I Dressed A Girl Around The World....

It seems only right and proper that my next post after the one about my frolicking around in pretty dresses, is, as it happens also about dresses, but also how they can really make a world of differnce, especially to a little girl many many miles away. How all the glamorous dresses in the world would not make me feel as happy as I do watching this little video. Not so long a go I was asked by Louise  to see if I would like to make a pillowcase dress for  Dress A Girl Around The World ....Well of course said I, it would be an honour.

A very simple little make, but made with buckets of love....

 And with a big red appliqued heart in the middle....

So as soon as it was made I sent it off to Louise and hoped it would find it's merry way to a special girl and she would love wearing it....How lovely to hear from Louise today, whose blog is scrumptious by the way, and she sent me the link to a video of that special girl in Malawi that it found it's way to, and who was wearing it, she has her hands on her hip. I kept waiting for a little flash of the red heart on the front but was more than happy to see it being worn by the lovely girl. Infact a little tear may have left my eye, I just felt my heart glow with happiness, and all the trying on of the most glamorous dresses in the world could NEVER give me that same feeling....ever....

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Pretty Makeover, Part 2....

Do you remember this lovely little piece of furniture I bought for £5 and wanted to give it a makeover....Well here she is, all madeover. I searched in my fabric pile for a suitable fabric to cover the top, and used some nice new wadding so it also makes a very lovely and very comfy seat too. I really do think I chose well in the floral fabric, as soon as I popped it on the top of the chest to see if it would work, it looked and felt right, just the right amount of floral busy-ness, and the pretty colours are divine.

As for the painting...well certainly a spray job for my next Lloyd Loom project methinks, lost count of how many coats I used, and I do like the piant to go in all those little gaps....

I made a little fabric thingy to help lift up the lid and popped some pretty cream braid around the edges of the padded seat....

And decided to pretty up the inside of the lid too, so covered it with some Laura Ashley pink gingham and used some very jazzy gold braid to edge it....

Ah, I think she looks really cute....

And even cuter with some of my pretty bed linens sitting nice and snug inside ;)

Oh, I do love a good makeover, infact I would really would to present my own little shabby chicy makeover-y type programme on the television, or a little slot on This Morning!! Ha, a girl can dream can't she....

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Feather & Black....

I really enjoy browsing catalogues for inspiration and it was lovely to receive the new A/W 2011 catalogue from Feather & Black, which showcases some of their wonderful bedroom ideas. As well as their gorgeous and oh so adorable children's bedroom furniture  they have also introduced six exceptional new bedroom collections and which I have to say I just love the new children's Charlotte range, never mind Miss. Poppins sleeping in there, I want to!!

As we are in the throws of doing a little re decoration in our own home sweet home bedroom, I need all the inspiration I can get, and I have to say it does not get any more inspiring than their new Loire range, and which, inspired by vintage chic, combines french heritage, with superior quality oak and time-honored artisanship. I mean who wouldn't want to sleep here....

Or perhaps their Avignon range, a hand carved, and sustainably sourced french inspired design. I just love the calm, peaceful almost seaside inspired look of this bedroom....

I don't really *do* dark furniture per say, but am rather taken with the grandeur of the Ashby range....

I think my all time favourite is the Rossetti range, I just love the delicately curved iron and it has a lovely feminine touch....I am allowed quite a lot of freedom when it comes to decorating our bedroom, though I must resist the urge to go TOO girly, I guess there is only a certain amount of florals a man can take ;)

 You can order the latest catalogue yourself here it really is quite lovely to flick through and also offers up to 30% off many of their items, I am getting lots of inspiration for my own bedroom ideas, and I can't wait to share with you our new *shabby chic/floral/vintage/* style bedroom.

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Spread The Anchor Butter Love....

I just have to let you know about the new memorabilia range launched by Anchor butter to celebrate their 125th Birthday....If you head over to Anchor's Facebook page you shall find all the party celebrations going on and fans are offered the chance to win 125th Birthday memorabilia, including cake stands, butter dishes, mugs and much more. As there are 125 prizes to be won every day for 125 days from when the celebrations began in July, it means you have until the middle of November to win! If of course you wish to purchase any of the items there is also their Memorabilia Store you can browse at too.

Here is what came my way from the team at Anchor, and I couldn't help but share with you some of their lovely range....( which may be worth a fortune on the Antique's Roadshow in years to come ;)

 At their facebook page you shall find the daily musings of Doreen, the Anchor cow who describes herself as....

