Car Boot Pillows~Aren't they lovely?

I found these two pillows at a car boot sale last weekend,they were an unusual shape but found two cheap standard pillows filled them beautifully.Now they adorn my bed and I love them.

I really do get the greatest pleasure from stuff that costs hardly anything...maybe in these cash poor days we will all be recycling more...for those of us that have ALWAYS thrift shopped I welcome this! (Cept we dont want the competion do we girls?)

ROYAL ACADEMY

Spent the early part of this week in London visiting friends and galleries/shops.Saw the Waterhouse Exhibition and the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy.Am trying to summon up the energy to emulsion the dining room walls but failing so far,at the moment I just feel tired all the time.

The sofas are now installed in the living room and what a difference it has made,despite the constant vaccumming after MISHA has slept all day on one of the chairs,dratted cat!

It is ages since I blogged and so I have told myself I must keep up! I do still check in on other blogs and marvel at the dedication and inguenity of some of you lovely ladies!

The garden is blooming well now,and the fruits of my labours are showing...the AKTINIDIA looked beautiful this morning bathed in early morning sunlight,I had to rush out and get a photo before the sun decided to disappear.Sieze the day and all that!

I have been out there most evenings when the weather has been good enough,I just love it.Of course it does mean the house starts to look a bit jaded but we get so little really nice weather I feel I have to make the most...hope you are all keeping well and busy.It is the time of year when my mind (like many of yours,I am sure)starts to think of small changes you might make at home...I am set on getting rid of my practical but huge leather sofas in favour of some white slipcovered ones....not sure it is altogether practical with three cats and two sons...does anyone have any advice before I take the plunge?

Roses,Roses and Roses

Anyone who knows me well will know I have a passion for them! In the garden,on cushions,china,and on my walls.I have a growing collection of paintings(not very valuable,except to me)These are my latest,both quite small.Often these paintings were done my women,like myself no doubt! I often wonder at what their lives were like,as most of the paintings do have some age to them.I have decided to take up a painting class myself in the Autumn term and "have a go" at painting roses myself....I wonder if anyone will ponder about my efforts in the future?

My Latest Finds

Ohhh,I got up early this morning and went car booting!

Look what I found.You know when you find something you just LOVE and it costs pennies(even better).This lovely shabby chic lampshade replaces one I was never so keen on and my vintage standard lamp. I just love it to bits.Happy girl.I love looking at all your blogs and seeing what inspires you all...somehow it inspires me more! Hope you all have alovely weekend...she says,sipping her cherry and cinnamon tea and admiring her rosy lamp aglow.

Woke this morning to find the sun streaming into the dining room/study.Beautiful..doesn't it make you feel good to see the play of light on your home and garden?Pity I had no time to sit and while away some time,but have to get off to work pronto.

The rose painting is my latest car boot find..a large oil from the 50s all for £15.The painting is lovely and has great texture too,I am sure it is set to become a real favourite with me."More roses" laughed the boys.Ah well, it is an innocent enough hobby..hurts no one. And my youngest left me a sweet note in the kitchen.He had run out of tracing paper for some design work for school.I had a roll of baking paper that did the job. "love you Mum,"he wrote.I am a happy gal on my way to work.

Some more photos of my lovely garden.I spend as much time as I can out here..love it,love it,love it!

lots of my plants have been sourced at car boot fairs..I hunt them out as well as looking for lovely treasures for our home.

There is nothing like a garden in which to while away the hours,is there?

I had a busy few days in the garden this holiday.I dug out an overgrown messy flowerbed and paved the area,placing pots and a bench there from where I can sit and drink my coffee.It didnt take long and I am pleased with the result..I love my garden but I do need to have it easy to take care of.

The boys helped me dig out the VERY established plants as some of them did not want to move easily.It will be so much easier for me to look after,and I have already drunk coffee(and eaten easter eggs) surveying the garden from the bench.

Just goes to show ..you can do anything you set your mind to!

EASTER BONNETS!

Just to wish you all a Happy Easter.Hope you all have a lovely time with your families.

I have hidden the eggs away for my boys and told them not to buy me any chocolate.Daffs will be nicer.Maybe.Or maybe I will just pinch a bit of theirs.

The garden has kept me very busy so have not posted for a while,though I have been reading other blogs ,some of which I find very inspiring.

At LAST!

Finally got the bathroom finished..it is now girlie heaven...much to my sons' amusement.

This is my first ever attempt at wallpapering and I did a fine job if I do say so and all that.Am so pleased with it.

Working full time and trying to do stuff is just hard work sometimes as a million things seem to get in the way.I am sure you all feel the same way!

Anyway,the satisfaction is all the greater when you do it yourself...though if I win the lottery I will GET SOMEONE IN!

