The Gertrude Anna Wizard of Oz Clutch Bag

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A stunning handmade clutch bag, created by Timmy White of www.GertrudeAnna.co.uk

This was a special bespoke commission for one of his customers, but if you add him on Facebook you can keep up to date with the vintage fabrics he has in stock including Star Wars & Knightrider retro swatches, and order your own handbag.

The World of Kitsch Visits Jumping Clay

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I'm pretty contented with being born in 1980 & being an eighties' kid with the best cartoons and toys, but every so often something makes me wish I was born in the 2000s.

My visit to Jumping Clay today was one of those moments when I found myself jealous of my five year old, and wishing it was something that had been around when I was little.

www.JumpingClay.co.uk

Jumping Clay is a unique workshop & hobby course venue, with academies through out Northern Ireland. There are two venues in England, one in Galway & one in Glasgow, for my readers further afield.

As well as one off visit workshops, they offer parties where children can all make & take home a creation. There is also a weekly class where kids can advance their modelling techniques and learn about the world around them through play.

Jumping Clay also goes on the road, holding classes at Children's Hospices & workshops with the elderly. The creative process is so simple, but truly relaxing & therapeutic. We visited the bright, fresh & clean Belfast Jumping Clay, very aptly located right opposite the Ulster Museum, as who knows where encouraging your child with sculpting could end up!

Caroline showed us around, the shop where you can buy take home kits, or ready made models as gifts. Upstairs is the workshop room where parties are also held, with room for party food & cake too.

My five year old son perused the dozens of model ideas, and picked a penguin to make himself.
Nicola was his guide to his first ever Jumping Clay session. I say first as we've already had to promise we will be back, he's a big fan!

For his first time, he was pretty good. He made the penguin totally himself, under the expert guidance of Nicola who is one of the specially trained instructors. The clay itself isn't like any other modelling putty I've come across, it's different to Playdough & Plastercine, it's more springy and light. It's not messy either, and smells like jasmine. It doesn't need fired, it simply dries out overnight and becomes a lightweight, sturdy model.

We are already planning a return visit, and my son has started teaching Dad how to make a penguin, now he's the expert!

Plan your own visit at
www.JumpingClay.co.uk

Kraken Rum Infused Cupcakes from The Lily Pink Bakery

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My husband turned 28 yesterday & for one of his presents I bought 'commissioned' cupcakes from Claire at www.LilyPinkBakery.com

"Vanilla sponge with Kraken chocolate ganache, Coca-Cola buttercream & Kraken infused caramel drizzle".

They were even better than that sounds. Claire sells a wide range of cupcakes at St. George's Market in Belfast.

I also picked up this kraken print hip flask for a birthday present, from Etsy.

And this plush Face Hugger. Of course.

The Swan Vintage Teasmade- Mine at Last

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It's handy that you all know I'm a weirdo already, because I'm about to confide in you a childhood desire that definitely wasn't normal.

When I was about seven, eight and upwards, I was drawn to the white goods section of the Argos catalogue, to the teasmades. I didn't drink a tremendous amount of tea as a preteen or anything, but I was fascinated by the clock, kettle, often picture frame, mash-up gadget and the idea of having one in my own bedroom came with very grown-up aspirations. My parents, being good, non-boiling-water-giving-to-child parents, never ticked the Swan Teasmade off my Santa list, but it's one product that's always tickled my fancy to this day.

Now Teasmades are seen as vintage, and one of their original manufacturers, Swan, know that there are Nesspressos & fancy podded coffee do-dahs out there, but there are folks like me who still want a part alarm clock, part kettle gadget. So they brought back the Teasmade in 2009 after an absence of a number of years, to great success. There are a number of models available though www.JohnLewis.com and www.Swan-Brand.co.uk fulfilled my lifetime dream of Teasmade ownership and sent me their crisp white model.

It's my very own non-weaponised Transformer- half alarm clock, half tea pot. Brew-a-tron!
And it works a treat. Makes enough tea for two cups & is self cleaning as only water goes inside the machine. I have M.E. and often have to sleep part of the early afternoon to have the energy for my son coming home from school, so now when I do I can set my Teasmade to wake me twenty minutes before the school run with a lovely pot of Suki Tea.


Then and Now. Many more vintage photos on the www.Facebook.com/Teasmade page