Linen and Roses

Today.........

2011-11-11T08:51:00.001Z

......let us never forget.

The look I'm dreaming of

2011-11-05T21:02:00.008Z

I've been looking back over old photos today. I wanted to remember exactly what my olding sitting room in Kew looked like as I really like the look I had there. Our new living room is a good basic shell but it needs some finishing touches. We have plain cream walls, a nice pale blue carpet and cream sofas. We've put in a book case running half the length of one wall and we have a lovely old dark wood dining table and chairs that used to belong to my Grandparents. What we need now is all the touches that are going to bring it together. We currently have the curtains that the old owners had and frankly they are horrible. They are blue, presumably to match the carpet, but the blue is a horribly cold shade and not the same as the carpet at all. I'm thinking of a lovely fresh blue ticking stripe instead. The windows, one at each end of the room, are large as it is a 60s house so I don't want anything too overpowering and I want the overall feeling to be quite fresh. I then want to bring in accents of red as I did in Kew. As the pictures today show this is particularly lovely leading up to Christmas.

I've been scanning the internet today looking for some more inspiration for my perfect living room::

Some cute fabrics::

Source: robertallendesign.com via LinenandRoses on Pinterest

Source: google.com via LinenandRoses on Pinterest

Source: sewmamasew.com via LinenandRoses on Pinterest

Source: warmbiscuit.com via LinenandRoses on Pinterest

More lovely blue and red inspiration::

Source: sueswink.tumblr.com via LinenandRoses on Pinterest

Source: everythinglovely.tumblr.com via LinenandRoses on Pinterest

Source: allsorts.typepad.com via LinenandRoses on Pinterest

If I can manage to clear the large amounts of one year olds bright plastic from the living room floor I will take some pictures to show you where we are so far. Until then I will just imagine the room looking something like this::

Have a lovely Sunday. See you during the week.

Fiona x

My latest obsession

2011-10-31T23:45:00.002Z

It's very likely that Mr S and little F will not be fed tomorrow. I'm a little late discovering Pinterest I think but I am now totally addicted to it. Check out what I'm pinning via the logo to the left.

It's been a while..

2011-10-27T15:45:00.007+01:00

....but I'm still here.

The new kitchen is in place, although we need to decorate still. The garden is partly cleared and we are starting to make the house feel like home. There is SOOOOO much that I want to do. I have lists of lists and can visualise just what I want to do. As well as the house, I have a lot of projects in my head for re-stocking my little shop and I also have other creative business plans. I'm really really hoping that I can manage to stock the shop with just a few Christmas decorations as I have loved making these in the past.

I absolutely promise that there will be regular updates around here from now on and they will be more interesting than of late so please do keep calling by.

Today's pictures are of the cute little shed at the bottom of our garden. It needs a little work as the roof has a small hole and it is missing a board on one side above the door. I'd love to know what you think about the paint work though. Should we paint it or should be leave it as it is looking slightly faded? I can't quite decide myself. Come the summer it will have pots of geraniums either side of the door and I am planning a small vegetable patch just in front.

A small boy have just woken from his nap and is calling for me so that's all for now. Back again soon.

Fiona x

The very ugly kitchen

2011-08-11T16:05:00.005+01:00

Before I start, I should warn you that there are no pretty pictures in this post. I've been trying to decide whether to show you images of the ugly kitchen. Part of me wants to because I want to do the big 'Ta da' when the new one is installed, but part of me doesn't want to because I really only like to show nice pretty pictures on this site.

So in the end I have decided to just give you a sneaky peak so you get the idea. This is actually just about the best vew I could show you. If I panned round to the left you would be looking at some very yucky cupboards, some hideous panelling popular in fish and chip shops in the 1970s, and our oven covered in a very unattractive blanket supplied by the removal company as we're not able to install it until the kitchen people have provided a gas supply into the kitchen.

If I was to pan round to the right you would see yet more yucky cupboards, the frankly revolting sink and horrid yellow roller blind!

We are counting the days until they start on the work as it is currently the most unappealing place to cook a meal. Here's a close up of the lovely tiles. Can't wait to see the back of these on Monday. I might even volunteer to help Mr Kitchen in smashing them from the wall!

The kitchen we've chosen is cream panelled with a beech work top. Very simple and hopefully a good backdrop for my Cornishware and other pretty bits. I will be making a roman blind for the window in red gingham and I think the walls are going to be pale blue but I will decide on that once the kitchen is in.

I am so excited to be getting my first ever chosen by me brand new kitchen. I had a new kitchen before when I rented in Kew as I was the first tennant after the flat had been renovated, and it was lovely, but it wasn't what I would have chosen. This, however, is my choice. Simon has been the bestest Hubbie and let me have the design I wanted. He prefered a white one but it looked a little dated to me as it had too much in the way of twiddly moulding. The one little choice he did make though is a fancy tap. I think it's a little OTT for our needs and the size of the kitchen but he really wanted it and as I had my way on everything else I had to let him have his one little toy! You'll see what I mean when I show you in a week or two.

So that's the end of the sneaky peak. Hopefully I'll be showing you the finished article by the end of next week. Next time I'll be back here spreading some hydrangea love. See you soon.

Fiona x

Settling in and going out.

2011-08-08T22:23:00.008+01:00

We're finally here in our lovely new home. Gosh, it's been a busy few weeks and I can't believe it's been so long since I was last here with you. Unfortunately we've been without internet access which has meant I've had to stay away longer than I'd hoped.

We've been busy trying to make things feel a little homely but my goodness, there is so much to do. I hope to take some photos over the next few days to show you 'the before', so I can then show the changes we make. Probably the worst room is the kitchen and I'm extremely relieved that we are having a new one installed in a couple of weeks. We are counting the days. Not only does it look horrific, but it also smells odd and is totally impractical. But more on that one once I have photos to show you.

Simon has been busy attacking the back garden and we now have double what we thought we had! Shrubs, trees and undergrowth were so overgrown that we had just a narrow strip of grass down the middle. Unfortunately due to a misbehaving camera I didn't take any before photos but I will take some of how it looks now as although it has been cleared of all the jungle it still looks pretty awful as we are now left with a pretty barren space that is ready to be reworked and made beautiful.

Luckily, in terms of decoration, it is neutral throughout and the paintwork is in fairly good condition so there isn't the a desperate need for absolute imediate decorating. We have time to think about any decorative changes we will make. We will of course be painting the kitchen though once the new units are installed.

Little F's room is perhaps the most organised and homely. I need to put up pictures and make some bits and bobs to decorate the walls, but luckily his curtains from our old house fitted perfectly and we have all his furniture in place. I want to paint a couple of bits in there, a bookcase and little chair, but there is no hurry. I'll take some pictures of how it is looking so far.

