At home with red

Oh my, I am so excited about Christmas!  This morning C could not contain her excitement about the snow.  It all melted within three hours, but it really put a smile on our faces.
Love the packaging for this Marks and Spencer Biscuit tin and my early gift from my dear relative is just the bees knees.  The last huge bag I owned was a nappy changing bag!

Window Shopping Online!

Thank you for the lovely comments of encouragement and tips on de-cluttering.  Two more weeks, then we will have our lounge back.  The decoration may run in Mid Nov, but at least the real messy stuff will be done with.  So between cleaning daily layers of dust or making cups of tea and coffee for the workmen, I have been window shopping online.  My latest discovery is a lovely website that specialises in products being designed and made in GB.  The images are taken from Vinnie & D, but I could have featured the lovely Elsie Belle jewellery line or Rosalind Howards' cards.  But it was the Volpe & Volpe and my love for ceramics that won me over.  The matt versions of these vintage designed swans, that would look the part in our new study area.
ps. all photos taken from http://www.vinnieandd.com

Harris and Jones

We still have boxes to sort in storage, yet I keep bleating on about pretty yet practical storage solutions.  All R can say is 'deal with it or I will' (he would happily bin everything).  Anyway I thought I would mention my box files and pen pot (not pictured) by a lovely British company called Harris and Jones.  The quality is first class, I bought a box file for a friend and she too loved it.  Anyway from the 22nd Feb -29th Feb is free (UK only I think) postage.

Gifts via the Post

On a grey and wet morning, it is tempting to just stay in bed!  However with the builders finishing off and the girls starting school this week, it is back to the same old routine.  I was so grateful to receive this lovely gift from Mrs Cheese.  I love handmade and it feels so special to have.  Thank you so so so so much, I simply had to photograph it on my new instagram app!

On the Sofa

This morning opening mail, C playing on the Etch A Sketch and enjoying this lovely print, by the talented Anna Emilia Laitinen a gift from R for our new bedroom.

A little something...

Here is the my photographic food calendar I made to sell at the fairs that we have been doing of late.

Vintage Tea

Last week it was a friend's birthday and I bought this charming book The Vintage Tea Party Book.  She wrote a message saying "she is seriously in love with this book and cannot put it down" and who can blame her.  I cheekily photographed a couple of pages, in fact too many to choose from.  From the styling to the illustrations I too have a lot of love for this book.  Alas I have to be sensible about spending my pennies and owning too many things, so I am pleased with the simple notion that someone is enjoying this book more than me.

Pia Jane Bijkerk

A birthday gift from Becca, this is my summer reading, tales and images to drive into.  There is so much romance in Pia Jane Bijkerk book My Heart Wanders.  Not around as much over the next week or so, family and friends visiting, day trips out, but I will be posting some photos as soon as possible. D x

Papermash

Look what arrived in the post this morning.  A Beautifully packaged 'happy tape' and personal thank you note.  I love this tape, it is great for brightening up brown paper packaging, lovely to stick images into my journals and to make collages with.  One of the packs in going to be used as a little add on present for my friend.  I bought them from papermash, a perfect online store for those who love to get creative or find something a little different.  My next purchase has to be paper straws firstly for nostalgic reasons and secondly making paper straws necklaces with my girls over the summer holidays!

Sweetling

In a matter of months, it will be two years since I cut down how much television I watch and a year from deleting my profile on Facebook. The main reason was to use my time wisely. I have noticed the benefit, more sleep, a little less chaos, more time to enjoy things and discovering the art of conversation. By chance I stumbled upon a lovely programme following the world of buying, and hearing stories of those hoping to get their work/product realised in a consumer market. A particular story touched me, two sisters-in-law set up a range of training bras. Recently in the UK there has been so much bad press about how retailers are exploiting our young with padded and push up bras. The brand that is sweetling could not be more timely. The designs are so pretty, unlike the bland pack of two training bras that my mother bought me.

Images taken from Sweetling website.

Thrilled

Ever since I first learned of Samantha Robinson's ceramics, I have loved her work. I love the patterns, designs and colours. While R was away in Australia he stopped by Husk and bought me these two cups. I love them and hope you like them too!

Primrose and Plum

We have a lovely family friend staying with us. It is a shame that the weather has turned so very grey. So I thought I would briefly pop a post on about this rather stylish lemon and grey blanket. For more finds visit Primrose and Plum.

Wishlist

Rockett St George is one of my favourite online stores. They have even managed to persuade me to think about getting some artificial flowers! There is a couple of dark corners in our house (landing areas) that could be brightened up with a few flower displays. Also my thing for gnomes is not passing, so I am about to order one to place on my desk or kitchen window. As for animals in clothes, ever since Barber I cannot shake this love either. If you have some birthdays coming up, I recommend a visit.

All images taken from Rockett St George

Kitchen Table Wishlist

With Christmas fast approaching we are saving our pennies towards present buying. I have put together meal plans in order to minimise fridge content waste, cut back on magazines and we have cut back on eating out. In my search for Christmas presents for friends and family. I have found a few pieces that grabbed my attention. Firstly, the wonderful duo that is James and Tilla, and there stunning and simple ceramics. I especially like the pourers, it is a must for any table. Secondly a simple white coloured glass vase by Brissi, and finally to place it on, a runner for my pine table by New House Textiles.

Lovely Lights

It's cold outside, so my thoughts entertained with the cosy indoors. I am thinking blankets, slippers, log baskets and soft glow of candles and lights. I am particularly drawn to a locally based company called Cable and Cotton. I love the warm colours and textures of the these lights. Personally I think that my love for them stems from the stunning lifestyle shots. Loving the deep colours and distressed feel to the setting.

Made

Why is that the day you set aside to get things done, is the day when the sun is out and the motivation is lacking. So we spent the morning outdoors. After early lunch and thought that I would take some photos of two of my gifts hand made by Lucy and Jo. I loved receiving these gifts, firstly because I love the creative element of them. Secondly, I have always wanted one of Jo softies and I can eat Lucy's award winning cake daily!...(it is truly award winning it came first place in it's WI category). Thanks for taking the time to make these for me my dearest friends.

Merci Merci

For those of us who dream of popping to Paris for the weekend, maybe we could settle for a little bit of Paris in the corner of London's Liberty Store. This week in store they are showing of a fab collaboration between Merci Creative Director Marie France Cohen and London's Liberty. With Children in mind, the profits from the achingly hip Paris Store goes to a women and children charity in Madagascar.

Images from Liberty Blog, as is the word 'achingly' which is fast become a favourite for today!