Sewing machines and Mary Kay

So firstly here is my adorable new sewing machine, it is sooo cute to look at and sews the most beautiful straight stitch. I bought it from my super nice neighbours who enjoy collecting sewing machines and fixing them up.

OK so I have some big news.... I have joined Mary Kay and have become an independent beauty consultant. I had my debut party last night and it was a lot of fun! I borrowed some vintage cake stands from my wonderful friend Karen to display my product and I had a lot of fun putting it all together.

I joined Mary Kay because I thought it would be an awesome way to make more friends, have fun and make some money of course ;-) so watch this space and I will let you know what happens....

Well I just got back from a country cottage craft and vintage sale and snapped up some precious little treasures so I will take some pictures and share with you tomorrow.
Have a great weekend
xxx

These are a few of my favourite things

It has been a beautiful week the sun has been shining and I have had 3 glorious days off. I thought that I would share with you a few of my favourite things which I have both crafted and found, around my house both old and new.

Firstly here is my tree branch. This is a very simple idea and is most definitely one of my favourite things.

I found the tree branch at my parent in-laws yard. I covered styrofoam ball forms (which you can purchase from and craft store) with strips of fabric and wrapped them until they were completely covered, added a loop of ribbon and as easy as that I had my own customised baubles. From the branches also hangs a tiny bird house, a small metal bird which was a thoughtful gift from my mother in-law and last but not least some wooden letters...

I like to make things personal and sentimental so I bought some plain wooden letters from a craft store of both my husband and I's first initial. I then soaked some old newspaper in tea drenched water to give a vintage appearance, tore it up into little pieces and used it to cover the letters.


Next up is my outdoor table center piece

You quite literally find an old boot and put a plant in it, a great way to recycle and a wonderful garden accessory.

I found this little beauty about a month ago in a salvage yard in the UK and brought it over in my hand luggage! I have not yet decided where to put it on the wall but I know that when I do find it the perfect location that it is going to make a fantastically unique hook.


Well I hope that I have inspired you to think outside the boring box of mass produced overpriced commercial items! make your home unique and personal and fill it with love and happiness.


I could not resist sharing my cute little pumpkins with you one more time.
Hope you have a great day xxx

Bonjour French fancy

So I guess the positive side of having no Internet at home means that you get to escape from the house for a little while and enjoy a little coffee time at your local coffee house. I am sitting in French Press an adorable little coffee house decor ed with sophisticated Eiffel towers and little memories of Europe, O home land how I miss you already!..... anyway there is one coveted table here at the coffee shop which sits in front of a cosy fire and guess what today is my lucky day

Here I am writing to you all sitting in front of the cosy fire drinking some delicious coffee :)

While I'm in the french mood listening to the quirky french music playing in here I thought I'd find a few french etsy treasures. I discovered an adorable little shop 'analogue people' take a look at this beautiful scarf which can be found at http://www.etsy.com/listing/57682236/brand-new-screenprinted-jersey-long



Secondly this tote is to die for and for $19 I want to buy one myself!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/56310371/vintage-carema-screenprinted-canvas-tote


And lastly, this fabulous pocket watch which I think would look beautiful on a side table or hanging off an aged shelf

http://www.etsy.com/listing/56903521/mechanical-steampunk-silver-pocket-watch

I'm back!

Well incase you were wondering yes I am still alive! I am appalled at how long it has been since I last blogged. I sincerely apologize!
So… I am back in Oregon now and fully in the swing of a 5-day workweek… how depressing! Unfortunately I do not have Internet again at the moment but I promise to make every effort to blog at least once a week from now on.

Well fall is in the air and it is beautiful. I just started putting up a few seasonal touches to bring a little fall indoors.





At the moment I am around my girlfriends house and just came across the cutest coasters and thought that I would share a few of the quotes from them with you…
“ When it came to fish and men, her motto was catch and release”

“Who needs Mr. Right? I’m looking for Mr. Right NOW!”

And my favorite…
“She knew how to please a man, but most days she chose not to.”

Well I just inherited a huge pile of scrumptious fabric from my lovely neighbor so I will definitely get some sewing in this week and share the progress with you. I Hope that you have all had a wonderful weekend and I will post again very soon ;-)
Xx

Sold Sold and Sold :)

Firstly a thank you to my lovely readers Danielle and Kelli and your kind messages to me on my last post :)

Good news on the sale, it went well and I sold quite a number of items! Isn't it such a wonderful feeling when people want to buy your creations, when they get excited about what you have made, when you get to meet your customer face to face and see your creations journeying to a new home.

Here is a picture of my table at the sale


A few days after my sale a customer sent me a photograph of the bunting she had bought from me displayed in her kitchen!
How cute

A personal note

Have any of you ever moved country? As much as it is an incredible opportunity and presents adventures around every corner, it is definitely the hardest thing that I have ever done. Here I am in Britain surrounded by family and friends... I feel like I'm at home,yet on the the other side of the world awaits my husband, my friends and my house. Two little worlds thousands of miles apart at times I literally feel torn in two.

Sorry for unburdening on you. On a more jolly note I am selling my crafts tomorrow at a golf club so I will let you know how that goes and I'll take a picture or two of my display.

I will leave you with a few pictures from my week


A thatched cottage which I am in love with





The narrowest road I have seen, and yes a car can actually fit on it - just about!


On top of the cliff over looking the ocean a beautiful field of wild flowers

Coastlines and castles

Finally my first night of full sleep :) the eight hour time difference takes a while to adjust to. It still seems bizarre to be here everything which was once familiar is now strange, I drove for the first time yesterday and I was terrified, there is barely any room for two cars to pass next to each other on the road and I was convinced that I was on the wrong side of the road. I pulled over with the intent of calling my dad to check that I was on the right side and then realised that I don't have a cell phone in this country!

One thing that will never change is the beauty of the British coast line.You don't have to drive far to find a new cove each one with its unique characteristics.



I am still completely flabbergasted as to how small everything is and how close together all the houses are. However an aspect which I totally took for grated when living here... the historic settings which are speckled around every part of normal living. Walking around a near by town 'the Mumbles' I observed a completely average neighbourhood with a castle perched behind it!