Ladylike Chic

This dress is from Marks & Spencer - another sales bargain! I love the unusual coffee brown colour and the peplum style. It's really flattering, and would be perfect for a wedding or formal party. 

The giant flowers in my hair are brooches which I've attached hair pins to so I can wear them both ways. It's good to adapt what you already have!

The amazing painted tea chest was a charity shop find. 

Quintessentially English

I came across this gorgeous shop, Quintessentially English, in Lacock Village today. If you've never been to Lacock Abbey & Village I highly recommend it, along with a visit to the Fox Talbot Photography Museum which is housed there. 

This lovely little shop is stocked with beautiful items, both new & vintage, all laid out like you're wandering through some lucky person's house... 

I did a lot of sighing & stroking of the pretty items...!

The Circus

These photos were taken at The Circus in Bath - one of my favourite spots in the city. They were taken by my lovely friend Stacey (http://eyetoeye.carbonmade.com/) 

This is a proper thrift shop outfit - the skirt came from my local charity shop, and the coat was an ebay bargain. The boots are from New Look, and I've pretty much been living in them recently. The bowler hat & Mischa Barton handbag were also brought via ebay - the hat was new, the handbag second hand. 

Snow Days

Just like pretty much everyone else in the country we've been enjoying the snow here! Especially on Friday when school was shut because of it - Yey!

This is a selection of my favourite photos from my walk with Bronwyn on Friday - a blissful way to spend a day!

I love how excited Bronwyn is here! That's the look of pure enjoyment there!

Lady In Red

This is one of my favourite dresses. I love the vintage feel, and lace is always a winner in my book! I got it in Jane Norman, but since then have seen various copies on EBay, so I'm sure you could find it cheaper. 

The blue velvet ankle boots are killer to walk in, but too beautiful not to wear! Unbelievably I got them in Tescos in the sale for a fiver!

The blue suitcase is genuine vintage, and came from The Vintage Hideaway in Glastonbury.

Curried Butternut Squash Soup

Yummy, warming, filling & healthy - Does it get better than this?!

Ingredients:
1 butternut squash
2 onions
2 stock cubes (I use veggie) disolved in about a litre of water
1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
fresh coriander (optional)

Preheat the oven to 220c. Chop up the squash & onions and put them in a roasting dish. Bake uncovered for 45 mins or until the squash is tender. Don't worry if some of the pieces get a bit browned - this will add to the roasted flavour of the soup.

Remove from the oven. Tip into a saucepan and add the stock. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Let it cool. Puree in batches in a blender or food processor.

Toast the curry powder in a small frying pan over a low heat until fragrant - be careful not to burn it. Stir into the pureed soup. Season to taste. I then garnish it with fresh coriander - because I love it - but I know some people are not so keen!

Enjoy!

Homemade Presents

This year for Christmas I vowed to make as many presents as possible - and I'm really proud that I pretty much manged it! Here is a selection of what I made:

Christmassy ribbons on the homemade soap

Rose bath salts

Flower brooches

Josie in her ballerina skirt

Marvel fabric wash bag - for my friend Damien who works as cabin crew for BA - business-like on the outside & childish inside - just like him! ;)

Ash's scarf - the wool is so soft & it's mega long - he said he feels like Dr Who in it!

I used up loads of odd bits of fabric making bunting

Katie loved her teddy bear!

William got a Marvel fabric 'boy bear'... Grrrr, manly!

Christmas Presents

I’m a very lucky lady & I was thoroughly spoilt this Christmas with lovely presents so I thought I’d share a few of the more crafty/ vintage variety with you.

This gorgeous notebook from Bekah will most definitely get used – I’m not one of those people who has a pretty notebook & then never scribbles in it... they need to fulfill their destiny! This will be used for poetry scribbles during the year & a very fitting job it is for such a lovely cover!

This Liberty sewing book has so many gorgeous pictures in it, I’m going to struggle to pick my first project – but I know I have to have a go at the peacock pin cushion at some point! I’m really looking forward to making some things for myself and my home now that all the Christmas present crafting is done with. Only problem with this book is that it makes me want to go fabric shopping again… I think it’s an addiction!

My new ‘vintage’ radio – which will be much in use in my sewing room!

My clever Boy got me this book before I even started making Josie’s Christmas quilt – the clever thing! I’m looking forward to having a go at a proper patchwork quilt this year, not just making it up as I go along this time! (although Josie was very happy with the result!)

My absolute best present, and quite possibly one of the best presents I’ve ever been given, was this gorgeous Alex Monroe bumble bee necklace from The Boy. I’s fallen in love with the design ages ago, but never hoped of owning one. I have to admit that I did spontaneously start crying when I opened the box – it was just so beautiful and unexpected!

Gower Getaway

Raindrops on the camera trying to be atmospheric...!

The Victorian lighthouse

Just after New Years myself & The Boy headed off to the Gower coast in Wales for 3 days break with Bronwyn. We stayed at The King's Head pub, which was fantastic & dog friendly. Out room felt very luxurious, underfloor heating, huge bathtub, views of the sea... and Bronwyn allowed to stay too! She particularly liked the underfloor heating!

The food in the pub was great - so good in fact that we ate all our meals there during our stay. Their cheese board was literally the best I've ever had - and believe me I've had a lot of cheeseboards! So good infact that we ordered one on the second night to be delivered to our room later in the evening & sat eating it while playing Scrabble! Truely geeky pampering!

I hope you all had a good New Years break

x