tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10079734983691042492024-03-19T09:17:58.094+00:00beautiful square feetbeautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.comBlogger203125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-83225051342748952582013-05-08T19:33:00.002+01:002013-05-08T19:33:44.660+01:00It's Orla tidied up.<div style="text-align: justify;">
I managed to snatch a few minutes the other day to peruse around John Lewis. I was very excited to see the new raised stem collection from Orla Kiely. I loved these cake tins - absolutely made me wish I a) was the type of woman who baked frequently, and b) had more room in my kitchen to display them (I could therefore store items other than cake in them!). Sadly, neither is the truth, so I will have to just stroke them like a loon (they're very tactile!) every time I see them.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-uXukKm8znzqzsSyvUDFRlnf-uRBtkYODEfCrcoUawjotXI_2RX8jOZPYoCrtN4vgO_QnhMePtqNfpzXD1ruIJpQA0E8rduqeCBbQsnlZiLm9qE1h5jVwXnmORtfNocoB_v8EgeU-m7I/s1600/Picture+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-uXukKm8znzqzsSyvUDFRlnf-uRBtkYODEfCrcoUawjotXI_2RX8jOZPYoCrtN4vgO_QnhMePtqNfpzXD1ruIJpQA0E8rduqeCBbQsnlZiLm9qE1h5jVwXnmORtfNocoB_v8EgeU-m7I/s640/Picture+2.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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I also really liked the raised stem storage canisters. Didn't I get a set of Orla Kiely storage canisters for Christmas? Yes, I did - and I'm putting them to great use. However, these are quite special and as usual, I love the colours, so I may have to sneak some into my house somehow. I'm currently trying to think of what I could store in the grey one in my bathroom.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBjk3g49K1DojtJkO73YcRqda7iFw7UhxnMN0oT28FULS0fIH9vvnMGUldLS6UDW-EZtVMD3z8AH60seQY6oLe3bKbouE8UiSrCaSYSs9kIqSUZqX_zJmcKlgVd-_s-7w6_EAW6gzUFq-/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBjk3g49K1DojtJkO73YcRqda7iFw7UhxnMN0oT28FULS0fIH9vvnMGUldLS6UDW-EZtVMD3z8AH60seQY6oLe3bKbouE8UiSrCaSYSs9kIqSUZqX_zJmcKlgVd-_s-7w6_EAW6gzUFq-/s640/Picture+1.png" width="574" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://www.johnlewis.com/">here</a>.</td></tr>
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beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-21059364679208351802013-05-07T20:19:00.000+01:002013-05-07T20:19:10.495+01:00A quick fix in the kitchen.<div style="text-align: justify;">
When we moved in to our house nearly six years ago, certain aspects like the kitchen and the bathroom weren't quite to our taste, but were too new to change. Fine - it meant that we moved in to a house with a modern kitchen and bathroom. However, our house was clearly modernised for sale, and modernised by a bit of a bodger.</div>
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For example, the kitchen cupboards were left incomplete - there were no end boards. Around the extractor hood looked like this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEql0gmJVPkCje3sfa3yYfhqvIjO8Ex9BztWNIEm9Cng02RJ1OMxulHoZ7fGJ-cOPQFWBKyv3lb_CmYTKRQAbScSUrGVZWlutXZGEg7HeUYcOHYNF9cL3a5mfKMaT0vTXdDWiZ5U9Y-fp/s1600/hood+b4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEql0gmJVPkCje3sfa3yYfhqvIjO8Ex9BztWNIEm9Cng02RJ1OMxulHoZ7fGJ-cOPQFWBKyv3lb_CmYTKRQAbScSUrGVZWlutXZGEg7HeUYcOHYNF9cL3a5mfKMaT0vTXdDWiZ5U9Y-fp/s640/hood+b4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1WCKohYYOenkIQMfIn7Qz-Dj3HCSTBwloaVWoZsZzmkg7ug1Slahosgfnxgqi31d_35epTT661TF9RtkbEN8KbrtrMIatuYmbepb0WDqL7WbuARl8y80ncieiDnmqjXUlbpF-IdCOkTO/s1600/hood+2+b4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1WCKohYYOenkIQMfIn7Qz-Dj3HCSTBwloaVWoZsZzmkg7ug1Slahosgfnxgqi31d_35epTT661TF9RtkbEN8KbrtrMIatuYmbepb0WDqL7WbuARl8y80ncieiDnmqjXUlbpF-IdCOkTO/s640/hood+2+b4.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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The missing panels made what was already a budget kitchen, look even cheaper. Annoyingly, there wasn't enough room between the extractor and the cupboards to even fit on any end boards. I had to come up with another solution.</div>
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The answer came with sticky backed plastic! I found a roll of wood effect lino, cut it to size, and stuck it on.</div>
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After about an hour, after a lot of fiddling and huffing, my cupboards looked like this. Tons better don't you think? The lino helps to create the illusion that the cupboards are actually made of solid wood!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDBW70lE4EL2eOW72OtWTbsLmDRqvtd8vuoCiS1N73HLw8Lqkk5u3A4bUriWJ4f96ydHS4Gn-U5giOUKOLgIO5CqxXAiaHagCDUDfUkBx3FxzoY1zYFTu2PDnDRnybk0yTXDsixk1M_l4/s1600/hood+after.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDBW70lE4EL2eOW72OtWTbsLmDRqvtd8vuoCiS1N73HLw8Lqkk5u3A4bUriWJ4f96ydHS4Gn-U5giOUKOLgIO5CqxXAiaHagCDUDfUkBx3FxzoY1zYFTu2PDnDRnybk0yTXDsixk1M_l4/s640/hood+after.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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A quick fix that has made quite an impact, and all for about £6!</div>
beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-26979127042146845892013-04-08T22:11:00.002+01:002013-04-08T22:11:12.851+01:00A little piece of Velcovsky in my bathroom.<div style="text-align: justify;">
So you know the old story - grandmother dies, and the old picture she had hanging over her dingy gas fire turns out to be an original Monet. Well something, admittedly not quite so dramatic as that, has happened in my house recently!</div>
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I've been making my way through Veronika's archives over at <a href="http://fewthingsfrommylife.blogspot.co.uk/">A Few Things From My Life</a> (which I highly recommend by the way), and I learned from <a href="http://fewthingsfrommylife.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/best-of-czech-design-3-and-maxim.html">this</a> post, that I've been using a piece of classic Czech design to house our toothbrushes!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-IWzGc_H5UtPhahZjgi4AEd3sRTCNUhsPM2fxRQ0iNEp9uJ0L3EfAal6tdvpoDv_kHC5ezt9Se2QQAcyw5D7SVyX562akjxS2DV6XGEFprFNzLnJR5XYBaTL7B5yAEf-fP8LyEWeV-XM/s1600/toothbrush+holder.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-IWzGc_H5UtPhahZjgi4AEd3sRTCNUhsPM2fxRQ0iNEp9uJ0L3EfAal6tdvpoDv_kHC5ezt9Se2QQAcyw5D7SVyX562akjxS2DV6XGEFprFNzLnJR5XYBaTL7B5yAEf-fP8LyEWeV-XM/s640/toothbrush+holder.JPG" width="468" /></a></div>
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This quirky porcelain cup was given to us several years ago by my uncle and his Czech wife (who live near Prague). At the time, I thought it was quite cool - the attention to detail is pretty impressive - it really is a good replica of a polystyrene cup. However, not realising its true status, it sat on our desk, occasionally containing the odd biro. When Torin accidentally broke the white ceramic cup that should sit in the chrome holder above (I think he knocked it out while swinging his toothbrush around his head (!)), I realised that porcelain cup sitting on our desk would be a great replacement.</div>
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Thanks to Veronika's post, I learned that the "Pure cup" as it's known, was designed by renowned Czech designer Maxim Velcovsky, who is known for his porcelain work, and also for redesigning the interiors of public buildings.</div>
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I have to admit that before I read Veronika's post, the barcode was turned around to face the wall so the cup was white against the pale walls of our bathroom. Now I know where it has come from, the barcode faces forward as it should, and funnily, suddenly I don't mind it so much!</div>
beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-54858552679706449952013-03-13T20:48:00.000+00:002013-03-13T20:48:35.845+00:00Printer's tray on the landing.<div style="text-align: justify;">
On Sunday I grabbed a few minutes to hang up my new printer's tray. The very kind gift from David's father and stepmother, has been propped up against the wall for a while now, even though I've known where it was going to live since it entered my house! It's hanging on the wall at the top of our stairs, right outside Torin's bedroom.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSKKlmZhZg8zjuJUOt8z-oLIvlVxOSaA-ToMMAFmTlsdBJI77ZGZGMCnIUNhH_ZG_ZsB_qmEZubpVlE3cyzl2zmhyphenhyphenH7FXmGkl2tAELKIk0o2FNUmXtEP1ji6d7jik1g0dvrd8_eQ88ITK/s1600/printers+tray.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSKKlmZhZg8zjuJUOt8z-oLIvlVxOSaA-ToMMAFmTlsdBJI77ZGZGMCnIUNhH_ZG_ZsB_qmEZubpVlE3cyzl2zmhyphenhyphenH7FXmGkl2tAELKIk0o2FNUmXtEP1ji6d7jik1g0dvrd8_eQ88ITK/s640/printers+tray.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
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So far I've only added a few little items to it, but I'm looking forward to adding more as time goes by.</div>
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On there at the moment is:</div>
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The name tag that I made for our room when we got married (I made one for every room in the house that we hired). I was so pleased with them when I made them nearly six years ago, and still am really (though I really wish now that I had used a type writer or stamp to write the names).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZs6uGN4XTA0SJuqg8jiK_eXltOe26uvQobooh-iuDRnGsGMZ1N_e5IvhJX5tJDQxRD20BZ9mMKkER_yOV9a12GWTRH3f38rv19fr_xrvs4wLenjWtHzd5WM9APXQgkmwHRxctzYSuv1H9/s1600/name+tag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZs6uGN4XTA0SJuqg8jiK_eXltOe26uvQobooh-iuDRnGsGMZ1N_e5IvhJX5tJDQxRD20BZ9mMKkER_yOV9a12GWTRH3f38rv19fr_xrvs4wLenjWtHzd5WM9APXQgkmwHRxctzYSuv1H9/s640/name+tag.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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One of the snowflakes I used as a decoration for Astrid's birthday party (I know, I'm so rubbish - I still haven't posted all of the pictures from that!).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLK7qTW9qFLjEkAZtX5F0cHuwYcqkqdH8UWiwli9DKEx3yhq6GMHahs77OD1DCTve4mC7ygX_zR_u0TXF6Zh_qFGggNyYSyb6Upb_Svf8vOI7wZ0PACTjgbdwXi9tXFh9UY1ySF8CSmIyo/s1600/snowflake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLK7qTW9qFLjEkAZtX5F0cHuwYcqkqdH8UWiwli9DKEx3yhq6GMHahs77OD1DCTve4mC7ygX_zR_u0TXF6Zh_qFGggNyYSyb6Upb_Svf8vOI7wZ0PACTjgbdwXi9tXFh9UY1ySF8CSmIyo/s640/snowflake.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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My plan for the hallway and landing is to re-paint the walls in a darker shade - probably something like <a href="http://www.dulux.co.uk/colour/just_walnut">this</a> and then I'm going to hang wallpaper on the wall behind the tray (I want to use some up that we bought yonks ago to go on the chimney breast in the living room). I think I'll probably eventually paint the tray - probably in a neutral colour like <a href="http://www.dulux.co.uk/colour/porcelain_doll">this</a>. I think it will make the objects on it stand out, and make the whole area feel more streamlined.</div>
