Posy

And yet another!

 

Yes, I know, I know...I've found another bedside table! This time it is for Anty and well, I couldn't really resist it when it was only £3.50.

"What's wrong with the one I've got?" Anth remarked, slightly puzzled.

"Well I think yours is looking a bit, er..tatty," (as if tatty would put me off!) "Trust me, I think this will be much better."

So I got to work. Sanding. Undercoat. 2 coats of cream gloss, and a bit of distressing...and voila

In the evening..

 

And in the day..

 

I even got around to painting his lamp base. Mmm..it's a very er, functional space - very Anth. Not sure how long it will remain this colour. Watch this space.

    

 

Distraction

What should you be doing when your house looks like this?

 

And this

 

And your 'to-do' list is growing by the minute (I'm so overwhelmed at the moment I don't know where to start!) plus you are having a visitor to stay for the weekend?

Well if you are me you decide to do this.

 

 

Yes, you ignore the horrendous mess (and believe me upstairs was un-photographical!) and do something totally impractical and unimportant like putting up some hooks to hang tea cups on.

        

I've been dithering for ages as to whether I should hang some under the plate rack. So I took the bull by horns, so to speak, and did it.

 

I think I'm glad I did and am spending ridiculous amounts of time changing cups and the order of how they hang so as to get the full benefit of their beauty.

 

Alice was the first to arrive home from school later that day.

"Thank goodness you're here. Good day at school? Yup. Right, can you go and change the sheets in your bedroom, tidy it up, and hoover the stairs and see what else needs doing."

Yep, I'm very good at 2 things beginning with the letter 'D'....Distraction and Delegating!

A corner & a tin

  

Yes, I know it looks out of control and, in my opinion, also reflects the state of every room in the house at the moment; but I am in the process of sorting my stuff out. Stuff. I have far too much of it and it is beginning to get me down, all this managing of stuff. I was complaining to Anth the other day that I can't just put things away simply and quickly because each item has to be stacked or balanced or squeezed into a minute space. I noticed today that I have 9 sugar bowls. Yes 9. I know I like to rotate them, but 9 is a bit excessive don't you think?  And I don't know quite how to break the latest news to you as I can hardly let myself think of it, but last night, 2 hours after washing them, lovingly drying them and then stacking my lovely tea cups like the picture on this post - I went and opened the cupboard and 2 fell out and smashed into pieces. Yes, my sweet pink lace one and my 2nd favourite. I'm not sure who to blame (as if that will really make any difference) but I am so upset as I think it is very unlikely that I will ever find another like it...oh why didn't I buy the other one that was with it when I had the chance...

But enough wallowing, let's talk about bird tins.

 

I now officially own a tin that is not predominately a floral one; and I'm still coming to terms with it. It has birds on it though and is very appealing seeing I don't have any in our garden.  I got it from Utter Clutterin Leominster (which is worth a visit if you are near there). I haven't put anything in it yet and as my tin collection is actually worse than my sugar bowl collection, I think I will have to give some away so I can find a place for it.

 

Can you believe it's Friday again? Where does the time go. Thank you for all your comments this week - I loved reading your cheerful lists and have to agree with Lucy of the Antidote about Jack Bauer. The thought of Jack saving the world and the 3 new episodes of 24 to watch tonight is getting me through the boring stuff today. Oh and I have a new blog to tell you about - my friend Yvonne has started a blog and it's called Joharo at home - do pop over and say Hi. She is a such a creative, and talented lady.

Have a good weekend my friends.

Flowers of a different kind

 

Yes, I know it looks like a flower shop - or even a Maternity Ward, (actually the whole scene did remind me of the tears I shed in the Maternity Ward because I had too many flowers and didn't know what to do with them all. So I cried! My, those postpartum hormones made me crazy!) Anyway, there were no tears this time as I tried to sort out my fake flower fiesta. I have slowly become a fake flower convert, mainly due to the poor choice of fresh flowers in our local supermarket (I dislike 'posh' flowers prefering simple blooms that look like they come from the hedgerow or roadside) plus it was getting very expensive to buy them weekly which is how long they would last.

