Off we go.

Bags are packed, children have been cleaned and polished....we are going away for a week.

We are off to paddle in the Red Sea and hopefully see some tropical fish (Matilda is hoping for sharks) catch some rays and re charge.

Photo from Waters Edge by Sally Gall

Little treasures

A few little treasures from the toy box at Cox and Cox. A few of these might just have to find their way into Santa's stocking at our house.

Matilda will love the mouse in his sleeping box. Especially if she gets to cram it shut, while shouting 'night night' at the top of her lungs. Which is exactly why we will need those plasters, from that poor bear resting upon that shelf.

Dillon would love to try out the marble game especially now he has perfected hopscotch, it's something else I can call an outdoor pursuit. I used to be the marble champion at my primary school. I took out the reigning (male) champion in one fell swoop. As you can imagine it did not go down so well. But hey, we need to show them who is boss occasionally, don't we?

Plumo

Here are a few gorgeous finds from Plumo that caught my eye.

1.Cora Lee jewellery.

2.Ivy velvet purse

3. Taj Mahal fire screen

4. Sari stool

One of my favourite places...

Down a hidden alley near where Charlie Chaplin used to live, is one of my favourite finds. Petersham Nurseries. Splashing through puddles, past planters and barrows heavily speckled with jewelled flowers, you can make your way through to the cafe and tea house.

The tea house sits proudly, surrounded as if in a wooden cabin, you can sit and have wonderful cakes and artisan teas. The cafe serves a grand lunch cooked by Australian chef and Vogue food writer Skye Gyngell, on antique tables and chairs, with fairy lights glowing around, all within a large greenhouse and garden shop. Except this is no ordinary nursery shop. Filled to the brim with festive delights, my kids could not help themselves. They grinned while lifting the tea cups and saucers, and cheerfully shrieked as they drank the heady smells of Christmas.

Drive by Dahlia

Today I have two little sick people. When one is hot the other is cold. when the other is hot the other is cold. It has been one of those days. Their highlight was scooting to the post office. My highlight was zooming past an old house, with a planter of Dahlias. Their faces shining, blowing in the wind. The small things. Watch out for the small things, Maine Momma has taught me this. A year ago I struggled and she shone her torch, I caught the beam and she showed me how. For 365 days last year and well into this one, she photographed something new each day that she was grateful for. Open your eyes take a deep breath, and spy the small things. They will ease you; pull you through to see another day.

Dahlia by Troy Kujala

Come on over girls....

It started with this.... Please sir blogging about Dottie Angel. Now as some of you know; I am very partial to a handbag or two. My obsession ceased after a sample of my pregnancy pee leaked, on my way to the midwives, in one of my good bags. Also since having kids, one discovers you need to take half the kitchen and bathroom with you each time you close the front door, and no matter how hard you try, it does not fit into your handbag. So that was it for me, I never felt it was worth carrying something gorgeous, until I saw these beauties! Ooooo be still heart, her shop is well and truly empty.

Then I saw her home, it is beautiful. White, clean and tidy. She has kids, many of them. It can't be true.

And then.... my eyes popped out of their sockets when I saw these........

I have sent, not one, not two but three begging emails, as I not only want a bag and apron. I need them. I am willing to trade the kids.

News just in;
Tif aka dottieangel emailed me to say she is busy freezing out back, making a homemade Christmas tree, and that she will be restocking her shop on the 4th of December. 

Sunshine on a rainy day.

Christmas lights, chasing cousins, building a den, soup and hot rolls, hopscotch, sleeping off lunch, picking daddy up from the airport, chatting over hot tea, painting party invitations, thank you sunshine we had fun today. Will you be back for more tomorrow?

Decorate those pins.

These Miu Miu pins stopped me in my tracks. Oh, if only I had somewhere to go other than picking up my kids from nursery.

Would I, could I?

I saw this, and thought would I, could I, cut up my wedding dress and do something similar??? It is made of heavy embroidered lace, a lot smaller in design than this, with a pale pink background, I am sure I couldn't...could I?

Rosanna crochet bed and douvet set designed by Paola Navone for Ivano Redaelli.

Patchwork Couture

Well I know it has been around for a while, but after my posting yesterday I can't get patchwork out of my mind. So I went to the most obvious breeding place; Squint, in a bid to get it out of my system, at least until I get back into my own home. English damasks and satins get stretched and sewn onto antique furniture frames. Patchwork Couture at it's best.