As well as the work we are doing on our home, we are trying to have some holiday fun as well. We spent the first week of Simon's hols down in Dorset which was absolutely lovely. We had the most perfect weather and it was just what we needed after the madness of the news. Today we had a holiday in a day. Do you ever do that? Sometimes it's possible to go out for a lovely day and feel like you've had a mini holiday. We're very lucky where we are living now in that within a few minutes drive we can be in beautiful countryside. Our drive today took us through beautiful woodlands and country lanes and we ended up in one of our favourite villages that is only a short drive away.

The picture at the top of the post is a view from the lovely village where we enjoyed a delicious pub lunch today. The sweetest windmill sitting on top of a steep hill above a lovely valley. The village and Mill are both well known to anyone who is a fan of 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' or a regular viewer of 'The Vicar of Dibley'. It was so lovely to be there today. The sun was shining and we sat in a pretty garden enjoying the view, then explored the sweet little church. I'll leave you for today with more images from today. I'll be back again soon with house pictures.

Fiona x

A little bit of Belgium

2011-06-21T10:43:00.006+01:00

Well we're still here in our current house and the clearing and sorting is carrying on at a good pace. We're keeping absolutely everything crossed that we will be moving to our new home next week. Such a stressful business this house buying thing.

We have had some sanity though in the last few weeks in the shape of a weekend trip to our beloved Belgium. Those of you who have read my blog(and previous one) for some years will know that we visit this lovely underated Country fairly regularly. This time though it wasn't just the three of us. We took both sets of our parents and Hubbies Sister and her family. A convoy of three cars! We went to celebrate Simon's Birthday which was actually last November! Unfortunately the plans we had back then were changed unexpectedly when our darling boy decided to show up two months early.

So with lots to do today I will let the pictures do the rest of the talking and leave you with some images of our weekend. I hope to squeeze in another post before moving day but if not then I will be back again in a few weeks with delightful(not!) images of the current state of our new house to start on the story of the transformation.

See you soon. F x

Organising

2011-06-10T15:48:00.000+01:00

Today I have been finishing off making some order out of my fabric drawer. It's a very large drawer and it was very over-stuffed and not at all neat. With the move just a few weeks away(fingers crossed) I am trying to work my way around the house clearing, sorting and tidying all cupboards and drawers. This is not an easy task with an eight month old! I feel the need to do this though as I can't bear the thought of moving a whole load of rubbish with us to our lovely new home. Also, we're having the removal company pack for us and I want to make their task as easy as possible. Last year, with my pregnancy, then the problems we experienced with F's arrival into the World, then dealing with a newborn, household jobs have definitely been left and to put it mildly, things have got into a bit of a pickle. I am determined that we should start life in our new family home with things in order.

Earlier in the week I managed to go through the drawers in our large dining room cabinet. They had reached bursting point and apart from the top drawer which holds some of my table linen, I wasn't entirely sure what I would find within them. Luckily I was able to lay out a large blanket next to me, pop little F down with some toys and empty out each drawer and start the task of sorting through. Luckily he is not completely mobile yet so I was able to complete this task without him 'helping' me. He was more than happy to play next to Mummy while I discovered all sorts of long lost items.I'm now glad to say that the recycling bin is fuller, I have a number of very tidy drawers, of which I know the contents, and believe it or not, one totally empty drawer! Which just shows how much rubbish we were hoarding. I won't allow that one to be filled again until the cabinet is residing in our new dining area.

So todays job has been to finish off the worst part of the fabric drawer. Yesterday, Mum helped me by ironing and folding all the lovely big pieces of fabric and we discussed which could be used in the new house. But today I had to deal with all the little bits. I just can't bear to throw away fabric, even the small bits but keeping those little scraps tidy is not easy. Mine had turned into a total jumble and they seemed to be taking up so much space. What has amazed me more than anything, is that now all this scraps have been sorted through and ironed they are the tiniest of piles that can easily be packed neatly away ready to go to their new home. I feel very satisfied with myself. Next job - my bedside cabinet!

Have a lovely weekend everyone. I will be back again next week to share with you some pictures of our recent trip to Belgium last weekend. See you soon.

Fiona x

Moving On

2011-05-27T11:54:00.004+01:00

So yet again it has been an age since I was last year. I'll be amazed if anyone is still calling by here but if you are, thanks for sticking with me. Really, I never realised how difficult it could be to find any 'me' time now I am a Mummy. I've had the odd fleeting moment when I've thought maybe I should just stop trying to keep this blog going, but the truth is I just can't let it go. I miss being a real part of blog land and am determined to get back to it if little one will allow me. The great thing is that I now have a real incentive to blog and something hopefully interesting to write about again. The 'moving on' in the title refers to the fact that we are, 'fingers crossed', finally moving house. Our house has been sold for a while but it has taken us a little while to find something new. The place we had our heart set on since last year prior to little F arriving hasn't worked out so we had to go back to the drawing board. It's been tough as everything we liked was beyond our budget now I'm not going back to work, and there was very little in our budget in the area we really wanted. But in the end we found something. It's just about in the area we want, just a little to the edge, and has the space we want to make into a lovely family home. The outside of the house is not exactly beautiful as it was built in the 60s(enough said) but it has potential. The inside and the garden are a total blank canvas and my mind is already racing thinking of what I(er we) can do to it. It needs completely re-decorating(hooray!), a new kitchen(even bigger hooray!) and probably a new bathroom as well. The front and back garden are just lawn with a few overgrown shrubs to the edges of the back garden so both crying out for some landscaping and lots of new flowers. I have to admit that S is just a little frightened by the prospect of so much decorating as he doesn't claim to be Mr DIY but with me leading him through it and just a little technical help from Father and Father-in-law I know it will be fine. He can always take F out while I get busy with the paint brushes!

So you see, I will have lots to share here. Lots of before and after shots hopefully. I just can't wait. So please keep your fingers crossed for us that everything goes smoothly with the purchase and before long I will be able to share it all with you here at Linen and Roses.

I hope to be back again soon sharing a few of my design ideas that are already going through my head. In the mean time have a fab weekend and thanks for sticking with me here while I have been such a boring blogger.

Fiona x

Chick chick chicken

2011-03-15T13:09:00.004Z

Lay a little egg for me......

Yes, I'm getting into singing nursery rhymes already. Loving that and amazing myself that I can remember the words to songs I'd forgotten even existed! How does the brain do that?

I can't believe it's been nearly two months since my last post. Well, actually I can. Life is just soooo busy with a five month old cheeky boy. I definitely have my hands full. I have however managed a little bit of sewing during nap times which has been nice and I've managed to update my etsy shop.