                

Now let me show you my latest buy. Someone at school bought some fake blossoms in for our school play. I totally fell in love with them and rushed out the next day and bought some for myself. They are so realistic, the bark even has a very light spray of green on it to look like lichen. How clever is that?

              

 

I'm going to use it for my Easter Tree and hang my painted eggs on it.

Next up is the usual 'favourite' display I have on our mantelpiece in the sitting room (which is now in the dining room as the blossom has taken it's place in the sitting room...still with me?) 

 

          

Next are my Bluebells - love them too as they are so realistic; these have some china roses mixed in which aren't so realistic but I haven't found a better place for them yet.

          

       

Remember this jug - the one of two I so carefully transported in my hand luggage from New Zealand. Yes, the ' be careful Anthony, I have a couple of big jugs' jugs . Oh happy days!

 

Next up, the kitchen

          

 

 

             

Bedroom next (bored yet?)

          

Back to the sitting room mantel with

 

a mixture of knitted and silk Anemones.

 

And finally back to the dining room sideboard. There, I told you it was a fiesta didn't I?

 Before I sign off for today I wanted to explain about my new comments facility. It gives me and you the option to reply to comments which I think is a great way to encourage conversation between us all. After all, who, apart from you dear blog ladies, wants to hear and see all my latest obsessions and view the floral fiesta that is going on in our home at the moment?  Incidentally, I do love getting your emails too so please don't feel you can't do that if the urge arises, though please note that our email address has changed to goble.uk@googlemail.com

Now, I must prepare for a certain Goble girl's 14th Birthday today.

 

Edit:

Thank you for the wonderful response about my fake fiesta. Lots of you have been asking about the blossom and where I got it, and I so understand the 'I must have it or I'll stop breathing' feeling. Unfortunately, I don't think I can be of much help though. I bought it from a shop called Trago Mills (please visit the link as it isn't your usual sort of shop and their website can probably explain more than I can!) Trago's garden centre have a corner with loads of fake flowers and it was there that I found the blossom. I made the trip especially to get them and then discovered that they only had a few left.

The label on each stem said 'Sincere Floral' and despite a google search have not come up with anything about the makers. Perhaps you will be more successful. They cost £2.49 per stem which is excellent value given the quality. I'm so sorry I can't find more and then pass it on to you but I will keep looking. If you are local I would suggest a trip to Trago as the range of 'fakes' they had were good BUT Trago gets BUSY and I mean BUSY. Hell on earth if I'm honest, so try to get there very early if you do go. I only visit once every 3 years!

Hope to hear news that someone has tracked some down!

   

View from my kitchen sink ~ February

 

I took this photo last week sometime when we had some sun and I think it might become a regular category over the seasons.  If I could write a book, I would love to do it about the views from people's kitchens...all over the world. Well, maybe there is a book like that already. (Probably as seeing that I'm always a year or two behind the times - or that is what I'm told by my children).  One of the best views I have ever seen is the view from the sink in the old Parish Rooms at my children's old playgroup. It looks over a field and it is framed by trees. I'll see if I can go and take a picture of it this week but explaining why I want to might be a bit embarrassing. But I'll try ...anything for a good photo opportunity!

Everything you see in this kitchen (apart from the CK teapot - a gift from Justine. Thank you again. Soap and enamel soap dish with the nail brush)is all from charity shops and car boot sales. The 3 small Kleen Ware pots were found in Ludlow's Cat Protection Charity Shop (the best in Ludlow) about 6 years ago for...30p each!! I wasn't sure what they were but recognised that I had seen them in lovely country kitchens in magazines; so I started collecting Kleen Ware. Well, it's hardly a collection, I've got the other 2 pots which are chipped so have to keep my fake flowers in them to cover the cracks. But I still love them. The latest find was the lovely Crown Devon butter dish which has the loveliest of lids which you may just be able to see. The curtain fabric was found on the ground at a car boot sale last year. My heart certainly skipped a beat at that one!

Isn't it good to see the sun? It has hardly shown it's face this week. Do tell me what your kitchen sink view is..you never know we could fill a book yet!

Losing one's mind

     

The 2 old ladies in the charity shop where I bought it, thought it. The man in the Post Office thought it. Alice's friend Hollie thought it. Lisa thought it and just laughed. Lucy, Alice and Anth could not believe it. Had I lost my mind this time and all sense of taste?

