It's been busy - very busy!!!

Hi all, I have been a really bad blogger & haven't posted for ages!! I think I had better catch up with you all to let you know what I've been doing, and show you some of the lovely finds I have come across.
The first find was the one above. I had a stall at a local Vintage & handmade fair, and as my OH came to help, I managed to have a good look around, and found this gorgeous little shabby chic pine cupboard together with two cute little shelves!! Now, I should take this to my next Vintage fair, but I can't bear to part with it, and want to keep it. As I will be moving sometime next year, it will be used for display at fairs at present, and I want to keep it for my new 'old' home!!

I have been wanting a vintage eiderdown for ages, and couldn't resist this cute pink paisley one that my blogging friend , Wend, from Ticking Stripes had on her stall at the Northampton Vintage Fair. It is in lovely condition, and even has the original label on it from a manufacturer called 'Little Britain'. (A bit before Matt Lucas & David Walliams methinks!!!)

Guess where I found this..........

and this too ?


You'll never believe it...............


IN MY GARAGE!!!!


OH and I were having a grand clear out of my garage, and somehow this had been left wrapped up in newspaper in a cardboard box, and forgotten!!
It is part of a tea set my gran had, and gave to me in the 80's!! I was sooooo pleased to see it again : )

This pine chest of drawers had been used for a baby changing station, and at a good price, was perfect for my craft room. It is now full of fabric!! The old chest I had was melamine, and falling apart. This one is much stronger, holds more fabric, and certainly looks better!! The little oak swivel mirror was found the day after, and will be coming along to my next fair at Olney, Buckinghamshire.
What a lucky weekend that was!

I went on holiday the end of May/early June to Jersey.The weather was gorgeous, and it is a beautiful little island with lots of sandy beaches, and pretty countryside. Here's a few pics -

Really enjoyed it, and would recommend it to anyone. Those Jersey ice creams really are something else!!! : )

New cushions made : )

New pics....

.... and a cot quilt Iam working on in different pink floral prints, and polka dots. It only needs basting & machine quilting, but haven't got around to it yet!!
 I've come to the conclusion that there aren't enough hours in the day!!! : D

Love hearts, do you? - Latest pics for sale !!

Here are my latest makes. With Valentine's day looming up, I wanted to create something pretty that could be given as a Valentine's gift, and enjoyed all year round, instead of being put away in a drawer.

Here is an idea I came up with! A cute little appliqued picture with hand appliqued hearts in a range of pretty pink & red floral, paisley & polka dot fabrics. It has a shabby chic cream painted frame, and can either be made with the following wording -

Always kiss me goodnight x

Live   Laugh   Love

Home sweet Home

... or your words, or personalisation (Up to 25 characters, including spaces.)


Here's a close up of the blue one -

This one is in a cute selection of polka dot, paisley, & floral cotton prints.

Size   7" x 5.5 " approx

Can stand, or be hung.

Price   £6.00

£1.20 P & P

If you would like to place an order, then please e-mail me at

shabbypolkadots@hotmail.co.uk

A lovely day, and a great car boot sale !!!

Just about five minutes down the road from my house is a farm. The owners have a car boot sale around 3-4 times a year, and it's great to just be able to walk there, instead of driving miles. Their last car boot sale was on Sunday, so was perfect as it was such a lovely, warm day!

I set off with DD, and my little granddaughter, and would like to show you what I found!

First of all was a lovely cream Laura Ashley enamelled tray! It's really pretty, and as I had admired them in the shop, this one had to come home with me!
Not bad for a pound, eh?! The china on the tray above is mine, I didn't find that too.
Also I found this very pretty Vintage glass jug, and the little metal rabbit jelly mould! These two will be coming with me to the Northampton Vintage & Homemade fair on Saturday 23rd October.
I wonder if anyone could answer a question for me? Does anyone know why there's a wire handle thing on the bottom of it? (as below). I don't know how it could be used to remove jelly etc, from the bunny.