I had planned on making a few Valentines items but didn't get my act together in time for that so decided to start early on a few Easter decorations. These little felt eggs are hand sewn and filled with a littel dry rice to give them some weight so they hang nicely off the lovely spring branches that I gathered from the garden this morning. There are four colour combinations available and all are in my etsy shop now.

I'm loving the fact that the sun is finally starting to shine a little more frequently and actually has some warmth in it. We've been doing a lot of pram pushing and it's so nice to get out and about and see the lovely Spring flowers bursting through the earth. So uplifting.

I really have to try to make some time to get out into our garden and do some clearing as our Spring flowers are having to battle their way through last years dead folliage and leaves as well as the cold earth. Due to the arrival of little one last Autumn and all the worry he put us through there was no end of year clearing done at all. We currently have our house on the market and although we have the inside looking tidy and attractive the garden is not exactly the best of selling points just now.

Well it's time to go check on my little munchkin who has been having a lovely long nap. Then lunch and a walk to the market. Hopefully my next post will be a little sooner.

Fiona x

2011 - The year of the camera

2011-01-27T19:28:00.003Z

Throughout the month I've been seeing lots of lovely 'year in photos' posts. It made me realise just how few photos I took last year.

There was a time when I always had my camera ready for taking photos, mainly with my blog in mind. But last year I seemed to lose that creative urge, I guess due to being pregnant and feeling pretty horrid most of the time. So I looked back through my photo files to see just what I had in the way of photos to share with you all that were a record of my year and it was a very pathetic collection.

Infact, it was really just a few trips that provide the photos in these collages. At New Year 2009/10 we went to Vienna for a truely wonderful trip. In June we were in Sicily for a Wedding. Then in the Summer we visited our favourite Belgium followed by camping in Dorset. Finally, I took a few shots at a wonderful agricultural show in the Cotswolds.

I've managed to create these four collages from a selection of photos taken on these trips along with just a handful taken at home, the hot air balloons that are a regular sight over our house in the summer, and some lovely roses bought by lovely hubbie. But really the photos don't add up to much. Not nearly as many as I have taken in previous years. Of course I have dozens taken from October until now of my beautiful boy but I don't want to share them on the internet. Infact taking photos of him is my favourite subject right now, but I vow that I will take more photos of everything else this year. I want to be able to look back next January and prepare a collage like the ones above for every month of this year. I want to capture every aspect of life this year so I will be taking my camera with me at all times this year. Now we've just got to hope for some sunshine to light things up a bit.

New Book Love

2011-01-18T16:43:00.005Z

It's been a while since I allowed myself the purchase of any new books. Now I'm not working I have to think about the pennies, but as I had some Christmas money left to spend I decided to treat myself.

So I was very excited when I heard the Postman knock on the door this morning bringing my little parcel from Amazon. Little F has just gone down for a nap so I finally had chance to have a look at the contents and I'm not disappointed with my choices. I thought I would share a few images with you.

My favourite of the two is 'The Comforts of Home' by Caroline Clifton-Mogg. It's a beautiful book and filled with lots of lovely images. I have to admit that there are a handful that I already have in other books, but not many. Most are new to me and are totally inspirational. I'm loving this armchair above. We're hoping to move house this year and my mind is already working over time on how I will decorate a new home. A little kitchen corner like the one below would be perfect.

I'm really excited about looking for somewhere new as our current home is not really to my taste. I may have mentioned before that it is the house that lovely S has lived in for some time before we met and married and so I moved in and sort of had to fit my things in where I could. This house was quite a comfort to him when he was on his own and therefore he is quite set in his ways about it and has been very reluctant to let me make any changes. I've made the odd tweak but haven't done any re-decorating so the thought of us having somewhere new together, a blank canvas for me to work on is very exciting. How I would love a bath like the one below. Might be a dream too far!

The following two images are from my other book, 'Kirstie's Homemade Home' by the lovely Kirstie Allsopp. I really enjoyed watching the TV series that the book accompanies and the book is very nice although I'm not sure I would have paid full price for it. It was less than half price on Amazon. It does contain some lovely images though and there is a lot to read which I do like in a design book as well as the pretty pictures. There is a really fab resource section at the back too which I will be reading in detail.

I loved this dresser below. Love the way that it is so crammed with stuff and looks really used.

Well I must be off. Time to go check on the sleeping munchkin and think about making some dinner.

Bye for now. F x

Happy Feet

2011-01-11T15:24:00.002Z

Please indulge me for just a little while longer while I linger on all things baby. But I couldn't resist showing you these two adorable pairs of shoes that have been bought for little F.

This cute pair were a Christmas present from my Sis Catherine. Very appropriate given that his Grampy is a keen sailor. Too big just yet but I think he's going to look very cute in them in a month or so.

This second pair arrived in the post yesterday from my oldest, bestest friend Becky, her Husband and little girl. Aren't they just beautiful? They're bigger again so I don't think he'll be into them until at least the Spring. Something to look forward to.

We're starting to find something of a rythm to our day now which is nice and later this week will be venturing to a postnatal Mum and Baby group which will be really nice as we've stayed away from groups and clinics due to little F being so tiny and fragile and more at risk from infections. Due to his extremely early arrival we didn't get to do any groups prior to birth where I might have met other Mummy's so it will be nice to meet some now.

I have a few crafty ideas in my head but the chances of getting to them for the time being are slim as I am just too much in love with my little boy to drag myself away to other things and when he sleeps I tend to do a few chores, catch up on a bit of sleep and generally just gaze adoringly at him peacefully sleeping. However, I do intend to up date my etsy shop again with things that I have already made and open up my little blog shop here again. I have managed to spend more time catching up with the blog World of late and it has made me realise just how much I miss being creative. The job I was doing prior to little F's arrival was just so exhausting and uncreative and on top of that the pregnancy was extremely difficult so that not only did I have little time for blogging, creating was put on the back burner too. I'm so looking forward to the year ahead. We have our little boy and there is a whole World of crafty, creative and fun times ahead.

Well I must get on. I only meant to show you the shoes and have ended up rambling. But that's good I think. I think it means I have got my blogging voice back again. I hope to post once a week so for now, see you next week. xx

To the New Year

2011-01-02T19:29:00.002Z

Cheating photo wise today as this one was taken nearly three years ago. They're the second flowers S ever bought me, on our fourth date. Ah, sweet.

Normally I'm not too keen on New Year but this year I am feeling so positive about it and thoroughly looking forward to 2011 as I really take on my new role as Mummy and Homemaker.

