I've just seen...

...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...

...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...

...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...

...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...

...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...

...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...

...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!