Reaching Out Around the World

These lovely little chocolate caramel koalas made their way to the boys' hearts this week, before quickly making their way to their stomachs, too! They had been sent from Australia (where else?) by the wonderful Beck, of Dandelion. If you don't know her blog yet, and I'm sure many of you do, pop over ASAP for a lovely dose of crafts, family, vintage and, wonderfully, organic garlic farming!

Very sweetly, Beck wanted to send me one of her lavender hearts, and asked me what kind of colour scheme I would like. Aren't you proud of me? I was brave enough to move away from blue, because I loved these greeny-pink fabrics so much. It really looks wonderful in our green bedroom - thanks so much, Beck!

Ah-ha, so this is the little bottle Beck was worrying about through its voyage - no damage inside that lovely rainbow fabric, Beck!

Just the boys' absolutely favourite essential oil - they swear by it on mosquito bites, and of course it's very relaxing too. Lovely stuff!

Here is Beck's hometown of Daylesford, on the postcard between some more French items (the coke bottles that keep appearing in my decor are the boys' holiday souvenirs - 'Breizh' means Brittany and it is rather special to drink local cola on holiday, especially with such a great logo). Anyway, back to Daylesford... I want to visit! It really looks wonderful.

Have you spotted (I bet Lululiz did) that some of my photos were taken on some kind of vintage lacey, embroidered thing? Oh yes, the package looked like this when I unwrapped it:

Beck had found the most wonderful vintage Christmas table cloth! I cannot imagine how she had sufficient strength to give it away, myself. Even Ben likes it - he thinks the design is simple yet striking, which he considers to be good Australian design qualities. Can't wait to put it on the table... Thanks again, Beck, that was a really lovely surprise!

Back to our Round the World theme, and also very much in keping with the Challenge of the Utmost Kind, my French friend Isabelle was selling second hand children's clothes yesterday, to fund the postage of yet more clothes to Russia. Isabelle, who speaks superb English, got involved with the British charity Love Russia a while ago, and this year she and another friend from church went out to Russia for a while to help the charity's work.

Love Russia is an amazing group - Isabelle and Ruth were there running children's activity clubs in orphanages and homes for disabled children this summer, but the charity also helps prisoners and abandoned babies. Isabelle has loads of clothes for all these groups, but needs cash to post them off, so she sells some of the best stuff to fund postage for the rest. What a great idea - I am really in awe of what Isabelle and everyone at Love Russia are doing for children who up until now have led such terrible lives.

As well as T-shirts, jumpers and trousers for the boys, I bought the two books above. They are very modern - none of that dated '90s look that so many of my craft books have, and I already love them!

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This is the first one - 'Customise your Wardrobe'. Sounds Very Flossie, as Ben would say... The author is a contributor to the French Marie-Claire Ideas magazine and I love her style, both in the clothes and in the way she presents and chats about everything.

Does this jumper give CK fans any ideas? How many bloggers have adored the big, grey, flowery jumper in the CK winter catalogue, and then baulked at the price? I think I'm going to have a go...

NOW who dares ask me what I'm going to do with all those buttons?

The author has four 'looks' throughout her collection - this is in the 'esprit British' range - I think she's captured British spirit quite well!

And now to the other book, which is just entitled 'Embroidery'. I've hardly looked through it myself ( it's important to eek out your pleasures on this challenge) but it really looks fantastic. It's actually a translation from an English language book.

There's information on how to treat and use vintage embroidery:

And the photography is so creative - look at the setting for this wonderful crazy patchwork quilt!

So I'm a very happy shopper, and Isabelle can post eight more kilos of clothes to the children in Russia. It's a very good feeling.