So I just want to take this opportunity to wish everyone in Blogland a very Happy New Year. Hope 2011 is everything you dream it will be.

See you all very soon.

Fiona x

Latest Creation

2010-12-06T16:11:00.004Z

Here's the latest sewing project I've been working on. I started on it about 10 weeks ago while I was taking bed rest prior to our little one being born and progress has been slow on finishing it since he arrived.

I wanted a little project to work on while I was sitting around here and at the hospital and what could be better than something for our little one. I've so loved making these cubes because every stitch I take is made with love. Of course baby F came along way before the cubes were finished so I'm doing my best to finish them off at the moment in those peaceful moments when my little darling is asleep.

So now I'm thinking they're going to be a little extra Christmas present for him.

Hopefully now I'm at home being a full time Mummy I will be back to reasonably regular blogging again. I'll see you again soon. x

A Break

2010-10-04T09:53:00.003+01:00

So I've only just started with the blog again and I now have to take a break from it. I'm not entirely sure when I will be back. I don't really want to go into details except to say that I am in the process of the biggest creation of my life and that creation is coming a lot lot sooner than it should. I know that we're going to be on a rollacoaster for the next few months.

I really do intend to be back blogging again early next year(I can hear those of you with babies laughing at my optimism!) and wanted to let you know where I've disappeared to again in the mean time.

I will catch up with you all again as soon as I can.

Fiona x

A fine day out.

2010-09-11T09:09:00.007+01:00

Last weekend we enjoyed a fine day out. It had been my Birthday on the Friday so I requested a family day out at the lovely Country Show taking place in Mum and Dad's lovely little town last Saturday. There was me and S, Mum and Dad, and my Sis, Brother in Law and the dear Nephew and Niece. We were able to walk to the showground and were so lucky that the sun shone on us all day.

I love these kind of shows as they still have lovely nostalgic feel to them I think. They're as they've always been. Lots of animals to see, displays, competitions, lovely crafts and yummy food to buy and try. I particularly enjoyed the competition tent. We had to pay a visit in there as Mum had entered one of the flower arranging competitions. Rather ashamed to say that I didn't take a photo of her arrangement! I was too busy snapping the gorgeous blooms pictured at the top of this post. Dahlia's are one of my absolute favourite flowers and I couldn't take my eyes off these displays. I love all the clashing colours. There were some really fabulous creations in the competitions tent. Some of the childrens competitions in particular were amazing and I even caught my soppy Husband with tears in his eyes looking at some of them. Normal behaviour of a father to be I guess.

Of course there was lots of very up to the minute farm equipment on display which dear little nephew H was rather taken with, but my favourite was this dear little vintage tractor.

I very much liked these two ladies. They're kind of quite ugly really but they have the most stunning eyes.

I'm already looking forward to next years show and as it will be my actual Birthday that day next year I can't think of a better place to celebrate.

Well I think it's time I made my first coffee of the day and tried to wake sleepy hubbie with a cup of tea. I've been up for hours and I think it's time he joined me!
Have a lovely weekend and I'll see you again next week. x

Making me happy today....

2010-09-05T18:50:00.003+01:00

Scumptious pink roses from my very lovely Mummy.

Also, a lovely weekend away with family vistiing a great agricultural and country show, eating lots of yummy food and having lots of laughs. Then returning to our cosy home for a snuggly Sunday evening, chilling out and gearing up for the week ahead, with a bit of hand sewing which is making me very happy at the moment.

Hope you had a lovely early Autumn weekend too. x

One day of sun

2010-08-30T19:38:00.004+01:00

We spent six days in Dorset last week. We went to our favourite place, a gorgeous campsite high above Swanage and I was looking forward to it so much. But as ever at the end of August the unpredictable British weather conspired to make it something of a wash out. There were a couple of nights when I thought our tent was literally going to take off and go flying down the hill with us in it! We would have stayed until this weekend but after a particularly bad night on Wednesday and waking to the sound of rain on the canvas yet again, my lovely husband announced that enough was enough and I was more than happy to go with his decision. I have never been so happy to step into our lovely hot shower and snuggle up in our cosy bed on Thursday evening knowing that we were safe from the wind and rain.

We were lucky though that we had one really lovely day of sun and we visited somewhere I have wanted to visit in a long time. The lovely town of Shaftesbury was not a disappointment and the view down Gold Hill was everything I had imagined it to be. There's always a silver lining in every rain cloud.

Hello!

2010-08-27T13:32:00.002+01:00

Is there anyone out there....?

I can't quite believe it's been nearly a year since I last wrote a blog post and I doubt there is anyone out there still dropping by. But I have decided to take the plunge back into blogging again. I feel rather nervous. Like it was my first time writing again. I suppose it may as well be as I'm sure I must have lost every reader I ever had.

Life has been busy this last year and is set to get even more busy towards the end of the year. But in the best way imaginable and I think it is a good time to step back in here again.

So if you are out there reading this, bare with me, I am back and will write a more interesting post in the next few days. I'm so looking forward to chatting with you all again. x

Multitasking.....

2009-10-06T07:52:00.003+01:00

I can't do it!

Multitask that is. I've been doing some much needed temping work the last couple of weeks and I realise that I can't remember how to have a full time job and blog at the same time. Not when I'm busy working on Christmas products(as pictured above), putting together a trade price list, painting the spare(my studio)room and trying to keep up with washing, cleaning, cooking etc, that is!

But I think the temping will be finished next week(a shame as we're getting used to the money) so normal blogging will resume then. I might also get a chance to catch up with all of you too. Until then, have a lovely week. x

A few pretties

2009-09-18T10:27:00.003+01:00

I've been doing a spot of cleaning this morning. Just some light dusting and a bit of tidying. Nothing too tough. And while I was flicking my duster around I spotted a few things that I realise I've never shown you before.

The two little lovelies above are two of my favourite things. They were a Wedding gift from the very lovely Jane and came to us with a gorgeous pair of pillowcases which I will show you another time. I was so touched when her parcel arrived a week or so before the Wedding. So unexpected and so very kind.

This cute little boat is also a Wedding gift but one that I, sorry, we, chose ourselves. My Sis and Brother-in-law gave us vouchers from cape henley so we were able to go on a bit of a spending spree. Cape Henley have a great website, but we're lucky enough to have a wonderful shop close to us which is a treasure trove of loveliness. This little boat sits in our bathroom and I just love it.

This little pot I have had for years but it had got lost in a box that had been stored at Mum and Dads for a few years. As they have been preparing for their move, every time we have been over there lately we have been sent home with more and more of my old belongings. Seemed they had a lot of mine and my Sis's things in their loft. Hmm, don't know how happened! Apparently now we have our own homes they don't want to be a free storage facility anymore? How unreasonable. Anyway, looking through some of these boxes, I have come accross a few treasures. As well as a few things heading straight for the recycling bin! This pretty little rose covered pot was one of the keepers and I'm so glad to have found it again.

