Saturday 10 July 2010

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!


Ooh, not another year older!


Oh well I can't do anything about it so I might as well enjoy it!


That's me on the left wearing a white top and a patchwork skirt, it looks like I was about to blow out the candles. You can guess when this picture was taken, look at the wallpaper and tablecloth...all very 70s, lots of brown and purple!


Dressed as Marie-Antoinette at a fancy dress party around the mid 1970s (France). My Aunt Suzy made the dress. I was so pleased with it. I still have it as well as the wig!


I would have been 15 or 16 years old and living in Affpuddle, Dorset. The grey cat next to me was called Misty. He was a wonderful cat and was very dear to me.


Aged 18 years old (Affpuddle Dorset) and dressed to go to an interview, I think.


Aged 21


and 23 years later... (most recent picture of me, taken in Devon in May 2010)
Yes you've done your sums right, I am 44 years old today!


Busy weekend ahead! Today: My birthday, a family wedding (one of Alan's cousins), drama & dancing practice for Miss P and on Sunday: We will be watching Miss P performing in a show organized by her drama school.

I wanted to give you a laugh with some of the bad hair days I had over the years. Unfortunately, the box with those photos is not easily accessible in the loft so I will dig them out some other time. My worst hair days were in the mid to late 1980s...and perhaps one or two in the 90s.

Whatever your plans are this weekend, may you have a good one!

I'll leave you with this photo of me on my 1st birthday (Love the hat...)


A bientôt!

Isabelle X

95 comments:

It's me said...

Happy Birthday darling.....am i the first ???? i wish you a happy sunny joy ful day !!...............and have fun on the wedding !!

Love Ria....

melissa said...

Happy Birthday Isabelle! Hope you have a wonderful day! I think the 80's was the decade for Bad hair!

x Melissa

Brenda said...

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY Isabelle! "God bless you and keep you and give you His love,
God prosper your labour with help from above.
Be His strength in your arm and His love in your soul,
His smile your reward and His glory your goal" Anon.
Have a wonderful, special day!
Very much enjoyed the photos - so cute!
Blessings, Brenda (in Australia)

Laura @ 52 FLEA said...

Happy Birthday sweet Isabelle! You are beautiful at every age...and no matter what your hair looks like!
I hope you have a wonderful day!
:)

koralee said...

Happy Birthday Sweet friend....enjoy your special day! Sending you extra hugs today. oxxoxo

My Life of Domestic Bliss said...

Dear Isabelle, Have a wonderful birthday. I wish you blessings today and all the days to come!

Thanks for visiting my blog - I have been reading yours for a while now and appreciate the visit and sweet comment.

Have a fantastic weekend.

Lisa

FILIGREE MOON said...

Isabelle, happy birthday! What a beautiful child you were...and still are! Such fun photos, though no bad hair days are seen in these. Oh, how I remember the 80s. Such a funny time. Hope your weekend is lovely! ~ Angela

donna baker said...

No, impossible. Not more than 30.

petals and vintage said...

Happy Birthday Isabelle. Those snaps of you are totally gorgeous. Thanks for sharing them with us.
Pam

Anna said...

Happy Birthday! Wishing you a wonderful day, Anna x

Anna said...

Happy Birthday, have a wonderful day, so lovely to see your pictures!

Anna x

Angel's Attic said...

Wishing you a very happy birthday, enjoy your day and the weekend.
Nickyx

Old Centennial Farmhouse said...

We share birthdays! Happy one to you, and what a lot of beautiful pics of yourself! I think you look absolutely wonderful in them all!

We ALL had bad hair back in the eighties and nineties! Heh!
XOXO
Joni

Josephine Tale Peddler said...

Dear Isabelle,
I did write this out once but don't know whether I posted it or deleted it. I am a bit muddle-headed as I was up at 4am with a sick child. Didn't go to bed until very late as I went to the Opera house for a show so I am barely functioning today. And so please forgive me if I already posted and feel free to ignore this one or keep two. Happy Birthday to you. You look beautiful in all your photos. Even as a teenager. I love the photo with the cat in Dorset, you look exactly as a teenager should. It has been a treat to see all the ages of Isabelle and the woman behind the Blog. The photograph of you at 44 is stunning. You really look beautiful and just as lovely as any of the glamorous women on your Blog from the different eras you admire. I hope you have a special Birthday with lots of spoiling. We are virtually the same age and I'm so grateful to be celebrating these birthdays. Forty is a lovely decade.
I smiled over the comment you left on my Blog about our two daughters and their similar tastes. I know Daisy would hero-worship Miss P if they met as she loves the big girls. I am fortunate Daisy goes to a school where the big girls really spoil and look after the little ones. I was most interested in the fact Miss P goes to drama classes as several people keep saying I should enrol Daisy. She is somebody who loves attention and has a very loud voice. I feel sorry for her sometimes as we often tell her to lower her voice and I think drama might be a good outlet. She is also a right character and has always enjoyed dressing up and playing pretend all day. She also despite her being a real extrovert has a quite shy side at times (probably from me) and I would love her to get more confidence so that part of her personality doesn't take over.
Anyway, hopefully I covered everything I had in the original email to you. I really enjoyed getting more of a glimpse of you. I always angst over putting up personal photos on a Blog but it's so great for other people to see the people whose Blogs they follow and enjoy. Loved the 70s fabrics and wallpaper too. You have to love the 70s.
Wishing you a year filled with manifesting your big dream come true.
xx

