Meadow Daisy

Flea Market Finds....

2012-02-09T10:06:00.000-08:00

I've been pretty unwell the past few days but I quickly get bored of having to stay in bed so early this morning we took a quick trip to my favourite flea market before it got too busy. It really does pay to get there as early as possible as the good items tend to go straight away. Even at 9:30am, stalls were starting to pack up.... it was probably the cold though more than anything!

Here are a few of my favourite purchases from today....

Framed still life of yellow roses, 1930's chair and vintage 1970's curtain fabric

Hornsea Pottery cups and handmade wooden fruit bowl

Vintage coat hooks.... going to use these for hanging necklaces from in the bedroom!

Vintage handmade tile hanger.... I really love this!

Farrow & Ball painted wall shelf. This matches our sideboard perfectly and will look great hung above it!
As you can see, i'm still on a mission to buy things for the house. I'm really inspired by 70's prints and gypsy caravan-esque florals at the moment so I make a beeline for things like that when i'm out thrifting!
We had a good morning and spent less than £30 including lots of other bits such as dog food bowls and sewing bits, food and car parking.... can't do that on a high street shopping trip can you?!

Dreaming of Spring....

2012-01-30T14:55:00.000-08:00

My phone says that the temperature is -5 outside so i'm sat with a bowl of soup, window shopping and thinking of those warmer spring days!

I'm loving all of the clothes and accessories that are swiftly creeping into stores at the moment so I thought that I would share some of my favourite items. I've pretty much established that the only things I wear out of work uniform is Breton stripes, florals and cute animal prints so this is what I tend to make a beeline for when I am shopping!

I seem to head for the same shops too when I buy clothes nowadays and both Seasalt and Joules are my absolute favourite brands. Their clothes are incredibly well made and easy to wear!

What are your favourite clothes shops and are you ready for spring too?

Snow Day....

2012-01-28T14:16:00.000-08:00

Elsie doesn't like the cold or rain but she seems to really love snow! We used to give her ice cubes to chomp on in the summer when she was teething so maybe that is why she likes it so much!

We took her up to Longshaw today and made the most of the snow before it started to melt in the sunshine....

Have you had any snow where you are? We rarely get any in the city but only need to drive 10 minutes to find plenty of the white stuff on the hills when it is cold!

Recent Finds....

2012-01-24T08:25:00.000-08:00

I've had a bit of a blog name change so don't worry if my new name pops up on your blogger dashboard instead of 'Athene Noctua'! It's 2012 and I thought that I could do with a fresh start.... plus Athene Noctua was pretty awkward to pronounce!

My etsy shop name has also changed accordingly and I'll be back in business there sometime in the next few weeks. I have some exciting new products so I'm really looking forwards to selling again!

I seem to have had quite a bit of luck in the charity shops and the local antiques centre recently, maybe I'm just spending too much time in them at the moment! I don't think anything can top the Louboutin heels that I found last week but here are just a few of my favourite recent finds....

Deer cruet set from the local antiques centre

A gorgeous stash of brand new crochet blankets, always much appreciated by Elsie the Pug!

Hornsea Pottery bunny planter.... I seem to be amassing quite a collection of these!

Framed Deer watercolour painting from St Luke's Hospice

The charity shop fairy has blessed me with quite a few perfectly sized frames for some of the prints we have! This frame is my favourite and fits my Katie Daisy print just right!
Have you found any good things recently in the shops? Please share your finds with me!

The Ultimate Charity Shop Find?

2012-01-18T08:26:00.000-08:00

I never usually look at shoes or accessories in charity shops, I'm much more of a bric-a-brac girl but as soon as I saw those red soles and twinkling black crystals I knew that there was something pretty special hanging out with the heavily worn New Look ballet pumps.

Sure enough, they were a pair of genuine Christian Louboutin heels!

...... and I'll let you into a secret, the lovely old ladies only asked £10.00 for them!

I wonder what your favourite charity shop find is? Have you ever found a real piece of treasure hidden amongst the rails? I'd love to know!

A Winter Weekend in the Peak District....

2012-01-15T10:52:00.000-08:00

We spent a very cold weekend taking trips out to various places in the Peak District for walks, a spot of shopping and some delicious meals out. Elsie the Pug had heaps of fun running through fields, eating ice and licking the frost from the grass although I think she was pleased to get back in the warm car at the end of each day!

I hope that you have all had a lovely weekend and have been keeping warm! x

Out of Hibernation....

2012-01-03T10:26:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how long it has been since I last updated my blog! Moving in to our new house has been truly exhausting with plenty of setbacks including major damp, leaks, floods and faulty electrics. We're getting there though, slowly!

We officially moved in just before Christmas and I'm enjoying playing house, having my own space and a craft room/office for making things!

The house is a three bedroom Victorian terrace with an enclosed private garden, perfect for the Pug! The rooms are small (cosy!) but the build is solid with everything that we need. Currently we have all rooms decorated but we desperately need a new kitchen and bathroom, something we'll need to save hard for over the next year or so!

I thought that I would share some pictures of our progress over the next few weeks, starting with the living room!

Before....

I hated everything about this room from the orange woodwork to the blown vinyl wallpaper and cheap light fittings so got straight to work ripping everything out apart from the fireplace..... I'm quite fond of the pretty patterns it makes when it is turned on!

Here is what the walls looked like half way through, so horrible.......

Half way through decorating we found out that we needed the house rewiring so we had a few weeks of missing floorboards and holes in the walls, joy! We had extra sockets installed at the same time as well as all new light fittings so it wasn't all that bad!

After the walls were filled and prepared, we painted them using Crown's Earth Balance paint in "Open Air" and "Magnolia". I'm not usually a fan of magnolia but I loved how these colours worked together with the furniture we were going to be putting in.

The floor is my favourite thing in the room and was a huge treat for us! It is handwoven seagrass and smells so lovely when you walk in the house. We chose the natural seagrass as opposed to dyed or processed because the colour of it is just amazing....

Here are a few shots of the room as it was for Christmas. We still need prints framing/hanging and trinkets will start being displayed but I quite like how uncluttered it is at the moment!

The sofas were from DFS and are a lovely teal/turquoise colour in real life. The coffee table is also a favourite and was handmade by a local craftsman, we bought it 2nd hand on eBay for a bargainous £30!

The wall lights are the John Lewis "Ashino" but I didn't want to pay £45 per fitting so after a quick search on Amazon, I found them on there for £30 each.... much better!

Can you spy Miss Elsie relaxing on the sofa?! The wicker basket next to the sofa contains some of her toys and coats, she is so spoilt!

And no room of mine would be complete without a Yankee Candle.... or three!

I hope that you have all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. I look forwards to getting our Internet connection sorted so I can catch up on all your lovely blogs as soon as possible!

See you soon! xx

A Little Bit of an Update....

2011-11-14T09:55:00.000-08:00

Ever since we got the keys to our first home a few weeks ago, work on it has been pretty much non-stop. It is truly exhausting and I'm annoyed that decorating fatigue has kicked in already but it is going to be so worth it in the end!

The first two rooms we are working on are the lounge and dining room. Both of these rooms originally had thick layers of painted textured wallpaper which we spent forever stripping off uncovering all sorts of nasties such as large holes, cracks and damp patches!

After spending the week painting, we're currently starting those finishing touches to the new paintwork in the lounge in anticipation of our new turquoise sofas arriving soon. I'm very excited indeed!

This week is going to be another busy one with my dad hanging the Cath Kidston wallpaper in the dining room, painting the rest of the room, floors being measured for new carpet, our Smeg fridge freezer being delivered and the dreaded Ikea trip for much needed furniture. Ahh, I'm looking forwards to it all being done!

Padstow, Cornwall....

2011-10-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

Our holiday in Padstow last week was promptly followed by the collection of the keys to our new house and getting Elsie the Pug spayed. I can assure you, it has been a very hectic week indeed!

Our holiday was simply wonderful with brilliant weather all week, plenty of rest (gosh, I needed it!) and some really amazing food. We celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary with a five course extravaganza at Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant, the food was divine but my favourite part was the dessert.... fresh banana tarte tatin with coconut ice cream, yum!

Here are a selection of photos from the week but as always, lots more can be found at my flickr.

Rojano's restaurant in Padstow / Padstow harbour / Flowers outside our cottage / Exploring the River Camel / Pretty Port Isaac / Boats at Port Isaac / Lovely sunny day at Tintagel / Boscastle / Wooden ducks in Boscastle, bought one of these home with me! / Hubby at Boscastle / Watergate Bay / Family at Watergate Bay / It would be criminal to go to Cornwall and not have a Roskilly's ice cream! / Pretty streets in St Ives / St Ives / Gorgeous paintings in our cottage

A Lovely Post Day.....

2011-10-05T09:42:00.000-07:00

Recently I was incredibly lucky to have won a giveaway from the lovely Isobel over at The Cosy Corner. The parcel arrived on my doorstep this morning and what a treat it was! The Homemade book looks like the most delightful treasury filled with gorgeous things to make and eat, it will certainly provide me with much inspiration for gifts. I am also thrilled with the little Cath Kidston book and all of the little extras including the chocolate, yum yum!

Thank you Isobel!

New House: Footstool Makeover....

2011-10-01T10:43:00.000-07:00

I found this sweet little stool at a car boot sale in the Summer, it looked a bit (ok, a lot) sad and worn out but I had to take it home with me, especially as it was just £4.00!

This week I finally got round to giving it a little makeover and I am super pleased with the result! I painted the wooden legs with a fresh coat of Laura Ashley 'Linen' eggshell, resurfaced with some fresh upholstery foam and finished it off with a loose cover made from gorgeous Cath Kidston fabric. I kept the cover loose as i'm quite indecisive and like to change things around a lot!

I've been 'doing up' quite a bit of furniture ready for the new house recently, I find it's a super cheap way of making things fabulous and altering them to your own taste!

Pugs and Flowers....

2011-09-26T09:37:00.000-07:00

Little Miss Elsie loves posing with the flowers! The roses are named "Absent Friends" and the blooms are gorgeous with the central flower being a different colour to the surrounding ones. The last of the flowers in the garden are just pushing through now, we'll soon be well in to autumn....

