New Years Resolution # 1 - To read more books

I love books!

I have so many I could start a library.

Books from my childhood, old books with funny titles, books that just say 'buy me'

because they look or feel so beautiful.

Here are a few newbies I've recently added to my collection.

dottie angel

has been my constant companion since I moved here

in November.  It is crammed with inspiration both through

her words and quirky photos.

The cover has a machine stitched postcard on the front

with trailing thread and a dottie angel name tag glued to the back

giving it a journal feel.

There are lots and lots of scrummy pictures to 'ooh' and 'ahh' over.

As an avid collector of, well lots of things really,

I found this book fascinating.

Since moving home the thought of being able to put whatever I want

on any wall I choose has been quite daunting.

(Like starting a new  page in a journal)

This book encourages you to experiment.

Now I've started there's no stopping me!

(but that's a blog for another day)

I love Kirstie.

However I have struggled with her last tv series.

I felt it was rather' fixed'.

This book has great photos and 50 different projects to try.

Would I buy it again?

Sadly no :(

Etcetera by Sibella Court

 is so tactile.

It has a brown paper dust jacket

and pages set out like a sketchbook.

Very useful for collectors of 'stuff'.

Showing unusual ways to display your treasure.

Wonderful, organic feel.

Although the idea of living in a pale environment

really appeals to me

the reality of living with two dogs and

the fact that I am incapable of taking my

boots off every time I go in and out the house

means that this is a book of 

fanciful dreams in my present world.

It is lovely to sit with a cuppa and dream though.

Cath Kidston - Patch - Buy it!

It is so full of colour, ideas, patterns and a kit.

 Love it!

My final newbie is Rachel Ashwell's

Shabby Chic Inspirations

and it does as it says on the cover.

Jam packed with beautiful spaces to drool over.

Including Rachel's Malibu beach house ...

even her laundry looks lovely!

I will return soon with another resolution.

Have you made any?

Hugs

Daisy xxx

Happy New Year

Wishing you all the best of New Years.

May your lives be blessed with health and happiness.

See you in 2012

Love and hugs

Daisy xxx

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

The needle and thread has been out again.

I've been working on this little antique dolls shirt.

The tiny bead work round the neck, sleeves and hem...

All hand sewn with love.

 Every bead neatly spaced.

Now hanging in my dining room on a pair of  soft pink wings.

Merry Christmas to all my blogging friends.

May it be filled with peace and love for you all.

Love

Daisy xxx

Daisy's decorations

A few Christmas photos as promised.

The kitchen after the stainless steal cupboards were removed.

For now I have added a couple of shelves until

the work surfaces are replaced

and the walls are re-tiled.

They have also aloud extra space for a few festive trimmings....

and twinkly lights.

Holly from the garden, heart wreaths and snowflakes

in the kitchen window.

After a two year search I have found the tree

from my childhood to display my vintage baubles.

While helping to put Mums tree up last week my sister and I found a box

of glass baubles belonging to our grandparents.

This one was among them.

The lilac bell was on the Christmas tree

when I was a child and I love it.

I found this scarlet childs dress in France a

couple of years ago.

I've embroidered 'Joyeux Noel' on the

front of it and hung it in the kitchen.

A simple addition but another favourite.

A quick picture of the tree.

My first year without a real tree.

I have to say I miss the smell of pine

but I like the fact that this tree will stay

looking the same until I take it down in the new year.

Last years real tree looked shocking by Boxing Day!

Ahh! Now for the mystery shot from last night!

Looking for some inspiration for wall spaces

I sat and looked through my Dottie Angel book

Tif had laid wooden reels on vintage fabric

in the shape of a heart.

I started arranging my jar of reels on the table...
hmmm.....
 I wonder if I stick a few nails in the freshly painted wall?

Ha! It worked!!!

I love the mixture of colours.

I love the hanging thread.

I love the labels
and I love the fact that no one can moan that I've done it!

Not the most obvious things to have on the wall

but I'm thrilled with it.

What do you think?

Thanks for reading and for the lovely comments yesterday.

Love

Daisy xxx

Daisy's Home

To say I'm feeling happy is an understatement!

Finally after 7 weeks of stress, wasted days and high 

mobile phone bills and still no connection from Sky

 I have been connected back to blogland with the super efficient service of Virgin Media. 

(It took them 2 working days from my phone request to being up and running!)

I have missed reading all of your blogs and I'm now trying to catch up 

with everyone.

To cope with the stress I've been making little bits of

Christmas. 

A baby sock  embroidered in red linen thread inspired by Jessie Chorley 

and below a glass bauble filled with soft white glitter and

bits of vintage fabric hanging on a pink silk ribbon.

Slowly, things have started to take shape...

My two heroes have built my new wardrobes.

Christmas has started to appear.

I've had great fun finding new places for all the

decorations to go.

(I will post more photos tomorrow)

I have also learnt how to use a drill, and let

me tell you, I feel totally liberated!

No wall is safe now from my new found talent!

This cabinet from Decorative Country Living is filled

with all things Daisy along with some vintage Christmas treasure.

A close up of the Christmas bauble...

 a glimpse at the hallway decorations...

and finally,  a teaser picture!

All will be revealed tomorrow!

Its so lovely to be back.

Thanks for reading.

Love 

Daisy xxx