Shopping in France

I have shown the Streets in France from our recent holiday, so thought I would now show you some of the Shopping in France.

There was a night market really close to our campsite filled with handmade goodies:

This was night time I promise!

 

Lots of shops were selling these decorative drawer knobs so I bought quite a few for our bedroom:

 

I found a very cute second hand store with a blue mirror which I fell in love with but we couldn't have got it home (not in one piece anyway):

 

 

 

A lovely shop full of French homeware:

 

 

I was very excited when I saw this advert for a Brocante market - Dirty Weekenders here I come!!

 

 

The Brocante market was lovely, and on the sea front too!

 

 

 

 

 

I couldn't resist a couple of French linen tea towels.

 

If we weren't flying I could easily have bought a lot on this holiday so probably a good job we were!! I still keep thinking about the blue mirror.....

 

 

Thank you for reading xx

 

 

 

 

 

Books for a Penny!

I love nothing more than putting my feet up with a cup of tea and a pack of custard creams a biscuit or two, and a lovely interiors book to flick through. I recently showed you my stash of interior magazines but my collection of books is also growing with a little help from Amazon.

Some of you may already know this, but for those who don't you can buy used books from Amazon and the prices start at just 1p. I was a little dubious at first thinking the pages would be tatty and torn but I have ordered quite a few and they have all been great. One book was a used library book with the library tag on the spine but I don't mind that, it even had somebody's library ticket inside so I have left it in as a bookmark. Obviously there is p&p to pay on top but still a bargain and still cheaper than some magazines and will last longer.

Here are my favourite buys so far:

The White Home - Caroline Clifton-Mogg

Pure Style - Jane Cumberbatch

The Relaxed Home - Atlanta Bartlett

Country Style - Judith & Martin Miller

Pure Style Outside - Jane Cumberbatch

At Home with White - Atlanta Bartlett

So, next time you buy a book on Amazon, check out the used price first. Lots more book can be seen on my Amazon Wish List here! Have fun shopping :)

Thank you for reading xx




My Reading Wish List 2014

Unusual containers for planting

I love to fill my garden with unusual planters filled with flowers, much nicer to look at than ordinary pots from a DIY store and also a lot cheaper. I have been collecting them for a while and wanted to share them with you:


Belfast Sink

 

 

Galvanised metal containers:

Food can

Watering Can - has a hole in it so doesn't function as a watering can but going to make a great planter - watch this space!!

Chimney Pot - needs a smaller pot (its on my to do list)!

 

 

I have picked up the pots from car boot sales and markets pretty cheaply. I get my Partner to drill a few holes in the base and then fill the bottom with stones, broken tiles or anything I can find for drainage, then fill with multi purpose compost and plant!

 

 

 

I saw this picture on Pinterest and am now saving the Kids wellies :)

 

 

 

 

 

See here for my garden planter makeover.

 

What do you think? What do you use as planters in your garden?

 

Thank you for reading xx

 

 

 

A visit to Dagfields Crafts & Antiques, Nantwich

I have been wanting to visit Dagfields for over a Year and yesterday we finally got to go! It was definitely worth the wait, so many gorgeous stalls - or as the leaflet says 6 giant emporiums and 200 sellers!!

I thought I would share with you some pictures of the inspiring and unique stalls:

Yesterdays finds at the Treacle Market

Yesterday we wrapped the children up in lots of layers and headed off to the Treacle Market in Macclesfield. Its on on the last Sunday of every month and we haven't missed one yet. Its a great family day out for us, there is lots of fresh food to taste, live music playing, LOTS of gorgeous stalls including vintage items, handmade items, art & crafts and a great plant stall...everything you could want from a market really!!

Sometimes we go, have a walk round and something to eat and not buy alot but then other times, like yesterday we buy quite a lot! And don't think about how we are going to get it all in the car with the two children and the buggy too!!

Here is what we bought:

A Pretty Pair

My partners 94 year old Grandma kindly gave me some of her beautiful bone china teacup and saucers. Amongst the collection was this really pretty one, I just love the simplicity of the floral design:

Before and After ~ Childs Chair

I recently posted to tell you I had been converted to Annie Sloan Paint! I just love it! I have been painting and revamping lots of items around the home, the first one I want to show you is this simple wooden Childs chair.

I bought this chair for a snippet at 50p from a carboot:

A second-hand shopping spree

A child free trip into town (or anywhere) is such a rare treat that I have to spend the time wisely. So, yesterday I had a leisurely stroll into town in the lovely Autumn sunshine and had a really refreshing afternoon shopping and then met some friends for a coffee - should I feel guilty for enjoying child free time so much???

Chimney Pot Planter

We went to the car boot early this morning, full of excitement at what we mind find, but unfortunately it was a little disappointing :( There were not many stall holders there and it was hardly worth the £3 to park. I think its starting to wind down - what will I do with no car boots over Winter???

On the way back we stopped at the market/car boot (which we don't usually do as the kids have normally had enough by then) but its free parking so we gave it a try.

This one also didn't have many stalls but there was one guy selling all kinds of troughs, milk churns and all sorts of things that I thought would make unusual planters in the garden. In the end we bought this bishop style chimney pot from him. What do you think?

My bargain buys this weekend!

I'm feeling a little lost here this morning, my Partner is back at work (after a long summer off), my Son is at pre-school and my daughter is asleep, so I thought I would tell you about my bargain buys this weekend!

Firstly on Saturday we went into town and did our usual rounds of the charity shops. I got a lovely embroidered table cloth for a pound, but the best buy was this kitchen and accessories for the children:

Car Boot Bargains

I just wanted to share with you my finds from the carboot this morning:

Two wooden baskets and a wooden bowl all for £1 !! I'm thinking I can use these to display hearts in on my craft stall....