The Cath Kidston one

Last week I teased you with a preview of my old Cath Kidston print - Blue Rosie, I think. 

You all wanted to know what I was going to do with it so...

...I shall keep you waiting til the end of this post!
I was trying to remember when I bought the wallpaper and fabric, and couldn't. I know I used some of it in a house we sold 8 years ago, so way back. Anyway, anyway, (as Harry and Paul would say) it got me thinking about Cath and how long she's been furnishing our homes for now. I read the other day it was the company's 20th anniversary year. So to celebrate I dug out the oldest catalogue I could find - 2002, one of the first thick ones I think and thought I'd share some pics with you.

 Now whenever I post a photo of food it's usually on my kitchen table with this green paisley oilcloth backdrop. I know I will often get more comments about the tablecloth than the food, which says a lot for my cooking!

I think it must have been one of my first CK purchases, back pre-children and has done me proud. It's been through the washing machine many times and being so busy those awful yellow curry stains just don't stand out!

 I happily dream of bathing somewhere like this. Imagine having a bathroom that big? 
Perhaps you do.

  I like this shot a lot - the simplicity reminds me of an old kitchen I had.

 Cosy living rooms I'd like to snuggle up in on a day like today.

 This must have been when it was all taking off. The previous catalogues were little more than pamphlets and the 'find a store' page made me laugh - only 2 of them back then.

Here's a few of my favourite past purchases. I must say, although I'm a bit sick of the sight of the handbags, Ms Kidston's success has certainly brought me more customers who are interested in vintage style and handmade items and for that I applaud her!

 Well, are you ready...? What did I do with Blue Rosie?

Made a Cath Kidston dressing table of course. Destined for a shop near (?) you soon.
(Sorry about all the clutter in the mirror, this is my junk/work/everything room)

 Now I fancy doing a little poll - Be a good sport, play along and leave me a comment to tell me which is your all time most favourite and best Cath Kidston print? Or maybe you don't like them at all...
For me the oldies are the best. You've probably already guessed, Rose Paisley in the bold not bleached colourways.
Here's a few reminders... 



New Year finishing off!

Reading every one elses blogs it looks like you all had a great new year celebrations. I saw in the new year catching up on those unfinished projects of 2012. I didn't want to carry anything forward into 2013!

What with opening my unit at Custard Hall virtually unplanned at the beginning of December my making was all focused on restocking there. I had some ideas for things for the jammers but clean ran out of time before the big day. Little Jammer was more than happy with her hedgie home and I've been topping up the leaves this week. In the garage I had a printers tray I wanted to give her with a particular purpose in mind. Despite Eldest Jammer and I wallpapering the back on Christmas Eve it just didn't get done.

So New Years Day brought an extra homemade present under the tree for each of my girls along with apologies from a well meaning but disorganised mum.

You may not have realised from the photo above but Little Jammer's printer's tray is actually a stylish storage solution for her growing Moshi Monster collection. For those of you without children of this age, Moshi Monsters are small hideous bright plastic tat figures your parents waste spend their money on as rewards for spelling tests, new reading level, and the like.

Today we put it up in her bedroom and it was quickly filled with Moshis. A Moshling Zoo apparently.

You can never have enough Moshlings!

 I showed you this sneaky peak of some patchwork a few days ago.

Finally I added some light padding and backed it in a spectacular purple sheet from the charity shop and by midnight I'd finished sewing the buttons on to turn it into a quilt for Eldest Jammer.

 She's very much a fan of bold and bright prints so I knew she would love it. Trying to get a suitable ta-dah photo proved tricky due to the appalling state of her bedroom. I don't know where she gets it from, ahem! So this will do for now until we've had a serious bedroom tidy.

And for anyone else feeling left out and wanting their bit of vintage wallpaper loveliness I finished off this bookcase.

Backed in a collage of vintage wallpapers sourced from Jane and Ada Bea,

it found it's way to my shop today!

 Happy New Year to each and every reader. I've loved reading your comments over the year, please keep them coming. 

And to those who signed up today, thanks for joining the ride into 2013. Let's hope it's a pretty and colourful one!

Once Upon a Time...

 ... there was a girl who pondered about making suitcases and moving into a new shop. Little did she know the suitcases would fly and life would be a manic race to replenish and restock. Serves her right for taking on a shop unit three weeks before Christmas really!

So the girl made the cutest, most loveliest Puppies and Kittens case and what should happen but a lovely lady reserve it after an hour in Custard Hall. She was a tad sad to see it go having loved it for all of one night but set about cutting and pasting the next case...

More tins...

More toys...

 More furniture...

 More bags in her favourite colours... 

Does she want to let any of it go? Not really!

Don't forget I'm having a giveaway so pop your name in the hat if you fancy winning these goodies.

Have been loving my advent swap presents from PJ this week and smiling at some coincidences. Will share those in a day or two. I've also been sent some products to review...

x



Fog and furniture - a grey post!

An unusual combination but I was trying to think of a link for my painted furniture and the amazing landscape I saw yesterday morning!

 This week saw a couple of child free days, the first for ages, so I knuckled down to painting and waxing some furniture.

 I tried to balance the boring stuff that had to be done like visiting the optician with more fun stuff like cutting the lavender and doing a tour of the chazzas.

 I found this old school stool in a skip when I accompanied the jammers on a trip to the swimming pool. for me it was the highlight of the trip!

 All finished, it was delivered to the antique centre this afternoon along with...

 a rather unusual shaped airer

 and a lovely old pink painted playpen!

Now for the foggy moment...

yesterday morning we set off quite early (for us) for a day out and drove through lots of misty foggy stuff. As we went up a hill it suddenly disappeared, just like that. I loved this sight looking down into the valley where it was still foggy.

I looked to me like the the sea had crept inland and was frothing its way up the hills.

 Watch out,  here it comes!

 I've never seen it quite like that before. It reminded me of looking down on the clouds from an aeroplane, almost solid as if you could step out onto it... ok I'm getting carried away now.

Somewhere near Compton Abbas air field.
Have a lovely week, fingers crossed for more sun!
x



Tintin goes in search of Annie

A busy day for old Tintin today. We headed off to Bergere Interiors at Lytchett Matravers for some Annie Sloan paint. Lots of lovely painted French furniture...

 

 

 

But sadly they've stopped selling paint.

Tintin even spotted a replacement door, should he ever need one!

A lovely courtyard full of pretty garden bits and pieces.

Nice enamel jugs and pots. We've got quite a collection of these at home.

This bench caught my eye mainly because of the colour. I do love old garden furniture. It reminded me I have some rusting frames of chairs in the garage to redo...

Had to pop into the cafe of course.

Stopping to admire the bluebells.

So Tintin came home. We consulted the web, grabbed a slice of leftover pizza and headed off up the Piddle Valley to Stalbridge. Shy Violet is now my nearest stockist. A lovely shop full of beautiful things. I can't wait until I need more paint to go back for another look!

Now my paintbrushes await...

Back in a few days with that giveaway I promised.

Speaking of giveaways. Pop over to Torie Jayne's for a chance to win some pretty Cornishware.

x