I cannot believe the speed at which our builders, or should I say builder as it is mostly just one man, work! The room is coming on. Yesterday we got a ceiling.
Walls are being covered with plasterboard ready for a light skimming of plaster to finish.
The bay window has been primed ready for plastering as they cannot put plasterboard there.
We have lots of electric sockets at last. In this huge room we only had 2 before!
Well Sunday is their day off so no photos to show you tomorrow. Instead I will show you pictures of my blanket, which is coming on nicely, and one or two other lovely things that I have received in the post lately. Have a great Sunday.Pin It
Congratulations jo I shall spend some time studying your blog before dispatching your bag full of goodies to reach you in time for Christmas.
Thank you so much for all of you who entered, I was overwhelmed with the response and I am only sorry you can't all be winners. I know how disappointing it is not to win, I never win anything!
I loved hearing what you would all like to see in your stocking and it didn't really surprise me that what most of you wanted was time, time off, time to yourself, time to create, time to sleep. We don't ask for much do we?I hope you all find something lovely in your stockings my beautiful readers. You deserve to have the happiest of Christmases.
See you tomorrow for another renovation update!Pin It
I came back from shopping in Exeter yesterday to find that we have most of a ceiling! When you go in the bathroom now, which is just above, it doesn't bounce anymore and the floorboards don't creak. The beams underneath have been strengthened so that now there is no likelihood of the bath making an appearance in the living room.
See you back here later today for the big draw!Pin It
The electrics are being chased in. Special tanking put on walls to keep out damp.
We have chosen wall lights and a sideboard but the paint we had mixed up which was supposed to be a match to the sample we had was hopeless so I must go back and look again.
A short post today as I am off to start Christmas shopping. Don't forget to enter Christmas giveaway if you haven't done so already, the draw takes place tomorrow. See you then xPin It
Ok, day 2. It looks as though nothing much has changed but they have removed 3 layers of paint and wallpaper, removed the nasty concrete skirting boards and picture rails and taken out thousands of nails from the beams that held all that lathe and plaster.
I have been to get paint samples in a subtle shade of pink. You can see the old wall colour here.
Today we are off to choose wall lights and a sideboard.
The ceiling is down. It was a great surprise to everyone that the ceiling was lathe and plaster as the cracks in the ceiling were in straight lines and had a very smooth finish so we all assumed that it was plaster board. Ah well at least we have enough kindling to keep up going for many winters to come!The builders are so tidy and methodical and most of the work so far has been done by a Polish man called Vortek who is very very tall and smiley. I hope he is still smiling by the end of today after he has removed several thousand nails from the beams!
The fireplace is very dominant in the room and it is not an original feature. It was put in by the last occupants who proudly showed me their scrapbook detailing the building of it step-by-step. All I could think was 'I wish you hadn't'. The pointing and workmanship is very bad when you get up close so, believe me, it will look far better covered up.
Great news though. After stripping the walls of the anaglypta we found a lovely pale dusky pink underneath. It looks great. I showed Paul and said that we should paint the room the same colour once it is finished and he has agreed, hurrah!Pin It
No not Christmas decorations. This time last year we were all decorated ready for Christmas because we did the shoot for 25 Beautiful Homes. The photos above are from the shoot and are the ones they didn't use.
This year is a different story. We have stripped the living room completely ready for it to be redecorated before Christmas! Madness, I know, and not my idea or choice but I'm not in charge. I am told that it is good to have a deadline and that as Christmas is immovable the decorating will just have to be done. It had better had be I can tell you!
It is not just a matter of stripping the walls and repainting, oh no. Before it gets repainted, the wonderful anaglypta wallpaper is to be stripped, the concrete skirting boards are to be replaced with wooden ones, the picture rails are to be replaced, the monstrous stone fireplace is to be covered up and painted, radiators have to be replaced and moved to different locations, also the ceiling is to come down so that we can check the beams. Our beautiful and very heavy bath is directly above one of our sofas in the middle of the room and there are some ominous cracks spreading from that area. I lie awake at night sometimes worrying that the bath will come through the ceiling and squash one of my children. I am so glad that it is being done but the timing could have been better. I intend to take a daily photograph to show you and to remind myself of the progress. Here's the first few.
The room is right in the middle of the house and all rooms come off of it so we will have to go round the back and in different doors to get to the other end of the house or upstairs, what fun. Anyway, come back soon and watch this space.
