blossom

blue skies x

2012-01-26T09:27:00.004Z

today the skies are blue, although clouds are beginning to appear. procrastination seems to be the order of the day, well to be honest it seems to be the order of the week....how many lovely distractions i can find, pinning, blogging, reading lovely blogs, tweeting...oh, & spending many hours spending oodles of virtual cash on etsy...

{lily moon via etsy}

aren't they lovely, so whimsical...

for now

down to business x

2012-01-25T13:10:00.005Z

i am thinking of setting up my own business at the moment....a very scary proposition, but at times no scarier than the thought of going back to work for other people. do you think everyone reaches a point where they can no longer think of being an employee or do you think this is peculiar to people who work in creative environments....sometimes you want to dictate the pace & direction of your creativity, not feel as if you're strolling along in someone else's footprints?

anyway...thoughts of a new business led to a few delicious hours spent wandering around several websites in search of inspiration for lovely business cards, something that will make me stand out from the crowd, something that people want to keep. cardonizer had an amazing selection of business cards, some were so creative, although a little out of my league at the moment as first ones will be handmade. oh, hell o friend, a blog which is always so inspiring, had some lovely examples, & gave me plenty of ideas. here are some of my favourites...

{top: ginger&george; next: oh,hello friend; next: loulou dreaming via oh,hello friend; next: here's looking at me kid via oh,hello friend; next: cardonizer; & last: puglypixel via oh,hello friend}

for now

chinese new year x

2012-01-23T14:06:00.003Z

{top: romantic chinatown via etsy; next: kung hei fai choi via flickr; & last: getty images}

i have always wanted to be in china to celebrate chinese new year. it seems such an occasion of celebration & the sense of tradition it brings doesn't seem to have dimmed over the years...

whether you are celebrating or not, lets share the sentiment of wishing peace & happiness to everyone...

for now

hugs x

2012-01-21T19:15:00.003Z

{hugging}

today is national hug day

give someone you love a hug today

for now

walking x

2012-01-19T06:26:00.003Z

{via pinterest}

at the moment i am walking to most of the places i need to go; a new spirit of frugality, originally imposed by circumstances, now something i am meeting head on as a personal challenge. i'm lucky that the days, for the most part, have been cold, but a blue sky, sunny, kind of cold, perfect for wrapping up in gloves & scarves, slipping on the uggs & marching out, my ipod on shuffle, these walks somehow have the ability to give me time to think, but also to take my mind off things if i wish.....

.....yesterday i think i may have overdone it, as a half hour walk to a dental appointment turned into a 6mile round walk.....that's an awful lot of thinking, or forgetting....the sense of achievement is great, but, i think i may have broken myself....

for now

cross-stitch x

2012-01-17T18:41:00.003Z

a slightly strange day today...one where i found it difficult to settle to anything...perhaps i need something to take my mind off things, something that demands concentration & engrosses you to the point you forget other things....

.....i love the idea of these oversized cross stitch designs....ordinary cross stitch can take so long to complete, but these spark ideas of things that could be completed in a day...

{top: eline pelinkhof via bloesem; next & next: lulu guinness; last: via babyology}

i think i can put this on the 'to do' list for tomorrow

for now

vintage whimsey x

2012-01-16T07:05:00.004Z

spent a lovely couple of hours yesterday browsing through etsy, spoilt for choice as to what i should include in a little treasury....having worked out that the total cost of my 'whimsey' would be, oh a little over £500, unfortunately they will just have to continue to be just that, but a girl can wish....

{top: alice through the looking glass & resin daisies; next: once upon a time;}

{next: welcoming & flamingo love; last: alexis blouse}

"in a Wonderland they lie, Dreaming as the days go by,

Dreaming as the summers die:

Ever drifting down the stream - Lingering in the golden gleam - Life, what is it but a dream?"

{lewis carroll, through the looking glass}

i hope you can take a few minutes to take a look at my treasury & would love to hear your thoughts either here or there

for now

paper loveliness x

2012-01-14T15:21:00.004Z

i spent a lovely day in nottingham yesterday, catching up with old friends, drinking copious amounts of tea & coffee & taking in the wonderful artists & craftspeople around the area..... from the chatty, homely, round the table environment of the textile workshop in sherwood, to the gorgeous interiors shop nash {i could happily have bought half the shop had i the money....}, and finally the lovely studio shop of debbie bryan in the lace market area of the town. alongside her own buttons, brooches & knitted loveliness, is work from many other artists, including these beautiful paper creations from jennifer collier.....

it was a very inspiring day

today the bread has been baked, the house tidied, & i'm just debating what to do with some plums that have just been stewed; pie, crumble or smother with a lovely sponge.....choices, choices......

for now

both sides x

2012-01-12T17:00:00.003Z

listening to joni mitchel

feeling melancholic

{top: in love with wonderland; next: we♥it; & last: piccsy}

{joni mitchel}

meeting old friends tomorrow

I think it's possible cake my make an appearance during the day

for now

bake me a cake x

2012-01-10T21:17:00.004Z

have just finished watching the great sport relief bake off, a celeb spin off of the great british bake off, which i managed to miss the first time around, and now want to start baking meringues & scones. as it's a little late here to start baking i'm resisting the urge by looking through recipes to tackle...after a lot of baking lots of simpler things over the last couple of weeks, i'm planning to give myself a challenge & inspired by the trailer for next weeks show, want to try this amazing multi layer chocolate cake....

{via sweetapolita}

how yummy does this look?

