I'm starting to...

...run out of steam. We've sent out more parcels than ever this year, which is great, but I go to bed dreaming of bubble wrap and tape guns.
Nearly there though. I've even had time to put some decorations up at home.

I sprayed some twigs white, stuck them in a bucket and added all my favourite vintage decorations in the kitchen.

Steve McQueen in a Santa hat. I was given this card years ago by Monsiuer Le P, but stick it up every year, just because it's so great!

It's Little Miss Ninja Kittys first Christmas and she's been eyeing up the decorations as if they're giant cat toys!

I've gone all white paper pom-poms, and paper stars in the dining room.

Don't forget you get a very usueful 15% off when you spend over £15 on Christmas stuff!
Happy Christmas shopping y'all!

Does this look...

...familiar?

Monsieur Le P has been working his magic again...

I absolutely love the colours in the petals of the Hydrangea head, and if someone doesn't snap this one up soon, it's coming home with me.http://www.decorativecountryliving.com/vintage/enamelware/enamelware_015.html#.ULeTeUZx7aE

You seem to...

...love our Free UK Delivery on Christmas offer. Martin our lovely, ever cheerful  FedEx driver has been collecting the larger parcels. All the smaller parcels go by post from our tiny village post office brilliantly run by Richard, but when I stand in the queue with 2 giant sacks of parcels every day, I do imagine the eye's of the locals, who just popped in to buy a stamp, burning into my back with hatred. Sorry good people of Caythorpe!

Anyway, the offer only lasts until the end of November, so don't delay if you're thinking of making an order as it really is a good deal and certainly beats braving the shops at this time of year!

Also, some Christmas items are either sold out, or very low in stock and we don't re-stock Christmas items - don't say we didn't warn you!

Do you know..

...anyone sporting a 'tache for "Movember"? Monsieur le P thought that Daniel Craig's good looks could only be enhanced with one of our gentleman's doormats.

I think it works, don't you?
Anyway, to go with M.Le P's wizard photoshoppery, we're going to make a donation to this very worthy cause every time someone buys a doormat during Movember!

Ok, so now...

...there are less than 60 days until Christmas. Our Christmas selection is now on-line in all it's loveliness. I know, it seems very early, to some of you, but we're only responding to those who like to get cracking early when it comes to Christmas. Me, I'm more of a ignore-it-and-then-panic kind of preson.

It's nice to get inspired though isn't it. Don't dilly too much though, as always with our Christmas stock, when it's gone, it's gone!

I don't mean...

...to instill panic in any of you, but it's 62 days until Christmas. I know. Horrific. We're very nearly there with this years Christmas selection and I'm so pleased with everything. Here's a sneaky peak.

 

Fingers crossed, it should all be on-line by the end of tomorrow. That is if  Monsieur Le P doesn't keel over due to lack of sleep, chronic web developers elbow, flickering eye ball or any other computer related injury.

I do love...

...going to Norfolk at this time of year. Especially when the sun shines, the leaves are turning and we get to have long walks on the beach and buy these...

...in the local village shop! I mean, what's not to love?
Norfolk is full of cosy pubs with roaring log fires; the sort of place you want to be at this time of year eating comfort food. This is one of the best nearby... http://www.theguntonarms.co.uk/

Did you see us in the little "Vintage Notebook" that Country Living Magazine gave away this month?

Jolly nice of them to include us, and just as well we've just added lots of new vintage bits...
Latest arrivals

Monsieur Le P...

...just couldn't resist a quick go on the lovely little original vintage guitar we've just added to the website. Too clever by half that one.

Does anyone know...

...what I can do about these?

I have rather a lot of them. Is there some crafty Percy Thrower type trick that's been handed down through the generations, or is only spoken of in the closed order of the allotment keeper, that turns green tomato's red? Or failing that, does anyone have a really good recipe for green tomato chutney?!

Today I have...

...had a lovely play with our new, pretty, sticky fabric tapes.

They look great as shelf edging.

They're fun to jazz up jam jars.

They are great for mounting pictures or photographs or making mood boards or collages.

A great way to give a plain old picture frame a face lift.

Or a lovely way to gift wrap, make cards, gift tags or stationery. They're really easy to work with as they peel off very easily if you don't get it right the first time (although always check the surface you want to stick them to is suitable) One top tip though; measure and cut them while they are still on the peel-off backing - they are a s@d to cut once you peel this off!
That's all for now!

Bonjour, bonjour, bonjour...

...tout le monde.
France this year was heavenly as always.

The geraniums in the garden were bright and jolly...

The paint on the shutters of the house looked perfect...

The lavender was just finishing but smelled heavenly...

The Deux Chevaux behaved beautifully after her "Controle Technique" (MOT) and made numerous trips round the local villages...

Late night swimming was a favourite with the children...

Emptying these was a favourite with the Mummies!

Treasure hunting is always a bit thin on the ground during August, but a few choice bits and bobs are winging their way back to base, including some of the wonderful vintage jam jars that I know lots of you are waiting for, so stand by!

I just love...

...these...

...and these...

...and these are just genius if you have a non-working fireplace, but still want a flickering real flame effect. Just add tea-lights or church candles. I'm imagining them at Christmas with ivy twirled all around them...lovely!


Brighton was wonderful last week.

I just love the slightly bonkers "anything goes" attitude in that town.

They Salsa dance on the beach front band-stand on sunny evenings.

Finally, imagine my delight, when digging up some spuds for dinner this week in my teeny-weeny vegetable patch,  this baby popped up!

Too nice to eat though! Enjoy the sunshine if you have some!

In the garden...

 ...at Knox Towers. The roses and lavender have been lovely when they haven't been thrashed by rain.

The dahlia's are looking delightfully gaudy and the Phlox (Peppermint twist) looks dreamy.

The first of the cherry tomato's are ripening in the window boxes.

We had a lovely few days in Norfolk this week with my sister-in-law and my adorable niece.

Off to Brighton next week plus lots of new things arriving for the website! Busy, busy! Must get on...
Have a fun weekend tout le monde X

This little scrap...

...of gorgeousness came to stay this week.

The other little scrap of gorgeousness was singularly unimpressed.

Anyway, we've just had a bundle of really wonderful quilts and eiderdowns in, we're photographing and putting them on the website this week, so stand by because they are 50 Shades Of Gorgeous!

In other news; we have decided to close the shop for the summer holidays while we re-jig and refurbish. The website will be running exactly as normal, but make sure you are signed up to our on-line mailing list to hear all the forthcoming shops news and planned events!