26.5.14

VINTAGE CARAVAN- PROJECT PATCHWORK WALL



      Hello lovelies,

 I'm down at our little caravan in Suffolk this wkend continuing the make over that we started last year,
when we up-sized to our old Hobby van, named Hans. We've painted all the units in a mix of whatever
Farrow and ball paints we could find, and I've started painting the walls in Dimmity, a lovely warm white by the fab F and B. This wkend I've been busy creating a little corner of patchwork paper loveliness.
Here's a few pics of the job so far.....

                               

              I spent a good afternoon cutting and sticking a wallper collage. I'm thrilled
             with the results.

                              
       
                                 Pretty sweet peas from today's trip to Southwold.


                              

                 Pretty chintz drapes, and my new caravan mugs that my hubby bought last Xmas.

                          

         I'm usually not a lover of signs unless they are really old, but I fell for this cute one.
            I feel it rings very true and was so pretty, and not too expensive either.

             Hope your all having a fab Bank hol. Time for fish n chips up Southwold docks.

                                                                 Emma x.



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25.5.14

THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE.



                                    

              Hello lovelies,

           I hope you're all having a wonderful bank holiday. I've taken my little girls to stay in our
       vintage van, In Suffolk. They are running wild over the fields as I'm busy working on the van.
       Such simple things that make me happy. I don't know about you, but I'm a creature of comfort,
       so where ever I'm calling home, I need to be surrounded by pretty things. I'll blog about the van
       when it's finished, but here in the collage above are some of the simple pretty things I love.
             Roses... So gorgeous from bud to fallen petals. Spring... Our little chick, named Bluebell, as
        she hatched out when the woods were full of them. Home is where the heart is- I love tinkering
        about, very slowly restoring our home, after all, why the rush? 
             Watching my daughter ride and seeing her beaming smile as she rides towards me.
        Wisteria.... Well, name me one person that doesn't love wisteria. Gorgeous china, so delicate
        and pretty. I love re-arranging it on my handed down vintage dresser.
            The colours mint green and pink, my fave colour combo right now. 
        It's great to have a good inspirational book on what your in to, for me, it's interiors. 
        My couture prairie book is never far from my side (I've even brought it away with me). 
       And last... Hydrangeas... I can always find space for more. 
            Well I hope I've got you thinking of all of your favourite little things too. All the things that 
        make  you smile. Enjoy the rest of your bank hols!

                                                                      Emma x
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23.5.14

FALLEN ROSES




                                 
                                   
        Hello lovelies.

  Well, what a downpour we've just had. Whilst the rain is great for the garden, I have to say that
  my favourite rose bush took quite a battering. I was almost tempted to go and stand over it with
  an umbrella! 

                                      

 When the rain finally stopped I went out to inspect the damage, or rather, the pretty mess.
 I ended up with a trug full of broken blooms 😔. Oh well, not to be deterred, I started thinking
 about what I could do with them, (such short notice, I'd got nothing in for any liquor, jam or bath
 bomb- creams). So I salvaged a few for decoration.

  
                                

  I love to display single blooms in old glass bottles, teacups and milk jugs. This variety of Rose
  Is called Gertrude Jekyll, and is available from David Austin. It is prolific, and has the most amazing
  scent. 

         
                                

     So I've pulled off the rest of the petals and have separated them into three batches for some
    very easy makes. I'm simply letting some dry, as it's always handy to have some dried rose petals.
    The perfume of this variety is wonderful, so add to bath bombs, tea or just put some in a pretty
    bowl. 
      Then with some fresh ones I'm making Rose petal ice cubes. So simple.
       And with the last batch I'm making edible petals. To do this, make sure your Rose petals are clean
     and dry, and free from pesticides. Lightly wisk an egg white, and very carefully paint your entire 
    petal. Then dust over some castor sugar, place on a sheet of kitchen roll, and put in a warm dry
    place, (airing cupboard is always good). Once dry, place in an air tight container and use
    within a couple of months.

          
                     

   I hope I've given you a couple of ideas that you can do this weekend. Once mine are dry
  I'm going to make Rose bath bombs. This is a job for the children and I this half term I think 😉.
  Have a lovely weekend everyone.

                                                              Emma x




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8.5.14

GROWING YOUR OWN

 
       Hello everyone,

     You can't beat that fresh home grown experience.... The first peas from the pod....
     The red currents, strawberries and raspberries mmmmm.
      When it was just me with my two little girls space was an issue! We had a little garden but
     that didn't stop us! The girls got involved too! We planted potatoes in rubble sacks, spring onions 
     in pots, strawberries and salad leaves in hanging baskets and dwarf broad beans amongst the 
     roses! I think you have to make the most of the space you have! 

                          

       We now have a much bigger space which is great! We've just bought our first green house!
      It's pre-loved so we've got a bit of a jigsaw on our hands but oh well.... I can't wait to get it up
      and get the tomatoes in there! Will let you know how it goes 😊

                                                        Happy grow your own time!
                                                                       Emma x

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7.5.14

SPRING SNAPS

         Hello everyone,

        Just sharing a few of my fave spring snaps so far......

                                  
    
                                                      Enjoy the rest of your week!
                                                                      Emma x
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4.5.14

THE CUTTING GARDEN

                                  

           Hello lovelies..... As spring has taken it's hold thought I'd do a little post on keeping
          A cutting garden, there is still time to sow a few seeds & many garden centres will be
          selling seedlings! 
             A cutting garden is a fabulous thing! It's great being able to walk out and snip your
          blooms! I always keep old spice jars for giving a posy to friends and my daughters
          Give them to their teachers as an end of year thank you, so easy! Pop a bit of lace
          around, a few sweet peas and there you have it!

      

          If you plan well you could be using your own flowers from late March to early October!
         When planting seeds look for the flowering times, you may be able to get a few varieties 
         that flower one after the other such as tulips! When growing roses, if you can try and buy
         3 and plant in a triangle formation, this will give you strong supported growth and really 
         pack a punch! Giving you lots of blooms! (Will do a post on getting the best from roses
         later). 

                                
               I love old bottles and jars for displaying blooms! Like this Angelique tulip.

                                   FLOWERS FOR CUTTING AND WHEN TO PLANT

                      Here is a small selection to get you started.......

        Tulips, daffodils, bluebells, hyacinths are all bulbs that you need to be thinking of as
        They need planting late August to October for a spring show!

        Sow now... There is still time to plant a few seeds, the sooner the better! Here's my
        Favourite summer time pickings.... Larkspur, Cornflowers, Sweetpeas, Poppies and
       Gypsophila, this lovely lot is very easy to grow! And will give you endless flowers!

       Plants to buy now... Roses, Lavender, ranunculus, herbs (looks lovely in arrangements!
       try sage, mint and rosemary), delphiniums and not forgetting some plants that are good
       for foliage such as eucalyptus!

      Sowing seeds not only is a fun thing to do but a very cheap way of getting a garden!

     Remember to protect all young plants/seedlings from frost! 

     Always cut your flowers in the morning when their sugar content is high and cut at a slant
     so they can soak up the water with ease.

    If I've missed anything you'd like to know, please just ask and I'd be happy to help if I can!

                                                   Happy gardening!
    
                                                         Emma x 

         



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