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In other printer's tray news . . . have you seen <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GQNya66BC9Y/UHXOrkNOaRI/AAAAAAAABo0/JHFQNIh-Zpg/s500/vintage%25252520wallpaper%25252520packs%25252520etsy%25252520083.JPG&imgrefurl=http://vintagesheetaddict.blogspot.com/2012/10/feeling-little-blue.html&usg=__4D8jel3_QuGPqgYyHGZoovjQ4eM=&h=500&w=375&sz=58&hl=en&start=40&zoom=1&tbnid=I-JaVApyup3IWM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=98&ei=EuVAUfijBInJ0AXav4CoAg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dvintage%2Bsheet%2Baddict%2Bprinter%2Btray%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26tbm%3Disch%26prmd%3Divns&itbs=1&sa=X&ved=0CFAQrQMwEzgU">this</a> project from <a href="http://vintagesheetaddict.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/playing-with-p.html">Vintage Sheet Adict</a>? I think it looks great. I'd certainly attempt it myself if I hadn't already decided to hang wallpaper up behind mine.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSp80iSqfZn-OaYd9oQ691boC3CnBPvfXqCwjnXM_AwBN4BWLW67JXMceOFMo-zB1NxFw0YjNlQtSvvJSGypoJLc8xHTDU6Ecs5qsecDDARibuZASiHjtFU3mMk0S7bopi4XTGMDltflr/s1600/blue+tray.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSp80iSqfZn-OaYd9oQ691boC3CnBPvfXqCwjnXM_AwBN4BWLW67JXMceOFMo-zB1NxFw0YjNlQtSvvJSGypoJLc8xHTDU6Ecs5qsecDDARibuZASiHjtFU3mMk0S7bopi4XTGMDltflr/s640/blue+tray.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://vintagesheetaddict.blogspot.co.uk/">here</a>.</td></tr>
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beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-10879965326694066142013-03-06T22:10:00.001+00:002013-03-06T22:10:36.658+00:00An IKEA induced nostalgia.<div style="text-align: justify;">
I popped to IKEA with the children yesterday. I was in search of a picture frame, but I also thought the small adventure playground that they have outside our local branch would absorb some of Torin's excess energy! </div>
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It was a successful trip - I picked up an <a href="http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/50196349/#/60177091">ÖDBY</a> frame for the wonderful <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/EloiseRenouf">Eloise Renouf</a> print my brother gave me for my birthday back in the summer (I know, things move slowly around here!). I'm really pleased with it actually - I'll post some pictures when it eventually makes it onto the wall above our bed!</div>
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While I was in the frame section, my eye was drawn to the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/40185718/?query=NORRLIDA+Frame">NORRLIDA</a> frame. I'm not sure if it is a new product, but I hadn't seen it before. The display model contained a fabric collage showing two owls and some bunting - I thought this was quite creative for IKEA and it set my mind wondering about what use I could find for one. Described as "the perfect frame to make collages with your pictures and other keepsakes", it reminded me so much of the frames my great-grandmother used to frame her wonderful cross-stitch creations. I can clearly picture a white frame, with a cross-stitch design inside it depicting rolling green hills and fields of lilac heather. I think it's hanging on the wall in my grandmother's cottage now, so I'll try and grab a picture of it next time we're back in Kent and share it with you.</div>
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I was quite drawn to the unusual shape of the frame - if I can think of a good project involving one, I'll get it and share my thoughts with you. In the meantime, here are some pictures of how others have put their NORRLIDA frames to good use:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRUXBCbtoWTjK7gbVATLli3kW-W8ghjBp23Jx84eDCZ7xVpE7C9wLdnGVVKrM3L_840yvE-hnC-6L-Wl51nyqjMr4L2EkU9EhSxeVDLPGR-Di6yHf_xhVpa6zTKLN03BQmBvwwIOixshB/s1600/butterflies.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRUXBCbtoWTjK7gbVATLli3kW-W8ghjBp23Jx84eDCZ7xVpE7C9wLdnGVVKrM3L_840yvE-hnC-6L-Wl51nyqjMr4L2EkU9EhSxeVDLPGR-Di6yHf_xhVpa6zTKLN03BQmBvwwIOixshB/s640/butterflies.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://fromstephwithlove.wordpress.com/2012/08/13/the-perfect-specimen-part-1/">here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Kc9Q_r37ebnrh9-FpnjQZml9aV_OXz80B6D0ajHUgWDvUBkdp7JTq02Nxm-qFtouVEY3LmRMtBMVmDeO5Urv3GRG3eyncq3f6QC1WUqWyGdfBv7KC0dXAGICTJ6-0WM01jWwwE1UfjUY/s1600/servingtray7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Kc9Q_r37ebnrh9-FpnjQZml9aV_OXz80B6D0ajHUgWDvUBkdp7JTq02Nxm-qFtouVEY3LmRMtBMVmDeO5Urv3GRG3eyncq3f6QC1WUqWyGdfBv7KC0dXAGICTJ6-0WM01jWwwE1UfjUY/s640/servingtray7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://www.majorbaggage.com/2012/05/diy-serving-tray.html">here</a>.</td></tr>
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beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-1673950166477187412013-03-04T21:27:00.001+00:002013-03-05T20:58:09.153+00:00The Full Monty at Loaf.<div style="text-align: justify;">
A while ago, I mentioned that I really liked this <a href="http://beautifulsquarefeet.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/cant-stop-looking-at.html">bedside table</a> from the new range of furniture at The Sleep Room. Well, The Sleep Room is now <a href="http://loaf.com/">Loaf</a>, and their new range of furniture is now massive. Alice from <a href="http://homeshoppingspy.com/">Home Shopping Spy</a> mentioned that there were some really lovely new products that just had to be seen, so I decided to take a look.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXYY8M9aXrQSdq37ZQuQFe7A1CjGRhoMY3xIoSRJj4YslKYO_1nhxUNtKpIPZ6JaNznYRUW5yNqcFy7QRrvZArTqWIkXcYEuNjV0fKhYVV_4NN0Yhm2w7sVv710oOM9cu4SXXsPTwo2tH/s1600/new+loaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXYY8M9aXrQSdq37ZQuQFe7A1CjGRhoMY3xIoSRJj4YslKYO_1nhxUNtKpIPZ6JaNznYRUW5yNqcFy7QRrvZArTqWIkXcYEuNjV0fKhYVV_4NN0Yhm2w7sVv710oOM9cu4SXXsPTwo2tH/s400/new+loaf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I always admire the sofas and beds that Loaf advertise in full page campaigns in interiors magazines - they tend to make me want to strip out everything in our bedroom / living room and just focus on one new big squashy bed / sofa. Their new range The Full Monty, is called that because Loaf have expanded beyond living rooms and bedrooms and now sell products for every room in the house. Hurrah, I say!</div>
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I like how the chalky tone of this bedside lamp contrasts with the glossy finish.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvZY1MbAq0z2NpvMNFB0oci7SHz1Kfgeb6k2wIgKHblu832C1kQHNnOxjssGisSjM8EyOTODiutoqljZu5pVnt9xF5c7x4SfnafA6BasFq97zkB-dAobdQsvC1UECPK5ObaRHHSZkyi3N/s1600/little+dane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvZY1MbAq0z2NpvMNFB0oci7SHz1Kfgeb6k2wIgKHblu832C1kQHNnOxjssGisSjM8EyOTODiutoqljZu5pVnt9xF5c7x4SfnafA6BasFq97zkB-dAobdQsvC1UECPK5ObaRHHSZkyi3N/s320/little+dane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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These plain linen cushions are from India and have been livened up with blanket stitched edging in bright colours.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGqS8NEevmU1rrNvVFh5YRz82NaYs7CEfAIIBZzN23RD-MU4tAE0hDzRo9CAoAALyRklQbvMMpTaZwfIyJD2TN4WqPSqILMJrON8iQH627t4y7TfjYXS3IIVrUOvwDWZ5lngfUGARxxb9/s1600/linen+cushions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGqS8NEevmU1rrNvVFh5YRz82NaYs7CEfAIIBZzN23RD-MU4tAE0hDzRo9CAoAALyRklQbvMMpTaZwfIyJD2TN4WqPSqILMJrON8iQH627t4y7TfjYXS3IIVrUOvwDWZ5lngfUGARxxb9/s320/linen+cushions.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm really drawn to industrial shelving at the moment - I once saw a great use of an old shoe rack that was used as towel storage above a door in a bathroom - I'll try and dig out the picture if I can remember where I saw it. This upright unit, aptly called Highwire, would neatly fit into any bathroom. I'd happily have it in mine, but I think that with the recent addition of my lovely new cabinet, we'd have storage overload!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBi69KzpjThK6leBu7GZB1JlJgfN-hvKThmlb6QmCFNNC3UeVhSgB3iBNrRHhE6lF63WQb8iF1cRhvqewpqQzVGRZNvviPQl3FBHoheR7mAkXz7e3k9tsqL4j8PCu7tRaM3d3xMyk86fTK/s1600/highwire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBi69KzpjThK6leBu7GZB1JlJgfN-hvKThmlb6QmCFNNC3UeVhSgB3iBNrRHhE6lF63WQb8iF1cRhvqewpqQzVGRZNvviPQl3FBHoheR7mAkXz7e3k9tsqL4j8PCu7tRaM3d3xMyk86fTK/s320/highwire.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finally, I love the curves of this hand beaten metal mirror that was inspired by a 1930s mirror seen in Venice. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBblyA8auMeGmnttWuUwYi3tcku8auZrDJwMgIOr6yZMJRDZo9Tv1xrh7hA1Eh6ZKQHLIQYg9QCyxb00tI_rsicB-ALmNY7vQo0BCF2oFzt6A2UpMLpyGl-35Hw0BJj51IDUH14WFe7T-/s1600/venice+mirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBblyA8auMeGmnttWuUwYi3tcku8auZrDJwMgIOr6yZMJRDZo9Tv1xrh7hA1Eh6ZKQHLIQYg9QCyxb00tI_rsicB-ALmNY7vQo0BCF2oFzt6A2UpMLpyGl-35Hw0BJj51IDUH14WFe7T-/s320/venice+mirror.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Which is your favourite piece?</div>
beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-87320028236561930202013-02-18T22:13:00.002+00:002013-02-18T22:13:43.593+00:00Lovely new curtains in the living room.<div style="text-align: justify;">
