Amanda's Diary

I think I...

2012-02-14T12:25:00.006Z

...may have linked to this last Valentines day, but hey, let's make it a tradition! I love it. The final scene from the Italian film Cinema Paradiso, with that stunning film score by Ennio Morricone. Enjoy.

I hope your day is filled with passionate embraces and lots of kisses. X

I've just seen...

2012-02-04T15:41:00.000Z

...Katy Perry's new music video for "the on that got away".

In it she wears a dress that's almost the double of this one that we have.

I'm desperate for a young girlie to buy it to wear for their prom. It's the perfect prom dress.

Monsieur Le P...

2012-01-24T14:52:00.001Z

...has been busy creating again. He's sickeningly talented.

I just love his painting style. He paints in oils and they have that lovely vintage look, popular in the 1930's. So beautiful. This one is destined for the shop it measures 32cm x 37cm (outer edge of the frame) and is £95. He is in demand - there will be more.

I found this...

2012-01-20T15:45:00.001Z

...knitting pattern book the other day. It belonged to my Grandmother and by the looks of it was printed in the 1940's, when girls were "Gels" and fashionable men smoked a pipe.

Obviously in wartime Britain fabrics and clothing were in short supply, so it was common to knit. Often old knitted garments would be unravelled to be knitted into something new. It also seems that there was nothing that couldn't be knitted. This book has patterns for almost everything... including underwear.

This foxy little number has the caption (to be read in a classic clipped British Ealing Studios/BBC accent)
"Who cares if it snows? Certainly no one if they're wearing this variation of the vest and pantie set. It is knitted in such fine wool that it can be worn under a fitting frock, and is so warm you can laugh at a north-east wind"
HA north-east wind! I laugh at you!

There are also some rather bonkers knitted hat designs. I'm calling this one the "Flock of Seagulls".

However this is the one that really made me chortle.

Ooo-er missis! I particularly like the use of the Bull-Worker as a fashion accessory. Wonder if you could knit it in shetland wool?

I do love...

2012-01-11T17:01:00.000Z

...India Knight. She's a hoot. I love her books and newspaper column. She also writes a blog. Her latest entry made me laugh outloud...

Funky Rain-Mates. Genius! It might be my age, but what's not to love about a natty fold-away hood to keep the rain off your blue rinse!

Did you have...

2012-01-04T14:24:00.000Z

...a wonderful Christmas? I had a really lovely time this year. It was relaxed and relaxing. There were many pyjama days. For me, it was a rosey affair which I absolutely loved.

Firstly, these bad boys - just heavenly. They were even sweetly scented!

Gorgeous rosey coasters. A gift from The Mad Woman of Yorkshire. She came down to visit and us Mamma's did "The Hump" after a couple of egg-nogs...it's a DANCE!

A little bit of heaven from Charbonnel & Walker...my most favourite chocolatiers.

Best of all; this piece of gorgeousness. Hoping to have more from the artist for the shop and website very soon. Let you into a secret...it's the very talented Monsieur Le P, also purveyor of lovely photographs and websites. Clever sort.

Finally, nothing says Christmas like a new pair of slippers!

Wishing you all a very wonderful new year.

The decorations are...

2011-12-14T12:43:00.000Z

...starting to go up at Knox Towers. Here's what I'm quite pleased with.

Big paper balls hanging over the dining table.

I dragged a branch in from the garden and stuck it in a pot on the dining room mantle-shelf. Added some fairy lights and a few vintage decorations and mini paper stars.

Piled some sorbet coloured vintage baubles in a big old jar.

Put some white paper stars around the dining room window.

Piled the urn on the fireplace in the sittingroom with red and white balls and added some glittery roses.
The sitting room's not quite there yet, it just needs...more. More faffing to be done I think!

Is it wrong...

2011-12-07T14:14:00.000Z

...that I am an oasis of calm, whilst all around me seems like chaos? I have had customers rushing to the counter with cries of "That's it! Just 4 more Secret Santa presents to buy and I'm done!" I have done virtually nothing. I've bought chocolate coins for the childrens stockings but not much more. Haven't even made The List yet. Yet I feel quite calm - why is that?
I'm having much love for some of the things in the shop this week...

