Treasure box and giveaway extention

Thank you for all your wonderful blog Anniversary wishes. So many lovely things were said in your comments. Really appreciated!

Well, this week didn't quite go according to plan, hence the lack of posts. Miss P has a heavy cold with quite high temperatures on and off. I have also had people in and out of the house looking at the roof and others giving quotes for wallpapering our bedroom.


A few weeks ago, I spent well over an hour going through several wallpaper books in a interior designer shop in a nearby town. I finally narrowed it down to about six wallpapers that I liked. When the samples arrived in the post, it didn't take long to decide. The one pictured above is what I have chosen for our bedroom.

About 10 days ago this beautifully wrapped package arrived for me in the post. I bought it from Floss, I was lucky enough to visit her blog just as it had been listed for sale.

Lovely packaging Floss!


I'm so pleased with it!

Just a reminder that you can still enter my giveaway if you have not already done so. To enter the giveaway, comments need be left on the GIVEAWAY post please.

I have extended the time, comments can now be left up until 18.00 hours GMT tomorrow Thursday 04th March, as I will not be available during the day as previously planned. (As Miss P is unwell, I will be looking after her) This gives some of you an extra chance to have your name added to the list!

The draw will take place between 19.00 - 21 hours tomorrow evening (Thursday 4th March)

Back to nursing duties...

A bientôt!

Isabelle X

FIRST ANNIVERSARY GIVEAWAY!

It has already been one year since I began blogging and to celebrate this, I am having a....GIVEAWAY!

This is what one of you will win....



2 Quilt blocks

A vintage square tablecloth

A white heart shaped cushion cover and a little Laura Ashley bag

Vintage fat quaters, a Welsh Love spoon and a note book

Embroidery

To enter this giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post, that's all!
One entry per individual to keep it fair for everyone taking part please. Thank you.

Anyone can enter the giveaway, you don't have to have a blog.

I will post worldwide.

I have REALLY enjoyed blogging, I have got so much more out of it than I ever expected. I have discovered so many lovely and inspiring blogs, have made friends with some lovely fellow bloggers and been in touch with some whom I have not met yet.
I had not expected it to be such a friendly community. It had not occured to me that it would be like that when I first started out. So... a BIG THANK YOU for following my blog, sending me emails, leaving comments and last but not least....for your friendship ;-)

ENTRIES WILL BE VALID UNTIL WEDNESDAY 3rd MARCH 2010 - 23.59 GMT.
THE DRAW WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE MORNING OF THURSDAY 4th MARCH 2010.

ATTIC UPDATE: The loss adjuster has had a look at it today and guess what..? It's not covered.... A roofer is coming to have a look at it on Monday, we'll be told more about the extent of it then.

A bientôt!

Isabelle X

What's in your attic?

Just look at those cobwebs... We have bats too!

After a busy week decorating, we are finally getting there in the lounge. Alan took a couple of days off so that we could progress well and we have! Without him, all this would have taken a lot longer. On Thursday, I went in to the loft in search of a carpet to go under the stairs. This is a temporary carpet until I find a vintage rug which I like. As I picked up the carpet which was close to the wall, I noticed a mark on it and then felt that my fingers were wet! As I looked up at the wall this is what I saw...


A wet wall...

Prior to that, I had not noticed it. It is more visible on the photo because of the flash. We had to move several things out of the way. Some things have been damaged by the water...
It is in the hands of the insurance company...still waiting for someone to come out and look at it! I am praying that it won't rain until then. We were told that someone would be out to see us on the 3rd March! I complained saying that it was too long to wait in view of the nature of the problem. We were promised that someone would call back to see if they could fit us in sooner. No call yesterday...




Is your loft looking like that?... We have so many boxes to go through and sort out....

Whilst moving boxes around I opened one and found some childhood books and homework books.

Oh dear....


I was 9 years old when these were marked. Looking through my geography homework book, I was reminded of how much detail was expected. Each week we had to draw and colour maps, name rivers or places. What struck me is how negative the comments were. When you didn't make any mistakes, the teacher wrote Vu (seen) never a "well done" or "good" and she always seemed to find something to pick on as reflected in her comments throughout my homework book. Examples: "badly written, not neat enough", "Horrid", "Start again" along with many other comments of that nature....I don't recall much encouragement. I went to 8 different schools as a child. Although I do have a few good memories, overall I was very glad to leave school.

Another find were these books, "Alice" I was so in to these. As soon as I had my pocket money I would go and choose a new title to read. They are brilliant mystery books. As I got older, I went on to read Agatha Christie's books instead.



I remember wanting to be her when I was 12/13 years old, she was pretty, confident and had such a sense of adventure. She always solved things!