On Saturday, David really helped me out by taking the children into town for the afternoon. With a quiet empty house, I sang along to First Aid Kit (loudly) - a very welcome Valentine's gift from David, that I'm really enjoying listening to (have you heard of them?), made myself a quick lunch, and then set about putting up our new curtains in the living room!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqI123rxIMbO6OYOY0ELrqOy1BBTmUzhe19mZvDVdAzRqunbgMDcJ1xfdXEUNhh9MZRP0bMPw-024j6Cf_7o4V7-5L79DVdoTdGyxmnLbModo7KDFx3Phn5MIpZZ7iqW99pxHcBXU4mrho/s1600/curtains+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqI123rxIMbO6OYOY0ELrqOy1BBTmUzhe19mZvDVdAzRqunbgMDcJ1xfdXEUNhh9MZRP0bMPw-024j6Cf_7o4V7-5L79DVdoTdGyxmnLbModo7KDFx3Phn5MIpZZ7iqW99pxHcBXU4mrho/s640/curtains+1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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My mum (who is a complete star, and very talented) made the curtains for me for my big birthday last year. Thanks mum, I absolutely love them - I keep wandering into the room, just for another look!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqI123rxIMbO6OYOY0ELrqOy1BBTmUzhe19mZvDVdAzRqunbgMDcJ1xfdXEUNhh9MZRP0bMPw-024j6Cf_7o4V7-5L79DVdoTdGyxmnLbModo7KDFx3Phn5MIpZZ7iqW99pxHcBXU4mrho/s1600/curtains+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nshoeKDO7u0uz_jHKdqk0hHJwWJKEhcaIFCyj72MOO80-aB6uPkNdZ-DC3ESXpDV5F6joAtzRle8c9QgEsjDsmgokD-50i8TcLvSGXrSBDw6H-xGV5OEL10Mhf6QaMEfovD-9g4z5BhK/s1600/curtains+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nshoeKDO7u0uz_jHKdqk0hHJwWJKEhcaIFCyj72MOO80-aB6uPkNdZ-DC3ESXpDV5F6joAtzRle8c9QgEsjDsmgokD-50i8TcLvSGXrSBDw6H-xGV5OEL10Mhf6QaMEfovD-9g4z5BhK/s640/curtains+3.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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They really add a warmth to the room, and help to make the space feel more "grown up". It felt really good to take down the cheap, faded IKEA curtains that were hanging there. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhx5goj_-qXFm4fyerkAJyishckc4S7GlZVBS43MEos7bFU21RhhdWTa7KbkceRWbKgANgpZWcpehXE3X8f5AK7NuklGcB0kHTckeVasPHp8eZFEZNkpYfzwwbkc8mO3YCzfXfiob_wGA/s1600/curtains+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhx5goj_-qXFm4fyerkAJyishckc4S7GlZVBS43MEos7bFU21RhhdWTa7KbkceRWbKgANgpZWcpehXE3X8f5AK7NuklGcB0kHTckeVasPHp8eZFEZNkpYfzwwbkc8mO3YCzfXfiob_wGA/s640/curtains+2.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nshoeKDO7u0uz_jHKdqk0hHJwWJKEhcaIFCyj72MOO80-aB6uPkNdZ-DC3ESXpDV5F6joAtzRle8c9QgEsjDsmgokD-50i8TcLvSGXrSBDw6H-xGV5OEL10Mhf6QaMEfovD-9g4z5BhK/s1600/curtains+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>
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Here's more of a close up shot - I chose the fabric (from Dunelm Mill) for a few reasons - I thought the cream background would really lighten up the room and the green matched the colour on the walls, but wasn't too samey. Also, the leaf motif is embroidered onto the plain background fabric, which is the same as the flowers on the cushions.</div>
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The new curtains have really refreshed the living room, and I can't wait for mum to finish the curtain that is going to hang at the door in the dining room area. When that's done, the rooms will pretty much be complete!<br />
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What do you think? Do you like them?<br />
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Also, I'd just like to say hi to my three newest followers - welcome Daisy of <a href="http://lazydaisyjones.blogspot.co.uk/">Lazy Daisy Jones</a>, Sophie of <a href="http://fading-grace.blogspot.co.uk/">Fading Grace</a> and <a href="http://hettiebrown.blogspot.co.uk/">Hettie Brown</a>, and Jenny of <a href="http://thecustards.blogspot.co.uk/">The Custards</a>. Thank you for following me!</div>
beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-92184207864803496732013-02-11T20:51:00.000+00:002013-02-11T20:51:29.523+00:00Bathroom cabinet . . . finally!<div style="text-align: justify;">
A long long time ago, I wrote about looking for a <a href="http://beautifulsquarefeet.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/design-classics-and-other-old-things.html">cabinet</a> to go in our bathroom. It was meant to be my birthday present from my parents that year. Well, on Friday I was finally able to call my dad and congratulate him for buying me my birthday present, albeit well over a year late! I successfully (with a little help from David who was watching the auction on a train heading back from Durham), managed to bid for and win a beautiful cabinet on Ebay, and yesterday we braved the pouring rain and drove to Pontypool to pick it up.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZPHbRM4EIxkiu73CKtuZY4tlnSze7igd9iyxzPg07e5un6XqgBT7Mwfy7hflF17EUyIUR0go0Rc5RiUuSkxZVl_55Khsb77qxHV24FlckyE38Fsq0mwQvpAnYhgG-ckrgyRzTGZYmp4Y/s1600/cabinet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZPHbRM4EIxkiu73CKtuZY4tlnSze7igd9iyxzPg07e5un6XqgBT7Mwfy7hflF17EUyIUR0go0Rc5RiUuSkxZVl_55Khsb77qxHV24FlckyE38Fsq0mwQvpAnYhgG-ckrgyRzTGZYmp4Y/s640/cabinet.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
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I'm really thrilled, as it's exactly what I'd wanted - size, colour, everything. Apparently, it used to display tiaras in a bridal boutique, and prior to that, it spent years in a watch shop, so it's got quite a quaint provenance too.</div>
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At the moment, it's sitting on top of another cupboard in the bathroom, as this is the safest option for the children, while I wait for the weekend when I can have David's help to put it up on the wall. It's going to eventually hang on this wall, but at a height that'll be just above the tallest frond on the aloe vera - it's going to look so good, and it should house loads of our bathroom paraphernalia. I'll post a few pictures when it's up on the wall!</div>
beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-64582305272515632582013-02-08T22:40:00.003+00:002013-02-08T22:40:50.603+00:00And the winners are . . .<div style="text-align: justify;">
So, as promised, my chosen few . . . sorry it's coming to you a day later - you can mainly blame teething for my tardiness.</div>
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As a condition of accepting my little blog's award the other day, I have to pass on the award to a further ten blogs that I find inspiring. Here they are . . .</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmq9pk5w0AsF8o-6s-oHK5g2s1-eRZLCGLMcV1_TGUvqZ4AwOW2xM_FRjGmHe4HpT6MDghXuPGzldHeIh7j1NsVzgasFumRIdbE_lj-WO9tnB4_h1DO9_U-Zh-jLYFdguIZTFcbNFoabJ/s1600/pardonmyfrenchie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmq9pk5w0AsF8o-6s-oHK5g2s1-eRZLCGLMcV1_TGUvqZ4AwOW2xM_FRjGmHe4HpT6MDghXuPGzldHeIh7j1NsVzgasFumRIdbE_lj-WO9tnB4_h1DO9_U-Zh-jLYFdguIZTFcbNFoabJ/s320/pardonmyfrenchie.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://pardonmyfrenchie.co.uk/">Pardonmyfrenchie</a> - now, I have to admit from the off, that this is my sister's blog. She reviews films and displays her cool photography skills in an incredibly witty way. Family ties aside, this new blog deserves recognition - she's doing a great job!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3K3pXLbEsD9hAdl0AnsjjK9vbotk8wQVyP1pZQmY5xzMD6CrAx9KNA14IFqof7mHzDAKysjGWa0zszGCraMB3PdjouAk368VcZnbiziJTf9Q_yQLF3PmQZLnGgcLJN2WkLxHMjbuUMk4/s1600/BPC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3K3pXLbEsD9hAdl0AnsjjK9vbotk8wQVyP1pZQmY5xzMD6CrAx9KNA14IFqof7mHzDAKysjGWa0zszGCraMB3PdjouAk368VcZnbiziJTf9Q_yQLF3PmQZLnGgcLJN2WkLxHMjbuUMk4/s320/BPC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://bristolparentingcafe.blogspot.co.uk/">Bristol Parenting Cafe</a> - because the lovely C is so friendly and she posts gorgeous pictures of her family doing wonderful activities together. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54dnY5U4IEy3fzNlw8hDAOdG77V8mJuHVN-xNcchmBOW1UcyZMSVh-UxucEICLJiRH_HY6MjUZ7fuxIkkpVnYx6XkRkYuaJSPnG4GYciKmrqtoX-68KSY5y3pEvjsArRGCy1HCELbC2Ym/s1600/at+home+with+red.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54dnY5U4IEy3fzNlw8hDAOdG77V8mJuHVN-xNcchmBOW1UcyZMSVh-UxucEICLJiRH_HY6MjUZ7fuxIkkpVnYx6XkRkYuaJSPnG4GYciKmrqtoX-68KSY5y3pEvjsArRGCy1HCELbC2Ym/s320/at+home+with+red.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://athomewithred.blogspot.co.uk/">At Home With Red</a> - for Dawn's sharp photography and pretty displays.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDJ2kTqDrLLpr90iyvLcc4jLmQzENFfrAt1Lxkr5cYoUMdMXf7YQ0c7w8mykq8ZBo-9XQ6QSzDSd9KllFtV2k8dyTaMupNL_6wdKI_gLR-9KisfTn6vWWWzAG-Fv-Utz-rrO1KCSCap37/s1600/little+green+shed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDJ2kTqDrLLpr90iyvLcc4jLmQzENFfrAt1Lxkr5cYoUMdMXf7YQ0c7w8mykq8ZBo-9XQ6QSzDSd9KllFtV2k8dyTaMupNL_6wdKI_gLR-9KisfTn6vWWWzAG-Fv-Utz-rrO1KCSCap37/s1600/little+green+shed.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://littlegreenshed.blogspot.co.uk/">Little Green Shed</a> - for the beautiful pictures in Lou's House Love section.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28K5OeRmgodzDRfCVqod6w_9YCsQe6goW8O51L9VCbhNofmjgF4hoLVowc0-lVlkZ7Yhw755r8A_ceY7EVcL_My-wNcQeLv0-GLhaefgmWCem-lbj5gTCDYk5M1v1NIIG_dQLGc3U048D/s1600/the+custards.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28K5OeRmgodzDRfCVqod6w_9YCsQe6goW8O51L9VCbhNofmjgF4hoLVowc0-lVlkZ7Yhw755r8A_ceY7EVcL_My-wNcQeLv0-GLhaefgmWCem-lbj5gTCDYk5M1v1NIIG_dQLGc3U048D/s320/the+custards.png" width="238" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://thecustards.blogspot.co.uk/">The Custards</a> - for the fantastic array of vintage finds and little projects.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhyphenhyphenG6HVEvZhwmhS_b2719sE_UKqRbptCYnxwdPqgB0SyVkAk9rz7S9iXkP9eVojLQp1w0raIdmF71CXib7Q1HTn4x322KawvEeuWfJx-Nt2LRWW428HR3CAGOfbwpOa1opjVWiAKujJpt/s1600/fading+grace.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhyphenhyphenG6HVEvZhwmhS_b2719sE_UKqRbptCYnxwdPqgB0SyVkAk9rz7S9iXkP9eVojLQp1w0raIdmF71CXib7Q1HTn4x322KawvEeuWfJx-Nt2LRWW428HR3CAGOfbwpOa1opjVWiAKujJpt/s320/fading+grace.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://fading-grace.blogspot.co.uk/">Fading Grace </a>- a cosy, well-written blog that enthuses about a simpler life. Full of lovely pictures and up-cycled delights.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnRwdMyZs7QXdQbfYstDl5EXgfDlTU0h_oxZFzVr7zD359UHNa0Fwx5eTdTxt2gXA1HADs8bugjjiYSl0yk3F67ddMXHqF38-hLOsT_zhFVh52q9_4IRkzhCeuKWKgz3Q9sUcJUoEEFEb/s1600/celebrate+creation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnRwdMyZs7QXdQbfYstDl5EXgfDlTU0h_oxZFzVr7zD359UHNa0Fwx5eTdTxt2gXA1HADs8bugjjiYSl0yk3F67ddMXHqF38-hLOsT_zhFVh52q9_4IRkzhCeuKWKgz3Q9sUcJUoEEFEb/s320/celebrate+creation.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://celebratecreation.wordpress.com/">Celebrate Creation</a> - Claire has a great collection of inspiring interiors pictures and DIYs.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0w0Zq-F0QALGX3JvZsBXP8Pj0qJx5_giWjoiKog04mNm8zolQxcLHzdAaLfeTz0yMdKCdQ7NXEsv35m9Hyflb4Yxa8x2GQ9wTAxrMcI9X81QUdiq8pI9GiLFzImVoeKeyd0qkefwk5LLC/s1600/a+few+things+from+my+life.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="56" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0w0Zq-F0QALGX3JvZsBXP8Pj0qJx5_giWjoiKog04mNm8zolQxcLHzdAaLfeTz0yMdKCdQ7NXEsv35m9Hyflb4Yxa8x2GQ9wTAxrMcI9X81QUdiq8pI9GiLFzImVoeKeyd0qkefwk5LLC/s320/a+few+things+from+my+life.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://fewthingsfrommylife.blogspot.co.uk/">A Few Things From My Life</a> - I've admired the work of Sarah and Bendrix for a long time, and the accompanying blog is so so pretty. I'm also quite in love with Veronica's house.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-k-uzKd-lbro9SqEwuwVHXkLu1wI72hPCpoTYLh9XVwGtgPcwhMki2DbCmnyfXEnoEEBxNdjVSWQxylOBVGL6E6xZr9V6PKtp0qrmjANX58gtYT4m8jGJ7JHRXz5_zaUlil-TJ4timYl/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-k-uzKd-lbro9SqEwuwVHXkLu1wI72hPCpoTYLh9XVwGtgPcwhMki2DbCmnyfXEnoEEBxNdjVSWQxylOBVGL6E6xZr9V6PKtp0qrmjANX58gtYT4m8jGJ7JHRXz5_zaUlil-TJ4timYl/s320/Picture+1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://a-quiet-corner.blogspot.co.uk/">A Quiet Corner </a>- because it is just that - Karen's blog exudes calm, both in the friendly way it is written and the lovely pictures of her home. Plus, she's an English teacher, so I'm very impressed that she has time to mark and write!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6hiPMPrNX54r-hiOcPuVt-sDJ5BBbwqMnGuxPczA5NxIn-JsF6zEQaajqrq9759c_etWl6dkzFr_VDbTLTTZsxx_Gcj7hgB0nUOsonjYizwAhBNeH0Ziv2puIX6H21PywHqzwdf7gJvT/s1600/dreaming+of+an+aga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6hiPMPrNX54r-hiOcPuVt-sDJ5BBbwqMnGuxPczA5NxIn-JsF6zEQaajqrq9759c_etWl6dkzFr_VDbTLTTZsxx_Gcj7hgB0nUOsonjYizwAhBNeH0Ziv2puIX6H21PywHqzwdf7gJvT/s320/dreaming+of+an+aga.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://dreamingofanaga.blogspot.co.uk/">Dreaming of an Aga</a> - because I do too, or at least a range cooker. Fay charts her idyllic life in the country with some charming makes.</div>