6 layers of rich chocolate malted & toasted marshmallow cake

this is my challenge for the weekend

for now

good morning x

2012-01-09T07:37:00.003Z

breakfast is one of my favourite meals of the day, think of the choice it affords you; sweet or savoury, fresh yogurts & fruit in the summer, comforting cooked breakfasts in the winter, eggs in so many different guises....what's not to like?

{via simply breakfast}

i love the quiet of early mornings, the chance to potter around the house & being able to take time over a lovely breakfast, catching up on the latest pinnings & the latest posts from favourite blogs. for the past few years my mornings have been a race to leave the house as early as possible to miss the morning traffic & to spend those first few quiet hours in work catching up on emails. for the past few weeks i've not been working, the longest i've not worked for over fifteen years, & although the circumstances of not being in a job are hard, the silver lining has been the chance to rediscover the luxury of time spent at home in the morning.....

for now

gardening x

2012-01-07T18:02:00.003Z

i'm still thinking about & making plans for the garden, although i've yet to set foot out there this year....although the weather has been bright & sunny today, it's still cold & I'm yet to muster the courage to get out there & start digging...

so far thoughts have been a small herb garden, tomatoes & lettuces are a must, new & old potatoes, onions & peppers, and then some fruit bushes, raspberries & blackcurrants, and my favourite rhubarb...

{top: box of basil; next: we♥it; & last: via whatkatieate}

a busy day tomorrow, lots to do

for now

eve arnold x

2012-01-05T19:30:00.003Z

{malcolmX}

{marilyn}

if a photographer cares about the people before the lens and is compassionate, much is given.

it is the photographer, not the camera, that is the instrument

eve arnold

1912-2012

for now

thoughts of spring x

2012-01-04T06:30:00.003Z

it's so cold & here in the uk the weather is wet & so very windy & it's hard to believe that spring will ever be arrive, so while we're waiting lets indulge in some lovely whimsical images...

{tim walker via we♥it}

starting to think about the garden & trying to decide what fruit & vegetables to plant & {try to} grow...any suggestions?

for now

resolutions x

2012-01-03T16:36:00.003Z

a quick post today....thinking of resolutions for the new year & without wanting to come across as a recovering addict, for me this seems apt....

{via pinterest}

for now

lily&Bloom x

2012-01-02T14:51:00.003Z

i have a new blog, a blog which i'm using to share my 'professional' life so to speak. my day job is being a childrenswear designer, & so much of my time is spent finding lovely images of little ones, thinking of new stories, finding gorgeous new childrenswear ranges, & it seemed silly not to share that with everyone.....so please say a big hello to lily&Bloom....who knows, maybe in the not so distant future this will be more than a blog....

{lily&Bloom}

for now

happy new year x

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000Z

new year's eve x

2011-12-31T11:49:00.005Z

"hope

smiles from the threshold of the year to come,

whispering 'it will be happier'..."

{alfred lord tennyson}

{top: pinterest via dropstitch; next: via piccsy; & last: pinterest via la douleur exquise}

for now

it's early....x

2011-12-30T06:55:00.004Z

....& very cold....fruit bread is baking {& yes, i'm cheating a little today with the breadmaker....}, & plans for the day are simple; a walk to our local market, sharing the chocolate cake i made yesterday with family {to ensure i don't eat the whole lot myself...}, the final coat of paint, & still in pursuit of that perfect charcoal flooring

oh, and maybe a little bit of knitting.....

{top: via sundayinbed; next: via cherry blossom world; & last: there's nothing like a cold day via flickr}

{the knitting song by sophie madeleine}

for now

in memoriam x

2011-12-29T07:06:00.004Z

yesterday i walked through our local cemetery, a walk i'd taken many times before as a child, as we passed it on the way to the cinema.....i was fascinated by the care that people had taken when visiting the graves, flowers, xmas gifts, a glass of brandy on one grave, a bottle of beer on another...

images of highgate cemetery, london

{top: child's grave; next: highgate cemetery east; last: sleeping angel}

i hold it true, whate'er befall;

i feel it when i sorrow most;

'tis better to have loved and lost

than never to have loved at all

{alfred, lord tennyson}

for now

shades of grey x

2011-12-28T07:57:00.002Z

with a pop of pink

{top: pinterest via paper treasure; next: pinterest via moa; next: pinterest via vintage; & last: via pinterest}

today;

painting, searching for the perfect charcoal grey flooring, walking off all that extra xmas food

for now

quiet reflection x

2011-12-27T15:02:00.003Z

today has been quiet, a little bit of tidying, a little bit of cooking, a little bit of reading....a little bit of lots of things, not a lot of anything...

{all from we heart it}

are we all now holding our breath for the new year?

for now

over for another year x

2011-12-26T08:40:00.003Z

{pinterest via style-files}

christmas gifts opened, turkey & christmas pudding eaten

christmas day over for another year

now for the lull that settles in between christmas & new year

a time for reflection maybe

thinking of what's been achieved over the past year

the hopes & wishes for the year to come

for now

merry christmas x

2011-12-25T09:23:00.003Z

{pinterest via greylikesweddings}

merry christmas

i hope everyone has a very wonderful day

for now

christmas eve x

2011-12-24T12:46:00.002Z

{via ica carlsson}

happy christmas eve

hope all your presents are wrapped & you're ready for christmas

for now

let it snow x

2011-12-23T12:27:00.005Z

{via ica carlsson}

this time last year we were knee deep in snow, annoying for those who still had christmas shopping to finish, but giving a wonderful christmassy feeling for those of us who had nothing more to do than sit indoors & wait for christmas to arrive. this year we have rain, lots & lots of rain....not particularly christmassy if you look out of the window, but with cinnamon rolls baking in the oven, presents wrapped & ready under the tree, tealights ready to be lit as soon as the sun goes down, christmas eve eve has arrived.....lets just not look out the window....

for now

blush & bashful x

2011-12-22T07:41:00.004Z

i love the line from steel magnolia's where shelby declares her wedding colours to be blush & bashful...so much more poetic than simply describing them as pink...

