New Year, New Beginnings!

 A very happy and healthy and productive New Year to all my lovely blogging friends. We have had a really lovely Christmas and New Year. I have missed blogging though, and I am keen to get started! The Christmas decorations will be coming down tomorrow and that always makes me feel a little glum. The sparkle has gone! So I reckon I need to find some new ways to add a little winter sparkle to my home.

 Don't these glamorous lights look wonderful, especially when grouped? Or what about a beautiful French painted mirror, for a little sparkle?

Then of course there is the chandelier in the reflection, two for the price of one!

 A floral headboard could add a touch of glamour and a fresh look to an otherwise neutral scheme.

 Fresh flowers always do it for me! I love the jars with the vintage labels added.

 Polished silver for that light reflecting lustre. I love the garland of seashells on the fireplace and the charming lamp.

I made one of these seashell mirrors once. (I am not quite sure what happened to it!). I think they look lovely in the right place.

I haven't made a resolution this year. I always make them and never stick to them, so this year I am abstaining! I have been blogging for just over a year now, and apart from the beginning when I was trying to learn everything ,(very stressful), it has been an absolute joy. I have met so many wonderful, kind, talented people. It is definitely an atmoshpere in which to thrive! Most of all I have learned so much about myself, who I am and what I want from life. I intended to simplify my home, pare it down, even go a little bit modern.

I have discovered though that pared down a little is fine, but really pared down and industrial is not me. I like 'pretty', I like old and new mixed together and a certain amount of clutter makes me happy. I am pleased with the progress that I have made this year and if I can keep learning and growing in the year to come, I will be more than happy. I hope too that I can pass on a little of what I am learning to anyone who is interested, and that way, everyone wins!

Thankyou to all who follow my blog, call in and visit, and very sweetly leave comments. I hope that I will continue to keep it interesting and fresh, so that you want to return. With much love, Linda x

All images from http://www.pinterest.com/.

Flowers in the House

I posted a little while back about a book called 'Vintage Flowers' by Vic Brotherson. I wanted to make a ball of Hydrangea as featured in the book. Unfortunately, I ran out of dried flowers and didn't get the ball completed, so I set it on top of an urn and turned it into an arrangement. It really was just as well, as I do not have high ceilings and don't know where I would have hung the ball! I added my own little touch also, by adding a little glitter to the edge of some of the petals, and I think the effect is very pretty. See the closeup image below.

A gorgeous little fairy I purchased from Lynn at http://sea-angels.blogspot.com/.

Lovely pink tulips curving inside the fishbowl for a change.

 I made a wreath from oak leaves and added a folk art angel,purchased from Flossie Limejuice on Etsy.

I am linking with Jane from  Small but Charming for her monthly 'Flowers in the House' post. Love Linda x