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This list is by no means meant to exclude or alienate - there are so many more wonderful blogs that I read all the time - all of you are doing great things!</div>
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Last bit of award admin - I have to post the rules in this post:</div>
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<ol>
<li>Thank the person who nominated you.</li>
<li>Add the One Lovely Blog Award / The Very Inspiring Blogger Award to your post.</li>
<li>Share seven things about yourself.</li>
<li>Pass the award on to a further ten lovely bloggers.</li>
<li>Include this set of rules.</li>
<li>Inform your chosen ten by posting a comment on their blogs.</li>
</ol>
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Hope you all have a lovely weekend!</div>
beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-47455746069699224632013-02-06T22:11:00.004+00:002013-02-06T22:11:58.231+00:00I'd just like to thank . . .<div style="text-align: justify;">
I had a lovely surprise when I checked my email yesterday - the lovely Viv from <a href="http://reroutedblog.wordpress.com/">Re-routed</a> had nominated me for a blog award. I was very touched that she had thought of me - thank you again Viv!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMs4CBKhxAI33gtfaehoP2SX4j-CtgGeQdeAzPe8zRbxYmZr2d6zGMGYGpxy7CX676aLjAYuYd_-KQvVaXItbG97O3B_LX9LQHt7lV6hw1qIPuIPn9_-_F2EDjXBrJt9a0d8Vz9tTj-2Qp/s1600/blog-award-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMs4CBKhxAI33gtfaehoP2SX4j-CtgGeQdeAzPe8zRbxYmZr2d6zGMGYGpxy7CX676aLjAYuYd_-KQvVaXItbG97O3B_LX9LQHt7lV6hw1qIPuIPn9_-_F2EDjXBrJt9a0d8Vz9tTj-2Qp/s1600/blog-award-2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkQYch7DFderqOBh60YumXDAW_4ZulaB7MYyqi1ezGBf0EG7KsbH42pxw1gFRK22GS3TmJtYg796AFTAsFDkqJVVGhQF2nMxJRFqOxSNpUM1mGHl2VN7whb8W7HtRhe3PHE0vBNDTveME/s1600/blog-award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkQYch7DFderqOBh60YumXDAW_4ZulaB7MYyqi1ezGBf0EG7KsbH42pxw1gFRK22GS3TmJtYg796AFTAsFDkqJVVGhQF2nMxJRFqOxSNpUM1mGHl2VN7whb8W7HtRhe3PHE0vBNDTveME/s200/blog-award.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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My second thought was - argh! Can I think of seven things about me that anyone except me or perhaps my closest friends and family (who would probably only be indulging me!) would find interesting?</div>
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Anyway, the rules of accepting the award state that I have to spill, so here goes . . .</div>
<ul><div style="text-align: justify;">
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<li style="text-align: justify;">I was a good girl at school. I still have my deputy-head girl badge in my jewellery box. My brother and sister used to call me Bof.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">I hate heights, but always force myself to go on rollercoaster rides.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">If I had another child, I'd love to give it a name from one of Shakespeare's plays, but I don't think I'm quite brave enough.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">I'm so long-sighted that I can't see anything, anywhere. Seriously, it doesn't matter if you're holding up two or four fingers, or just the one rude one . . . I wouldn't be able to tell you how many were there!</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">I'm a complete and utter romantic. I think this is fuelled by the fact that my degree was in English Literature.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">I can be incredibly clumsy. Bull in a china shop type stuff. It often involves red wine being spilled.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve. On reflection, it's probably not such a sensible place to put it!</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">So, there you are . . . now you know me a little better. Hope you're still reading!</li>
</ul>
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Next step is to pass the award on to another ten bloggers who I deem deserving, which I will be doing tomorrow . . . watch this space.</div>
beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-678084818175228492013-02-01T21:07:00.000+00:002013-02-01T21:07:49.017+00:00Can't stop looking at . . .<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Each week, I'll be sharing with you something that has caught my eye. It may be a picture, blog, product or website.</span></i></div>
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In an effort to streamline our finances, I stopped my subscription to LivingEtc a while ago. I miss it. Especially when they feature wonderful rooms like this one - love the chartreuse and teal combination against the white walls and little floral touches.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT87GOGvAGvsqI1pNe9Fto4yqlaBAOtsZx8ppdWI1nAxYXPZuwaAX_hAnAsCe6dPQrF_FMtgoX0ySMKrcQUIeh4o43aekjUzmOt0gO3kdpb8ECJVTys5I2mB3NUaxtnsNsOnU6eQCVNbQ1/s1600/Living-room-modern-Livingetc16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT87GOGvAGvsqI1pNe9Fto4yqlaBAOtsZx8ppdWI1nAxYXPZuwaAX_hAnAsCe6dPQrF_FMtgoX0ySMKrcQUIeh4o43aekjUzmOt0gO3kdpb8ECJVTys5I2mB3NUaxtnsNsOnU6eQCVNbQ1/s640/Living-room-modern-Livingetc16.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Image from <a href="http://www.housetohome.co.uk/">here</a>.</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Happy weekend everybody!</div>
beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-56781976083320248522013-01-31T21:23:00.000+00:002013-01-31T21:23:46.182+00:00It's Orla neat and tidy in the kitchen.<div style="text-align: justify;">
As I begin to write this, I can hear the sentence forming in my father-in-law's mind - "Oh goody, another one of Bec and David's corners!" And, yes, that is what I'm going to show you. However, with the addition of some lovely new Orla Kiely canisters, they are now very pretty corners.</div>
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I've never had a proper biscuit tin. I've always made do with other tins that we've had, or plastic tupperwaresque boxes. However, that just leads to soggy contents, and I was beginning to feel mean feeding them to the children, assuming that they wouldn't be able to tell the difference. So, for Christmas, I asked for a biscuit tin and hinted that I liked the new set of three Orla Kiely air-tight canisters that I had seen in Lakeland.</div>
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We've recently realised that we're not making the most of the space in our kitchen - when we moved in over five years ago, we just plonked everything in the cupboards without much thought to how easily things could be accessed, or indeed, what we were actually putting in there.</div>
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So, with the help of my new trusty tins, I've re-arranged a few areas of the kitchen and I'm enjoying the new little space I've created.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4lpqp08jCBCG568szJu0TQIrdvXPWAFGiq20Lkw3fgsopF8zyWvue_UIMezOs5-kg946j6zHequibaTTHxYJezKYMlbxPsyYyi1GjEORVhIWPNPTaUZgVbgikABsdn2JoDzlL49BeVeB/s1600/brown+stem.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4lpqp08jCBCG568szJu0TQIrdvXPWAFGiq20Lkw3fgsopF8zyWvue_UIMezOs5-kg946j6zHequibaTTHxYJezKYMlbxPsyYyi1GjEORVhIWPNPTaUZgVbgikABsdn2JoDzlL49BeVeB/s640/brown+stem.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Originally, the bread bin was underneath the cups on the other wall and I didn't really realise just how much worktop it occupied that way round. In it's new position, it leaves room for the new tin (containing rice), and it also means that there is room on top for four tall storage jars. I'm also pretty pleased with my addition of an IKEA VARIERA shelf insert, which means there's room for the pestle and mortar, salt pig, butter dish AND a small jar of I think, ground coriander. You can also see in this picture, my smart new spoon rest (my Christmas list was so exciting this year!).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpe0rel3GZuzFNPV9me8HY59WFWbSiw32g99UEqlERGUqk8-0MnHNFx8fytbc5a9vq0Gehk_KQLEvb0LyASl5kTzTSyVvlssMwPWlEGLxBNDbQUeguwXE7oTXIFEFhbuuS4bSAzp9qjoo1/s1600/navy+red.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpe0rel3GZuzFNPV9me8HY59WFWbSiw32g99UEqlERGUqk8-0MnHNFx8fytbc5a9vq0Gehk_KQLEvb0LyASl5kTzTSyVvlssMwPWlEGLxBNDbQUeguwXE7oTXIFEFhbuuS4bSAzp9qjoo1/s640/navy+red.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I've shown you the rest of this shelf before (it's the one from which our pots and pans hang), so I decided to focus solely on the new tin which does actually contain biscuits (malted milk for the children, scrummy shortbread for me - mmm). I really like the design of all three tins, but I think this one just has the edge on the others and is perhaps, my favourite. I love the way the dusky blue flowers are set off by the tomato red of the lid.</div>
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Lastly, here is the third and smallest of the three new tins. This one is currently empty (any suggestions?) but it looks great on this shelf, so it's going to stay there until I can think of something worthy to put in it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_V0eoARkWj9g6imD_yNIWsCTsQaOGdlRdrcPD54wX4mXUMylyY5w93VFsaQgJr7-HkBPPM-jnR6n07R3NLSy3CnsL7eG3rLJVL-zTDLnIvFGVDHS8JFtiUmNyAwaqDvlVXezaiw6Uz_hy/s1600/abacus+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_V0eoARkWj9g6imD_yNIWsCTsQaOGdlRdrcPD54wX4mXUMylyY5w93VFsaQgJr7-HkBPPM-jnR6n07R3NLSy3CnsL7eG3rLJVL-zTDLnIvFGVDHS8JFtiUmNyAwaqDvlVXezaiw6Uz_hy/s640/abacus+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hope you're all having a good week!</div>
beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-3216283729876640302013-01-22T21:41:00.002+00:002013-01-22T21:41:45.269+00:00New bedroom blinds.<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm very excited as, after many months of procrastinating, dithering and sample-ordering, I've just ordered new blinds for our bedroom!</div>
