Snow days

So I was going to move over to my new blog today, but with a husband missing for 14 hours trapped on a train in the snow in some far away town, we will all have to wait a few more days for the final tweaks to be completed. At least he is with a whole train full of people, may have even made some new friends? I do love to look at the snow but now I jus want him home. I have been house bound for a couple of days now so I will brave the outside to meet a friend and have a nice hot drink and a piece of cake in a nearby cafe whilst I await my favourite persons return. I hope you are all okay wherever you live x

I have a friend who can draw good

I am rubbish at drawing so naturally I am way excited that I have a friend who is so good at it. Meet Mitch Blunt.

Have a great weekend!

A black liquorice door.

Every time I walk up towards my house, freshly painted pale grey like the British sky with white icing around the windows, I can't help but wonder how fabulous it could be in pink, a huge hunk of pink birthday cake with iced windows and a black liquorice door. Cream puffs for shrubs and sugar flowers in the garden. I have been awake since five this morning and as I'm sure you can guess, baking since six thirty. My brain is addled from all the lemon frosting and chocolate cake batter.

With the frill off an old dressing gown, some fabric flowers, vintage french ribbon and a roll of pretty making tape from the lovely Lynne of Papermash I decorated the corner of the kitchen to accommodate my makeshift cake stand. Then popped in to town to deliver the cakes to my colleagues as an afternoon cheer up, had some lunch and made it home between the summer showers.

Happy Wednesday

Pretty in pink, things for a sweet tooth and new craft projects. I'm going to London for the day with my sister to meet a friend and see a show. Happy Wednesday.

Time for tea

My friend has just bought a new coffee table from a local auction so me and my girlfriends are going to christen it with tea and a sponge cake that is in the oven. oh and maybe some ice cream lattes? I was just catching up with one of my favourite paper artists, and saw this beautiful post of the prettiest tea party ever. Everything Miss Clara makes is so enchanting from the paper spoons to the gilt paper jewels, lets hope our little gathering can be half as nice.


All images Miss Clara.

Getting up and dressed

It officially starts today. My four day week. The new blog is finding it's feet with the help of my husband and all the technical stuff is slowly sinking in pixel by pixel. So while all that unfolds I thought I would pick out some Betty from Mad Men style clothes to keep me focused on getting up and dressed even though I am staying home. All of the above are from Lk Bennett's spring/summer collection.

Dean is in NYC at the moment and although I need help with bigger tasks, I have achieved a few baby steps on my own today. The link for the Face Book page is now in the side bar here with my new E-mail address too. And I have posted the below video for anyone stuck indoors peering out at what seems to be a very dark sky for a spring day. So, tap shoes at the ready, lets get up.

Paper trail

Up early to add a few new paper garlands to the shop before I head out, I have the day off today and after a week of bitter cold but sunny days today of course is grey grey grey. Although there is a tiny crack in the clouds a seam of light which makes me hopeful. Maybe I will meet my friend and be able to drink my coffee outside?

Fantasy shopping spree

Silently in the night it snowed again. I woke up to a chilly breeze and cancelled trains. My plans blown out of the water.
After a round of cheese burgers in a local bar the icy rain stopped and the slush started to melt away long enough for me and my friends to take a drive out of town for a few hours. I am feeling good about only spending a little money. So once home I went on an imaginary spree at the ever beautiful Anthropologie. Whenever I visit the store I am in awe of all the beauty under one roof but often leave with nothing. It's easier to pick out a selection online where you can't be overwhelmed. I like this outfit for meeting friends when the spring sun starts to appear and you feel its okay to chance going outdoors with no hat or coat.

Enjoy the rest of your week imaginary or real, ooh and thanks for all the admiring comments about my sisters photo in my last post, she is super happy.

Coconut dusted iced cakes

Everything was pink at a birthday tea party for my sister last Sunday. Pearly balloons, coconut dusted iced cakes, tiny vases filled with baby and hot pink roses, candies in pastel shades, glasses of cream soda. Everyone brought something different to eat, gifts were given, then we happily watched Vogue documentary-the September issue.

Fashion, balloons and cake three of my favourite things, all in one sitting. I am looking forward to more gatherings with friends as christmas fast approaches.

Bakewell on the beach

Three almost perfect days. Saturday I went to view the house in the top photo. Met a friend for coffee and a delicious slice of lemon and poppy seed cake. Made collages big and small.

