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

the last of Autumn

I was woken early this morning by my door buzzer, loud and continuous like a swarm of angry wasps. I scrambled out of bed and grabbed my oversized cardigan to appear slightly decent as I ran down three flights of stairs to catch the postman before he left me a collection card instead of a package. He's fast that guy, only too keen to walk away rather than wait a couple of minutes.

Well it was worth being up with the lark to receive my perfect surprise parcel. It was my Autumn swap package from Liz at Hey we made it.
Sofia runs this swap every Fall. And I love taking part. I wonder if my partner has received hers yet?

Inside were brown paper writing pads, beautiful soft Alpaca wool, traditional string, yummy spiced tea and the highlight, a bar of Mast brothers chocolate. I have been wanting to get my hands on some since I saw it on design sponge ages ago, to receive such a thoughtful gift really has made my week. Thank you so much Liz.

Here there and everywhere

1. My Playroom, 2. peonies_carnations, 3. ., 4. coconut rice pudding with lady apples, 5. Toasted Rose, 6. A Very Yvestown Christmas, 7. Lavender sachets, 8. Untitled, 9. Living Dolls, 10. Untitled, 11. courvoisier, 12. calligraphy, 13. noticing what i notice, 14. Untitled, 15. spring forward., 16. treasure, 17. threadfrompcc, 18. a little 'cluster of happy'..., 19. Untitled, 20. Untitled, 21. Cozy Winter Decor, 22. ~, 23. The Listener., 24. Working hard Playing hard
I would say good afternoon, but it has been another terribly damp day. I spent a good while catching up with all the beautiful happenings over at Flickr, my account is somewhat neglected while my head spins here and there with possibilities at all the things I would like to achieve with my time. For now these are my favourites.

Batten down the hatches

I hope you are all tucked up on this wild November evening. Nothing more satisfying than a hand made (not by me though) chicken and leek pie with a side of locally grown vegetables. I have been rain battered by leaving the house today but it made this dinner taste even sweeter.

Don't worry, in my haste to batten down the hatches and put my feet up with a box of chocolates, I haven't forgotten to select the winners of last week giveaways, so here goes . . . .

Mondays Farrow and Ball book and paint chart won by Jac of Coco Sunday.
Tuesdays Photographic prints won by Rimpsukaisa.
Wednesdays Make it pretty box won by Denise of A bun can dance.
Thursdays delicious Dorset cereal bars won by Jenny of Winni Briggs House.


Happy November to you x

November wardrobe inspiration

November wardrobe inspiration, cosy wraps, woodland colours and a sprinkling of sequins.

Good luck to all who entered the yesterdays giveaway. Todays is up next, and I will announce all the winners next Monday.

Fallen leaves

Happy Sunday. I am off to collect pine cones and fallen leaves.

Natures treasure

I adore Autumn and all the colours it yields (as you well know, bla bla bla, do I ever shut up about it?) and that is why I love Plumo. This seasons collection makes me want to pull on snuggly socks and winter boots, wrap up in a blanket tied with a jute belt, and go collect natures treasure in a leafy woodland somewhere.

All images Plumo.

Early Autumn berries

Bright morning light, warmed soup in the evenings, early Autumn berries and cosy corners.

I hope you have a happy weekend.

Beautiful

Adore the beautiful catalogue from Toast's new mens collection.

Next seasons role models 2011

The sixties sweetheart, a modern day Mia Farrow circa Rosemary's Baby and A Dandy in Aspic. Knees and elbows showing. Seen at BCBG Max Azria
The tough on the outside wild child aka Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver. Flimsy flashy flamboyant head wear and 70's dresses. Care of Marc Jacobs.
The fragile beauty, Angelina Jolie in the changeling. Creamy satin, floral silk and chiffon longline layers. All over the runway at Donna Karen. Have fun dressing up!

All images Vogue.com

Heavy charcoal clouds

I have been writing from my bed, about my travels to Lyon for Eurostar, this morning. Heavy charcoal clouds in the sky, window open so I can hear the last of the Summer rain falling in the yard below. Hot cup of my favourite coffee fresh from the stove. Home looks like this at the moment, but Autumn makes me want to move things around almost every day.