The layers of paint on this mirror - pink, grey and gold - to.die.for.

These clutch purses, made by the clever lady who makes our pin jars...

Our rose vases. Might have to gift one to someone special...me!

On another note; I've had my front door painted dark grey. What do we think? Quite nice for in town I thought. I love my wonky old door, there's not a straight line on it. Bet it has a few stories to tell - it's about 250 years old!

Never judge a book...

2011-11-17T11:00:00.000Z

...by it's cover.
Yesterday a courier driver came in with a big delivery for us. He was a big feller, high-vis vest, steel toe-cap boots, many tattoo's and the odd piercing. I thanked him and squiggled on his electronic pad thingy. As he was leaving the shop he stopped in his tracks and looked at one of these...

"How much are they?" Says he. "£4.90" says I. "I'll take one" Says he. I carefully wrapped it in pink tissue and off he went looking quite pleased, I have to say.
N'aaaaaaw! So sweet! Love to know who he bought it for!

Those clever sorts...

2011-11-15T14:25:00.001Z

...at Country Homes & Interiors (December issue) borrowed some of our vintage French jam jars and used them for prawn cocktail! I know it's a bit Margot and Gerry meets Abigails Party, but I bloomin' love a good prawn cocktail!

Brilliant idea putting them in our vintage jam jars. They'd be great for puddings too. Eaton mess would look fantastic in them...or what about individual trifles? Yumeh!

Fa-la-la...

2011-11-03T19:15:00.000Z

...la-la-la-la-la-la! It's 7.10pm and I'm still at the shop putting the finishing touches to the Christmas displays. It looks GORGEOUS! (even if I say so myself)

We've got some super-lovely things this year, so if you can come tomorrow and be the first to see everything, please do. We're open tomorrow (Friday 4th November) from 10am-7pm and Saturday from 10am-5pm.

Hope to see you here for mulled wine, mince pie's and a lot of sparkle!

XXX

We're featured in...

2011-10-19T12:45:00.001+01:00

...this month's (November) issue of Coast magazine. This time last year, they joined us in Norfolk while we there for half term and took pictures of us and the house.

Coast is a lovely magazine and well worth a look. Lots of lovely beach huts and houses by the sea to drool over.

David Austin roses...

2011-09-30T14:07:00.000+01:00

...from the florist in the village.

What can I say? A little piece of heaven. They smell too. What with these and the unbelievable weather, we're feeling all a bit July in the shop today and tomorrow it's October! What gives?
Anyway, I'm bunking off early today, I've found an amazing blackberry-ing spot. I could tell you where it is, but...blah, blah. Jam making for me this weekend! Well, that and a couple of wines with the girlies tomorrow night. It could get silly...
Bon weekend! XXX

Annie has been...

2011-09-27T15:53:00.000+01:00

...at it again.

Went to wonderful...

2011-09-19T12:15:00.000+01:00

...Norfolk this weekend. Hadn't realised that Sherringham was holding it's annual 40's Weekend. 1940's enthusiasts come from all over to ride in authentic cars and buses ...

...dress in amazing authentic clothing...

...listen to authentic music...

...and take trips on the authentic steam trains...

There were some amazing sights and some fabulous clothes, we thought we'd stumbled onto the set of Foyles War. Many of the men went for the WWII army look and we saw several "Captain Mainwarings" ("Don't tell 'em your name Pike!) a couple of "Seargent Wilsons" and even a few "Jones's". Everyone had gone to SO much effort - all the shops in Sherringham had sandbags and criss-crossed tape on their windows - most had 1940's window displays - The Lobster pub even had bullet holes! Wouldn't have missed it for anything. I absolutely LOVE Norfolk!

One of Annie's...

2011-09-08T13:13:00.000+01:00

...homegrown tomato's.