New House: Wallpaper Ideas....

2011-09-21T11:24:00.001-07:00

Whilst we wait for news on the house from our solicitors, I'm busy gathering ideas and collecting samples from every source I can think of! I'm really interested in documenting our progress right from the beginning including our initial thoughts and favourite products that we find along the way.... I thought that it might be interesting to share some of that with you, especially as I know a few of you are also in the process of buying!

I'm a huge fan of colour in the home and wallpaper has got to be the easiest way of making a room feel more alive. At the moment we are aiming to cover 3 or 4 of the rooms of the house with wallpaper and I've soon discovered that the possibilities for design are endless!

Here are just a few of the many shortlisted wallpapers that we have so far....

Are you a fan of wallpaper or do you prefer calmer walls? And who are your favourite wallpaper designers? Do share!

A Weekend by The Sea....

2011-09-19T01:00:00.000-07:00

My husband and I just shared a lovely long weekend by the sea in one of my favourite seaside towns. A lot of people dismiss Blackpool as being tacky and not worth visiting but I find it to be the most beautiful place!

We managed to squeeze a lot in to the days we had there including trips to Lytham St Annes and Fleetwood, watching the world firework championships, spending pennies in the amusements and seeing the illuminations. Of course, we also had a lot of yummy food..... there are so many nice places to eat there!

We stayed at the Big Blue Hotel which is one of my favourite hotels ever. When we arrived we found out that our room had been upgraded to a suite free of charge complete with the most amazing views of the Pleasure Beach from our balcony! I am a complete geek for fairground rides so it was amazing to see the coasters right outside our bedroom window!

It was a really lovely mini holiday and I can't wait to go back!

The rest of my photographs can be found here!

Folksy Sale....

2011-09-08T12:45:00.000-07:00

I have reduced a heap of items over at my folksy shop including all of my jewellery! Why don't you pop over there and see if anything takes your fancy? Earrings are reduced to £2.00, rings just £2.50, necklaces from £4.00 and much more!

I'll be closing my shops soon whilst we move house and then I'll be developing some new ranges once I have a dedicated area for crafting (instead of using the dining room table!).... exciting times indeed!

Signs of Autumn....

2011-09-04T06:53:00.000-07:00

This morning we took a walk around Longshaw Estate and it definitely feels like the start of my favourite season! The rain was really coming down so we dressed Elsie in her special raincoat, she really loves wearing it as she's quite afraid of water.... I find it so cute!

We stopped off at the cafe and shared a bowl of homemade vegetable soup washed down with pink rose lemonade. Their cafe is a really lovely place to eat with food created using fresh produce from the kitchen garden at the back. I really recommend it!

I'm really lucky living in a city that has beautiful places like this only 10 minutes drive away!

A Bit of an Obsession...

2011-09-03T11:26:00.000-07:00

I am going to share a secret, I am the biggest Yankee Candle fan. I am literally obsessed with them, so much so that I can't settle at home without one lit. I always watch Yankee Candle days on QVC and I get ridiculously excited when new scents and products are released!

Amongst my favourite scents are the Halloween ones, particularly Witches' Brew which possesses the "spicy sweet aroma of exotic patchouli". I can't even tell you how much I love this fragrance, it is just amazing.

The 2011 range has just started creeping in to the shops so I couldn't resist making a purchase. I also picked up Trick or Treat which is a beautiful swirl jar containing two candle scents, Candy Corn and Buttercream.... truly delicious!

What are your favourite candle scents and are you a fan of Yankee Candles?

Etsy Finds....

2011-09-03T02:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a roundup of some of my favourite items that have sneaked their way on to my etsy favourites page recently. We have been buying prints from etsy for our new house and I evidently seem to be quite a fan of 'wordy' images!

1. "Make Believe" print by LilyMoon.... I love the painted flowers and beautiful colours!

2. This "For Like Ever" sign by WilliamDohman is made from recycled slabs of wood and would look great hung in your bedroom. The signs come in a variety of stunning colours and are hand cut and painted.

3. "Wild Air" print - The Wheatfield by Katie Daisy. I purchased this print a few weeks ago and I am super thrilled with it.... I have my eye on a few more in the shop now!

4. "Love Me Tender" print by 2142stuart.... I am secretly a huge Elvis fan (ok, maybe it isn't such a secret!) so this print will be ideal in our house!

5. I adore this "Things I'm Thankful For" print by Laura George. It's easy to take things for granted so this print would be a lovely daily reminder!

A Quilt for Elsie....

2011-08-27T07:59:00.000-07:00

I had a bit of spare time yesterday so stitched up this mini quilt for Elsie, my puppy. She likes nothing better than snuggling up on the sofa or at our feet and loves getting comfy on a blanket! Pet blankets/mats are super expensive at the pet stores round here so I thought I'd have a go at making my own from now on.

I picked lovely cheerful colours with my new fabric from Quiltessential in Cromford, Derbyshire.... I really love that shop! Walls and walls of pretty fabric, ahh!

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend guys! xx

Car boot sale finds....

2011-08-14T09:18:00.000-07:00

As we have just purchased a house, car boot sales have suddenly become even more interesting than they usually are! We visited Bakewell early this morning and came home with these wonderful treats for our new home....

Set of glasses - £1.00

Owl & deer - 20p each

Box of vintage church candles - 50p. Uranium glass candlesticks - £1.00

Crochet blanket - £1.50. Recipe books - 40p

Vintage food storage jars - £1.50 each
Hope you are all having a good weekend and have found plenty of treasure at your local car boot sales!

Pivoine Flora....

2011-08-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

Whilst shopping at Bicester Village last week I wanted to treat myself to something nice so I popped in to L'Occitane to have a look at their perfumes. L'Occitane is not a brand I have ever taken notice of before but I was really surprised by their range of products and stumbled upon this gorgeous Pivoine Flora gift set for the incredible price of £39.00 (plus another 10% off with my VIP card), I just had to take it home with me!

Peonies are my favourite flower and these products have the most divine scent, just like the real thing!

"There is a Mediterranean legend of a beautiful nymph named Paeonia who was so courted by the gods that a jealous goddess transformed her into a flower with a thousand petals: a peony.

Since then this symbol of beauty and femininity brightens every spring with its dazzling show of colours and scents." - Source

I think this is going to be the first of many purchases from L'Occitane as the quality is just wonderful, plus their products are so beautifully presented. Not only this but ever since the company was created in 1976, their products and ingredients have never been tested on animals. Reading up on the website, this company has excellent ethics..... something more mainstream companies should aspire to! You can find more about L'Occitane here and the L'Occitane Foundation here.

A Trip to Oxford....

2011-08-08T07:14:00.000-07:00

This weekend we visited Oxford and nearby Bicester Village for a spot of shopping. I had quite a successful trip including finding some amazing things for our new house, treats for myself and even a few Christmas presents (yes, I'm starting very early this year)! Oxford was incredibly busy and hot but we still managed to get round and take a few snaps of some of the lovely buildings....

I hope you all had a lovely weekend too! x

Joules Clothing....

2011-08-05T09:17:00.000-07:00

Autumn is fast approaching, can you believe it is August already? I'm looking forwards to those cooler days with crisp fresh air and as always, autumn fashion is always my favourite!

Joules has been one of my favourite brands for a few years now, not only because their clothes are super cute but the quality is incredible too. Every year I treat myself to a few pieces and there are some really wonderful things in the new autumn collection! Here are a few of the items I have my eye on so far....

Saturday....

2011-07-16T11:12:00.000-07:00

The first half of my weekend involved a trip to Cromford for fabric shopping, lunch by the canal and a walk through Matlock Bath with Elsie, my husband and family. The sun managed to make an appearance this afternoon and we stopped off at Chatsworth farm shop on the way home for a bottle of wine and some delicious food for our tea. It was so lovely!

I'm staying in tonight with a stack of ebay items to parcel up whilst listening to London After Midnight, one of my favourite bands. I hope you're having a lovely weekend too!

London After Midnight - "Love You To Death"

Too Faced, Look of Love....

2011-07-10T10:30:00.000-07:00

You know me, I like a bargain. Too Faced has been my cosmetics brand of choice for a very long time now but their products don't come cheap. I popped in to Boots the other day to repurchase my favourite 'Lash Injection' mascara and spied this set for the very appealing price of £32.00. The set contains a full size 'Lash Injection' plus other full sized products that add up to the value of £77.00.... a bargain indeed!

The set includes the following products:

Compact featuring 'La Vie en Rose' Blush and Duo Shadows
Shadow Insurance
Lash Injection mascara
Glamour Gloss in 'Barely Legal'
Flatbuki Brush (made from super soft Teddy Bear Hair)
Deluxe Primed & Poreless

plus a free zip pouch!

The great thing about this set is that the products are all ones that I use anyway.... it is a really well thought out piece of kit and would be a great introduction to Too Faced products if you haven't tried them out before!

All Too Faced products are completely cruelty free!

Graphic Spaces Wood....

2011-07-09T19:41:00.000-07:00

I am in love with these adorable clocks and bookends by family run collective Graphic Spaces. Designed with baby nurseries and children's rooms in mind, these beautiful products are sure to fill any room with pure happiness!

You can buy Graphic Spaces wooden products here at their etsy shop. They also sell prints and super cute wall decals in separate etsy shops. Prints are available here and wall decals can be found here.

Elsie Vs. Tommee Tippee

2011-07-05T12:33:00.000-07:00

Elsie isn't too keen on regular puppy toys but she loves her soother from her previous owner!

Marmar....

2011-06-23T14:00:00.000-07:00

Browsing Etsy for puppy related items recently, I came across the wonderul shop Marmar. Run by Mark Poulin, this shop is a real treat for those who like fantastic illustration being translated in to wearable art. I am seriously in love with the sterling silver charm necklaces and the colourful jewellery in the 'modern and botanical' section is just divine!

Here is a the blurb, taken from the shop itself....

"I love to take a drawing from my sketchbook and transform it into a tangible object:

A simple charm necklace, fun cartoon earrings, a unique botanical design, wall prints, or greeting cards.Whatever the final product, I use my experience as a metalsmith and enamelist along with my passion for design and color to create a piece that I hope you will treasure forever."

