Cushions and Shopping

Earlier this year, I won some pieces of fabric from Sal at Sal's Snippets. They have been in my sewing box for a couple of months now until I could find time to sit down and do what I wanted to with them. I've so enjoyed myself this weekend cutting the fabric and sewing the squares together to make cushion fronts. Does anyone remember back in the 80's when Laura Ashley used to sell packs of squares and hexagons ready for patchworking? I used to love these packs in their co-ordinated prints or even better, you could buy packs of random pieces which really came up with some goodies and fantastic colour combinations.




One of the fabrics was large enough to make a cushion front of its own and I love its bright colours and delphiniums that could cheer up any dull corner.




They are just the thing to make my shed nice and comfy now that the weather is warm enough for me to sit here with a book or listening to a good radio play.


Thanks Sal, I've really enjoyed using my goodies.

The past month has been busy but fun. We had a really great Easter with a trip to Hay-on Wye and a whole week away from work for me which I really enjoyed, gardening, tidying, reading.....absolute heaven really. Last weeekend we took a little trip to Bewdley.



Now we live about a 20 minute drive from here but I've never bothered blogging it because it's really been in the doldrums for the past couple of years. Most of my favourite shops had gone and it was depressing to see this beautiful little town struggling to survive.



Last weekend gave me the most tremendous lift. Shop units are being filled with the sort of shops I love.


Indeed , it also seems to be developing a foodie theme with a gorgeous delicatesen and a wonderful, old fashioned grocery, filled with loveliness.



I'm pleased to say that the tea rooms were busy




and that the town's fantastic Georgian architecture was coming back to life.







Even better, I found some goodies to bring home with me. I couldn't resist this pretty mini bunting for the kitchen



and this serving dish cost me the grand sum of three pounds.





As did these lovely plates.




They'll look even better with cupcakes on them! I haven't forgotten the giveaway from the last post. I drew a name scientifically from the hat. This time the winner is Pipany. I'll try to do another giveaway soon... when I find something nice!

Anniversary Giveaway

Another date has passed me by without realising. It's been two years this month since I began blogging. It would be lovely if I could share afternoon tea or morning coffee with all the lovely bloggers I've 'met' over the past two years, who at times really make my day and certainly bring a smile and a giggle now and then. To celebrate, I'm giving away the Cath Kidston mug in the above photograph. If you would like to enter please leave a comment on this post by midnight on Easter Sunday and I'll announce the winner the following week. The winner will be drawn at random but to make it interesting for me, I would like to know if you are a tea or coffee drinker and what is your favourite blend. Are you a delicate Darjeeling girl or do you like a more gutsy builders tea?

Do you remember my last post, when I thought I had found some gorgeous wallpaper from CK that was just right for my bedroom? Well, just as I thought. I can't afford it! Lovely Hen from the Henhouse popped over to tell me that it is a hundred and fifty quid a roll! Rip off! As usual in this house, it's a case of 'Harrod's taste...Woolworth's money' and it's back to the drawing board.


Mind you, I think either of these two lovelies would be great in my bedroom. Samples are hanging on the wall as I write. It will take me several weeks to decide which I like best. Then a few more weeks to get round to starting the work. However, we have set a target date.....the beginning of the World Cup will mean a month sat in front of the t.v. agonising over every free kick and corner England take and everything else will take second place until after finals day. So it has to completed in time for kick-off of the first game. I'm so sad to get excited about it all I suppose - but I can't help myself, I still love my football. I'm just crossing everything in the hope that Rooney stays fit!

The upturn in the weather and the fast approach of Easter really does give me a lift, as does seeing this pretty wreath on the kitchen door. I love the colours associated with Easter - they help me look forward to summer, warmth and blue skies......I think we deserve some, don't you?

Flowers are certain to lift my spirits and I cannot bear the house to be without a few blooms

and with the onset of spring, there is so much more choice to buy in the shops.

I just like to buy what takes my fancy on the day

but I especially love the cottage garden flowers that I associate with English gardens. The garden is beginning to come to life again and shoots are poking their heads through the warm soil ready for flowering in May and June.

Until then this pot of Primulas will give some cheerful colour. I've got a couple of days at work next week then a week's holiday - my first in six months. I will be really lazy and get up late and eat lots of chocolate. (Nothing new there then).

Giveaway kindly sponsored by Mr F.

Friday

This is the usual scene on Friday mornings as I return from the shops. Bags and bags of shopping - and these are just the things I can't get when we do our big shop at the supermarket. At least the bags are cheery and never fail to provoke comment from other shoppers or assistants in the shops. This morning's comment was from a pretty young lady selling copies of The Big Issue and yes, she was right, they are pretty. It sounds very silly but they do make the shopping trip a little more enjoyable. Fridays usually follow a particular pattern and I can't wait to get home and put the kettle on and sit down for a few quiet moments with a magazine before the shopping is put away.


I couldn't resist buying these pretty little lights today and think they look mighty fine wrapped around the wirework heart on the kitchen door. The only problem is that it does look a bit Christmassy - and the C word isn't allowed around here until December. Never mind, they make the kitchen feel cosy and I like cosy.

However, last Friday didn't follow this familiar pattern - I went somewhere posh! Can you remember my post about a special day in the spring when I spent a lovely day with friends at Coughton Court? Well, we've sort of had our Christmas outing early! None of us enjoy the usual work dos at this time of year. Restaurants overbook, there are large, rowdy crowds and the food is usually inedible. We decided that we deserved to be thoroughly spoiled and we certainly were - here at Brockencote Hall. Sadly, it wasn't snowing whilst we were there


it looked more like this


We all put our glad rags on. Do you like my velvet coat? It was it's first outing and I really enjoyed wearing it.

We were looked after so well and felt so pampered, no wonder this Friday feels very routine. I've got a couple of thank yous to make today. Firstly to Vicki at Anglesey Allsorts for the wonderful buttons and lace she sent me.

And also to Hannah at Lou Lou Loves Vintage for her lovely giveaway. The chocolate coins didn't last long Hannah - but I'm still enjoying the other things!

Bathroom Reveal & Mr Funky's Giveaway

Mr Funky finished painting the bathroom yesterday and I've spent part of this morning titivating and tweaking and probably will be titivating and tweaking all week as I decide exactly where everything should go.






Because the room is so small it has been very difficult to take photos to show it and I'm not really satisfied with my efforts. Nevermind, I've had a go. I'm just so relieved to see the back of all that peach that was in there previously.





There isn't really too much to say about such a very tiny space, so come and have a visual tour with me instead.


















Look carefully and you'll see me and camera lens!









Thanks for joining me on the tour. Now, onto Mr Funky's giveaway. Mr F went shopping alone a week or two ago and came home with the soaps pictured above, as well as a set of handbag sized tubes of handcream. Lovley man that he is he also bought a set for you



...........well one of you at least. If you'd like these for yourself just leave a comment on this post and Mr F will pick a name from the hat to find the winner. I'll leave this giveaway open for the whole of August. I know many people are taking holidays and I'm finding it difficult to get computer time as Master Funky and teenage friends fill the spare bedroom in an attempt to take over the world via X-Box Live. I'll name the winner at the beginning of September, though I do hope to be blogging sporadically during August.