Given Enough Tea I Could Rule the World

Here are some of my latest treasuries of things that are inspiring me lately...

Tea always inspires. Without tea we would be mere machines... I cannot decide on a retro tea print for my kitchen, such beautiful choices!!

My favorite colour at the moment is MUSTARD and I love how well it goes with my favorites pink and aqua. Shout out for Norwich's own Colman's  Mustard!

 Hope your all enjoying the sunshine!

30 Second lavender bags

Add a touch of spring freshness to your draws in 30 seconds...

I've been telling myself I'm going to make some lavender sachets for months but could not bring myself to drag the sewing machine out for such a little project, so today I decided to make some no-sew sachets which take no time at all and use up all those lovely little vintage scraps that are too small to do anything with but too pretty to throw out! 

This is all you need: Dried lavender, vintage fabric scraps 20cm square maximum, ribbon, a tea cup and if you want to add some extra punch then some lavender essential oil too.

Place the center of your fabric square in the tea cup to stop the lavender escaping! Fill with one or two tablespoons of lavender and a couple of drops of oil.

Gather up the corners and tie up tight with a length of ribbon and tie a pretty bow or a hoop to hang them in the wardrobe.

Slowly realise you've made more sachets than you have draws!

Enjoy your fresh clothes

Facebook

I've decided to give in and allow my page to become a 'Timeline'. At least this way I can make it look the way I want it to before the switch over... I have a handy little hint for all of you who have pages that will be switching soon....

The cover photo dimensions are 851px wide x 315px tall. Simple as that! If you're far more creative and have more time on your hands than I do, you could do something very unique and a little crazy like this...

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/16-creative-ways-to-create-your-facebook-timeline-cover-photo/

As I have had to design a new graphic for my cover photo, I have decided to start the grueling but necessary task of re-branding Polka.Button... starting with this blog! What do you think? I felt like the old branding didn't reflect the direction I am now going in, focusing on vintage much more... 

Etsy banner

But I must stop faffing on the computer, I need to go get stuff organised for the vintage fair on Sunday!

Retro Phone

I attacked my phone with fabric and glue....

After searching high and low for a pretty phone at a reasonable phone (which proved to be a non existent) I decided to create a little retro touch of my own.... and with a total cost of £4.30, all the better!

Before... Cheap phone from argos £4.30

 Tools... 1960's vintage fabric, Mod Podge, scissors and a paintbrush

 

After....Retro phone!

So easy it should be a crime!

FREE STUFF!

It's giveaway time!

I've been talking about doing a giveaway for ages now, but I've never had the time to get round to it, so today I made the time!

I have some lovely items to give away to one lucky blog follower. I really am spoiling you...

• Polka dot ribbons
• Selection of vintage buttons
• Vintage dress pattern
• Handmade 'Say it your way' fabric greeting card
• Vintage dress snaps
• Handmade magnets x3
• PLUS a pair of fabric earrings of your choice worth £5
• AS WELL AS a set of 80 digital vintage advert clippings

The Swag

The Earrings (you chose the fabric!)

The vintage advert collection

The Rules!

All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning this lovely swag is become a follower of this blog (if you’re not already) and leave a comment on this post!

For extra chances to win, you can put this giveaway button in the side bar of your blog (Just save the image below and add it to your page and don't forget to link the picture back to this post) 

You can also mention my giveaway on your blog or post a link via Facebook or Twitter. So basically there is a total of 5 entries that can be made per person! 

1. Follow and Comment 
2. Button it 
3. Blog it 
4. Facebook it 
5. Tweet it

Names will be drawn from a hat (I’m a traditionalist!) on the 1st of February. 

Good Luck!

New treasury for the new year!

If like me, you use the new year as an excuse to get organised, as an excuse to procrastinate rather than do the jobs that need to be done (guilty as charged) then you may be interested in this little treasury list I just made. Lots of stationary, organisers and storage solutions with a retro twist. Obviously!

22 Before 23

Today is my half birthday... (Exactly 6 months till my next birthday. Obviously)

So with this in mind, I have been inspired by this post over at A Beautiful Mess ( this is a very lovely blog by the way, so have a little nosy around over there!)  to set myself 22 goals to achieve by the time I turn 23.

And here they are... 

The first 2 are private goals, but if I achieve them i'll be sure to let you know!! Suddenly it all seems very daunting and difficult... but 6 months can be a long time and some of these things will be a fun kind of challenge! Like having a 100% Handmade Christmas. This has come from my love of making personal presents as well as frugal times hitting hard! The man, the brother and the mother are easy enough but what to make for the father?! He may well be my downfall... 

Number 14 should be easy enough... Today I am grateful for the inspiring and beautiful blogs I read everyday!

Trip to Europe is probably dependent on paying off the overdraft though... and soon!

It's magnetic!

It's been a while since my last blog (naughty blogger...) so I thought I would do a bit of a bumper blog on whats been going on and whats coming up!

Magnets

I have been dabbling in printing my photographs and artwork onto magnets for a little while now and I thought I would give you a sneaky peak...

These vintage Polaroid style magnets are designed by me and feature my own photography. They can be personalized with your own message and photo!

These smaller magnets are designed by myself... (I do adore PhotoShop!) They are 5cm x5cm in fully customisable lovely colours!

 And for that special day....

Test magnets printed... and they work! Hazzar!

I've been playing around with using them on greeting cards using photo corners so you can remove the magnet, these could work best with the save the date magnets? 

I was also thinking about using vintage adverts? who's up for some rationing tips?

If you're like me and absolutely love vintage adverts, I am slowly working my way through old magazines and newspapers to bring you digital collections of genuine vintage ads for a bargain price!

This collection contains 80 individual adverts all from the 1940's!

For sale on Etsy or Facebook!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/86035488/1940s-vintage-adverts-digital-collection

Magnets coming soon (I hope!)

Vintage Beauts

Vintage goodies for you today.....

Kitsch Heinz Tomato Soup Thermos 'Roughneck' flask c1960. £5.

 Some beautiful tonal buttons in my favorite colours. Simple but stunning!

My favorite.... Vintage silk thread on original wooden spools, most of which are nearly new!

These items will be available at The Norwich Vintage Fair and then in my Etsy shop.

Imperial...

Whats in the Box.....?

Why a vintage typewriter of course, I'm a lucky girl!

 Agghhh so pretty!!!! 'Imperial. The good companion' c1930