ray makes do

tin chapel

2012-01-05T12:22:00.000Z

hello, remember me?

I'm hoping to do a proper post in the next day or two, but to ease me back look what I spotted on SF Girl by Bay yesterday,

This beautiful Tin Church is about two streets from where I live, I have loved the outside of it for a while - who knew it was so amazing inside!! See the full post here.

P.S I'll blog some (way too late) Christmas bits later - but Han (a hundred times more organised than me as ever) has done some lovely ones on her blog in case you haven't seen them already.

dressmaker...

2011-10-25T15:21:00.001+01:00

A few weeks ago I was given some vintage dress patterns by some family friends. They used to belong to their mum who was a dressmaker (I believe she helped make the Queen's wedding dress!) They gave me around 80 patterns and I thought I'd share some of my favourites as well as a few of my very own finds.

How amazing is this Kaftan!!

This might be my next project - I really want to make my own coat!

I tweeted a while ago about the 20 week dressmaking course I'm doing. I'm on week 4 (already) and it is brilliant. Nothing to show as yet - I'm still in the practice/muslin stage of a modern Vogue pattern (though I'd start off easy), trying to get to grips with my very not standard measurements (short and busty strikes again!). But I'll post some updates when things start to look a bit more interesting!

More of around here...

2011-10-05T20:37:00.000+01:00

My friend Wally is a brilliant photographer. He took these on his Pentax 35 mm when he (and a few more of my favourite people) came to visit a couple of weekends ago. He said he only touched up a couple of them so as I understand it this is pretty much how they came out on the film.

catching up...

2011-09-29T15:14:00.001+01:00

We are still alive and busy settling in!

We have a garden - I love it - although getting everything set up is proving quite the investment!

We also have a grape vine in our garden - wine making will commence this very weekend!

I love our new house; it has a dining room AND a lounge (luxury!), a garden, a workshop at the bottom of the garden, a sewing room for little me AND a big sink and a tiled floor in the bathroom - two things our old flat did not have (think sink so small you could barely fit two hands in at once and carpeted floor *shudder*.

I still cannot decide where to hang all our pictures. so far a grand total of one picture has been put up.

We have been putting our much bigger kitchen to good use, baking, chutney and jam making plus the husband's pasta making abound.

I love our new home town - farm shop, charity shops, junk shops and local goodness galore plus foraging a plenty and long countryside walks

I am doing a dress making course at the local adult education centre - although I appear to have bought four patterns rather than just the one needed to sew. I'm very excited by all the possibilities!

Our laptop is so buggered - I am blogging this with a 2 inch white stripe down the screen - more money to be spent!

To complete our move to the countryside we put our names down for an allotment - only 2 years to wait!

And finally I have a niece or nephew on the way!! Yay my brother knocked up Mrs Seeds and Stitches *double shudder*!! How lovely is Han's teeny tiny bump!

In the post...

2011-08-16T12:36:00.001+01:00

...this thread drawing from Stephanie Toland (who I blogged about in January). She has just opened an Etsy shop selling some of her amazing work. This embroidery was a leaving work present to myself and a little something for our new home. I love it so much - the old couple bring a little tear to my eye!

The best part of moving...

2011-08-15T12:41:00.003+01:00

is the fact that you get to decorate all over again.

I'm beginning to gather some ideas for the new house. I am so excited about starting from scratch again, figuring out where old favourites work best and finding new favourites to fit the empty spaces. I like the slow approach to decorating a room. I find if I rush thing I quickly regret them (hello Ikea table and shelves! Have I told you today that I hate you!). So here are some of the highlights from the various pinterest boards I've been getting together...

(Design*Sponge)

(Here's Looking at Me Kid)

(Modern Vintage Style by Emily Chalmers via Oh Joy)

(oh my dear handmades)

(Here's looking at me kid)

(The Design Files)

what's the plural of mantra?

2011-08-05T10:17:00.000+01:00

(Valentina Design)

(pinterest)

Mantri?

and we're off...

2011-07-23T22:08:00.002+01:00

It's fitting that I haven't blogged since the whiny post directly below this one. Because give it time and things will change - things will change A LOT! Next week is my last week in my job and as of the end of August we are leaving our little South East London bubble and moving to the country (well a small town but still comparatively the country!) - Kapow! Everything's going to be different!

I'm not sure what I'm going to do job wise yet (!!) but I'm hoping to find something part time leaving me some time to figure myself out for a bit and definitely more time to figure out my creative what-not. I'm insanely excited and completely overwhelmed! So in the meantime here are some pretty pictures of our flat. I really want to enjoy it as much as I can for the 5 weeks we have left here.

finding the words...

2011-04-14T12:17:00.000+01:00

By March of this year I really felt like 2011 was properly kicking my arse, but now just a month later I feel like maybe 2011 is shaping me a little and even though we are only in April maybe it's a year that will leave a lasting mark on me (in a good way); one that I am still trying to figure out. I know I'm changing but I don't know how exactly - opinions are shifting, maybe I'm mellowing, in someways I'm becoming more engaged with things, in other ways I'm losing interest. I can't really put into words something more specific than that - maybe I'm still too in it to really see it.

When the husband and I decided this year would be our 'brave' year we had no idea. No idea that at times being brave could be so mundane. I had no idea that sometimes being brave means saving rather than spending. Staying rather than going. Planning rather than doing. Waiting. Patiently. I have mentioned my lack of patience before right!? The whole process is like looking in an unflattering mirror, I've discovered personality flaws I never knew I had, the sort that once you know they exist have to be dealt with because there's no way they are coming on the exciting journey you're preparing for*!

This stage of the brave year is bizarre. While we prepare ourselves, while we get ourselves to a better place we have to remember that we really are heading in the right direction. This isn't what I imagined when I talked about being brave at the end of last year - I very much meant doing big things, changing things, being scared but doing it anyway. I did not mean waiting and yet here we are and it's taken more bravery than I realised it ever would.

* I'm aware I'm making it sound as if we are moving somewhere exotic. We are not - it's only Kent**. But I lean toward being super safe, sticking to what I know, taking no risks - so it's exciting to us.

** oh and this is not how I planned on mentioning it on here - but yes we are moving out of London (hopefully) in the autumn details will inevitably follow...

apt...

2011-04-12T10:46:00.000+01:00

I just discovered this time wasting project by Alyson Provax via le projet d'amor and other tales. I really love it - I've been doing some very focused wallowing recently and this really put it in a bit more perspective.

Hila has posted a brilliant interview with Alyson here.

oh sweet shoe joy!

2011-03-03T14:28:00.000Z

It's only the third day in March and I'm already looking forward to April - Why? because April is an exciting month for shoes...

Liberty have brought back their collaboration with Nike - I loved these the first time round. I just wish my little legs looked good in trainers!!

and (and I am beside myself about this one) Swedish Hasbeens are collaborating with H&M to produce these beauties. They should only cost about £35 (which is a LOT less than the £160+ that Swedish Hasbeens normally cost).

Roll on April!!

hmmm cake...

2011-03-02T11:12:00.001Z

I'm on a bit of a weird eating plan at the moment, I'm not dieting exactly just avoiding some foods that make me feel a bit rubbish. The natural result of this is that all I can think about is CAKE! It started when I made some (blogger cliche alert) Red Velvet Cupcakes for a friend's birthday a few fridays ago, now all I want to do is eat cupcakes - except currently I'm not eating wheat, dairy or sugar (which is essentially the entire ingredients of a cupcake). So because I enjoy torturing myself (whilst tempting you) here are some I would like to make when I ease myself back onto the sugary goodness (which knowing me could be next week!!)

Margarita Cupcakes from Created by Diane

Cookies and Cream from Annie Eats

Hydrangea Cupcakes by Glorious Treats

Hot Fudge Sundae Cupcakes from Created by Diane

all images found via Pinterest

Part 6: Guest Style

2011-02-10T11:03:00.002Z

Just a selection of our super hot friends and family...

they looked pretty smoking huh?

P.S friends reading this who aren't featured - I promise you looked hot too - I just don't have photographic evidence!

All images by Emma Case

Part 5: The Vows (we're almost there I promise!)

2011-02-07T16:01:00.001Z

Ok let's do this thing!

Our ceremony was held at the very beautiful Old Library at Dulwich College (much cheaper to have just the ceremony here rather than the whole wedding in case you're interested!)

