Renaissance Children's Notebook

Another horse blog this time for new owners

2011-08-18T00:37:00.001-07:00

Following on from our last post about Pip's Pony Club we've found another blog that we think would be really useful to parents of horse mad youngsters -

New Horse Owners

New Horse Owners has been running for less than a month and already it's proving a useful resource with lots of tips, cost saving ideas, product reviews, help and advice. Brilliant for those who constantly hear "Can I have a pony?"

Pips Pony Club

2011-07-27T11:06:00.000-07:00

Do you have a child who is mad about horses and ponies?

If so then Pips Pony Club is just the place to visit.

Pips Pony Club is a blog especially for children who want to learn all about horses and ponies.

So if your kids are crazy about horses pop over to Pips Pony Club and take a look, we think you'll like what you find there.

Village and County Shows

2010-07-27T03:56:00.001-07:00

Village and County Show's make great days out for all the family.

You can view the photographs we recently took at a village show over at

Renaissance Life.

Vintage Retro 1960's Cookie's Album of Sweets and Cakes presented with Princess

2010-07-12T16:30:00.001-07:00

This vintage retro cookbook leaflet was given free with Princess comic in the 1960's, it contains useful cooking information and recipes for cakes and sweets all delightfully illustrated. It's for sale at www.renaissanceshop.co.uk. click Vintage Retro 1960's Cookie's Album of Sweets and Cakes presented with Princess for further information.

The Continental Market

2010-07-06T01:14:00.001-07:00

Continental Markets spring up all over the country, they are a great place to take your children to sample different foods.
More photographs of our visit to The Continental Market can be found at Renaissance Life

SPF for fabrics

2010-07-05T14:00:00.000-07:00

This little top will protect your child's skin from harmful sun rays

it has a 50+ ultra violet protective factor.

For more info and to see the complet range visit Sunuva

Vintage Sewing Pattern 1940's McCall 1485 Boys Girls Cat Panda Rabbit Costumes

2010-07-03T13:52:00.000-07:00

Vintage sewing pattern of wonderful children's fancy dress costumes

from Patternshop.

Annabel Necklace

2010-06-26T01:04:00.001-07:00

Annabel Necklace

( available for Mommies too http://www.etsy.com/listing/49410540/tiny-flower-necklace?ref=v1_other_2)

is made with a vintage fire engine red bead chain and a row of adorable little flowers cabs set in lacy brass frames.The bead chain is connected to a gold plated chain and finished with a comfy lobster clasp.All jump jump rings are14K Gold Filled.

The necklace is available in 4 sizes:

TINY 2-3 yr 11" (28cm)

SMALL 4-6 13" (33cm)

BIGGER 8-10 14" (36cm)

BIGGEST 10-14 15" (38cm)

From Nest Pretty Things Kids Etsy shop

How to really love a child

2010-06-03T04:41:00.000-07:00

Be there~ Say yes as often as possible.

Let them bang on pots and pans.

If they're crabby, put them in water, if they're unlovable, love yourself.

Realize how important it is to be a child.

Go to a movie theatre in your pajamas~ Read books out loud with JOY.

Invent pleasures together.

Remember how really small they are.

Giggle a lot, surprise them, say no when necessary.

Teach feelings.

Heal your own inner child.

Learn about parenting.

Hug trees together.

Make loving safe.

Bake a cake and eat it with no hands,

Go find elephants and kiss them,

Plan to build a rocket ship,

Imagine yourself magic.

Make lots of forts with blankets.

Let your angel fly.

Reveal your own dreams.

Search out the positive.

Keep the gleam in your eye.

Mail Letters to God.

Encourage silly.

Plant licorice in your garden, open up, stop yelling

Express your love. A lot.

Speak kindly.

Paint their tennis shoes.

Handle with caring.
Children are Miraculous
By Sark

Babys First Book

2010-05-29T03:57:00.001-07:00

Baby's First Book project from the book

Sew Liberated: 20 Stylish Projects for the Modern Sewist

by Meg McElwee

Made by the super-talented Alicia Paulson

2010-04-18T06:05:00.001-07:00

No posts here this past week but there have been a few firsts

on our other blogs:

For the first time we took part in Today's Flowers which is such a nice idea that we think we'll make it a regular post at Renaissance Little Green Notebook

Another first was the rather ludicrous photograph of one of our Silkie Bantams at The Chicken Daily and talking of firsts our eldest son exhibited some of his photographs in a gallery for the first time. There is a photograph of his photographs on the website http://www.renaissanceshop.co.uk/ in the What we are doing section.