{top: kari herer; next: gaultier via dazed digital; next: via dress design decor; next: tim walker via making records; next: dylan thomas via madebygirl; & last: audrey in breakfast at tiffany's}

for now

solitude x

2011-12-21T17:11:00.003Z

{via pinterest}

winter solitude -

in a world of one colour

the sound of wind

{matsuo bash0}

today; walking, wondering, thinking, searching, waiting

for now

movie time....x

2011-12-20T08:36:00.003Z

today i need to tackle things i'd rather not, uninteresting but necessary things, so i figure i need something to look forward to? i'm thinking a day indulgently spent watching favourite christmas films.....

{it's a wonderful life 1946}

{miracle on 34th street 1947}

i so love both of these

& then there are 'new' classics....i think only the hardest heart would admit to not liking 'love actually', especially this clip, but i love 'the holiday', mainly as i completely covet iris's cottage & love the wonderful play tent.....

{the holiday 2006}

for now

a vintage christmas....x

2011-12-19T07:58:00.005Z

after days of promising to decorate the house for xmas the baubles were finally unwrapped on saturday....i always love unwrapping them from the layers of tissue paper & bubble wrap & always forget how many beautiful ornaments i have, each one holding a different memory; baubles bought in anthropologie on trips to new york, baubles received as gifts from friends & i always forget that i have so many.....

my mum & dad still have all the baubles from when we were children & {somewhere in the house} i still have a suitcase of baubles that adorned my grandparents tree each year. i love the look of my baubles, burnished gold, glass & opalescent, but next year maybe i'll have a nostalgic vintage xmas...

{top: vintage christmas colours via lovely clusters; next: vintage via allthebeautifulthings; last: a 1950's xmas via pinterest}

for now

strictly ballroom....x

2011-12-17T20:01:00.003Z

after many days of promising myself that i'd make time to unwrap all my xmas baubles, today i finally took time to put on some xmas songs & with an ever growing pile of tissue paper & bubble wrap, xmas finally took over in my house. whilst i'm writing this i can catch the xmas lights twinkling on the tree & the 'strictly come dancing' final is on the tv adding to the sparkle & sequins....

{top: via pinterest; next: via cori kindred; next: faded memories via flickr; last: fairytale for grownups via flickr}

hope your saturday has been just as sparkly

for now

vintage tea party....x

2011-12-16T05:01:00.006Z

my lovely friends at work were planning a surprise tea party for my birthday....unfortunately unexpected events meant the tea party didn't end up going ahead, but i did receive some beautiful vintage tea china that is just perfect for my next tea party......

{top: vintage tea party mugs from bombay duck; next: dirty love via we heart it & the vintage tea party book; next: alice, clocks & clocks via we heart it; last: the vintage tea party book}

i also received a beautiful book 'the vintage tea party book' by angel adoree {no idea if that is her real name, but isn't it cute....} which is a lovely book full of recipes & perfect hosting ideas....read more about her here, & take a look at the vintage patisserie her vintage tea party business....

for now

vintage neon....x

2011-12-15T07:29:00.005Z

it was my birthday recently & one of my favourite presents was a beautiful cushion from rockett st george, which i have coveted for a long while. i love the blurb used to describe this cushion..

"i think there is a new disease called 'cushionitus' {the need to continually buy cushions - which i have} - but these are just the more beautiful cushions i have ever seen"

{top: girl in a pretty dress cushion; next: via teeseme; next: yuval hen via pinterest & last: pinterest via abundance}

there's something so classy & lovely about black & white with hints of neon bright. today i'll mostly be finding the perfect home for my new cushion.

for now

words....x

2011-12-13T16:48:00.003Z

i love pinterest, along with so many others....i love the way that after a few weeks of pinning you wonder what you did before it came along.

one of my favourite boards is my board of words....some are wise, some are sad, some poignant, some profound, & some are just very very funny....

{pinned from zsazsabellagio}

{pinned from 28media}

i love the last one & i've had it pinned above my desk for a while now.....it always makes me smile no matter how bad a day i'm having

for now

cosy....x

2011-12-12T15:21:00.004Z

brrrrrrr.....it's so cold at the moment, well probably no colder than usual but i seem to be feeling the cold so much more at the moment & just want to wrap myself in cosy cardi's and oversized chunky socks, and then huddle on the sofa under snuggly knitted blankets indulging in hot chocolate....

{top & middle images via toast, bottom image via gourmet traveller}

....actually i'd quite like to live in the toast catalogue....

{baby it's cold outside}

for now

frosty morning....x

2011-12-10T06:51:00.003Z

good morning, up bright & early again....well not so bright, still dark out, tealights glowing on the windowsill, but having taken a quick peek outside i can see it's frosty, so hoping for a cold, clear, blue sky kind of day, the kind of day that's perfect for woodland walks....

{frosty morning by angelandspot via flickr}

....or the kind of day that is perfect for curling up on the sofa, cup of hot chocolate & an old Hollywood classic....

