LOST IN WONDER!!

Merry Boxing day everyone,I've just been catching up on all your blogs with pictures of your homes dressed for Christmas.I'm sure you'll all agree that Shingle Cottage is the most magical,it bought a tear to my eye it was just so gorgeous .     I decorated a bare branch that I got from a farmer next to my sisters cottage when we went for pre Christmas tea on Sunday 22nd.I was thrilled with the way it looked, as you will know that I do try so hard to be artistic!!I also made made own crackers AND they worked(hooray!!)I wrapped most of my presents in brown paper and pretty ribbons with candy canes and cinnamon sticks.My Christmas cake was made,very successfully, using Mary Berrys recipe.So I had quite a crafty Christmas,oh and I made tartan hearts for the girls at work.I am thrilled to be part of the blogging world and sooo proud when anyone takes the time to read my ramblings!!This year I have soooo enjoyed learning to craft and hopefully I WILL get better, As Time Goes By(LOVE that series by the way!!)Did you see Alex Pollizi I loved the things she did to her elegant home.And of course the lovely Kirstie,I have now got a whole page of her programmes recorded on my sky keep page!!One of the presents I got for Christmas is Pearl Lowes book,Vintage Craft,I can't wait to delve into it.Hope you all had a happy and peaceful Christmas...................

TUMBLEDOWN COTTAGE!!

Tried to make a gingerbread cottage with a kit that my eldest daughter got me.I was impatient and rushed it so this is the sad result!! At least I know where I went wrong and I will have another go.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Good Morning just a very quick post before work. I put up my decorations and was quite pleased with them,then hubby took me to Chatsworth house for the Narnia experience and it was quite magical I won't post any pictures as I don't wish to spoil the magic,but the trees there were magnificent AND there was a tree with china teacups hanging on it!!now there's an idea that I want to steal!!!!Here's my tree..............

I,M BACK!!!

Good Evening,with the help of my darling Holly I have found my old blog,hurrah.On Sunday my antiques centre where I have LA BOHEME had a Christmas craft fayre,it was lovely the sun shone and all the stalls looked beautiful.I had seen a birdcage in one of the spaces indoors a few days before and thought when payday arrives I will have it.When I looked it had gone I was very sad.I went to browse the stalls outside and couldn't see it,BUT  I heard a lady say "put the birdcage on a table dear" yes it had been on the floor and I'd missed it,overjoyed I hastily paid for it.I am going to decorate it for Christmas.Here it is undressed.............

OLD BAG!

Good Evening,it's been my day off today and this afternoon I thought I try and make a cloth bag using some vintage material.This creation is my third attempt!!! There is still much to learn and perfect but on the whole I was rather pleased with the result.I especially like the buttons as I think they are a good match for the flower.............

Summer jug for Autumn

Hi there,it was quite cold in sunny Chesterfield today,I wore my new winter coat,plain black from M&S.I had a wander round the flea market and got a GORGEOUS crinoline lady tall jug.It has a very pretty summer garden scene on it so I've put it on my sitting rom windowsill to remind me of the lovely summer we've just had.I have a teaset in this design and I do love it very much.I'm on the lookout for a teapot to  match but no success yet.Although I did get one from ebay but when I received it ,it was smashed as hadn't been properly packed!!I've spent up for this month so will be fed up now till payday!!!I am busy practising knitting,bookmarks!,and have just learnt,via youtube,how to cast off and it was thrilling to me to do that!!My bookmarks do look like they've been knitted by a six year old though!!!

Merry CHRISTmas!

Tell me whose birthday do we celebrate on 25th December?Yes CHRIST,so WHY do people have to put Xmas?? This sounds very shallow but I visited Cath Kidston store in Meadowhall tonight and rushed to the Christmas display,but was very sad to see all the items printed Merry Xmas!I  wonder if Cath is trying to please all her non religious customers at home and abroad?What do you think my dears? Last year her things were printed  with very traditional Merry Christmas.Are we  on the slippery slope towards a Godless society after all our judicial system is based on Christianity.SOOOO! sorry to have gone all gloomy but I felt very strongly about it!

BEAUTIFUL DAY!

Hasn't it been a BEAUTIFUL day?My day off work today so middle daughter Alice took me over to Mansfield to a lovely new tearoom above a little gift

shop called BEAUTIFUL! Lots of lovely things for sale and a smashing tearoom with delicious cake! I bought Alice a purse that she liked and I got doilies and teacup crackers and a funny purse saying "MAY CONTAIN MOTHS". Also earlier this morning I had a stroll around the flea market and got some vintage teatowels,3 embroidery hoops, a brown Betty teapot (for a £1!!) a little jug saying going to market!and  a little needle case.I've had a super day!! Enjoy your evening.

B A D!!

HI TO ALL FELLOWS OF THE B A D! CHECK OUT MY PHOTO OF THE CHATTERBOX OF DOILEYS!!........