Oooh-eer missis! Trust Annie to grow fruit porn.

We've just got...

2011-08-30T14:45:00.000+01:00

...back from France. It was heavenly as always. The sun shone.

The children had a "Swallows and Amazons" time playing in the pool, swimming in the river and hanging out with their friends there, while I searched for treasure and sampled a glass (or two) of wine!

The village reminds me of the film Chocolat; there are so many characters. The handsome local farmer who rides his horses bareback around the village with no shirt on. The curved backed old lady who wears a woolley cardi, socks and slippers with a tabbard whatever the weather and the nutty old bloke who sweeps the street and speaks with such a strong Charantais accent that no one can understand him! There's always gossip to catch up on and lovely friends to see.

I miss it already.

This is Ruby...

2011-08-04T13:38:00.000+01:00

...She modelled for us on our home page and for the cute "Chien Lunatique" signs. She belongs to Monsieur Le P. He can mostly be heard shouting "Ruby, you $*@@ idiot!" at her when she's around. He says she has a brain the size of a lentil and is worthy of a doggy ASBO. She eats strange things like bags of raw potatoes and washing powder tablets. She was angellic when we did our shoot though!

I have finally...

2011-08-04T12:24:00.004+01:00

...had my lovely old French sign hung in my kitchen. Most satisfying. Lovely sun-worn colours.

I've also been listening to this song alot. Think it will be my summer song for this year...

Are you sure I couldn't get away with dying my hair the same Tomato Soup red?...
Pfft...whatevs...

Must tell you...

2011-07-19T14:58:00.001+01:00

...Atlanta Barlett, who wrote "At Home With White" has written a new book called Pale and Interesting. It's absolutely lovely. Right up our street. One's coming home with me tonight!

Lovely times in...

2011-07-19T13:41:00.000+01:00

...Norfolk at the weekend with my lovely sis-in-law Alex. Her daughter India...Boo from Monsters Inc. Adorable.

Think Alex has forgotten the "Joys" of an English summer after living in NYC for so long!

It was my...

2011-07-12T16:51:00.000+01:00

...birthday last weekend. It was satisfyingly flower filled. Above for the garden, below for the house.

Tea and cake on Friday after work and dinner on Saturday night. This was the table before dinner. The after dinner table was a slightly more bottle strewn, messy affair. It was a balmy evening and it ended with us all in the garden singing cheesy songs accompanied by Felix and Monsieur le P on guitar. Badly. The singing, not the guitaring. Sunday was a write off.

This is how...

2011-06-24T13:24:00.000+01:00

...my sorry little garden looked when I bought my house in late summer 2009.

Then in May last year it looked like this...

...then this a few weeks later.

Then in May this year, there was much hammering and banging at the bottom of the garden...

Then tadaaa!

I love my shed!

Are you jamming...

2011-06-21T13:39:00.001+01:00

...this year? I hope to be. Once the children break up. Which is in 30 days, 1 hour, 45 minutes and 38 seconds. Not that I'm counting or anything. Thought I might try raspberry this year after my rather triumphant blackberry last year. We've just had more Jam Makers sets in, you get lovely labels and lid covers - everything to make your homemade jams and chutneys look top notch.

We're also got loads of gorgeous vintage French jam jars in, snap them up quick you domestic goddesses!

My little boy...

2011-06-14T14:57:00.000+01:00

...is 15 today. He's an annoying potty-mouth at times; seems to lack the ability to pick up a towel once he has dropped it on his bedroom floor and leaves a trail of mess, noise and debris where ever he goes. He's just shy of 6 foot now and thinks it hilarious that he can look down at me. He thinks I'm a total embarrassment and gets cross when I toot and wave when I see him out with his friends, (it makes me do it all the more). He's mostly a pain in the neck. He makes me laugh though. A lot.

I won't lie...