Don't forget to add your name to the Christmas giveaway if you haven't already. I am now drawing the name out on Saturday 6th as I am away on the Friday, so it gives you one extra day. Pin It
Ok folks, as promised here is the second giveaway. This time it is one of Cath's Xmas bags for Tesco filled with goodies.
For those of you who aren't crafty please do not be put off. I haven't decided what to fill the bag with yet and will only decide once the name has been pulled from the hat. I will then familiarise myself with your blog and your interests and will fill it accordingly so that it will be something you like.
To add a little interest tell me what you would like to see in your stocking on Christmas morning and pop your name in the hat. I will ask Miss Elizabeth to do the honours on Friday 5th December.
Good luck x
* Update* Lizzy will be drawing the name out on Saturday 6th December as I am away on the Friday. Pin It
Lizzy pulled the name out of the hat and was so delighted to do it that she wanted to pull out another, and another, and another! So I have decided that as it was so much fun for all I will do it again. Come back in a few days time and I will have another goodie bag to give away.Pin It
I have decided to have linen curtains made up for our living room once it is decorated and now need 30 metres of fabric. Ikea do a great natural linen for £3.99 which is an amazing price. The trouble is I don't live near an Ikea. My nearest one is a 21/2 hour drive away in Bristol but they don't stock it! Is anyone going to an Ikea soon? If so would you be willing to pick up and post some fabric to me? I would be so very grateful and would make it worth your while! Drop me an email or leave a comment with yours if you can help, thank you.
Don't forget to leave a comment on the last post, if you haven't already, for the great Cath Kidston bag full of vintage loveliness.
* Update - The following stores have it in stock - Warrington, Croydon, Edmonton and Milton Keynes. If anyone is going near one of the aforementioned branches please let me know * Pin It
Where oh where does the time go? I have been so busy that I haven't had time to blog and now I have so much to tell you. You might as well go and get yourself a cuppa and a biscuit or two and settle down, it's a long one!
Firstly, thank you all so much for your lovely comments on my last post. I am genuinely touched by your kindness. I have never thought that my home was good enough to be in a magazine. Sure it looks impressive from the outside, but really it is a big old scruffy (and often messy) family home and is a work-in-progress. There is so much to be done still and all I can see are the problems. It's hard to see the beauty of this house at times. Also, as we were supposed to be moving out of here I had spent a long time emotionally detaching myself from this house. Now we are to carry on with our renovations I am falling in love with it all over again and seeing those photos reminded me why I bought the house in the first place, I could see us here at Christmas. The living room you saw pictured is just about to undergo a huge makeover. Paul is away for 2 weeks in Australia and when he comes back it is to be gutted and redecorated. One month before Christmas I hear you say? Hmmmm, I am assured that it will be done in time. Watch this space!!!!
Apart from 25 Beautiful Homes I have also been featured in the Secret Directory which is attached to this month's Vogue, under Q for quilts. Not sure why they have put me there instead of under F for fabric but mine is not to question why and, hey, this is Vogue after all. Never did I think I would be in Vogue!
My fabrics were used for Christmas decorations and stockings in this month's BBC Homes and Antiques magazine. I love what they have done with them and it has inspired me to make some myself (if I ever get a moment!). They are my fabrics after all!
Last week I was so lucky, I won these beautiful cards from Claire in her giveaway. I NEVER win anything so I was delighted. Aren't they beautiful? I love them so much that it is going to be hard to give them away.
While we are talking about the talented and lovely Claire, here is my new ad that you may see in textile and sewing publications designed by Claire. Isn't it yummy? Seriously she is dead clever. As well as this ad, the logo she designed has been made into stickers, postcards, business cards, a rubber stampand fridge magnets and they all look so beautiful.
On now to other publications that I want to tell you about. Firstly there is the new magazine Sew Hip, a long overdue magazine for us funky sewing chicks. Edited by Manda of TreeFall Design it features contributions from Amy Butler, Alicia Paulson, Becca Hector-Clark and Alice Bloor. It's beautiful, gorgeously photographed and I recommend it thoroughly.I am looking forward to the next edition already.
Another fabulous book and one I cannot recommend enough has been written by my friend and fellow blogger Niki. Living with Nostalgia is beautiful beyond belief, truly, every page is stuffed full of the most delicious images that you almost want to lick them! She has published this book through Blurb and, although the shipping costs from USA make it expensive, it is worth every penny. With Christmas coming up you could put it on your present list. She is such a talented lady and it is the BEST book I have ever seen about vintage living. Well done Niki, you are a star! If you want a preview go here.