Sunday I got up early and cooked a bakewell tart for taking to a beach picnic with friends. The beautiful Ellen (bottom picture), Edith and Darren. The weather looked threatening but under the shelter of the wooden breakwaters we had a feast of bread, pate, cheese, cake and ginger beer.

Sunday evening I drank a little too much (happening all too often this year) and am now glad we have only one more party to attend this Summer.

Monday I mentally planned the snuggle down for Autumn. I look forward to carving pumpkins, drinking warm spiced tea, baking apple pie and wrapping up in cosy blankets.


how was your weekend?

a performing seal

I have loved my week, (aside from work) by day I have been decorating paper, hanging out with super cute babies, trying out a new perfume and making sure I eat my five a day. By night I have been going to the cinema, visiting the chinese state circus (people not animals) with my sister, drinking caramel milkshakes and eating with friends. Yum.

I love the way little Amelia looks at me as if to say what the hell do you think you are up to pointing that thing in my face, am I a performing seal? he he, bless her.

I know boys

Boys who look good. A friend with exceptional style. Caleb.

And

Boys who draw good. A friends who illustrates. Mitch.

All images Caleb Kilby and Mitch Blunt.

death by chocolate.

I murdered a few diet plans at a party recently with these chocolate marsh mallow cupcakes. They were heavy going to say the least. Lucky my friends know just how to treat a sweet tooth.

Reply

A reply to sweet Sarah's comment on my last post.

Where would you NOT wear your Noa Noa net skirt in rural glos?

Wear it. . . . . . to the bakery on a Saturday morning, or to pick up your children from school, maybe to meet your husband from work as a surprise, at home while you spending time with yourself or to the supermarket. I am silly girl who wears Jimmy Choo's to bake (or did until I sadly parted with them on ebay for a very good price!)

Last night I spent the evening with my sister and our friend B. Cold cuts and cosmopolitans. Indoors and out. B is the best. When we were younger we would spend the weekends at her house digging through her jewelry and wardrobe. In awe of her style and taste. She loves colour, her house is a magpies dream, anyway the moral of the story here is . . . . . A colleague of B's once said to her " I love the way you dress, you always look as though you just about to leave and go to a party some place" How great is that?

There was a time people used to come up to me in shops or the street and say I looked nice that they would never dare to wear such outfits. 1950's dresses and heels to the super market. A peruvian phase, vintage underskirts that set a few copy cats on my case. (I didn't look as crazy as this may sound) . I had Fun with my clothes. I was brave, inventive, didn't want to blend in with the crowd. I have lots of beautiful clothes, I just don't wear them.

Just recently I have been less than inspirational with my wardrobe choices, there was that sunny day when I wore the floral dress but apart from that, safe black, grey, charcoal, khaki, jeans, white shirts. There is a fine line between tasteful and dull. I may have crossed it. I need to get inspired again. Maybe restart the game of raiding B's closet.

So Sarah lets go get those skirts on now!

The curse of the peacock feather

I am not usually a believer of good luck, bad luck stuff. I have broken enough mirrors in my life to be cursed forever. I laugh heartily at my husband as he skirts round three drain covers in a row and crosses his fingers at all kinds of nonsense. I started the day with my rose tinted specs on as usual. The pretty remains of last nights dinner party in honor of my dads birthday looked so sweet on the table.

But after picking up a couple of peacock feathers on a visit to Leeds Castle yesterday and bringing them under my roof its all gone wrong.

This morning I was hopeful. The sun was shining I was up early. Planing on spending the morning with a friend and her daughters. I arrived at the bus station in good time. Reading as I waited in the warm sun for the country bus.

8.30 no bus. No sign of bus. No "sorry there will be no bus". 9.30 next bus comes. Buy ticket for specified destination. Speedily pass turning for my stop. Realise this rookie driver has no intention of even nearing the place I need to go. Disembark at next available stop before I end up in another county. Not in the mood for spur of the moment hitch hiking I desperately call upon the mercy of my friend and am thankfully collected from my roadside position.

What an idiot. The route clearly says it should take my turn. I have caught this bus many times before. The ticket named my stop. He wasn't even sorry. Left me stranded in the middle of nowhere. I feel a very bitter letter of complaint and the booking of some driving lessons coming on.

So now I am now back home and in the last photo is the innocent image of a pretty pudding, no? An afternoon treat. Pretty and delicate wisps of cream and sugar. Okay not so innocent. Maybe even decadent for a Monday. Well as it turns out. The curse continues. Most of it ended up in my lap.

Should I let down the blinds and crawl back in to bed now, or just put the feathers out?

I hope you are having a better monday?