Friday 20 March 2015

Vintage crate furniture ideas!


I love crates. I've found them to be the most useful piece of furniture since sliced bread, as they are just so versatile. I realise that my ancestors will be looking over me now exclaiming 'but it's just an old wooden crate!' and miggins next door thinks it just looks like I haven't got around to buying furniture yet BUT, I care not, I love my crates. They're useful, practical and full of rustic charm!


Vintage crate furniture ideas

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Friday 7 February 2014

Dogs


You already know how much I adore my little dog, Ralphy. He's my furry son. But today 'My favourite fings' is about all dogs. I've been a dog lover for a very long time and if I didn't have such a small house I would have LOADS of them. I've even started a new photo album on facebook called 'Ralphy and friends' -  which (rather surprisingly) contains Photos of Ralphy and all his little doggie friends and family.


Ralphy the dog - wearing his homemade coat!

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Friday 31 January 2014

A cup of tea

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Mid afternoon and early evening are my most favourite times to stop, and make a pot (not cup) of tea.
Preparing my lovely little teapot with loose leaf tea, and choosing which pretty cup is all part and parcel of this little ritual that marks some 'time out' for me, and it's one that I've come to really love. 




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Friday 24 January 2014

Old family photographs


This is the view from where I sit at the piano, and it's one of my most favourite places to sit. 
Around me I've placed old photographs of my family. My parents on their wedding day, grandparents, my great grandmother (who I'd give anything to meet) and other family members; some whom I've never met, and some I miss deeply. 


My family photographs - where north meets south
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Friday 17 January 2014

My new toadstool lamp by White Rabbit


In November I saw this lovely little Toadstool lamp by White rabbit england in a local craft / nice fings shop. I immediately took a picture and put it on my Christmas list.


Toadstool lamp in red (they also do blue!)

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Friday 10 January 2014

Mason Cash bowls (in the forest)


I'm a sucker for ceramics ... mugs, jugs and bowls especially. When is comes to bowls you simply can't go wrong with Mason Cash. Established in 1800, this iconic brown bowl has held our cake mix for decades. I was always on the lookout for a classic brown Mason Cash bowl in the charity shops but I had no luck. Annoyingly my best friend did and she clearly took pleasure in telling me so!



Photograph from Mason Cash

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Friday 3 January 2014

Change and the adventure it brings.


Change.

Some people are afraid of change. As a people we seem to thrive on routine and often associate change with something bad.  I'm also a creature of habit, I like my little rituals but I like change too. I embrace it ... If I didn't I wouldn't be writing this blog. Now and again I feel there's something in the air ... like in Mary Poppins when Bert says in his extremely convincing cockney accent ...

' Winds in the east, there's a mist coming in ... like something is brewing,  about to begin '
  
Then Mary pops by and does fabulous magical things. I admit to a small crush on Bert (Hubby's disgusted at my taste in men ...?)

One man band Bert sensing Mary's arrival.
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Friday 20 December 2013

My favourite fings - Switching off

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Nowadays almost all of our daily activity involves technology of some sort. Now I don't want to sound like ole Miggins over the road, "we didn't have all these fancy moblies in my day",  but I have to admit that occasionally I find it HUGELY satisfying to switch it all off.
Some of you might love the thought of turning off all phones and putting laptops out of sight, whereas others will have started to sweat at the prospect of not having 24 access to facebook.


Switched off, on a cottage holiday.


Well yes at first it is quite strange. You'll keep going to check your phone or when faced with a question to which you don't know the answer you'll panic when you realise you can't ask google. But after a day or two it's just SO lovely. I feel refreshed, free, and more relaxed than I ever thought was possible. We are utterly consumed by technology. So I find from time to time that it's a good idea to give your brain a break and your loved ones 100% of your attention.

So even if it's just for a day, perhaps give it a try ...
you might love it so much you won't want to switch back on!

JM
x

"I'm not answering that phone ... I'm on 'oliday!"


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Friday 13 December 2013

Snow globes and old christmas ornaments.


Snow globes. I'm simply a sucker for them. But not any old plastic-made type of snow globe. It has to possess a charm, giving you the feeling it's been on a journey and looked out onto many Christmas scenes in houses over the years. I'd rather have only a small handful of well-loved sentimental ornaments that come out of a dusty old cupboard year after year, than new freshly bought bits and bobs. Like antiques, our old things seem to have a soul of their own and it's a lovely feeling when we come across them ... almost like remembering old friends.


Old fashioned snow globe



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Friday 6 December 2013

Orange and cinnamon stick decorations


We're putting our deccies up on sunday!! Eeeeee I am so excited. It's killing me just walking past the boxes. I have been wearing my santa hat around the house though, and just because I don't have a tree (yet) doesn't mean I can't prepare my deccies for it! I make these every year. They're SO easy, quick and very rustic. 

You will need:

Oranges
Two contrasting ribbons or brown string
Cinnamon sticks
Cinnamon powder (optional)


Orange and cinnamon stick decorations

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Friday 29 November 2013

My first crochet blanket ... a labour of love.


The ladies at my craft club taught me to Crochet ... and I LOVE it. 
It's easy, addictive and portable. It's a tricky to get your head around at first, but do push on as it soon clicks, then you're away!  I started a blanket of granny squares (a granny square is basically a small crochet square) and I thought I'd share my progress with you ... then I'll HAVE to finish it.


Just so ya know it looks messy as it's not sewn together yet!
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Friday 22 November 2013

My favourite fings - Tea, pastry and a great big mess


Hello Friday lovelies!!!

Well for todays edition of FF Friday I was planning to share a beauty product. 

However, I then started to sort out my fabrics and have a tidy up of my sewing room ... then things escalated. With the edition of tea and pastries I made a big mess and rather than tidy I had a play on my sewing machines. 

Yes I am hugging the machine ... and I talk to her (Bertha).

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Friday 15 November 2013

'Taste of Provence' by Lily Flame



This smells like Pine forests to me ... it's officially Marjoram, Rosemary, Tarragon and Thyme and as scent is personal it might smell like loo-freshner to you but I love it. They usually RRP around £8 which isn't bad for a good candle these days. If you'd like to buy you can do so here. They do another on called 'Mistletoe kisses' which I also love but I always save that for December.


So there you have it!
Have a lovely weekend 

JM x



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