I have managed to cram in some creativity at last. I am making the obligatory crocheted blanket. It's de rigueur in Blogland! I am starting with a striped one made from Rowan cottons as many of our family members are allergic to wool. I taught myself to crochet and want to progress on to the ripple blanket. I love sitting by the fire with this (now huge) blanket drapes over me as I add row after row. The best part is choosing the next colour to add. My friend Amanda came to stay and was fascinated with it and begged me to teach her. She is now obsessed with crochet and is making a dog blanket. Her husband sent me an email saying I have ended his marriage, hahaha!
As well as Paul being away for 2 weeks my Mum is off the the USA for just over 3 weeks to see my sister. She has just had her first baby, a little girl named Olivia. It will be weird having 2 of my main people so far away for so long.
So, in honour of little Livvy's arrival, I am having a giveaway. I am giving away a Cath Kidston for Tesco bag stuffed with vintage fabrics, buttons, trims and goodies. Just leave me your name and a comment to be put in the hat for the final draw and one lucky winner will have a vintage goodie bag coming their way. The draw will take place on Friday 21st November so get your comments in before then to be in the running. Good luck x
Many of you may remember this. Well one year on it is now in print. See the current edition (December) of 25 Beautiful Homes. It brings back lovely memories for me and makes me excited about decorating the house once again. I LOVE Christmas.
All I can say is that as it is half term the house looks NOTHING like it does in the photos. Due to the cold and often wet weather the children have been indoors a lot and have made a complete mess in each and every room. Not that they call it mess of course, they are camps, space ships, boats and castles made with all the cushions, blankets, cardboard boxes and toys they can find! Hey ho, Happy Half Term!
Yesterday was a wonderful day. I persuaded Paul that he and I should take the day away off work and spend some time together. We were going to a gig in Truro in the evening so I thought it would be nice to slowly make our way down, as it takes 1 hour 45 minutes to get there. It was the perfect weather, bright blue sky, warm autumnal sun, a few clouds peppered here and there. We managed to set off at 12.15, not quite as early as I had hoped but we were still both trying to tie up loose ends, the downside of both running our own businesses from home. We drove first to Crackington Haven as Paul had never been.
We then drove on to Port Isaac. I adore Port Isaac, especially when it is sunny and out of season. I always rent a cottage and take the children there for a week during the holidays but didn't this year as our house was on the market and I imagined myself moving this summer! I have missed it. We had a lovely lunch sat outside the Slipway Hotel overlooking the pretty harbour. Paul had the freshest crab salad.
After a little wander around the shops we decided to drive on to Truro. We had thought about going to Charlestown to see the tall ships as Johnny Depp has been down there filming his new role in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland but we were running out of time (and I suspected Johnny wouldn't be there).
Truro is a lovely town, sorry, city. I can't believe that I have never been there before. Having gone every year to Port Isaac I have only ventured as far as Newquay before scuttling back to the sleepiness of Port Isaac and the beach of Daymer. Truro is a different experience to the madness of Newquay. It had a nice vibe to it and some great shops. The first one I found was a HUGE fabric shop. I was so very controlled but I have to say I was mesmerised by the amount of great fabrics on offer. I bought a few polka dot cottons and some balls of Rowan cotton for my blanket I am crocheting. Paul said he had never seen so much fabric and living with me that is saying something! I need to go back and spend more time there, this was our time together, not fabric buying time.
We had time to stroll around Truro, have afternoon tea and read newspapers (!)
Strolling back past the venue of the evenings gig, The Hall for Cornwall, who should we spot but the lead singer of Elbow, one Guy Garvey, the band we were going to see! This man's music has seen me through one of the toughest years of my life and his beautiful lyrics really touch me, so to meet this big bear of a man with the sweetest voice was a great thing for me (and I do have a bit of a crush). I would like to say I was cool and calm but I think I was a babbling fool of a woman, a silly middle aged fan who talked utter nonsense but he was so sweet and friendly to us and we stood and chatted for quite a while as he introduced us to other members of his band. My friend Amanda had seen them In Cambridge on Monday, the first date of their tour, and I mentioned this. He said they were nervous that night but he promised they would be 'on fire' for us.
We had supper at an Italian restaurant and after a few glasses of wine I skipped off to the gig I had been waiting for and was not disappointed. Guy and the band were on fire. It was amazing and everything I had hoped it would be. I sat through the first few numbers with tears rolling down my silly face (that would be the wine!)
A truly wonderful day and I can only think of one song to leave you all with so here it is .......
