DIY Floral Garden Makeover

Oh I do love a pretty garden area for summer and was delighted to get involved with this lovely project for Wayfair's Inspiration Page.  

For the project I put together a tutorial for 3 separate DIY projects and enjoyed every minute of it. I even perfected my drilling skills and now feel confident to tackle those DIY tasks normally left for the man of the house to do, that in reality never get done, and that now I can happily do myself. 

For my 3 projects I made a super handy garden bench, some floral bunting and a reversible table cloth. The bunting and table cloth were made from a gorgeous duvet cover so I am now thinking of my own unused covers that could be utilised in such a pretty way. 

Those little fancies didn't last long but I managed to grab a quick snapshot of the pretty cut roses in one of my empty jam jars before they were gobbled up - the fancies that is, not the roses ;) 

I loved the finished bunting, perfect for the garden fence.

The bench started off it's life looking something like this.

Then was transformed to this.

Using some pretty accessories as a beautiful backdrop my new garden space is just a delight to sit in.

My garden table and chairs got a new lick of paint too.

Here are some of the items I used to help me create that haven of floral prettiness.

You can head over to the Wayfair page and my DIY tutorial here where you can have a mooch at the tutorials and the finished look :)

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Disclosure: I received a selection of products from the Wayfair website to enable me to create my tutorials, and for styling. All design ideas, words and opinions are my own. 

A Little Floral Inspiration....

I love, love, love floral bags, and I can't get enough of them, and at the price these little numbers are at, they are in my eyes, certainly a new look I can almost afford weekly. BUT am I copping out somewhat? We all know the likes of these bags can cost well over £60 if bought at the *Certain Shabby Chic Store* but I am seeing more and more of these pretty floral bags at very affordable prices all over the place and I just had to get my pennies out....

Two?? Oh no, I need more than just two....Actually this one doesn't count, as it was a birthday pressie off Mr. Poppins....

And this one was the first *Floral Inspired* one I bought, I offered one too as a giveaway here

And my current favourite is this one, I adore the colours....

And the pretty pink lining....

I have more to get, sad but true. Yes I know, I have a little addiction going on here. I hope you do not think too badly of me for buying the look for well, well under half the price of the *originals*, I mean does my buying all these pretty *inspired* numbers devalue the *originals* I don't honestly know, I have both, love the look of both, and how I see it, if I can save some money to spend perhaps on family outings etc, whilst still having a hint of the look is it not worth it?

I used to value labels, but in reality, that is all they are, labels. I don't feel any less of a person because my bag doesn't have *the* label on it. When I look at my flowery bags, all label-less, they still bring a cheery smile to my face and hey isn't that what life is all about?

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Saving My Pennies For....

I am doing a little saving up of the shoe fund pennies, and, although I am a girl who loves her heels, am also attracted to a shoe that goes by the name of Dr. Marten. Although I haven't owned a pair for years and years, when I saw these I was transported back to my days of being a student, the lovely friends I encountered and the fun outfits I used to wear.

I adore them, no, I ADORE them, and couldn't wait to try them on in the shop....

I even borrowed Master Poppins' socks to get a good feel for them....

Yes every angle you could think of....( if you look closely I have one Dr. Marten on one foot, and one high wedge heel on the other, very fetching ;) I can see me wearing so many cute little outfits with these and the lovely floral detailing is so pretty. The boot features a coral red canvas upper, the classic lace-up fastening and a thick gripped bouncy rubber sole, along with a branded loop tab to heel and top stitch detail.

I was so sad to put these back....Are you saving up for a must have item?

I Got One!!!! Bag Giveaway....

Righty you lovely readers, here you go....I went back and as lots of you seemed to really go for the style of the bag I purchased, I got the last one in that colourway. I was chatting to the lovely market stall holder, who told me she had sold lots, hardly any left infact and we spoke about them being quite similar to certain styles, though of course no names were mentioned and as before, I can't think where the inspiration has come from...

Anyway here is your lovely giveaway prize....

You may know what it looks like, but here is a little reminder....

So, all you need to do, to go in the hat, is comment here and say why you want it, no having to follow me, tell the world about my giveaway, or even like my facebook page. Just one little comment and I shall pop you in the hat. I shall get Miss. Poppins to draw a winner in one week, 3rd of June about tea time. International readers are welcome too.

So happy there was one left for you :0)

Good luck !

Edit: Thank you so much everyone for joining in, a lovely winner has been chosen. 
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It Is The Simple Things In Life....

I am finding the simple things in life are making me smile at the moment. I don't know about you but my tastes are changing a little over the course of me writing this little blog. I am deep in my heart a floral girl, but think I may have had floral overload these past couple of months, stepping into my house can sometimes feel like stepping into a flower. I am so enjoying reading my favorite book from the Library and have been renewing it for weeks, I really don't want to give it back ;) It is In Bloom by Alice Whately, you can read a little review of it on one of my favorite blogs.

Anyway the book really has touched me in so many ways. For me, I think the key to the whole floral thing is not to have a floral carpet with floral walls sitting on a floral couch with floral cushions, reading floral books ;) I am coming to terms that actually I quite like a simple space, free of treasures, actually I mean clutter, my simple little brain can't take it anymore. I like simple lines, open spaces, white walls. I think that shall be one of my little New Year's Resolutions, not to bring so much clutter into the house, or tat as Mr. Poppins like to call it. As an avid CS shopper, I shall find it hard I know it.

For instance when I handmake my little cushion covers, I normally jump right into my floral and pretty stash, well no, I held back on this one and jumped into my neutral linens. Of course being a floral girl at heart, had to have a flower in there somewhere, but do you know what, I rather like it, very simple, and quite sweet I thought.

I was really happy with the appliqued heart.

Happy isn't something I have been feeling too lately about my crafty side, been feeling rather sorry for myself and thinking that my pretties are rather basic in their making. I haven't got the personality for the tricky stuff, I would love to have a proper go at embroidery though, and again my tusty library has come up trumps and I have borrowed Jan Constantine's lovely book, please tell me that embroidery is not hard.




So my little handmade cushion may only look like a cushion, but for me has opened my eyes up a little to what decorating styles I am leaning too, simple with a little hint of floral.

What else is making me smile is Miss. Poppins' little Christmas painting, which we have had printed onto little Christmas cards.






I adore my little girl and get so cross with myself at times for shouting at her, how many little girls have held their sweet, tiny dead baby brother in their gentle arms. I sometimes wonder if I did the right thing letting her see him, touch him, hold him. Yet know in my heart, I think, I did the right thing, she has a sweet little twinkle in her eye when she talks about him, which is lovely to see. She has been through so much bless her for her young age, and with all my stresses with Master P. sometimes feel she may feel a little left out. She is growing up so fast and and I don't want to miss a second of it. Maybe one for the Resolution list too.


I am not normally a fan of birdie things, don't get me wrong I love the little garden ones that dance and play in my garden, and I adore the ones that have been lovingly hamdmade for me and I treasure them, but I think some people are birdie people and some are not. Well, I couldn't have chosen more of a birdy tray from Ikea could I, I love it and have been hankering after it for a while though has always been out of stock, so was really pleased when I saw it back in not long ago. Although at first glance looks a little busy, it is actually a simple sweet thing and makes me smile everytime I look at it. Maybe I am a birdie person after all :)





Well I couldn't leave you without sharing a flowery photograph now could I, a little thrifted artificial rose in a beautiful green glass vase, tis very simple, pretty and perfect for my flowery home. Soon to be less flowery home ;)

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