As I mentioned the taxi was late to pick up Han, Sand, my Brother and Step Mum, and when he finally arrived the driver didn't seem too familiar with South East London and took a super long route*. My cab driver whizz of a Father in Law got my Dad and I to the ceremony venue WAY before the bridesmaids which meant I got to hang out with our little paige boy (my nephew Sam) and flower girl (Zoe - who spent our time together stroking my dress whilst saying "pretty" over and over again - love her!)

So while we wait here are some of the decor details...

(the balloons were a surprise gift from my bridesmaids and bridesman - they'd actually meant for them to spell out Ray and Phil - but at the last minute realised they didn't have enough helium!)

The only bits of making I really did for the wedding were the welcome sign (above) and the reserved signs (below). For other people's weddings/parties I'm all over the DIY but I found with my own wedding I just couldn't quite get my arse in gear - luckily I have amazing friends who took my directions and ran with them!

With the whole bridal party finally assembled we had to very quickly figure out how to get the younger members down the aisle. It didn't quite go according to plan... Zoe wandered off to make a new friend half way down...(you can see her to the left of Han's bum)

We walked down the aisle to an acoustic arrangement of a Ralph McTell song that my Dad used to sing to me when I was little.

and then I greeted the increasingly peaky looking man I was about to marry...

So the actual ceremony. was. weird. It was lovely, but getting married is weirdly easy - you just say a few words and then that's it - you are married. done. It would make more sense - and I'd like to put this forward as an actual idea - if you had to complete some kind of krypton factor** style assault course and then when you'd completed it (and only then) you were allowed to say your vows - at least then you'd feel like you worked for it...

Best man nervously holding onto the rings

This picture pretty much sums up our different reactions to the ceremony - I looked dementedly happy (unhinged you could say) my husband looked like he could throw up at any minute!

Both of us looking ready for the drinking to begin!!

*side note: When people ask me about what went wrong on the day I can never think of anything - but clearly there were blips like the taxi not turning up, or the fact that both the Dartford and Blackwall tunnel were closed that day resulting in major traffic, one person missing the ceremony and a number of us getting stuck in traffic on the way to the reception. Genuinely though, when I think about these things I think about hanging out with Zoe and Sam as I waited to go down the aisle, or having a good chat with my father in law on the way to the reception (whilst stuck in traffic). There weren't any disasters (and in some ways we were lucky I know) but seriously the only real genuine problem would have been if we hadn't got married and we definitely managed that!!

** if you don't know what the Krypton Factor is I urge you to look at this video immediately, now sit back and imagine if wedding ceremonies were more like that...

All images by Emma Case

David A Smith - Sign Artist

2011-02-04T11:11:00.000Z

Take a few minutes out of your Friday to watch this amazing, amazing film (found via my brother's twitter feed) - It's massively inspiring! Is it weird that it made me a cry a bit?

David A Smith - Sign Artist from Danny Cooke on Vimeo.

P.S I know I've fallen down a bit of a blogging black hole (work has been a bit brutal over the last few weeks) but I'll be back to finish off the wedding posts over the weekend.

Stephanie Toland

2011-01-20T15:36:00.001Z

I stumbled across Stephanie Toland's work a month or so a go (one of those times when one blog leads to another blog then leads to another blog and before you know it you have no idea where you started or how long you've been looking at blogs for). Her work is so, so beautiful I had to email her immediately and ask her if I could post some of it here. She very kindly said yes - which obviously makes me love her even more!!

all images via Stephanie Toland

Part 4: my dress!

2011-01-18T17:58:00.004Z

I'd like to interrupt the chronological wedding recaps for a bit...so that we can all gaze at my pretty, pretty dress. My why can't I wear it everyday, dress of all the dreams I've ever had or will have, dress.

here it is hanging in the window....ooohhhh!!

here it is lying on my bed...eeeehhh!! (which reminds me I must give the finished big blanket a post of it's own!)

here are my shoes...aaahhh!!! they are lined with liberty fabric - decadent? yes! necessary? totally!! The shoes were a 50p(!) find from a local market. They are seriously comfortable so considering the dress cost quite a bit more than originally planned I decided to spray paint these ones to give them a new lease of life and forgo buying new shoes.

And here is a close up...

In all seriousness the FCNK's ladies (Emma and Laura) did an amazing, amazing job. They listened to this rather busty girls concerns about wearing a halter neck (they sewed my bra in - bliss!) and listened to my whinges about back fat - hello extra boning!! I have never felt more confident in a dress (and I like me some dresses!) If you are getting married for the love of all things good go see these ladies - if for no other reason than they are lovely and they will make you a shit hot petticoat!!

All images by Emma Case

Part 3: Let's hear it for the boys...

2011-01-17T19:07:00.002Z

As I mentioned my hubby to be (as was) slept at his parents the night before the wedding. We asked our friend Owen who is a marvelous photographer to capture the boys' morning as Emma was clearly busy with better things (I kid!).

The morning of the wedding my man wrote his speech...

ate his mum's sausage sandwiches....

put on the tie that Sandy had made for him (she made them for all of the boys...)

I love his (by chance) wife themed shoes...

then he opened the present and card I'd given him, The card contained a warning because he has been known to get a little emotional and I didn't want him being embarrassed in front of the other boys...

I got him a 60's fob watch as his pre wedding gift (I didn't mention in the last post that he got me some earrings from Jersey Pearl, from Jersey (obviously) the Ray Makes Do motherland).

Then, from what I can make out, he paced around and looked a little green!

I'm thinking about...

2011-01-17T14:14:00.000Z

Link

becoming a red head...the only problem is I have spent a life time making ginger jokes to my younger (very ginger) brother and I'm a little worried I'll never hear the end of it! Also I'm a little concerned about up keep and expense - I'm a very ~~lazy~~ low maintenance hair girl so I've never really dyed my hair much before...

(I'll be back later tonight with more wedding nonsense)

Part 2: The girls get ready....

2011-01-13T21:09:00.003Z

I woke up on the day feeling more relaxed than I ever imagined, it felt like another day just a super exciting one....

PD had stayed with his parents that night and me and Sand (bridesmaid in pink) had spent one last night sharing a bed (something we did a lot of at Uni - in an entirely platonic way of course - despite Sand's best efforts!?). We all had hair appointments at 9am in central London so we went off on the tube to the hairdressers where they had champagne for us and got our hair done. Minutes after we got back a plethora of parents arrived swiflty followed by Ms Emma herself. And then the magic began....

Husband's Dad (also called Ray!), My Dad and Step Mum getting to know each other a little better...

I had to keep reminding my Dad that he was wearing two pairs of glasses (one of which are clearly sunglasses - in October - apparently it's something to do with the glare...?)

Sandy, my bridesmaid in pink, and liquid eyeliner master gets her make up on...

Checking my face matched my neck (because weird spray tan + new foundation = slightly odd colour)...

Sand doing my eye make up, whilst yelling obscenities at me and instructing me not to laugh (normal and expected behaviour from the bridesmaid in pink!)...

Failing not too laugh...

Classic Ray overly serious face...I pull this face a lot. I promise I'm not being as mean as it looks like I'm being - I just have very little control over my facial expressions (it gets me into all sorts of trouble!)

The hair comes down...

and is pinned to the side...

and the (very last minute) flower is placed on my head. I love my head decor. It was an amalgamation of a flower from a £3 Miss Selfridge head band and a fascinator I bought for my first dress (more on that later) that didn't work with the actual dress of my dreams dress. I glue-gunned it all together the night before - ever the procrastinator.

I believe at this point Emma is very kindly reminding us that we need to leave in two minutes...

then my Dad and I piled into my father-in-law's Beetle. A car he has owned since 1973 and the car he proposed to my mother-in-law in...

and we off went to the ceremony (once the taxi for the others had finally turned up - 20 minutes late!)

tomorrow; the boys get ready...

All images by Emma Case

Part 1: Preparing myself...

2011-01-13T13:18:00.004Z

Two days before the wedding I subjected myself and my two lovely bridesmaids to a series of beauty related disasters. Firstly, we got our nails did...the girl's were beautiful! Mine had to be re-done the next day because they were chipping - despite the fact that they were gel (which is supposed to last two weeks!) - luckily I was rescued by a marvellous local salon who fixed them up perfectly!

Second disaster of the day was my spray tan. My now husband was very anti me getting a spray tan for fear I'd look like Jordan. I had a trial, which turned out nice and subtle, he was happy so I went ahead. However, between the trial and the actual day the place I'd used closed down. I went with another beauty salon naively thinking all spray tans are the same if you stress subtle. However, this is what I looked like just three hours later... it got a lot worse!!