Whilst we are on the subject of photographs isn't the one above adorable?
It's of Charles the baby red squirrel who fell from his nest.

Red squirrels aren't the only wildlife in need of a little help so we were pleased to be able to use the Renaissance Newsletter to help promote a WDCS Walk for Whales in nearby Hunstanton.

Over at Renaissance Vintage Notebook we seem to have spent quite a lot of time at the V & A looking at vintage inspired quilt fabrics and enthusing about the Grace Kelly exhibition.

We're always on the look out for beautiful ways to display vintage books, we are vintage book sellers afterall, and we found a rather lovely photograph whilst blog hopping which of course lead to the discovery of lots of new, to us, blogs

Maybe you'll find the time to visit them?

Happy Easter (& a weekly roundup)

2010-04-02T03:36:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy week getting ready for the Easter hols at Renaissance HQwith little being uploaded to the website http://www.renaissanceshop.co.uk/.

It didn't start well with the news of Elspeth Thompson's death, so sad.

But we've had a reminder of new life with our quail starting to lay again, very seasonal.

We went all Eastery here at Renaissance Childrens Notebook with Easter Gift Bags,

Flowering Bulbs for Easter and How to Make an Easter Chick.

And all wistful over at Renaissance Vintage Notebook with a sort of if we had a real bricks & mortar shop we'd stock:

Flowers in vintage containers & Crochet Blankets, Bags & Cushions.

And now of course it's April ,we had to mark April Fool's Day with a little joke or two,

and Easter is upon us.

We'll be spending it together, the whole family is home this weekend, bliss.

Wishing you all a very happy Easter.

How to make an Easter Chick

2010-03-31T02:15:00.000-07:00

Downloadable PDF instructions available from Selvedge

Flowering Bulbs for Easter

2010-03-30T02:28:00.001-07:00

Get the children involved in potting up some Spring flowering bulbs

in vintage china for the Easter table.

There is a tutorial on our website www.renaissanceshop.co.uk :

Displaying Flowering Spring Bulbs in Vintage China

Easter Gift Bags

2010-03-30T02:20:00.000-07:00

Instead of Easter baskets Kristina of Jolly Hockey Sticks has knitted

these drawstring bags

and Cherry Menlove has a tutorial showing us how to make these sweet

Easter Favor Gift Bags.

Weekly Roundup

2010-03-28T05:18:00.001-07:00

It's been a wet, wet week here at Renaissance HQ causing endless frustration with pruning and animals.

As for animals our little menagerie has increased by two Silkie bantams who are now settling in nicely with our tiny Seebright and Nankin bantams.

Of course the weather has given us plently of time to enjoy vintage film : The Innocents , look at books : The Flower Shop and wonder what to do with all those books we've read but know we'll never read again , maybe the answer is Green Metropolis. But I rather suspect they'll go to the charity shop as usual.

We've watched The Delicious Miss Dahl on TV and spent quite some time looking at the kitchen Sophie Dahl used. We even found a seller of vintage items whose wares would fit wonderfully into the kitchen: Jolie Trouvaille.

Talking of vintage we continue to add new items to the shop and there is now a rather nice selection of vintage prints there.

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend.

My Petite Planet

2010-03-24T12:33:00.001-07:00

My Petite Planet

"My Petite Planète baby couture is dedicated to producing fabulously wearable children’s fashion using only vintage fabrics and 100% natural fibers. "

" Fabrics are discovered at vintage stores and markets. Based on the size and detail of the fabric, pieces are designed . The fabrics are thoroughly cleaned prior to any fabrication of pieces using environmentally friendly detergent."

And

"a portion of the proceeds from each sale goes to benefit One Clean World (http://www.onecleanworld.org/), a foundation that supports, raises awareness and encourages eco- and sustainability projects in the U.S. and globally. "

Les Deglingos

2010-03-24T11:13:00.001-07:00

"animalos molto funnios"

See these toys on location: deep sea diving, sking etc

at deglingos.com

Stella Macartney

2010-03-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

Watch out for the new Stella Mccartney collection for Gap Kid

coming to a Gap near you.

Weekly Roundup

2010-03-19T05:23:00.000-07:00

Psyche by John Hopper

So this week we have had the sad demise of Hetty the ex battery hen, now of course we are contemplating additions to our little flock.

Inevitably after joining Lovefilm we've been watching films Kinky Boots and Mr Blanding Builds His Dream House.

Outside by the sea we've been walking on Cromer Pier and the joys of country living continue with pruning in the orchard. After a hard days work outside it's nice to come into a supper of something warm and filling like Pork & Bramley Apple Bake especially when you've grown the apples yourself.

