Annie Sloan & A Little Bit Of Everything Else....

Oh my ~ what a blogging break I've had! It can however be very therapeutic in my opinion to recharge the blogging batteries at times, and real life of course can often get in the way of this blogging lark. Also, I am a real fan of Instagram and have been spending lots of my spare time over there. So, what have I been up to. Well, mostly painting actually. I am really enjoying broadening my love of refurbishing old and pre-loved furniture. I seem to have developed a deep love affair with Annie Sloan paints and although it is certainly not a 'budget' paint, I just can't seem to get enough of it!

I've been quite safe up to now, having only used subtle colours from her range, blues, whites, creams, greys...I am however slowly venturing onto the more dramatic hue's and having found my own method of applying it (I mix it with the tiniest bit of water) it really has been a dream to use. I have even sold some pieces which has been great for confidence and my little piggy (to buy more paint) bank ;)

Here's a very small selection of pieces I've painted, all beforehand very much needing some TLC and a shiny new coat.

These pretty wooden magazine racks in pink and blue, are lined with summery wallpaper.

I really like the way this old telephone table has turned out.

 Cute 'distressed' kitchen stool, painted in my new love 'Provence.

I really like how a simple frame can be brought to life with a new coat of paint.

Having enjoyed painting with 'Provence', I decided to paint this intricate iron work garden set, I really love it!

I liked this Lloyd Loom set very much and knew I had to have it, even in its pre-loved state.

Both pieces were a little tatty around the edges so I have made a start painting the chair, choosing a subtle pink and have delved into my fabric stash to choose a fabric I am going to cover the original sprung seat with. I think it shall look very pretty when its all finished.

Here's a modern chair I have given the shabby chic look to, and with a new fabric covered seat.

I am nearly finished on the art deco dressing table that was a little shabby looking to begin with.

Quick snapshot whilst the paint is drying.

There's now always a piece ready to be given a new lease of life in the Poppins household, these are in the queue ready and waiting.

Urmmmm, I have four of these oak topped farmhouse tables to do!.

So I am being kept very busy, if you want to keep up to date with my furniture makeovers, I have a little facebook page Vintage Style At Home so please feel free to have a moochy. Wanting to be aware of new and various painting techniques and styles, I went on an Annie Sloan painting workshop that was great fun.

We were all given a little wooden heart to paint in our own choice of colour, which was a nice touch and made for a lovely keepsake. I decided to go for it and practice using a more dramatic colour than I would normally do. I painted it white first and then sanded back in certain areas for a distressed look.

  
We were also given wooden boards to practice techniques and various ways to use the Annie Sloan paints and waxes.

I can't wait to try out some of new techniques at home on real life pieces of furniture, and am looking forward to finding out more about the advanced course. 

One day, during my blogging break I decided to sort through my vintage glasswear in readiness to sell, oh boy, I didn't realise how much I had collected over the years. It all looked very pretty displayed prettily on the table.

I'm still keeping crafty with my sewing, and really enjoyed making this personalised cushion for a special girl called Hattie.  

I've also become a big fan of making these little daisy brooches too, in various pretty fabrics, I think perfect to decorate spring and summer outfits.

A while ago I was set a crafty challenge courtesy of Abakhan I made a little skirt for Miss. Poppins with this adorable camper van fabric.

I couldn't resist personalising a little t-shirt for her too.

And here she is at the beach with Master Poppins wearing the said outfit, she loves it!

I try and do something crafty, even if only a teeny tiny something everyday, good for soul in my opinion, and whilst I was supposed to be spring cleaning I got a little distracted with a candle, some vintage sheet music and a little doily. Cute I thought.

I still have a big passion for second hand shops, even with their big price increases that make me grrrr a little bit, especially when a second hand item is priced at a figure more than it would have cost new. Anyway I have to pop in when walking past any. This vintage wedding dress caught my eye, Oh how I loved it!!

What else caught my eye, and the little Poppins whilst we were on a little walk was witnessing a beautiful and very magnificent starling dance. We were literally awestruck, if you've ever seen the starlings in action, you'll understand the magic we felt.

So, that's about it for now, a little round up of what we've been up to. Its a 'big' birthday for me in the summer, am trying not to think about it too much, although going for a vintage theme to my little garden party I'm organising, I think it may just be a fun old young day :))

X  

Candletastic!....

I am a big, big fan of candles and there is not one room in my home that a candle has not found its way into. I find them so relaxing and if they have a sweet, delicate fragrance then all the better. When The White Company asked if I would like to try out a candle from their new range, that would come in a lovely ceramic container and which was reusable after the candle had burned out, I of course could not wait to be inspired. The candle I received was their Fresh Thyme Candle It really is beautiful to look at, and the simple, effective packaging from The White Company I always find pleasing to the eye.

The design of the ceramic candle holder being quite simple, is yet oh so chic. There is a ceramic lid too which keeps all that pesky dust out.   