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As you can see, we've got two large windows in our bedroom and we live on a terraced street, so we definitely need a window treatment that gives us privacy. The patterned voile blinds covering the bottom part of the windows are excellent, as they allow light in, while preventing anyone from peeking in. These are staying.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPdckGxMdpKUk_38DSmiitQoKaBNSb7tMN3EetY_gC48XQBdKLDDHwtWqeRKsm7rs-880Vd4vRwuk3AbeByqy6YjEMfGlGal5BV-zGHaUNMTXLq1tUkiTpR70GKFnweSoGQDeHmfHsLwk/s1600/bedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPdckGxMdpKUk_38DSmiitQoKaBNSb7tMN3EetY_gC48XQBdKLDDHwtWqeRKsm7rs-880Vd4vRwuk3AbeByqy6YjEMfGlGal5BV-zGHaUNMTXLq1tUkiTpR70GKFnweSoGQDeHmfHsLwk/s640/bedroom.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We're going to swap the curtains for blinds. There are two main reasons for this - firstly, one of these pairs of curtains is now hanging in Astrid's bedroom and I've (very) temporarily put up the old blue ones that were in her room (that used to be Torin's), in our room. So, we currently have one cream pair and one blue pair - it's certainly not pleasing on the eye!</div>
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The other reason is that I think the curtains look a little messy - I know they're plain and pretty inoffensive really, but I'm hankering after something with cleaner lines - perhaps something a little smarter and dare I say it, masculine?</div>
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I've really taken a long time over this decision and, after rejecting many samples, and looking at the prices of made to measure Roman blinds (!), I've decided to go with a very safe option. I've ordered the same blinds that I chose for Torin's bedroom (the one you can just about make out in the terrible picture below).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmVpMUVvFQ8OTpC5RE-BKur2sRriFj1FGD3D_stR1YMPhvdh2sUrqSN8jDfXRE8FAFUT1tF1mAZqlaWWHb4iD3u8C7L9XWEFLsepWYcwcveiIU5OfbRatQlPDXqiGX3O0qLBrjwwh2BW1/s1600/Torin+blind.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmVpMUVvFQ8OTpC5RE-BKur2sRriFj1FGD3D_stR1YMPhvdh2sUrqSN8jDfXRE8FAFUT1tF1mAZqlaWWHb4iD3u8C7L9XWEFLsepWYcwcveiIU5OfbRatQlPDXqiGX3O0qLBrjwwh2BW1/s640/Torin+blind.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The new blinds will be cream, blackout, spring-loaded roller blinds. Although I would have preferred Roman blinds, as I think more fabric would help to create a slightly softer look, the new blinds will be smart, unfussy and streamlined. Hopefully, this will help the rest of the bedroom to follow suit - there is a reason the top picture is an old one - it's to do with the clothes currently drying in our room, the additional bookcase we've squeezed in between the chest of drawers and the windows, and the large amount of general rubbish that seems to congregate in our room so it is either out of the reach of the children, or doesn't seem to have a place elsewhere.</div>
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Hopefully the new blinds will be delivered within a week, so I'll be sure to post some pictures soon!</div>
beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-49776499320717680302013-01-15T21:57:00.000+00:002013-01-15T21:57:47.834+00:00Make do and mend: personalised cushion.<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now, what I should be showing you tonight is the pictures of Astrid's party - I want to show you what I did with a whole lot of paper and a small branch. But, I've just realised that would involve searching through and editing all the pictures that were taken at the party and I haven't done that yet (and don't have time tonight, sorry). I'll aim to get them ready to show you before the week is out!</div>
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So, to this post - making a personalised cushion.</div>
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I managed to grab some time to make some gifts just before Christmas and I even remembered to take some snaps of some of them so I could share them with you.</div>
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Up first, is a personalised cushion that I made for our niece, Harriet. Her bedroom is neutral but with tasteful, brightly coloured accessories and so I wanted to give her a cushion that mirrored that. As I don't possess a sewing machine, I chose to use a shop-bought cushion cover and then embellished it myself.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaq64GR-jeCrp2s6iZLrD5tJV56XZAe8XMG1rrVJFUTKeXP7bTKgBq-M6Xzz_usfspmDfpIHSfc7QK7i5sgEeXusN3h4YXKKHBDaE_hPWBoYHPv73OZdvjtaDDHNRW_nkWeS_K-v78kvD0/s1600/Harriets+cushion.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaq64GR-jeCrp2s6iZLrD5tJV56XZAe8XMG1rrVJFUTKeXP7bTKgBq-M6Xzz_usfspmDfpIHSfc7QK7i5sgEeXusN3h4YXKKHBDaE_hPWBoYHPv73OZdvjtaDDHNRW_nkWeS_K-v78kvD0/s640/Harriets+cushion.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Like most of my crafts, it was really easy to make - I think it took me three evenings to make it (well, the time left after re-settling two children!). I used:</div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">chartreuse cushion cover from Dunelm Mill</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">pink toile de jouy fabric from Laura Ashley</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">empty cereal packet</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">pencil</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">ruler</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">decent scissors (I have to confess I used our kitchen scissors, as I don't have any fabric scissors)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">pins</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">white cotton thread</li>
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What I should have also used:</div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">thimble (ouch!)</li>
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I began by drawing an H on the empty cereal packet using the pencil and ruler. When I was happy with the dimensions, I cut it out and used it as a template to draw an H onto the toile de jouy fabric.</div>
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Next, I removed the cushion pad, positioned the fabric and then pinned the H to the green cushion cover. I then sewed around the edge of the H using a very simple straight edging stitch. Please excuse the total amateur nature of the following stitching, but if you're not a perfectionist, here is a close up showing how I finished the edges of the H.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYC9coSsr25wM70FV3LrnS5uKneOlADX74zjcFoHIsx6Ym56yuDpEugncrxA87bXOU7YfN3YvAxC1xoidYI29eNhFAQHTca4BOLqhKNXY1GhshY7h1oFnD-9IFRbZ4lu6X97VLExBqDQpf/s1600/H+close+up.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYC9coSsr25wM70FV3LrnS5uKneOlADX74zjcFoHIsx6Ym56yuDpEugncrxA87bXOU7YfN3YvAxC1xoidYI29eNhFAQHTca4BOLqhKNXY1GhshY7h1oFnD-9IFRbZ4lu6X97VLExBqDQpf/s640/H+close+up.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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All in all, this was a inexpensive, easy craft to do and hopefully Harriet will like it (she's only seven months old) when she's older.</div>
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What do you think? Did you get around to making any gifts this year?</div>
beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-17181224948295095862013-01-10T20:53:00.000+00:002013-01-10T20:53:05.222+00:00Make do and mend: Astrid's winter-themed birthday invitation.<div style="text-align: justify;">
As you know, Astrid turned one in November and we had a winter-themed party for her. I realised that I got all carried away saying that I'd got my craft on, and then Christmas took over and I didn't get around to showing you what I had made.</div>
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First up is the invitations I made for her party. Do you like?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDswqgCviHQax4TDEaAll_ga77oX8W8XTnb7_MghBMfwJKy3wgUfy6iGH9OO3ybcLEpmZDbDhAn1IQcWZzOPJ41ijKhOQn_c1xPFBa0-4vonufSsKO057q0sSVW7xYmjBDmuu1JCW2nY0/s1600/Astrids+card.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDswqgCviHQax4TDEaAll_ga77oX8W8XTnb7_MghBMfwJKy3wgUfy6iGH9OO3ybcLEpmZDbDhAn1IQcWZzOPJ41ijKhOQn_c1xPFBa0-4vonufSsKO057q0sSVW7xYmjBDmuu1JCW2nY0/s640/Astrids+card.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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To make this I used:</div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">cream cardstock</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">a snowflake punch</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">an old, unwanted book</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">silver card</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">white card</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">silver pen</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">glue pen</li>
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It was super easy to make - I just simply punched out several snowflakes from the silver and white card, and old book; experimented in laying them out until I was happy with how they looked; and then stuck them on to the card using the glue pen. I finished by using the silver pen to write "Astrid is One" on the bottom right hand corner.</div>
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A very simple idea, but one that I was quite happy with.</div>
beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-58951994187976823362013-01-09T22:16:00.001+00:002013-01-09T22:16:45.012+00:00150 years of the London UndergroundAccording to Google this morning, today is the 150th anniversary of the London underground. Over those 150 years, the iconic transport system has featured significantly in our culture - it has inspired art, films, novels; been used to stage music videos, and most recently has set trends in interior decoration.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQ8l0zhdIa1cR4GvuBG829cW0Jg_GybN-wO3rKhtsaBjdmL-9WcIVFNKFT70SO4G8-14Kt9QJeh28GdGKL3Owi-2vdqnENL7mBoe2Jytr4EJZlOmr_8DY0g1U_gBHE6aOU6jPui7GEHUU/s1600/ltm+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQ8l0zhdIa1cR4GvuBG829cW0Jg_GybN-wO3rKhtsaBjdmL-9WcIVFNKFT70SO4G8-14Kt9QJeh28GdGKL3Owi-2vdqnENL7mBoe2Jytr4EJZlOmr_8DY0g1U_gBHE6aOU6jPui7GEHUU/s640/ltm+poster.jpg" width="534" /></a></div>
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Inspired by the images in their poster archive, the London Transport Museum has launched a celebratory range of gifts and souvenirs. I had a look at the rest of the shop to see what they had to offer and below are some of my favourite pieces.</div>