{breakfast at tiffany's}

for now

daily bread....x

2011-12-09T04:50:00.004Z

it's early, very early, & i'm sitting waiting patiently for the heating to come on so that i can start making bread. there's more than one reason why i'm on a bread making mission at the moment, but i'm loving finding out different variations & this morning have decided to add a sweet twist. i'm torn between a lovely fruity raisin bread, or these wonderfully gooey cinnamon buns.....

{sweetapolita}

don't they look good? i mentioned my new obsession with food blogs & sweetapolita is one of those....lots of very very pretty cakes, photographed beautifully, i'm sure i'll be posting more of rosie's lovely recipes in the future....

...a few more minutes left before the heating comes on & the house is warm enough to start encouraging dough to rise

for now

xmas is coming....x

2011-12-08T06:09:00.003Z

i had lots of good intentions of starting to unpack baubles yesterday, but after a day of baking bread & tidying, didn't quite get round to adding a bit of sparkle around the house.

i'm torn this year between getting a real tree or doing something a bit different? i love the simple wooden plank tree below, simply strewn with lights....i wonder if i could persuade my dad to knock one of these together for me?

{all images from pinterest}

whatever the decision on the tree, i'm sure that the baubles will make an appearance today, & i have xmas cards to make, wrapping to do & handmade presents to make a decision on...all in all a wonderfully christmassy day....it must be time for xmas songs?

{fairytale of newYork}

hello.....x

2011-12-07T12:59:00.003Z

hello....after a long time away i've found myself with the time to come back to 'blossom'. i've missed sharing lovely finds with everyone but i have so many things now to show you; lots of lovely new blogs, including a new obsession with some really beautiful foodie blogs, shops that will entice you to spend a small fortune, & just some lovely images...

promise to be back soon x

fryd+design x

2010-10-13T20:43:00.004+01:00

beautiful on line magazine....can't quite remember if i talked about the first issue of fryd, but here we now are at the second......a real delight to virtually *flick* through....

{all images 2 by fryd}

the cold is still lingering

but on the plus side it's affording me plenty of sofa & *pinterest* time

every cloud.......

a is for autumn x

2010-10-11T20:18:00.005+01:00

noun

the season after summer and before winter, in the northern hemisphere from september to november:

the countryside is ablaze with colour in autumn

{clockwise from top right: a is for....; simple wishes; hair corsage; acorns; the lili dress}

{all from etsy}

well the country may be ablaze with colour, but i am full of cold, after many weeks of staving off the bugs invading family & friends, crossed fingers that it goes as quickly as it came

imagine x

2010-10-09T19:01:00.004+01:00

today would have been john lennon's 70th birthday. too young for him to have had the impact that he had on others growing up with the music of the beatles, but you can't fail to be aware of the talent he had and the memory of him that never seems to fade.

there is a twitter campaign happening today, the target to tweet a million wishes for his birthday, and in a short while the *imagine peace tower* will be lit.....

top: imagine peace tower in reykjavik

bottom: image from *theguardian*

thursday night dinners x

2010-10-05T21:34:00.004+01:00

even though it's only just turned october, have been thinking about christmas already, and this year i really want to make handmade presents & cards....i have this thought every year, and every year it gets to mid december, i go into freefall panic & still end up rushing around shops buying gifts, so maybe this {very} early thinking will finally give me a fighting chance of succeeding this year. have been talking to friends about get togethers for *crafty* days, which would be a lovely way of spending time & making lovely things at the same time.

a friend pointed me in the direction of *thursdays*, a website run by a group of friends who meet each thursday for dinner, crafting & girl time.....*thursdays* is where they share their recipes and crafts, and i love how they theme the dinners; from *lazy thursdays* to *elastic waistband thursdays*, and *cozy winters * and *post breakup thursdays*.......

{all images from thursdays}

shades of grey x

2010-10-04T21:55:00.003+01:00

thinking of a new autumn wardrobe & love the shades of grey & damson at *plumo*......

{all images plumo}

love the shoes & that gorgeous dip dye dress

perfect with a pair of woolly tights & an oversized cardi

almost makes you look forward to the colder days

knit 1 purl 1 x

2010-10-03T20:11:00.004+01:00

have recently discovered knitting again, and now the nights are drawing in there's something cosy about sitting in the evening knitting away....especially with the chunky needles & yarn bought in portland last month.....i love the fact you can knit away & nearly finish a scarf or hat in a couple of evenings {great for those of us who don't have much in the way of patience!}

*rowan* has some lovely yarns, and have found some lovely {free} patterns on their website; i have my eye on some knitted cushion covers, a really cosy throw & that amazing rug with knitted flowers....gorgeous!

{all images from rowan}

have had a really lovely weekend, the house is tidy, which always makes me feel more content, and now sitting with glass of red wine, looking forward to an interesting week at work

for now

places in portland {oblations} x

2010-10-01T20:02:00.004+01:00

we stumbled upon *oblation papers&press* on our first day in portland, a wonderful stationery shop with a letterpress print shop on site. they had a wonderful selection of cards, a cute pair of birds to chat to and really friendly staff

it goes without saying that a small fortune was spent that day on cards, journals, and gorgeous embroidered wrapping paper......

{all images from oblation papers&press blog}

it has been the rainiest of days today

but

secretly wishing it rains all weekend & i can spend time curled up on the sofa watching old movies

places in portland {ace hotel} x

2010-09-25T12:30:00.003+01:00

a lovely sunny saturday today, which will hopefully last the rest of september....this time last week i was enjoying breakfast in the diner just next door to the *ace hotel*, where we stayed. the ace is such a cool hotel, with an old fashioned vintage atmosphere, and doors which actually lock with a key, such a complete novelty in this age of key cards that i managed to leave my room completely unlocked for the first day!

on the mezzanine floor of the ace is a small seating area with a beautiful cabinet full of drawers, & when curiosity got the better of us and we took a peek found them full of notes & letters from people that have visited the hotel; funny, sad, poignant, hopeful, silly, rude but completely fascinating......