2011-06-11T14:34:00.000+01:00

...I'm feeling a bit tired and emotional after this week. Last Sunday I hurtled into London in search of luscious things for this website at a trade fair. Ordered the first of the Christmas stock...I know, a world gone mad. Then I got up at 4.30 on Monday to sniff out vintage and antique treasure at a fair. Then did the whole up with the larks thing again on Thursday for another fair. I'm now bent over like a comma from all the walking/carrying heavy stuff and resemble a troll from middle earth.
Worth it though, because I found this little piece of heaven!...

Happy weekend! X

Half term Glamping...

2011-06-04T14:14:00.000+01:00

...in the garden. I had four girlies in little tents doing lots of giggling under piles of duvets and floral eiderdowns. On the same night, Felix and 9 friends were doing whatever the opposite of Glamping is in a field somewhere...emanating unpleasant smells from the trainer area and using lots of inappropriate language if I know him and his friends...all under a toxic cloud of Lynx Africa. Bless 'em.

Monsieur Le P...

2011-06-04T11:28:00.001+01:00

...has given the Norfolk house's website a bit of a shampoo and set.

Have a look, I think it looks lovely! It's heavenly there at the moment with the weather as it is and don't forget we're giving a 10% discount on bookings before the end of September.

I love these...

2011-05-27T12:55:00.001+01:00

...sweet little glass cake stands and domes that arrived yesterday. Perfect for a little cake for two, a cup cake, or a few truffles.

I wish you could smell these...the smell of summer...

...and these. I bought them from the funny, old fashioned greengrocer around the corner from my house. He gets them from his friend's allotment. Proper!

Happy weekending!

Just back from...

2011-05-20T10:52:00.000+01:00

...the florists round the corner. The girlies there are always good for a for a gossip and a cackle.

We compared flip-flops, purses and teenager stories.

We cackled about their "Christmas Party" that's tomorrow night.

I came away with my arms full of sweetly scented stocks and peonies.

Most satisfying.

Now I am back in the shop, busy suspending lamp shades that look like 1950's hats from the ceiling.

Nice I think.

Must also share with you, the Lupins and Delphiniums in my garden. They're putting on quite a show this year.

Lovely!

Have a fun weekend y'all!

The lovely people...

2011-05-14T12:49:00.000+01:00

...at Country Homes & Interiors have named us Shop of the Month in this months issue, which is jolly nice of them!

Ha ha ha...

2011-05-03T13:01:00.000+01:00

...knit one purl one!

Did you watch?...

2011-04-30T16:59:00.000+01:00

...We did. I loved every bit of it. That dress...the trees, the lily of the valley (I said it would be Lily of the valley) they way they looked at each other, the Aston Martin.
I cried when he so obviously said to her "You look absolutely beautiful". The children thought this was hilarious.

Felix: "Are you crying?"
Me: "No!" sniff.
Felix: "You are! You're crying! Girls! Mum's crying! Why are you crying?"

Well, it's been an emotional week.

If I had to be ultra picky? Pippa might have chosen a shade or two lighter on the spray tan shade-card and maybe that dress was just a tad too foxy for an event like that - she looked utterly gorgeous though.

Cheer up Posh, it might never happen.

Beatrice and Eugenie...Oh dear.

Earl Spencers daughters? Va-va-voom!

It made me proud to be British. We do do pomp and ceremony really rather well don't we!

Madame Le Ginge...

2011-04-28T16:46:00.000+01:00

...Rest in peace.
There's not a tissue left in this house. We've moved on to toilet roll.

Forget-me-nots and blossom...

2011-04-12T15:31:00.000+01:00

...from my garden. White cherry blossom in a jug on the kitchen table. Forget-me-nots grown from seeds that Flora planted last year and pale pink blossom on the espalier apple tree against the wall.

There's exciting goings ons at the bottom of my garden. Will post pictures as soon as it's ready...

I've been called...

2011-04-06T11:33:00.001+01:00

...Amanda Cox this week. I prefer last week's version...

Now that has a certain ring to it, don't you think?

Not too porn star?

Didn't think so.

Are you ready...

