Posy

Preparing

What do most British citizens do on the last summer bank (public) holiday of the year? Especially when (*shock*) the sun was shining and one lives a mile or so from the sea?  That's right you stay indoors and avoid those horrendous traffic jams and start preparing for Christmas. I vowed then and there last December, to be prepared this year and to start in August - and I have been true to my word!

And now I'm giving the game away and my loved ones will see their gifts, still hopefully by December they'll have forgotten. I'm having such a wonderful time making my "secret" presents as I have completely taken over the dining room and have every surface covered with a jumble of embroideries, ric-rac and vintage buttons.

I have even taken the nerve wracking step of organising an my own Etsy shop though I'm not sure I'm bold enough to sell anything yet but I'll let you know if I do. Meanwhile it's back to the charity shops for supplies and then on to spend my last weekend of the school holidays in perfect sewing bliss.

Thank you to all of you who sent Lucy birthday wishes - I think she was secretly delighted that I had shown you her legs but she never would admit it! Also Cece, I laughed so much at the "classy" part of your comment - my mother will be thrilled!!

Miss Lovely Legs

Occasionally, over the last few weeks I have found myself gazing in wonder at my oh-so-grown-up daughter's legs. When did they turn into these long, evenly tanned things? Perhaps it is because she is spending lots of time at the beach with her friends. I don't know, but she tells me they are not tanned compared to her friends; but I know they really are compared to me!

Yesterday, it was her 15th birthday. Anth took the day off and we all went to the cinema and later had takeaway pizza and a DVD. I wanted to have a 'vintage picnic afternoon tea', with gorgeous china and cake stands, but that idea was quickly shot down with cries of protest and rolling eyes. Hmm, I have no idea why but I'm still the official holder of the 'Saddest Mother' award...

She did agree to one vintage cake stand photo, which looks remarkably like last years birthday, but never mind.

Happy Birthday, darling Lucy - and may those beautiful legs carry you towards a wonderful year ahead..

Things of beauty

I have little time for words today but thought you would like to see some of my latest treasures sourced from our trip to Ludlow. The china rose above is, I think, a name place holder or a menu holder. I use it for my favourite Moo cards.

Have I told you before that I love Chintz? Well I do but unfortunately I have none...that is until now as I found 2 of these very small plates at an antique fair (couldn't afford anything else!) Far too lovely to use but I have propped one in my corner so it can be admired by all.

Lastly, here is a very small china pot edged in silver. I didn't recognise that it was silver in the junk shop as the top was black but it was the flowers that caught my eye, and that is really what I love. Ummm flowers...! Oh, yes and the scrumptious brooch. I've never seen one like that before, though it isn't showing you just how sparkly it truly is. It is hardly safe to look at, it is so beautiful and it can take your breath away when you catch it in a certain light. The favourite so far...don't you agree?

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!

Fossils and sequins

Today we took a trip to Charmouth to go fossil hunting - at long last. We left the house later than expected and I had the children running around gathering my bits and pieces. It takes about 90 minutes to drive to Lyme Regis & Charmouth (which is in Dorset) from Torbay so that gave me plenty of time to explain to Tom and Lucy (Alice went to a friend's house) about how I became so interested in fossils. It began when I was about 8 years old and my teacher read a book about Mary Anning - the young girl who found a Ichthyosauria. I became slightly obsessed about fossils and it hasn't really left me.

On our way we passed some lovely cottages. Dorset is full of them. Swoon.

On our arrival at Charmouth there was a stiff breeze blowing off the sea. I quickly changed into my fossil hunting uniform - tracksuit bottoms and sturdy trainers. I looked around for the cardigan that I had asked Alice to put in the car earlier that morning. I looked in disbelief, she had chosen a black sequined cardigan...

So I once again found myself dressed inappropriate clothing! I must have looked absolutely ridiculous but it didn't stop me and we spent a wonderful afternoon searching. That was Anth and me. Tom and Lucy spent most of the afternoon reading in the car...huh!