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This colourful poster would be great for a child's room.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqHdeGj1VCtFYr7pBnEqYCsABoU2xa4wED2ehG-00pIuTOSaa9JI6h_Z24mHsh0ueyR3tkXaQsfb_bX7X4JJjNkcIPzAXdfxrR8c0o7qRidnhLaH5lmMMVSmnaAYoPE5mBGcQ0rnMEol4/s1600/london+zoo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqHdeGj1VCtFYr7pBnEqYCsABoU2xa4wED2ehG-00pIuTOSaa9JI6h_Z24mHsh0ueyR3tkXaQsfb_bX7X4JJjNkcIPzAXdfxrR8c0o7qRidnhLaH5lmMMVSmnaAYoPE5mBGcQ0rnMEol4/s400/london+zoo.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I really like the colours in this old print.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxwadffL3S5bWgvveBoTvsfo4bvYcyIU_ye_02IO5VC7vRM_iXSheiOwr6wMGvPaUxrnOChRgBjtCoQ6yhXoGpqYapepJp0iH2PU2gVBVvfP9wIL-mhTEsBB9NzS7O8JkdC5Yk_Ckt4_A/s1600/keep+warm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxwadffL3S5bWgvveBoTvsfo4bvYcyIU_ye_02IO5VC7vRM_iXSheiOwr6wMGvPaUxrnOChRgBjtCoQ6yhXoGpqYapepJp0iH2PU2gVBVvfP9wIL-mhTEsBB9NzS7O8JkdC5Yk_Ckt4_A/s640/keep+warm.png" width="444" /></a></div>
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I know we've seen these before, but these vintage luggage rack shelves are achingly cool (if a tad expensive!).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpjpdr-JdM2O1baLAOq3092HIePoMWShyphenhyphenfuomnSv8aQjlsQwe1QCrjS6037sNYIWCcEWfgGf6TVipcsOczJyoAtFKK369ym2lJw6WK-8U0y6w-R5BxIBTb_EL86yErT_UlCX4AD6T1eCto/s1600/luggage+rack.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpjpdr-JdM2O1baLAOq3092HIePoMWShyphenhyphenfuomnSv8aQjlsQwe1QCrjS6037sNYIWCcEWfgGf6TVipcsOczJyoAtFKK369ym2lJw6WK-8U0y6w-R5BxIBTb_EL86yErT_UlCX4AD6T1eCto/s400/luggage+rack.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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And finally, these bright tea towel designs by Michelle Mason would liven up any kitchen. The "Big Leaf" pattern is her take on the classic 1930s "Colindale" print used on tube upholstery material.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVK0rZtjLCwF2KVT-9ZddsGFzxsfReBiGcyGxlVcTE6CIAKIloOMQHGjzCzwBR_1un7NFzrMcS5DazfDlE_CRIH0lnlQr2p_QEVsFZ4UAKqIe1mC9PKTEeUyN2Jh-0JfwzFj1Tr8rteGZ3/s1600/big+leaf.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVK0rZtjLCwF2KVT-9ZddsGFzxsfReBiGcyGxlVcTE6CIAKIloOMQHGjzCzwBR_1un7NFzrMcS5DazfDlE_CRIH0lnlQr2p_QEVsFZ4UAKqIe1mC9PKTEeUyN2Jh-0JfwzFj1Tr8rteGZ3/s320/big+leaf.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All images from <a href="http://www.ltmuseumshop.co.uk/home.html">here</a>.</td></tr>
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Also, speaking of anniversaries - I'd like to say a big thank you to you all for reading my little blog - Beautiful Square Feet was 2 on the 3rd!</div>
beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-60638900063361492602013-01-07T20:42:00.002+00:002013-01-07T20:42:41.420+00:00Happy New Year<div style="text-align: justify;">
Things went back to normal this morning - Torin went to nursery, David went to work, and I went to the supermarket with Astrid. It already feels like Christmas was ages ago, although you only have to take a look at our living room to see that there has been a recent toy delivery!</div>
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One of my resolutions this January is to be better at keeping in touch with people - birthday cards on time, replying to texts and messages on facebook straight away - all things that I really try to be organised with but never seem to manage very well. Anyway, that resolution goes for here too, which is why I really wanted to come on here today and say hi, and that I really will try and squeeze in time in the evenings to write more (I know, I know, you've heard it before . . .).</div>
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So, Happy New Year everyone and hopefully see you around here more frequently . . . promise.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6PXpB0-tYc4xOZYRNclvGqmNiMn1y02shHpEPxHPiFyE_rYjZFvdGaZxx_XujpZEps9GWdswTYD6H_uezMrw546VudqmvmrJ6Pg2PQnohrI_7LccwqCfYij_iuNlENCsTTZ9prQUuFFe/s1600/NewYears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6PXpB0-tYc4xOZYRNclvGqmNiMn1y02shHpEPxHPiFyE_rYjZFvdGaZxx_XujpZEps9GWdswTYD6H_uezMrw546VudqmvmrJ6Pg2PQnohrI_7LccwqCfYij_iuNlENCsTTZ9prQUuFFe/s640/NewYears.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://afieldjournal.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=new+year">here</a>.</td></tr>
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beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-7082041928539750662012-11-14T19:50:00.001+00:002012-11-14T19:50:11.323+00:00Make do and mend: snowflake table confetti.<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now, I know you can buy this kind of stuff, but I thought I'd use materials that I already had and spent a lovely evening in front of <a href="http://www.channel4.com/programmes/kirsties-vintage-home">Kirstie's Vintage Home</a> pressing out a load of silver snowflakes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQQ0RglJlc-BHgKBrw02yHmRdeaGx-vSYkXEsxyK7U1pLE-SE58LUuxangCwxV8qMfReqQtKwNCjCBalV7sSn-UY5QPqwhXKomxzNC6HoTS10Px1av3NwnRAYqNLpA5Oh8TdhlPTrehr8/s1600/snowflakes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQQ0RglJlc-BHgKBrw02yHmRdeaGx-vSYkXEsxyK7U1pLE-SE58LUuxangCwxV8qMfReqQtKwNCjCBalV7sSn-UY5QPqwhXKomxzNC6HoTS10Px1av3NwnRAYqNLpA5Oh8TdhlPTrehr8/s640/snowflakes.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I used a snowflake design hole punch and thin silver card to make these little shimmery cut outs - my thumbs hurt quite a bit now as I had to press down with both of my hands in order to punch them out. Using thinner, silver paper would have been a lot easier, but I wanted to work with what I already had - so card it was.</div>
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I'm going to use the snowflakes as table confetti and scatter them over a white tablecloth on the food table at Astrid's party. Simple, but pretty, don't you think?</div>
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Also, sorry - in hindsight, I should have used a white background in this picture, as I can see some of the snowflakes are a little hard to see against the grey. </div>
beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-72969519358937053832012-11-12T21:41:00.000+00:002012-11-12T21:41:17.187+00:00The start of a winter wonderland.<div style="text-align: justify;">
This week I think it's fair to say that I'm getting my craft on! Astrid's birthday is coming up soon and I've begun to make decorations for her party. Torin's birthday is in May and therefore the parties we've had for him at our house have involved people sitting around indoors and outside. However, with a November birthday and blooming cold and wet weather, I think Astrid's parties are going to be somewhat different. So, I've decided to embrace the change of season and I'm throwing her a Winter Wonderland themed party (tastefully done though - you can take the old Woolworth's adverts out of your mind now!).</div>
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I'll show you what I've been up to over the next few days, but in the meantime, here are some of the images that I've used as inspiration:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhn8L373g423cQYsKWduOtBtGXO4gKRMiGVJHm86LRYieHviddJCHTGBcKwWB5jK42fJ_o4dibR73Z-X4XteKP7psYBZz9Eg4JUuJPiCEqjYCjn1gbC5EX7cV4cZwXOuf3fT_avL4JMFF/s1600/christmas+pinksugarland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhn8L373g423cQYsKWduOtBtGXO4gKRMiGVJHm86LRYieHviddJCHTGBcKwWB5jK42fJ_o4dibR73Z-X4XteKP7psYBZz9Eg4JUuJPiCEqjYCjn1gbC5EX7cV4cZwXOuf3fT_avL4JMFF/s640/christmas+pinksugarland.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://www.pinksugarland.com/">here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6fl4RxHL4wgBvpkmoCFq9prdHtV7xbhG-rdq6MBYN95-f_YcvaSdMv_6Q7SE62dCOF7HlJ79OHjfDTwGH8XKljCSarRXguDBbYJfJFvx3Ic0TxD31qosh1uzInqsiwtRVO7gsDUxxs8C/s1600/white-chocolate-cupcakes3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6fl4RxHL4wgBvpkmoCFq9prdHtV7xbhG-rdq6MBYN95-f_YcvaSdMv_6Q7SE62dCOF7HlJ79OHjfDTwGH8XKljCSarRXguDBbYJfJFvx3Ic0TxD31qosh1uzInqsiwtRVO7gsDUxxs8C/s400/white-chocolate-cupcakes3.jpg" width="345" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://notsohumblepie.blogspot.co.uk/">here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7r3RrFVjFk3fOHGJ_CC4Q8nKbrys3yMu9ox2KSPVYJlssl-JrjBjUOKoh7Ao7sj_8IgxVpw8dQKD2QazsTvxGDgN5q9W-aV7gupFi32y_MsLG1tsjKhUxNWdzh6aWkdueTTvJ81UQdUUa/s1600/Chocolate-Raspberry-Forest-Cake-9869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7r3RrFVjFk3fOHGJ_CC4Q8nKbrys3yMu9ox2KSPVYJlssl-JrjBjUOKoh7Ao7sj_8IgxVpw8dQKD2QazsTvxGDgN5q9W-aV7gupFi32y_MsLG1tsjKhUxNWdzh6aWkdueTTvJ81UQdUUa/s400/Chocolate-Raspberry-Forest-Cake-9869.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://chocolateandcarrots.com/">here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis53CfiFBsakoLiXGDpK0_RSdeMxzFG93bca3a29dIRzFoEcJW1t0LRANi-4Z_qGP9M5LaHkL_ARY01Zs5-FU7HgIzEqxc2Y-nbjjO359yrYSDsfCxGRbmj9sqD6KFLVEKDyHu7b2l0-Gz/s1600/pine+cone+jugs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis53CfiFBsakoLiXGDpK0_RSdeMxzFG93bca3a29dIRzFoEcJW1t0LRANi-4Z_qGP9M5LaHkL_ARY01Zs5-FU7HgIzEqxc2Y-nbjjO359yrYSDsfCxGRbmj9sqD6KFLVEKDyHu7b2l0-Gz/s400/pine+cone+jugs.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/">here</a>.</td></tr>
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Hope you all had a good weekend!</div>
beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-14397473575720296642012-10-25T20:46:00.000+01:002012-10-25T20:46:02.495+01:00The Vintage Wall<div style="text-align: justify;">
Have any of you seen <a href="http://www.thevintagewall.com/index.html">The Vintage Wall</a>? I stumbled upon it last night while I was searching for part of Astrid's birthday present - I've decided to look for decorative letters spelling out her initials. I don't want to buy the letters from only one place - in my mind different styles would be put together, producing the kind of effect shown by the word Lula <a href="http://beautifulsquarefeet.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/cant-stop-looking-at_17.html">here</a>. So, in my search for vintage letters, up popped The Vintage Wall, which proved to be a treasure trove of all things vintage and beautiful.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-rzs_OUg9jYeH7ODcvCv152PCNb_b8W37sYIqlq4v5W8KrlLcYg7x2Lcao8fML8K7DlWOBVrG_eu5hEYeQOqYkQkfNGFxaj-4Oji7v0Eg6JXCaoUJmt0xuJ_cXrRLfJZw28_n_ZmT7TV/s1600/vintage+wall.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-rzs_OUg9jYeH7ODcvCv152PCNb_b8W37sYIqlq4v5W8KrlLcYg7x2Lcao8fML8K7DlWOBVrG_eu5hEYeQOqYkQkfNGFxaj-4Oji7v0Eg6JXCaoUJmt0xuJ_cXrRLfJZw28_n_ZmT7TV/s400/vintage+wall.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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The website has an interface quite different from others like it. You flick through the website, looking at the different "walls" that are actually pictures of delightfully arranged products showing off the company's wares. If you see something you like in a particular picture, you click on the item and you are taken to a new page where you can read more details about the product. Many of the items I clicked on were unfortunately labelled as "sold", but apparently new stock is added regularly.</div>