I wasn't supposed to shower until the next morning but considering that by 10pm I looked like a chimney sweep I caved and luckily most of it washed off...

And then the eye lashes (you can see them in the corners of my eyes in the photo above) - these were the least traumatic (once they were on - having them actually attached was quite horrific!) but they itched like nothing else all day and I ended up pulling them off on honeymoon (which was not an easy or comfortable task).

Essentially, to be honest, I wish I'd stuck with the pale skin and stubby lashes I was naturally bestowed with. I could have saved a chunk of money and time - but weddings make us all do silly things!

So that's the very beginning - check back tonight for a post on us getting ready the morning of the day itself...

all images by Emma Case

earlier than planned; a questionnaire

2011-01-11T22:25:00.002Z

In lieu of the wedding post I had planned to put up tonight but is not quite ready yet (must make sure to do the old wedding justice) here's one I made earlier....

Louise from Glitterball (a very lovely blog I've recently started following) gave me this award

I'm not normally one for the questionairres but I really liked Laura's answers so thought I'd give it a go.

The rules are:

Share 7 things about yourself:

1. I am short - only 5'2 (on a good day)
2. I have lived in South East London for the last 10 years, the longest I've ever lived in one area!
3. I love South East London but we are going to be moving at some point this year because we are both craving a bit more quiet and a lot more countryside. Also I miss the sea.
4. I grew up in Jersey in the Channel Islands (hence missing the sea).
5. I live 8 doors down from miss seeds and stitches and therefore my little brother
6. I am lactose intolerent but find I can get around this with a nice goats cheese, I will also happily talk myself into eating cake by telling myself 'it only means a tummy ache'! I always regret this afterwards.
7. I don't like coffee or red wine and I can't drive - all of these things make me believe that I am not an adult yet.

Pass the award along to blogs you've recently discovered & enjoy:

um er - I might change this slightly - if you are reading this and you'd like to pass it on feel free. I'm giving you a free pass!

1. Why did you create this blog? Originally it was to have a record of buying our first house - but that never happened (thank you recession!!) I decided to keep it going anyway although I often find myself questioning it - I do really enjoy it.
2. What kind of blogs do you follow? all sorts - there are certain things that put me off following blogs (I won't share them for fear of being a massive bitch) but if a blog doesn't stray into any of those territories then I'm happy to follow - having said that I mainly fall into the camps of crafty, vintage, fashion and interior blogs .
3. Favourite make-up brand? hhhmmm I'm divided between Laura Mercier and Mac!
4. Favourite clothing brand? I only really buy vintage/charity shops so I don't really have a favourite brand, having said that I did recently discover Lazybones via Leah Dent's Pinterest - totally out of my price range but totally beautiful!

5. Your indispenable make-up product? Nail varnish - I am obsessed with having my nails painted. I just discovered having gel nails done at my local nail place, I had red glittery nails for Christmas and I love it - although present thriftyness may lead to that one being scrapped!
6. Your favourite colour? Does floral print count?
7. Your favourite perfume? changes all the time - I wear orange by Marc Jacobs most days...

8. Your favourite film?
Even though it's January and I should be over Christmas Elf is still the best film I've ever seen. fact!

9. What country would you like to visit & why? There are lots of countries I'd like to visit but recently I have been hankering after the good old Lake District -doesn't strictly count I know but it's where I'd like to go next...

10. Are you a cat or dog person? full on dog person (this is a very difficult subject for me as the husband is seriously allergic to animals - I had to seriously consider my love for him when I found that little gem out!)

an attempt at a new years post

2011-01-04T22:05:00.001Z

I have been trying to write a resoultions post for days. Days! But I can't.

(via pinterest)

This year we have made huge poo* your pants scary plans.

They are exciting.
I am excited.
But they are life plans and this year is our prep year and that sucks.
We have to save money and be sensible for a little bit longer and I'm finding that really, really hard.
Have I ever mentioned I have no patience?!

So what to do now. I think (and I find this really hard) we just have to knuckle down and not particularly enjoy our day lives for the next year. I've been doing it for five years already so what's another one, right?

*first time I've mentioned poo on the blog - happy new year!!

I have developed an obsession...

2010-12-30T20:58:00.000Z

with these shoes. I spotted them on James (Bleubird Vintage) a while ago and immediately pinned them to my pinterest board to save for later.

and now Elsie (a Beautiful Mess) has them in brown - I'm not sure I can stop myself much longer...

and no neither the fact that I won't be able to walk in them or the fact that they are by Jessica Simpson is enough to put me off - now I just need to find myself £65...

P.S if anyone wants an invite to pinterest please let me know I still have 5 to give out - just email me using the link on the right.

Scenes from our Christmas....

2010-12-25T10:43:00.001Z

Have a very lovely day all of you!!!

whoop! whoop!

2010-12-21T16:40:00.000Z

Our wedding is featured on Ruffled today...

Which means (despite the fact that you're probably all bored of it by now) I can start to blog the wedding now!!

Snowy slow day

2010-12-18T19:46:00.002Z

I am currently sat in my increasingly warm lounge drinking a large glass of Chablis (on special offer from Sainsburys - as soon as it stops snowing you should go and get some), listening to a Simon and Garfunkel record, the husband is boning a chicken in the kitchen (have I mentioned his love of butchery before?) in preparation for the curry he's going to make, we have just finished making some cranberry and fig chutney, later I will make some Clementine and Cointreau Curd and then tomorrow some fudge. Yep I'm having a good day!

P.S. I came across this picture of Mr Seeds and Stitches (my brother) attacking Mr Baby and Wool whilst looking for snow-related photos - check out that mammoth snow ball!

My new best friend...

2010-12-12T18:28:00.001Z

...is this amazing mug - a birthday present from one of my favourite people. I'd actually wanted one since my eccentric English A Level teacher had one (she once set fire to the paper her husband was reading because he wasn't listening to what she said)

It's brilliant because I love my tea but I constantly forget about it - but the lid keeps my tea warm and cosy until I remember it's there.

to a lovely boy...

2010-12-06T15:14:00.002Z

(image shamelessly stolen from Facebook - taken by one of the Silverwoods)

whos birthday it is today. Happy day to you lovely sir. I hope your boring day wasn't too bad, one day all our days will be adventures I promise.

p.s how did you get so old?

Speaking of dream lives...

2010-12-01T15:58:00.001Z

via The Selby

this New York roof top farm has got to be pretty high up there...

(also - thank you for all the comment on my last post - I had no idea it was such a common reaction to marriage, but it is very nice to know. If anyone has any advice on being brave and taking the jump (or even small steps) into what they want to do it would be much appreciated!)

Reflective

2010-11-28T17:00:00.009Z

(little me on our roof terrace on honeymoon - looking at this picture makes me feel warmer!!)

I had a weird day yesterday. The husband was out (doing ultra manly pursuits like watching football and playing poker) so I had the whole day to myself. I'd planned to be super productive - I have a huge amount of dresses to alter, washing up to do and furniture to fix - but instead I spent the day sitting and thinking.

Being married has had a funny affect on both me and my new husband. Day to day nothing has really changed. We still act like a pair of 4 year olds most of the time, we still spend most of our time watching DVDs, cooking/brewing beer/eating (him) looking at dresses on Etsy/sewing/generally fannying about/eating (me). But being married has made me feel more determined. More determined to be brave with what we decide to do - Do I want to work in a job I really love? Do I want to do something more creative? Do we want to leave London and grow our own veg? Hell yes we do! and for some reason being married has made me more determined to actually do these things.

Currently neither the husband or I are very good at the kind of bravery a life like this requires. We are excellent dreamers - we have a thousand plans but we also like our safe monthly income. So today I've just been thinking about how we get there. At the minute it seems too huge and unattainable but we are making moves, slowly.

In the mean time this always cheers me up

I can't but you can...

2010-11-16T13:39:00.000Z

Here are some dresses on Etsy/Ebay that I love but don't fit into/can't afford...please buy them...I'd like to know they are being looked after.

The Greedy Seagull

Penny Dreadful Vintage

Forever Lovely Vintage

Pretty aren't they!

