Losing Your Inhibitions to a Camera

Try this it's brilliant.
I decided today that I needed a new picture of myself on the sidebar so after applying the old slap to the face I did a whole load of pictures of myself. It was hard at first as you feel a bit of an idiot smiling at yourself but after a while it became enjoyable.
I have little or no inhibitions in the company of others but by myself I tend not to let go. Losing my inhibitions in private this morning was so theraputic I would recommend it to everyone.
By the way it's not hot here I had my nightie on.

Branding Your Home

I absolutely love this idea of burning a pattern onto your walls and furniture which is how this effect is created. I have to say though that I wouldn't dare try it in case I set the bloody house on fire.
By Sarah van Gameren

Chic Belgian Fashion

Never underestimate the Belgians they don't just make good chocolate.
From Francoise Pendville

A Fragrant Tassel

I really do like this idea - air freshener in a tassel. I hate those plug in things, these are so much more stylish.
From Agraria Home

Boys Will Be Girls

My grandsons Sonny & Billy have a thing about this dressing up dress. Billy even likes to sleep in it. I can't wait to show these pictures to their first first girlfriends.

I Am One Proud Grandmother

I mentioned yesterday that I was away with Georgia, my grand daughter, at a recording session. Well she blew us all away by producing this in under half an hour.
This is her version of Bridge Over Troubled Water which she is singing next Thursday in the talent contest she entered.
Please take a moment to listen and make my day.

I Want These

I just WANT them. From Free People

Little French Hideaway

It's a glorious day here today but I would still trade it to be here. Petites Maisons dans La Prairie in Plelo, France.

Fab Flowers

Fab Felt Flowers by Fab Stuff

Green Sheep and Brown Polar Bears

I'm not at all bothered that these needle felt animals are the wrong colour - why not, thats what I say.
From Roselane Studio at Etsy

Away Day - Take a Walk Around My Cottage

I am off to the big city - Newcastle - today to take my grandaughter Georgia to make a record. We bought her a recording session for her 15th birthday and she is going to record the song she is singing in the semi finals of the talent contest she entered.
I am leaving you with a guided tour of the area around my cottage. Put your wellies on and ENJOY! Pop into the cottage for a cuppa when you have finished, Harvey is in.

Our little hamlet, my cottage is the second building on the left with the 3 windows.

Just along the lane from our cottage we have access to the River Tyne and all the little streams that lead from it. Moss abounds around these places.

The wonderful River Tyne that winds its way down to Newcastle upon Tyne and out into the North Sea.

A kindly farmer has created this seat carved into a tree trunk. This sits by the river so you can rest and take in the view.

Its lambing time so all the rams are kept well away from the women. They are not happy as you can see from the expression on this one's face.

Approaching the hamlet from the other side I notice the horses still have their coats on.

This silver birch has the whitest trunk I have ever seen. It stands outside the farmhouse and I swear I haven't tried to turn it into a piece of Ghost Furniture.

An ancient bastle that belongs to the farm. These buildings were named after the French Bastilles and were fortified to keep out marauding Scots. The walls of this one are 4 feet thick.

Down the hill from my cottage sits this beautiful unused railway bridge. I love that it is covered in grass. The house on the left of it is for sale. It was originally 2 railway cottages that are now one house. It needs a lot of work but it has a hoard of people bidding against each other to get it. Here take a look.

Leaving You In Safe Hands

As you know today I am away all day so I am leaving you in the safe hands of - Karine of Bodie and Fou, who bought wheredidyoubuythat.com from me has a brilliant article in the Independent. This is a seriously good read. She was interviewed and asked to give her best shopping addresses for homewares. Well for one she is French so she will lead you to some lovely places and two she has a brilliant eye for design, lastly she mentions me in a follow up article on her blog. Go, go, go

Thanks to Ebay

I won this gorgeous frame on ebay but it had no back to it. I puzzled for weeks as to what to do with it then just the other day I saw these stunning Victorian Ballet Shoes on ebay and actually won them. The two were made for each other don't you think. Watch this space for the finished result to become a piece of Ghost Furniture

Do You See What I See

More Ghost Furniture pieces and what inspired me to create them. These are not on the site yet as we are waiting for a long sunny day to photograph them - keep everything crossed for me.

A wine table in those gorgeous blushing grape colours.

A piece of shattered silk I nearly bought via Tara of Paris Parfait. It inspired me to create a chair using shattered silk from a Victorian skirt. Thanks Tara

Caviar and Oysters - a girl's gotta dream.

A Venetian carnival mask becomes a chair.

Fried Green Tomatoes, inside green outside crisp and dark gold.

Terracotta Like You've Not Seen for Ages

You just know when you look at these fabulous terracotta items that they are going to be French. You see this sort of stuff in old charcuterie all over France and find that they were made eons ago. I am thrilled I found these as I want them some of them for my new kitchen.
All hand made and fired at 1000 degrees in a ceramic oven then hand painted. From Guenilee Courcoux

Make Your Own FABULOUS Jewelry

Gail Crosman Moore will supply you with all you need to create your own stunning jewelry. This is seriously high end stuff. Go and take a look for yourself

The Stuff You Can Knit

Things have come a long way since I was a knitwear designer in the 80s. It seems you can knit anything nowadays. I just wish I could knit an extension for my cottage then I wouldn't have to have another meeting with a builder.
All found at The British Hand Knitting Association