Waves, Step's Back In!

Well, hello lovelies!! I'm so sorry, I certainly seem to have be been AWOL for quite a while there haven't I!? Lets call it a blogging break, holiday, hiatus....oh ok, I'll admit it, the blogging mojo upped and went, closed the door behind and I thought it was never to return. Well as life has it, the mojo has decided to re-appear and I seem to have found my love of blogging all over again and look forward to posting little snippets from my life, and of course my many bargain shopping hauls!! I think we should start with some pretty pictures to get the ball back 'o rolling don't you?

I recently found some quote postcards in the sales for 20p and so I bought many different ones, I enjoy placing them around the home to help motivate and inspire me when I walk in to one of the rooms. 

And of course I'm still loving all things pink and floral! Whilst they were in season, I made frequent Aldi trips every week to stock up on my peony bargains. 

Now the peonies seem out of season, it's back to my trusty roses!

I really don't think the pink will ever leave me!

 When I thought the time had come after many months, no possibly years of pondering over whether to get a pair of the Saltwater sandals, it HAD to be the fuchsia hot pink for my colour of choice. I always thought this particular style of sandal would make me look about 6 years old wearing them, but after hearing so many reviews on how comfy they are I just had to go for it. They are indeed so, so comfy. Having narrow feet, they are possibly a little wider on me than my usual shoe/sandal, but after a few wears (including a paddle or two in the sea) are moulding to my feet much better.  

I'm always still up for a bargain, and having a sweet tooth, I couldn't leave this delicious birthday cake behind for only £2.50!! It was scrumptious and so pretty to look at. It was no-ones birthday in our house, but it certainly felt like it eating it! 

My love of up-cycling is increasing as the days are getting warmer/longer and I have plenty of painting time. A lovely friend has been updating her kitchen dinner into the kitchen of (my) dreams and she has so kindly given me her unwanted farmhouse kitchen table and solid wood chairs for me to makeover. I can't wait to get going and although I've only got as far as giving the chairs a quick rub down and clean, have had a good think about the makeover and I can't wait to get cracking! I was hoping to try out the Aldi chalk paint, but think its a quick seller so haven't managed to get some yet. I do like my Annie Sloan paint but my purse certainly doesn't ;) I shall be re-doing all the seat pads, and fancy something very pretty so shall be digging out my fave Cath Kidston fabrics.

Talking of Aldi, I've managed to find some great bargains from there recently, that middle isle is like an Aladdin's cave of delights sometimes. I'll share my finds  with you on my next post! 

So I've quietly crept back in, and its just been my 9th blog-anniversary, think I'll have to sort out a little giveaway for you guys!! Until then, I'll leave you with a little pic of Master Poppins taken by  the very talented Whitrigg Photography He who was about 2 years old when I started this blog, and now.......he's off to secondary school. How did that happen, time is just flying by...

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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. 

Happy New 'Bathroom'

Well the blogging batteries are suitably recharged, and I now feel it is the perfect time to pop back to bloggsville and wish you all a somewhat belated Happy New Year! I hope you had a splendid Christmas and and that it was indeed a healthy and happy one! For me, the new year has brought with it a need for me to refresh and update areas of my home, and first up was our little attic bathroom. I loved its old look which I had kept for some time - doing it up with an Indian theme in mind - but definitely felt my girlyness kicking in and decided it was now time for a change.

It was all a little bit impulsive - with the husband and children waved off to work/school, I then decided to squeeze in a little painting and wallpapering! Luckily I have an understanding family, who are well aware they may come back to a slightly changed decor if I get a little restless. All in all it was a two afternoon's job - how they do so many rooms on '60 Minute Makeover' I really don't know - maybe I should invite them here and see just how they do it!

So anyway, here's a little peaky into the new girly bathroom.   

First of all, I stripped the wallpaper off, and I can tell you with no steamer, this was a long laborious task indeed! Eventually I had wallpaper free walls and although a little damaged in areas with the plaster coming off, I was more than happy as wallpapering straight over, so left them bare.

Then it was time to get the paint out, and I decided upon trusty white for the two pink ends of the little space.  

Being quite a cerise pink - it took a good 3 coats to get a nice even finish without the pink showing through, but eventually I got there. Next it was onto choosing some wallpaper! I thought as it is such a small space I really could just embrace the girly, flowery look and the husband understands he just has to roll with it ;) I purchased this pretty wallpaper off ebay for about £8 a roll a while ago (incl P&P) and knew one roll should be enough for the two side walls.