Elderberry-Rob said...

Hi Issabele, many happy returns and blessings for your birthday. I was so surprised to see that in the May photo you are wearing a turqoise leather choker and cardigan exactly like mine - I have both and wear them together! Anyhow, you don't look your age in the picture, I would have thought 32! Have a wonderful weekend. Betty xxx

KC'sCourt! said...

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Isabelle
Happy Birthday to you

Hope you have a really good weekend
Julie xxxxxxxx

bijzonder-oud said...

Hello Isabelle,

Wishing you a happy, sunny, beautiful birthday!!

And have fun at the wedding!

Yolanda

Muisje said...

Happy birthday Isabelle.
And a beautiful day.

Herma

Jill said...

Happy Birthday Isabelle, what great pictures, you look even better at 44.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Hugs RosieP x

Annie said...

Have a wonderful birthday Isabelle, the sun is certainly shining for you.
Ann x

The Little Vintage Company said...

Happy Birthday! Hope you have a lovely day! Love the photos!!
Tamzin X

ted and bunny said...

happy birthday- have a fab one!

When I was 44 I told everyone it was my 50th and they all said crumbs don't you look young/don't you look fabulous for fifty!
Trouble is I've had to "go backwards" ever since!
xx

Lisa said...

Happy birthday Isabelle, enjoy your day with all you have planned. It's great having a summer birthday isn't it. You look absolutley beautiful in all your photos.
Lisa x

Regina said...

HOw cute and wonderful.
Happy Birthday!

sylvia said...

Happy birthday my sweet blogg friends.
so nice to follow you from child to a beautiful grownup women.
I whish you all good for the day
and the future...
a big hug from sylvia

Helena, The Swenglish Home said...

Absolutely LOVELY photos of you, every single one! So nice to get this little peak into you personal photo album and see more of the person behind the blog.

Wishing you a very happy birthday and a lovely - if busy by the sounds of it - weekend!

Oh, and by the way, I thought of you when another blogger told me about Elizabeth Baer in Bradford-on-Avon, who - I think this weekend - opens her house to some fellow vintage textile sellers. I don't know if you already know about it or if it might be something for you, but I think you can find out more on http://www.elizabethbaertextiles.com

Happy Birthday!
Helena

Home and Heart said...

We all should look this good at 44! You look great!! Thank you SO much for the sweet comment on my blog as well! It is much appreciated!

Summer Blue said...

Happy Birthday Isabelle, have a fabulous day.
Salcombe is lovely isn't it? I love to visit in July/August in the evenings when it really comes to life.
Even though I'm lucky enough to visit Salcombe, Dartmouth etc often, I still desperately miss Mooching on Catherine Hill in Frome! I also need a 'fix' of shopping in Bath soon....CK, White Living, Vinegar Hill...
Have a great weekend, enjoy, and by the way, you NEVER look 44!!!! I'd have loved to have looked like you at 34 let alone 44.
Take care,
Jane. xx

Unknown said...

HURRAY!!!!!! COngratulations and a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! This seems to be a weekend with a golden lining!!!! ENJOY it big time!!!!
Good luck for Miss P;)!

I think it's always nice to see how a person grows up..........and ages............ANY person...but me ;)))))))))


XX
Lynda

Amanda Makes said...

Happy Birthday, Isabelle! Thank you for sharing your photos with us! You are lovely in each of them and most of all in the most recent! I hope you have a fabulous weekend! Lots of love, Amanda xxx

dots and spots said...

You haven't changed a bit!
Have a lovely Birthday!
Best Wishes,
Becky

Daniëlle said...

Happy Birthday Isabelle!
So nice to see all those pictures of you growning up.
Have a nice day,
Dani

di bianco e d'azzurro said...

Happy birthday to you!!!!
The time is not spent for you, you are beautiful as then!!!
Bises Annamaria

VintageVicki said...

Havea very happy birthday and enjoy your weekend :)

Love the baby pics - very cute.

Hen said...

Aw, Isabelle, what a cutie. Thanks for sharing the photos. A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Hen x

Cinzia said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!
Cinzia

harmony and rosie said...