Finally, two lovely CK goodies. I just love and adore this tea pot and milk jug in one of my favourite designs. They were bought for me by a a few of my friends on my hen do. This was something so unexpected. My hen do was really quite low key and I never expected pressies. So being passed one of those exciting pale blue bags with the red writing as I finished yet another scone, was quite a delight. Even more so when I untied the red ribbon and peeled back the tissue paper to reveal these.

Well I must dash. I'm expecting my Mother, Father and Sister-in-law shortly as well as my youngest nephew. They've been lovely this week popping in a couple of times because they know I'm missing my Mum and Dad and Sis and family who are all away on holiday together in Devon this week. So they'll be here soon and we're going off on a lovely walk down a disused railway line to do a bit of berry hunting. I'm not sure that we're not a bit too late for blackberries and too early for picking the sloes. But as the sun is shining it will be a lovely day anyway. Hopefully I'll find enough berries to make Simon just a little crumble as he's at work and missing out on the walk.

See you all again on Monday. Have a lovely weekend. x

Lovely Dorset

2009-09-17T12:41:00.009+01:00

Sorry this has been a while coming. I promised some photos from our little holiday in Dorset a week or so ago. No particular order to them. Just a few random shots taken on two walks we did from our campsite. Can't wait to go back there again.

Loved these cows. They may have been laying down but luckily it didn't rain.

I could sit looking at this view all day.

I'd love to live in this little cottage but it's actually the village hall. How sweet is that.

Cute calves.

Lovely ducks by the village pond.

Just look at the size of that black cow!

Could almost be the med!

A hint that the summer is nearly over and autumn is on its way.

Have a lovely day. x

That word....

2009-09-15T09:07:00.003+01:00

I'm feeling a little nervous. I'm not sure I should be writing this. You might all send me to coventry and stop reading my blog for mentioning this. In fact, I'm not even going to say the word.

Hopefully the pictures will let you know what I'm thinking about. What I'm doing today. A lot of research, designing and planning. Far earlier than I've ever done in the past because I don't want to miss the boat with potential sales.

Dare I say it, although our own C******** is going to be very scaled back due to lack of job, I'm feeling rather excited this morning by the ideas I have for what I'm going to make.

Sorry, won't mention it again until November!

Beautiful Blooms

2009-09-14T09:47:00.010+01:00

Our garden has suddenly got a very autumnal feel to it, especially after I had a good tidy up and cut back yesterday. We had the strangest weather over the weekend. Gloriously hot and sunny on Saturday so that we sat outside and pottered and even ate dinner outside, then yesterday it was dull and rather chilly and extremely autumnal.

But despite the autumnal feel, there are still a few blooms to be enjoyed. A lovely verbena that Mum gave me a few weeks ago is doing very well, and thanks to my constant dead-heading earlier in the summer, my gorgeous pink rose is having a wonderful second flush of blooms. There are many more buds to come which is lovely. And my hydrangea is turning a lovely colour. I'm going to try drying these although I'm not sure quite when to cut them for the best.

As well as the blooms in the garden I've got a couple of lovely ones for inside too. After a trip to Mum and Dads last weekend we came home with these two gorgeous rose prints that used to be my Grandma's. They're been in Mum and Dads loft for a few years but with their imminent move they're having a clear out. I'd forgotten these prints until now but can picture them on the walls of the bedroom Catherine and I used to sleep in when we stayed with them. I probably thought they were terribly old fashioned at the time but now I just love them. The frames need a lick of paint and then they will adorn our bedroom walls. Much to Simon's dismay!

Aren't they gorgeous?

The sun is out again today so I'm off up to my work room now to get on with more new things for the shop. Have a lovely Monday. x

PS~ Just to say how lovely it is to hear from so many new people. Even after all this time of blogging, I love to discover new blogs to visit. I really do appreciate every comment that is left here. It's lovely to hear from you all. Thank you for all the kind comments about my latest creations and about poor dear Fatboy. Still no sign of him but we keep hoping. x

Keeping Busy

2009-09-10T19:25:00.008+01:00

Firstly, thank you for the kind comments on my earlier post. There is still no sign of Fat Boy but we're not giving up hope.

I've been busy sewing today to keep myself busy and my mind of Fat Boy although I did look out of the window and scan the green outside our house on numerous occasions just incase I saw him. But I always find sewing very thereputic and as I need to get some new things in my various shop fronts today was a good day to make a start.

I have a little bag that my Sis bought me that I hang on one of our bed posts that I store jewellery in. It's a handy little thing and I decided that it would be nice to make some. Bags are always so pretty for storing things in I think.

They're only quite small but would be perfect for storing small bits and pieces. Sometimes I find I end up with too much clutter on my bedside table~ handcream, eyecream, lip salve, nail file.... All of these would be much better if I tucked them inside one of these little bags and hung it close to the bed for evening watching telly in bed pampering sessions.

As is always the case, once I dragged out a lot of my fabric stash and started on one, I couldn't stop. The first four are available here if you would like one and there are others waiting to be put together.

I seem to have got my creative flow back again.

Where are you.....?

2009-09-10T08:17:00.003+01:00

The night before last we lost our cat. We had only had him about four hours. He came to live with us from my Mum and Dad's where he has been living in their summer house for about four years, but during the night he managed to get through a shut door and out of a tiny high window that we had oh so stupidly left open. Today I am feeling so sad and so guilty.

