Victoria

In the 1980’s television presenter, Angela Rippon, put pen to paper and wrote a series of children’s books about a fairy called Victoria Plum.

Victoria was a tree fairy from the Great Wood who lived amongst her fairy friends Marsha, Ben and Sugar Plum and her talking woodland creature friends.

The books were illustrated by artist Colin Petty and were published by Purnell and Sons.

We were lucky enough to persuade Colin that we would find happy homes for the  last original illustrations of Victoria that he had. His cartoons and illustrations are very special and would make any nursery a happy one with Victoria on the wall.

Colin Petty was born in Wanstead, East London. He studied graphic design at the South West Essex School of Art in Walthamstow, London

“When I graduated I found work in a cartoon studio in Wardour Street, mainly because many of my serious attempts at artwork still looked like cartoons. Since the late 70s I have worked for myself, initially on licensed character work. I have illustrated almost every cartoon created, from Disney, MGM, Loony Toons, Rupert the Bear and The Magic Roundabout etc. Most of this has been in the form of comics and children's books. I have worked for Disney in the past and have spent some days at their Paris studio learning all the finer details that Walt had to offer”

Victoria and her friends currently reside here.

Family treasures?

Anna recently helped her Mum move house, which meant that she found a host of family treasures in the attic. Like most people, Anna has lived in one family home for her childhood and her family have probably lived in the area for a generation or two. So her family have been able to treasure and store items for each generation and the next to enjoy! What a wonderful treasure hunting day it must have been discovering things in the family loft.

My childhood couldn't have been more different. We moved every 18 months or so, packing up our treasures in paper and placing them into boxes hoping that they would survive the journey to the next house. Many didn't, moving men in those days being of the 'throw it in the back of the truck' kind. This 'gypsy' lifestyle meant that we couldn't afford to carry around precious momentos that our parents had enjoyed as children. Since HM Forces didn't usually provide an attic or basement with their accommodation, we had very small storage and really had to be selective with our 'treasures'.

Now that I'm settled in a permanent family home [no more moving for me!], I'm keen to start a collection of family treasures – things that both Kathryn and I love and treasure. When she's grown out of them I'll put them up in our attic and save them for her children. I'm looking forward to the day when I send my Daughter upstairs to find treasures that we loved and that her children can play with!

It's this thought I use when selecting items to suggest to Anna that we sell through u-ni-k gifts. Some gifts for children should be investments in this generation and the next... a supersoft blanket to wrap baby in, a wooden car for them to brrrrm [or for future generation to laugh at the fact vehicles used to roll along the ground!], a memory quilt made from great granny's baby clothes with her name and birth date in, granny's name and birth date in, Mummy's name and birth date in..squares to add each generations name and date of birth. A true Mother to Daughter gift that will last generations!

The very talented Susan of Fat Hen and Flo famed put a lot of love and work into the Davies Family quilt and Kathryn has already sneaked a play in it before it was whisked off to be wrapped up for Christmas** . Here's a few photos of our family quilt:

 The quilt laid out on a king sized bed!

 The aplique details!

 Hand quilted with flowers, birds and hearts!

 A surprise detail...

 detailing around the side!

 Name square

 peekaboo! Bunny rabbits are big in our house

Memory quilts and lots of other lovely Fat Hen and Flo creations– coming soon to u-ni-k gifts.
Contact us for more information!

**yes Kathryn found and was delighted with the bunny when she sneaked a play in her quilt!