Think picture. Think shells.

Got it?

 

You decide...

 

My Space

 

I hope you all had a good weekend. Mine wasn't brilliant - got a touch of the blues yesterday where everything got on top of me - mainly our messy home, my migraines coming back (2 this week - I've had a wonderful 3 months almost migraine free) and neglected garden. I don't think a single positive thing passed my lips..poor family. 

I didn't get a chance to read them yesterday but I love newspapers, especially at the weekend because you get umpteen sections which usually include a Homes/Interior section. It was in one of those that I saw an article that showed a photo of a someone's dining room. The person had highlighted certain things that were meaningful to them and then labeled them on the photo. I found it really interesting having a mini guided tour so to speak, so I thought I might do the same and talk you through some of my bits. I randomly took a photo of my corner in the sitting room this morning and labeled most of the things. I hope you can read it but you may have to enlarge it.

Is there anywhere else you would like to see?

Sorted!

 

My friends, I am in possession of a tidy house. Yes I know, to my family and friends that will come as some surprise.  After weeks - no months of dodging piles of pictures that are waiting to be hung; tablecloths waiting to join another pile; umpteen bags over every doorknob; fabrics; newspapers; paint pots and brushes; enormous piles of wool, and books (mainly vintage children's nature guides which are totally useless for my teenage family so I'm told. Shame.) Books, that smell old and horrid and make them feel sick.

But with our niece and her boyfriend from NZ coming for the weekend I spent all of Friday making the place acceptable at long last.

Oh the joy. I keep wandering from room to room feeling my breathing slowing down and just soaking up all the tidiness. So what do you do when your house is actually tidy for once? You take photographs of it so shortly, when it all seems to be a distant memory, you can gaze longingly at what it could be if you were that organised, domestic goddess you so want to be.

 

 

 

So that is the downstairs anyway. Upstairs? Well, with 2 teenage girls in the house I can't at this very moment vouch that their rooms will be tidy but tomorrow I may pluck up the courage and check. But for now, just let me have this one afternoon of domestic bliss.

Painting ...again!

 

I've been on holiday from school all week (and have another week to go..!) so I decided it was high time to get my house in order; and boy does it need it.  I've spent the first few days finishing a writing commitment and then 4 days on my hands and knees painting nearly every available surface.

 

Every floor apart from our bedroom, (which will be done tomorrow along with the stairs); the bathroom walls; the door frames, side of the staircase, the banisters, a chair, the tongue and groove which goes around in our hall and up the stairs. The floor looks wonderful now but it shows up everything else.

 I have also been inspired by Niki of Nostalgia At The Stone House, who, incidentally has written a wonderful  book.  On her blog she showed a photo of her friend's dresser which is the most beautiful I have ever seen. The dresser was lined at the back in floral wallpaper and I thought 'ah - that would be a good use of my new Cath Kidston wallpaper' ..so I did this

 

though it's hard to actually see as the shelves are groaning with floral goodness!  But it meant taking everything off and that's a good thing because I never put back as much as I take off.

 

I've been sorting and clearing out like crazy. It's funny how I let things build up and I try to keep on top of it but it just gets worse then suddenly I get this nesting instinct (just like when I was about to go into labour!) and nothing can stop me tidying, painting and hopefully improving our little nest. Long may it last I say even though I hobbled around Sainsburys today with aching arms, legs and slightly bruised knees. But I laughed when I paid for my things I noticed.. the back of my hands, still covered with white paint.

A few little changes

      

I know you must be thoroughly fed up with seeing our mantelpiece again but I just want to show you the result of of one of my 'twiddles.'  Our home is always evolving, especially after my weekly trips to the local car boot sales; but this time I've done a major twiddle, which is how Anth describes my 'little-Janie- touches' but this time we are none too sure if we like it.  You see I have changed the lighting and am quite surprised at how different it has made the room.

        

We used to have a rather ugly, white clip-on lamp attached to our bookcase which did bathe the corner in a cozy glow but  I always felt that it detracted from our books and looked rather,...well, white and plastic. So when I found 2, old, brass and china lamps I thought it was time to change.

