Time Out.

As many of you may know, I have always tried to keep my blog upbeat and not too personal. Over the last few months I feel I have worked myself into the ground and am now suffering from stress. Reluctantly, I have decided to close my website for a few weeks and I shall also stop Blogging for this time too. I want to take some time-out to rejuvenate myself. I also want to spend some quality time with my girls before my two eldest daughters go off to University at the end of the summer.

I would like to thank all who have made a purchase from my website so far this year. I do intend to have a huge update when I return, with lots of new items and new ideas for gifts or the home. (I will inform all of those on my mailing list when the update has been made and I shall also post it on my blog.)

I have experienced lots of problems with 'Portland' who host my website, which has been out of my control. I therefore expect that when my website is back up and running, these will all be in the past.

I hope that you understand and I also hope that this will be of benefit to my website and blog's future, keeping them both fresh and interesting.

As a taster of what will be to come, here are some photos of some new items that I have been working on recently......

I hope that you all have a fantastic summer (if you are in the Northern hemisphere! Otherwise, winter!) and I look forward to coming back in a few weeks time....

Niki x

Update 25th July - Thanks to all for your kind comments. I am finding it very hard to switch off from my website and am working on a new range of dolls and bags at the moment.

(I have had to turn off anonymous comments to my blog for now, as I have been receiving spam comments.)

Website Problems

Aggghhhh!!
I am very sorry to anyone who has tried to visit my website recently. It is experiencing severe problems and it is impossible to access it. If you have tried to email me via my website address, I will not have received the message. Please use the email contact on my blog if you need to talk to me!
We are working on getting my site back up and running - thank you for your patience.
Niki x

Every Day is Wash Day....

I've been struggling to think of what I can share with you on my blog just lately. We have been experiencing the wettest summer that I can remember, so getting the family's laundry dry has been a problem. I have been spending far too long in here for my liking!....

The laundry room!

Incidentally, our house was once a Bed and Breakfast; I found the old sign in the cellar when we moved in, so I hung it above the door. I have to tell visitors that we are always fully booked though!!

A friend gave me the old wooden clothes airer that hangs from the ceiling. It has been VERY useful during this wet weather.

I made the little fabric pelmet from a damaged embroidered tablecloth and the sheer gingham curtains are French.

My hub clad the whole room in tongue and groove paneling some years ago and I painted it in Farrow and Balls' 'Old White'. He also added the little shelf to break up the height of the walls.

The hooks are useful for storing my peg bag, wash tongs and shopping bags. I have just completed the one in the middle; made from a patchwork of vintage French linens.

The washing powder tablets are stored in an old enamelware rack.

I am hoping to see less of the laundry room - you can't beat washing dried by the summer sunshine....just hope it hurries up and arrives soon!

Antique French Vichy check child's dress.

And the Winner is......

Thank you to all who entered my Birthday Giveaway! I can't believe how many comments I received! Special thanks to all who had the courage to de-lurk!! I placed all the comments I received into the draw and my daughter pulled a name from a vintage hat!
And the winner is..........-Becca-Bluebird Rose! Congratulations Becca!

To everyone else, I am so sorry that you couldn't all win; these are for you!


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I have utilised some of my purchases from the textile fair now. The redwork embroidery is on the kitchen table and the French papers are on the alcove shelf.

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And Sophie asked bloggers to share a photo of their beds! Here is mine; it is a wooden antique bedstead, painted a soft white/grey. I have it piled with cushions - something my husband just doesn't understand! Each morning I plump them up and arrange them on the bed and every evening I have to remove them and pile them up on the floor, so that we can get into bed!

I love my Victorian patchwork quilt that I bought from my local flea market. The red coordinates with the vintage eiderdown at the foot of the bed, which also has to be removed and piled with the cushions every night! hehe!

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I have also been asked about my new sewing machine. It is a 'Singer' and is model number 7464 and I love it!!
Have a great weekend!

Vintage Textile Fair

As I mentioned on my previous post, I visited a Vintage Textile Fair on Friday. It was located in the historic town of Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire. I couldn't resist clicking these few images of the ancient buildings there - I LOVE that tiny gable window!



My purchases from the day included this beautiful little quilted throw, made from 1920's fabric. I bought it from Jen Jones, who is known for her fabulous collection of Welsh quilts and blankets. If you love these old textiles, have a look at her website http://www.jenjones.co.uk/

This charming red-work embroidery has been done by hand on linen and is French. I am going to use it as a table centre on my kitchen dining table.

I bought the pretty piece of French cotton fabric, printed with daisies in the classic French red, perfect for patchwork projects or to dress a rag doll. And I just adore the set of shelf papers......

The exact same ones appear in Kaari Meng's book 'French Inspired Home'!!

I bought some green ones several years ago and always regretted not buying a few more..so couldn't believe my luck that I was able to buy them again!! It's rare to get that second chance with vintage goods......

My other favourite purchase of the day was this pair of charming little pleated fabric lampshade covers. Soooo sweet......I now need to find some old French wire frames for them.

There are often quirky and unusual items that are not textile related at these little fairs. They add fun to the displays and you can never be sure what you may find. The soda syphon was an impulse buy at £2! The bargain of the day! It has an old etched glass bottle with the 'Schweppes' logo and the royal warrant.

The C19th century towel holder has been hung on my kitchen wall already.....

and the plaster rose was an amazing piece of architectural salvage that I just had to buy. On the right are two tiny glass cloches perfect to keep a small treasure dust-free. (Although I am led to believe that they were for blood-letting!! I think display cloches will be a better idea!!)

A fun day's shopping!
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Don't forget if you would like to be included in the prize draw for the little stack of vintage fabrics, please leave your comment on the Birthday post below, before the Friday deadline!