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Here are some of my favourite "walls".</div>
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These old filing cabinets are wonderful. I also really like the combination of the dark blue and the brown chips on the rims of the storage cannisters. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVRID0WKqwEJvz2-rw1I40wX3MRFLcNwyOtDcZN07347LipAGcd9tPt2GstEkb0kIG-QATwLEFUCvu0QW31siZg1pZkKj3XOeu4iytO5Gvqf9yRBUIfhRXTNARrpgpnUiVhpQ1R5BmMtx/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVRID0WKqwEJvz2-rw1I40wX3MRFLcNwyOtDcZN07347LipAGcd9tPt2GstEkb0kIG-QATwLEFUCvu0QW31siZg1pZkKj3XOeu4iytO5Gvqf9yRBUIfhRXTNARrpgpnUiVhpQ1R5BmMtx/s640/Picture+1.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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This picture has just reminded me that David is meant to be tracking down an old printer's tray as a late part of my birthday present! There's something deeply satisfying, I think anyway, about arranging things in little compartments! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4TOKjL1j2XPt7GvWT6-R83aXeFqDk_BwQucF21ESGp-4kOXAA6k9LLvgCREuztbXTNbTFvH8cMEfV-SJULvKORJjXn3khaOOqSP-1WoFc2O1t7QZjoAGLhlKEWx8Bc_PbvFhz4qs0N_F/s1600/Picture+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4TOKjL1j2XPt7GvWT6-R83aXeFqDk_BwQucF21ESGp-4kOXAA6k9LLvgCREuztbXTNbTFvH8cMEfV-SJULvKORJjXn3khaOOqSP-1WoFc2O1t7QZjoAGLhlKEWx8Bc_PbvFhz4qs0N_F/s640/Picture+2.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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The contrast of the magenta, blue, brown and white makes for a great arrangement in this picture. I think the chemical bottle would make a sweet little bud vase, although you'd better make sure all the ammonium hydroxide had been washed out thoroughly first!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIEj_pksET04sodPlYQyvKBlxsR4yfRaXfdhZM8H5JjmVtJP-cuJ67BRUITu882JmDrnwGvdLPVrYJhNOP7Rga9UFSEOJS_fl_dI3nwErBDGRR-AojFIGWIJPLbo_XEmo4O0KHW6WeOyK/s1600/Picture+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIEj_pksET04sodPlYQyvKBlxsR4yfRaXfdhZM8H5JjmVtJP-cuJ67BRUITu882JmDrnwGvdLPVrYJhNOP7Rga9UFSEOJS_fl_dI3nwErBDGRR-AojFIGWIJPLbo_XEmo4O0KHW6WeOyK/s640/Picture+3.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All images from <a href="http://www.thevintagewall.com/index.html">here</a>.</td></tr>
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Which is your favourite thing in these pictures?</div>
beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-78924727401256105392012-10-24T21:08:00.000+01:002012-10-24T21:10:38.503+01:00An indulgent evening.<div style="text-align: justify;">
Once a week I have the house to myself (after the children are in bed of course), as David goes to our friends' house to play games. Usually I take advantage of having the space to myself sans children and tidy stuff, or at least spend a fair amount of time looking around the ground floor of my house mentally tidying, re-arranging and decorating. Last night I did none of those things as a teething baby and a tetchy (nursery is tiring him out) toddler makes for a tired mummy. So, armed with a bar of Dairy Milk and the remote control, I turned to Channel 4 for an interiors TV fix. I was not disappointed.</div>
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At 8pm, and just in the nick of time, I found that George Clarke had a new series called Amazing Spaces where he tours around the country in search of innovative uses of small spaces. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVbZ0fJIuKZu0WvnwS2ZIou9weslgxSvEO2zBgynYM1F4B77oH06rLN0YYTpepYWI6T2H-9hyphenhyphenVDb9n2TM_e2kZrB2v5l9DN7Rr3eAEQXU40HH6sfbufEdxrFEako7OnXf-sPFexsQhj0P/s1600/george+clarke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVbZ0fJIuKZu0WvnwS2ZIou9weslgxSvEO2zBgynYM1F4B77oH06rLN0YYTpepYWI6T2H-9hyphenhyphenVDb9n2TM_e2kZrB2v5l9DN7Rr3eAEQXU40HH6sfbufEdxrFEako7OnXf-sPFexsQhj0P/s400/george+clarke.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.shropshirestar.com/wpmvc/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/24756830.thumb.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.shropshirestar.com/entertainment/telly-talk/2012/10/24/george-clarkes-amazing-spaces-tv-review/&usg=__Eg5jW8jD5680sySpphRwctfriqE=&h=200&w=300&sz=12&hl=en&start=9&zoom=1&tbnid=rmcsF06glANZ0M:&tbnh=77&tbnw=116&ei=rUaIULicDaiy0QXn-4GYBA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgeorge%2Bclarke%2527s%2Bamazing%2Bspaces%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Den%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1">here</a>.</td></tr>
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My favourite build was a conversion of some old underground public toilets in London's Crystal Palace. Architect Laura Jane Clark had picked up the old amenities from the council for a pittance and converted it into a light-filled, tastefully furnished studio apartment complete with guitar den and outside space! </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZoddftfTJLKfB6BpbmtObr4dnUJmOa6WiFhiyAHcqS3z4lJ5Rh2WYPyQHg0Nwnhe4dyp0IIwr7yqsB6br7Iy4XtM8Kra8mMHnXe9XPFW8VJPUfJB5yXR6YkrfnPU8TRpYn048UYwxKdd/s1600/living+room+complete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZoddftfTJLKfB6BpbmtObr4dnUJmOa6WiFhiyAHcqS3z4lJ5Rh2WYPyQHg0Nwnhe4dyp0IIwr7yqsB6br7Iy4XtM8Kra8mMHnXe9XPFW8VJPUfJB5yXR6YkrfnPU8TRpYn048UYwxKdd/s400/living+room+complete.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://crystalpalacetoilets.blogspot.co.uk/">here</a>.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqh8hyphenhyphen1l4oMw7_esMaQdp22UCWj0Lb8OEHy-SYvXqdMaXn3KpOBbgbml9FbviRNJRTkM7s-hzb7QGTYnxPjEeXVkUtDMOmJzKVQuktUNtxNopNWx-my_Kl6rRo23JYLBuEu1QfKW-Zm9qB/s1600/bathroom+completed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqh8hyphenhyphen1l4oMw7_esMaQdp22UCWj0Lb8OEHy-SYvXqdMaXn3KpOBbgbml9FbviRNJRTkM7s-hzb7QGTYnxPjEeXVkUtDMOmJzKVQuktUNtxNopNWx-my_Kl6rRo23JYLBuEu1QfKW-Zm9qB/s400/bathroom+completed.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://crystalpalacetoilets.blogspot.co.uk/">here</a>.</td></tr>
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She had even used the original wall tiles as the splashback in her kitchen! These looked great, but caused George Clarke to nearly throw up at the thought. I assume she'd had the tiles chemically treated and sealed before cooking anything in there! If you're interested, Clark documented the entire project on her blog, <a href="http://crystalpalacetoilets.blogspot.co.uk/">Crystal Palace Underground Toilets Renovations</a>.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1DxpvNj0t3UWJFerdV9XBl6Qml4fdbHciR3ti7sbhcUufsSqWWGGFy5QAxpalvAgAeUuyHplNW_2kNOzgYmD5-h5FVtAOkAXVExMsusZ9uIp5RpLIXmteeg0sPr_j3TUHHs6L0up0fc8/s1600/kitchen+through+to+living+room+complete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1DxpvNj0t3UWJFerdV9XBl6Qml4fdbHciR3ti7sbhcUufsSqWWGGFy5QAxpalvAgAeUuyHplNW_2kNOzgYmD5-h5FVtAOkAXVExMsusZ9uIp5RpLIXmteeg0sPr_j3TUHHs6L0up0fc8/s400/kitchen+through+to+living+room+complete.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://crystalpalacetoilets.blogspot.co.uk/">here</a>.</td></tr>
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Other ideas included transforming an old bus into a plush holiday let, and the first step in George's own renovation - re-doing an old 60s static caravan into something an architect would want to be seen relaxing in with his family.</div>
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Then at 9pm, I indulged myself even more after seeing an advert for Sarah Beeny's Selling Houses! Good old Channel 4 - it rarely fails me! </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwd23GxS4gBgyADod-eMzJ_qgTSFQyHXdhrOUI51mWQRBPHU3z00z-Ur_S1pTXsMDYWlOsxIJdr2nfFKfK_Lrssp8bdpk-baFhDC6GElutCcTlcxc2plSK1yNWjjkDo_Ug3wymR2plLR0T/s1600/Sarah_Beeny_s_Selling_Houses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwd23GxS4gBgyADod-eMzJ_qgTSFQyHXdhrOUI51mWQRBPHU3z00z-Ur_S1pTXsMDYWlOsxIJdr2nfFKfK_Lrssp8bdpk-baFhDC6GElutCcTlcxc2plSK1yNWjjkDo_Ug3wymR2plLR0T/s320/Sarah_Beeny_s_Selling_Houses.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.radiotimes.com/rt-service/image/render/Sarah_Beeny_s_Selling_Houses.jpg%3FimageUrl%3Dhttp://static.radiotimes.com.edgesuite.net/pa/08/06/webANXsbsellinghouses.jpg%26width%3D580%26height%3D327%26quality%3D85%26specialisation%3Dtv%26mode%3Dcrop&imgrefurl=http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/sp4nv/sarah-beenys-selling-houses--series-1---episode-2&usg=__EPjOrbVDpEkulNTdVvwqPAT2uZs=&h=327&w=580&sz=42&hl=en&start=1&zoom=1&tbnid=Jji30YqFn_OFnM:&tbnh=76&tbnw=134&ei=JUiIULDLLKme0QX2iYDYBA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsarah%2Bbeeny%2Bselling%2Bhouses%2Bclapham%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1">here</a>.</td></tr>
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In the second of the series, Beeny took on three vendors who were having trouble selling their properties - one bed flats in Clapham, London on the market between £305k and £350k. Yep, property does seem to be that expensive there! The vendors were allowed to have a snoop around each others flats to see how their own flats shaped up against the competition. Each seller was then given £1000 to make changes to their property in the hope of clinching a sale. Towards the end of the programme, Sarah Beeny showed a prospective around all three properties in the hope that a deal could be done. Simple TV, perfect for someone who enjoys nosing around other people's houses.</div>
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By the end of the evening I was super relaxed and took to bed with my iPad to gather inspiration for Astrid's upcoming birthday (I know, I can't believe she's nearly one either). I was soon forced out of my reveries by Torin who was then up for the next few hours with a temperature and then, once finally creeping into bed at 1ish, woken by Astrid at 5.40am who was not at all interested in going back to sleep. Fingers crossed for more sleep tonight!</div>
beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-15788273050488429232012-10-22T20:09:00.000+01:002012-10-22T20:09:54.478+01:00Seventies style in Mog the Forgetful Cat.<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm so lucky that our local library doesn't charge late fees for children's books - I'd be bankrupt! I've just looked, and Torin's latest books were due back two weeks ago! Perhaps if I knew I'd have to pay though, I'd keep on top of it a little more.</div>
