Making for Me

Most of the things I make are for selling so it's nice once in a while to make something for myself. I've had this wooden box for a while with the intention of a makeover for it and I finally made some time this week to do just that.

And here's the end result, I used the two different designs from the fabric for the top and the base.

Covering the box didn't take too long, it's that finishing touches that made it into almost a morning's work.

Lace trim with a sparkly button on the front. I added little bun feet which I also trimmed with lace.

Inside I lined it with ditsy rose wallpaper and a rose motif cut from the fabric.

It's now on my coffee table to hide all those necessary bits and bobs - pens, scissors, remote, etc, that are handy to have near but not so pretty to look at.

Here it is in situ, makes the tissue box look a bit plain - that's next in line then!

Tiny Things

I took a plain wooden cutlery tray and spent an enjoyable evening transforming it into something much prettier.

I used a large-scale floral Sanderson paper on the outside and a small-scale "you-know-who" print on the inside - I like the contrast.

These trays are quite inexpensive to buy and can be used for all sorts of storage, on display or in a drawer, not just for cutlery.

With a couple of hooks in the back they are also a more readily available alternative to printers trays for displaying tiny things.

I spent the rest of the evening finding tiny treasure to fill up my tray.

Filling it up was the best part, I have to say that covering it was very fiddly and faffy, not something I'd want to do again in a hurry - though I know I have another three of these trays stashed away somewhere - hope I don't find them soon.

Before I go, I'd like to thank the heavens above for opening up most of the two weeks I've had off, meaning that as well as having to spend more time in the car than out on our break, I haven't been able to get outside to do gardening or painting or just sitting, or any other lovely outdoorsy activities in the past two weeks - Thank You very much! And no doubt, to put the boot in, you will stay firmly closed next week when I am back at work!! But despite your best efforts at sabotage I've had a lovely two weeks off - HA!!!

Zani's Antiques Emporium

If you ever visit Ludlow in Shropshire, you must make a stop at Zani's Antiques Emporium. On our last mini-break, I spent a generous amount of time in there, taking in all the vintage loveliness on offer. They very kindly allowed me to take some photos, which I'd like to share with you.

the outside:


the inside:

It has a very French Brocante feel and there are three floors packed with treasures. With a lot of antique centres you might get one or two really stunning units amongst a lot or ordinaryness, but at Zani's all the units are a treat.

You might have noticed that Mr. Bloom and I have been up to Shropshire a few times for our mini-breaks. This started quite by chance when I was searching the Travelodge website for cheap rooms and Ludlow happened to come up, how lucky for me as that part of Shropshire, as well as being picturesque is a great area for antiquing and I'm always happy to go back there.




Of course, this was back in May so my pictures are quite out-of-date, but fortunately Zani has a website here which is frequently updated with pictures of lovely new stock. Be warned though, it might make you drool!




I'll bet you want to know what I bought - well actually just a piece of fabric, a very lovely one, the blue in the background in this pic. Not that I couldn't have bought half the contents of the shop, but the budget didn't permit, and sometimes just looking is enough.




This weekend Mr. Bloom and I are off on our summer break - we're not going to Shropshire this time (though I wouldn't mind if we were!), Norfolk is our destination, for a change. Finger's crossed for good weather!

Meant to Be!

These were found yesterday - gorgeous bright red stripes. They nearly weren't mine as I had planned to go straight home after work, but decided on a whim to go slightly out of my way and stop in at a charity shop.

As I was deliberating whether to buy them (can you believe that?!) another customer came in and started picking them up for a look, that clinched it, soon after they were mine. It was meant to be!

More red lusciousness on these (in my opinion) stunning rose tablemats.

They could easily have been missed, lying in a box of junk under a table at the car boot, inside their own very plain box. Who would have guessed what was inside (I suspected cutlery and nearly didn't look), but on second thoughts decided to take a peek. They were meant to be too!

They are a bit too small for dinner tablemats and a bit too big for coasters but far too lovely to be kept inside the box. I'm thinking I might create a tile effect with them on the wall above my cooker (after protecting them with varnish), as the space is not tiled.

I'm also thinking it might be a bit OTT - we'll see (maybe it's not meant to be!)

Glimpses of England - Fairford

Being a reluctant townie, I like to get out and about now and again for some country air and open spaces, always on the lookout for thrifting opportunities along the way. After a particularly busy morning on Thursday, I stopped off in the small market town of Fairford in Gloucestershire which has a special meaning since it is where my parents did their courting way back in the days before me.

On a Thursday afternoon it was lovely and peaceful, just a few locals about their business and visitors wandering about. I sat for a while on a bench in the churchyard and soaked in the sun. I noticed this unusual tombstone, for Tiddles the church cat (which died in 1980) - how quaint!

This gate in the churchyard is marked private - wouldn't you just love a peek behind it?

Ha - you can, through a gap in the hedge!

I wouldn't mind living in this pretty house.

Fairford is probably most famous for it's church which is unique in this country for having a full set of original medieval stained glass windows.

Also in the days before me there used to be a junk shop where my mum picked up many bargains to furnish her first home. That shop is long gone now, there is just one charity shop for thrifters. I've just shown just a glimpse of this pretty town - have a look here for more info.

Of course, being out and about means that thrifting opportunities are usually found, here are some things I've picked up this week, standing on a pair of folding steps - a nice small set which I've been on the lookout for ages.

Lovely roses jug and bowl.

Red rosebud hankie and some home-made hatpins.

Colourful embroidered hanky case.

This gorgeous clock smothered in roses, which still keeps perfect time.

It's already in situ, along with the green vase and hatpins.

Have a lovely weekend, hope the sun shines on you!