Happy birthday Isabelle, and may you have a wonderful celebration. You were stunning back then and just as stunning today.

with love, Kate

PS, don't forget to email me your address for the Pay it Forward. x

Guenievre said...

Bonjour Isabelle !
Je vous souhaite un très heureux anniversaire ! Une de mes soeurs est née le même jour que vous.
Vous n'avez pas changé, on reconnait votre visage. J'aime beaucoup la 1ière photo.
Passez un très bon week-end en famille.

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

Happy Birthday!!!

Have a fantastic birthday weekend.

I loved seeing your photos through the years,

Victoria x

Sylvia said...

Happy Birthday, Isabelle !
Lovely pictures !
Sylvia

Rosie said...

Happy Birthday - hope you have a wonderful day:)

Marguerite (Tina) Smith Hart said...

A very Happy Birthday Isabelle and many many more!
Tina xo

Kom Achterom said...

happy birthday to You!!!
And you look verry nice at 44!!!!
Have a verry nice and sunny
day
Yolanda

Sal said...

Have a very happy day!! ;-)

made-and-found said...

looking great,Isabelle and suiting blond hair very much.Happy happy birthday
anne x

Handmade with love by G said...

Happy Birthday :))) I have two fave pics of yours. Your 1st birthday pic, oh I loved it, and your most recent one :)))

Lululiz said...

Many Happy Returns! Darn, girl, you look fantastic!

Ghislaine said...

Herzlichen Glückwunsch! Happy Birthday to you!

Vintage Home said...

...love you birthday photo trip down memory lane...Thanks for sharing!

Lyn said...

What a lovely post! Happy Birthday, you look great in all the photos, the one's from the 70's are so familiar, I am sure everyone our age has some like that.
Have a lovely weekend.
Love
Lyn
xxx

PASSIONEDECO FRANCESCA said...

Happy Birthday darling!
I LOVE PIC N. 1 SO MUCH! You're so funny there!
You were a beautiful little girl and are now a wonderful woman!
Hope your day has been great.
Fra

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Isabelle, hope you are having a lovely day.

Maura @ Kisiwa Creek Photography said...

Happy Birthday Isabelle! Loved the pictures of you growing up and especially the picture taken this May...you're lovely! Oh dear...I've had a few 'bad hair' days too over the years...I still have them once in a while! I hope you have a wonderful weekend....Maura :)

Country Cottage Chic said...

Happy Birthday Isabelle! All your photos are lovely & you haven't changed much!

Jayne

Karen said...

A very happy birthday Isabelle. I hope you have had a lovely day. Its also my cousins birthday today and he is also 44 and he lives in Somerset in a cottage on the levels. Its lovely to see the photos of you over the years. I think Miss P looks very like you. Karen X

Sandies' Patch said...

Happy 44th Birthday! I must say, you are wearing well gal!It's a very nice photo of you and turquoise suits you.
I hope you have a lovely day.

Sandie xx

Mary Poppins said...

Happy Birthday Isabelle what gorgeous photographs of you, thank you so much for sharing your special day with us, you shall leave me a little slice of cake won't you ;0) I adore birthday cake, well alright, any cake :0)

Hugs

XX

Unknown said...

Happy 44th Birthday Isabelle! Wow...you are looking good!! Hope you're having a fantastic weekend. Lucyxx

Unknown said...

Ahhh happy birthday!!! You look lovely in you recent pic of you, love the blue cardigan!! You also look very cute growing up too!!!Have a wonderful time!
Karenxxx

Holly said...

Happy Birthday! And happy all next days and years :-)
Holly

The Cloth Shed said...

Beautiful then....beautiful now.....

Happy Birthday Isabelle!

Julie x

elegancemaison said...

Happy Birthday Isabelle! I love your 'through the years' photos. You are quite a beauty - from 1yr onwards. Hope you've had/are having a lovely day and are enjoying yourself.

bellaboo said...

Warm birthday wishes to you Isabelle! I like the photos of you through the years and you look cheeky in that first one.You were a beautiful teenager.I was shy,had spots and was a bit chubby,so I had no confidence.
Hope you enjoy your celebrations!

Bellaboo :0)

Rebecca said...

Happy Birthday! x

Enitram said...

Happy birthday to you, Isabelle!!!!
Sympa de nous faire partager une rétrospective de ta vie!!!
Bon dimanche!

~Becca~Bluebird Rose said...

Happy Birthday!!
You are a beautiful girl, then and now!!
:)
~Becca~

Carolyn said...

Happy Birthday! You just keep getting better and better-lucky girl!

Carolyn

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Isabelle, hope you had a lovely day! :)
Vivienne x

Bethany said...

Isabelle,
Happy Birthday! You are gorgeous!
Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving a sweet comment.
I will be back to visit your lovely blog soon.
Bethany ♥

Bethany said...