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One of the books we borrowed this time was "Mog the Forgetful Cat" by Judith Kerr. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzv2VUGJoBq6THRcKUxl9b5iA9sFa2311k4BxjKQzR2X_87PcphS3PCe1qmKW88pO0c4TR31gYaeuZwSqt9fwon55OMXG5Z6Y5BR9CZLuN5wJL4zInFHigKnZ75FDl53DhoA68jnud_qn1/s1600/mog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzv2VUGJoBq6THRcKUxl9b5iA9sFa2311k4BxjKQzR2X_87PcphS3PCe1qmKW88pO0c4TR31gYaeuZwSqt9fwon55OMXG5Z6Y5BR9CZLuN5wJL4zInFHigKnZ75FDl53DhoA68jnud_qn1/s400/mog.jpg" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://fairfieldbooksonstation.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/mog.jpg&imgrefurl=http://fairfieldbooksonstation.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/the-next-five-books-for%25C2%25A0preschoolers/&usg=__2j89lx7NgbL2UYbpAPBG9alPqtM=&h=400&w=304&sz=21&hl=en&start=1&zoom=1&tbnid=N6PfeOOXJrss9M:&tbnh=124&tbnw=94&ei=LZOFULHhAueQ0AWijoGgBQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmog%2Bthe%2Bforgetful%2Bcat%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Den%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1">here</a>.</td></tr>
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Not only is it an old'un (1975), it's a good'un too. If you don't know it, Mog is a loveable but troublesome pet cat, belonging to the Thomas family. He gets up to all sorts of mischief, but of course the books normally end with him saving the day somehow. </div>
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There is also something wonderfully nostalgic about the books. If you had to guess the date of the books, the names of the Thomas family children may give the era away (Debbie and Nicky (boy)), but so does the furniture and decoration in their house!</div>
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The furniture, with its tapered legs and simple lines is reminiscent of Ercol. In fact, just the other day I was looking at a rather lovely Conran table in Marks and Spencer that was very similar to this!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_Qyss0xpTXel0VJth7R_dDkny8tr_maePcd9PuEbBf9lKIGKo7d3y7H86HHR4xyNtBSaTCs8cgCEUNOfbLimHMl0WXeY6NpCkdljv81rMS7FFSyWw1V-Thyj3hZxIBjEAUe6l2F0A_YU/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_Qyss0xpTXel0VJth7R_dDkny8tr_maePcd9PuEbBf9lKIGKo7d3y7H86HHR4xyNtBSaTCs8cgCEUNOfbLimHMl0WXeY6NpCkdljv81rMS7FFSyWw1V-Thyj3hZxIBjEAUe6l2F0A_YU/s640/image.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.toimg.net/managed/images/10164959/w482/h298/image.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.timeout.com/london/museums-attractions/event/222062/feline-festival&usg=__9vvPnOZGUuEq6MUVQJPSQ0wMnc4=&h=298&w=482&sz=49&hl=en&start=6&zoom=1&tbnid=ecRjiogjhrUV2M:&tbnh=80&tbnw=129&ei=oZSFUPLLMOfT0QWc0ICABQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmog%2Bthe%2Bforgetful%2Bcat%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Den%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1">here</a>.</td></tr>
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Look, there's even the little three legged stool!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnSnfiTooNQM5phiU51D90yHIanFE9G6zsPNNBHMoHKMPciPtGldFW1hcIT-IUsD8uxEIK6dazJarBVv32ut2GWZCNbQB4aM5MfVO3wKxQrk2u5pHJjTG19rZ83rFM7QnDRo0dvxNdY1V/s1600/stool.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnSnfiTooNQM5phiU51D90yHIanFE9G6zsPNNBHMoHKMPciPtGldFW1hcIT-IUsD8uxEIK6dazJarBVv32ut2GWZCNbQB4aM5MfVO3wKxQrk2u5pHJjTG19rZ83rFM7QnDRo0dvxNdY1V/s640/stool.jpeg" width="564" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from here.</td></tr>
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Although I do pay attention to the illustrations in my children's books, noticing how the pictures in this particular book illustrate the time it was published so well, I think I'll be looking at several of Torin's books with fresh eyes to see if I've missed anything elsewhere!</div>
<br />beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-44153532938707163062012-10-15T20:27:00.001+01:002012-10-15T20:27:36.056+01:00Clumsiness in the bedroom.<div style="text-align: justify;">
I can't believe a whole month has gone by since my last post. It seems that tiredness, having two children and a slightly more than mild addiction to <a href="http://www.fox.com/fringe/">Fringe</a> has meant that I really haven't found much time to write. I really will try to find more time from now on!</div>
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Our bedside table lamp broke yesterday - bits just fell off the mechanism that holds the light bulb in place. Lucky it only cost a few pounds from IKEA quite a few years ago (actually, thinking about it, perhaps that's why it broke)! I've no idea how it got like that, although I suppose it's probably been knocked over at some point. Being just inside our bedroom door and at toddler head height, it is in a somewhat vulnerable position! I can't really blame Torin though - I have to confess that there have been several times when I've had my hair wrapped in a towel and knocked it over while bending down to plug in my hairdryer. I also have to confess that this is how the bottom two butterflies in <a href="http://beautifulsquarefeet.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/butterflies-and-landscapes.html">this</a> arrangement, met their doom (they used to hang above the bedside table. Clumsy me.</div>
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We had a spare table lamp just sitting around - it used to be in our living room in our old house and it just hasn't found a natural place in any of the rooms in this house. I rather liked the height of the lampshade we were using in our bedroom, so I put the existing lampshade onto the base of the spare lamp and this is how it looks.</div>
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I think I actually prefer the new look - I like the mid-century shape.</div>
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I really will try to get back here before the week is out!</div>
beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-31939890080081319802012-09-18T20:35:00.000+01:002012-09-18T20:35:23.173+01:00What's your stylescope?<div style="text-align: justify;">
On the recommendation of Jessica Jones of <a href="http://howaboutorange.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/find-your-stylescope-home-design.html">How About Orange</a>, I spent a fun few minutes the other day, finding my Stylescope by taking a short quiz on the <a href="http://www.homegoods.com/stylescope?awesm=awe.sm_i4wF9">HomeGoods Stylescope</a> website.</div>
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I had to pick five images that "spoke to me" from a selection of 36 and when I clicked to get the results, I was given a label that defined my style, a paragraph describing my style and then some hints and tips on how to style my home in this way.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvD5TLb6WQvPCxAnum8t55CacjqgkJ2rBpefytuDnO79SdHuYgiortnL55UKXJK50TUDL7A4bYUL1fWvQXl21vZuHg3bKvAZmjpQ3CeN2w5ZxbOr7AioE4R4H4JY4s3ciSru-An2VUmpD/s1600/classic_looks_like.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvD5TLb6WQvPCxAnum8t55CacjqgkJ2rBpefytuDnO79SdHuYgiortnL55UKXJK50TUDL7A4bYUL1fWvQXl21vZuHg3bKvAZmjpQ3CeN2w5ZxbOr7AioE4R4H4JY4s3ciSru-An2VUmpD/s400/classic_looks_like.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The idea is that this picture becomes my facebook timeline cover - what would that say about me?!</td></tr>
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I ended up falling into the Classic category, which I was a little disappointed by - it's not really very cool is it! Having said that, there are some elements of Classic that are probably me, although not necessarily the part that exudes "undisturbed calm"!</div>
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Apparently Classic, "knows there's a place for everything - and everything belongs in its place". I wish! "She's a perfectly tailored dress." Hmm. "A smooth, 4-tiered wedding cake". Well, we had three, but it had little pink sugar flowers all over it, so it wasn't at all smooth. "And she embues her sense of structure" (this perhaps is a little of me) with a graceful elegance, an undisturbed calm, and of course, an irrefutable beauty." Ahem.</div>
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I also don't like the idea of entertaining by filling, "a crystal centrepiece with faux or real roses". However, hunting for "an ornate, antique mirror frame" does sound like fun.</div>
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Oh well, perhaps not so accurate, but it was interesting to be labelled in a way that made me think about how I actually define myself and then rile against their label!</div>
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These are the five images I selected - does classic style spring to mind for you?</div>
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I'd be interested to hear if you take the quiz and feel it gives you an accurate description of your style.</div>
beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007973498369104249.post-34398406326538471932012-09-14T20:13:00.000+01:002012-09-14T20:13:02.730+01:00Can't stop looking at . . .<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Each week, I'll be sharing with you something that has caught my eye. It may be a picture, blog, product or website.</span></i></div>
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We made it to the end of the week! This week has gone s...l...o...w...l...y! Torin's settled in well at nursery school, but it has made him completely exhausted and as I'm sure a lot of you can appreciate, an exhausted three year old is not the most fun person to have around! When he woke up this morning he said, "Mummy, I just didn't have enough sleep!"</div>
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So, we're just going to have a relaxed, fairly quiet weekend just sorting things out around the house, and seeing a few friends. I'd love it if I had this cosy space in which to while away my time . . .</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCO4WF0UiYOfHjIOTk7SKJvmJbeIHulg8CjyptyXuPIKT2wE1qRoM3rxsulk9bWqRPXWQ0GvcxBu164RGlwWMe-OsArdR16W9ptRY4mAKhLduoJrIbWzwbg5PMeMkciIm9pzsx4_eg7Q2/s1600/cosy+living+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCO4WF0UiYOfHjIOTk7SKJvmJbeIHulg8CjyptyXuPIKT2wE1qRoM3rxsulk9bWqRPXWQ0GvcxBu164RGlwWMe-OsArdR16W9ptRY4mAKhLduoJrIbWzwbg5PMeMkciIm9pzsx4_eg7Q2/s640/cosy+living+room.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://www.housetohome.co.uk/room-idea/picture/country-living-rooms-our-pick-of-the-best/2?&_suid=134764982827007140841046348214">here</a>.</td></tr>
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Have a wonderful weekend!beautiful square feethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718114608619318612noreply@blogger.com0