          

But it has given the room a whole different feel and it certainly doesn't feel quite as bright and is taking some getting used to. I'm thinking that I may have to balance it and put the other slightly different one at the other end - but hey, then I won't have a place for my flowers and the room certainly lacks flowers now doesn't it!  Tongue firmly in cheek!

Yesterday was a good day, and life felt good for lots of reasons but the highlight was the first lighting of the fire this autumn.

            

I had waited for as long as I possibly could and finally gave in and let those wonderfully familiar sounds and smells wash over me. Ah, autumn bliss.

Tomorrow is giveaway time but now I'm off to light this evening's fire..

Things I've made

I have been making all sorts this week.  Sewing, dyeing for the first time, and painting. Plus I have been feeling a little sorry for myself which isn't a trait I like.

It all started on Monday night. I have wanted to change the lamp shade in my corner of the sitting room for some time; and thought that an old petticoat I've had for ages might do the trick if I dyed it. So on Monday evening I settled down to have a go at dyeing it a pale-ish pink. Coldplay were playing a free live concert at the Brixton Academy to promote their new album Viva La Vida.  We were unsuccessful at winning tickets for it (sounds familiar doesn't it!), so the radio had to suffice. Lucy joined me and what a couple of saddos we must have sounded!  In between me loudly squealling, throwing my hands in the air, and singing we would say, "Oh, he'll (Chris) be doing this with feet/arms/piano stool now!" (Incidentally, I love what he does with his piano stool - usually in Clocks.) We then usually follow with a little tussle over what song is best, Clocks v The Scientist. I like Clocks best because of it's energy and my fav part where he sings with such feeling..."Nothing else compares" and then .."Home, home where I wanted to go" because I so agree with the statement!  Lucy and Matthew (my brother) love The Scientist best out of the two because it is more emotional and they like the line..."; you don't know how lovely you are, I had to find you, tell you I need you, tell you I set you apart"   I then got all miserable and started down the 'It's not fair we're not there' road announcing that I was dyeing and dying inside with unfairness. With all this going on I really wasn't paying enough attention to my dyeing and what should have been pale pink turned into cerise pink. Omit small swear word! So I hoped when it was dry it would be lighter. No. So then I hoped when it was made and on top of a lampshade it would be lighter. No.

With lamp on it certainly looks better than with lamp off.

All I did was gather the bottom of the petticoat and place it on top of the boring white coolie shade. Simple.  And if I had given the dyeing my proper attention I should have used less dye and experimented a little.  Though on one hand I didn't want too pale a pink as I didn't want it to look too feminine - ha too feminine!  And as the lovely Amanda said to me yesterday, "That's a bit like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted!" Too true. But I've always wanted a vintage, shabby, white, floral, beach hut look not too frilly and flouncy.  I know my corner is waay, way over the top and certainly gives that impression, but I'm not a frilly person, honest. My sense of humour is far too inappropriate to be frilly so I'm told!  I think baby pink isn't as sassy as cerise but this is too cerise but I'll see if it grows on me. I am certainly going to dye some more things, despite the faffing around and being a bit scared of getting the dye everywhere, I found it quite exciting. Next time I'll try without Coldplay playing live. Yeah warning, never dye with Coldplay! 

And painting?

The fire screen is now magnolia but I received this wonderful picture from Veronica

and now I'm wondering if boring magnolia was right! Isn't she clever? I love all of them, crikey what's a girl to do! The other painting was for the wall of flowers. I have been painting new frames and swapping new and old prints around and now have a slightly more ..er, blooming wall.

Little Posy thought she would stay in shot too.

The small round embroidered picture was a little gift from Niki from Nostalgia At The Stonehouse. Thank you again Niki for your kindness.

And lastly (sorry it's a long one today), my cushions.

I have become doily crazy over the last few weeks and am experimenting.  I have had this one for 8 years but have been put off sewing it onto fabric because of trying to match all the colours. Duh - it turned out be one of the most satisfying projects in a long time and really didn't take long. I just used an old calico pillowcase and fastened it with buttons on the back.