I'm having a bit of a middle class dilemma recently about where I buy my vintage clothes from - I have friends who (for environmental reasons) don't ship anything over from the US. However because vintage is currently very much in fashion (thank you Mad Men!) prices of UK vintage seem to be soaring (Jenny wrote a very good post about it on her blog Yesterday Girl). This means that buying affordable vintage without shipping it over is getting harder and harder - plus the US has some amazing stuff - especially from the 50s (my personal favourite!). I'm starting to think I'll just limit myself to a few items a year - or am I over thinking it all...any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Casa Makes Do

2010-11-14T17:32:00.004Z

I loved that when Emma came to our flat she took pictures of it! My photos never seem to capture the flat properly. So here it is - starting with the living room...

and our bedroom...what you can't see from this photo is moments before I had whipped down the sheet that hangs up in our window, it's held up by two bottles of toner (until I finally get round to putting up a proper curtain).

I also find it really funny that both Lynne and Emma mentioned the organ in the bedroom in their posts - I hate that bloody organ - it might look cool but it is a massive hunk of useless (broken) furniture! It looks better in the pictures believe me!

And finally a couple of quick looks at our messy morning of the wedding kitchen...lovely little brother doing the washing up!

Dammit...

2010-11-09T11:41:00.001Z

Why did Emily Peacock and Rob Ryan have to go and team up - don't they know what that means!!

(Source: Emily Peacocks Etsy shop )

They may as well have reached into my bank account and taken the £65 out themselves - I'm defenseless!

P.S I hope to do some more substantial posts over the next few days - but taking photos with the lack of evening light is proving very difficult. I'm desperate to talk more about the wedding, do updates on the house, show you some amazing dresses I bought over the weekend and finally reveal the big blanket. In the mean time you could always pop over to Tea for Joy where the lovely Lynne has posted pictures of our house!

A little bit of help please...

2010-11-07T16:27:00.000Z

A few months ago now we were given four amazing teak dining chairs from the husband's Aunt....

Never one to shirk an opportunity to cover something in chintz I really want to cover the black seats a la Orla Kiely and Dottie Angel...

(Source: Apartment Therapy)

(Source: Dottie Angel)

The husband says no.

What do you think? Is it terrible to change them in any way?

Polaroid Week

2010-11-05T13:47:00.001Z

Today is the last day of the bi-annual Polaroid week.

(Polaroid taken by me in New York almost 6 years ago - look how young Miss Seeds and Stitches was!)

The flickr pool is totally worth a peruse for instant photo goodness - as is the blog Hula Seventy - the author of which; Andrea, I have a huge I want to be your friend please crush on.

We did it...

2010-11-03T14:56:00.001Z

I am officially a Mrs - I will be doing some recaps, showing you more photos and generally getting my life/blog in order over the next week or so.

In the meantime go to our amazing photographer; Emma Case's blog to see some of the pictures - if you are getting married (and she is available!) book this amazing lady - she is the very bestest!

Edit: it's also my birthday today - I keep forgetting with all of these wedding shenanigans!

not long...

2010-09-21T14:08:00.000+01:00

I'm sorry I'm not blogging more. I don't so much mean that as an apology to the internet - but more I'm sad I'm not blogging more.

One day I will be a better blogger - it's one of my ambitions! In fact PD and I plan on spending much of our honeymoon planning and dreaming and writing 'life lists' - blogging will definitely be on there!

So what am I saying? - that once this wedding is over (3 and a half weeks people) I will be back.

Nonsense...

2010-08-24T13:52:00.000+01:00

Sorry for the absence - the wedding chill has become more of a wedding - er i don't know - something less chilled. It's not as bad as it was. There was a copius amount Rescue Remedie being consumed a month or so ago Today the last of the invites go out and then really there are very few things that are absolutes still to be done, so hopefully things will feel a little calmer - as long as our families don't break out the crazy! So far they have been absolute peaches - so fingers crossed!

(Image via WeHeartIt)

But that's not what I opened blogger to write. What I wanted to write is that weddings make you bat sh*t crazy! I have spent the last 3 lunch times looking for table number holders, which it would appear cost £5 each (if you don't want nasty ones) and I need 12 of them - that's £60! That's more than I spent on one of my Bridesmaids dresses! I've been searching high and low for a cheaper but still pretty alternative. Then it suddenly occured to me that I can just attach the damn things to sticks and put them in the vases. The fact that this came as a revelation to me is proof that I have looked at far too many wedding blogs and need to re-assess my life!

If you go down to the woods today...

2010-07-04T20:04:00.000+01:00

PD is feeling a little down at the minute - a long time of really not liking his job has been getting a little much, so in a bid to cheer him up we have been doing some of his favourite things. Number 1 on the list; foraging. We haven't done this before but PD is obsessed (OBSESSED!) with all things food related and as a keen worshipper of Sir Hugh of Fearnley-Whittingstall, foraging is something we have both wanted to do for ages. So last weekend we took ourselves off to some local green places. Firstly we went a nearby cemetery...

The only thing we found here were nettles - PD braved the stings so we could bring some home! We also noticed that there were loads of brambles around which will hopefully be full of blackberries by the autumn - so we will be returning...

We then went to a wood a little further from home (still in South East London don't get me wrong - we weren't feeling that adventurous). We were mainly looking for mushrooms but

a. apparently it is really hard to find mushrooms unless you really know what you are looking for

b. we suspect it is the wrong time of year

c. the wood we went too seems to have been very well groomed - and possibly sprayed with nasty things which may keep mushrooms at bay.

Just as we were leaving a little downhearted, we stumbled across a huge elderflower bush, which we proceeded to pick about 12 heads from.

When we got home PD made a delightful nettle pesto which we had with some tagliatelle. But the best thing was, by far, our last find of the day: the elderflower. Before I go into this - has anyone else got/seen this book? Forgotten Skills by Darina Allen?

It is properly AMAZING! Full of all sorts of amazing from scratch recipes. From it PD made Elderflower Fizz (here it is under a chair in the spare room doing whatever it does in the two weeks it takes to bubble up - not looking too bubbly yet so we'll see if it works...)

PD also made Elderflower syrup (which has been something of a revelation - he's done a ginger one since). I don't have any pictures of the syrup but I will share the ridiculously simple recipe:

450 g Sugar
600 ml (1 pint) Water
8 Elderflower heads

Dissolve the sugar in the water, add elderflower and bring to the boil, then leave too cool - the syrup keeps in the fridge for weeks. To drink, add it to home-made lemonade (juice of 3 lemons, 225ml of the syrup plus 700 ml of water). Add ice cubes - trust me it is so good.

I should say at this point that elderflower is a bit on the wane at this time of year - but you may be able to find some still around!

Pretty Handy; a sneak peek

2010-06-20T22:19:00.001+01:00

I'm sure many of you have seen this on Hannah and Fay's blogs, but never the less I am pleased to report that this week our newly formed craft collective had our first ever stall at a real life market. Now I should confess straight away, that while I will be making stuff to sell at following markets (and online once we get there) this time, not a stitch was mustered by these fair hands (due to a crazy work month). I did manage to bring along some vintage wares to be sold and the girls did a marvelous job at making bunting, little shoes, hair grips, fabric bags and knitting needle cases (amongst other things) - our stall was quite the pretty sight. Well done ladies!!

Keep your eyes peeled for more events and some form of online presence from us - to which I promise to contribute! Yay!

A new project...

2010-06-17T20:38:00.003+01:00

Have you seen this totally amazing series of family photos, taken over 30 years? I have become slightly obsessed with it!!

“On June 17th* every year, my family goes through a private ritual: we photograph ourselves to stop, for a fleeting moment, the arrow of time passing by”

- Diego Goldberg, Buenos Aires, Argentina

SUCH an amazing idea, (via Marvelous Kiddo) be sure to visit the more up to date version here, where you can also watch a brief video, and see the start of the eldest son's own family version too.

PD and I love it so much we have started our very own today - which of course happens to be June 17th too!!

Wedding Weekly...

2010-06-08T16:00:00.002+01:00

What is exciting me right now? SO many things! I think for the first few months of planning I was more nervous than excited; nervous about everyone looking at us, nervous that people wouldn't understand the choices we have made, really nervous that the day wouldn't be how I hoped. But recently I have started to really enjoy it all. We have been so lucky so far (I may be cursing this - quickly touch wood Ray, touch wood!) - Family members have been amazingly supportive and undemanding, venues have slotted into place and been lovely and flexible with what we want, my dress was found on the first day we looked and was bargainous to boot, bridesmaid dresses just happened to be on sale, I really could go on. It's almost been funny - especially when I hear how crazily stressful some weddings are...