I saw some really pretty rosy fabric tied up in string....

It was a gorgeous Laura Ashley single duvet & 2 pillowcases! I love the patchwork border of small spriggy roses, check, and the larger rosy print. Would be ideal for the spare room, or I could use it as fabric. I don't think I could cut it though, it's so pretty : )
Now the next finds I had to wash. (Please excuse the creased washing on the line!!!)

I found two beautifully embroidered linen table cloths!! (The other items, are pieces of pink floral cotton fabrics, that I want to pre-shrink for a patchwork quilt.)

This was the first one, so pretty, it must have taken hours to stitch!

Here's the other, really bright & vibrant with daffodils & spring flowers. They will look a lot better after ironing. This kind of ironing, I can't wait to do!!!!

All in all it was a good day. My daughter had some good finds too, as did my little granddaughter. 
The owners of the farm are moving, so this could be the last car boot sale ever, unless the new owners want to carry it on. The proceeds were for charity, and even our vicar was helping with the hot dogs!!! A lovely village event, on a lovely, warm October Sunday! Let's hope we get more days like this!!
In less than 2 weeks it will be the Vintage Fair, so I'd better get back to my stitching! So much to do, so little time!!

Shabby Polka dots Fabric & Fabric notebooks for sale!

I always said I would post some fabric on my blogshop, and here is the first design. It's a gorgeous winter design, covered in lots of cute snowmen, amd folk art designs! (Yes, I know it's only the beginning of autumn, but us crafters need to plan ahead!!)
It's by Diana Marcum for Marcus Textiles, it's 100% cotton, and is ideal for your seasonal makes.

Here's a few more pics of it -

It's a lovely bright, cheerful fabric, and perfect for your winter crafting.

£2.50 per fat quarter  (22 X 18 inches)

 I have a metre of this, if you'd like 2, I will send them as one piece.

P & P  75 pence

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One of the new Cath Kidston fabrics I love the most, is the pretty blue Provence Rose design. This I have used on the first notebook, and have decorated it with a hand embroidered label, and tiny red heart button.

All the notebooks are A6 in size, ined, with approx 80 pages. As the cover is removable, you can easily refill it, with a new notebook when it's full.

Price    £7.75

P & P   £1.50

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A really pretty patchwork notebook in beautiful pink CK Posy, and Paisley prints, with a pink pin dot fabric at the middle. Decorated with machine embroidery, a hand embroidered label & cute heart button.


                                           Price    £8.50

                                           P & P   £1.50

A really lovely CK red paisley print I have used for this little book. Calico hand embroidered label, with a tiny blue heart button, machine embroidered in a gorgeous variegated colourful thread.

                                              Price    £7.75

                                              P & P    £1.50


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This notebook is covered in a really bright, cheerful seaside design. Covered in boats, beach huts, and everything seasidey!

Price    £7.75

P & P   £ 1.50

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If you'd like to place an order, or have any questions, please e-mail

me on  shabbypolkadots@hotmail.co.uk , and I'll be pleased to help.

The Grand opening of Shabby Polka dots shop!!!

On Saturday 20th March, Shabby Polka dots began! I had a stall at the Northampton Vintage & Homemade Fair, and thoroughly enjoyed it! this is something I had wanted to do for years!!
A few weeks later, I started supplying some of my makes to a lovely shop in Buckingham.
Now it's the 1st May, and the Shabby Polka dots Blogshop is officially open!!!
Come into the shop, and hope you enjoy the browse!

Peaches & Cream Patchwork Notebook

If you like patchwork quilts, can I tempt you with a Patchwork Notebook?

This little notebook is made from a selection of pretty pink & peach floral fabrics, with pink & white ticking fabric. It is embellished with machine embroidery,and has a hand stitched calico label with a cute red heart button.

It has an A6 size, 100 page, lined notebook inside, and this can be easily replaced with another similar standard notebook when full.

