28.11.12

LOVELY SPONSORS

Hello! After a week of constant headaches and sinus pain, today I feel like I'm properly back in the land of the living. Plus Phiney has slept through the last three nights, after more than 2 weeks of getting up at least once. After 2 months of undisturbed sleep, getting up in the night again has been tough and I'm hoping we've now turned a corner and are back to getting lots of lovely sleep. That's until the next tooth decides to break through of course...

Anyway, with being ill and launching all the new Happy Circus goodies, I realised I haven't told you more about our lovely sponsors. If you're still stuck for some Christmas presents ideas, look no further...

Firstly, the ever wonderful All About Heidi. You know how much we love these gorgeous shoes in our house; you can see Phiney wearing them here, here and here. And whenever she wears them, people come ask where they're from. They're beautifully made and come in the most fantastic range of colours. It broke my heart a little when Phiney grew out of hers, but we'll be back come the spring to buy another pair...or two. So if you have a little one in your life who's feet deserve only the loveliest of shoes, head to All About Heidi.

Next up is Little Green Shed. You all know Lou, right? She's one sweet lady with a sweet shop selling very awesome prints and other pieces for your house. Her blog is always a funny, honest and pretty-to-look at read and her designs are a must-have for every stylish home. Right now I'm wanting this print...it's on my Christmas list, for sure. Plus she just got more of her brilliant teapots back in stock, which are sure to make the ideal present this year.

Finally is the brilliant Tori Hancock Photography. You can read about how much we love Tori and her beautiful pictures here, and see more of her amazing work here and here. If you're looking for a very special gift to give this Christmas, or perhaps want to give your family something wonderful in 2013, a session with this lady will be a present you'll cherish forever. Tori is a very lovely person. She is happy and easy going and fun and takes truly wonderful pictures. I can't say enough good things about her and her talent, so go and check out her work.

Thank you to these lovely sponsors for all your support this month, and I'll be back later in the week with more about the ever-so-stylish Joules. There are still a few spaces left for advertising in December, so please drop me an email for our media pack. Our rates are nice and low and we'll be offering a little Christmas discount too if you're interested.

22.11.12

RAIN





The rain round these parts has been insane over the last few days. There has been flooding all around us, roads have been closed and there's been a scary number of emergency vehicles speeding past our window. Getting in the American spirit of things, I'm thankful today that all my friends and family are safe in their warm and dry homes.

All this wind and rain has mostly kept us indoors this week - that and the horrid colds Josephine and I have been nursing. Still, we're both on the mend and the amazing response to the new pieces in the Happy Circus store has kept me smiling when a never-ending runny nose and banging headache could have really got me down. We're already at over 100 likers on the new HC Facebook page, which is amazing, so thank you all so much. If you haven't already, head over here to keep updated with all the goings-on in the store and visit the shop now to solve any Christmas gift issues you may be having. My favourite blouse and dress are still available, and I'll be super-duper jealous of whoever bags these (is it bad that I'm secretly hoping no-one will so I can keep them for Phiney?!)

Tomorrow Ben has the day off and we have such a fun day planned, so I'll be back tomorrow with (festive!) pictures galore. Thank you all once again for your amazing support - a blogger really couldn't ask for a lovelier bunch of followers xx

Pictures of our (actually not so) tiny girl on the verge of taking her first steps, we're sure. There has been lots of falling over and bumped heads as a result, but it's amazing watching her on this adventure. And, yes, she turned 10 months on Sunday and I still have posted her monthly portrait...next week, I promise!

19.11.12

ROLL UP, ROLL UP: christmas shopping at happy circus

After months of really hard work and hours of scouring charity shops and markets, I am so pleased to announce the launch of a whole host of new goodies at Happy Circus.

Firstly, after the increasing requests and success of my hair bows and bow ties for weddings, I've designed a new range of bows for boys and girls, men and women, that are perfect for everyday and those special occassions. For the boys, the bow ties now feature knitted bows on carefully selected cotton fabrics with classic bow tie fastenings, while the girls can enjoy hair bows without ties (no more clumpy knots at the back of your head) in the classic size, oversize, little girl size and bow clips. I've also replaced synthetic wools with beautifully soft, plump cashmerino and almerino yarns in sorbets, tweeds and faded vintage hues.
Next I've added a new material to the ranges here at HC. I've loved working with felt over the last few years in an array of different projects, so I'm really excited to bring some of my designs to the shop. From multi-coloured triangular felt garlands to fun wall hangings that will look awesome in your child's room (or any other room in the house for that matter) these bright and colourful additions make me smile everytime I look at them, and hope you find the same.






















Finally, I'm so excited to launch the second Happy Circus Vintage event. Over the last few months I've been gathering items for boys and girls of all ages and there are more than 30 truly awesome pieces on offer this time. The sweetest smocked dresses sit alongside chunky knitted jumpers while delicate blouses work perfectly with classic Osh Kosh dungerees.