I really don't mean to be at all gloatey - this post is more of a thank you. A thank you to PD, who has been brilliant and has been involved every step of the way, and then to 'Team Wedding' who have endured meet ups and endless emails about tiny details (bless them all!!) I haven't felt like a stereotypical bride who is responsible for it all for one minute, and I hope so far I have avoided any bridzilla tendencies...although others may have a different opinion! I realise we still have 4 months to go but even if it is hell from this point on we've still done pretty well!

So yes, now I am just full on super dooper excited! I'm really looking forward to being married, to being a Mrs to my Mr! I have been thinking about this whilst looking at old wedding photo's on the V&A Museums wedding fashion site.

This website is amazing!!

I have been pouring over the pictures and imagining that the couples are all still happily married or have died in one another's arms, whilst sleeping, surrounded by their families, dogs, cats and goldfish (probably not the case but don't mess with my happy place!)

Find more here

Recently I have...

2010-06-06T19:38:00.001+01:00

Bought this set of botanical prints for just £5...

Been to an ace wedding with an excellent Disco Ball

Enjoyed the longer evenings and watching our window boxes grow...

Almost sung Karaoke for the first time and then chickened out, but thoroughly enjoyed watching my friends sing in my place...

Become obsessed with my new dream car (still can't drive though)...

Lusted after this bike...

And lastly...drum roll please...I have been putting together the big blanket of my dreams. Here's how it looks so far...

I am still here...

2010-06-04T11:24:00.000+01:00

Just distracted by the real world - I will try and get to blogging (my 100th post no less) over the weekend.

In the meantime here is a view from my morning walk to work...

this goes without saying really...

2010-05-06T13:39:00.002+01:00

but never-the-less...VOTE, VOTE VOTE!

(image via weheartit)

xxx

Especially loving...

2010-05-06T13:33:00.000+01:00

rainbows at the moment...

(image via Modern Kiddo)

Image via the bean and the bear: seesaw: flour vintage)

(Image via Feeling Stitchy)

(image via Smile and Wave)

Wedding Weekly

2010-05-04T21:20:00.002+01:00

(Uh oh...it's already fortnightly...)

So number two on my list of things to be excited for is the music, the music and the dancing!!

PD and I are putting together our own play list, so far this has been really good fun, plus it's something we can both be involved in which has led to hours on Spotify shouting songs at each other, usually followed by embarrassing attempts at dancing on the sofa to said songs.

We have decided to ask our friends for their 'top five songs that would absolutely make you strut your stuff (even if you are not normally the dancing sort)' and then we plan to use these songs to make a kick arse playlist all of our very own.

Here are some of my favourites so far (in no particular order)...

1. Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

2. Poison - Bel Biv Devoe

4. 9 to 5 - Dolly

4. Dancing with Myself - Billy Idol

5. Push it - Salt and Pepper

and then, you know, lots of way cooler trendy stuff, which is really what I listen to on my ipod when you can't hear me. Yep the rumours that I can sometimes be found listening to a cocktail of Van Halen and Girls Aloud on repeat are viscious and untrue!!...probably...

I'd love to know your top 5, and I will put any suggestions to the hubby to be (who is WAY less tolerant of cheesy pop than I am) - I'm seriously battling with for some of the/my more shameful selections to make the cut!

can we talk about...

2010-04-26T12:31:00.000+01:00

how much I would like one of these dresses from Folksy seller Dig For Victory...

yep if just one of them could find their way into my wardrobe that would be marvelous!

A few things that float my boat in the real world...

2010-04-25T17:41:00.000+01:00

Bloody Spring mainly...

floating my internet boat this month...

2010-04-23T12:16:00.001+01:00

Notting Hill shop Summerill and Bishop have opened an online shop, their stuff is beautiful...I really want a wooden ironing board...not that I ever iron...

Artemis's new sewing shed - it's beautiful!

The Early Bird Specia l embroidery classes

Fay's new blog and her super cute shoes for her baby Florence

This lovely wedding from Once Wed - amazingly cool!

(Image via Once Wed)

A new blog (to me) this week has been Progressive Pioneer, I've been getting more and more into Homeopathy, and PD and I are also increasingly interested in sustainability and all that jazz, her blog covers all of that sort of stuff and more (thanks Han for the recommendation!). I'm ever so excited about making this dairy free banana bread...

(image via Progressive Pioneer)

Just one final thought....

(link)

Haha! xx

Herbalicious...

2010-04-15T14:24:00.003+01:00

Over the last couple of weekends PD and I have adopted ourselves a little herb garden.

PD is a an excellent and somewhat obsessive cook. I get seriously amazing meals cooked for me almost every night (for example you know when it snowed? Most people probably cracked themselves out a soup, or maybe a little pasta and pesto - my boyfriend cooked mackerel and beetroot balls with a remoulade (posh coldslaw). Yep on snow day!) I am a very lucky girl to say the very least.

So it's fair to say we use a lot of herbs in this household. We were super excited to start growing some of our own. We bought Flat Leaf Parley, Borage, Tarragon (I'm calling him Terry - he looks a little sad at the moment), Coriander, Garlic, Mint, Chives, Rocket, and Burnet home from Borough Market last Thursday...

We repotted them and set them out on the window sill, complete with name tags

(so that when I'm asked to grab some 'borage' I know which one to head for)

They are loving the sunshine at the minute and have already grown quite a bit from these pictures - next stop is to grow some veg on our other window sills, come pay day I'm going to get myself this book, which will hopefully give me some pointers (I have no idea where to start)..

P.S I have been slower than I hoped in sorting out this little blog, I will get to it - just a little busy with wedding planning etc! x

Winter slump restored....

2010-03-28T17:58:00.001+01:00

This year was the first year (I think) where I've really noticed the seasons! Writing that down makes me realise how ridiculous that sounds, but I was never one to be too bothered by winter, I didn't mind the cold, the dark and I didn't notice myself feeling particularly unmotivated - until this year! My god I have had the most epic of January slumps, so epic it stretched right through February and seemed to steal half of March.

But no more! This month I have been the the complete opposite of unmotivated - I smelt Spring in the air and I was motivated! It was ace!!

The first inclining of said motivation manifested itself in the buying of a sideboard (with some very lovely engagement money given by my Aunt). I have wanted a sideboard for ages but a. we didn't really have the money and b. I was convinced we didn't have the space.

But last Saturday PD and I spotted a sideboard in the salvage yard up the road for just £50, I couldn't resist any longer! We hot footed it home determined to fit it in to the flat somewhere. We then embarked on what turned out to be a much bigger than expected re-arrange only to move it all back to where it was and at the start. Just our book shelf is in a different place - but my goodness it has transformed the room! I wish I'd taken a before picture now but you'll just have to trust me.

PD and I then spent the rest of the weekend discussing the change and how amazing it was. I'm honestly not sure we discussed anything else.

I am planning more pictures of the flat, but there are a few things I want done first...And you'll be pleased to know we finally started on the spare room!

P.S Granny Square update 82 finished, 28 to go!!!!

go and have a look...

2010-03-24T18:48:00.001Z

...at Seeds and Stitches today (if you haven't already). Hannah has written a post about my engagement, including the trip to buy the ring!

And so it begins...

2010-03-17T15:07:00.001Z

So now that I'm engaged (have I mentioned that?) I'm afraid there may be times you just have to humour me when it comes to wedding gushing! I will try not to bombard my blog with wedding fever but some things are too good not to share.
These are from a lovely blog I recently discovered (via Green Wedding Shoes) called The Loveliest Day. They were taken by Josh Goleman - an amazing photographer by all accounts!! See the rest of the wedding here.

(Images: Josh Goleman)

Sweet mercy they AMAZE me!!

Jealous!

2010-03-15T14:44:00.002Z

I love blogs, I really do but sometimes I get ever so jealous of other peoples thrift/charity shop/flea/junk market finds. Especially living in London where the charity shop pickings totally suck!

Recent annoyances include....

Bobo Bun's Vintage hankies, I've wanted some very much like this to make a quilt with for some time...

(image; BoboBun)

I'm desperate for some nice vintage tablecloths (and love the cushion too!)

(Image: Yarning)

Ruby-Ellen always has excellent luck when it comes to flea markets - this blanket is adorable (her girls are pretty amazing too!!)