(Pictures courtesy of Marmar)

As well as the Marmar etsy shop, you can also make a purchase over at markpoulin.com. Please do go and take a look, I guarantee you'll find something you like!

Elsie's First Trip Outside....

2011-06-21T09:58:00.000-07:00

Today we took Elsie for her first proper trip out and she loved every minute of it! We took her up to Whirlowbrook Hall in Sheffield followed by a visit to my grandma's house to play in the garden. She had fun trying to eat everything, making us fish out everything from pine cones to daisies every two seconds!

Syko, Soft Art for Everyday Living....

2011-06-19T05:11:00.000-07:00

It has been very grey and rainy here recently so I thought that I would bring some colour to your weekend by sharing one of my favourite etsy shops, Syko! Syko is owned by Kajsa Wikman and I just love her incredible and playful use of colour, pattern and design. Her inspirations include "children's drawings and illustrations for kids, naive folk art, colours, materials, people and everyday life".

If you hop over to her etsy shop, you'll find everything from cushions to prints, postcards and keyrings as well as much more! Be quick though, Syko will be closed for 2 weeks during July!

(pictures courtesy of Syko)

A Very Special Offer....

2011-06-16T09:55:00.001-07:00

Until July 01st 2011, you can save yourself a very lovely 15% off over at my etsy shop! Just input the coupon code "JUNETREATS" at the checkout before you make your payment. Happy shopping!

Meet Elsie the Pug....

2011-06-14T10:05:00.000-07:00

I have been a little quiet over here recently but I want to introduce you to our 11 week old Pug puppy, Elsie. We bought her home on Saturday evening and I can't tell you how much I love this little lady already! She is such a cheeky thing but also loves kisses and snuggling down to watch QVC!

Isn't she beautiful?!

Happy Friday....

2011-06-03T03:18:00.000-07:00

I hope you have all had a good week! We seem to have some lovely summery weather at the moment so fingers crossed it will last!

Here are just a few of the things that have been making me smile this week....

Beautiful pink Peonies and Lilies from my husband.

Lots of lovely meals out - these delicious garlic mushrooms were served at The Hollow, Little Longstone in the Peak District.

Growing herbs, fruit and vegetables in our garden.

This adorable handmade Paddington Bear found at a car boot sale in Derbyshire. If you take his boots off, one of his legs is half the length of the other.... so cute!

The new video from my favourite band ever, Black Veil Brides. I am impossibly excited for my copy of the new album to arrive now!

What has been making you smile this week? x

EllyMental Jewellery....

2011-05-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

If you have visited Cadgwith Cove in Cornwall before, you'll know how just wonderful The Crow's Nest gallery is. It is the kind of place you could easily take everything home with you!

This year I treated myself to a few items but my absolute favourite was a swallow necklace by EllyMental Jewellery. You may remember I posted a picture of the necklace in my Cornwall post a few weeks ago, I have worn it every day since and I have had so many compliments!

I want to start sharing some of my favourite, most inspirational makers and artists on my blog so this new discovery is as good a place as any to start!

Here is a bit about Ellymental, taken from the website....
"EllyMental vintage styled kitsch jewellery is designed and made by Elly who is inspired by designs based on her own fervent interest in kitsch nostalgia and animals (!). She incorporates her designs with found ephemera such as 1950's books, Victorian newspapers and delicate home-made papers. Items are multi-layered and multi-varnished to create a strong and robust end piece. All items are lovingly and meticulously hand crafted."

Swallow necklace, £14.00.

Wolf brooch, £14.00. Thrift Hare Rabbit, £12.00.

Large Lion necklace, £14.00. Literary Book Owl earrings, £13.00.

EllyMental Jewellery can be purchased online through Elly's folksy shop and through the official website. It can also be found in many shops and galleries across the country, a full list of stockists can be found on the website.

Mollie Makes

2011-05-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

I have finally managed to get my hands on a copy of Mollie Makes. Everyone on my twitter feed seems to be going crazy for this new magazine and I am so pleased I managed to get my hands on a copy.

For those who haven't heard of this beautiful magazine, here is a little snippet taken from the official website....

"Like you we love to craft, to make, to collect and spend our weekends wandering round thrift stores hoping to find a treasure unique to us. We love to customise to reflect our own personal style and we take great pleasure is creating beautiful spaces in our homes where we can show off the gems we have discovered and made by hand.

MollieMakes is all about living and loving handmade and each of the 100-pages offers inspiring ideas for you to make and fall in love with."

Have you found yourself a copy yet?

I love you, Cornwall....

2011-05-18T01:26:00.000-07:00

We arrived home from Cornwall on Saturday night after the most wonderful week in my favourite corner of the world. The weather was beautiful, the food irresistible (carrot cake flavoured ice cream anyone?!) and I just can't wait for our next trip down south!

I thought I would share a few photographs from the trip as I know quite a few of my readers are Cornwall addicts too! I have put some tags at the bottom of the post so you know what/where the pictures are from....

Hubby and I in the cottage / Evening walks in Mousehole by the sea / Mousehole harbour in the morning / Beautiful St Ives / Pizza Patio in Newlyn / Walking to St Michael's Mount / Cliff top walks in Cadgwith / Cream tea at Roskilly's farm / Beautiful birds at Paradise Park, Hayle / Driftwood & holiday treats / My brother being eaten by a Lorikeet(!) / Rick Stein's fish & chips in Falmouth / Stunning deep blue sea at Mousehole with St Michael's Mount in the distance / Vegetarian chilli at The Ship Inn, Mousehole / Hubby having a paddle in Falmouth / Our lovely little cottage

Happy Friday (on a Saturday!)....

2011-04-30T10:37:00.000-07:00

Just a few things that have been making me smile recently!

New beginnings....

My wonderful husband has landed himself a new job only a couple of miles from where we live! His current post at the NHS is being made redundant so it has been a huge relief for the next couple of years to at last be sorted! Plus, no more commuting for him all across to the East Midlands each day so I'm sure he will be much, much happier :)

Plastic Bat....

I have been a fan of Tracy's jewellery over at plasticbat.co.uk for a long time and I was incredibly lucky to win her blog giveaway last week. A beautiful parcel arrived a couple of days later filled with the most beautiful jewellery and an adorable Easter themed print of her guinea pig "Big Trouble". I'm currently wearing the heart brooch with the little kitten on but I absolutely adore everything!

The Royal Wedding....
of course! I watched the whole thing at work and what a lovely day it was!

(image source)

One Man Disney Movie....
I have been a fan of Nick Pitera for a long long time and this video is just amazing! I can't stop watching/listening to it!

Holiday Time....

is getting nearer and I'm looking forwards to being at my favourite place in the world again! I'm also looking forwards to consuming as many cream teas and spicy vegetable pasties as is humanly possible.... and filling my suitcase with Roskilly's fudge! (It is a good job I don't live in Cornwall, I would be the size of a house by now!)

Car Booty....

2011-04-30T09:58:00.000-07:00

I promised that I would share some recent car boot and flea market finds so I guess this is better late than never! I always enjoy reading other blogs seeing all the wonderful things people find so I hope my "junk" is of interest to you guys too!

We have a couple of favourite regular car boot sales out in the Peak District. The quality and range of items on offer always seem to be of a much higher standard than sales found in my city so it is really easy to find ways to spend those pennies!

Here are a few of the items I found last week....

Adorable piggy money box

Vintage fabric patchwork apron. Pyrex bowl. Assorted buttons. Vintage hankies. Mason Cash guinea pig/rabbit food bowl (I got a couple of these, they are beautiful!).

Set of vintage deer.

Care Bears.
Have you found any bargains recently at a car boot sale? Please do share them with me!

Happy Easter....

2011-04-25T09:46:00.000-07:00

I hope you have all had a wonderful Easter folks. I spent the day at my favourite car boot sale at Hope Valley College in the Peak District followed by an obligatory post-bargain-hunting pub lunch in Castleton. It was a fabulous day and we came home with a car filled with lots of goodies.

We spent a more relaxing evening with my family at my grandma's house where much eating was done.... I swore afterwards that I would never eat again but I seem to have been OK munching on Kinder eggs today!

I have been enjoying reading through all of your Easter posts so I thought I would share some photographs from the day. I'll post my favourite car boot/flea market finds later on in the week!

Shop Update....

2011-04-22T14:23:00.000-07:00

I have been busy making summer jewellery recently and over the next couple of weeks you'll start to see these items appear in my folksy shop and etsy shop. I'm very much in to bright colours at the moment, I think you'll be able to tell! They make me very happy indeed :)

I found some beautiful vintage fabric at the antique market the other day and I my next projects will involve some more hexagon patchwork cushions in delicate summery colours with luscious floral prints. I can't wait to get sewing again!

I just want to wish you all a very happy Easter and a lovely long weekend! Help yourself to a chocolate egg or three....

Hot Cross Bread & Butter Pudding

2011-04-14T08:07:00.000-07:00

I made hot cross bread & butter pudding last night after work and was amazed at how simple it was yet so delicious! The recipe uses simple products that I guarantee most of you will have in the house and makes enough to feed around five people.

Here is the recipe if you want to have a go....

Ingredients

6 hot cross buns

25g butter (or Nutella if you like it super naughty!)

250ml milk

1tbsp caster sugar

75g chocolate chips

2 large eggs

Heat the oven to 170c, 150c fan, gas mark 3.

Cut the hot cross buns in half and butter the cut sides. Arrange the bottom halves in a baking dish and sprinkle with half of the chocolate chips. Sandwich the hot cross bun halves together again and arrange so there are not too many gaps! Beat the eggs, milk and sugar together and pour over. Scatter with the remaining chocolate chips and bake for 30-35 mins until the pudding is just set. Serve on its own or with vanilla ice cream!

Bread & butter pudding is one of my favourite desserts, it is a shame I had to share it out! What are your favourite things to make?

Car Boot Treasure....

2011-04-11T04:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had quite a jaunt around the Peak District visiting various car boot sales in Bakewell and Castleton. I always prefer to visit sales out in the Peak District as it is so much more scenic, the quality of goods are much higher than in the city and you can treat yourself to a countryside pub lunch afterwards!