Salt Dough Christmas Decorations

Yesterday I went into my children’s nursery to make salt dough decorations to hang on the Christmas tree. I was greeted by 15 smiles, all very eager to get their hands sticky.

We kneaded, pounded, poked, and rolled out the dough. Some thick, some thin. Over and over we rolled and re rolled. Finally the cutters came out and the pressing and stamping began. Slowly but surly animals and shapes began to emerge. Squirrels, snails, bears, hedgehogs, foxes and even a moose, all were placed gently onto the baking tray ready to bake in the warm oven. Before you knew it out they came, and we covered them and ourselves with paint and glitter.

I left behind 15 even happier smiles and a menagerie of Christmas glitter.

Gypsy Patch

I met up with a friend of old today, the type that you can natter all day with, and not notice the hours passing you by. We both share a love of interiors so it was a pleasure to see her home and what she has done, and what she plans to do.

We talked about days of old, paint colours, and wall paper patchworks. I always thought I would do this in Matilda's room as she would suit this style, but I will wait to see which way her bed will fit into her small space once she out grows her cot. I also like the idea of vintage fabric swatches, made into a wall hanging, with a matching bed spread.


Photographed and styled by Debi Treloar and Selina Lake for BBC Homes & Antiques Magazine.

Oh Lady!

It's not often I look at an interior and it makes my heart race, until I found out about Atelier Abigail Ahern. I love the sexy modern feel she encapsulates. This is a big girl’s space. In fact I think I need to go back to the drawing board and rethink the colours that the decorators will soon be sloshing on my lounge walls.

Abigail Ahern offers a London shop with a wedding list (if only I had known) and uber cool interior design service. She has just published a book and take a look at her blog! which, by the way deserves a lot of time, so try to find some! There clearly is no stopping this incredibly stylish woman with a vision we could only hope to emulate. Oh and that lamp...I think that's mine, mine, mine.

Jamie Monfort

I found  Jaime Monfort while passing some time on Flickr this evening. I really enjoyed looking at his portraits of children, blurred and often obscured. I noticed that he started taking photographs after he became a father, and he has thought about photographing them in a completely different way.

I think it is a familiar tale, in that; you pick up a camera to preserve your children’s childhood. What you see becomes hopefully, a memory for them once the moment has passed. It certain made me think about photographing my own in a different way, taking away the routine and replacing it with something a little less ordinary.

Plain English Design

I will take one in dark grey please. Plain English Design

The Paper Parlour

The Papered Parlour in Clapham is the place to be with crafting finally making a nest in England. While we still are trailing behind our American friends, Claire and Louise two artists who clearly have seen the vision and taken it forward, set up The Papered Parlour last year. Bringing craft and art under the same roof they offer courses, a gallery, a tea shop and artist studios. If you fancy designing jewellery, screen printing, making a book, or bag, or even a dress this is where you need to head. Giving you the creative knowledge to take your ideas forward and then home. This place is more than just a hobby.

We all have to start somewhere...

My notebook, which isn't for notes but pictures. I use this for inspiraion when starting a new picture. Mostly these images are from Vogue Living, Inside Out, Living etc, or Elle Decoration. This is the starting point for the next picture. The canvas has been primed and painted jet black. This is how it will stay for a while as we have now moved to my mother in laws for a couple of weeks. So I will find it hard to paint for a few weeks. My fingers will itch, I will have to find something to occupy them.

Here are some more images from my notebook, these inspired Magnolias.

Cowboy Kate

I think it is fair to say when I was at art college I became a little obsessed over one of the books in the library, Cowboy Kate by Sam Haskins. Probably seen as fairly erotic in the 1960's when the book was first printed, the beautiful black and white images are endearing and noble. The girls are relaxed and playful, and raise a smile. I spent the duration of my time there taking it out of the library, and simply renewing it each time it was supposed to go back. For all that time the book was mine, and I thought I was Cowboy Kate.

She is a gorgeous milky white cowboy who one night wonders into a bar to find Rosie, cheating the ace. As Cowboy Kate is an honest girl, she shoots Rosie dead. The sheriff offers a reward, and pins it to a tree, but Cowboy Kate being the kind of girl that she is turns herself in.

I love this simple story told in bold pictures, with its graphic composition laid out on each page, and of course the sexiest lady in the West, Cowboy Kate.

All photographs Sam Haskins.