This used to be a small tablecloth and I'm taking a risk letting the family loose with it given the treatment our poor cushions usually get but I've given them a talking to this time, so we'll see.  It was while I was sewing the buttons on that I started watching Coldplay at the BBC on Thursday night.  Oh dear, bad move. Coldplay played another free, live concert this time in car park of the BBC.  Aww it was perfect as there was only a very limited amount of people there due to the lack of space etc.  All those horrid feelings of self pity flooded back and I'm ashamed to say that I had to turn it off as I just couldn't cope with missing out on such an intimate concert. Tut, tut. I still have it recorded ready to watch when I can and I'm trying to follow Matthew's favourite advice he gives to his patients, (well he tells us he sometimes says it but I doubt it!) which is, 'try to act as normal as possible' but when it comes to Chris Martin singing live in front of me, I find it hard to act normal. I feel bad about my attitude though - why should it be me there. To make it worse I have also lost my ipod and have spent a week not being able to get acquainted with Viva La Vida; so I'm not sure if I like it yet. What a mammoth post, can you tell I am still in my pyjamas and it's nearly 5 pm. No? Good, it's just one of those pyjama days I sometimes have. Ok one last photo and I'm out of here.  Thanks for listening!

New Day, New Lamp

Don't you just love this view? You do? That's great because I do too. It's the view from the Saturday morning car boot I go to (I'm sorry that recently this blog is just about what I find at car boot sales, but the season will soon be over so bear with me!) and it always revives my tired, end-of-week spirit. In fact the photo doesn't really do the view justice. It is looking south-west across to the South Hams, such a beautiful part of Devon. Just by standing on top of that hill every week I feel my stresses melt away and I can breathe more easily. I return home later and blather on to Anth about the friendly atmosphere and the lovely, wide, open space. It always seems to be sunny too and that always helps. Anyway, today's favourite find (and it was hidden away and I walked past it twice!) is this cute lamp base, not sure about the shade but it's all I had.

Lamp off..

Lamp on..

Lamp good!

My Creative Endeavors

Yay, I actually did some sewing this weekend and oddly to easy myself into it I chose to make one of the most fiddliest/impractical things (size wise) I could. Mmm a blonde moment if ever there was one. Yeah, I made a bedspread in the discontinued Cath Kidston's Blue Rose Bouquet I found nearly 18 months ago. Tut tut, I'm naughty keeping it that long unused, but at least it's on our bed now though it is minus the wide crochet lace down the sides.  That's still to do.

I also found an old Embroidery Anglais trim that fits the lampshade of my 'kindness' lamp perfectly. I'm pleased because it looked kind of boring just being white though I don't want it to look, pretty, pretty which Embroidery Anglais has a habit of doing.

And it was new shoes time this week. I usually live in boots in winter and flip-flops in summer but I bought some cute, canvas pumps, complete with a small bow, I love bows. What do you think of my 'arty' shoe picture?

I was trying to make the photo look casual with my legs nonchalantly crossed, but I ended up looking one legged and rather silly! Alice walked in and panicked that the neighbours would see me - I didn't like to tell her that they probably see much worse in this house and me taking photos of my shoes, again, doesn't compare perhaps with me winding fairy lights around our banisters in the middle of May; or(and this was commented on) me attacking freshly painted furniture with hammers/sandpaper/and nails; or as Lucy has just said, hanging my hideous quilts on the washing line and taking pictures of them. Huh, I will show you tomorrow the quilt in question. Hideous..well it could be borderline I think.

No, our neighbours are lovely but definitely the sort of 'normal' people that keep fairy lights for Christmas. Mmm Christmas, I'm already counting weeks..see you tomorrow!

The week gone by

I can't believe it's been a whole week since I've last posted.  Tut tut, hope you haven't noticed.  I've been a busy bee. A very, very busy bee with an 18 year old son but more about that later. Well...do you like it?  My wall of flowers. I'm thrilled with it especially when every picture has been bought from a car boot or charity shop and cost from 25p to £3; oh with the exception of one that sweet Amanda sent me as a gift. Thank you, Amanda!

It is a work in progress as I'm expecting to add to it.  I did repaint a lot of the frames, and I'm glad I did as they all sort of 'blend' together now. 