(Image: Cakies)

Rachel from Smile and Wave also has an eagle eye...I love everything she bought in this trip!

(Image: Smile and Wave)

So yes while I congratulate the ladies on their excellent findings I admit I'm jealous! But I love knowing the stuff that can be found, and I like to think I do fairy well on occasion myself!

Currently on my list of wants

- White vintage tablecloths, with floral patterns

- Quilts

- Blankets

- Tapestries

- Vintage sheets

- A Brownie camera

- Vases

- Jars

- Floral candlesticks

- Plates for my wall

- Globes

Let's see how I do...

My new camera...

2010-03-04T14:31:00.000Z

arrived yesterday...

Not sure there is any need for three pictures - but is ever so pretty! I'm going to run off in my lunch break to get some film.

what happens now...

2010-03-03T20:34:00.003Z

(EDIT - warning: I'll be honest on reflection this blog post is a little boring,,,I have no real excuse other than I have been focusing on the proposal situation for a while and all the normal things have been forgotten, bear with me...)

I feel like I've been in limbo for the last month, knowing the proposal was coming but not knowing when seemed to make me ~~a little~~ a lot cockoo!!

Now I feel ever so behind...

I must sort out our spare room - which we have barely touched since we moved in in October! It currently looks like this...(oh the shame)

Hopefully we will get to it this weekend or even tonight or maybe I'll just carry on sitting here...this is much more likely!

I left my crochet stuff at a certain someone's house - and so the blanket is feeling neglected - I can tell! There are also a few projects I want to try and get right crochet wise. I'm still not so great at the working in circles thing, each time I try I seem to get a different number of stitches - always very different to the pattern I thought I was following! This is a nightmare when you are trying to make booties for example and they come out VERY different sizes...

I now have 4 Holga films that need printing!

also my nails need painting! I fear they are distracting people from my ring!

and then of course there is the small matter of planning a wedding, which is likely to take place in October! Lordy!

The whole story...

2010-03-01T20:47:00.003Z

The proposal was based on my favourite Rob Ryan print (the one that hangs in our hall...)

So PD arranged for me to have the day off work (crafty) and we ran away to the sea - eating handmade sandwiches on the train...

we arrived in Whitstable and spent the morning going round charity shops and antique shops (he knows me so well!)

Then we had a wonder around the town and walked along the sea front...

When we got to a nice stretch of beach, we found some shelter and PD produced a rug for us to sit on and some champagne for us to drink...(we drank the whole bottle and got very giggly!)

Then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him!

The end...

The waiting is over....

2010-03-01T10:18:00.002Z

I can now say it - PD asked me to marry him on Friday!! Below is the ring he picked for me! I love it!!

I'll do a post about the proposal tonight - it was lovely!!! the boy done good!

I would like my next collection to consist of...

2010-02-23T11:44:00.005Z

...typewriters please.

Picture credits ; Green Wedding Shoes, Smile and Wave, We Heart it, We Heart it again and Skippy Designs

I knew this would happen!

2010-02-21T21:20:00.003Z

I haven't even got my first Holga pictures back and yet I can't seem to stop myself buying more toy cameras...

I found one of these at a Market for 50p...

and I've just ordered this Polaroid camera that I hear takes Fuji film...

I don't know what's come over me (other than my ever present compulsion to collect things - honestly I can't just have one of anything!)

P.S No news yet on the waiting!!!

Waiting...

2010-02-16T11:21:00.003Z

(image from We Heart It)

I'm waiting for something to happen. Something I can't talk about yet - but my goodness I'm more impatient than I ever realised!!

Today's Market Joys!

2010-02-06T14:33:00.001Z

This morning I brought home..

My favourite find for the day was this embroidery set - untouched and still with all of the embroidery thread!! I've been keeping an eye out for something similar for ages!

Not a bad day!

It's arrived!

2010-02-05T14:32:00.001Z

My new toy!! I'm excited in a way I cannot currently express (because I am at work...)

(bought from Holgaramma)

P.S I really did listen to the advice given regarding various lomo cameras in my previous post - I looked at the LC-A but my little pockets can't quite stretch that far at the minute - so I decided to go for a Holga to start and if I become a committed follower I will invest further!

Subversive Cross Stitch

2010-02-04T13:08:00.002Z

I discovered these via Mr X Stitch (which incidently I discovered via Feeling Stitchy) anyway I digress...I love them!

see the Subversive Stitches Flickr group here and visit the Etsy shop here

Pretty Beds

2010-01-26T13:32:00.000Z

I'm feeling a bit off today - bit ill, but not really ill - if that makes sense (it might just be a touch of the Januarys). Anyway I've been thinking about my bed a lot and stumbled across this ever so inspiring Flickr album called Making the Bed.

Note to self: Must find more vintage bed linens.

a new obsession...

2010-01-21T20:27:00.005Z

I have been planning this post for the last week and then the lovely Amelia asked me about the camera I use and I noticed that Polaroid are officially back and so the timing felt all so very correct.

Recently I have been experimenting with the photo's on my blog a little. I have loved taking Polaroids for a long time - I'm not an amazing photographer but I find Polaroids can be very forgiving. Despite this I wasn't one of the clever charlies who bought up lots of film before Polaroid stopped producing it- silly Ray! And then, unsurprisingly, I was unwilling to pay the crazy prices for film that are now charged. And so I have been without my trusty Polaroid for a long time now!

(these are real polaroids no cheating app applied!)

I have the Polarize app on my iphone which filled some of the void (most of the more recent pictures on my blog have been taken using this) But recently (via recommendations from a few friends) I have discovered that there are many, many more toy camera apps to be found on my trusty mobile telephone.

So in answer to your question Amelia, I take the photo's on the following apps

Camera Bag - has various options which are immitations of Holga's, Lomo's etc

Hipstomatic - based on a toy camera released in the 80's, you can find out more about the original camera here - it has a very cool story. This is probably my favourite and gives some amazing results - it makes the most mundane things seem interesting...PD hanging our new mirror for instance...

Best Camera - which has various filters and sizing options and can turn a picture like this

into this...

All of this has made me want to start using some real toy camera's (I feel a new hobby coming on!!)

(clockwise - Holga, Blackbird, Diana+ and Holga Lomo)

Come February's pay I plan to invest in one of these - Does anyone have any advice on these, I'm thinking of a Diana to start with or may a standard Holga...

P.S I have a question - Will the revival of Polaroid mean I'll be able to buy reasonably priced 600 film again??

car booty

2010-01-18T13:39:00.000Z

PD and I have spent most this weekend at car boot sales and markets - we didn't get a huge haul but a few lovely things found their way back with us...

We got up very early on Saturday and along with four friends headed to what turned out to be a very rainy car boot in Wimbledon - most of the stall holders had (cleverly) decided not to bother but we did come back with this art deco mirror which will be going in our hallway. Apparently this will give the illusion of space (our hallway is tiny, I'm not sure anyone's going to be fooled!)

On Sunday the two of us went to the Battersea car boot - at PD's suggestion (somehow I managed to find myself a man who enjoys trawling through markets (almost) as much as I do). It was a much nicer day than Saturday, and so much busier, but we came back with some good stuff...I was looking for table linen and candlestick holders but as usual came back with crockery and a dress! Total spend only £10!

This blog hasn't really reflected my love for vintage dresses so far, I will try and remedy that in the next few weeks...

I made this...

2010-01-17T19:36:00.000Z

This is a little late but here are some more of the things I made for christmas time...

some crochet bunting

A couple more camera embroideries from this pattern

I've had a lovely weekend of markets and car boot sales (plus an impromptu hat party!!) More tomorrow...

yet another day indoors

2010-01-13T20:50:00.001Z

I've been poorly this week, and so haven't left the house since Saturday (other than a short excursion to the Anthropologie sale - at which I was very restrained!!) the rest of the time I have been feeling very sorry for myself sat on the sofa watching Lost (I have watched a whole season in 3 days). I was feeing so dodgy I only managed to crochet 3 squares all weekend! Yesterday I started to feel better and I was all excited that tomorrow I would be seeing actual people (albeit at work) and then this morning it only bloody snowed...again! I called in, I tried to get a bus when the train system collapsed, I really did (very unusual behaviour on my part) But my boss told me to stay at home. So yet again I sat on the sofa...

But today I wanted to be a little more productive. Before Christmas I bought this pattern from Kitschy Digitals (run by Danielle of the Thompson Family blog) I made a few for my brother for Christmas and am yet to finish a few more for some special people (seriously late Christmas presents!!) So i thought i'd better get a move on!