Fat Boy(named by my Dad as Fat Boy Slim as he was rather large) turned up on Mum and Dads door about four years ago along with three other strays. Mum being such a cat lover started feeding them much to Dads distress(not that he doesn't like cats but he thought four was a little excessive and expensive!) and before we all knew it they were well and truely settled at The Old Coach House. But they couldn't come in the house because Smokey, Mum and Dads pet cat wouldn't allow it. So Mum set up cosy beds in the summer house and fed them at the back door. Three of them were a little nervous but Fat Boy became very tame and always wanted a stroke and a cuddle. I grew very attached to him and would spend a lot of time with him when I was over there. When Mum and Dad decided to give up the BandB and move Dad said that the strays would have to be re-homed as it would be impossible to move them all somewhere new. Mum agreed and after I little persuasion I managed to get Simon to agree to us having Fat Boy. We've been putting off the move a little but as Mum and Dads move is now hopefully just a few weeks away we made plans to pick him up on Tuesday night. We drove over early evening and after a quick cup of tea Dad got him into Smokey's travelling cage. He was not happy. We put him in the car and I sat next to him but he cried all the way home. The most heart wrenching cry I have ever heard. When we got him home we got out his cosy bed and put down food and water then let him out. He was clearly terrified. I know that when Mum and Dad took on Smokey, because his owner had died, he was nervous, and inquisitive, but not terrified. Fat Boy went straight to our back door crying to go out then went and hid behind the sofa. After a while he came out, went to the kitchen and managed to get himself down a gap next to the fridge. It was almost impossible to get him out and he was clearly getting more and more frightened and we were getting more and more upset. Finally we managed and tried to settle him for bed. Our kitchen is open to the hall so we decided to give him the run of the kitchen, hall, landing and stairs and shut all other doors incase of accidents. I left a little light on in the kitchen, tried to show him his food and spent a good twenty minutes sat on the stairs stroking him and trying to calm him down. But his little heart was clearly racing and although he was letting me stroke him, he was also shuffling as far into the corner of the stair as he could. I felt terrible that he was so frightened and started to wonder if we'd done the right thing taking him.
We went to bed and hoped that he would calm a little during the night.

At five yesterday morning we both woke up. I decided to get up and check on him. As I got to the top of the stairs I hoped to see him in his bed at the bottom but there was no sign. I crept down the stairs hoping to see him curled up in the hall but instead I saw the sitting room door open. A door which I know I had firmly shut. I walked into the room expecting that he would be behind the sofa again but immediately I heard a sound that chilled me. The sound of a rather unpleasant siamese cat that lives close by and spends most nights yowling at neighbourhood cats. He was clearly outside the side window and I guessed that Fat Boy was on the window sill. But as I got near the window my heart started pounding as I felt a distinct draft. I realised that the top part of the window was open. We'd opened it a little when we got home earlier and the house had felt stuffy which we had thought might have made him even more uncomfortable. In all the stress of him getting stuck beside the fridge both of us had forgotten to shut it before we went to bed which would have been ok if he hadn't managed to get through the sitting room door.

I ran upstairs to get some clothes on and tell Simon. Within a minute we were outside and what I expected to see was Fat Boy and the Siamese, but it was another cat and there was no sign of Fat Boy. We have no way of knowing how long he had been gone. Simon took a torch and in his dressing gown he scoured the immediate neighbourhood but he was nowhere to be seen. Given how terrified he clearly was I would imagine he ran like the wind when he made it out the window.

We are both feeling a mixture of sadness and such guilt. I feel we have let him down. We took him in because Mum and Dad couldn't take him with them but we clearly terrified him in the process. Mum has always been convinced that he wanted to be inside as he spent quite a lot of time peering in their cat flap, but maybe we got it wrong. Maybe he really was an out door cat. My Sister said yesterday that we shouldn't feel bad. We did what we thought was right and he may have escaped the minute we let him outside again which we were planning on doing after a few days of him being inside getting used to us. But I can't help thinking 'what if we hadn't left that window open'?

I feel pretty sure that he will be ok. He found Mum and Dad four years ago and no doubt someone else will feed him if he hangs around their doorstep. But he is on his own and he is gone from our lives which makes me incredibly sad. My Sister-in-law suggested we put posters up but as he doesn't really know us properly and doesn't know this house, I'm not sure he'd come back to us if someone found him. I just can't decide. We've put his bed in the shed with the door open a jar and food and water out. Maybe he'll wander back this way and find it?

I'm sorry this is so long and possibly rather boring. I just felt I had to write about it. My head is aching because I keep crying when I think of him and wonder where he is and I thought writing it down and sharing it might make me feel a little better. I think the guilt will take longer to go than the sadness. I will be back again tomorrow as I have some prettiness to share and I still haven't shared my Dorset photos but for today I'll still be searching for Fat Boy.

Fat Boy with Scrappy in the summer house.

F is for........

2009-09-04T16:14:00.006+01:00

Prettiness on my Birthday!

Yes, I edged a little closer to the 'Big 4 0' yesterday with my Birthday and what a lovely day I had.

A day spent with my Sis and the 'little ones', followed by Birthday tea with my other nephew with whom I share a Birthday, and taken out for dinner by my gorgeous hubbie in the evening.

I was very spoilt too. Much needed pennies(well £s actually) from my Mum and Dad, the most gigantic bottle of my favourite 'Femme' perfum from Simon, CathK handcream and a renewed subscription to Country Living from Simon's Sis and hubbie and two gorgeous items pictured in this post. The little cupboard below is from my in-laws. As they knew they would be away this week, my Mother-in-law asked me to let her know what I wanted for my Birthday well in advance. At the beginning of the hols we went to Belgium with them for a couple of days to our favourite little town, and while we were there we popped in my favourite little shop which actually isn't little at all, but a whole town house of beautiful home accessories and furniture. She said, why don't you choose something here and we'll buy you it. Well I needed no encouragement and after much looking I settled on this little cupboard. The moment I saw it I had in mind to do something like Jane's sweet cupboard and finally have somewhere pretty to store my beads. I think I may paint it cream although I do kind of like this soft grey.

As for the framed 'F', this is my most beautiful present and it is entirely handmade by my very talented Sister! Isn't it just gorgeous?

I'm not sure that my pictures are really doing it justice. The light is not fantastic today and I'm getting light reflecting off the glass of the frame. It really is stunning. So pretty and with such intricate detail. I've told her she should open up a little etsy shop and have a go at selling them. What do you all think? The thing is that at the moment she produces similar, although more complicated creations which she sells as textile designs through an agent to the likes of M and S and Monsoon and various companies in the US to be used on all sorts of things from greetings cards to wrapping paper to embellishments on children's clothing. She gets really quite a lot of money for these designs as they will be used in so many different ways by the companies who buy them. Making smaller pieces would make less money per piece, but each piece would be quicker to make and I'm convinced they would sell like hot cakes. She'd love to know what you all think. She's a blog reader but not writer and knows how important the opinions of the blogging ladies is!

So another year older and so much has happened in this last year. My first Birthday as a Mrs for a start which is without doubt the loveliest of things. I'm squeezing my Birthday out a bit longer with dinner at Mum and Dad's over the weekend which will be lovely. Possibly our last family meal in The Old Coachhouse as fingers crossed their move will be taking place in a couple of weeks. Wishing you all a lovely weekend wherever you are and whatever you're doing and just before I go, thank you all so much for the lovely response to my magazine feature. Your kind and supportive words mean so much to me. x

In Print!

2009-08-29T16:25:00.006+01:00

We're just back from a lovely week in Dorset but holiday photos will have to wait for a few days as I have something more exciting to share with you today. We've just been out to pick up a copy of Period Living magazine as one of my egg cosies is featured within it's pages!