Summer arrived last weekend with gloriously sunny weather which brought out many, many sellers at my regular car boot sales - in fact almost too many! I found some treasures though, one being this..

..a sweet nativity picture which seems to mean I must be officially collecting anything with a Mary theme. (You know when I was a little girl my dream was to play Mary in our Sunday School's nativity play but I was always an angel, year after year. It still stings!!)

Oh before I forget Kathy has asked about the little Barbola mirror.

I found it at a jumble sale and bought it for a £1.  Only problem is that it is missing it's mirror so I have temporarily placed another mirror against it (even though it's too big) and am on active look-out for a smaller one.  And finally, there was celebration in the Goble household on Wednesday as our firstborn turned 18.  But being a grown up boy of 18 does not mean you're too old for kisses from your mother...even if you are taller than her!

A Weekend of Firsts

Last weekend was a weekend of 'firsts' for 2008 - first car boot,  first time I sat behind my sewing machine and made something, first time in the garden and first time I have ever driven in a snow storm!

Right, let's start at the beginning and that was Saturday morning's car boot. Oh, it was so wonderful.  I've missed it so much...too much.

I also found a chimney pot which is awaiting a plant on our patio. I didn't find alot but I love what I did find. And it looks like I'll have all the answers to the questions of the universe to as I found God's answer book!

On Sunday, I was up very early to do my most favourite of car boot sales.  The neighbours that usually take me couldn't go so I decided I would go myself. Bad move.  I ended up taking a wrong turn and it suddenly started to snow heavily. Yes snow! I found myself trying to drive with huge flakes hurtling at the windscreen it got a bit icy and the car even skidded at one point. I have never driven in snow and I didn't like it. So, after driving for over an hour I headed back home, very disappointed, where there was bright sun. Crazy British weather.

I spent the afternoon at my sewing machine.  I have been suffering with a bad case of sewing-block but I ended up making..

..a new pair of kitchen curtains (not working curtains)

..a 'bed pouch' for my ever growing pile of books and magazines by my bed..

..and 2 tablecloths made from some Cath and Green Gate fabric and I also sewed 2 pairs of single sheets (lilac ones)together to make them fit our king size bed. It felt good to be at my machine again.

And today (Monday) I spent some time in the garden tidying up before my annual trip to Hill House Nursery hopefully sometime this week.

And tomorrow?  I finally have my crochet-date with lovely Lisa, so it will be a 'chatting over a pot of tea, maybe in front of the fire, crochet' afternoon...and I can't wait.

Let there be light

And oh my goodness we've got light. Light so bright, it's almost blinding! This is our new chandelier, wired up last Friday. I made a boo boo with the light bulbs and bought 60w forgetting that it's 5 x 60w bulbs - boy it's like having the sun's very core outside your bedroom door. I'm sure I've got the first signs of sun stroke! That and my poor ears are being assaulted with the moans of the rest of the family..though as you can guess, I secretly giggle to myself as I watch them cover their eyes as they walk by!

It isn't the only new thing around. I found these embroidered pictures on a recent car boot foray.

So with my ever expanding flowery corner and our temporary, blinding brightness - it feels more summer than winter in this corner of Devon!

Is it vintage?

Smash

"..but it's vintage.." I wail. "I can't just replace it." (Though between you and me I'll have a jolly good try!)  And this is currently what I've replaced my replacements with, and so far this month, apart from last week, we've had a clear run with no breakages. I love my glasses, just like I love my mugs, side plates and dinner plates.

 

Another reason I'm showing you the contents of our glasses cupboard is to show you my 'new' shelf edging. I found it in a shop in Leominster. A shop that sells the most beautiful, vintage (there's that word again) clothes and accessories. Racks of old tea dresses, aged hat boxes, Victorian nightdresses, perfume bottles, jewelery, sequined handbags, heavy velvet curtains and laced edged bed linen all jostle for space. I spend my time turning over the price tickets with bated breath hoping the item that caught my eye is within my price range. The only thing that I have ever bought from that shop is a tiny pillowcase and some old hankies for 50p each (subject for another post). That was until this time when in between the Chanel No5 bottle and the white evening gloves and next to the hat pins and cigarette holder, I saw this box.

No price.

"Excuse me, how much is this?" I enquire.

