we didn't know him).

On to my pressies, which naturally I didn't get to open in as leisurely a fashion as I would have liked. Instead I had to make a desperate grab for my goodies from the chubby paws of my children as they tore merrily at the tissue paper before I could read the labels.

A beautiful Tricia Guild journal, which is so luxurious with its ribbon bookmark and hardback covers. I'm going to have to use this for something really special, definitely no scrawling down shopping lists!

A beautifully finished handmade glasses case, perfect as I'm forever scratching my sunglasses by dropping keys on top of them in my handbag

A copy of Woman's Weekly from 1958. Like Amy, I really love vintage books and magazines, for the social history, the fashion, the adverts and often the unintentional humour. This is a cracker, with wonderful illustrations, some romance stories and adverts making all kinds of bizarre claims. No doubt I will share extracts from it when I've read it fully.

A crocheted Gisela Graham trinket pot in the shape of a cupcake. The boys immediately said I could keep all my rings in it - they know their mother well!

And finally, someone else obviously knows me well as Amy included this FANTASTIC ring, made by her mum, who you may know better as Annie of The Felt Fairy / Reclaimed Vintage fame. It's made of a beer bottle cap - isn't it great?

How great does this look with my nails?

Thanks so much Amy - your presents will be on their way soon.

Lakota x

PS. I've seen some great swaps already, but have had a couple of messages from people concerned that their purchases won't be as impressive. If you haven't done your swap yet - do please remember that the rules were a maximum of 5 items and no higher than a £12 total spend. This was to make it achievable for everyone.

Attention Swappers!

By now you should all know your swap partners, I've either emailed you or left a comment on your blog. Sorry for the generic cut and paste job but there were a lot of you to get through!
I've been asked a few questions, so here's a recap of the rules and a couple of suggestions.

• There is no minimum spend. Maximum spend is £12 / $18.50 AUS / $19.80 US / 13.90 EUR
• At least 3 items, with a maximum of 5.
• Remember you will need to be able to mail everything. Pack everything well and ensure you've used the correct postage. Your swap partner will not want to be charged for delivery!
• At least one item must be sourced from a charity shop/boot sale/garage sale/jumble or similar. If everything is, then all the better, but I know sometimes the good stuff just isn't out there. 
• At least one item should be handmade - it doesn't have to be handmade by you if you're not crafty!
• One item should be jewellery of some description. 
• Ensure your partner receives their parcel by 31st July. I know that sometimes life throws up problems. If you are having difficulties or something happens which will delay the swap, please do let your partner know, it's only polite.
• I was asked whether items should be clothes, homeware etc. That is up to you and what you think your partner would like. If they are a sewer and you find vintage fabric - perfect. If they love bags and you find a great one - send it on. Don't forget books, pictures, crockery, garden items, craft supplies...
• Try and get a sense of what your swap partner likes from their blog posts, pictures etc - and it's not cheating to ask them questions before hand. It might be nice to 'follow' your partner if you don't already.
• Some people have a list of 'likes' on the sidebar of their blog. Maybe consider something similar if your blog doesn't feature much of your personal taste or things you've bought. [whiskers on kittens might not be that useful though]
• You'll need to exchange email addresses so you can also swap addresses. 
• Remember to let your partner know when you receive your parcel,
•  Post about the swap so we can all share what we got.
• Have fun!

I'm without internet access until 6th June, but any problems, comment on this post and I'll be in touch when I can.

Lakota x

Faith Hope and Charity Swapping! Let's do it!

Entry to the swap is now closed

I knew you'd be up for it! Any excuse to go shopping - and it's entirely guilt free. Quite a few of you have expressed an interest on my last post here, but I'm going to keep it open until the end of next week so other people can sign up too. I'll sort out the swap partners, then I reckon about 6 weeks for the hunting and gathering - what do you think? Do tell any blog friends you think would enjoy it, and if you could put the button below on your sidebar and link it back to this post, that would be great.

EDIT - If you are a new follower and are interested, can you please make sure there is a link to your blog on your profile so I can visit you before sorting the swap. This will take me a while to sort out as it is without having to message people first to find their blogs. Some people have commented but their blog isn't linked in. Thanks for your understanding x

• So, this is supposed to be fun and thrifty and I don't want to give too many orders, but I was thinking at least 3 items, with a maximum of 5.
• At least one item must be sourced from a charity shop/boot sale/garage sale/jumble or similar
• At least one item should be handmade - it doesn't have to be handmade by you if you're not crafty!
• One item should be jewellery of some description
• Try and get a sense of what your swap partner likes from their blog posts, pictures etc - and it's not cheating to ask them questions before hand!
• There is no minimum spend. If you are thrifting genius who sources art deco jewellery from jumble sales for 25p, all the better! Absolute maximum spend is £12 but there is no need to spend this amount if not necessary - remember you will need to post things too.
• I'm sure I don't need to say this, but do give anything second hand a launder / clean up if necessary!
• Remember to let your partner know when you receive your parcel, and then it would be lovely if you posted about the swap so we can all share what we got.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Does the money element sound right to you? I don't want to be bossy, but I don't want anyone being disappointed either!

Lakota x

Kylie's groovy Grannies and other delights

Look what the postman brought me -a  pink paper package tied up with string! [OK, first it was in a giant paper postal sack with a customs label, but that isn't so pretty, or as easy to bastardize song lyrics for.]

It's a parcel from the very lovely Kylie at Lucy Violet Vintage who blogs about her incredible op-shop and roadside finds in Perth, Australia. If you haven't checked out her site yet, wherever have you been? Kylie got sick of me bellyaching that there were no granny blankets to be had in my neck of the woods - at least not without paying silly money - and promptly shipped some off to me. Vintage granny blankets made by vintage Aussie Nannas - I love them! (Kylie had been a bit worried that by the time the boat came in I'd have made my own, but those of you who have seen my crochet endeavours here and here will know that was never going to be very likely).

I was further spoiled this week by our resident flamingo fancier and kitsch lover Scarlett of Scarlett loves Elvis who sent me a patriotic Welsh dragon apron she pounced on for me in a charity shop - perfect for making my welshcakes. (It was also in pink paper, but I was too busy ripping it open to find a camera). I haven't got a decent photo yet so you will have to imagine its glory, but here's a pic of my new yurrhrin's (as they are inexplicably pronounced in the valleys), also from Scarlett. They're brilliant - and I have the perfect nail varnish to match. Thanks lovely! 

Finally, thanks ever so much to Janys from Arty Crafty Stuff, who recently sent me one of her gorgeous  notepads, handmade with her own block printed painting on the cover. It's gone straight into my new (to me) handbag. You can see more of Janys' work on her blog or at her DaWanda shop

Anyway, whilst out and about in the charity shops and boot sales of South London I have also found myself spotting things I think my blogging buddies would like, and it got me thinking. I've seen swaps on other blogs - does anyone fancy Faith Hope and Charity Swapping? I haven't thought the details through fully yet - now there's a surprise - but it would probably involve letting me know you fancy it, me sorting out the swappers (I'm guessing most will be in the UK, but if you'd be up for posting internationally, or if I can find a swapper in your country, then great) and deciding on a little budget, theme and deadline. Then you check your partner's blog, find out a bit about them, and look out for second hand treasure and handmade loveliness you think they'd like. Result - everyone gets lovely parcels in the post. Anyone up for it? Let me know and I'll sort out a button and an 'official' post.

Lakota x

Edit: You don't have to blog about second hand stuff particularly, open to anyone who fancies it