I won't bombard you with everything that I purchased but I thought I would share a few of my favourite finds from yesterday....

Handmade patchwork dog cushion

Cath Kidston dressing gown in perfect condition, £2.00.... these retail for £75.00 so I was really pleased with this!

Mid 1960's Walt Disney giant story book. I know I'm 26 years old but the illustrations inside are absolutely stunning....

Ceramic pup (another one for the collection!)

Ceramic duckling and hand knitted teddy bear.

After all that hard work shopping we stopped for a very naughty but delicious meal at my favourite pub in Castleton, The Peaks Inn. Yum yum!

I hope you have all had a lovely weekend too and have been enjoying the lovely weather!

Dr Martens, I love you!

2011-04-05T10:40:00.000-07:00

If you know me, you know I love my shoes. I'm not fussed about designer bags and I like to get my clothing on the cheap but shoes, oh I love shoes! I have loved Dr Martens since I was very young.... they are the most comfortable footwear and their designs just keep on getting better and better!

I have my eye on these beautiful floral prints and pastel colours at the moment, so beautiful and great for everyday wear.... don't you think?!

Oh, and I have had my eye on these bad boys for a while now. I absolutely adore the black patent ones, they would be great for gigs and nights out! Just my kind of thing!

I challenge you to pick your favourite..... it is so hard!

Spring Giveaway Winner.....

2011-04-01T04:26:00.000-07:00

A huge thank you to everyone who entered my spring giveaway! I had some lovely comments regarding your favourite parts of spring.... it was a delight to read! I used the random number generator over at random.org to pick the winner and the winner is.....

Comment number 13 which was Kazzy from A Mermaid's Purse who said.....

"My fav' things about spring are the sounds of happy tweets in the tree's, new shoots of spring flowers creeping up between the grass...streams of sunny light in the morning through the curtains- blissful! if thats a word hehehe ;0)xxxx"

Congratulations Kazzy! If you could send me your address and i'll get your parcel out to you as soon as possible!

Happy Friday....

2011-03-25T02:43:00.000-07:00

I haven't done this for a while as I have been a little busy towards the end of each week but here is my latest installment of the "Happy Friday" series! For those who are new to my blog, these posts simply contain the small things in life that make me happy and things that I shouldn't take for granted!

Our weekly trip to Costa for a gingerbread latte and a sweet treat before browsing the flea market....

Huge bunches of bright yellow daffodils from my husband....

Booking the first of our summer holidays! We are staying in Mousehole in Cornwall, one of my favourite places on earth....

Giant homemade chocolate muffins covered in fruit, chocolate and edible glitter from the car boot sale/craft fair at the weekend....

Brand new quilted patchwork pillowcases from the flea market, just £1 for the pair. I adore the detail in these, they make bedtime even more enjoyable!

The spring issue of Country Homes magazine, banana soya milk (my new addiction!) and planning summer trips to London....

Listening to "The Creationist" by Kerli, this song is certain to put a smile on your face!

"Life is my creation
Is my best friend
Imagination
Is my defense
And I'll keep walking
When skies are grey
Whatever happens was meant that way

You're no better or no worse than the others
We are all the same
And life is just a moment
You might as well enjoy this day
It's time to start believing
That everything you want is on it's way"

What has been making you happy this week? Please do share or feel free to make one of these posts yourself! Spread the happiness!

Cath Kidston goodies....

2011-03-24T07:33:00.000-07:00

It has become a bit of a tradition that our trips to Cornwall always involve a visit to the beautiful Cath Kidston shop in St Ives. It has only been open a few years but it is my favourite store, quite compact but seems to stock pretty much everything!

It is also a tradition to browse the website and catalogue beforehand in anticipation of all the lovely things I might be coming home with. I always think, surely this season there can't be anything more I could want but oh no! Here is a selection of things from the spring/summer collection that I am currently drooling over....

1. Summer blossom rucksack, £38.00
2. Mini shooting star espadrilles, £48.00
3. Folk ditsy button badge set, £4.00
4. Sailor star kylie scarf, £20.00

1. Picnic flower waterproof rug, £25.00
2. Picnic flower large cool bag, £35.00
3. Picnic flower acrylic jug, £15.00
4. Picnic flower acrylic hi-ball, £4.00
5. Folk flowers paper napkins, £3.50
6. Daisy pop set of 4 melamine bowls, £16.00

7. Daisy pop set of 4 melamine plates, £24.00

I think my favourite item is the rucksack, i'll definitely be on the lookout for that in the shop. Everything is so lovely though!

Are you a Cath Kidston addict like me? Let me know what items you love this season!

Spring Giveaway....

2011-03-20T11:02:00.000-07:00

My reader count has been slowly creeping up recently so I thought that now would be the perfect time to host a spring giveaway to say thank you all for following my little blog! I have been busy gathering together a bundle of spring themed items over the last few days and here is what the lucky winner will receive....

The prize includes:
Hobbycraft set of coloured Easter egg decorations
Packet of luxury Easter card toppers
Handmade felt Easter bunny
Two pairs of my handmade flower earrings
A set of handmade Easter cards
Handmade painted wooden bead necklace
Belle & Boo postcard
Vintage paisley apron

To enter this giveaway there are just two simple instructions.....
1. You need to be a follower of my blog
2. Just leave a comment on this post telling me what your favourite thing about spring is!

The giveaway is open worldwide so anyone is free to enter.

The winner will be picked at random on 1st April 2011..... good luck folks!

Signs of spring....

2011-03-19T07:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we took a trip to Wentworth Garden Centre, a must visit if you are in the South Yorkshire area! At this time of year the family farm is filled with baby animals, one of the first signs of spring! I thought I would share a few photographs that I took as everyone loves lambs and guinea pigs, don't they?!

After our visit to the garden centre we had a walk around the village which was filled with beautiful bright yellow daffodils.... it looked so lovely against the clear blue sky!

Flea Market Treasure....

2011-03-10T11:07:00.000-08:00

I was determined to not spend much today but then I spied a table overflowing with vintage eiderdowns that I felt were literally begging to be taken home! A lot of them needed a bit of work doing to them to bring them back to life but I fell in love with this gorgeous peachy eidy that was in absolute perfect condition.... no holes, no fading, nothing!

ooh, it is so pretty.....

I found this fabulous book about Walt Disney World in the Cancer Research shop the other day. The photos inside are amazing and the pages are in pristine condition, perfect for a Disney geek like me!

Staying with the book theme, these Ladybird books were just £1 each from the market today and are filled with beautiful colour illustrations....

Beautiful Beatrix Potter card toppers (including guinea pigs!) and another one for the Disney collection! I'm getting towards completing this collection and can't believe Cinderella is one of the last ones i'm getting on the list! How naughty of me!

So there we have my finds from this week! I'm working all weekend now so no car boots/markets/jumble sales for me.... I suppose it shall save me a few pennies though! Have you found any bargains recently? Please do share if so!

Storage for things....

2011-03-06T10:15:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I seem to have a habit of buying lots and lots of small *things* and never think about where i'm going to put them once I get home! It may not seem like it, but i'm not one for clutter and like my stuff to be neatly arranged, organised and out of the way!

I saw this shadow box in Laura Ashley about a month ago and thought it would be the perfect place to store and display some of my small ornaments. I have just placed a few random things in there for the photo (I plan on using it for deer and owls only!) and it still needs screwing to a wall but I was so impatient to share it with you!

The shadow box is available to buy on this page and is priced at £60.00.

On Thursday I also picked up this old apple crate from Chesterfield flea market for a very reasonable £12.00. It is perfect for all of my soft animal shaped *things*....

Next time I will show you my clever way of storing and displaying shells, crystals and other bits of *stuff* that I seem to have collected!

Do you have any clever ways of storing your items? And are you like me, a hoarder who doesn't like clutter?! Please do share!

Top Five Favourite Movies....

2011-03-03T11:45:00.000-08:00

Kate from CinnyLoves did a fab post on her top five favourite movies and it really inspired me to post mine too! I don't really watch movies too often but I do have a collection of firm favourites, from those it was really hard to just pick five! I may have cheated a little bit as I am so indecisive but here goes....

1. Beauty and the Beast

Released in 1991 when I was just 6, this movie has been a favourite of mine since day one! I know the words off by heart, I could never tire of the songs, adore the animation and it was the start of a lifelong obsession with the wonderful world of Disney.

2. Lady and the Tramp

I love this movie so much, it is just so happy and is an utter delight to watch. Ben and I have developed a tradition of watching this on every special occasion whether it is my birthday, Christmas eve or our anniversary!

3. Rocky (all of them!)

This is the one where I cheat..... I absolutely adore every Rocky movie! I find watching these movies strangely inspirational with the classic rags to riches storyline and quotes such as "it ain't about how hard you hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward".

4. All the Little Animals

This is the one that probably most of you won't have seen but I truly recommend it! The movie stars Christian Bale as the main character and is beautifully set in Cornwall. If you like animals, beautiful coutryside and an amazingly creepy story.... this is for you!

5. Ladies in Lavender

I couldn't find many pictures from this movie, probably because it is a bit of an old lady film but shhhh, I like it! The video above features some absolutely fantastic violin playing from the last part of the movie (I used to play violin so I do have a soft spot for music like this!). Again, the movie is set in Cornwall in the tiny fishing village of Cadgwith.... one of my favourite places on earth!

So those are my top movies! I'll admit that I would have chosen five Disney movies but I limited it to two to try and make it a bit more varied! What are your favourites and could you choose just five? Let me know!

New Jewellery....

2011-02-27T11:11:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend I have been a busy beaver listing stuff on my etsy and folksy shops. I am really enjoying making jewellery at the moment and I think you'll start to see more vintage items being incorporated in to my work. As always, all of my findings are high quality silver plated and completely nickel free.... perfect for those with sensitive skin!

Please do take a look if you have a few minutes spare, I hope you find something that you like!

Happy Friday....

2011-02-24T10:57:00.000-08:00

I hope you have all had a good week. I am looking forwards to a three day weekend after a very busy week, it will be good to relax and do some fun things! In a follow up to my recent 'Happy Friday....' post, here are a few of the small things that have been making me happy recently....

