Cottage of the year 2011

A special welcome to visitors from Post of the Month Club

Who doesn't go weak at the knees at the sight of a cosy English cottage? Those who have been following me for some time will know that I can't resist taking snaps of pretty rural homes I find on my travels across the country. Peering over hedges, peeking through fences - nothing stops me in my quest to bring you pictures of the perfect English cottage! 
It's hard to describe what makes the perfect cottage - it's something that pulls at the heart strings, that little sigh when you first spot it.


I couldn't resist the opportunity to show again some of the cottages that tugged at my heart strings this year. Here is my top five contenders for cottage of the year 2011.

5

Proving that small is beautiful, this tiny fisherman's cottage just a stones throw from the sea at Whitstable caught my eye. 

4

The pretty Cambridgeshire village of Lode was simply groaning with the most beautiful properties. This thatch framed with hollyhocks was just picture perfect.

3

Still in Lode and another pretty thatch - the paint work was heavenly. It also had the most amazing garden.

2

The Cotswolds has an abundance of beautiful cottages it's so hard to chose. This simple and unadorned house was just stunning, the architectural detail quite wonderful.

1

It's back to the village of Lode for my number one cottage of 2011. The little winding path up to this cottage gave tantalising glimpses of this utterly charming home.

Nestled in the prettiest of gardens with hens on the lawn it was irresistable!

So there you have it. My top 5 cottages of 2011. 

Do you have a favourite?

I can't wait to discover more beautiful cottages in 2012!

Happy New Year!

2012!

Wishing you a very 

Happy and Peaceful New Year 

xxx

Elves wanted - apply within

I don't know about you but Christmas seems to have gone in a flash which is a pity because  I could do with some help with some of Santa's elves right now! I am in frantic preparations for the setting up of my new shop at Battlers Green Farm next month.


It's been such fun sourcing inexpensive shelving and small pieces of furniture to display my products. I went to Sawbridgeworth yesterday to try and find something suitable. If you think you may have heard of Sawbridgeworth before it's famous for two things. It's the English residence of our very own Posh and Becks - Beckingham Palace is just visible from the road into this little town on the outskirst of Harlow. It's also well known by antique buyers for its huge antique stores located in old riverside buildings.

One of my best buys however has been this wooden shelf which is now being painted and distressed. A bargain from TK Maxx of all places! 

But the most fun of all has been discovering the art of decoupage on wood. Boy, what you can create with wood shapes, magazine scraps, and Mod Podge!

I love the effect of paint sponged around the edging for a great time-worn look.

2012 is going to be such a creatively fulfilling year - I can't wait to get going!

The true spirit of Christmas

On a modest street in a suburb of Watford town there is a house known as the Christmas House. Every year the house is decorated by its owner and the switching on of the lights attracts hundreds. The owner first began decorating his house in 1973, after being inspired by a visit to Treasure Island in California. Mr Edwards has raised over £30,000 for different charities. He was quoted in the local paper: “We do it every year and I will keep doing it as long as I can climb up a ladder and put the decorations up."


Surely this act of selfless generosity which brings so much delight to the festive season represents the true spirit of Christmas. 

I do hope you have had a wonderful Christmas xx

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

If there's a more beautiful Christmas song than Judy singing this in Meet Me In St Louis I've yet to hear it. 

I do hope you and those you love 

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas xx

Christmas is cancelled

Well no not really, but do you remember that scene from BBC TVs The Good Life (if you're under 40 you might want to skip to the photos at this point) when Harrods failed to deliver Margo's Christmas food order? "Christmas is cancelled" declared Margo. I have to confess my own Christmas delivery from Waitrose is due tonight. 

Is it just me that gets a tinge of envy when I read all those wonderful homemakers that blog about their baking and hand made decorations? With the hours I work in the city all those warm and fuzzy Christmas preparations are the thing of dreams.


I did throw some decorations on the mantlepiece last night. Five minutes - that decorations sorted!

How great it would be to do a Barbara with crafty homemade Christmas crackers and good will to all men and all that. Ah well, this year I will do a Margo with Christmas delivered on the back of a van.

Classic Barbara and Margo. Enjoy this clip from my all time favourite sitcom - The Good Life Christmas Special 1977

I can't wait any longer to tell you!

I've been dying to tell you about my exciting news. I was going to wait until the new year but I can wait no longer! They say Britain is a nation of shopkeepers don't they? Well hold your horses - I'm about to join the ranks! I've had my name down for a space with the hertfordshire craft collective at Battlers Green Farm since the summer and a couple of weeks ago I was invited to open a booth with them. 

I've blogged about the shopping village at Battlers Green Farm before. The Hertfordshire Craft Collective have a pretty barn there where they run courses in jewellery making and other crafts alongside a small number of booths selling a mixture of handmade and vintage goods. I've always enjoyed visiting the barn for a browse of the lovely goods on sale so I'm just thrilled to be asked to be part of such a super, friendly place.


Here are some of the booths...

As you can imagine it's been a whirlwind of activity to get everything ready. I've been like a woman possessed hurtling round Hertfordshire flea markets to add to the lovely vintage items I have stashed in the attic that will be for sale in my booth. Here are a few lovelies I've tracked down.

I'm bursting with new ideas for handmade items too. I've been wanting to do decorative wood items ever since being inspired at the Country Living Fair earlier this year. These are some wooden hearts in the making.

Do you have any tips to share? I know a lot of you out there in blogland run your own booths so it would be great to hear from you and learn from your experience. 

Well must dash...I have a shop to open! xxx

All I want for Christmas (is you baby)

After a term of Rock Choir rehearsals it's been lovely to get out and sing to the public over the last few weeks.

Here's me and my fellow Rockies singing  'All I want for Christmas'. By the way being tall I'm back row out of sight !

Enjoy...!

What the best dressed door is wearing

Welcome to everyone visiting from House in the Roses Show Off Your Cottage Monday  and  My Romantic Home Show and tell Friday

I love a well dressed door at Christmas don't you? I've been using the same wreath for the last 10 years. Every year it sheds a few more berries so I top it up with whatever comes to hand and it's good to go for another year!


I resist the urge to go OTT. I like to keep it simple like these lovely welcoming doors...

I love simple hearts for a country look.

A warm welcome from my own front door!

I can't believe Christmas is less than 3 weeks away can you?!