{all photos from little winter market blog}

wishing you a lovely weekend whatever you choose to do

places in portland {flutter} x

2010-09-24T16:55:00.003+01:00

a busy week since getting back from portland, but so glad we made the {long} trip & met so many lovely people....one of my favourite shops was *flutter*, a gothic treasure trove of new & vintage finds, one of those lovely shops that feels like you're searching through someone's attic, with books, jewellery, vintage gowns, feather birds {2 lovely birds made it into the shopping basket}, wonderful party masks and so much more....

{all images from flutter}

take a peek at the wonderful shop if you get chance

looking forward to the weekend and catching up on some much needed sleep.....do i always sound slightly sleep deprived on this blog?

for now

vintage portland x

2010-09-17T15:49:00.003+01:00

arrived in portland last night, and despite it being very dark, very late & very rainy. was very excited to be here. very lucky & staying at the *ace hotel*, which is, well, just ace!

first day of shopping today (we only have two & a little bit, so think we're going to be very busy!), but really hoping to pick up some gorgeous vintage finds.....a little bit like these below from *littlebyrdvintage* an etsy seller from portland....

{all from littlebyrdvintage}

have a wonderful friday

autumn x

2010-09-12T18:48:00.003+01:00

i don't think i'm alone in posting about the lovely new autumn fashions, but i think one of my favourite looks are from *freepeople*.......

{free people}

busy day spent baking, now just taking a quiet moment before thinking about everything that needs to be done this week

i think it's going to be a busy week but i have a trip to look forward to at the end of the week....i'm lucky enough to be going on a trip to portland with my job. any suggestions of places to visit, to shop, to eat would be very much appreciated

carey mulligan x

2010-09-10T22:05:00.002+01:00

beautiful shoot

carey mulligan for vogue

{via fashionising}

hurrah

it's friday

busy {but fun} weekend ahead

x

2010-09-09T20:42:00.003+01:00

{both images from weheartit}

my vintage party x

2010-09-06T17:28:00.005+01:00

i have found the most wonderful company, not too far from me, that hire out vintage crockery & accessories for teaparties & weddings. am slightly envious & can't believe that i've not thought of that as a business before.....what a wonderful job to have a genuine reason {not that not having a genuine reason has stopped me} for searching out & buying lots of vintage tea sets....

*my vintage party* also has the sweetest vintage caravan available for hire.....her name is lola & she's lucky enough to be furnished in cath kidston.....enjoy..x

{all images from my vintage party}

had a lovely day at home today

bathroom all installed & now just waiting for paint & all the fripperies

photos soon

a spot of tea x

2010-08-31T21:11:00.004+01:00

really cute teabag wedding favours.....

{via project wedding}

love the red & white spots

really enjoying lots of cups of tea now i'm back in england.....one of the very best things about being home

end of summer x

2010-08-27T15:17:00.003+01:00

lovely soft images from franciose rachez....they remind me of the colours of the end of summer, the promise of still warm days, soft colours blurring into autumn days....and jam making with summer fruit......

*j'adore les samedis*

*romantique lumiere*

*vintage confiture*

back home tomorrow

get to see my {nearly} finished bathroom

autumn roses x

2010-08-24T13:52:00.003+01:00

autumn loveliness from cabbages&roses

i love the way their look books conjure up an image of living in a country house {bigger than a cottage, not quite a country manor} reading jane austen & the bronte sisters by open fires, & taking long walks through country lanes......

.....i guess summer is nearly over

kiki & coco x

2010-08-23T17:10:00.001+01:00

i think this is just adorable....

kiki & coco in paris

by stephanie nierausser

a new addiction x

2010-08-22T10:02:00.004+01:00

hello again, after what seems like a long time away from the blogging community....

....i have a small confession to a new addiction, a new site full of wonderful inspiration & gorgeously pretty pictures, all collected & collated onto virtual pin boards - it's heaven on a plate, well actually on the web, so a big *thank you* to emma for introducing it to me....

....seriously, i can't seem to go a day without popping on to see what's been pinned that day....take a gander over here at pinterest....

a board of inspiration from *gorgeousness x* *just because x* & *paper things x*

have a truly wonderful weekend

back tomorrow with lots of loveliness found over the past weeks

decorating.....x

2010-07-20T21:27:00.003+01:00

feeling a little unsettled at the moment.....think it's the anticipation of so many nice things about to happen.....and particularly my new bathroom. after living with a very very bare shell of a bathroom for what seems like forever, it will be absolute heaven to have a gorgeously new & shiny bathroom to luxuriate in.....whilst most of the basics like the bathroom suite, flooring & tiles {and yes, treating myself to these beautiful, beautiful tiles as splashback to the sink} i can now start thinking of all those finishing touches....

{mikael dubois via johner}

....i don't quite have the room for the rolltop bath, but i love the colours and the light & airy feel this has, with gorgeous vintage touches.....lovely inspiration

bye bye for now
xx

bunting....x

2010-07-18T19:44:00.003+01:00

spotted at *lovely clusters*......bunting for cake x

{cake buting *felicity* by kikilaru via etsy}

almost too cute

have not stopped all day, clearing out garage in anticipation of delivery of new bathroom suite
coming very very soon
very very excited

looking forward to the week ahead but please can we have a little more sunshine this week?

xx

a very chic shack....x

2010-07-17T19:16:00.004+01:00

a holiday might not be on the cards this year, with car, bathroom & garden purchases, but if it was, and the weather in the uk turned just a little bit warmer, this *shack* would be high on the list....