2011-03-30T13:37:00.000+01:00

...for Mothers Day? Mine's kicking her heels and flirting with the Doctor in La Belle France. I'm hoping to be treated like a Duchess by my own little brood though. God knows I've dropped enough hints for present idea's! I'm hoping for posh bouquets and Rose and Violet creams. The reality, particularly in Felix's case, will be anything I like from the petrol station as long as it costs under £2. Ah well...

For a fascinating...

2011-03-24T20:43:00.000Z

...insight into the world of the New York fashion scene, check out my impossibly glamorous sister-in-law's blog. I almost sprout ears of corn from behind my ears I feel such a hick when we get together, but she's utterly gorgeous and the most amazing Auntie to the children.

I love this...

2011-03-23T14:49:00.000Z

...song at the moment. Best played at high volume whilst driving. I'm thinking of dying my hair the same colour.
Too much?
Thought so.
The kids looked utterly horrified when I mentioned it.
The shop looks very pretty at the moment, our planters outside are nothing short of a triumph!

I'm quite aware...

2011-03-16T11:05:00.001Z

...that I'm not the kitten I once was (see here). However I think even I have plumbed new depths of codger-dom with my latest bedside reading...

I still have...

2011-03-10T20:57:00.001Z

...lots of my books from when I was a child. I dug them out the other day. These are a few of my favourites. My absolute favourite was The Diddakoi by Rumer Godden. It was a TV series too called Kizzy and is entirely responsible for my life-long, deep-rooted wish to own a gypsy caravan! I read it to my two girls a couple of years ago, and still bawled my eyes out when the old horse dies! The pictures in these books instantly transport me back to when I wore Mary Quant smock dresses and sat in the back of my Dad's Volvo Estate listening to his cassette tapes of The Carpenter's...happy times!

Do you remember any of these?

Just going through...

2011-03-04T11:59:00.001Z

...this months press coverage. I love, love, love this story in the new Period Living styled by Selina Lake.

Pale backgrounds with splashes of bright Spring colours. She borrowed quite a few bits from us for the shoot - pink mercury glass candle holders, eiderdowns etc. Gorgeous!

Just back from...

2011-03-03T12:31:00.001Z

...Jenny the florists with arm fulls of Spring flowers. SO cheering on a day as flat and grey as a witch's...

If, like me...

2011-02-26T15:47:00.000Z

...you think this winter has been going on quite long enough, you might want to look at some pictures of France in the summer...

...it might help you remember what sunshine looks like!

Bon weekend tout le monde!

I also love...

2011-02-26T15:01:00.001Z

...this company. They make the most beautiful jewellery. It's all so creative and wonderfully styled.

They also have a great blog, but I can't seem to find the link to it now, which I realise is no use to man nor beast!

I love these...

2011-02-24T15:15:00.000Z

...little paper lanterns.

They were a Christmas gift from The Mad Woman of Yorkshire. I've lined them along a ledge in my kitchen and they look very jolly indeed! I don't know where she got them from, but they'd be very easy to make. Just an oblong of wallpaper or card with evenly spaced cuts, fold it in half lengthways to create the crease and then secure into a tube shape et voila!

Albert Camus quote...

2011-02-18T11:08:00.005Z

...In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.

Bit deep for a Friday?
Thought so.
Happy weekend!

Valentine's Day on...

2011-02-11T14:49:00.001Z

...Monday. Here is my Valentine's gift to you...

May your day be filled with passionate kisses.

And if you've never seen Cinema Paradiso...you must.

Vintage treasure...

2011-02-08T12:49:00.000Z

...that I picked up last week. From about 1900 I would guess and SO beautiful. I like to picture the lady who originally owned them dabbing a few drops of extract of Violet or White Rose behind her ears before retiring to the morning room to write her letters.

Monsieur Le P has been called to do them justice with his camera and add them to the website...

A little treat...

2011-02-05T11:24:00.003Z

...on a windy Saturday morning. My favourite website of all time (apart from this one of course).
http://www.apollineaparis.com
It's utterly beautiful, whimsical nonsense! Perfect.