So I sellotaped the picture and the fabric to my lounge window (a cheaper version of a lightbox recommended by Pip)

and traced the pattern with my seriously amazing air erasable pen!

Then I started using what I believe is called a backstitch...and quite a few hours later here it is all finished...

I really enjoyed doing it (partly because embroidery makes me feel like I'm in Cranford - which I have seriously become obsessed with!) I cannot draw for shit but I am going to be keeping an eye out for more things that I can use this method for, I want some in my own home!

Just wait...

2010-01-12T21:11:00.001Z

(image Cori Kindred)

Sometimes I find it really hard to just enjoy the moment ('live in the now' as they say in Wayne's World). I really must try harder to breathe and relax!

to cheer anyone up...

2010-01-06T11:39:00.000Z

...who like me didn't get a snow day! This brightened my morning a little...

(from Marc Johns)

to do...

2010-01-05T12:40:00.002Z

Rather than resolutions which can sometimes be a lttle abstract I like my resolutions to be actual tasks. Here are my top ten...

1. Make a quilt out of the stash of fabric rescued form a beautiful haberdashery from my home island, which is sadly to close after 100 years of trading.

2. Finish Granny Square Blanket Number 1 - I am aiming to have this done by March!!

3. Go to Ardingly and buy some lovely furniture.

4. Make blinds for the Lounge - I really like these from Nicole's (Making it Lovely) kitchen, but I have a slight variation in mind, using more floral fabric - surprisingly!

5. Crochet a cushion or two

(image via lovingthevintage)

(typically I have forgotten where this image is from - I think I found it on flickr)

6. Go on some proper holidays - Turkey is being planned with the family, PD and I were also thinking of Amsterdam for a long weekend, any other recommendations welcome - only stipulations are that they have good markets and good food!

7. Find some rugs for the lounge, currently we have very nice wooden floorboards - but I do feel bad for our neighbours downstairs! - all the best (affordable) rugs seem to be in America - including these from the US Urban Outfitters - Their Urban Outfitters is WAY better than ours for house stuff by the way!

8. Make some poofs - I have had the pattern for the Amy Butler one in the first picture for a very long time (and may have even blogged about it before) and have just discovered this crocheted one from Pickles - they are yet to upload the pattern for the bigger version but am very excited to see it when they have...

9. Start making Christmas gifts/decorations earlier. I am particuarly taken by this crochet wreath pattern I just bought from Etsy.

10. This is an important one - Ensure that my crochet obsession adopted in 2009 does not lead to a crochet themed house in 2010, despite the number of crochet themed resolutions I have just made...

Accomplished...

2010-01-04T21:12:00.001Z

Today is hands down the worst day of the year - the first Monday back to work - hideous! I have got very little done today - although I did find some very nice crochet patterns whilst sat at my desk (oops!).

On reflection I had a lovely Christmas - I say on reflection because while in the throws of the season it can feel a little stressful. My very favourite part was spending a whole week at home with PD pottering about the flat to the sounds of our new digital radio (which has been locked on 6 Music from the day we got it!) The flat is slowly starting to take shape, and will be ready for pictures soon - there is still some tinkering to be done though. I had a hefty list of things to get done over the break and while I managed to get a few done some of the bigger bits are yet to come...

Already done - Fixing the quilt given to me by the lovely Hannah around 5 years ago. It had gotten a little shabby so I added a new panel and fixed a rip or two...

All this was done whilst drinking peppermint tea from my new cup and saucer (a marvelous Deptford Market find).

I have completed the 46th square (of 122 - I had thought I was doing 111 all together, but I remeasured and it's definitely 122!) for my blanket. You can see from the picture that the pile has really grown since I last posted an update on it.

(November - 16 squares)

(January - 44 squares)

I also finished some of the craft projects I needed to do for Christmas. Some friends are still waiting but I promise it won't be long! I will save the rest for another post but here is a sneak peak - a backgammon board I made for PD. The pattern is from the Meet Me at Mike's book. Pip's book very much like her blog is very inspiring - I recommend it a lot! I even used the same fabric they use in the book - it's part of the things I bought from Beyond Fabrics - and gave me an excellent reason to get it.

And lastly I have started a crochet project for a certain blogger's bump (we are friends in real life too). I'll post that when it is all finished and recieved...

Sisters crafting - Part 3

2009-12-04T20:02:00.001Z

The afternoon has brought baubles, baubles and wine, baubles and wine and cake.

We started with super cheap nasty silver pound shop baubles, we watered down PVA glue, and covered them with soggy, dripping fabric.

Han went for a patch work approach where as mine were covered in the remnants of some of my favourite fabrics. It was lovely to use some of the scraps I've saved because I couldn't bare to part with them. Here are the result...

We had an amazing day - I had hoped to get more presents finished (!) but I will be continuing into the evening. But first PD is creating an amazing dinner for me - he brought home chesnuts, squid and my favourite turkish bread, i presume they are for different courses!?

Sisters crafting part 2

2009-12-04T16:09:00.002Z

Check Seeds and Stitches for an update

We are on to the wine now...

More to come before the day is through...

sisters crafting it for themselves

2009-12-04T13:02:00.007Z

(sisters-in-law to be precise....)

Hannah and I are spending the day at my house,making Christmas presents and decorations,

below are our started projects - Han's busy sticking together a paper garland made from old wallpaper...

While I'm making a crocheted christmas garland for my fire place (with patterns from Attic24 and Royal Sisters)...

We are planning to cover some baubles with various bits of material and paper, and carrying out various experiments with fabric scraps. We'll blog our progress as the day goes on...although there has been talk of wine once it gets to a more acceptable hour so we'll see how it goes!! Check here and Seeds and Stitches for a progress report.

A quick blanket update...

2009-11-26T22:56:00.006Z

I have been working hard on Christmas presents none are entirely finished yet - although there is definite progression. But I have still managed to fit in the odd blanket granny square. I was very excited tonight to discover they take up all of the coffee table...

That's all...Granny squares complete; 24, 86 to go...

a royal occasion

2009-11-14T19:13:00.006Z

I arrived for my Liberty shopping trip last Saturday a little early, so I had 20 minutes to look at the Christmas windows before they would let me in the shop. I spent about 15 at the Viviene Westwood window.

At the risk of outing myself as even more of an eccentric - I have a confession - I love royal souvenirs - specifically pre 90's - before all the divorces ruined the dream!. It started quite innocently, as a student I couldn't afford matching mugs, and there were always royal mugs at markets for 50p so I started to collect them. They currently hang in my kitchen...

When my Aunt discovered this she gave me a collection of Royal paraphernalia she had inherited from my Great Grandmother. Most of it is still in boxes from the move, but I have an amazing scrapbook out on the shelves. It seems so odd now that a grown woman would have carefully selected and pasted together such an amazing selection of pictures.

The Queen Mother is pretty much my favourite (I should have included her in my old lady post!) And finally I have a picture given to me by the giver of all gifts - my sister-in-law Hannah. This has pride of place in my lounge...

my my, the weather was angry today!

2009-11-14T18:39:00.011Z

I have been looking forward to today all week; I finally got around to getting all the supplies I need to make the 11 Christmas presents. To do this I had to visit 4 haberdasheries - lovely!

I left a sleepy Pd in bed (isn't he good putting up with all the floral bedding).

and went out into the rain

I dodged being soaked by a number of cars...

And made my way to my first shop; Liberty. Where I bought wool for a scarf I am going to crochet for my aunt (I'm pretty sure she won't read this) I'm going to (attempt) to copy a scarf that Lucy did at Attic24. She hasn't posted the pattern yet but I'm fairly sure I can figure it out...watch this space!

I also bought this wool for a project for a mystery person for Christmas...I love buying new wool!!

And finally something I've wanted for ages. A shower curtain from Anthroplogie. I was given vouchers for my birthday and they gave me the excuse I needed to spend WAY more on a shower curtain than I ever done before! but I love, LOVE it!! Here it is at a number of angles...

I love this little guy!

Here's everything I bought, on the top right and the bottom left are fabrics from Beyond Fabrics that I have been meaning to get for ages. they are going to be used for at least 3 of the Christmas 11. Beyond Fabrics do some wicked stuff and they have an online shop if you're not in London...

