Pretties in my Home

Hello! I had this post all sorted and managed to delete it all!! ARGHH!! Sitting here typing with slightly shaky hands after quiet Hen night meal turned into a very different occasion!! Definitely needed to let my hair down and That I did!!! My lil boy has shooed me upstairs so that he can put Carrie and Davids pop shop up full blast..not good for a poorly head!
So I thought I would hide from the cheesiness of cbeebies and show you some pretty things that I have collected over the years...

This is an old printers tray that my Mum had for a long time and then she gave to me, It's been given a coat of antique white and crackle glaze and now holds all my sparkly collection! Most of these brooches have been found in trash and treasure markets from when I lived in Australia...Some of them loved and cared for...some of them covered in crud and found in the bottom of some tin...these are the ones I love best funnily enough...cleaning them and finding the shiny sparkle underneath was a secret weird niceness!! Also in there are some trinkets from my past such as a Swarovski gift box crystal from my 18th and my Dads old poker dice! I don't believe in Jewellery boxes! This is on my bedroom wall and sparkles nicely when the sun shines on them!

This is my Wall 'Tattoo' I hand painted it on my Duck egg blue dividing wall, it took me forever to do but Was worth it as its the first message I see when I come downstairs in the morning! Being a Victorian Terraced the house is long and narrow and has been knocked through to create one room ( unfortunately the chimney breast was taken with it by them...BOOO!!) The picture showing the location of the Tattoo is from before we moved in..I'm def NOT a minimalist!

Everything on this wall is a thrifty find!! The plate cabinet was unfinished from a car boot sale for a FIVER!! Given a coat of Vanilla cream it now holds my Arthur Meakin China, which I picked up from a charity shop for...£3.99! The design is Realm Rose and has a dark pink red rose against a duck egg blue background which matches nicely with my randomly collected 50p a plate Johnson bros range!! Have blue bowls to match this and love the pink style too!! The jugs in the pic were a £1 for 2 and the Gravy boat a steal at 10p!!!!!
Even the clock was £2 from a boot sale!!! This sits on the dining room wall next to the kitchen door!


This is a shot from my office workspace, it shows off Marilyn ( she has pointy badoobies!!) my wired mannequin wearing a 50's pink crinkled nightie, a pink rose crown complete with a bow brooch and feather boa..of course!! I paid £22 for her she doesn't have a stand though! but that's OK she sits amongst my stock nicely!

Yet another Printers tray...this one was £2 and very shabby but had to get it!! It lives by my stairs and holds mini pics of all my friends and family and little trinkets and pics just an easy way to display all your loved ones...especially if you have a big family! I have distressed it with duck egg blue paint to tie in with the colour scheme! On top is an easter wreath which I made but has managed to stay in the decor...will it stay until next year I wonder!!!?? Also a vintage style botanical rose print and a mini handpainted oil rose painting which I found in a junkyard for 50p!!

Finally my Pink wire heart which changes what it holds on a reg basis..in this pic it has a sign I picked up from Cornwall, some photos, some old cigarette cards, crystal brooches heart wreath other randomness!!! I'm sure the scenery will change tomorrow...oh dear is that another birdcage...you guys are gonna think I have a real problem!! lol!!


Until next time, off to take some headache tablets now...I know I know No sympathy for the self inflicted!!! Thanks to all who are reading, it means a lot...xxxxx

Just a little note to say....

.....Thank you to the lovely people that have commented on my fledgling blog! Its made me feel so welcome and encouraged me to carry on as I was in 2 minds whether to start one or not...I mean who's gonna be interested enough to follow it?....That was my initial thought..but I might just carry this on for a bit longer!!
Will come back with some pretties collected over the years but until then guess what?..Its another birdcage!!! LOL!! Before you click off, this one is a tad different...It plays Music!! A musical Birdcage how very Kitsch!! The little birdy ( with what i suspect are real feathers) also moves from perch to perch!!
I won't be keeping this one, it will be for sale but was def due a makeover so I'll post the before and after pics!!

Not too sure what the song played is...it goes like this...da da da , da da da da....any ideas??
LOL!!- edited to add My mum told me the song is called- Around the world

Birdcage Addiction!

Well the title says it all really, I have a real problem with saying no to buying birdcages! Everyone who knows me rolls their eyes when upon visiting my home they spot yet another one that I have added to my collection!!
Actually the same goes for cake stands too..hmm, Anyhoo, Our house isn't huge, its a Victorian mid terraced just over 100 years old so I've got to try not to keep all the pretties like I really want to!
Well here's some of my birdcages..

So as you can see I really do have a problem!! But hey I love them and I like pretty things to look at!! Will post more pretties in my home soon....just need to get some housework done!!!

My first post..EEK!!

Well..erm Hello!!
After being an avid Blog reader, I have decided to start my own!! Haven't completely found my feet yet...so bear with me!!
This will be mainly a design Blog but I suspect my personal life will creep in somewhat as I am an avid heart sleeve wearer and so much of my surroundings, friends and family have impact on my work that it would be impossible to not mention them!

Ok so I'll start with a bit about me and my work..... My main job is being a full time Mum to a mischievous little boy who will be turning 5 this autumn! Besides that I have several part time jobs!!!
I design and sell my handmade gifts online and through word of mouth, I have been doing this for the last 10 years.. here's a little picture of some of them
Then I supply gift shops with my stock, at the moment Lavender Blue in St Albans are selling my hand painted butterfly and Fairy window clings, its a gorgeous shop full of pretties and well worth a look if you are ever in St Albans! http://www.lavenderblueshop.com/

Then there's the Weddings!! I make every thing I can to do with Weddings from Invites to Tiaras to decorating the Tables on the day!! I have been lucky to have been involved with some beautiful weddings in the past and am looking forward to one in a castle in September!!! So excited!!
Here's one creation for a gorgeous bride who was a model and used her tiara in a wedding advertisement for Edinburgh Crystal!!

Then I supply my re purposed and vintage style stock to a trader who sells at Hitchin Antiques & Collectors Market every Friday!!! Here's some stock that sold very well!

And Last but certainly not least is a great place called FANTASY CRAFTS in Barton!
This is the only craft place I know with a soul and room to have a cup of tea and play!! I teach craft classes there part time and felt so privileged to be there for its birth!! If you ever in the the area and you love to craft then you MUST visit as there is so much to do...I will go into more details another time but here's a few pics for you to nosey at!!
Fantasy Crafts, 10b Barton Ind Est, Faldo Rd, Barton Le Clay, MK45 4RP- 01582 882727

Well that's it! Seems a lot for a full time Mum but hey you have to do what you have to do!! My Son is starting school in September full time so I am making more plans to reach my dream goal.....to have my own shop before I reach 40!! WATCH THIS SPACE!!!!!!