Meals out in the Peak District. Below is a very lovely and much recommended stilton, grape and walnut salad from Caudwell's Mill craft centre cafe near Bakewell.

Tangerine coloured nails.
Barry M, of course!

Matlock Bath.

On Sunday we had a day out at Matlock Bath where we visited the amusements, played air hockey, took a trip round the spooky aquarium, looked at holograms, purchased edible euros from the sweet shop and shared portions of chunky chips with sandwiches. A lovely day out!

Hitting the big 2-0.
I had my 20th sale over at my folksy shop the other day. I am really thrilled that the sale was one of my patchwork cushions, they are one of my favourite things to make!

Looking through old photographs.
.... and seeing how many different colours my hair has been during the past few years!

I have gained quite a few new readers recently so *hello* to all of you and a big thank you to everyone who follows my blog, I am really grateful for every single one of you! I have a very special giveaway lined up that I will post in a few weeks time so keep your eyes peeled for it!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend :)

Turquoise and yellow....

2011-02-19T14:07:00.000-08:00

Creating this treasury was so soothing whilst the snow came down outside this morning. I love bright yellow and turquoise together, turquoise being my favourite ever colour and yellow a more recent love.

Turquoise and Yellow, an Etsy treasury

Yellow is the colour of creativity, clarity, happiness and intellect whilst turquoise is all about spirituality, communication, serenity and inner peace. I think the mix of the two together is quite powerful!

My birthday in pictures....

2011-02-18T14:55:00.000-08:00

St Valentine's day is not only my birthday but it is my mum's birthday too. We had a lovely day filled with lots of presents, lunch at one of my favourite pubs in the Peak District, tea and cake in the afternoon and an evening party. Here are some photographs from the day....

As always, there are lots more photographs over at my flickr!

Treasure Hunting....

2011-02-12T10:48:00.000-08:00

Thursday was flea market day in Chesterfield so the Mr and I took a trip there in search of treasure. The market is so vast with stalls piled high so even though we spent a whole day there, we only had time to squeeze in a few shops too!

Here are some of the things I found on the day. I seem to have a thing for colourful vintage bedding, I just love it....

This delicate hand painted ceramic swan pendant is my favourite. I bought the gold chain from Curious Goods in Chesterfield to wear it straight away....

Lots and lots of tapestry threads and lovely vintage buttons....

I found this beauty in the RSPCA shop....

And this dear little Holly doll was from the same stall that I found Mrs Squirrel a few weeks ago. She needs quite a bit of repair work (again, her head is falling off!) but it's nothing that I can't sort out....

As well as these items I managed to get my hands on a few 1960's/1970's dresses.... not bad for a day out!

Happy Birthday Ted & Snufkin....

2011-02-11T08:52:00.000-08:00

A year ago today we visited the local dog rescue to donate some blankets and came home with two new additions to our lovely guinea pig family. These little guys make me smile every day and their personalities are so adorable!

We have had to learn a lot about their breed as they are certainly not your regular guinea pig (they can climb vertical walls and are a million times more energetic/hungry/thirsty than our other pigs!) but I think it makes them all the more lovable.

Look at how much they have changed in just a year! They used to be so small that they would fit in your hand....

With short fuzzy baby fur....

Now their fur is growing and getting more curly.....

And these photographs were taken this afternoon....

I don't think they liked the idea of party hats!

Welcome To The Strange....

2011-02-06T08:06:00.000-08:00

Last night was easily the best gig I have ever been to! My two favourite bands playing together in my hometown? yes please!!

Here is a pic of hubby & I before it got so hot in there that sweat started to literally run down the walls and pour from the ceiling (ew, I know!).....

Black Veil Brides were amazing and we were so incredibly lucky to catch them on one of their first ever dates in the UK. I have been a huge fan of them for ages now and their CD hasn't ever left the car since I bought it.... so pleased to finally see them live! ps, take a look at Andy Six hanging from the ceiling!

The Murderdolls were quite simply outstanding, completely breathtaking! I don't think I could ever tire of seeing this band live. Their shows are so energetic, funny and really get the whole crowd involved... I didn't want it to end! They even dedicated the song "Welcome to the Strange" to Paul Gray from Slipknot who sadly died last year....

Here is a teeny tiny film that I took last night showing part of my favourite Murderdolls song "My Dark Place Alone"....

Untitled from Rebecca BK on Vimeo.

A truly memorable night, can't wait to see them again!

Happy Friday....

2011-02-04T07:24:00.000-08:00

It is so easy to take the small things in life for granted but we really shouldn't! I thought I would start a new feature on my blog to share some of the things I have enjoyed or been inspired by throughout the week (or indeed, things that I am looking forwards to!).

So we'll start off with my favourite thing to do at the moment, charity shop shopping....

I got the above items on a trip to the charity shops with my mum this morning. The scarf will be perfect for the spring and I just couldn't leave the kitten cup and saucer set. I'll probably give the CD to my husband, it is more his 'kind of thing'! haha!

Black Veil Brides & Murderdolls....

Tomorrow night i'm off to see these two bands tomorrow night and I am beyond excited! It feels like we got tickets such a long time ago and I have been waiting and waiting and waiting....! Hurry up tomorrow!

Meals out and trips to the Peak District

I love finding new places to eat, especially when it involves a trip out in to the Peak District! On a day off recently we tried The Peaks Inn in Castleton, I very much recommend it. Huge portions and lovely food!

Spring flowers....

Daffodils are hugely underrated! Such a simple flower but so beautiful. Ben bought me these the other day and I love them.

Tangled....

One of the best Disney movies ever, ever, ever! I was completely blown away by the lantern scene and can't wait to see it again!

Cheap jewellery....

I never normally shop in Primark but once in a while I'll go in and accidentally fill a basket with their horrendously cheap jewellery. I'm in love with the snake bangle and their seahorse/starfish jewellery is so cute! It'll all fall to bits in a few weeks but it is pretty while it lasts!

Hearts and flowers....

2011-02-03T04:33:00.000-08:00

I don't know what it is about heart shapes and flowers, I just love them! I put together the collage above using items from my folksy and etsy shops, all of them would be perfect for St Valentines day either as a gift for someone or a treat for yourself!

Do you celebrate the 14th February? I'm getting super excited for it to arrive as my birthday (and my mums!) falls on the same day. Now, to conquer the task of booking a birthday meal out that isn't candlelit dinners for two!

Pudding Camera....

2011-01-30T07:29:00.000-08:00

I downloaded Pudding Camera the other night for my iPhone and I have been having lots of fun with it so far! It is a superb app that contains lots of different filters and effects and is super easy to use. The app isn't in English but it is all pretty self explanatory.... just have a play and you'll soon work it out!

Here are a few really quick snaps of "grey puss" who hangs out with my grandma and the fairy door found at the back of her garden....

Have you found any good iPhone apps recently? I'm always on the lookout for fun things to download, especially if they are photography related!

Flea Market Finds....

2011-01-26T07:45:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday I visited Chesterfield flea market for a spot of shopping, I really recommend a visit it if you are in the area. There are countless stalls, it is easy to get a bit overwhelmed with the amount of items on offer! I tend to zig-zag through, making sure I don't miss out anything... taking breaks for charity shops along the way!

Here are some of the things I found last week....

Old books.... the covers are a bit tatty (I like that!) but they have pristine illustrations inside, perfect for framing!

An adorable milk jug.... the milk comes out of the cows mouth!

Beaded necklaces, you can't have too many of these!

..... and I have saved my favourite for last, this vintage squirrel soft toy. She needed quite a bit of repair work (her head was hanging off amongst other things!) and a good wash but doesn't she look lovely now I have fixed her up?! I love the detail on her outfit, from the sweet embroidered acorns on the collar to the teeny tiny hankie folded up inside the apron. I can tell Mrs Squirrel is going to be with me for quite some time!

Beauty Naturals....

2011-01-18T01:25:00.000-08:00

For those who read the wonderful Coast magazine, there is a fantastic offer this month for a FREE Skin Revivals Revitalising Cream from Beauty Naturals (worth £13.00). I ordered mine at the beginning of last week and a beautiful package arrived at my door less than 48 hours later.

As well as the free cream, there are a range of hugely discounted products that you can choose with the offer.

I went for two products, the free Revitalising Cream and the Harmonising Tonic.... the tonic I received included a free pack of organic cotton pads.... so for £5.50 in total, I got 3 products worth £22.30! The package also came with a catalogue with various money saving vouchers for when you make further orders.

I am very pleased with the products that I received so I will just tell you a bit more about them.....

Skin Revivals Revitalising Cream - White tea and rosehip....

From the website....

"A silky, smooth textured cream with a gentle rose fragrance and easily absorbed. The concentrated combination of rich emollients will help strengthen the skin, restore vitality to dull skin and re-balance. Additional active botanicals help to diminish the appearance of lines, protect against free radical damage and maintain moisture balance."

What's good about the product?

+ Not tested on animals

+ No artificial colours or fragrance

+ No primary petrochemicals

+ No parabens

+ Added UVA/B protection

Skin Revivals Harmonising Tonic - White tea and bilberry....

From the website....

"For skin that needs gentle refining, refreshing, firming and clarifying. An alcohol free, mild and soothing, herbal toning lotion to prepare skin for daily moisturising. Clarifies, normalises sebum production, maintains moisture balance and brightens the complexion."

What's good about the product?

+ Alcohol free

+ Not tested on animals

+ No artificial colours or fragrance

+ No primary petrochemicals

+ No parabens

From what I can tell so far, these products are of amazing quality and very good value for money even at full price. I love the fact that you can smell the beautiful ingredients and that the cream soaks straight in to the skin leaving you feeling completely refreshed. I have incredibly sensitive skin and these products do not irritate me in the slightest, huge bonus for me!

I will definately be purchasing more from Beauty Naturals, their catalogue is filled with amazing products including firm favourites of mine such as Burt's Bees, Faith in Nature and Badger.

As you all know, I adore and only use cruelty free products and you can be assured that ALL products from Beauty Naturals are free from slaughterhouse derived ingredients. Neither the ingredients nor the products have been tested on animals and Beauty Naturals insist on assurances from their suppliers that they do no solicit third party testing.