So up the wallpaper went - my cutting not perfect in places but hey ho, perfection is never my aim in life and I do like rooms with character! Oh I was falling in love with the new pretty look as it was all starting to come together. I even dug out a couple of my new and unused (waiting for that special occasion that never quite happens) towels, and just goes to prove, Primark next to Cath Kidston most definitely works.

So, the wallpaper was up, the walls newly painted, and the tongue and groove woodwork had been given a little spruce up with some fresh paint. Next it was time to pretty it all up!! I hung a little canvas in the corner and which I think is perfectly suited to the room.

 And candles, oh yes definitely candles were needed in here (with health and safety observed at all times) and I thought some of my pretty vintage glass candlesticks made a lovely home for the pink candles.

  

Slowly I am starting to create that little haven of prettiness by including little nick nacks here and there. I adore the 'Love & Flowers' Emma Bridgewater smellies (and that came inside the most gorgeous EB bag) I was given for Christmas from my lovely Ma!

And one of the husband's Christmas presents was this lovely toiletry bag, it's certainly one I don't mind being kept on show at all times.

The children also gave me a couple of matching items to it and which I just love!

 Now then, I have to wonder where they got the inspiration from for those lovely gifts? Perhaps they have been taking a closer eye on one of my vintage style canvases I have had displayed at home for a while - they know how much I love that canvas, so it really was lovely to open their wonderfully chosen gifts :)  

  I think the painted mirror looks lovely, and gives the room a great country/shabby chic look.  

I kept the old shelf I painted in the corner, it fits just right in there and is oh so handy for little display pieces.

A certain someone from my Indian theme was staying right put. He seemed so content, and as I had originally painted him cream, sits perfectly well amongst the pink girlishness.

 I think the original mosaic tiles look fab within this new shabby chic theme too.

Of course there has to be a handmade element somewhere and this pom pom garland I made looks so pretty resting above the bath on the little wooden shelf.

I'm sure I'll keep including little touches here and there and shall delve into the stash of inspiration that sits by the loo!

 So, one room down, hmmmm about 7 to go! Well maybe not from top to bottom, but I'm definitely in the mood for some revamping, and as I always maintain, this is an ever evolving home and I like that it is this way. Always ready for the next challenge!

Oh I can't resist just one more photograph of that pretty wallpaper ;)

And Mr. Bunny just wanted to get in on the action again ;)

So, the paintbrushes and decorators pinny are never packed away for too long, in fact they have already come out again for another little makeover job...As for the husband, I have promised him his own little macho space...one day ;)

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Time For A Catch Up!

Well hello there!! Here at Poppins HQ after somewhat of a busy summer, we are slowly getting back into the swing on things...

Whilst feeling slightly (note 'slightly') refreshed from a nice summer break, I thought it an apt time for a little bloggy catch up! I hope you've all had nice summery breaks. The weather has been quite kind to us hasn't it, especially kind as there was no holiday abroad for the Poppins. We've had lots of lovely days out though, trying to keep everyone happy as the children are get older certainly becomes more challenging ;)

I'm a really old fashioned girl, so walking along old Victorian piers, thinking of times gone by is my idea of a lovely time, luckily the children like it too, especially when laden up with two penny coins to spend in the slot machines. I found myself quite addicted to those machines I can tell you! I've also been getting back to the sewing - I've been forever packing then unpacking the sewing machine as the ever continuing work gets done on this home sweet home. Hopefully our plans include the finishing of my own little craft room. Can't wait! I loved making these wedding hearts for special couples soon to tie the knot.

 And talking of home sweet home - I so agree with this statement I read in a book.

Home should  in my opinion  rise away from consumerism, and indeed why I love to re use, recycle, give vintage items a new home and generally include things in my home that make me happy! My next shabby chic project soon to be started, is this pretty pine washstand.

 I was kindly offered it by my family, and if I'm honest, it was looking a little un loved. I can't wait to give it a new lease of life. One piece I really enjoyed giving a little makeover are these chest of drawers, they are so useful in size/shape for Miss. Poppins whose up in the attic bedroom, as they take up little floor space but nice and tall with 6 roomy drawers. I did remove the legs for this project as I wanted to put it right up into the eaves. I hope you like my finished look.