I was home by 2pm and with PD at the football I spent the whole afternoon making his 30th birthday present and watching CSI: NY, now he's home (making me homemade goat's cheese, red onion and chorizo pizza!) I'm going to watch strictly and get on with another project. What a day!

Granny Square's update - 18 done, 92 to go...

Christmas 11 - 1/2 done, 10 and 1/2 to go...

a blogging to do list...

2009-11-10T13:58:00.014Z

It seems like such a long time ago I blogged about losing my 'creativity'. I found that in a shared house I never had any time to make stuff, and at the time I hoped that moving into a flat where is was just PD and me would remedy that - well it appears to be working. I have been crocheting non stop! See evidence below...

I have also got at least...(wait I'm counting)...11 handmade projects I want to complete by Christmas -some very simple ones that I can knock up in an afternoon, and others that are a little more adventurous. Obviously I can't talk about these right now (most of their recipients read my blog) but wait until January and I'll post pictures.

However, the presents will only ever be achieved if I can prise myself away from my granny squares...harder than it sounds.

Granny square update: 16 done, 94 to go....

P.S is it ok if I crochet on the train? I feel a little pretentious when I do it - but it seems like such a waste of time not to when I could be sat making one of the many, many squares that need doing. So I have been going ahead, crocheting slightly self consciously, hiding my wool in my bag, worried I'll see someone I know and they will think I'm a wanker - do they think I'm a wanker?

I think I'm going to carry on - it's more frustrating not to! Chin up Ray!

I'm excited about...

2009-11-09T15:15:00.003Z

Two Christmas fete's coming up - The Bust Magazine Christmas Craftacular on Dec 12th - I heard good things about the last fair so am excited to go to this one...

And secondly a local fair!!! To be held at the Honar Oak Pub in Forest Hill (which is just up the road from my house!) Check out the Tea and Make blog for more details!

just quickly....

2009-11-06T12:59:00.011Z

I follow the writer India Knight on Twitter - and I quite love almost every link she posts. She recently started a blog which is well worth looking through. I had to share this one with you...

(Lazy Oaf)

Dot looks brilliant - I wish I could buy one of just her!

identity issues...

2009-11-04T16:24:00.010Z

Since we moved into our flat a month or so ago I've been having a bit of a style crisis...

Traditional Ray = lots of different patterns (largely floral), textures, colours - generally lots of stuff!

(top two images from Katy Elliot (I think) - sorry can't remember the third - bad blogger!)

I still look at these images and love them - but recently I have a desire to have a cleaner, less cluttered look. I have found myself saving images like these...

(via Design*Sponge)

(again not too sure - possibly Design is Mine (sorry I am trying!)

It feels strange because I love them both and am trying to find a way for them to co-exist. I think this a happy medium for now...or does this one come full circle?

(from Thompson Family Life)

P.S I had a lovely birthday on Tuesday, and will take pictures of my present over the weekend. Boyfriend did very well, but I'm getting the rest of my presents tomorrow!

Getting on...

2009-11-02T11:03:00.013Z

I'm a day away from 27. I'm not going to complain about it - but I do think I can finally give up the idea that I'm a teenager - it's only taken 7 years to get used to!

(via Melody Seal)

If anything I'm pleased to be getting nearer to being an old lady (I know it's still some way off). I've always loved old ladies style. The floral dresses, the way they have their hair 'set', their cluttered take on interiors.

My old lady love tends to fall into three categories - the practical ones in florals and cardigans with a granny shopper in tow (in my head they have all sorts in there; knitting, murray mints, probably a grandchild or two).

(via artlickr on Flickr)

The chic, Coco Chanel types - my body shape dictates that I will never be like one of these - but I love how gracefully they carry themselves

(image)

And finally (my favourite) - the eccentrics - I love the way some people's confidence grows with age and I love it when older women embrace colour. In short I LOVE Anna Piaggi (pictured below).

(image)

I have even invested in a granny shopper all of my own recently and I love it! it's so easy to carry all of my heavy groceries in! I know - the glamour!

since i've been gone...

2009-11-01T00:54:00.017Z

...I've become slightly addicted to crochet! I have been learning for the last month - starting when myself and a couple of friends went to the I Knit Weekender in September. While we were there Hannah accosted a very nice lady called Mary who very patiently sat with the three of us going over the basics. We have since done a 2 hour course with Tea and Crafting and voila - I'm obsessed - so much so my little finger may be permanently damaged (I don't use my little finger to crochet I just seem to really tense it while I'm doing it - it's really sore! I'm scared it might turn into some kind of claw!)

(my new wool stash)

I accidently (?) spent all of my (not yet received) birthday money on wool at John Lewis and am aiming to make a blanket as quickly as my fingers can muster. I'm basing it on the one below (from the book Flea Market Style found via Posy). I love how the white (or is it pale yellow?) makes it look more modern and clean than traditional Granny Squares sometimes come off.

(the colours are a lot stronger - my crappy phone picture has made them a little pastelly)

I'm currently 3 squares in and I want the blanket to cover a king size bed, so there a lot of squares still to go! Let's hope the pinky can take it!

It really has been a while...

2009-10-30T10:36:00.007Z

(via Studio Mela)

I apologise for my absence things have been a little different!

I've been deliberating over writing this for some time now...this blog was supposed to be about buying a house during a recession and doing it up on a shoe string - well it turns out buying a house at the moment (or getting a mortgage when you only have a 10% deposit) is really, really hard. Maybe this should have been a little bit more obvious to me...

I'm going to rant - be prepared - basically it seems that some banks want to appear to 'do the right thing' so they offer 90% mortgages - 'yay!' young first buyer thinks - at least someone is! - well actually no they are not - when we had found a lovely little flat, jumped through all of the hoops and signed all the papers; our mortgage was refused for a reason that completely confused our (lovely) mortgage lady and our (equally lovely) Estate Agent. And so totally fed up, PD and I decided to rent! So now we have a very lovely flat, which came about almost instantly (or so it seemed compared to trying to buy somewhere) I will start to post pictures of it as it gets into better shape. I have lots of plans!

I guess this blog will now be about making a rented house your own. The important thing is that we finally have our own space and that is lovely whether we truly own the space or not! In the end I'm pleased we have somewhere! Screw you mortgage providers!

Things I'm looking forward to when we buy our flat

2009-07-17T11:39:00.021+01:00

Phil and I have finally started looking for a flat. Not just on RightMove actually going out and stepping into buildings. It's actually a lot harder (and unsettingly much less exciting) than I thought. I love having a nose around other people's homes - but it turns out that looking for a house is not the same as an episode of Through the Keyhole!!! Instead I walk in and think about money, how we will afford this and that and the gravity of what we are doing - which is boring me! So I am switching my focus to things - all the things I will enjoy once we have done the nasty part and we own a pretty little flat.

I cannot wait to put up the London print I bought on impulse last week (because they had them in stock for the first time that I've seen since they came out)

Putting things in jars - I am ridiculously excited about storing kitchen goods like sugar, spices and pasta in jars - seeing that in writing makes me realise what a proper geek I am!! Love this one I found on Etsy...

A plate wall!! I have longed for a plate wall since I was about 12 - I'm not sure plate walls were acceptable in 1994 but I wanted one anyway! I love Jamie Theakston's royal one (although I'd go for a more eclectic look myself). It is totally worth checking out his whole house here on the LivingEtc site if you missed it in the magazine...

Having my own little garden (fingers crossed)..

(sorry cannot remember where this one is from...)

and planting my very own Hydrangea's...easily my favourite flower.

photo from Moplants

And finally I cannot wait to unpack 'the suitcase' . The suitcase is full of things I have no space for and lives under my bed. Every time I find something at a market or on the internet it goes in the suitcase. I cannot wait to unpack it all - there are things Phil and I were given at Christmas in there!! Highlights include...

Mountain Glasses from Graham and Green (a present from Phil (I haven't even taken them out of their tissue paper yet)

And my beautiful Trixie Delicious Jug (a Christmas Present from my Sister in Law)

Why not try this....

2009-07-15T12:07:00.009+01:00

A couple of weeks ago my friend Emily and I went to the Hammersmith Vintage Fashion Fair (the next one is on the 12th September I believe), I hadn't been before but my goodness I will definitely be going again! It was excellent and I have since become obsessed with going to all of the various fairs that are on at the weekends in this marvellous city. So I have never been to this one and who knows if it'll be any good but I'm going to go and bloody well recommend it anyway - at the very least the very talented etsy seller A Alicia will be there...