Holiday!!!

In a couple of days we will be winging our way to sunny Portugal for a family holiday. I shall be so glad to turn my back on all this dreadful weather we have been having here, and to soak up a little sunshine and relax and unwind. I am sorry I don't mean to gloat, I am just very excited and ready for it. I was looking up images of Portugal here, and thought you might like to see some of them.

It looks lovely, don't you think? I shall be having a break for a couple of weeks, but really look forward to seeing what you have all been up to when I return. As a contrast to the above photos, this is one I took of my courtyard last week when the heavens opened and pelted out hailstones.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, love Linda x.

Simple Flowers

As far as I am concerned you can keep your formal flower arrangements, where flowers are carefully moulded into geometric shapes, and lots of rules and regulations apply. To me the simpler arrangements of a single flower variety or a posy freshly gathered from the garden win my heart.

I really love the current fashion for flowers in jam jars and mason jars it just takes me back to when I would pick daisies and weeds for my mum, and she would put them in a jam jar or eggcup, depending on how short the stems were, and make out that they were the most  glorious flowers she had ever seen.

Don't get me wrong though, there are amazing floral artists out there, doing incredible things with flowers that are to be wondered at, but when it comes to me and my home, give me a jug of garden flowers any day.

This is an art installation of 2000 Dandelions by German artist Regine Ramseier. Check out this  website to find out how it was done. It must be incredible when you are standing below it.

This is an amazing display of Anemones by Belgian artist Daniel Ost. For me though, it has to be something a little more modest.

 Even a single flower tucked under some string has impact.

Sometimes.....less is not more! What a ray of sunshine these sunflowers would bring to any space.

I need to say a belated thank you to the lovely Gill from Gillyflower. I won her Coronation giveaway, a pretty teatowel.  Not content to send just that, she sent chocolate, a beautifully made pincushion, crafted by her own fair hand, and a lovely vintage traycloth with drawn threadwork, all prettily wrapped and bound with string. It was all so lovely Gill, and just completeley made my day. A thousand blessings on your head!

Wishing you all a happy week ahead, with much love, Linda x. Images are my own or from here.

Mixed messages?

The above photos are collages I made on Picnik, using images from www.pinterest.com before they closed. I was formulating ideas about how I was going to decorate my sitting room. There is little I enjoy more, than poring over paint charts and magazines and brochures, planning and thinking about what I would like. The trouble is, in my head I can mix   industrial chic with cottage garden and a bit of French detailing, thrown in for good measure. The trouble is, I like everything. I am very susceptible to other people's ideas. The trouble is, is my head, I do not worry one iota about expenses. The trouble is, in my head, everything is new, and I don't have to fit in  my old stuff.
 Hence, sometimes what is in my head is very difficult to translate into reality!
Sometimes, things have to go wrong before they go right.

Here is my sitting room, before the assault.

The walls were painted a light stone colour, with 2 walls having a tongue and groove paint effect.There was a painted panel over the fireplace. My curtains and cushions were the same chintz pattern. So the whole effect was creamy and pretty, with a few red accessories.

I imagined that I would like a complete change. I wanted a dark grey on the fireplace wall with a lighter grey on the rest. Industrial style lights, metal baskets and filing cabinet style furniture. No, hang on, perhaps that is just a little too modern for me! Perhaps I could combine the greys with a potting shed kind of theme. I was beginning to get a little confused, as you can imagine. So, I thought I would start with a colour for the fireplace wall.......Slate Grey................

Mmmm, love the colour, but just not sure if it's me. I will try the other walls...an offwhite as a base, colourwashed  with French Grey.............

Mmm, more French looking, more me.....oh oh, the dark wall has to go now. 

I added the blue doors from my larder cupboard, a seagull and some starfish.....not what I had planned in my head at all, but I like it.

Above the fireplace I pasted an enlarged image I got from the http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.co.uk...my cottage by the sea. The white fireplace was antiqued using a grey wash. That is the story so far. I need to either get a new sofa, or make a new cover as my old one, although it goes, has seriously shrunk from all the washes it gets. The floor is mahogany coloured wood, which I would prefer painted. I need new curtains. So, you can see I have a bit of work to do yet. 

I have learned a valuable lesson though, to listen to my own heart. I am a romantic, I like pretty things, it is allright if my house stays like that, regardless of what is in the magazines or on the web. I can like other things, as long as I live with what makes ME happy, and my family of course. (My husband doesn't know why I wanted to change in the first place, but he would have left the colours that the previous owners had).

Do any of you have these tumultuous battles with yourselves, I would love to know? I will finish with some pretty flowers to  make you smile.

Aren't the foxgloves fabulous, they just make me think of 1930's children's books? Have a lovely weekend, and thanks for listening to my madness. Love Linda x

Alfresco Lunch

Come and join me for lunch in the garden. I have been doing too much worrying lately, and need to unwind. Find yourselves somewhere comfortable to sit, grab a drink and let the party begin.............

This is what we will be eating....................................................................................................................

Feeling hungry? Perhaps you are a little thirsty too?..........................

Oh I am really starting to relax now, perhaps some flowers and a little candlelight to create a lovely ambience?

A little something for you to take home with you, thanks for coming! All these gorgeous images are courtesy of Pinterest.