A Source Of Inspiration

Travelling home from my last trip to Norway,

we were at Oslo airport and much a my great delight

I spotted one of my best loved home interiors magazines.

No adverts just beautiful images to inspire.

Jeanne d"Arc Living

Unfortunately it is not the English version.

But nonetheless is

staying on my book shelve.

Hopefully I will be able to

subscribe.

I was told that Camel & Yuk in Reigate were closing 

and this was where I did hope to get it from.

Sheer romance.

Peeling charm.

Bygone days.

Little stashes.

Little places.

Whether vintage looking pieces or

the genuine article we can still

treasure.

 Find new uses for.

Love Ferns !

Bring it all together.

A make a home that is unique and all about you and 

what you love.

These little old keys 

find a perfect new use.

Or even just to decorate.

Painted floors.

Old suitcases.

Potting trays.

Shelves with our little vignettes.

Intrigue our guests.

Some will laugh.

But most will feel at home with your

random sense of style.

We do love sets.

Dinner sets for example.

But we love odd bits more I think.

It takes away that fear of one piece breaking !

as then, that set no more, makes you sad.

Modern and Vintage.

Mix it all up.

All the colours mingle.

Pale and fading.

Bright and clean.

Ever changing.

Never boring.

When I get a quiet moment in the late afternoon,

I love to flick through all my books of inspiration.

It gives me the much needed kick I sometimes need to get

going with a new project.

Even to finish an old already started project would be a good idea !

So I leave it here.

With these beautiful flowers.

To cheer us on a dull Saturday afternoon.

And look forward to spring and some time in the garden.

Simply does it.

X

Trying Very Hard

It is Half Term.

So how do I fill my days.

Or rather, how do they fill my days.

One thing is for sure.

You can never get them all to do the same thing at the same time !

You cannot possible go shopping with all these little Men

and not get stressed !

But looking back now I can smile with pride because they are all so lovely in their

own special ways.

It is just that sometimes it is easy to forget that fact !

 I look into the garden and think....Nah, not today too cold !

But I still love a trip to the Garden Centre.

Even though there is not much there.

But I did come home with these to fill our pots.

 Ferns and Ivy I love.

And Zinc too !

This Zinc Window Box is really for the Shop but it looks good here

on the desk and keeps all our books together nicely.

 And then Ted starts.

No noise, just that pleading look.

Pleeeeeeeaeze take me for a walk.

 I am so sweet, surely you want to go for a walk Mum ?

Is that going to be a yes then ?

Nope....OK then not going to look at you anymore...

Sorry Teddy, I have plants to pot...

I cannot believe the week is almost gone.

Next week we have a home party to do.

First one this year.

Roll on Spring.

The Garden is begging for attention.

Bye for now...

Bird Cages & Twinkle Lights

When ever new home accessories

are unpacked and checked

the usual sounds fill the room.

We ooh and we arr.

I want it, no I want it.

No it is for the shop.

We are getting faster at at photographing.

Getting it uploaded.

It would be so nice to have a real shop.

To be able to decorate the shop with

all the beautiful things we find.

This zinc wreath with tea light holder,

has been painted white and distressed al little.

This would look so pretty in a bedroom.

And an old favourite has returned after a long absence.

Perfect for little areas of the home white you want to add a little twinkle

 and add warmth.

These deep blue cut glass dishes for trinkets, your jewels

or a tea light candle.

The blue is so rich and the cut glass sparkles.

Just a few of the new things we have.

Off to Norway soon.

Hopefully will get some new ideas.

Have a lovely weekend.

The Girls.

X

Time For A Change

A little hint of Spring arrived yesterday.

What an effect that can have on our mood.

Just a bit of blue sky, fluffy white clouds and Sun !

sent me off into one of my tidy away, clean and display 

mornings.

 

The latest home accessories to arrive stirred in me as

much anticipation and excitement as Christmas morning !

 I love this big wood mirror with bead detailing

 around the inner edge of the frame.

I love mirrors, full stop.

And it is always hard not to want to buy things.

 Do you really need this...

This is the sentence my husband says every time, yawn...

when he hears me say,

'I want this'...

Then I remember the words that my Mum would say when we

went shopping together.

She would say,

I don't smoke, drink...much...

I don't play golf. 
Dad did of course !

So I can spend my money on this for Me...

So this rule has now become Law in my

home.

Well according to me it has anyway.

You only live once.

The thing is, this mirror does give a great reflection

as it is long.

The mirror I had in my bedroom before was squat.

That sounds terrible, but that is how I feel about it now that

this beautifully aged mirror has paid a visit.

January has been awful, really depressing for me.

I have thought a lot about my Mum.

As I write this Blog, tears swell with just the mention of her name.

It has been two years now.

And I really do feel the hole she has left in my life.

I have her image everywhere.

Below the first picture is Mum, Helen as a baby.

The nest one as a sixteen year old.

 Didn't they look so mature and elegant in those days.

This old frame which I got from a junk shop had a 

pretty pale pink mount.

It was just a couple of pounds.

I had a very old image of Mums family

when they were on their only holiday.

We're Down Hoppin'

As they called.

I believe this image is of a 

Hop Farm in Paddock Wood Kent.

I need to check with Dad !

It is a lovely picture, if you can zoom in on the the girl 

in the pram, you will see a hint of Jude.

My Grand Dad with his cap, was a very quiet man.

My Grand Mother next to him on his right.

Uncle Danny next to the pram with sad face is now 94 years old.
 He said he hated going down hoppin.

The others all my aunties, once.
A quiet little family of eleven, who lived in a two up two down terrence
in London very happily.

 Her old suitcases on my wardrobe filled with

the huge collection of scarves, hats and gloves I have.

As I potter, cleaning and playing.

Fin also potters about the house.

Such a good boy today.

What happened !

Little Houses for tea lights that I bought for Christmas

were allowed to stay longer and moved into the dining area.

A change of display on my little table.

A pretty hook, still waiting to be put up.

A jar full of napkin rings.

And a new fern, one of my favourite plants.

 With a bit of housework competed,

 I am off for a nice cup of tea with a

neighbour and good friend.

We will put the world to rights.

Moan a bit.

And talk about dinner.

Have a good day.

Lots of love.

C

X