{via vintage vacations}

don't you just love the mirrors, and the armchairs, and the bedspread, oh and the union flag curtains......

xx

it's friday.....x

2010-07-16T08:42:00.004+01:00

it's friday & i have a lovely day off work.....my car, after many, many, many miles is starting to fall apart, so after months of hesitating & procastination i'm spending the afternoon looking at cars. i have a tendancy to be quite silly around new cars, and despite all good intentions of taking my time, considering all the options, get easily seduced by the smell of new cars and end up signing on the dotted line.....we will see....

would love a really pretty vintage car, but the many miles i drive each week dictate something a little more sensible....but how cute is this, a pink car named bettie page.....x

{bettie page via audrey hepburn complex via weheartit}

have a lovely day
xx

ladylike....x

2010-07-13T20:19:00.002+01:00

the british weather has turned cold & rainy, which in a way is a blessing as i'm immersing myself in the fall collections for work & drooling over gorgeous cable knit tights & chunky legwarmers, shearlings & cosy fur coats, which is so much easier to do when it's not 30 outside.....what i love most about the new collections is the new silhouette which is so ladylike & reminiscent of old time hollywood glamour....

....especially lovely is the louis vuitton collection by marc jacobs.....

{via everything fabulous}

....the shoes ~ divine heels....
....the dresses ~ so 1950's socialite....
....the bags ~ how could you choose just one....

xx

picnic.....x

2010-07-10T19:59:00.003+01:00

childhood summers were full of picnics....salmon sandwiches, salads of lettuce, cucumber & tomato, a camping kettle to brew tea, slices of homemade fruit cake & an apple, all packed into our picnic basket, which was more like a picnic suitcase....every sunny day would be a picnic day....

{1960's picnic via lotus feet via we heart it}

today was a perfect day for a picnic...

a trip to the farm shop to buy freshly baked bread, cheeses & hams, cherries & strawberries, a bottle of wine in the cooler bag, followed by an afternoon spent in the sun in the hills.....

with the promise of more sunny days i'm off to look for that perfect vintage picnic basket
{this one is winning at the moment.....vintage, cute, & with wine holders!}

xx

how does your garden grow.....x

2010-07-08T21:26:00.007+01:00

i feel posh today as i now officially have a gardener! it was so nice to come home today & be able to see the garden once more, not just weeds & very very long grass......there is still a way to go before it's the cottage garden of my dreams, but it's moving in the right direction...

{love of gardening via flickr}

blooming frocks.....x

2010-07-06T20:58:00.004+01:00

*a hymn to all things floral*

{style.com}
....

{all images from style.com}

froth & frou frou
rouching & ruffling
pansies, tulips, orchids & daffodils

xx

escape....x

2010-07-05T16:04:00.003+01:00

how perfect.....

a desert island....{but with a really comfy sofa}

{photos byt ditte isager}

desert island dream
peace & quiet
a glass of chilled white wine
a good book
&
a really good cupcake

xx

paper & scissors....x

2010-06-29T19:40:00.003+01:00

beautiful book sculptures

.....

paper magic by su blackwell

it's taking a little while to get back into the swing of {normal} life now i'm back so forgive if the posting is a little sporadic for a few days.....good intentions disappear as i drift off to sleep on the sofa

normal service to be resumed as soon as humanly possible

till then, enjoy the sunshine
xx

curiouser & curiouser.....x

2010-06-25T09:30:00.000+01:00

a wonderful photoshoot for royal copenhagen china taking the theme of the mad hatters tea party

{via hus & hem}

just love the miniature table & chairs in the middle picture

xx

curious blooms....x

2010-06-24T09:30:00.000+01:00

still blooming....x

2010-06-22T09:30:00.000+01:00

more floral inspiration

{images from musubi}

how wonderful {but admittedly slightly ridiculous} to walk around adorned in flowers

the middle picture might prove a solution for my badly neglected garden though...if you look carefully all the flowers are photographs....

floral fusion.....x

2010-06-21T09:30:00.000+01:00

floral inspired fashion
to brighten up your monday

{images by liz ham}

xx

dad....x

2010-06-20T13:20:00.003+01:00

we're more alike than either of us like to admit

he gave me my creative imagination
but also his temper & stubbornness

he also gives unconditional love
even when my stubbornness is causing a rift in our family

{image from beauty in everything via weheartit}

i hope he'll also give me his forgiveness

distance stops me giving my dad a big hug today but i think he knows that my love is unconditional & unwavering too

{forgive the sentimental posting today but missing loved ones birthdays & special days doesn't get any easier}

a gorgeous weekend to you all
xx

garden shed....x

2010-06-17T09:30:00.000+01:00

if the magic fairies, that are going to grant my wish & tranform my garden whilst i'm away, happen to be reading this, i'd also like one of these.....

