One small thing...

I was asked to take part in the Room for Improvement challenge by Money Supermarket.  The challenge was to add a small change to a room, with a limited budget.  It was suggested I do something that tied in my love of plants and Nature in the Home.  So here is how I did it...

Tools:

* 4 meters of mustard yellow cord. I bought mine from B&Q quite cheaply.

* Pair of scissors

* Small pot plant - mine is from Ikea

* Small white plant pot - also from Ikea

Method:

1. Cut the cord into 4 equal lengths

2. Knot the four lengths together at one end (doesn't need to be really neat you can trim it later)

3. Take two lengths and knot at equal distances apart (so it sits on the pot at the same spot either side)

4. Continue to knot until your pot feels secure. (I held mine up to make sure it was even)

5. Knot securely at the top.

6. Place in your pot and plant.

Voila!  You've made your own macrame pot holder.  How on trend and super cool!  Now go and pin your hard work.

So do you think it has improved my lounge?  I do.

out of focus home...

*sigh*
In February it is so difficult to take a good image.
Everything is blurry and grey.
Best wait until Spring truly arrives.
I went to the local flea market today, and bought a pretty mirror and a small painting of the pinkest roses.  I will show you when I can.
x

Nature in the Home...

Hello... brrrrr it is so cold here today!
Last night we had the hardest frost this winter so far ... I had to look twice out of the window this morning as I thought all the white was snow, but sadly no, just Jack Frost up to no good!

So to warm us all up, today's Nature in the Home features the brightest of tulips.  I bought these beautiful flowers from my local green grocers last week and they cheered up my dining room no end.  I love the colour contrast against my blue/grey wall and in the sunshine the colours just sing!  Sadly, they are over now and have been re-placed by the tiniest Narcissus, the smell is divine.

Have you started to fill your home with Spring blooms, or do you have flowers in your home all year round?
x

Sunshine...

All this talk of January grey gloomy skies and look what happened!
SUNSHINE.
Oh glorious golden rays how I have missed you.
The sun glanced through my dining room window and hit my plate wall so brightly I had to show you..
Pretty non?
I have a few more to add to it...I am thinking a mix of contemporary and vintage.. cos that's the kinda girl I am.  Mix it all up!
Off to enjoy these beautiful rays!
x

on my table...

I love that little squash - sadly his days are numbered. Only 3 more days til Halloween when he will be carved into all his spooky glory and then devoured in a roasted vegetable soup!

The leaves in the bottle are from our conker trip, we love to collect the pretty colours, but once home I struggle to know what to do with them.  They soon crisp up and turn brown.  Ah well it's an excuse to find more.  I will try to make this beautiful garland one day - I just can't seem to find the time at the moment!

How do you bring the changes of the season into your home?

x

Dining Room

 

Hello!

You might remember we are in the process of re-decorating our downstairs rooms after sanding our wooden floors.

Well, we've completed the dining room... and it feels wonderful.

The blue colour I chose is called Blue's Blue - from the Paint & Paper Library.  I must admit it is NOT the colour I had in my head.  I stupidly went to the Interiors shop with Rufus.  With instructions from Dan 'just get what you like'. Well that in it's self sent me into a spin. I couldn't make a decision! Rufus decided to pick up everything in the shop (think delicate ceramics) so after a quick flustered decision this is what I came away with.  It will grow on me I am sure.  I was looking for a more calming blue grey colour.. but instead have a dark opulent blue. Ah well, the Gladioli's look great against it.  As do my mid-century ceramics and sideboard.

What I am loving is the fresh white everywhere else.  Fresh white without crayon marks or grubby hand prints - I am loving this so hard as I am sure it won't last the week!

We (Dan) is taking a break from DIY for a bit... we have the kitchen to do next. It's a big job. Re-tiling, painting and filling.  Maybe I'll give him a week off! ;-) 

x

Lionheart Magazine - feature

You might have noticed over there on the right... a blue lion.

If you have clicked on it you will know that it leads to the lair of Lionheart.

A small independent magazine which is the brain child of the awesomely talented Helen Martin.

I picked up a copy of Issue 1 back in November last year and was smitten.  The interviews, the well written stories, the photography, the actual feel of the magazine made me want to keep hold of my copy forever.  Like a well loved book... something to cherish and keep on your bookshelf for years to come.

I looked into it further and came across Helen's website.  Her about page just won me over.  After gushing compliments over Twitter, Helen approached me for Issue 2.

ME?!

Issue 1 was about Bravery, this issue was about Warmth.  So this how it came about... Me, my home, my illustrations and allotment are featured in Lionheart Magazine.  I am pretty happy about it too.

To be alongside other wonderful people... the likes of local guys The Ethicurean, and friends Fritha Strickland, Homemade Mama, The Owl and the Accordian and Shipshape Studio.

So... do you want a copy?

Of course you do!

Helen has kindly agreed to give away a copy of Issue 2 to one lucky Littlegreenshed reader.

This give away will run for a week, with the winner being announced on Sunday 12th August.

