valentine treats ... (part 1)

with valentines day just round the corner.  i thought i'd make a start on the sweetest batch of loved up printables today.  adorable sweetheart treat cartons, paper swing tags and (of course) mini bunting. 

in fact, just about everything you need for a little loved up fun on the 14th.

here's a little sneak peek.  free printables (+ super easy step by step) coming on wednesday*.

mwah mwah.

 *don't forget you can sign up to receive all the latest byebyebirdie posts and news via that sweet little grey rss button on my sidebar.  up there, on the right, in between the twitter button and the etsy one. got it? lovely.

hello goodbye ...

it's nearly time to say goodbye january and hello gin.  hurrah.  our month long (self imposed) alcohol ban comes to an end at midnight tonight.

we've enjoyed endured teetotal januarys for years.  partly for the health benefits and partly just to prove we can.

and there's no doubt about it.  i've slept better this month.  my hair and skin are shinier and my teeth are whiter.

but still, i'm looking forward to a glass of delicous portabello gin tomorrow night.  possibly the finest gin i've ever tasted.  a dash of slimline tonic, slice of lemon, a couple of ice chips and i will be in heaven.

chin chin.

*gin art print (and image) by the wonderfully talented oflifeandlemons

pants ...

after sunday's edit to my book corner post, i've had a quite a few emails asking where i found the cute paper pants bunting. 

to answer your questions; it's one of my own bunting creations, hand drawn by me, and no i don't sell it in my shop*. 

but here's a free printable if you want to make some of your own!

there's union jack ones, stars and stripes, london buses, polka dots and gingham ones.  print them off and take your pick.

this week we are working on potty training and so we're talking (a lot) about pants and toilets and other such delightfulness.  i thought a little bunting would add a bit of silliness to the proceedings.

enjoy!

*although i am currently working on some lovely new papery bits n' pieces for my shop.  baby shower and other such lovely bunting ideas.  oh and some gorgeous new screenprints.  hopefully should all be ready for the spring.  so exciting!

dear polar bear ...

despite a heaving bookcase, the baby bird's bedtime story choices can get a little repetitive.  five straight nights of 'dear zoo' (he still gets a kick out of his old lift the flap books) and i'm more than ready for a change. 

but the baby bird is not big on change.  no matter how many options i pull from the shelves.  it's no no no.  and we're back to the zoo.

that was until, a couple of months ago.  when i started pulling books from his shelves and creating themed displays with them on his bedroom chest.  i change the books every few days and add in a few little treasures to catch his eye.  bingo! no more dear zoo.

last week's theme? snow*, of course.

(edit : sunday 27th january)

all change in book corner.  today we're all about the pants.  guess what we're going to be working on this week!

*dear polar bear, one snowy night (my favourite!) and the penguin who wanted to sparkle. 

thank you ...

i received the sweetest thank you package in the post today.  a pretty little something* from a lovely new friend.  wrapped in tissue and tied with ribbon, it reminded me just how lovely it is to receive unexpected (and beautifully packaged) parcels.

although i send pretty byebyebirdie packages everyday, i don't send enough 'just because' parcels.   time to gather together a few little handmade treats at the weekend i think, and do just that.. 

*i took delivery of a new (second hand) sony cybershot yesterday after it's predecessor took an unfortunate tumble in the studio.  i've had the same little compact digital for 8 years and just couldn't bear the thought of making friends with a whole new set of controls and buttons.  happily i found the exact same model on ebay.  so i snapped it up.  camera plus lead plus spare batteries all fit perfectly in my new little padded bag.  how perfect is that?

one snowy day ...

the orders on today's work list all seemed bound for far warmer climes than our current arctic ones*.  wrapping an order bound for hawaii (top temp today 78oC) whilst surveying the snowy scene from my studio window, felt very odd indeed.

ordered stitched, wrapped and packed, i bundled the little bird and baby bird into a hundred layers of vests and scarves and set out on the longest walk to the post office ever.  with rest stops (pushing a pram through 6 inches of snow is HARD work) it turned into a crazily slippy two and a half hour round trip.

home to hot drinks, pyjamas and a snuggle in front of the fire.

brrr.

*ok not arctic. but cold, very very cold.

snow sloths (+ golden syrup flapjack recipe) ...

i absolutely love snow.  i love the peace and quiet it brings.  the damp mittens steaming on the radiator.  feet warming in front of the fire.  blinds lowered, doors closed tight, fire blazing.  love love love it.

and of course, there's cake to be made, bread to be baked.  weekend snow-in = carb overload in our house.  so far i've turned out parmesan bread, olive oil bread and two rounds of golden syrup flapjacks.   mr b on the other hand has produced a huge fish pie, mexican eggs and prawn linguine.  as i type this we're lying like sloths on the sofa, watching hook, contemplating another round of coffee and cake.

heaven.

if you fancy joining us, here's the best - and easiest - flapjack recipe ever ...

200g butter
100g brown sugar
5 (generous) tablespoons golden syrup
400g porridge oats
generous handful of muesli/granola

1. pop butter, brown sugar and golden syrup in a pan on a low heat.  stir gently until butter has melted.

2. take off the heat and chuck in the dry stuff and stir until everything is coated.

3. transfer oaty buttery syrupy mixture into a greased cake tin (preferably one with a loose bottom), press down and level off.   then bake at about 180oC for 20 minutes or so (or until golden brown).

4. when cooked, leave in the cake tin until completely cool.

5. enjoy.

graze ...

along with the usual fabric parcels (and bills), the postman delivered an extra little treat today.  the baby bird and i had the first of our weekly graze boxes delivered.  yum yum.

graze boxes*.  a ridiculously brilliant idea, thought up by a group of busy (and very clever) foodies.  boxes of deliciously healthy snacks, tailored to your own likes and dislikes, delivered to your home or office. 

today the baby bird and i cleared some space on the work table and split the contents of our first box**, he had the honeycombe crunch and tomato dipinetti, leaving me with the mississippi bbq pistachios, carrott cake and cup of blended assam, kenyan and earl grey tea.

want to try one for yourself? here's a code for you to try a graze box for free*** CYQDDD6C 

enjoy.

*this isn't a sponsored post. as you know, i don't do sponsored posts.  when i find things i think you might like, i share.  simple as that.

** the box itself is brilliant.  the baby bird used our emptied box to build a lego village.  next week i plan to use the small plastic punnets to plant up a mini herb garden with the little ones.

*** you do need to sign up for a weekly service in order to receive this free box.  but you can cancel at any time.  no obligation to actually request/pay for a second box.  but you will.  how could you not?

konnichiwa ...

yesterday i shipped my very first order to japan.  time for another pin in the map.

konnichiwa japan.

in with the new ...

just two weeks into the new year and already the pages of my sketchbook are filling up with exciting new ideas and lovely new product designs.  some i'll be keeping under my hat until the spring but others - like my new eco felt* nursery cushions - should be in the shop before the month is out.

i'm adding two cushion designs.  both personalised with lovely retro style initial letters.  there's the one below.  a soft antique white felt base, hand printed with a black and cream gingham letter, finished with simple black blanket stitch detailing. 

the second is a lovely silver grey finished with applique and cherry red stitching - but i'll share that with you in a later post.

it's so lovely to be working with new fabrics and new designs.  makes a lovely refreshing change after weeks of christmas stocking stitching (although i am missing the jingle of those pretty little silver bells).

*would you believe this lovely soft felt is made from recycled clear plastic bottles?!