Day out to London

Hello! Well I've taken a couple of days for myself this week to boost my spirits and energy so I can 'get my wonderwoman pants back on' ( that's a direct quote that tickled me from a friend!!)

So as an extended family member was visiting from Australia, I thought we'd take a visit to Spitalfields Market Antiques day. I used to love going trash and treasure Markets and Charity shops with her when i was living in Australia, she was so cool to go with, if she was ahead of me she would see stuff that I would love and put them in front so I would see them!! I remember going into this warehouse charity shop and this lady at the counter asking if I was Annie? Very Bewildered I said Er YES...why? I think you will like this big sparkly brooch...WOW I was standing there half taken with this gorgeous brooch and half wondering how the heck this woman knew me..when I looked over and saw Kaye hiding in the corner laughing at me...She set the whole thing up!! ( needless to say I bought that gorgeous brooch!!)

So I was also Child free yesterday as my son was busy playing with the dinosaurs at the 02 arena with my friend and her son...by the way that's not Aidan in the picture...not that brave!!

So off I toddled on the train to London for the second day in a row!! and Landed here!

There was SO much to look at!! Gorgeous white wire chairs with a hint of rust!

This table was covered with sparklies and all at £1 each!

The most beautiful spread of vintage brooches..

...with a star of the show that nearly came back with me!!

Gorgeous Colours and quirky treasures

and a lampshade that was destined to find a new home that day..no not mine..couldn't take that back on the tube!!

This tickled me!! It was on Rock and Roll Rich's stall!

Is that Birdcage I spy...... They were building these 2 massive birdcage type structures but it was all behind fencing...maybe in my garden??lol!!
So after coming back to the pouring rain and MacDonald's for dinner, I get a knock on the door and open it to find my Little boy standing there with these!!

He wanted to buy me some flowers with his spending money!! When asked why he bought me flowers...He said because I'm a princess!! When the Lady selling them asked if Mummy likes Pink..he replied 'No Mummy LOVES Pink' !
I am Blessed xx

It runs in the family!

Just a quick post to show you a few pics of my Mum's sewing pretties she makes... We are planning to do a little tour of the craft fairs in the run up to Christmas to sell some of our treasures!

Off to go visit my Granny Jenny now in Wembley, Aidy's so excited to be going on a train and Tube!! Must say I do still get an excited feeling in my tummy whenever I visit London...Feels like home to me, thanks for reading and commenting on my last post..guess we all go through these things....Counting my blessings really does help!! Have a great day all xx

Keep Calm &........

....sit in your Pj's all day!!..Hello...well As I told you in my first post I am an avid heart sleeve wearer so I cant very well write a fluffy blog post when I'm feeling poo!
I won't go into the boring details of why I'm feeling down too much but basically I'm taking a step back from my personal life to decide why people perceive me and treat me the way they do.... I'm far from perfect but I think I try to go out of my way for peeps if I can, be a good person and try not to let my insecurities get out of hand.. but not everyone can live by these principles and find myself getting hurt by comments or actions that by themselves I could get over within 5 mins but accumulated are huge!! This is what is dragging round my neck at the moment..I wish I could just forget about it, believe that I shouldn't have to change myself but then on the other hand they can't all be wrong?
ANYWAY!! I'm waffling now and sorry if that all made no sense but sometimes its best to get it out..all helps the healing process! So the following slogan is a simple but very British and effective rule to live by you cant escape it now it's everywhere!!!...this is a digital art version that I have designed...Rusty and shabby just the way I like it!!!

And this is my take on the slogan for all you crafters out there! Feel free to use the images for personal use as long as I'm credited for it x


So here's where I'm blessed, my Little sis trained in beauty therapy so as she is one of my best friends and saw I was feeling down, she decided to come round to my house and pamper me!! Hair cut and Coloured, eyebrows waxed and shaped and a facial later and voila!!



A new Annie!! My 4 yr old son Aidan took this photo whilst trying to make me laugh !! We also took this one of us...when I asked why he closed his eyes...he replied, well you are supposed to kiss with your eyes closed!!! Out of the mouth of babes!!


this poem I found a couple of years ago from where...I just can't remember...I saved it to show a friend who wasn't feeling confident about her crafts and whether she should get a 'real' job!! I wish I could credit the author as I love the words but thought I would share it and maybe someone reading can clear up the mystery! Thanks for 'listening', will show you some of my Mum's sewing pretties on my next hopefully 'fluffier' post!!

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Thrifty Treasure Jackpot!!

Well seeing as I woke up to a Sunday without a big Grey cloud looming overhead, we decided to go Treasure hunting! Went to Hitchin Car boot, which I have to say is my fav and then onto Stondon which is an afternoon Boot sale so lots of treasures to be found!!
Not so many vintage pretties today and some really badly painted cabinets and things but I'm sure I will be able to transform them soon enough!!

This is the lot together...including some great finds such as a aqua crochet cardigan that I couldn't resist and a cute as a button sewing basket for my Mum!

This had thesweetest rosebuds on them and was a nice thickness for Mum to make into something Fabulous!! ( will post some of her products another time!) Here are some close ups!!

And YES...that is a birdcage you can spy on the shelf!!! It actually has a battery and apparently 'tweets' ...have yet to find out!!
Well not a bad little score today and now have the job of transforming them into treasures you would want to display in your home!! Got my work cut out for me I think!!
Hope you all had a lovely Sunday xxxx

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!!!