Price  £8.00

P & P  £1.30

Blue Skies Patchwork Notebook

This summery notebook, is a patchwork combination of blue floral, ticking, paisley, toile, and polka dot fabrics. This one is machine embroidered with a gorgeous variegated blue thread, and has a hand stitched calico & heart embellished label.

Here's the back of the book!

Here's the inside pic. you can see how easily the notebook fits in.

This is A6 size too.

Price  £8.50

P & P  £1.30

Birds, Flowers & Gingham Notebook

A cute A6 notebook in fresh spring green Laura Ashley Gingham, and pretty birds & flowers CK cotton duck fabric. Machine embroidered cover, and hand stitched, heart embellished calico label.

Here's the co-ordinating green polka dot interior.

Price  £8.00

P & P  £1.30

****SOLD****

A lovely roomy, summery bag in gorgeous CK fabric! A nice, roomy pleated bag, with an over the shoulder strap. It is closed with a fabric loop & button.

It is interfaced, and lined in calico, with a matching zipped pocket to keep

your valuables safe, and a mobile phone pocket.

Dimensions - Bag - 11 inches (29 cm) x 15 inches (38 cm) wide.(approx)

Strap - 14 inches (36 cm) long. (approx.)

Price  £16.00

P & P  £2.50

 ****SOLD****

Pink Hearts applique picture

'Together is a wonderful place to be!' are the lovely words on this little picture.

Appliqued hearts in pink Rosali paisley,ticking & pin dot fabrics, on a background of flecked oatmeal osnaburg fabric.

Wooden frame painted in pink eggshell paint, complete with fixings to either hang, or stand the picture.

Measures 8.5 inches (22 cm) wide x 6.25 inches (16 cm) high.

Price £6.00

P & P £1.50

***SOLD***

Pink framed 'Home Sweet Home' appliqued picture.

I love cottages, flowers, and hearts, and wanted to include them all in this design! A little gingham appliqued country cottage, with hand embroidered flowers in the garden, lavender, and blue ceanothus bush. As every house is

''Not just bricks, and beams, but full of hopes, and dreams", I have added a little red heart button!

Dimensions  8.5 inches high (22 cm) x 6.25 inches (16 cm) wide.

With fixings included for hanging, or standing.

Price £8.00

P & P £1.50

***SOLD***

Blue Hearts applique picture

A little Duck egg blue version of the above heart picture. Hearts appliqued in pretty rosy, ticking & Rosali paisley fabrics, on flecked oatmeal osnaburg fabric, and twill tape wording.

Same size as before, with fixings to hang, or stand.

Price  £6.00

P & P £1.50

***SOLD***

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Hope you've enjoyed your visit to Shabby Polka dots blogshop. If you have any questions, or want to place an order, please e-mail me on

shabbypolkadots@hotmail.co.uk

If you would like a notebook, or picture personalised, or in a certain colour etc. please don't hesitate to contact me. Please note, you will have to allow extra time for special orders, as they aren't in stock, and will have to be specially made.

Welcome to Shabby Polka dots!!!

The shop will be opening on Wednesday 14th April, after the Giveaway. The stall above shows some of the goodies that will be for sale. Also, here are a few close up pics of my makes.

PRETTY HAND STITCHED PICTURES

IN DUCKEGG BLUE TOO

PATCHWORK & FABRIC COVERED BOOKS

                                                     PRETTY HEARTS

EVEN COUNTRY COTTAGE PICS!

(please excuse the poor pic!!)

COMFY, CUDDLY CUSHIONS IN LOVELY CK & LAURA ASHLEY FABRICS!

BAGS FOR PEGS!

SOMETIMES BAGS FOR YOU TOO : )

HOPE YOU LIKED THE LITTLE PEEK, THERE WILL BE LOTS MORE, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES, OR REQUESTS, PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT  shabbypolkadots@hotmail.co.uk

The handmade goodies, are all made with love, and care by myself, and there will occasionally be Vintage items, linens, books, and fabrics, so you can get crafty yourselves!

Have fun, and look forward to seeing you at the grand opening!!