Another busy weekend passes.Had to clear the loft ready for it's being properly insulated.Nothing of any interest up there,so I consoled myself with a trip out on Sunday,after the opening of the MOTHERS DAY cards from my lovely sons...who had both been to Cath Kidston to find me little packages to make me smile.They did.How sweet that they care enough to hang out there,both being boys and well into the age where it is the last place on earth they want to hang out.My day ended with some listing on ebay and a huge bottle of wine with friends...ready for work the next day.The work in the loft still found me tired this morning,but the sight of the pristine loft has lifted my spirits!

It even smells good!

I had a busy weekend,how about you?

Found these lovely "inspirational texts"on ebay USA and just had to have a go!

They are great as they cling to smooth surfaces(even old cottage walls)and you can take them down without marking the walls.It was tricky to get the hang of at first but I am really delighted with the finished result.Now,I must think what I could put in the bathroom....apart from the wall of lovely antique roses wallpaper a la Kidston that is the next job.Have a great week everyone...

Do you love vases too?

One of my all time favourites is this little vase found for just 50p,it has enamelled flowers ona white ground.Since the neck is so small it holds a single bud...often a clipped David Austin rose from my garden...during the winter one of BLOOMs faux roses does duty!

I love Blooms flowers,especially the roses...they are not cheap but they look so good and last forever.Friends and family know they are a favourite "gift" for me so I have now got quite a few.And their sale is brilliant!

Lunch Date

I am going out for a lovely lunch today with a dear friend...will have to watch the menu as I consumed rather too much champagne last night watching THE BRITS! Was really delighted to see Duffy win three wards as ROCKFERRY accompanies me on my early morning drives to car boot sales!

And of course..U2 were on.Had to watch.So we did,and consumed a bottle of champagne and a bottle of wine too.I slept like a log! Am getting too old for drinking too much wine....for sure.But there you go.I will try and avoid it at lunchtime but can't make any promises.

Hope you are all well and having a good day out there in "blogland"

~Favourite Paintings~

A couple of my favourite paintings that I have here at home,both found at car boot sales over the years.I would never part with them...for a few pounds they have given sooo much pleasure.Of course I am hoping that one day I will find a hugely valuable painting...then I can retire!

I ventured out early this morning to tackle the overgrown roses and generally tidy up a little(now rained off!)and found my snowdrops are nodding their snowy white heads ...who doesn't love snowdrops?

The blackbirds sought the opportunity to pester me(nicely!for titbits.Well,I couldn't say "no" could I?

Latest Car Boot Sale Find!

I love this pretty old mirror,found at the last car boot sale I went to.It has replaced the modern "venetian"one that graced the bathroom before...this lovely old one is so much lovelier...with its obvious signs of years of wear and tear......I love how the cottage is constantly evolving...and am really inspired by other like minded girls...

AUG 2008~PERIOD LIVING.

The cottage in all it's glory~what an honour! I love interiors magazines,so this was a real thrill.

Isn't she lovely?

One of my favourite car boot sale finds.Found in August 2008,she lifts my spirits every day.

A corner of the dining room,with car boot sale cupboard doors,and my adored Kate Forman cushions,in ROSES design.

"I long to sit in the garden with the sun upon my face, to feel the warmth like a comforting blanket around my heart...and feel the delight of knowing everything will be okay"

~~~~~~

Todays snapshots

Two snaps of my dining room,with new IKEA striped curtains~Love em!

Junk shop chest of drawers and Madonna...one of my all time favourite "finds"from a car boot,I love her "battered"and soft look.

And Charlie,a neighbours cat who is a frequent (and not always welcome to Mouse!) visitor.He IS beautiful though.

Mine is one of only two gardens in the street of terraced houses and so all the cats gravitate here(the other garden is frequented by the owners dogs and far less hospitable!)I Do love seeing them all,but not so keen on the inevitable clean up job!Bless em!

THINGS I LOVE

My boys,My family and friends,cats (including those that "visit"and hang out)roses,gardens,decorating,car boot shopping,thrift store shopping...ebay(where I sometimes sell treasures that I have no room for due to the constant restyling that is my home!)early morning...birdsong,sunshine,

My garden,my humble treasures!

People who inspire me...

My sons,my Mum, My Sister(Es,I love you)Rachel Ashwell,Cath Kidston,Nelson Mandela,Bono,Barack Obama,and people who never give up.

Home Sweet Home~My Kitchen~Simple Pleasures

Hello ,

My first attempt at blogging..not sure I will be any good at it,but here it goes.

I live in North Yorkshire with my two beautiful sons,in a pretty cottage with a large and charming garden,which keeps me very busy.In addition to the beautiful sons I also have three lovely girls(cats!)...Misha,Mouse and Mazzy.( affectionately known as the M and M's)

I am a huge fan of the shabby chic decorating style and as the name indicates..ROSES,ROSES and MORE ROSES.

I love decorating and styling the rooms in my home,although I have little free time as I work full time too.