Good times were had...

2011-02-04T13:27:00.002Z

...this weekend with the Mad Woman of Yorkshire...aka Annalisa. I think this picture sums it up.

Much time was spent lolling around slurping the bubbly stuff whilst gening up on the latest fashion trends/who's got cellulite/who's just broken up with whom, in our favourite magazine Grazia.

Flares are back apparently...boo. Kimono style jackets are the new thing for summer. This is a good thing we have decided, as anything loose and voluminous is always good for hiding lumpy bits.

Armed with this information, I have been up before the birds this week searching for vintage treasure and found, to my delight, some orignal 1930's kimono style wraps that I think would look stunning over jeans or a simple shift dress. Not on me though. I'd just look like a mental old hippy.

Plus of course, lots more gorgeousness, such as this French armoire that makes me happy just to look at it!

To buy it, I had to endure half an hour of rapid fire French plus much hugging, squeezing and kissing on both cheeks from the redoubtable Michel. I've been buying from him for years and he finds me wonderful things, so it's worth it. At times it's like an extreme sport, my job.

Bracing myself for...

2011-01-28T16:01:00.004Z

...a weekend with Annalisa. She'll be hurtling down the A1 tomorrow for a couple of nights chez nous.

There may be cocktails, there may be champagne, there may be inappropriate behaviour for ladies of our age...I couldn't possibly say.

Here's us more years ago than I care to remember!

Happy weekend tout le monde!

A treat on...

2011-01-24T16:23:00.000Z

...a Monday. They make me happy just looking at them. Think they're called Avalanche? Heavenly, whatever they're called.

Got them from lovely Jenny, who has the florists just round the corner from the shop.

A present from...

2011-01-21T12:30:00.000Z

...Monsieur Le P. If only!

Is it possible...

2011-01-21T12:19:00.001Z

...to love a chest of drawers? If it is, then I love this one. It is too gorgeous for words. As gorgeous, dare I say it, as Rufus Sewell. Only with more drawer space.

Look how quickly these babies have grown! Above...2-3 days ago..

below...now!

White ones are the best, don't you think?

Rufus Sewell is...

2011-01-18T14:08:00.001Z

...a man worth staying in for on Sunday nights. Especially bedecked in gorgeous tailoring against a Roman backdrop. In my dreams I am that gorgeous sultry beauty who plays his love interest, with her never-ending wardrobe of satin blouses. I nearly threw my slipper at the television when they locked in a passionate embrace...lucky cow. I saw him in the flesh once, years ago in one of those trendy London clubs that media types hang out in. Stood next to him at the bar. Yup. Just as gorgeous in the flesh. I wanted to stroke him, but thought I might get thrown out.

My office pin board...

2011-01-15T13:06:00.001Z

.. is a bit of a chaotic affair. There are about a million photographs, postcards, magazine pages, bits of ribbon, addresses, reminders etc. all thrown on in a haphazard fashion. It's inches thick in some places.

I've just made this slightly more restrained version to hang in my bedroom. Thought I might make some up to sell in the shop if it pleases...

Monsieur Le P...

2011-01-13T14:01:00.001Z

...has been fiddlin' again and has set me up with this smart new diary. This one you can sign up to if you want and add your own half pounds worth! I refuse to call it a "Blog" on the grounds that it's an unattractive word. I might go with "Bloge", with a soft "g"...sounds a lot nicer don't you think? Actually, I think he thinks that a halfwit like me will find this one easier to work. What do you think?

Ventured out into my garden this week. Haven't been further than the bins and back for weeks. Joy of joys, I found tiny signs of life! The first tips of the spring bulbs showing through the soil and fat buds on the apple tree. Yippee! Roll on spring!

For Christmas I got...

2011-01-12T21:37:00.001Z

...Wellies and slippers. What does that say about me do you suppose? I'm not complaining of course, but there was a time when I got killer heels and Champagne.

Happy New year etc. etc.
I've already tried the wellies out on the beach ...they work perfectly.