A few months ago I started selling a small selection of my items on a website called 'notmassproduced.com' and some weeks ago the lady who runs the site rang me to say that Period Living had seen my 'I love eggs' egg cosy and wanted to feature it in the magazine and could I send a good quality photo. So I took the best photo I could, sent it off and kept my fingers crossed. I've kept checking for the October issue not really knowing for sure if the cosy would be in until yesterday when we popped into a newsagent for some chocolate before leaving Dorset and there it was. I started to leaf through the pages with baited breath and there it was. Not only featured, but right in the middle of the page and probably the most eye catching item as everything else on the page is blue so the flash of read embroidery really stands out.

Oh I can't even begin to describe to you how pleased I am about this. I've been selling odd bits and bobs every month though the various sites I'm on, but not as much as I would like. I'm not in a position to advertise what I do at the moment as finances wouldn't allow it, so blogging and twittering is the only way I have of letting people know what I'm selling. So to be featured in such a lovely magazine as Period Living, is, I hope, a little bit of advertising, and I total confidence booster. As you will know, I'm desperately searching for a job at the moment, but I would dearly love to make my living by selling my creations instead. Obviously I'm under no illusion that I'm suddenly going to get a deluge of orders from this feature and be able to stop my job search, but you never know, it might just bring me the odd new customer and it certainly gives me the boost to keep at it. With Simon back to School next week and that new start feeling in the air I always get at this time of year, I feel the need to re-organise my work space this week and get cracking on some new stock.

Back again after the weekend with pretty pictures of Dorset. Have a lovely weekend. x

Honeymoon Love

2009-08-21T17:46:00.010+01:00

Pictures rather than words today. I realised that I never shared any images from our Honeymoon with you yet we took literally hundreds of photos. Infact, near 1000 I think! This afternoon I've been making a collage of just a few. Hope you like them.

Salzburg and Munich. Any fans of 'The Sound of Music' may recognise the image bottom right.

Flowers on the shores of Lake Como at Bellagio.

Swiss lakes and mountains.

More Swiss mountains.

Scenes around Lake Como. Excuse my toes!

All over the place

2009-08-17T19:55:00.005+01:00

The above title describes my current state very well! I just can't seem to decide what to do. To blog or not to blog. To carry on with making my creations and trying to sell them or not?

Further to my last post announcing that I wouldn't be blogging anymore, I've kind of changed my mind. I've just been taking a little wander around blog land and I know that I would miss it. It's just that I've slightly lost my blogging oomph at bit. It has a great deal to do with the fact I'm still unemployed. It's now 10 months since I lost my job. I girl can only take so many knock backs and in a market where there are so few jobs to apply for it's disheartening when the ones you do apply for you are either under qualified or as today, over-qualified. I went for a job at a bathroom showroom recently. It was mainly sales but when they saw my CV they started talking about offering a design service. All in all I had three interviews with them taking about 3 and a half hours in total, not to mention the research time I spent and the time putting together some ideas of what I could offer. Only to find that they have given the job to another candidate who will be able to 'shift bathrooms quickly' apparently! They say they would like to work with me perhaps on a free-lance basis offering a design service but I'm not holding my breathe. I have a feeling it's all talk and at the end of the day it's not a job with a salary which is what I really need.

So you can probably understand a little of why I'm feeling rather fed up lately. I've lost all my creative inspiration too which is why there is nothing new in the etsy shop. I'm hoping to sell everything off with the hope of a. making a few much needed pennies, and b. having empty studio shelves in the hope of inspiring myself to make some new things.

But my little roam around blog land has given me just a little bit of a boost this evening and reminded me what I used to love about blogging. I've just been looking at Jane's gorgeous new bathroom which cheered me up no end. And a went on a lovely walk around Niki's village which definitely put a smile on my face. There were many other lovely things to be seen on my travels. I want to still be a part of this. I don't want to give up.

I'M STILL HERE and I'll try to cheer myself up a bit and write some pretty blog posts again. Bare with me will you?

Closing Down Clearance Sale

2009-08-10T21:15:00.003+01:00

Further to my last post, I've now reduced all items in my etsy shop by around 30-40% as I'm planning on closing it down if I can sell everything. Bargains to be had! Do go take a look.

OVER HERE

Apologies for lack of posts lately. I need to take a major break from blogging. I'll keep the blog here for a little while but I won't be posting anymore. Maybe I'll be back again in the future but for now I've lost all my enthusiasm and I'd rather just stop than have an unloved and unwritten blog sitting here looking all sad. I'll still be popping in to all your blogs but I just can't seem to be able to contribute to my own in the same way anymore. Bye for now. Fiona x

Blatant Plugging!

2009-07-17T19:59:00.001+01:00

Prettifying

2009-07-10T16:43:00.011+01:00

Is there such a word as prettifying and if so have I spelt it correctly? Don't think I have but you get the point.

I've been busy making a few new things for our bedroom. I'm not 100% keen on our black bed frame so rather than go to the hassle of painting it I've made a patchwork throw to go over the head end. I'm really pleased with how it looks.

I also quickly threw together a cover for the lampshade on my side of the bed which was plain cream and a little boring. Just need to make one for the other side now.

After all the sewing I've been doing over the last few months to sell, it's been really nice to make some things for our house instead.

I finished off with this new cushion cover. For anyone who's interested the pretty pink and blue stripe used in all three items is from Louise Loves.

Thank you to everyone who left messages on my last post. The interview went well I felt and I'm waiting to hear hopefully about a second interview. They seem to work at an incredibly slow pace so not worried that I haven't heard yet. I'll keep you posted. x

Friday Update~ disappointment on the job front I'm afraid. The company have decided to 'go back to the drawing board' what ever that means. Basically there isn't a job anymore! Although they thought I was fantastic. Not much use being fantastic if it doesn't result in a job. Very very disappointed to say the least. It was the first interview I had got in 9 months of unemployment. Just no jobs around. To look on the bright side, Simon is on hols from today for the next 6 weeks. So there are some benefits to being at home! Six weeks with my gorgeous hubbie ~ what could be nicer!

Hello

2009-07-03T08:32:00.006+01:00

Sorry for the slightly autumnal looking image. It was actually taken last Sunday on an extremely hot and sultry day. We were on a family picnic to celebrate my Sisters Birthday, and visited a beautiful garden called Pyt House in Berkshire, open under the National Gardens Scheme. I couldn't resist snapping this amazing seed head of angelica. Don't you think sometimes seed heads can be almost as beautiful as flowers. So sculptural.