I hope you'll go visit the shop and discover some treats for yourself, your kids, your friends and family this Christmas. I'm very happy to be offering you all a 10% discount off all your purchases over the next 48 hours - just become a follower if you're not one already and go 'like' our new Facebook page here, where you'll be first to know about new pieces, special offers and all behind-the-scenes news. Then enter the promotional code HCChristmas at the checkout to receive your discount.

Thank you as always for your support with my little shop. I'm really excited to see what 2013 brings in developing the store and hope you'll enjoy wearing your purchases as much as I did making and sourcing them.

Happy Monday everyone :)

18.11.12

STYLIN'

Phiney aka Poet aka Pebbles.

15.11.12

GROWING

1. I find myself packing away a neat little pile of too-small clothes every month or so. I try to be ruthless, only keeping hold of the essential basics and extra special pieces for future babies, with the rest making it's way to the charity shop or a lovely friend with three little girls to dress. This little pile is full of those special items that I will always cherish, with this little bonnet and these beautiful shoes especially hard to fold away.
  
2. Of course with growing comes the discovery of clothing I've been waiting patiently to fit. Vintage and second-hand finds and bargains that were too good to pass. These little t-bar shoes are now fitting perfectly, and just in time as Josephine has started walking holding only one of our hands to steady herself...

3. And it's not just limbs that are growing rapidly. Phiney's curls have gone crazy over the last month and tiny clips and hairbands were a necessity (although trying to find clips not covered in glitter and Hello Kitty was a real mission.) She looks too cute sporting her new accessories, so I'll save that for another post.

12.11.12

CHILDHOOD FAVOURITES: great story/sweet style

It makes me so happy to see how much Josephine loves books. Whether it's a picture book in her toy box (cardboard only as she's still chewing everything she gets her hands on!) that she'll sit and flick through quietly on her own, or the stories we read together in the afternoon or at bedtime.

Of course, right now, it's up to Ben and I to choose which books we read to Phiney and we're loving the opportunity to re-discover our own childhood favourites. For both of us the beautiful stories by Shirley Hughes and Janet and Allan Ahlberg bring back fond memories and have been the first picked from the bookshelf.

Looking at these books now it's not just the story that I'm enjoying, it's the illustrations and style of the characters too. Traditional children's clothes - think homemade knits, t-bar leather shoes, sweet little dresses and woollen bonnets all of which are offering some fantastic winter wardrobe inspiration - as well as beautiful toys and prams, and real and endearing family scenes that are lovely to see. And that make these classic reads as enjoyable as ever.

Josephine's favourites? Peepo, of course, and The Baby Catalogue. Our cardboard copy of the latter is, as you can see, much loved :)

11.11.12

PARK LIFE: catching the last light

It feels like autumn changed to winter this week and last night, as the sun began to set and all the other families packed up to head home, we braved the brisk air and popped to the park. Wrapped up in her gorgeous bonnet and new mittens, Josephine swung and bounced and climbed and watched in awe as dogs ran in the park and the older kiddos chased a ball around. We kicked crispy leaves around the empty playground and talked of the Christmas fun that is just around the corner.

We hope you all had a lovey weekend too x

8.11.12

THE C WORD: the countdown begins

Today, when Josephine and I popped into our local greengrocers, I was hit with the smell of Christmas. Two boxes sat by the door; just delivered, they were piled high. One with Clementines, the other Satsumas. Some of the first of the season, a little crowd gathered round them - admiring this bright orange treasure.

I took two juicy looking Clementines for Ben and I to enjoy while snuggled on the sofa tonight, and gave into the temptation of listening to a Christmas record when we got home; a treat normally saved for December only, but I figure that now we have a child we have a responsibility to extend the joy of Christmas that little longer.

I can hardly believe that Christmas is now so close. Time is whizzing by and it seems a whole week can disappear in the blink on an eye. It's almost the weekend again, and it's going to be a busy one getting everything ready for the launch of some new Happy Circus goodies and our second vintage sale at the beginning of next week. Do you have any fun plans?

Right now though, I'm off to eat that Clementine....

1.11.12

EXCITING TIMES: november fun

Happy November everyone! I can't believe we're here already - this year has flown by like no other.

This month is going to be a crazy one round here. As well as all the new stuff hitting Happy Circus soon, there will be some changes on this space too. The main one being the inclusion of some very lovely Sponsors.

Over the last few months I've been contacted by a few companies about advertising and, as I'm now officially without a paid job, it seemed like a good time to take up their offer. We're really excited to be supporting companies that we love and trust, and to have them support this little blog. As you can see we already have some lovely people taking space and there are still some spaces left for November. Our rates are nice and low, plus with Christmas just around the corner it's time to start promoting your business - so if you'd like to join them just drop me an email and I'll send you our Media Pack. 

Still not sure? A recent giveaway supplier emailed me a couple of months ago to let me know that she had had considerably more visits to her website from our blog in two weeks than she had from advertising with one of the biggest American baby blogs out there for a month. Since then we've grown in the number of followers and last week had the highest number of visitors to the site in one day. We may only be small, but it appears we have pulling power. So come and join the party!