Union Jack enthusiasm.

Hello! Shall I just carry on from yesterday's post then?

I was saying that today I'd reveal the gifts that went into Hen's parcel, as part of  our on-going penpal swap thingy, I've nicknamed it the Hen Swap. You can see all the other goodies we've given each other over the past months, in my Hen Swap category here. And Hen's blog, her wonderful blog, is here.

So it was my turn last month, January, and I'd been gathering goodies for a while. Whenever I go out and pass a shop, I have my Hen's gifts Radar up and buzzing. As a consequence, I rarely buy anything for myself these days, it's all for Hen! Still, it's fun. Shopping for someone else does not come with guilt.

I fancied a bit of a change, wrapping-wise, so this time it was multi-coloured paper and ribbon.

Wrapping and making the tags for all these gifts always takes a long time. Hen loves detail, so spending lots of time on these things is something I know will be appreciated. And I love painting the tags and puching the eyelets in, and finishing it all off with stripey string. This string came from Petersham Nurseries, on a reel, and was ridiculously expensive, but very worth it for the pleasure it gives me. I just found a link to their 'special string' category, in their on-line shop, which you can see here. I didn't see this stripey string I'm using, in their shops photos, but maybe if you phone them up, or e-mail them, they'll be able to help.

This month, I fancied having a bit of a theme to my gifts. It turned out to be harder to stick to the Union Jack theme than I thought it would be initially. Having a theme like this turned out to be a challenge, helped out by Emma Bridgewater goods. She has a line of products all sporting the Union jack, and they're great fun, you can see them here.

The chocolate bar, in the first photo was a bit of a find. Over Christmas we went to see an exhibition of photograph's taken on Captain Scott's ill-fated journey to the South Pole, at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh. The shop was selling these wonderfully packaged bars of chocolate, with a reproduction of an old Union Jack flag on the wrapping. Don't know what the chocolate is like inside, nice I hope.

This tin above is in the Emma Bridgewater range too, I think it's ever so jolly!

The vintage fabric, with the Union Jack influence above, HAD to be bought for the theme! I'm not sure what Hen could do with it, other than have it as a wall hanging. I supppose it could be a tablecloth, or the most enormous cushion cover in the world. I once saw a photo of Cath Kidston, wearing a skirt she'd had made, out of a Union Jack flag, and it looked fantastic.

The ribbon above, is from a company called East of India. They make some lovely gifty things, and I especially love their reels of ribbon, so imagine how I felt when I saw this Union Jack ribbon! A bit like I'd hit the jackpot!

And yes, the jackpot was hit when I saw the packaging for these toffees too!

It was after the toffees that buying for the Union Jack theme started to get impossible, so not wanting to be beaten, I decided to do some lateral thinking. Union Jack.............. apart from being patriotic, has an old fashioned feel to it, English................. vintage English, that would have to fit the theme. So that's where the  John Ward picture above came in. It's lovely old fashioned English feel fits the theme.

Actually, I gave up on the theme at this point, because it was becoming too hard to be enjoyable. I didn't think Hen would appreciate a large selection of Emma Bridgewater Union Jack covered items, it would be over-kill, and quite frankly, extortionately expensive.

So I decided to just include things I liked, that I thought Hen might like.

Like these rather fantastic slippers! Hen always has the most glamorously painted finger nails, so I just concluded that in the summer, her toe nails might get the same treatment. I've not seen slippers with toe dividers in them before! Plus, these slippers look really squishy and comfy, and sort of glamorous too, (when you imagine painted toe nails, on perfectly manicured feet, that is).

And the pens above? Well, they're so pretty! I just see them as being decorative, not to be used, because you'd just get glitter all over your fingers if you used them. These were a 'just because' buy.

And the final gift?! Well, that is something I made, and is going to have a post all of its own tomorrow, Friday.

Above we have a small hint of what is to come in tomorrow's post!

I'll see you tomorrow then? Yes?! Oh good, so looking forward to seeing you for a little Friday chat. Toodleloo. Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[Siobhan]

You are so sweet to do an extra post. Which is really lovely for us! What a lot of thought you have put into Hen's pressies. All the detail is so lovely and so thoughtful. I really love your little tags - perhaps they are something that could go in your shop, or maybe you would like to keep them for personal use. Anyway I always love to see them; I do like the little flower eyelets and string.Lots of goodies there; I'd never say no to a toffee or a bit of chocolate myself and I love the pretty picture. How clever of you to theme your gifts and come up with such a variety. I think those lovely pens may be able to be written with; I've had one that looks similar and it was OK - no glitter fingers! They are v pretty I agree. However, you have left the very best until the very last, because 'a little something' is usually a rather big something and pretty wonderful. If it is what I think it is then you have to promise to make something just as lovely and keep it all for yourself next time, cos you deserve it!

[Siobhan]

P.S. I've had another look at the last picture and the ribbons are confusing me - maybe I'm wrong and I DON'T know what it is!

[Jacqueline]

Your gifts are lovely, as usual. The final item looks very intriging, I look forward to tomorrows post to find out more.

[Martha]

Emma Bridgewater...
*swoon*
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

[char]

WOW...Hen's going to be SO pleased!
Have a great evening.
Char

[Charlene]

WOW Hen is one spoilt lady :) I can't wait to see what that lovely piece of knitting is - the colors are glorious :)

[knittingoutloud]

What enormous fun!!! I especially love the vintage fabric, but your spectacular wrapping is a present in itself.

[Rachel]

Hen is one lucky lady! I'm sure she will love it all! You are so sweet and thoughtful in your choices!Love the detail on your tags,so pretty and colourful!
The knitting looks gorgeous! Are those handles? Could it be a bag?
Can't wait to find out!
Rachel x

[Petit Filoux]

All it's all so lovely! Look forward to seeing more of that item... x

[Heather]

Your swap gifts are always such fun :-D
Can I ask, where did you get your beautiful nametapes from? My mum has been making handmade gifts and would like to add a name tape but wasn't sure where to get hold of them. thanks in advance :)
Heather xxx

[Janet]

Wow what fab prezzies for Hen! Love the fairisle - it is soooo gorgeous.
Just wondered if you have seen the new knitting kit from The Wool Sanctuary? It is a union jack beach hut! I have ordered a kit along with the egg cosies kit. Have already got the draught excluder kit and little house which Kirsty Allsop had on her house programme. Just have a peep on the website under things to buy at www.thewoolsanctuary.com and see if you can resist!!! Love love love your blog!!! Janet

[Kmbold]

What a wonderful and colorful (colourful) web page. I am in awe. You English are the best. God has given you many gifts and you have used them!