The garden was absolutely beautiful as was that of the cottage next door which was also open. Unfortunately I only had chance to take these three photos as I was kept busy with Hamish and Jossy our nephew and neice. Hamish and I spent quite some time watching the chickens pictured below and a rather beautiful cockerel. I was informed by Hamish that "He's a rooster actually Aunty Nonnie"! That's me told. Not sure if he's correct but knowing Hamish he might be. Very well informed for a three year old!

My second apology of the day is for my lack of posting. I can't believe it's been a month. I have no excuse really. It's not that I've been madly busy. I just haven't had anything exciting, pretty or positive to write about. I only ever want to put nice things on my blog. But the honest truth is I haven't had anything that special to share. I've been a grump and I've been sad a lot these last few months and I didn't want to share that here. Not what you expect to be writing when you're newly married but life isn't always nice to you just because you're newly married. We've had to deal with something totally heart breaking in the first months of our marriage and add to that the fact that I've now been unemployed for just over 8 months and feel totally depressed about it and you'll hopefully understand my absense.

But today I have a glimmer of positivity in that I have a job interview later today. My first in the whole time I've been jobless! I'm very very nervous but I'm hopeful too. My agent has told me I'm the most experienced candidate so I've just got to go in there and make them like me. I really need to get this job, both for my own sanity and for our financial stability. Don't get me wrong, I've kind of loved being at home all day and making things to sell, and I know that if I get the job I will be dreaming of being back at home all day rather than being in an office. But the fact is that I've had too much time on my own of late. Too much time to dwell on sadness. And not enough time making my own money. So wish me luck fellow bloggers and send me a few good vibes at 2.30 this afternoon!

I feel a little nervous having got that lot of my chest. This blog was not going to be about personal stuff but I just felt the need for a bit of sharing again. And just so you all know, despite the horridness, married life is still wonderful. Being married to my wonderful man is a very very positive thing in my life and I love him more every day.

I'm going to finish with a couple of pretty pictures. I snapped these pictures of the sky the other evening. I'm not sure they do it justice. It really was absolutely stunning. Thanks for reading. I will be back with prettiness again next time. x

More Handstitching and a new Shop

2009-06-03T16:02:00.005+01:00

I've been feeling a little stressed lately about the ongoing job searching so to ease the stress a little and to create more items to sell in my shops, I've been doing more hand sewing. It's been perfect while we've had this fab sunny weather to as it can easily be done in the garden.

These cute felt heart embellishments could be used for all sorts of crafty projects and they're now for sale in my new little shop. I'm currently adding new stock to it but I thought it was about time I had a blog shop again as well as etsy etc. After all, not everyone wants to shop via large sites like etsy. The link to my new shop Linen & Roses Boutique is on the right hand side top corner. Just click on the mosaic and you'll be right through the door. I'm hoping to pop items in there that will be exclusive to there and not in any of my other shops. I hope you like it.

Etsy Interview

2009-06-01T11:36:00.005+01:00

I've been interviewed on the Etsy Team Midlanders Blog. You can read it

HERE

Mosaic Monday

2009-05-25T12:25:00.004+01:00

I was inspired by Jane today to make a couple of pretty mosaics. The first shows some of my work and the second is some garden inspiration mainly from my parents garden apart from the bottom right corner which is one of three lovely lanterns we were given last year as an engagement present. Click on each mosaic for a much better view, especially of the garden images. Mum and Dads gorgeous house and garden are currently for sale so we may not be able to enjoy the garden much longer but I have no doubt that Mum will make an equally pretty garden in their new home. Hope you're all enjoying a lovely Bank Holiday weekend.

Pretty Posies

2009-05-22T18:11:00.003+01:00

What a lovely afternoon I've been having making these two pretty corsages. Something new for me and I've loved making them. Hope you like them too.

Spring has sprung!

2009-05-20T08:50:00.004+01:00

There's been some fluttery activity in the studio this week. Eggs have been hatching and these cute felty birdies have appeared. They're all looking for new nests and will be appearing in my etsy shop throughout today.

I might keep this one myself

2009-05-13T08:41:00.006+01:00

I made this cushion yesterday afternoon to put in the shop but I think I have fallen for it myself. I've had the fabric a long time and the plan was to make a new curtain in our hall with it but plans have now changed because I sat the cushion on the sofa after I had photographed it outside and it looke gorgeous. So plans have changed. I need new fabric for the hall and the this fabric has now become, as well as this cushion, a new tablecloth(we have a combined dining/sitting room) and will be two or three big squishing cushions for the sofa.

So I'm still selling this one. It's in my Misi shop now waiting for a good home.

Too much stock?

2009-05-12T10:13:00.003+01:00

I'm re-organising all my storage today so got most of my stock all in one place. I was quite amazed by how much there is when I see it all together. I should be doing a craft fair! I do like the way it all looks together though. I think I have finally developed quite a distinctive style.

From my Inspiration Files

2009-05-11T16:29:00.006+01:00

I love my magazines but with a small home I can't keep them all so regularly go through them cutting out the best bits and re-cycling the rest. I used to put the cut out sheets into plastic sleeves in ring binders but lately I have been glueing the best bits into scrap books and creating my own lovely inspiration journal. I think I now have around 10 ring binders and so far 5 scrap books. I love looking back over them for inspiration both for my work and our home. I thought I'd share a few pages today. The majority of the images come from Country Living Magazine with possibly a few others from Country Homes & Interiors or Homes & Gardens.

The Heart of the Home

2009-05-08T11:41:00.005+01:00

I had so much fun yesterday creating this wall decoration.

In my Misi Shop today.

Pretty Pillowcases

2009-05-07T09:03:00.002+01:00

Lovely vintage pillowcases destined for my Etsy shop.

Stripes for Spring

2009-04-26T20:19:00.003+01:00

New in my shop today

Cosy Eggs

2009-03-26T08:44:00.003Z

Keep your Easter Eggs snuggly warm with my latest selection of felty egg cosies. All available in my Etsy Shop.

Fabulous Pincushions

2009-03-25T09:17:00.002Z

A few lovely pin cushions I've discovered over at Folksy

Vintage Pinpot by Paperfish at Folksy

Eco Daisy Pincushion by Noonoo and Me at Folksy

Cotton Reel Pincushion by Lucykate Crafts at Folksy

Felt Cake Pincushion by Mrs Toad Designs at Folksy

Tuesday Temptations

2009-03-24T18:32:00.004Z

Some pretty finds over at Etsy.

Dotty Pink Purse By Huismus at Etsy

Beach Huts at Heacham by Nicola Hart at Etsy

Linen Bunny No. 3 by Strawberries and Cream at Etsy

Carrot by Zoe Woods at Etsy