" I’m a dairy cow so I’m fairly easy going but I’ll find any excuse for a party. I love food, probably a bit too much, and I can chat ‘til the cows come home. Well you can’t natter while you’re milking, can you! I’ve worked at the Anchor Dairy since I was a little calf, learning all the secrets of how to make delicious Anchor butter from my great Aunt Maud. Mighty fine cow she was. We still make our butter just the same way she did all those years ago, using nothing but natural ingredients – the way proper butter should be. Aside from work, I enjoy a variety of different hobbies and pastimes. I’m into keep fit, I love cooking, and thanks to my new custom designed keyboard, I’m really enjoying catching up with my many cousins over the internet. I’m also really into my soaps and after a hard day’s churning enjoy nothing better than to chew the cud while watching an episode of Emmerdale"

Right, I am off to get some more anchor butter, and enter my code, I have got my eyes on that van and butter dish!!

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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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Pretty Makeover, Part 1....

I found this pretty little gem at the junk shop for £5 and I think is a very handy item of storage. It has a lovely Lloyd Loom feel to it and although the fabric has seen it's best, I am sure I can dig out some pretty fabric from my own stash to give it a lovely new look....

Back soon with Part 2....

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Lampshade Makeover....

Thanks so much for the lovely kind thoughts and wishes that have come my way these past few days. I am still a little out of sorts and doing my very best to be strong for Mr. Poppins, and the children, though I also know I need a little time to grieve too, as my Mother In Law was a very special, dear person to me. She was a big link in the family chain, and now that link has been broken, life shall of course take a while to adjust for everyone....

The little Poppins have gone back to school, and with some free time on my hands, I thought I would cheer up a little corner of my home. I had bought yonks ago a very cheap ( about £5's worth cheap ) sweet lamp  from the bargain shop and because I had left it at a window near the sun, whilst I thought about where to put it, the lampshade had faded somewhat. So a little project was needed. If you are anything like me, I love those pretty little lampshades all dolled up in floral fabrics that one can buy online and from the shabby chicy shops, but I think cost quite a lot of money, when in reality you could hop out to buy a cheap lamp, and darl one up oneself quickly and cheaply.

So here we have my faded lampshade with pretty white base, waiting for some Mary Poppins TLC....

I couldn't find my normal pva glue, so opted for a good olde fashioned Glue Stick. I found some of my most favourite Clarke & Clarke fabric, scissors, pretty gingham ribbon, and some pom pom trim that needed to be used and less than 20 minutes later....

Ah, I love it and for now she sits proudly on my art deco bureau/cabinet. I did use a stronger glue for the ribbon and pom pom detail and I think is very sweet....I love the way the old polka dot shade shines through when the light is on, it gives the floral fabric a lovely new look.

So before you go out and spend a small fortune on a *posh* shabby chic lamp, have a think about popping to the bargain shop to purchase a cheapy one, shimmy over to the pretty fabric and trimmings shop, and have a go....

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We Love You Grandma....

It seems so trite to be blogging, but my blog has, and always shall be my place to write my thoughts and feelings. I am normally a woman of more than many a word, but the words just don't seem to be able to fall from my mouth so I shall leave it to others to help me....

"Life is but a stopping place, A pause in what's to be,
A resting place along the road, to sweet eternity.

We all have different journeys, Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things, but never meant to stay....

Our destination is a place, Far greater than we know.
For some the journey's quicker, For some the journey's slow.
And when the journey finally ends, We'll claim a great reward,
And find an everlasting peace, Together with the lord."

God bless to a very lovely and dear to me lady, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. My darling husband's precious mum who meant so very much to everyone who knew her, and who God decided was just too precious and wanted her near.

Always remembered, never forgotton and who shall live on in our hearts of everyone who knew and loved her forever.

We all love you so very much.
My dear little Poppins' miss you so very, very much, but they know you are at peace and being well looked after, sleep tight....

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Tesco Back To School Range Giveaway....

Well, it is nearly time for the school bell to ring again, and as ever in the Poppins' household, we do kind of leave things last minute to get the uniforms and all the new pencil cases and pens. * Tut Tut *  So, it is at times like this that I am glad I am friends with Mr/Mrs. Tesco who sent out a selection of uniform, notebooks, pencil cases, pencils and pens for Master and Miss Poppins to help get them in the mood for getting back to school.

Oh yes, the little Poppins are certainly getting in the mood.... and I am very impressed with the high quality and feel of the uniforms, and many items you don't even need to iron *hooray*

To help get your little ones back in the mood for school, Tesco have kindly offered a £15 voucher code to spend on their online Tesco Back to School range. If you would like the voucher code to spend on the back to school range, feel free to leave a comment on this post saying so by teatime (ish), 2nd September, and I shall pick a winner from the hat and email the voucher code over to the lucky winner.

Good Luck.

Edit: Thank you, a winner has been picked from the hat, enjoy your voucher :)
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