The scent is so invigorating and yet at the same time relaxing. I wish you could scratch 'n sniff as it is such a beautiful fragrance. With fresh thyme, eucalyptus, lavender and rosemary, it really is as The White Company say, like having your very own herb garden in the home.

So, what could one do with the pretty ceramic holder once the candle has burned out? I thought of these little ideas....

To keep my moo cards safe and easy to hand....

For one of my little orchid's....

How apt to keep candles inside a candle holder....

I also thought would make a perfect little holder for my pretty ribbon for parcels....

 The choices are endless. Being a candle handmade in the U.K. using high quality wax for a long, clean and even burn and with 40 hours burn time, this really is one luxurious candle that brings an air of sophistication to any home. We all love it in the Poppins house :)

Of course I couldn't leave a post talking about The White Company without sharing a little photograph of Master Poppins who was in their Christmas catalogue last year, oh yes, we are big fans here.... 

X

Disclosure: We were provided with one Fresh Thyme Candle for the purposes of this blog post.      

Easter Inspiration!....

Well I have seem to have lost my blogging/painting/crafting mojo of late and I desperately wanted a little crafty project to inspire me to find it again. I love celebrations and Easter is no exception, I so enjoy spending quality time with family and friends over the holidays. Its been rather stressful eventful here in the Poppins household these last months or so, so am just relishing that we can now look back and wave all that goodbye and we can look forward. Miss. Poppins is off to secondary school this year and already I am feeling a little emotional, I can't wait for her to spread her wings, to be challenged and grasp any wonderful opportunities that may come her way. She'll always be my ickle girl, and I have a great yearning to want to hold her so tight and not let her go. Think we need a little practice run or two, as she shall be travelling a little way on a train, (though hopefully with some friends too) and crossing those big, big roads all on her own. She'll be fine, I'll be fine :)

Anyway, back to Easter, I took a little walk around the countryside and found the perfect twiggy branches for my Easter project. I knew I could work a little 'Poppins Magic' on my own twiggy-tree. So here are the twigs looking a bit, well, twiggy.

After grabbing some paint, and glitter (it is normal for a nearly 40 something woman to be playing with glitter, yes?) I think the twigs looked looked much prettier.  

  I wanted to leave a tiny bit of the natural wood bare, to give it a nice white wash appearance. Next for some pretty eggs. Poundland came up trumps with some great little sparkly ones from their super Easter range. I couldn't resist the little baskets too and picked up some great Easter treats. Chocolate eggs, Easter bonnet craft making kits, lovely decorative shred in pink and green, some Easter cards and an Easter balloon! 

  Oh so sparkly. 

I couldn't wait to get them all on my twiggy Easter tree.

It's the first thing people see when they walk into my home, so I hope it has a cheery effect, and I do think looks rather pretty :)

I spy a couple of cheeky bunnies ;)

I just love these cute bunny night lights, hello bunnies :)

And with my adorable pink egg carton and I couldn't resist giving it a little crafty Easter love.

Yum!!

I cant wait to hand out these little egg boxes to family and friends over Easter, I hope they share their little eggs ;) I love doing an Easter egg hunt with the children and they always have fun.

So, I wish you a very Happy Easter, and hope you have an 'eggs'-tra special time.

X

A Floral Mother's Day....

With Mother's day on the horizon I couldn't help but have a little browse at one of my favourite stores Cath Kidston to see what delights are on offer. I always feel a little spring in my step looking at all the pretty items on the website and in store and luckily my own mum has a liking for the Cath Kidston look too. 

Unfortunately my mum is going to be away this Mother's Day, so I won't be seeing her on the day, but have taken great relish searching for some little treats for her. As I was going into the store I couldn't resist a little heads up on their website of what things they have available this season, and with so much to choose from I had great fun picking out one or two favourites like this beautiful Kempton Rose photo frame with its pretty floral design. I was thinking of putting a little snapshot of the children in there for her too. 

Oh and as for this gorgeous and very sweet looking strawberry pin brooch, I just love it for her, it makes me think of her great cream teas with lashings of extra cream she makes.

Now that the woolly scarves can (hopefully) get packed away, I thought this Greenwich Flowers scarf a lovely spring time alternative and very much in keeping with my mum's style.

I don't think you go far wrong with some pretty hand cream for a special mother on Mother's Day and what could be prettier than this Rose hand cream. 

Of course, even though I was browsing for my dear mother, I couldn't help but spy a couple of pretty things I myself may pop in the shopping basket when I go to the store. I shall be using the ever so speedy and efficient Parcelforce for my mother's day delivery to my own mum, and I am very tempted to get my very own little 'next day' parcel organised from my two young children, such were the very tempting things I have seen. 

Oh I just adore this Daisy pearl bracelet. 

I do really love their new Lattice Rose design and this heart shaped compact mirror is just the cutest thing.

Of course Mother's day isn't just about the gifts, and although it is always lovely to unwrap something pretty, there shall always be loved ones not around, thought of very much, missed and who shall always have a special place in our hearts.  

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