OH I DO LIKE TO BE BESIDE THE SEASIDE!

hI,I've had the week off work and today we went to Bridlington.We had gentle rain to begin then sunshine for the last hour!Dicovered a lovely little shop selling upcycled things.I bought a little flowery hanging thingy and some lovely flowery fabric.Also got a fab teaset and fruit set for £10 the lot!!We had scrummy fish and chips at Audreys the girls had ice creams and I had Kendal mint cake!I won a little clown keyring on the grabbing machine and the girls won little plastic ducks on the 2p pushers!We strolled back along the beach in the sunshine with a fresh sea breeze,lovely!!............Picture of a gorgeous cottage with BEAUTIFUL Sunflowers that I saw on the way to the seaside,also the things I bought today.My new Singer Talent (not found any talent yet searched and searched the box it came in!!!!)And my new Cath scales from Meadowhall,I just HAD to have them!!! Will have to make a cake to try them,maybe my Christmas cake!! I've had a lovely week so far.Did some more Annie Sloan painting  this morning I'm hooked on it!!!Will have to get another colour on payday,quite fancy blue.Thankyou for your comments they're gratefully received!!Are you ready for Downton on Sunday?? Also did you see The Fashonistas the other evening weren't those women AMAZING!! I wish they had blogs! Sorry to have nattered on hope you've not nodded off from boredom!TTFN.

HELLO DOLLY!

Good Morning,yesterday my new settee arrived it's from the Doll range at DFS.It's a GORGEOUS shabby vintage Cathesque style I LOVE it!!Hubby said I could have a new settee if I paid for it myself so I did!!In the picture you can see a little footstool that I covered a few years ago,but I intend to cover it in a similar fabric that I've spotted on my local market!I have next week off work so I intend to get crafty,I have sooo many things that I want to do.Also I couldn't wait to save up for my new sewing machine( so close your ears all you thrifty savers)I ordered one from the faithful old Littlewoods catalogue,it's being delivered on Monday morning!!I can't wait to start sewing!!We have a craft event at work so I will be making things for that,I'm really hoping that I will become a better sewer with the correct tools!!Also I can try and make a few things to sell at LA BOHEME!Wish me luck and I'll keep you posted on my sewing projects.Any handy tips gratefully received!Here's a picture for you to drool over!........

THE FINISHED ARTICLE

p.s here's the little chest of drawers all finished,quite pleased as it's my first attempt!HOPE YOU'VE ALL HAD A GOOD DAY.

FIRST TIME WITH ANNIE SLOAN!

HI.today I've had a BRILLIANT day.We went over to Bakewell and had a lovely stroll,I discovered a new vintage shop,but didn't buy as nothing took my fancy!We had lunch at the Lavender Tearoom,lovely food served on vintage china!Then I purchased some ANNIE SLOAN Antoinette paint and a brush and wax.When I got home I tried it out on a little Ikea chest of drawers that I've had for ages.It was sooo lovely to use and the brush was super!!I intend to decoupage the chest just to give it a pretty finish.I am really hooked on the paint and hope to get some more!!Maybe Santa will bring me some too!!Here's a little peek before the final finish........

RAINY DAY ACTIVITIES!

Good Evening,It's been my day off work today so I popped down to LA BOHEME with new stock and it was very busy!I purchased a lovely crinoline lady tablecloth............Then this afternoon whilst hubby was at the gym I watched my favourite rainy afternoon film BRIEF ENCOUNTER,so beautifully quaint and very English and proper!I LOVE that film!!!!

COCK A HOOP!!

Good evening,just been pottering about making hangings for my kitchen wall with embroidery hoops and tray cloths,I am very pleased with them.They hide a crack in the wall that hubby filled in,but not too well!(said in a whisper!!)I think I'll go hoop hunting on the Thursday flea market and make some more,maybe I'll even sell a few in LA BOHEME!Also including a photo of the Mary Berry sponge I made to take to tea with my sister in her cottage(We had a lovely day,very sunny)

HATS FOR SMOOTHIES!

Good Evening,hooray it's Saturday no work tomorrow!!Tonight I've just finished knitting 10 little bobble hats.They are put onto smoothies and sold in Sainsburys and Boots and 25p from each sale goes to AGE UK Charity!I enclose a photo for you all...........P.S on my day off I tidied up my clutter room and now I have a little crafting space,I am going to buy a new sewing machine next payday,I do have a vintage singer but fancy a super quick one with fancy bits on so I can try and become better at my sewing!!!OR, I could have a brain transplant from someone who is talented!!!Watch out Mrs Custard!!!!Wishing you all a super weekend whatever you are all doing \ creating.

NEWARK!!!!

Hi everyone,I went to Newark Antiques Fair today,it was FAB!!! The weather was brilliant and there was soooo much to see!!Here's a photo of my haul,my favourites are the painted cake stand and the coffee jar,can you guess I adore roses on things?The prices were VERY reasonable I could have got a lot more had we a bigger car!!

BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL!

Good Evening!I am still awake at midnight and I haven't had a nap!!I've been moving furniture around,I now have a welsh dresser in my sitting room,but it doesn't look right,should I paint it pale blue,which is my favourite at the moment or a cream colour? Maybe it's the things that I have on it that do not gel!What do you think?

BUTTON TIN!

Good Evening,my lovely youngest daughter Holly has just got in form work with a "just because" present for me a GORGEOUS heart shaped button tin!!Here's a picture for you...........

QUIET CONTEMPLATION!

Good Evening I was just browsing some of my photo's and came across this one taken at Allestree park in Derby.I went there last year with hubby, mum and youngest daughter it was a VERY hot day,hence the hat!

Flowers and sunny days!

Good Evening,what a lovely day I've had today.Watching Butterflies in the garden then out to LA BOHEME to drop off more stock.The afternoon was spent antiquing in Matlock,a pot of tea and cake at The Cosy Cuppa within Bow Boutique and more antiquing on the way home.The best thing I bought was a lovely rose jug from a little vintage and antique shop called Riverside in Matlock they have such pretty things there!! I also made a pretty arrangement in my favourite( non useable for tea!)teapot.......

Can't find my camera!!

Hi I cannot find my camera so all my holiday photos and all pictures for my blog are lost to me until I find it!Please don't say" where did you see it last!!"Anyway hasn't the weather been just gorgeous?I was relaxing in the conservatory last night when in flew a beautiful peacock butterfly!it rested on a chair opposite me and then flew back out it was a thrilling moment as I adore butterflies,we have 3 Buddlieas in our garden and I counted 9 peacock and red admirals all on one bush sooo beautiful!! This is a butterfly in my garden from last year as I can't post any of this year till I find my camera!!

NEW BESTEST CLOTH AND A PEEP INTO MY CUPBOARD!

GOOD EVENING,Sooooo!! glad it's Saturday night at last,a bit fed up of work at the moment and looking forward to pottering at LA BOHEME tomorrow(where my soul lives!)Bought a new tablecloth from the flea market a couple of weeks ago and it's my new favourite,isn't it sooo pretty?Also my new to me cupboard filled with lots of things that I love.Wishing you all a super weekend.I'm off on our yearly trip to the Canary Islands on Thursday, so I'll be a couple of weeks without my blog fix!!But I'm certainly looking forward to sunshine and a nice rest!!I'll miss you all.P.S I found these poppies in a corner of my garden,my little Gnome is muttering "Blogging pah! you can't beat a good book!"

NO MARKET TODAY!

Good Morning,it's a cloudy day here and I've run out of cash so no market for me today(sob!sob!)I really must try and manage my finances better(I've been saying that for YEARS!!)Anyway went to a lovely wedding fair yesterday with Laura and ADORN and saw the most gorgeous cart they were displaying popcorn on it but my idea was to get one for LA BOHEME to display my things on it would be a most unusual thing to have don't you think so now I won't rest until I have one!!here's a picture so you can see what I'm on about............

TABLE AND CHAIRS GET CATHED!

Good Morning from SUNNY Chesterfield,wasn't it a glorious day on Sunday.I got an old table and covered it with the gorgeous Cath Kidston oilcloth,it's a dream to work with.The only thing that let me down was buying a glue gun, a la Kirstie, it dried almost as soon as I put it on the table and I must have done it wrong because it dried in the ridge way I put it on so now I can feel the ridges under the oilcloth,so I really wish I'd bought spreadable glue for a smooth finish,oh well you live and learn,serves me right for trying to be Kirstie!!!Any way a picture for you to see my efforts...........P.S the chair seats turned out fairly well.P.P.S I collected my monies from LA BOHEME and I made a tiny profit!!! Yippee!

SUNSHINE AND JEWELLERY!

Good evening girls,hasn't it been a GLORIOUS day?I spent some time titivating at LA BOHEME more things sold,hooray!!Then hubby and I popped up to town and I bought a gorgeous pair of earrings and a darling little brooch from my daughters shop,ADORN,she's on line so check it out,adorn jewellers chesterfield.Here's a picture for you.............

LOVING LA BOHEME!

Hi everyone hope you,ve had a good weekend,I have, my daughter is safely out of hospital and recovering at home(Hooray!!)I have sold my pine table and chairs from LA BOHEME which was a good sale and today I was just adding more things and people were buying straight away!I know I'm supposed to be selling but there were 2 little chairs sat outside in the rain so of course I had to buy them didn,t I?I intend to paint them in my favourite blue and then recover the seats with Cath oilcloth,so a visit to Cath in Meadowhall coming up on payday,can,t wait!Luckily it will be my weekend off work and the bank holiday too so I will have time to do it,fingers crossed it all goes to plan!