I really recommend this offer so grab yourself a copy of Coast magazine and get ordering!

A bit of patchwork....

2011-01-17T14:18:00.000-08:00

Over the Christmas period I had a bit of time for some sewing and one of the products I made was this cute patchwork cushion. The bright colours and lovely prints would be sure to cheer anyone up on these cold dark days!

The fabric I used came from everywhere, from vintage sheets to some more modern pieces! Some of the best bits about patchwork are getting to use so many different fabrics, fitting them together and hand sewing each piece.... I'm sure I have said this before but I find it very relaxing!

The cushion is fully lined and is backed with a beige cotton fabric which provides a nice contrast to the colour on the front!

I have listed the cushion on both etsy and folksy so please do take a look!

Inspiration board....

2011-01-14T08:28:00.000-08:00

I bought this handmade notice board from eBay a while ago and it is the perfect place for displaying little bits of inspiration! The board is covered with Cath Kidston fabric and is firmly padded so you can use pins with it too.... you could make one very easily yourself (using a tutorial such as this one) or just cheat by buying one like I did.

I have boxes of postcards, business cards, found objects, souvenirs and decorations at home and I like to change the board around every few weeks to make the most of what I have. I always try to go for a bit of a theme too; whether it is souvenirs of a place we have visited recently, or to reflect a feeling or the season we are in.

Do you have an inspiration board at home? I would love to see!

Cath Kidston....

2011-01-14T06:40:00.001-08:00

It's no secret that I am addicted to Cath Kidston products. I have just about one of everything, from the radio to the bedding to the phone cover.... you name it, I probably own it!

I am very excited about the spring collection this year and I have noticed a few new products creeping on to the website over the past few days. My favourite so far is this cheerful gypsy caravan shaped sewing basket (£48.00)....

I want it!

New Jewellery....

2011-01-11T11:19:00.000-08:00

I have slowly been listing new jewellery on both my etsy and folksy shops! The jewellery is inspired by the gentle colours of spring, my vintage jewellery collection and my never ending love of flowers and birds.

I still have quite a bit to list including more jewellery, new cushions and heart garlands made with lovely vintage fabric but I get easily frustrated with the winter 'light' which makes for difficult photo taking. Keeping my fingers crossed for a nice sunny day soon!

Folksy Finds #6

2011-01-07T02:03:00.000-08:00

Quite a short post from me today, i'm not very well again! Roll on spring, warmer weather and happy times!

This installment of the 'Folksy Finds' feature has a distinct tea theme, my favourite drink! It is quite surprising how many tea and biscuit related items there are on folksy when you search, I guess it shows just how much this simple drink means to us!

1. Cherry Bone China Thistle Sugar Bowl by Mr. Wick
£8.00 plus p&p

2. I Love Tea Cushion by Dinky Daisy
~~Was £30.00~~ now £20.00 with free UK p&p

3. Illustrated Custard Cream brooch in Japanese Plywood by Nikki Made
£6.00 plus p&p

4. Biscuit Soap Set (vegan & suitable for sensitive skin) by Bits N Bobs
£2.75 plus p&p

Are you a tea addict like me? or are you more of a coffee person (personally, I can't stand coffee!)?

As always, if you are a maker yourself you can request to be featured in the next 'Folksy Finds' by sending me a message with a link to your Folksy shop.... my contact details are just over to the right of this page!

Happy New Year....

2011-01-03T04:44:00.000-08:00

I hope you have all had a wonderful new year and are feeling rested and ready to face whatever 2011 may bring!

I'm blogging today from my shiny new laptop that I bought with Christmas money last week. So far I am loving Windows 7 and it is nice to have a laptop that isn't filled with millions of files slowing it down. I'm on the lookout for a nice case to keep it in now, I'm quite drawn to the Cath Kidston ones but we shall see!

2011 is the year (fingers crossed!) that we buy a little house and get a dog. I'm also going to concentrate more on Athene Noctua, introducing new products including a range of jewellery and later in the year maybe some paintings/prints. The tiny sakura studs above are part of the jewellery collection that I have made for spring..... lots of vintage inspired flowers and birds in yummy pastel colours!

Christmas....

2010-12-26T14:11:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post to wish you all a happy Christmas and a peaceful start to the new year. I hope you have all had a relaxing few days and got everything you wanted for Christmas! I'll be back in 2011 but I shall leave you with a few photographs that I have taken during the past few days....

52 Weeks Later....

2010-12-21T14:34:00.000-08:00

This week I crossed off a big task on my Day Zero project list, the task of buying a CD album every week for a whole year. Finding 52 different albums was a mighty task but I am so thrilled that I finished it!

As you can probably tell from the collage of the albums I purchased, I had quite a good mix of music in there. I repurchased my favourite albums that I had stupidly sold on eBay (HIM, Disturbed, Manic Street Preachers), indulged in a bit of pop music and on those weeks I was desperate to get my CD I bought music from car boot sales on a Sunday.

Phew! Glad that one is over!

Silent Night....

2010-12-20T11:02:00.000-08:00

I don't think you can beat a bit of Elvis sometimes, do you? hehe xx

Day Zero Project....

2010-12-19T13:18:00.000-08:00

How many of you are attempting the Day Zero project? I started mine on January the 1st 2010 and as it is coming up to a year since I began I thought I would give a little update on how it is going so far!

For those of you who don't know about Day Zero, here is a little bit of information taken from the official website....

The Challenge:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple challenges such as New Year's resolutions or a 'Bucket List'. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips, study semesters, or outdoor activities.

When writing my list at the beginning of the year I tried to make it as varied as possible with a good range of learning new things, visiting new places and achieving goals. I didn't want to fill my list with life changing goals such as losing weight or getting fit because those are more like the new years resolutions that we tend to give in with after a few months! I wanted to make it fun enough so that I would feel motivated to finish it completely.

You can view my full list on this page and I also set up a flickr set where I upload a picture every time an item is crossed off the list (or so the plan goes, I never seem to get time for this part!).

Here are a few of the items that I completed during 2010....

016. Complete a cross stitch project

057. Create a scrapbook of inspirational images from magazines in order to get rid of my magazine collection!

058. Go to Disneyland for their Christmas season

061. Make biscuits

073. Rehome an animal
....not one, but two! We found Ted & Snufkin at the local dog rescue in February when donating blankets for the dogs. They are the most incredible pets and so cuddly with their long curly fur, it baffles me why anyone would not want them!

080. Buy something from a shopping channel
I bought these Yankee Candles from QVC recently.... I got quite excited by the fact that the candles sold out on the tv as soon as I bought them and their "get ready, make room, your parcels are coming" update emails are really cute!

081. Buy a Cath Kidston DAB digital radio

There are quite a few more that I have completed so far but I don't want to bombard you all with pictures!

I'm really enjoying the Day Zero project so far, I haven't completed as many as I would have liked this year but I have until September 28th 2012 to finish it! It is nice being able to work at it at my own speed with the items and choose which ones to complete first. Maybe next year i'll have a go at some of the more difficult ones, like BUYING A HOUSE! hehe ;)

For those who are also attempting the project, how is it going for you? I'd love to know!

Cheap Christmas crafts....

2010-12-07T09:14:00.000-08:00

I spent this morning catching up with present wrapping and card writing. It is about this time that I start to panic and worry if everything will be done in time, it always seems to work out OK in the end though!

I have been making cotton drawstring bags for small toiletries, they are super easy to make and I can whip up quite a few relatively quickly! They make a nice change to paper and the bags can be reused after.

Not wanting to buy gift tags this year I also used up some of the resources I have around the house to make some instead. Coloured card, garden twine, a hole punch, ink and Christmas stamps was all I needed and it didn't cost me a penny (which is great because I need large amounts of them)!

(ps, sorry for the bad quality iPhone photographs!)

Blue hair, patchwork & Christmas trees....

2010-12-02T10:50:00.000-08:00

It is funny how life comes to a standstill as soon as snow hits the ground here in the UK! If you know me, on my days off I love to be out and about doing things but as the car is completely buried and the buses are off.... it isn't happening! Still, it gives me chance to catch up on things around the house and take walks around my neighbourhood (something we rarely do!).

Firstly I wanted to share a picture of my new hair colour, which I really really love! I used Directions hair dye (as always) in Turquoise and Flamingo Pink which were mixed together to create this lovely purple at the front. I would love to have this all over but might just do the other side too and see how it goes. (I apologise that I have absolutely no makeup on and I am in my pyjamas in this pic.... it was very late!)

We took a walk around my neighbourhood today to take some pictures of the snow and to get some fresh air. Here is my hubby (wearing my gloves!) up to his knees in the snow.... it really is that deep!

The roads and buildings look so pretty in the snow....

The past few nights have been spent decorating the house for Christmas. We like to get it done early so that we can enjoy it for the whole month! Below is the tree in our bedroom, decorated with decorations from our many trips to Disneyland and from car boot sales/charity shops.

And this is the dining room tree, which is also where I do all my work until we buy a house! I bought the polar bear plush last week (couldn't resist it!) and think it looks great as a tree guardsman! You can buy your own here on etsy.

And finally! This afternoon I have been cutting lots and lots of hexagons from my fabric stash and getting them ready to make some cushions. I'm really loving bright colours at the moment!

How have you guys been spending your snow days? Wrapped up warm at home or braving it to work? Let me know!

A shopping post....

2010-11-29T11:18:00.000-08:00

The end of November usually brings plenty of shopping trips trying to get Christmas/birthday presents bought and finished. Is it just me or does anyone else have a million birthdays to buy for at this time of year?! Usually, what happens though is I'll get so stressed trying to find the 'perfect gift' that I end up buying things for myself.... It is so much easier finding stuff that I like!

I have purchased quite a few things over the last couple of weeks (including a brand new Aquascutum wool coat, £10 charity shop find! I'll post about that later) but here are some of my favourite bargains....

St Luke's hospice, 50p

Chesterfield flea market, 50p

Adorable brooches from the craft fair at work, £1 each (by Debbie Greenaway)

This is my favourite thing ever.... he's wearing a jumpsuit too! From Paperchase (can't remember how much but used my 25% off)

Wooden heart photo clip garland, £4 ish from Maisons Du Monde

Ribbon for making lavender hearts and Christmas decorations, £4.50 from Chatsworth

Snow....