Here they are before I got going on them.

I used wallpaper for the drawers and there's actually a bit of a story to the wallpaper I used - I bought this discontinued Cath Kidston 'Paris Rose' wallpaper some years ago to decorate Miss. Poppins' bedroom - it was a 'fall in love at first sight' wallpaper ;) As I loved it so much I decided to get a spare roll for any eventualities, and the time came to dive in and get some repairs done in her room. Unfortunately as I unrolled it, I soon realised it also came with some sort of design fault. You can see here, the wallpaper should have a faint stripe running through, behind the rose detail.

     

About a 1/4 way through the roll however, the stripe in my 'spare for repairs' roll just disappears!  On the wallpaper I used for the drawers, you'll see there's no stripe at all running through the rose detail - after my initial "Oh no"!! - Thinking how am I going to repair areas of her original wallpaper, and which frankly is looking a little shabby in places, I decided actually, I guess I have my very own unique CK wallpaper, and so like this makeover, it shall hopefully be used for shabby chic projects. Of course the much needed repair work in areas of her original wallpaper up on the wall have been left undone as obviously the wallpaper doesn't match so that leaves me concerned as I just love the wallpaper - but it seems there's not one roll left in all the world :(

Here are the finished drawers in all their fine glory in Miss. Poppins room, looking in my opinion just delightful! I wanted to alternate the strips of wallpaper, she already has quite a flowery room as you can tell ;)  

I decided as she was coming up to starting secondary to give her bedroom a little summer makeover - luckily she loves it...for now, you know how fickle pre teens can be ;)

 As you can see, I still haven't come up with a solution for covering the round window in her room. In an ideal world I would love a custom made round wooden shutter - but looking at costs, have a feeling that's never going to happen! For now she has one of those paper decorations with the Ikea net curtain swept to the side. At least there is a velux blind on her other window that does create a little darkness. With her starting 'big' school, I created a little 'work area' - funny - she seems to prefer the sleeping/dressing/ areas to this one ;)

I lined the desk with a lovely sample wallpaper (from B&Q) - so if she needs a little break from the homework, she can do some colouring in to help relax the mind.

Over the summer we talked about this 'dip- dye' look that seems to be quite popular - I ummed and ahhed and ummed and ahhed some more. I compromised, as I didn't want anything too 'in your face' and definitely wanted her to have a natural sun kissed look. She loves it! I can't believe how quickly she's growing up - right in front of my very eyes. I also can't believe I started writing this blog when she was only 6 years old! So many times I think thats it, my bloggy days are coming to an end, and so many times I also think at the same time that actually, I am so happy to have this blog space to document special times of our lives - if anything as I'm getting older it feels more important to keep it up and update it more often with happy memories.

 I am so proud of the way she has confidently walked on in to a new chapter of her school life, with her knowing no one at her new secondary, it must be quite a challenging time. She has coped admirably, and although she's not been there long seems to have made some lovely friendships which as her Mum is reassuring. She's been referred to orthodontics's, so like I did when I was at school,  shall soon be going off to school with her braces, I've assured her its 'cool' these days to have them :) 

As for Master P, he's had another birthday, now 7 years old, and a junior at school. Loving life! 

Looking at him now and when he was born, all I feel is thanks and gratitude at how lucky we were to bring him home, born so very early and so very tiny.

I've also had a 'big' birthday. If I only talk about birthday's with no 0's in them I am fine ;) I was greeted with these beautifully wrapped gifts from the family :) 

All the family has certainly taken advantage of this gift I received from Mr Poppins. We're fast becoming apple addicts in this house ;)  

   I also received this beautiful crochet book from a lovely friend - I shall master crochet, I shall!

 I adore this cute CK bag and its cheery design - my mum knows me so well and thoroughly treated me with a lovely selection of birthday gifts.   

I had a lovely birthday, spent with loved ones - exactly how I like it :) This little man is still a joy to be around - the house has definitily felt more lived in having a dog around. He nortily has free run of the house so often ends up on the bed!   

  

He also seems rather partial to Miss. Poppins new Ikea pink rug!

As for being a shopaholic, yes, I'm still one of those, think I'm a lost cause on that one!

Hope you enjoyed my little catch up, I'll leave you with a teeny tiny summer project that seemed to be forever a work in progress - finally got it finished!   

Amazing what you can do with a pretty paper napkin or two!

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