{via tales of a junkaholic}
the cutest garden workshed.....ever

.....pretty please

xx

thunderstorms....x

2010-06-16T09:30:00.000+01:00

last week in china we had the most amazing thunderstorm one night.....it rained harder than i've ever known, the thunder was the loudest i've heard....i don't think i've ever been so close to a storm before & known as much lightning as there was that night....

brought to mind that wonderful scene at the beginning and the end of *sweet home alabama* on the beach during that thunderstorm...a corny film i know, but....

hope your week is bringing you more sunshine than showers

vintage laura....x

2010-06-15T09:30:00.003+01:00

have been talking at work about brands which have managed to re-launch & revive themselves, which led to a discussion about laura ashley....googling vintage laura ashley threw up some fascinating results, and some surprisingly on trend looks....so true that what goes around comes around...and around...and around....

top left {via glamour&glitter} top right {1970's laura ashley dress via steptoes dog}
middle left {vintage pink dress via flickr} middle right {via nibs}
bottom {sailor dress via mariesvintage}

would love to have the chance to look at the archives at laura ashley, imagine what you could unearth & how lovely their collection could be?

xx

snapshots from hong kong...x

2010-06-14T09:30:00.000+01:00

i love how hong kong is a huge city of contrasts....the high tech skyscrapers on central contrast with the older colonial buildings, and the rundown highrises with all that washing hanging out the window, precariously balanced on washing lines high above the city streets....the money & finance on central against the rag trade of sham shui po....i love the fact that the history of the city remains, traditions such as the star ferry and the trams, that on one street you can shop in dior & prada, yet turn a corner & happen upon a fish market & traditional stalls selling paper lanterns....

street signs in sham shui po
the star ferry
entrance to a market in tsim sha tsui
{all images by me}

xx

flowers in hong kong.....x

2010-06-13T06:49:00.003+01:00

another sunday in hong kong....

shopping done
laundry done

about to wander out ...would like to say in the sunshine but that appears to be absent today, and in it's place are dark clouds...but still...

photos by me

a flower market that i pass on my morning walk to the supermarket
that always makes me want to go in and buy armfulls
...especially the sunflowers today...

xx

dreamtime.....x

2010-06-11T15:00:00.003+01:00

dreaming of

....wearing a pretty pink dress
....glittery heels
....drinking pink champagne
&
....dancing the night away

top {miss louise xo via weheartit} next {tim walker} next {via weheartit}
& last {tim walker via weheartit}

not tonight...maybe tomorrow
xx

fairytale....x

2010-06-10T15:00:00.003+01:00

*do you believe in fairies?....if you believe clap your hands*

{jm barrie}

top {i am tough via weheartit} next {via weheartit} next {tumblr via weheartit}
& last {via weheartit}

sprinkle a little fairy dust on your day
xx

happy colour.....x

2010-06-09T15:00:00.000+01:00

"don't worry
be happy"

colour to make you happy

top {neeshrocks via weheartit} next {craft&creativity via flickr} next {cassia via flickr}
& last {craft&creativity via flickr}

hope this brightens up your day
xx

just because.....x

2010-06-08T15:00:00.000+01:00

just because i love the colours
....
clotted cream, soft sand, duck egg blue, soft teal, tea rose & the softest coral

....

top {via weheartit} next {via weheartit} next {via weheartit} next {lily530 via twitgoo} next {whimsicaljunk via flickr}
&
last {cassia via flickr}

xx

can you see the butterflies....x

2010-06-07T15:00:00.000+01:00

"just living is not enough,"

said the butterfly,
"one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower"
{hans christian anderson}

i think the same applies to people
don't you?

top {missnika via weheartit} next {discoanimal via weheartit} next {susannaht via flickr}
& last {susannahtucker via etsy}

...beautiful...
i don't think you just notice butterflies i think you have to really look for them?
xx

will soon be monday....again.....x

2010-06-06T14:19:00.004+01:00

today i've realised i am a complete creature of habit even when in another country.....a sunday spent shopping, eating & sorting out washing & last minute work things seems to mirror my sunday's at home....do you think these habits give us some kind of security or do you think it might be more a case of my "ocd" ish tendancies rising to the fore?

whatever the reason i do feel rested & {kind of} prepared for the week ahead....which includes posts for each day next week....you lucky, lucky bunch! am sharing favourites from *weheartit* and favourites i've had randomly saved for a while....

for today's choice i'm feeling in the pink....i love the light in all these photos, so white, pale & pretty....

top {yvetteinufio via flickr} next {jannepeters} next {wet behind the ears via weheartit}
&
last {yvetteinufio via etsy}

*pink roses are for love hopeful and expectant*
anonymous

in advance i'm wishing you all a lovely, peaceful week
xx

a little bit of lace....x

2010-06-05T09:30:00.000+01:00

lovely images of lace....having scoured ebay for lots of vintage doilies, this is something i'd love to re-create at home....especially the lovely, lovely, lace trimed curtain.....

{via country living}

and that bathroom is so sweetly shabbily chic
{i know i have posted about doilies so many times before, so forgive me, but they are just so so pretty}

nearly the weekend
xx

the potting shed.....x

2010-06-03T09:30:00.000+01:00

didn't manage to find a gardner before i came away, so now am having several nightmares about how bad the garden will look when i get back....how lovely would it be if a fairy came along & waved her wand & made it all lovely....well, i can dream......

{via country living}

dreaming of a lovely garden like this

xx

sunny.....x

2010-06-02T09:30:00.000+01:00

lovely sunny images

lemon candy
buttercup
sunshine & daffodils

sky blue
cornflower
&
duckegg

top {via weheartit} next {knowledge via etsy} next {lemonade via weheartit} bottom {via heartly}

wishing a sunny day to you all
xx

shanghai glamour.....x

2010-05-31T13:48:00.003+01:00

i saw these adverts at the airport yesterday, and thought how lovely they were, with a real old fashioned glamour to them....how i imagine 1930's shanghai must have been like....