2010-11-26T14:18:00.000-08:00

Seeing as snow season has officially started, I thought that I would share some photographs that I took last year along with some quotes about the lovely cold stuff! I hope you enjoy them....

Folksy Finds #5

2010-11-17T13:30:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since my last Folksy Finds post, the last one being way back in September complete with a definite autumn theme! I have some lovely treats for you today though, perfect for those early Christmas shoppers who might be hunting for something a little bit different and made with love.

My favourite items on Folksy recently have been a mix of festive goodies, potential presents and those items that I secretly want for myself..... and trust me, there are a lot of those! There are some super talented people out there!

I'm loving the use of colour, floral prints, vintage fabric and salvaged materials in the items that I am sharing with you today....

1. Soft green half-and-half oblong cushion by halfandhalf
£32.00 plus p&p

2. Set of Five 'Granny Chic' Christmas Trees by Sew Vintage Obsessed
£7.00 plus p&p

3. Textile Ship Brooch/Pin 'Little Voyages' by Gracie's Garden Bazaar
£14.00 plus free UK p&p until January

4. Pip the Fairy by Mollys Mum
£7.00 plus p&p

Please take a look at these wonderful makers over at Folksy if you like what you see!

Remember, if you are a maker yourself you can request to be featured in the next 'Folksy Finds' by sending me a message with a link to your Folksy shop.... my contact details are just over to the right of this page!

Disneyland....

2010-11-14T10:55:00.000-08:00

Our trip to Disneyland Paris was loads of fun, an experience I shall never forget! November is an extremely cold and wet time to visit but the parks were covered in a magical blanket of lights, snow and decorations.... you couldn't fail to be happy! Parades, rides and shows kept us busy whilst the hotel log fire, hot chocolate and lots of delicious food kept us warm.

I haven't been through my photographs yet but here are three I picked to share with you so far that sum up the week we had....

(edited: to include a video of the firework show we saw whilst there, it was toooo beautiful!)

I'm not going to do a holiday diary (mostly due to being ill at the moment) but I'll slowly be uploading photographs to my flickr for any Disney fans out there!

Iron Fist....

2010-11-02T10:22:00.000-07:00

This morning I stumbled upon Iron Fist clothing in a shop I used to frequent as a teenager and I have fallen in love with the shoes!

The shoes have really cute names like Zebracorn (shown above) and there are a pair that even glow in the dark.... amazing!

Here is the blurb from their website....
"Within our clothing you will find outbursts of obnoxious colour mixed with raw and dirty tattoo inspired street art. Refusing to be pigeonholed into a skate, punk, hip hop or tattoo genre, Iron Fist has grown from strength to strength purely because of its diversity and constantly innovative approach to each season.
Renowned for quality product with exceptional artwork from a barrage of some of the world’s best underground and street artists, Iron Fist is not for everyone, and we like it that way. Our customer is an individual, a person who creates their own style."

From what I can tell, the shoes are vegan and they aren't even expensive so I might just have to treat myself to a pair one day soon!

Halloween....

2010-10-31T07:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween! How are you celebrating this evening? We have our pumpkins carved ready and are having a small party tonight complete with fireworks.... I'm looking forwards to it!

Did any of you manage to get hold of screme eggs? I found mine in Asda, it seems to be the only place I have seen them being sold. I am rather fond of Halloween themed snacks and the pale green yolk inside and green packaging is a really nice touch!

Anyway, I am off to get ready now.... I hope you all enjoy your night! I'm going to leave you with a video from my absolute favourite band, Black Veil Brides. I am so excited that they are touring the UK with the Murderdolls at the beginning of 2011 and still can't quite believe they will be playing in my city! Hurry up February!

Not long to go....

2010-10-26T13:35:00.000-07:00

Our Eurostar tickets and holiday documents arrived yesterday so I can officially start getting excited for our annual trip to Disneyland Resort Paris!

I feel just as excited as I did for my first trip there and even after visiting every single year, there is still so much to see and do. These photographs are from our honeymoon last October when it was their Halloween festival, my favourite time of year!

I found this lovely quote on a Disney forum the other day...
I think because Disneyland is a place were you can be a kid at any age. A place were just as Uncle Walt said. "Here age relives fond memories of the past." I believe nothing could be more truer than those simple words. I know every time I go to the park I feel like I did the first times I visited. There's just a "MAGIC" that gets into your soul that you just can't explain. The place just makes you live for that moment and nothing else. That's what I love about Disneyland.

I'm going to do a day by day trip report when I get back so I can share some of my photographs and experiences with you all, especially as I know I have a few Disney-loving followers!

Fa la la la felt....

2010-10-20T08:43:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I purchased a copy of Fa la la la felt by Amanda Carestio, a book containing 45 handmade holiday decorations that all use felt as their main fabric.

I wanted to share the book with you as I am really thrilled with it and how easy the projects are, none of them take long to complete either which is always a bonus!

What I love most about the book is the range of projects, from decorations to garlands to stockings.... pretty much everything you need to decorate your house during the festive season! And look how cute the projects are, who wouldn't want these little toadstools adorning their Christmas tree?

I'm looking forwards to making Mr Gingerman and his sugar friend although a trip to the craft shop is needed as I used up the last of my brown felt....

making these cute little owls....

I'm going to leave you with a few of the items that I have made so far. None of them took more than an hour to make, in fact the thing that took the longest was working out how to use our new photocopier to copy the patterns.... I am so bad with technology!

Fa la la la felt is available to buy here on Amazon :)

A year ago....

2010-10-16T06:23:00.000-07:00

How quickly time flies! I can't believe that it has been a year since our wedding day, it doesn't seem two minutes since all we thought about was planning cakes and cars and flowers....

I'm not a hugely romantic person but our wedding day was beautiful and our venue (Whitley Hall in Sheffield) was perfect. We were also lucky enough to stay at The Disneyland Hotel for our honeymoon with views of the castle and the most incredible food, a luxury I can only dream of doing again one day! Keep saving, keep saving!

We are off to Matlock Bath tonight for a meal out to celebrate and then to see the illuminations, boat parade and the clifftop firework display later on.... I am super excited!

Beyond Limits....

2010-10-15T12:02:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday we went to Chatsworth to see Beyond Limits, their annual contemporary sculpture exhibition. It was a beautiful day and I got a bit snap happy with my camera so I thought I would share a few photographs from the day....

The sculptures are dotted all over the garden and we had loads of fun finding them all using the map we were given. It is like a treasure hunt for very expensive art.... apparently the prices start at £100,000!
It is also a fantastic way to explore the garden at the same time, at this time of year there is so much colour and life :)

There are lots more photographs over at my flickr!

Giveaway winner...

2010-10-10T11:41:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway on my last post. I used the random number generator over at random.org to pick the winner and the winner is.....

comment number 12, Diane from Heart Shaped. Congratulations Diane! If you could send me your address then i'll get your parcel to you asap!

Giveaway time....

2010-10-05T10:46:00.000-07:00

In celebration of reaching 100 followers, I am going to hold my very first blog giveaway! I am super pleased there are so many of you interested in what I do so I just wanted to use this opportunity to give something back.

So here we go!

The lucky winner will receive one of my handmade pink love heart brooches made with vintage fabric and finished with vintage lace and a cute button. I'm also going to throw in some Cath Kidston postcards, a birdhouse brooch and a gorgeous smelling lavender soap by one of my favourite cruelty free brands, Faith in Nature.

So how do you enter?

All you need to do is follow my blog and leave a comment. The giveaway is open worldwide so anyone can enter!

The winner will be drawn on Sunday 10th October 2010.

Good luck guys! :)

Folksy Finds #4

2010-09-28T04:05:00.000-07:00

Brr! Isn't it getting chilly?

My favourite time of the year has arrived and I am so excited for everything that I have planned! In a few weeks time it is our first wedding anniversary so I have been busy on etsy and folksy looking for a few gifts to celebrate the day. I can't believe how quickly this year is going, house deposit saving is a long slow process but I am sure we will get there in the end!

To celebrate autumn, here are some fantastic items that I found on folksy recently.... I hope you love them just as much as I do!

1. Oak leaf coin purse by Leanne Woods Designs
£10.00 plus p&p

2. Ballooning mice by Flossie Limejuice
£19.50 plus p&p

3. Fairy lights print by Sparklehen
£7.50 plus p&p

4. Red acorn earrings by Wollies
£6.00 plus p&p

Recent makes....

2010-09-23T11:40:00.000-07:00

I always like finding new things to make and love working with felt so yesterday I found these adorable tutorials and just had to make them straight away!

The mushroom house was made using the tutorial at the little house by the sea. The tutorial was really simple to follow, I really recommend hopping over there and trying it out for yourself. I'm not very good with embroidery having not done it much before but I had fun picking colours and doing the little pink roses!

The little owl ornament was made using the tutorial over at Juicy Bits. This pattern was also super easy to use and I made the little owl in less than half an hour.... I can see myself making quite a few of these as pre-christmas gifts for people for their trees.

Have you found any good online craft tutorials recently? Please do share if so!

New products & cosy nights....

2010-09-21T07:57:00.000-07:00

I have been making these cute heart shaped brooches recently using scraps of vintage fabric, lace, ribbon and buttons. As a fine art student, I spent most of my time making collages and loved incorporating both natural and found objects in to my work.... I think this is starting to translate in to my craft work too!

The brooches are currently for sale and can be found at my folksy shop.

These cold nights are making me excited for autumn and all of the exciting things I have planned! The other night I got out the box of fairy lights (I seem to collect them, I have so many different sets!) and chose these mini chandelier lights for the head of the bed.....

cosy!

Finally, I just wanted to share a picture of some of the pretty asters that my hubby bought for me recently. Don't they look lovely in this green paisley Greengate jug?

I'm back!

2010-09-11T13:55:00.000-07:00

I have been a bit quiet around here recently, we have just arrived home after a lovely relaxing holiday in Dorset. We stayed in a converted barn in the middle of the countryside which had its own swimming pool and plenty of wildlife nearby.