Isabelle,
Happy Birthday! You are gorgeous!
Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving a sweet comment.
I will be back to visit your lovely blog soon.
Bethany ♥

Victorian1885 said...

Happy Birthday! I am your newest follower and look forward to seeing future posts..Lovely photo's!

Wanda

Elyse said...

happy birthday!

so fun to see the photos of you. all so pretty! guess what? i'm 44, too.

enjoy!

xo
elyse

June said...

Isabelle you always were and always will be a beauty...at any age! What a darling baby you were. I hope your day was as special as yyou are my friend!
Big Birthday Hugs

Een sneller kloppend hart said...

Oh one day late but very much congratulations on your 44th birthday, what a lovely pictures you've shown...and yes, I love that baby-hat too, what a sweet little child you were!
And the recent picture of you is also wonderful, you look like a realy nice and loving woman to me! :)

Thanks for dropping by, a lovely weekend to you too!

Regards, Veronique

Tina Peacock said...

What a beautiful lady! Lovely photos & Happy Birthday to you for yesterday. Hope you had a lovely day & thanks for visiting my little blog x

Alijane said...

Hi Isabelle,

Hope you had a fabby birthday. Love the photos what a nice way to share your birthday with us all.

Alison
x

Shirleyanne said...

Happy Birthday for yeaterday Isabelle!
Hope you're having a fabulous weekend,loved your photos. You certainly don't look your age! Take care

The fabric of my life said...

A belated Happy Birthday to you Isabelle. You have grown more beautiful with each passing year x

Jorgelina said...

Happy Birthday Isabelle!
Adorable blog.
Hugs

VintageWantsNotNeeds said...

Happy belated birthday hope you had a good one.
Debbie

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

You are living proof that some things improve with age.. like a good wine or cheese.. except you are far more beautiful.
Lovely photos Isabelle and wonderful memories for you too..

Yesterday was a certainly a day of celebration.. as it was my son's birthday too!

Hope you had a wonderful day.

With love
Michele xx

Elaine said...

Happy Birthday! Great stroll down memory lane. Lucky you, you never hit that awkward stage.

Hope you had a great weekend!

Unknown said...

Happy birthday hun. I'll treat you to a day out this coming Saturday to make up for you not having the day to yourself on your birthday.

All your blooger friends are right, you look lovely in ALL your photos.

Love you loads, hubby. xxxxx

Unknown said...

Hi Isabelle! I know I'm late...very late, but just want to whish you Happy Birthday!!!!

Hugs!
Mara

Anonymous said...

Hello Isabelle,

I hope you've had a happy birthday, with lots of sunshine. And cakes! :-)

Love from Amsterdam!

Rosa

Unknown said...

Happy birthday Isabelle, I love your one year old pics, adorable ... & you look pretty darn gorgeous in the recent shot also.

Have a lovely week!
TTFN ~ Marydon

salty pebble said...

***happy birthday!!!*** wowza u really dont look in your 40's -- hope u have a truly special time isabelle loved the photos- funny thing is i was looking through a memories box this afternoon at some old piccys of myself- lovely memories to keep hold of ;0)

thank you for your sweet hearted comments on my blog ;0)xxxx

Les Cotrions said...

Late but...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!
You were a pretty baby, a beautiful girl and now you're a wonderful young woman!!!!
Enjoy this age!
Vale

Anonymous said...

Happy belated Birthday, I hope to meet you one day at your vintage fairs as we do seem to have similar tastes.
Best wishes

kirsty said...

A belated Happy Birthday to you! You don't look 44 - what's your secret?!

OhSoVintage said...

I am the 92nd person to wish you a Happy Birthday on here. Wow, what a lot of blogging friends. No, I would never have guessed you were that age, you could easily be 34.
Ruth x

Hesta Nesta said...

Isabelle you look fabulous at 44, I'm only two and a bit years away myself. Have a lovely birthday darling and enjoy yourself.
love
Jo xx

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday Isabelle! Lovely pics, Have a sweet day!

Niki Fretwell said...

Hi Isabelle,
I'm sorry that I missed your Birthday, but hope you had a lovely time...I see you will be celebrating on Saturday, so belated Birthday wishes for a fun and fabulous time then! (I seem to have so little time to spend on my PC now, and always feel guilty for not managing to comment very often...thank you for the time you spend with my blog, I am humbled. I'm sure you will soon see once your website/shop is up and running how intensive it is - I am now at the stage where I no longer wish to see a keyboard and prefer the interaction and chats face to face, but something has to give in order to enjoy this…)
Love the photos that you posted…you haven’t changed very much in 44 years!
Anyway, have a lovely time at the w/e,
Niki x

cathleen said...
This comment has been removed by the author.