Polka Dots and Paintballs

Well it's been a great but busy week. On Thursday I had a girly day out in Shrewsbury with friends and then Friday saw the final preparations for Josh's weekend at The Big Game paintball battle in Stone, Staffordshire.


Here he is in full battle gear ready to see off the raiders from The North. Of course that meant a teenager free weekend for Mr F. and myself. So of course we made the most of it. Saturday we spent the morning in Tewkesbury at the food festival and the afternoon wandering around the market town of Pershore. We had a wonderful day with a good lunch and afternoon day without the usual accompanying teenage grumbles. On Sunday we were in charge of bringing our soldier and a friend home from the battle so we decided to head a little further north to the Potteries and visit a couple of factory shops that I've been wanting to visit for ages. Here's where we went first.



Who can resist an offer like this?



I'm sure the staff were perturbed by the persistent oohs, aahs and shrieks of pleasure as I spotted goodies around every corner in the sort of quantities that I've never even dreamt about. If only I could get that lottery win and fill trollies full of the stuff!



I've never seen so many mugs altogether at once.



Loveliness.

Gorgeousness.

Goodies galore.


Next it was on to Burslem to the Middleport Factory of Burgess, Dorling & Leigh and the most gorgeous blue and white pottery ever, ever, ever!


I was a little worried when I saw this sign outside the shop


but needn't have worried as there was literally a warm welcome in the shop with a log fire beckoning us in from the raw wind.


This is one of the dressers I will have when I've had that lottery win. Laden with a selection of goodies from Burleighware I'll never be stuck for the right size jug or pretty dinner plate again.

Maybe there'll be space for this dresser too. Or do you think that's just being greedy?


Maybe I need a little girly pink too?


Such a lot to choose from, so little money.


Luckily, Sunday was our wedding anniversary so we did have a few pennies to spend. Goodies from EB

and loveliness from Burleighware.


Then it was a weary jourey home for our young soldiers......but they were triumphant in victory.

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.

I Want Kirstie's Frock

Yesterday I popped into Waitrose to buy a couple of things that had been forgotten and were needed for the weekend. Whilst there I picked up a free copy of the John Lewis magazine. I usually like a leisurely browse through this over a cup of coffee after the rigours of the supermarket. You know the sort of thing....admiring the flawless finish of the room sets, wondering my house looks more like the SAS has been camped here for a week and not tidied up after themselves before they left. I do like to look at the latest kitchen kit before I decide that perhaps I'll make do with my trusty stove top coffee maker rather than the latest superdooper coffee machine that does everything except wash itself up and only costs two hundred pounds. I do also enjoy the fashion shoots, I marvel at the skinniness of the models and think perhaps I might not eat that fourth chocolate digestive after all.


However, this month's fashion has left me cold...instead I've been drooling over Kirstie Allsopp's frock. Yes, it was an interesting interview but just look at the frock. Isn't it gorgeous and I want it NOW. Forget all those anorexic models in the latest designer labels, this is the dress for me. All flowery and vintagey and such gorgeous colours. I think I need to aim for this look this summer. Oh dear, I bet it's either proper vintage or a costly designer label. Time for me to dream on I think.

I've also been drooling over this gorgeous wallpaper featured in the latest CK catalogue. It's not on the website yet and I know it would be just the thing as a feature wall in my bedroom. This has also given me the idea of painting my existing pine furniture to a distressed off white. Do you think this would work? Anyhow, it's all up in the air at the moment - the wallpapers on the CK website range from twenty odd pounds up to on hundred and fifty. So, as usual I'm hoping my taste isn't outstripping my budget and my fingers remain strictly crossed in the hope that I'll be able to afford it.

With the return of the sunshine I suddenly feel more positive and energised and I am loving the colour that is returning to our lives along with the light. Bright, cheery flowers

and even my favourite magazines are joining in this colour fest. I just love the cover of this month's Country Homes and Interiors.




My charity shop finds with their delicate pinks and greens


are also telling me that Spring is just around the corner and that days will lengthen and strengthen in warmth and that with it, we will be able to have more garden living, walks and days in the countryside. Heaven.

Catching Up

I've finally got chance to pop in and say hello. I want to say a big thank you to everyone who left comments on the last post. They certainly made me feel that I shouldn't give up blogging and should keep going, even if I can only find time sporadically.




I'm couldn't be accused of being the most prolific blogger and I just haven't felt the inclination, even to read many blogs at the moment.



The weather really has had an effect on me this winter and I really cannot wait to be sat in the garden with a cuppa/glass of wine, listening to the birds singing with a little warmth from the sun on my face. We have been out and about but I've been very naughty and not taken the camera with me. Last weekend saw us take a trip to Ludlow and I loved it despite the bitterly cold wind that chilled our hands and feet and saw my poor little nose glowing red like a beacon. I had a lucky day there and found a lovely green cordurouy skirt for just twelve pounds and a sweet little tin from Emma Bridgewater that has been duly filled with home made shortbread this weekend. Sunday meant a trip to Bridgnorth to collect our newly repaired mantel clock from the antiques centre in High Town and once again I feel comforted having it's regular tick tock accompanying my day, punctuated by its deep, serious chimes on the hour and half hour. My word, it's good to have it back home.



Because I've been lazy and not taken my camera with me everywhere I go, I've not got much in the way of photos to show you today. I hope you don't mind but I've quickly taken some photos of the newly finished kitchen. I'm sorry there's no special styling going on although it is pretty tidy. My promise not to clutter it all up is fading quickly as things creep back in and new acquisitions are discovered, oohed and aaahed over and Mr F saying 'buy it you know you'll regret it if you don't. I'll be a minimalist in my next life!




As you can see, it's still tiny, the aga is still a distant dream and you certainly aint gonna eat Christmas dinner in there



but I'm happy. I have new units and appliances that make me happy to be spending time in there




and I know how lucky I am.





Once again, thank you so much more the wonderful comments on my last post. I hope to begin catching up with everyone soon.