Gallery Walk....

Once a year my local town has a gallery walk where you get given the chance to enter a prize draw and win some gift vouchers or prize from each store that participates. You collect a card at the begining and take a wonder around some delightful stores, of which there were 12 taking part this year.

You are kindly treated to some wonderful food and treats along the way, a nice browse, get your card stamped from all twelve stores, hand it in at the end and then cross your fingers that you may win a prize.

Well last year I won a prize, £30.00 worth of gift vouchers to spend at one of the stores :) So I was really looking forward to another walk around, I took Miss. Poppins and we did have fun.

Here are some of my favourite stores.

First we had the Art Gallery with in house artist, comtemporary art sculptures and ceramics.





Mmmmm something caught my eyes in the corner, and I quickly covered Miss Poppins' ;)





Beautiful ceramics.





After our card was stamped it was off to the Art Glass shop, which is a beautiful store selling vases, bowls, bottles, stemware, wall hangings and pieces by many leading innovative British glass makers.








Then the pretty card and wrapping paper shop.








Then we strolled to a lovely, cute little interiors shop. Once we got our card stamped, couldn't resist a little browse. Having not seen any chapel chairs for ages I am seeing them popping up everywhere now, these little ones that you can see at the table had been sold within a matter of days of being put out. By the way we plumed for the dark ones ;)








I loved the gallery and knit studio, with hand crafted ceramics and textiles.














And our favourite, the old fashioned sweetie shop :)








It was a little wet and windy though that did not dampen our enthusiasm and we reveled in choosing some sweeties. So now that our card was stamped from all the shops, we went to pop it in the lucky barrel and have our fingers crossed we could be a winner :)


X

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 ;)

X

I Love My New Job....

I am rather enjoying my new role as Product Trial representative. Alright it isn't a role I have been professionally given as it were, or am even being paid for, but I do so enjoy it. I love to trial out products before they get released out for public sale. One of my favourite companies is Sarah Smith I adore their pretty makes and have fun trialing their products.




Some of you who have got to know me, know I can be a little obsessive in the amounts of particular items I buy, duvet covers being one of them, so I shan't tell you how many of the Sarah Smith cloths I have under the sink ;)

First to trial for Sarah Smith was their ever so cute Flower Power Scourer which was a delight to work with, and is now for Sale in some superstores. Then I trialed the Sarah Smith Pretty Pattern Wipes They were so useful here at the Poppins' household, they are especially excellent at killing bacteria and germs off surfaces, and of course very, very pretty to look at.


Now I am trialing some Window And Glass Cloths designed specifically to clean windows and glass surfaces, so far they seem to be working a treat, so am looking forward to giving my feedback to the Sarah Smith team.


I MAY have found my perfect (unpaid) job :)

If there is anyone out there who would like me to trial any of your designs and products, I am honest, reliable, prompt with my feedback and very much enjoy my testing out.

I wonder what shall come through my letter box next ;)


X