{shanghai tang}

i love the softly muted colours, like old faded photographs
and the gorgeous evening purse is just divine

for everyone who's enjoyed an extra days holiday i hope it's been lovely & that the sun has shone
for everyone else i hope that first day back at work has not been too hard

will be in china from tomorrow
will hopefully get a couple of posts finised tonight ready to post whilst i'm away
but until saturday
goodbye & have a lovely week

xx

thunderstorms ahead.....x

2010-05-30T14:13:00.003+01:00

just arrived in hong kong for another 3 and a bit weeks of tooing and froing between here & china....have left behind a rainy & chilly england and arrived to find a rainy but balmy hong kong. the forecast is for thunderstorms all week, which i don't mind as i love a really good thunderstorm...will i still be saying that in the middle of the week when i'm alone & rattling around a big chinese house on my own.......?

top {forecast by *cinnamon via flickr}, middle {rain via 500px}, bottom {rainytea via daydreams-tea}

this trip i want to get out and explore more on the sunday's i have free...inspired by {or shamed by} *the cherry blossom girl* wonderful photos of hongkong, and the places she found, like the goldfish market & the hong kong history museum had made me want to explore....

by the way....any tips for air conditioning....as a non-airconditioning needing brit i can never seem to get the temp quite right - either too hot or too cold......

enjoy the rest of the weekend
xx

forgiveness.....x

2010-05-26T20:26:00.003+01:00

{via taking1stepatatime}

what if they won't forgive you?

candy colours.....x

2010-05-25T20:51:00.003+01:00

today i'm loving these candy colour pictures, so perfect for a sunny day like today...

carousel {via flickr} birds {via dunnowhattotype} umbrella {via socliche}
roses {via colddesert}

looking for a gardener at the moment....i'm finding it so hard to be away from home so often & keep on top of the garden, but at the same time, it's quite strange, i feel like i should be able to cope, and don't feel like the kind of person that hires people? having said that, if they can make the garden look really really pretty, i can probably get over that.....

half way through the week tomorrow....not long till another long weekend

xx

outdoors......x

2010-05-23T21:43:00.003+01:00

what a gorgeously sunny & hot weekend.....worked yesterday as still up to the proverbial eyeballs, but got up early today to work in the garden, so yes, the dandelions (well, most of the) are no more....rip

when the weather is this sunny & warm, wouldn't you just love to move & live outdoors?

{images via weheartit}

so lovely, although probably best if you lived in some wonderfully secluded area, otherwise you might give the neighbours a bit of a shock in the morning!

xx

today.....x

2010-05-18T22:25:00.003+01:00

i love these images by valerie hammond

{via blue sky butterfly studio}

today i'm not loving long working hours
and not loving being indoors when the weather is so sunny & warm

but looking forward to a sunny weekend
&
a weekend free of work, a weekend in the garden & a week closer to sex and the city2

that's all
xx

crockery....x

2010-05-17T22:16:00.003+01:00

simple white crockery.....numbers.....letters

top left {balancingact via flickr} top right {monogrammedmugs via anthropologie}
bottom {numberteacups via flickr}

happy monday
xx

the sun is still shining.....x

2010-05-13T21:18:00.005+01:00

....and will hopefully keep on shining until the weekend....i've a greenhouse to clean & tidy ready for tomato plants my dad is starting to grow for me.....

....have great intentions of getting up very very early on saturday to strim away the dandelions that have settled very happily in the front garden, and whilst i try & convince myself that they look quite romantic & countryish, i know that they really don't, and the house is gaining that embarrassingly unkempt, unloved look....

{weheartit via discoanimal}

goodnight
xx

white.....x

2010-05-12T20:15:00.003+01:00

gorgeous home

i love the cleaness & lightness of so much white

with the injection of saturated darks

{skona hem}

i heart the sofa
i heart the filing cabinet
&
i really heart the pleated lightshades

xx

hello sunshine......x

2010-05-09T22:23:00.002+01:00

.....it's been so nice to have seen you today....

top {hellosunshine} bottom {dreamers, via weheartit, via fairybread}

please stay for a while

xx

blue & white....x

2010-05-08T21:05:00.003+01:00

i'm not quite sure where spring has disappeared to, but the weather feels more like march than may.....it's quite sad to look out of the window & see the beautiful blossom tree outside my house silhouetted against a grey sky full of rain clouds.....

....so to shake the greyness lets look at lots of fresh blue & white, which always reminds me of summer days, blue skies and open windows....

top {stripeskirt by leifsdottir}{atlantabartlett}
middle {atlantabartlett}{toiledress by leifsdottir}
bottom {crossstitch bedlinen & aegean bedlinen by toast}

despite being curled up on the sofa huddling under a blanket, these make me wish for holidays on the med in whitewashed villas, & hot summer days with picnics in the park....well, one can dream.....

xx

seaside......x

2010-05-05T22:59:00.005+01:00

still thinking of the lovely image from *coco avant chanel*........

topimages {cabbages&roses} next {decembernights via weheartit} next {jblamejor via flickr} next {nappkin via flickr} bottomimages {le vestaire de jeanne}

wishing for seaside weather for the weekend
xx

sunday afternoon.....x

2010-05-02T20:17:00.003+01:00

a sunny start turned dull, grey & cold very quickly today, so gardening was very quickly crossed off the list of today's tasks to be replaced by an afternoon watching movies.....*the piano* & *coco avant chanel*.....both beautiful, with gorgeous costumes, and both made me cry....

{images from *coco avant chanel*}

i love the top picture; the colours, the striped bathing tents, the pretty lace parasols

ps. a little bit of sun tomorrow would be very much appreciated
xx