And this is what I found

a tiny, weeny ammonite but mainly just bits of them. Lots of Fools Gold, which doesn't show up in the photo very well. I thoroughly enjoyed myself scrabbling around in the mud and sand even though the top half of me looked out of place! Lucy summed it all up though and told me that if I was more organised I wouldn't find myself in these situations..

..well, maybe she has a point..

Chillin'

We all did something out of the ordinary yesterday. I refused to cook dinner till we had gone for a drink at The Berry Head Hotel and sat on their wonderful terrace which has panoramic views of Torbay. It's something we don't do enough, especially in the summer evenings and last night we were just in time to watch the sun receding over the hills. Oh,that and eat a bowl of chips. It was also a celebration as I had finished the painting.

This is the 'new' dressing table (which is just a chest of drawers with a mirror on!) The mirror was found at my father's house, broken and in pieces - and just look at it now. Everyone moaned at me - you know the 'what do you really want with that old thing? and the 'we don't have room in the car' routine. Ha, even Lucy and Alice reluctantly say they 'quite like it.'

I'm still searching for fabric for their curtains - I'm finding it impossible to find a white based ticking - you know white/red or pink. Have been having thoughts about cutting up my pink candy striped sheets..ouch but it might be the only answer. Tomorrow we are heading to Ludlow for a few days so I'm hoping for some treasures to drop into my hot little hands and to catch up with family. I can't leave without saying a heartfelt thank you for all your kind words. In answer to some questions, I'm not sure if you can buy Artful Blogging here in the UK but you can go to their website here. I'm sorry that I can't give you all a copy and believe me when I say I would if I could as your kindness holds no bounds.

I hope you all find a special spot to do some chillin and sunset watching over the next few days - and maybe like me, you can be sneaky and get out of having to make dinner!

Humble

Well I've had a few days for it to sink in but as time has past I'm still in shock, if that is the correct word for it. You see I was approached a few months ago and invited to contribute to a new American magazine called Artful Blogging. I had never heard of Somerset Studio, the 'mother' magazine, and was thrilled to be asked but wondered how on earth they had heard of me.

On Monday it arrived and I realised what a big deal this was! This magazine is more like a book and I'm in it!

  

I'm astounded that I'm in there with Blog Royalty like Posie Gets Cozy and Juju Loves Polka Dots and many more that I have never heard of before. Seeing my name in the contents page was such a thrill but I still wonder that they may have thought I was someone else as I feel there are so many more deserving blogs out there..

I was so,so proud to show Anth when he came home from work on Monday and I just can't wait to show the rest of the family. The funny thing is I don't tell many people about my blog, I haven't worked out why yet. But one thing is for sure, I feel both humble and honoured to have been chosen for such a beautiful publication..though you will catch me umpteen times a day sneaking a look and shaking my head in disbelief!

Thank you for all your recent comments, I have taken painting breaks regularly and have enjoyed reading them whilst I prepared myself for another spell up the ladder. The bedroom walls are finished (yay) so soon we might be able to walk unhindered to the bathroom without climbing over furniture. I'm grateful for small mercies.

Meeting God

The morning after our return to Salisbury (where my mother and Robin had been looking after the girls), I found myself sitting sleepily in Salisbury Cathedral with the rest of the family. It was whilst sitting there in the morning service that I was touched in a peculiar way. I was overwhelmed. The sound of the wonderful choir singing like angels, would rise up and echo around the truly majestic building built for God's glory.

And that is what had a profound effect on me - the fact that everywhere I looked something had been created so beautifully, so intricately to worship God.

Then the poetry from the psalms, sung so exquisitely, reached into my heart and the tears started to flow. I just don't know what came over me and I felt quite stupid as Lucy kindly told me that people were looking!

And as I left, my feet treading on the steps worn down by centuries of pilgrims I turned to look up and caught sight of him..

..maybe he knew and understood what had touched me that morning but all I know was that I caught a small glimpse of heaven.