The Sweet Shop

Last week when I was helping Kate with her vintage hire photo shoot I was lucky enough to meet Claire who owns The Sweet Shop in Saffron Walden. As I ate a lot of her stock throughout the day I felt I really owed her something, so I made this banner for her shop.

My boys were delighted to pop into The Sweet Shop to deliver it and if you are in Saffron Walden do go and see them as it's a lovely traditional sweet shop full of delicious treats (most of which I have sampled!). 

Half Term Treat

We re-visited Hanningfield Reservoir as a half-term treat and it was a lovely afternoon out. We walked round part of the reservoir calling in at a hide on the way, collecting sticks and ambling along (actually truth be told we walked from cafe to gift shop). 

Bizarrely I managed to pick up some old magazines for 5p each. I think they are fantastic but then as my mum told me I am easily pleased.

Hanningfield Reservoir

where there are plenty of opportunities to collect sticks

and strangely to buy magazines that are older than me!

Happy Colours

There are some photos that just make me happy .... 

Hartley's Jelly

Divine Twine

and colourful stationery supplies.

Vintage Hire Photo Shoot #2

I'm off to another photo shoot today with my friend Kate for her Vintage Hire business. She asked me to do a couple of things for it and I have been busy making tissue flowers and some banners.

I really like these two banners and think I will be adding them to my shop so thank you Kate!

Not too sure about this one (I was trying to think of royal wedding associated banners???). I love the font though and have developed a bit of a serious font download problem.

Land of Zog or Archie's World ...

Archie has always got his words slightly muddled up, but for some reason this week has been a classic. When he's like this we tell him he's from the Land of Zog. 

Him: "Why do the pixies steal all the metal road signs?"

Me: "Do you mean gypsies? It's because they sell the metal, we have plastic ones now?"

Him: "Was the boy in a korma?"

Me: "No, he was in a coma."

[Not a real boy btw but a story by Michael Morpurgo called Cool which is v good.]


His strange tangents of thought are legendary in this house and we often think it would be really interesting to be Archie if only for one day ....

Colourful Sitting Room

I really needed a plain, white room to take photos last week .... but we don't have a tasteful white room in the house. No, we have a riot of colour especially in the sitting room. Where we have a colourful light,

rug,

cushions,

books,

and paintings.

I sometimes wonder how peaceful life would be if I lived in a tasteful cream or white house? I think perhaps I should make one room calm and serene if only so that I can take photos and pretend that is the sort of house I live in.

LOVE

As it's Valentine's Day ...

These are all photos from our village. The L is from our modern village sign; the O from our old signpost; the V from the water post and the E from our North, East, South, West sculpture in the garden. 

I don't pretend this is an original idea but bow to the genius that is http://www.alphabet-photography.co.uk/index.aspx I think it is a wonderful idea and have made a few bookmarks for people this way. I use local signs and in the summer drove round the village surreptitiously taking photos out of the car window. 

I even take pictures of cherubs but no hearts.

Sewing Machine

My mum has very kindly given me this sewing machine. I think she is expecting great things from me … this makes me nervous. I’ve wanted it for ages but now I’ve actually got it I don’t know what to do with it. I have often thought, "I could do that when I have the sewing machine" but of course now it's here I can't think what to do. I need to find a really easy first project - but what?

Lime Green and Turquoise Blue

I bought these on a whim, as you do in IKEA, and although I love them I have no idea what I'm going to do with them. 


You can tell we are not really a coaster sort of family because when I put one on the table for my cup of tea Archie asked me why I was covering it up. Makes me wonder what he does when he goes to other people's houses and they DO have coasters?


The colours are great though and so I have taken to just leaving them lying around the kitchen and perhaps I can teach the boys about coasters too.

Nearly there ... Part Two

I got a reply from the lovely people at Not On The High Street full of encouraging words but, as I suspected, some of the photos need to be redone and I need to make a few tweaks here and there. 

I spent most of last week in bed feeling sorry for myself so I didn't get anything done. I could have done with one of my Get Well Soon boxes!

I hope the weather this week will be fine, bright, sunny and spring like so that I can get outside and take some photos in daylight (much, much easier).

Rugby Six Nations

The RBS Six Nations Rugby starts today and I may as well get enthused from the start because the other three people I live with will be hooked from now until the final. There will be a lot of shouting at the television, a lot of jumping up and down and a lot of cheering. I hope there won't be any swearing at the television or holding heads in hands. 

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDw2j85fu7F8y87zDWFeZdu_YVeuZmTTMzYOwetOw46TKx8FezJ1JsW3AoSdhcc1V0IbvGBuIeHod2Vxjt_o5HTucpBfK-4xB4AmO8b74TaFgzPN6LeQDVYjFil0DenWuDvyWHLA6IMU/s1600/Famous-Rugby-Jerseys.jpeg

Pinterest

Do you love that first flick through a new magazine just looking at all the lovely photos? Always my favourite bit and that is what Pinterest is like. Never heard of Pinterest? Well, it's just like having a pinboard on your computer where you can quickly and easily store all those lovely photos you see and importantly it keeps the link. 

Before I discovered it I would bookmark things I liked and ended up with loads of links but could never find anything I wanted again - so this really useful.

If you'd like to see my pins then please go over and have a look and as it's February here are a few of my favourite heart images.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7596218@N08/2228292109/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/blogholamama

http://onecharmingparty.com/2011/01/19/valentine-gumball-necklaces/