I have taken lots of photographs so I am looking forwards to sharing them and catching up with a bit of blog reading!

Today's finds....

2010-08-29T11:59:00.000-07:00

I picked up these painted carousel horses for the collection from today's car boot sale for just 50p each. Aren't they lovely? If you know me, you'll know I have a thing for just about anything fairground related!

It is Blackpool night on BBC Four tonight, I love seeing old footage of my favourite seaside town especially clips of the Pleasure Beach!
My favourite ride there was the "Greatest Show on Earth", a suspended dark ride just by one of the park entrances. I found this clip on youtube recently featuring footage of the whole ride....

When I was younger I would take every family member on, just so I could repeatedly ride it. There was one time my grandad accidentally (or it might have been on purpose!) knocked the head from one of the horses in the circus scene.... it was a while before it was replaced!

Many elements from the attraction can still be found scattered across the park...

including the horses!

iPhoneography

2010-08-25T13:19:00.000-07:00

My iPhone is one of those things that I thought I could live without.... until I got one! I adore the camera on it, perfect for when I don't want to carry a heavy digital camera around :)

Here are a few photographs I have taken recently mixed with some of mine that I have edited, all using the "ShakeItPhoto" app....

Folksy Finds #3

2010-08-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

I have been a bit absent from blogger for a while due to my laptop getting a nasty virus which has taken a while to sort out plus selling on eBay has kept me incredibly busy. It is so good to have a big clearout once in a while, getting rid of all the stuff no longer used in exchange for a bit of money. I sent my husband to the post office with all the parcels last week, I can imagine the people behind him would have been very grumpy waiting!

I'm easing back in today with a 'folksy finds', just some of the things I have been admiring on folksy recently!

1. Summer Rosali Bunting by Polka Dots and Posies £18.00 plus p&p

2. Pip the Circus Dog by Northfield Primitives
£35.00 plus p&p

3. Bright Blue Elephant Coin Purse by The White Elephant
£5.00 plus p&p

4. Sweetie Brooch by Treaclezoo
£7.00 plus p&p

My weekend....

2010-08-10T14:42:00.000-07:00

I found this handsome chap at the car boot sale on Sunday, he was the most expensive item I got at £2.00 but I love him to bits!

My husband and I took a trip to Oxford & Bicester village this weekend where I might have overspent in all of the lovely shops! I was very impressed with the Cath Kidston and Luella outlet shops. Luella had tops for £10 and beautiful dresses for around £85 which is just insane.... as you can probably guess, I spent a few pennies in there :)

It was raining almost all day so I didn't take many photographs but I have uploaded at few to my flickr for those who are interested!

Shopping....

2010-07-30T03:21:00.000-07:00

I have been a bit naughty recently and have been on a few shopping trips so I thought that I would do a bit of a 'show and tell' of my favourite purchases. I always like reading about what people buy on my favourite blogs so I hope you like!
I have a few holidays coming up this autumn including our annual visit to Disneyland so I have started shopping for warm clothes & cute accessories, I am so excited for autumn this year!

Vivienne Westwood pirate boots - £244.00 (sale), net-a-porter

Squirrel jumper - £24.99, River Island
Ribbed t-shirt - £5.00, River Island

Bear hat - £14.99, River Island

DKNY watch for work - £41.00 (sale), ASOS

Floral skirt - £5.00, Primark
Heart print bubble skirt - I think this was about £8.00 but it had no price tag, Primark

Flower corsage and Poodle/Eiffel Tower necklace - I think these were £1.50 each from Primark

Lace top - £12.00 (Sale), River Island

Bunny ring - £2.00, Primark
Lush Demon in the Dark soap and Twilight bath ballistic

Bow brooch - £2.00 (sale), River Island
Bow hairgrips - £1.00 (sale), Topshop

Peter pan collar dress - £11.00, Primark
Scarf - £6.00 (sale), River Island

The sales have been really good this summer, I am trying to stay away from the shops though as I am supposed to be saving money! Have you found any bargains recently? Please do share!

A bit of a photo post....

2010-07-21T07:53:00.000-07:00

I have had a few days off work and I just don't know where the time has gone! I had big plans of sorting things out that I have been putting off, seeing Toy Story and listing masses items on ebay but none of it has happened!
I spent most of my days painting up the stairs and the landing at my parents house to help out a bit.... it was a much bigger area than I thought and I really did bite off more than I could chew!

I have been feeling quite down recently so today I am going to share with you some of the things that are keeping me happy at the moment....

Baking
I got this book as a wedding present from my aunt last October and we have been slowly working our way through the many sweet treats in there! This afternoon I made some apricot and banana muffins. I don't really have a sweet tooth but these don't have too much sugar in and are really sweetened by the bananas, yummy!

Trips out
Whenever my husband and I have the day off together, we mostly spend time in the Peak District. At this time of year there are always plenty of events on as well as well dressings, village fairs, etc. The flower photos below were taken at the Bath Gardens in Bakewell on our way to the "Bakewell by the sea" event at the weekend.

Chickpea
Our new hamster Chickpea is settling in really well! It is extremely hard to get a good photograph of him as he is still jumpy and won't sit still but we are getting there!
We thought he was long haired when we got him but his long fur seems to just grow around his back legs making him look like he is wearing furry trousers, so cute!

Car boot sales
Finally, I am going to admit to being addicted to car boot sales! This weekend we braved the rain and came home with some lovely things. Recent finds include vintage embroidered tablecloths, brand new handmade crochet blankets, old Country Living magazines and plenty of vintage animals!

Folksy Finds #2

2010-07-10T10:56:00.000-07:00

It has been so hot this week! Warm weather always makes me want to not be at work and be by the sea instead, are you the same?

The items I am loving on Folksy this week all have a nautical theme as I tend to shop for items that reflect how I am feeling!

1. Pocket Pal Fish and Starfish by Mia Design
£10.00 plus p&p

2. Little Wooden Boat by Elli Moody
£4.50 plus p&p

3. Little Boat Brooch by Buttercup Boutique
£7.50 plus p&p

4. Lavender Fish by Kirsty Elson Designs
£4.50 plus p&p

Patchwork cushions

2010-07-05T12:54:00.000-07:00

I have recently finished sewing another patchwork cushion, they are super fun to make! The blue one at the top is made from a mixture of beautiful vintage fabric and a bit of Cath Kidston and Tanya Whelan!

Those who follow me on Twitter will know that I set up my folksy shop last week, I have added both of these cushions today so please feel free to take a look!

After years of selling on ebay, folksy and etsy are taking a while to get used to but I am getting there!

Faith in nature

2010-07-04T13:21:00.000-07:00

Something a bit different from me today!

A couple of weeks ago I got my hands on some Faith in Nature products after looking for a new shampoo and conditioner for ages and ages. I was blown away by how good they are (and how good they smell!) so I thought I would share them with you!

Faith in Nature have a range of hair care products that cater for every hair type so it was quite difficult choosing. The chocolate one sounds so good but I opted for the Lavender & Geranium mostly because this is one of my favourite scents but also because it is designed for normal to dry hair.

Here is what it says on their website....
"Skilfully developed with beneficial aromatherapy oils by our own experts to nourish hair and scalp, using Nature’s ingredients while caring for the environment. Part of our award winning range of natural beauty products.

A naturally antiseptic and restorative conditioner which helps to balance sebum production. Carefully blended with relaxing Lavender and balancing Geranium, a natural astringent, this subtle combination of essential oils soothes both mind and mood."

These products are:
- Not tested on animals
- Vegan
- Paraben & SLES free
- Contain no artificial preservatives or colours
- pH balanced
- Fully biodegradable

These products are a complete joy to use.... you need to leave the conditioner on for about 5 minutes but really you'll want to leave it on a lot longer as the smell is just divine! Every time I use it I keep sniffing my hair going 'yummmmmmm'!

Both of these products retail for £4.10 each which is really not bad for such a good product. As you can see in the image above, after nearly 2 weeks of using it almost every day the bottles are still almost full!

I'm keen to try some of their other products now, especially the skin care and bath products!

Have you tried out any amazing new products recently?

Meadow Daisy

Flea Market Finds....

Dreaming of Spring....

Snow Day....

Recent Finds....

The Ultimate Charity Shop Find?

A Winter Weekend in the Peak District....

Out of Hibernation....

A Little Bit of an Update....

Padstow, Cornwall....

A Lovely Post Day.....

New House: Footstool Makeover....

Pugs and Flowers....

New House: Wallpaper Ideas....

A Weekend by The Sea....

Folksy Sale....

Signs of Autumn....

A Bit of an Obsession...

Etsy Finds....

A Quilt for Elsie....

Car boot sale finds....

Pivoine Flora....

A Trip to Oxford....

Joules Clothing....

Saturday....

Too Faced, Look of Love....

Graphic Spaces Wood....

Elsie Vs. Tommee Tippee

Marmar....

Elsie's First Trip Outside....

Syko, Soft Art for Everyday Living....

A Very Special Offer....

Meet Elsie the Pug....

Happy Friday....

EllyMental Jewellery....

Mollie Makes

I love you, Cornwall....

Happy Friday (on a Saturday!)....

Car Booty....

Happy Easter....

Shop Update....

Hot Cross Bread & Butter Pudding

Car Boot Treasure....

Dr Martens, I love you!

Spring Giveaway Winner.....

Happy Friday....

Cath Kidston goodies....

Spring Giveaway....

Signs of spring....

Flea Market Treasure....

Storage for *things*....

Top Five Favourite Movies....

New Jewellery....

Happy Friday....

Turquoise and yellow....

My birthday in pictures....

Treasure Hunting....

Happy Birthday Ted & Snufkin....

Welcome To The Strange....

Happy Friday....

Hearts and flowers....

Pudding Camera....

Flea Market Finds....

Beauty Naturals....

A bit of patchwork....

Inspiration board....

Cath Kidston....

New Jewellery....

Folksy Finds #6

Happy New Year....

Christmas....

52 Weeks Later....

Silent Night....

Day Zero Project....

Cheap Christmas crafts....

Blue hair, patchwork & Christmas trees....

A shopping post....

Snow....

Folksy Finds #5

Disneyland....

Storage for things....