The illustrations are great.

Back to work again...Adding those finishing touches now, my favourite bit! It is so satisfying to see an idea you have in your head come to life.

A bientôt!

Isabelle X

UPDATE 24 Feb : Loss adjuster is finally coming to have a look at it tomorrow!

Painting update & Textile deliveries

I had hoped to post sooner but other things took over. I've had a few deliveries this week. As many of you probably know by now, I love textiles (vintage mostly)


This 1950's Italian Riviera fabric, I really love! I bought it online from Donna. The colours and design are so beautiful. It captures a time when the Italian & French Riviera were so much more glamorous and chic than they are now.


Bought on Ebay

Discontinued Laura Ashley fabric, so pretty and fresh.

Onto the lounge now...
This used to be Alan's office, in that little area under the stairs. However, a few months ago we decided that it would be nice to get rid of the desk & for Alan to share my workroom/office upstairs. This would make the lounge free from work related things and a good place to relax. It was not esthetically pleasing either to be honest... as I'm sure you'll agree... Not very vintage looking....

So we cleared everything out back in August/September


Looking better already!
And this is what we did to it last weekend..

After... much better.
The next job is to make that area look pretty and cosy. This weekend I'll get on to that and will hopefully finish that corner.


Sneak peek at painting in progress... I had to repaint it as the first time around the paint came out darker than I had expected..I am yet to find the backing that I like. Still looking for that perfect wallpaper or fabric... I will post the finished result as soon as it is all finished!

Have a lovely Valentine's day on Sunday!

A bientôt!

Isabelle X

Furniture for the lounge - BEFORE

This is the piece of furniture we have bought for the lounge. Although I do like the colour (Bluey green) and wallpaper inside (discontinued Laura Ashley), unfortunately it doesn't quite go with the rest of the room. . On these photos the paint looks more grey than bright bluey green, I can't seem to capture the colour!

So it will be getting a new makeover. I will be putting a different wallpaper in the background, perhaps slightly less busy looking as I will have a mixture of vintage decorative items in the foreground on the shelves. I need to play around with a few wallpapers before deciding which one will look best. I am still looking around for the perfect one, vintage ideally! I have something in mind in my head but am yet to find it....






Also saw this little shelf as I was leaving
and...

this stool. They just had to come back with me too...

A lot painting to be done on Sunday, the stone wall that you can see behind the stool is going to be painted in an Ivory colour, the work room will also be getting some attention as it is nearing completion...Hooray at last!

Thank you to all of you who keep visiting my blog despite me not having been able to visit many of yours of late. I do read and appreciate all your comments and look forward to catching up with your blogs soon. There has been so much going on of late, one of the reasons I have not yet shared with you..but I will soon. ;-)

I wish you all a really good weekend!

A bientôt!

Isabelle X

Vintage shopping

Following on from my previous post, here are some of the things that I bought from Niki's shop. It is hard to go there without coming out empty handed, there are so many beautiful things to tempt you....


I bought a further three pale pink roses as I have an idea of what I'd like to do with them.


I love these colours


I haven't decided yet in which room this picture will go.


The box in itself is so pretty.


This beautiful tablecloth with pink edging

During the week I received some fabric which I recently bought online

Late 19th century beautiful wide satin ribbon.


Vintage towelling fabric


Beautiful blue cabbage rose fabric


Vintage Sanderson curtains

The piece of furniture I spoke of in my last post is being picked up tonight, so no pictures just yet.

VINTAGE FAIR NEWS FLASH: A new fair is being organised by Clare from Daisy Darling (Sorry had trouble adding link) and Lizzie. It's called The Vintage Bazaar for more information, please click on the link.

A bientôt!

Isabelle X

THANK YOU XXXX

THANK YOU for all your emails, comments, prayers and good wishes. They have been of great comfort. It's not been an easy time for our family over recent months. Knowing that others are praying too is comforting. You can never have too many prayers for someone in need of them.


These simple little flowers help brighten up the house.


Larry appreciating the anemones too


On Saturday, we bought a piece of furniture for the lounge which we have to collect with a van as it would not fit in to the car. I also went to Niki's shop with Miss P as she had not been yet. Miss P happily looked through buttons, vintage toys and dresses. Even asking Niki questions about some of the things she found interesting. After we left, Miss P told me that it was better than she had expected, this vintage shop had things that she likes!

You've probably guessed that I came back with some vintage pretties.... More in my next post.

On Sunday, we did some work on the house (for a change...) Alan painted the window frames & windowsill of my workroom off white. I am so glad to see the back of the dark wood. Much brighter now.


A bientôt!

Isabelle X