"Umm what is it?"

"Shelf edging." She studies the box carefully, turning it over and over.

"I'll have to ring the owner, hold on."

I wait for the inevitable £25 a metre, and study the box. Lakeland Plastics, no surely not! Now I have nothing against Lakeland but why was it in this shop where the youngest thing in there was me! Yeah, and that is saying something as my 44th birthday fast approaches. Too fast.

"She's not answering. Would £5 be alright?"

"Yes," I squeak, "I think it's from Lakeland by the way"

"Lakeland?!"

So now I just have to get my head around the whole plastic thing. I usually trim my shelves with real crochet lace which keeps falling off, but I've been seduced by the peel off and stick ,wipe clean instant gratification thing.

What do you think, does it look vintage?

Vintage mugs

I have recently found the odd vintage mug in my hunting and gathering days. I have always loved flowery mugs and have a huge collection, but I'm loving these 4 odd, vintage beauties.

I particularly love the ones on the front row, far left and far right; and if you happened to be hovering outside our home you will this cry resonating from within it's white walls many times a day,

"Can someone make me a cup of tea, please! I'll have it in my vintage Pa mug (my father has one similar, hence Pa)"

Or it could be vintage violets, vintage fat one (oh, that could be me!) or vintage with gold. (I've told you before that I have odd names for things!) Or sometimes I ask them to surprise me.

I then wait to see if my request has been carried out and what mug they have chosen. Oh yes, there are some wonderful advantages to having 'old-enough-to- make-tea' children, let me tell you.

So friends, I wish you could choose your favourite mug from my collection and join me in a spot of tea. I'll even light the fire..now that would be nice.

A new craze

I don't know whether I should call it a craze or an obsession (I get plenty of them!) or if it is just a new fad; but I have recently been searching for, and being outbid (grr) on vintage, bevelled mirrors.

I can pin point when this obsession started and I know who is to blame...Atlanta Bartlett. There have been quite a few articles about her wonderful home over the last 6 months and I am totally hooked. She and her husband run a locations business and her home, Foster House is one of them available for photo shoots. I just love, love, love it (I find myself perusing the 43 photos more times than is probably deemed healthy) and now find that I recognise it straight away in all manner of magazines. Anyway, Atlanta uses these mirrors in many ways - my favourites being this and this and this and I was so inspired I thought I would try to do something similar. Yeah.. alright I hear you....copy! I have already used her idea of glass cake stands for the girls' jewelery. Ooh, what I wouldn't give to pay that house a visit..

It's been harder than I imagined. There are quite a few on ebay but being very heavy the cost has been quite high, even so I have been outbid every time. But I finally found one in Ludlow for only £3 (as it has woodworm though it's been treated now) and earlier today I moved the knitted Home Sweet Home picture and replaced it with my new mirror. I wasn't going to hang it but just prop it up (very Atlanta) but there was a hole in the wall so it had to be hung.

So there we have it, my new passion. I would like a wall of these mirrors and even tried to persuade Lucy and Alice to have some in their newly decorated room. Alas I am still only the owner of one, (and a sort of one) so that wall might take some time in materialising. I'll just keep searching and stare at Atlanta's every now and then!

Another corner

Looking at this photo it all looks so neat and tidy doesn't it? Would you believe me if I told you that I had to move umpteen dirty dishes and throw away 5 pieces of moldy fruit lurking in the fruit bowl before taking the photo? Well I did!

There is a certain amount of quiet rejoicing in the Goble household at the moment because the kitchen has been repainted - a job so urgently required that it has only taken us 3 years to do. It took our man only 3 hours from start to finish.  3 hours! The very same man is going to tongue & groove the girls' bedroom on Thursday so my summer holiday will mainly be spent with a paint brush in my hand - that and behind my sewing machine, which will be bliss! I am looking for some ticking for their curtains too which I hope to find in London in 9 days. 9 days and counting!

I have loved reading your comments about your whistling kettles. They seem to be thriving in all corners of the world and I'm definitely going to look out for one. My other 'thinking about' purchase is...and I am cringing slightly as I type this...one of those old lady shopping trolleys on wheels...there I admitted it.

Anyone brave enough to come clean and say they have one...?!