Hang on to Summer

If my embracing Autumn was too soon for you and you are wanting to hang on to Summer a little longer, these beautiful photographs by Nan Lawson will keep the sunshine season alive long after the first leaves start to gather at the sides of the road.

All images Nan Lawson.

Irish Winter

With winter scenes like this picture my sister took I am wishing I was over in southern Ireland with my mum and sister. It is just stunning on the rivers edge where we often walk the dogs when I am visiting. Hope to get there soon, maybe for my birthday, if the snow stops long enough for a plane trip.

Grapefruit and Jasmine

It's snowing and icy out, and I am tucked up in bed for a second day with tonsillitis and a splitting headache, so with my screen brightness turned down and before I fall asleep again, I thought I would tell you about Parks Candles.
A while ago a sweet girl named Amy asked me to review a new product line, I get quite a few messages in my inbox about the promotion of various things and normally decide against it, but as I love scented candles and have them in most of my rooms I gladly accepted Amy's offer.
I was not disappointed, the Parks range of 100% natural wax candles are fragranced with organic essential oils which filled my rooms with a gorgeous lasting aroma of Grapefruit and Jasmine a lovely crisp fresh scent that seemed a more than appropriate start to the new year.
Other fragrances include Rosemary and bergamot, Camomile, violet, orris and honey and Lemongrass and mint. I love how scenting a room can add an extra layer, change your mood, soothe and calm, or just chase away the memory of what you have been cooking in the kitchen, and who doesn't find the gentle flicker of candle light welcoming and restorative all at once. I have the candle next to my bed now and even though it is not lit I can smell the divinely refreshing scent of grapefruit.

Such a nice gift to give or receive, plus these candles are also on sale at the moment too at Debenhams so I think I will stock up.

Extra blankets

I woke up to find a light sprinkling of snow covering my street this morning, so I thought I would share some more lovely wintry pictures from around the UK. I so hope it stays for christmas. I know the whole country seems to grind to a halt and some people get a bit crazy when it snows, but I just see it as an opportunity stay home, pile extra blankets on the couch and make a round of cinnamon dusted churros.


Photos by Alexander Morag and Jan Ford over at The BBC weather gallery. Churos image from Cherry platter.

Ps. thank you so much for all your well wishes on my last post. Still beaming : )

December things

Best of today

Opening another door of our advent calendar
Photographing and packaging the last few garlands I will make for a while.
Finding time to read magazines.
Unwrapping next years calendar from Kitty Rogers

Inner elf

Up early and that happy sun is up and looks to last a few hours so I must get out and take some pictures for an article I am writing. I have also added a few new garlands to the shop.
I suppose I should start adding some more festive items. I really don't like to think about christmas until at least mid November and with that fast approaching and the postal situation over here I guess its time. I am quite against the shops stocking their shelves with mince pies and christmas crackers in September, but all my magazines this month are getting geared up for the season of red and gold and then "Home alone' or some other festive film will be on TV and my inner elf can't be contained, I love snow, wrapping presents making yummy treats for family and friends, decorations.

Christmas spirit is potent stuff, so I will rein it in, still only November 4th. I think I will just do a tiny collection. Some festive garlands and wreaths.

Getting there

Finally I am getting around to listing some of my favourite photo prints in the shop it seems that after the hiatus of Summer, Autumn is the season that gets me inspired to get on with the things I have been procrastinating about for months.
The half finished and barely started are all getting completed now. Must be those darkening evenings and chilly winds whipping around the streets that keep me indoors sipping earl grey and sorting out my creative life.
Whatever it is I am super happy to be tying up so many loose ends. I have a bad habit of letting inspiration take over and moving too swiftly on to the next project leaving others half done.

Maybe the urgency comes from having to make better use of the lessening hours of light, this is the one aspect of Winter that I really don't like. Leaving for work in the dingy half light and returning home in the dark. My chance of taking photos limited to lunch hours and days off. So as you can imagine I am so excited to be having two weeks holiday very soon.

Happy Monday everyone.