Perfect for summer time lounging in the park or to those southern hemisphere people, a snuggle down on the sofa read.  Yes this give away is open to all worldwide.

In the meantime if you can't wait that long you can buy your copy here.

Good luck!

x

a Rafflecopter giveaway

oh what have we done?

Sorry for the absence on the blog for a couple of days...
On Wednesday Dan and I spent the entire day (and I mean the entire day, finishing at midnight) sanding our floors back to natural wood.
When we moved in to this house 6 years ago we stripped the floors and stained them dark.
I was influenced by Victorian homes with dark wooden floor boards as seen in Living Etc Magazine.
Not realising how dark it would make my home feel.
After having 2 boys who rode around constantly on these for 4 years - the floor was left looking scuffed and tired.
A change was needed.

Oh the dust!
It is everywhere.
I am now spending days wiping down surfaces and hoovering the place.
Yesterday was my birthday and instead of lounging in a spa or eating delicious food... I carried on sanding!
(something is wrong here! - I hear you cry!)

Yes and you'd be right.
NEVER AGAIN!

But doesn't the floor look wonderful?
We still need to varnish it to seal it from apple juice spills.
And of course the whole of downstairs needs a lick of paint.
That green is going.
To be replaced by this colour I think?
Any colour suggestions?
It will be on the wall where the sideboard sits and the kitchen wall too.
The green wall will be painted out white.

So thoughts?
x

pattern

We've been carless today.
The old lady is having it's MOT.
I do hope we see her again, as it's going to be totally rubbish without a car.
Please send positive vibes to the mechanics..... fingers are firmly crossed!
Rufus and I are hanging out at home, it's nice to have a home day every now and then.
I've noticed a few patterned things at home at the moment.
Rolls of packing tape, the lovely triangle one is via here - ready to ship off orders!
YAY!
Have a great day!
x

happy wednesday...

Good morning y'all!
Just a few images from around the home.
Charlie's birthday cards, bunting and Happy Birthday banner are still up.
Such cheery colours I can't bare to take them down at the moment.
And can anyone tell me how to make my kitchen shelves look neater, yet still function with all our stuff?!  It always looks a mess.
So it's nearly the end of Jan - only 1 more week to go.  Great isn't it?
I saw my first snowdrops at the weekend.  Spring is coming early!
Right, off to buy some Seville Oranges to make some Marmalade this afternoon.. my little Orange helper will be home from pre-school then.. it's turning into a little yearly tradition!
Have a great day.
x

sunshine & new wall..

The sun has got it's hat on!
Hip hip hip hooray!
Gosh we haven't seen sunshine like this since before Christmas, it's been weeks?!
Thought I would take a few snaps of some new additions to my wall.
I dunno about you, but I feel the home always looks so bare once the Christmas Tree comes down, a perfect chance to move everything round and re-discover lost loves!

Okay so on image 3 they are:

Smile print by SeventyTree
Photo of me & Charlie when I was pregnant with Rufus
Vintage Tea Cup card by Rebekah Leigh
Bear Card by SeventyTree
Bristol Lino Print by Melanie Wickham
Zeiss Icon Contessa Camera by Rebekah Leigh
Modernist Card (one of 4) by Mrs Eliot Books
Drop card by SeventyTree
Laundry Day Card by Littlegreenshed
CatherineHolm print by Handz

Thank you to Rebekah, Kerry and Fran for such lovely, lovely gifts!
I have now updated the my Home page too!
x
Wow link heavy post - sorry!

teaser...

The colour of our front door.
One coat is on, but at present rain has stopped play.
Fingers crossed for drier weather this afternoon, to finish it!
x

new in the home...

Some new things in our home.
My birthday print by Yellena - I have adored her work for a very long time, so I am super happy I finally have her beautiful 'morning' print.  It brightens up my world.
Also new, a large wall map of the British Isles, which I have stuck up with tape opposite the bathroom.
Whenever we go anyway with the boys such as Cornwall, they ask "are we still in England?".
So I thought a large map to show where we are and how far away places are, might help.
Have a great Sunday, we are off foraging.... Jam making this week again!
x

lovely gifts and a change around...

This morning I have moved some pictures around.
To accommodate my new Isak print.
I love the cheekiness of it... Dan and I.  Heheheh.  Although the 'Isak world' Lou has perter boobs than my own!
The beautiful Orchid is from my Brother and Sister in Law... I don't have much pink in the home but all of a sudden have two!  
Yes pink is a good thing in a house of boys.
x

corners of my home - may

It's nearly the end of May.  Where has it gone... flown by.
We have been doing some changes at home this month.
The internal door has been painted a bright welcoming blue.
{happy colour}
We are painting the hall white to make it brighter.
We have replaced our old dining table with this 1950's Formica one.  Such a happy blue colour.  It suits us and fits the space better.
The boys have been prolific in their art work.
Yes.. our home has become a tranquil sea of blue and green - not a conscious decision but somehow it's happened.
Have a happy weekend, my lovelies.
Hoping for sunny days and elderflower cordial making.
x