This week in the books to read and keep section of Renaissance Newsletter we've looked at a book you're all bound to love, Home by Anita Kaushal in fact we bet some of you already have it on your book shelf.

We must have spent a long time browsing the internet because we've found several blogs new to us, all well worth a visit:

Elspeth Thompson's Gardening Against the Odds
The Flower Shop Stories written by Sally Page
and
Charlie and Caroline's Blog written by the owners of Pedlars

Browsing blogs has given us a date for the diary with Donna Flower's Open House Sale definetly one for lovers of all things vintage.

We've also been inspired by Alicia Paulson and Cherry Menlove to start posting here again for the first time since January.

It hasn't just been browsing on the internet we've also manage to load some new items like the vintage print pictured to the Renaissance shop .

By the way we'd still love to hear your opnion on the Shovel Birdhouse

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

Posie Gets Cozy

2010-03-18T11:02:00.001-07:00

Along with hundreds, probably thousands of readers we've been watching Alicia Paulson prepare a wardrobe of the prettiest dresses for her future daughter. The one above is called Starflower , there is also Morning Glory, Little Prairie, Lemon Layer Cake, Bouillabaisse, Strawberry Ruffle and the Watermelon Smock each one stiched with love and absolutely delightful. You'll find them at Alicia's blog Posie Gets Cozy.

Soft Building Block tutorial from Cherry Menlove

2010-03-17T05:43:00.000-07:00

Visit ‘Cherry Baby’ at Cherry Menlove to learn how to make these adorable

mini soft building blocks for children.

What a lovely handmade present these would be for a newborn.

Snow Dog

2010-01-08T14:11:00.001-08:00

Instead pf a snowman how about a snow dog?

Image found via MSN homepage

Gingerbread House

2009-12-17T13:31:00.001-08:00

Peppermint Place by Martha Stewart,

you'll find a step by step guide on how to make your own Gingerbread House *here*

I love gorgeous

2009-12-12T05:58:00.001-08:00

for adorable dresses for little ones.

ilovegorgeous.co.uk

Elsa Mora's amiguitos

2009-11-26T05:42:00.000-08:00

So sweet!

Read about them on the blog Elsa Mora

Buy them from the Etsy shop Elsita

Crystal and Pearl Dreamcatcher

2009-11-19T09:48:00.001-08:00

" This lovely dream catcher is stylish way to keep nightmares away. Let this beauty sparkle up any room, from above a bed, in the window, or anywhere you like! It measures approximately 8”x5” and comes with 1.5 ft of partially beaded string for hanging. Each dream catcher is adorned with top quality acrylic pearls and crystals in clear and white, along with accents in green. Extra whimsical flair is added to this dream catcher with ribbon, flowers, and a cute green bird on a swing in the center of the ring. "
By Pink Perch and available from the Pink Perch Etsy Shop.

Christmas Fairies

2009-11-18T14:06:00.001-08:00

Destined to become cherished heirlooms by Tobias and The Angel

Make your own Advent Calendar with Caroline Zoob

2009-11-15T07:11:00.000-08:00

A sheet with 24 images, one for each day of Advent,

for you to use to make your own Advent Calendar.

£4.00 from Caroline Zoob

Cherry Menlove's Stocking Advent

2009-11-14T12:52:00.000-08:00

Full instructions on how to make Cherry menlove's delightful stocking advent calender

can be found here at www.cherrymenlove.com

Dream Acres Advent Box

2009-11-13T13:46:00.000-08:00

" This delightful Advent Box is solidly made in wood and painted in cream and aged with wax. Each box has then been completely hand embelished by" Karon Greive "with vintage prints (from antique Christmas cards), crystals, buttons, sheet music, fabric images and old fashioned glitter. Measuring an impresive 35 x 32 x 6cm the box has 24 individual cubby holes with lift up doors. These cubby holes are just perfect for chocolates or other candies, little gifts and other precious goodies to mark each day on the run up to Christmas itself. " Karon has" only done twelve of these boxes, they are very much a limited edition piece. something "she "hope that will be cherished and broughtout every year with much anticipation and love."

£26 from Karon's online shop Dream Acres

Trick or Treat, Penny or Sweet

2009-10-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

Welcome Fanciful Twist Halloween party goers

Will your eyes pop

and your teeth chatter

at the sight of skulls,

dead body bits,

and jelly skellies

or will it take spiders,

chocolate

or jelly

to help you celebrate All Hallows Eve.

Have fun!!!

All confectionery can be purchased from the Hope and Greenwood website.

A fanciful Twist's Halloween Party

2009-10-14T01:07:00.001-07:00

Renaissance Children's Notebook will be taking part,

thank you for the invitation Vanessa

Storage Bags from Cox & Cox

2009-10-12T07:07:00.000-07:00

We love these storage bags available from Cox & Cox @ £20 each

Tulip and Nettle

2009-10-08T03:50:00.000-07:00

"Clothes to love, cherish and above all actually wear every day."

"Tulip and Nettle children`s clothes are made FOR children not BY children."

To find out more about Tulip and Nettle and view their collections visit the website here

Rooting Basil

2009-10-07T05:01:00.001-07:00

This is nice and easy to do with children and it's educational.

Full instructions can be found at renaissanceshop.co.uk in the Newsletter

AQUILA Children's Magazine

2009-10-07T03:54:00.000-07:00

Fun, challenge and inspiration for 8-13 year olds.

AQUILA is an independant magazine published for children it doesn't contain any advertising.

"AQUILA's independent stance allows a different perspective on many subjects and offers a real service to families that wish to nurture values which, perhaps, go against the tide in today's media dominated world. It is not restricted or limited by school curriculum requirements, and, like a concerned parent, aims to provide quality ideals and to encourage children to develop caring and thoughtful attitudes towards others and their environment."

To find out more about AQUILA, subscribe etc visit the website http://www.aquila.co.uk/

Papier Mache Magazine

2009-10-01T13:37:00.001-07:00

Have you seen it yet?

No - click here to go to the fabulous (and free)

" cute childrens magazine for anyone who wants to read it."

Papier Mache

Widget the Sock Bunny

2009-09-25T03:20:00.001-07:00

Follow the adventures of Widget the Sock Bunny

on the Dorset Cereal's Little Blog Award nominee blog

Widget's Year - Diary of a Sock Bunny

and if you'd like a sock bunny of your own Widget has some friends

looking for new homes here

Do you like plums?

2009-09-24T02:59:00.000-07:00

We've just posted some of our favourite plum recipes from the orchard kitchen

here

The Adventure Book Library published by Aldus Books

2009-09-23T02:57:00.000-07:00

" They just don't make them the way they used to"

This is a wonderful set of 6 pocket books published in the 1960's

full of exciting stories and fab illustrations and they are all true -

educational reading at it's best.

£18.00
Free UK shipping

to purchase from Renaissance Shop

Planning a Halloween Party?

2009-09-22T01:46:00.000-07:00

Loads of Halloween "makes" available as PDF downloads at the Value Village website

it really is worth taking a look.

Enid Blyton's Nature Plates

2009-09-21T06:17:00.001-07:00

"Britain Animals and Nature 5996 Enid Blyton's Nature Plates: Down Willow Way photo process by Eileen Soper after Eileen Alice Soper c 1940s 430 x 530 This and other prints in the series of 60 prints were often hung in British schools to teach children about the countryside and the seasons of the year. Hence, like this one, they often have pinholes in the corners, where teachers pinned them up on the walls. A series of books also provided stories about the prints. Published as part of the Enid Blyton Nature Plates."

From Scharlau Prints and Maps

Children off to college?

2009-09-15T05:32:00.000-07:00

Martha Stewart’s “Clothing Fix It” Kit will get them to the next level of organized.

(They might never use it, but, at least you'll have tried!)

Gnome Mushroom Cottage Paper Playset

2009-09-15T04:57:00.001-07:00

Gnome Mushroom Cottage Paper Playset available as a 10 page PDF

for only $4.00

from Timothy Haugen's Etsy shop Fantastic Toys.

You could also visit his blog, where to find out more about

the creative process of making these toys.

Viking Fancy Dress

2009-09-14T02:16:00.000-07:00

Love these Viking Horned Helmets and tunic available from Culture Label

("CultureLabel.com is the first online platform to curate and showcase the best artist-designed and limited-edition products from over 60 leading galleries, museums, artists and culture institutions.")

Making presents - An Aloe Vera Plant

2009-09-11T01:18:00.000-07:00

For full instructions click here

Home made gifts really are special and we'll be adding lots more ideas to this blog.

Vintage Knitted Toys

2009-09-10T04:19:00.000-07:00

Adorable knitted dalmation

a cute alien.

Knit them yourself - vintage knitting patterns from here.

Come on in

2009-08-21T02:48:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to our new blog

Renaissance Children's Notebook

it's a place where we share the lovely things we see for children

from clothes to toys

things to do, books to read

places to go,

gardening, recipes, making things

and lots, lots, more.

We hope you'll visit often.

(Image from The Wizard Story Book)