Downton, Mr Darcy and being duped !

According to Miss Bingley in Pride and Prejudice, an accomplished lady can sing, and sew, and draw and play the piano. She can dance, has an understanding of modern languages and enjoys reading.

Though she may practice these skills daily, her lot in life was but to wait for a husband, for there was no other choice in life, for women of a certain fortune but to wed.

These days we are much more fortunate, for we are permitted to do as we please, to go where we will, to study or to travel and to generally make a path of our own choosing, whatever that may be.

Recently however, instead of broadening my horizons, I have been reposing at my leisure incandescently happy with my own private obsession for period dramas. Although I do not relish the idea of a life of pleasantries ( and probably boredom) waiting for Mr. Darcy, I have myself been sat for a considerable amount of time watching said gentleman in the pursuit of Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Not just once but on numerous occasions.

The stunning Miss Keira Knightly and the dashingly handsome Matthew Mcfadyn have delighted me with their simmering off/on romance. The musical score for the film is utterly charming and thought provoking, the views breathtaking and the Bennet's house is the perfect kind of shabby chic.

Upon searching for still shots of the interior of Longbourn, I inadvertently discovered that there was an extra scene added to the American version of Pride and Prejudice. It was sincerely felt that the US market would appreciate an extra kiss from Knightly and Mcfadyn, but decided that the British would find it unnecessary.

Well, I felt robbed,
DUPED
and generally done over !...............
How dare someone decide that I, a Brit would not enjoy this extra piece of romance.
I had always felt that the film ended rather abruptly, and I made it my mission to track down this scene. It was a happy day last week, when I found the film with it's extra scene in our local library.
I just hope it won't be worn out, by the time I take it back.

My interest, still not being satisfied, I went and bought the televised version with the very dashing Colin Firth. It has been most enjoyable to see more of Jane Austen's words played out in front of me.

Not content with Pride and Prejudice, I have watched the latest version of Jane Eyre at least three times, and the wonderful BBC has brought Downton Abbey back to our screens. The second series didn't seem quite as good to me as the first, but the new series got off to a glorious start on Sunday and I am looking forward to the next instalment immensely.

So, dear friends, this is where I have been, and my excuse for neglecting you once again.
My obsession will subside as they always do, and I shall return to practice my accomplishments but for now Mr. Darcy is calling once again.  I cannot decide whether it will be Colin or Matthew. I shall return forthwith - once I have taken this dictionary out of my mouth, and returned to my normal speech pattern.

Adieu, and may my words find you all in perfect health.

radiator curtains (as opposed to cabinets)

Last December, my living-room looked like this. 

Then for a while it looked like this, after I stencilled the walls.

As a trial for my Impossibilities Challenge, I put up two floating shelves, one on each side.

In May, the old geezer finally put up the other two shelves over the radiators for me. 

(We don't like to hurry things around here !)

I had visions of building radiator cabinets underneath the shelves,

but the wood has warped, so we are going to see what happens when we

put the rads on, in the winter.

For now I have made burlap curtains !

They are a bit more see-through than I would have liked, but I could line them I guess.

I am not quite sure why I can't take a straight photo, I rarely drink alcohol. 

I think my house is wonky !

With stuff on the mantle as well, it's looking rather overcrowded in the photos, but 

sitting here, it all looks lovely to me. A minimalist I am not.

I finally have the perfect place for my lightbulb light. The cord tucks down the back.

I haven't caulked the shelves in case they do warp.

I rescued the basket from the garden.

Driftwood from the beach.

I really liked my beachy mantle, so when I removed it, I put some things under this large cloche.

I still have a beast of a tv (it's looking hopeful, that we may soon get a replacement)

and

I love the fact that in the next holiday season, I now have loads of places to display

 more shit stuff.

linking up with

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays @ Coastal Charm

Cowgirl Up @ The Farmhouse Porch

Knick of Time Tuesdays @ Knick of Time

What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants

Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style

Primp Your Stuff Wednesdays @ {Primp}
All Star Block Party @ Full Circle Creations

Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here

Pot Pourri Friday @ 2805

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

Sunday's Best @ My 1929 Charmer

Sunday Showcase Party @ Under The Table and Dreaming

 

 

pillow talk

When is a pillow not a pillow - when it's a cushion !
Well that's what we call them in the UK. The ones you lay your head on at night, they're pillows.

Cushions are the decorative ones that we all love but which men generally think are unnecessary. Whatever you call them, I am sure 'what do ya want another one of those for', is a phrase we have all heard many times over.

Anyway, I have selective hearing - I made another one !

I used the linen tablemat in the bottom left of this photo.

I attached it to a remnant of burlap style fabric left over from my Pass It On Project, and I really like the way it turned out.

It took about 3 hours to make. I put another piece of fabric behind the burlap to strengthen it. I attached the central section with bondaweb, and then stitched over the embroidered sections every centimetre or so, to hold it in place.

I made some piping from the same fabric and was quite pleased with myself, until I saw that Carol from Art and Sand had made beautiful white slip covers for a whole sofa and a chair. They look amazing, just pop over and see. I don't think I'd ever have enough patience to do that much sewing.

Anyway, I backed my cushion with the same Laura Ashley fabric that I used for the pelmet over the window, and although that fabric is nice, the piping hides it from the front, which I like.

I also fixed up and finished off the other cushion, that sits on the chair. I re-inforced the holes where the eyelets pulled out, with more bondaweb (which I've had stashed away for about 20 years !).

I also used bondaweb to stick the 'welcome' panel on. I decided I preferred it to the plainer version.

I put the cushion pad back in and tied the ribbons again

Not bad, for the cost of a £3 tablemat from my nearest charity shop.

If you've been here before, you may have noticed that the bed cover is missing. That's because my dear darling diddy dog decided to leave me a little present, when he couldn't keep his breakfast down one morning, and I was out. It's in the wash !

linking up with - 

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays @ Coastal Charm

Cowgirl Up @ The Farmhouse Porch

Knick of Time Tuesdays @ Knick of Time

What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants

Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style

Primp Your Stuff Wednesdays @ {Primp}
All Star Block Party @ Full Circle Creations

Inspiration Friday @ At the Picket Fence

Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

Air Your Laundry (Friday Textile Party) @ Freckled Laundry

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground
Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Sunday's Best @ My 1929 Charmer

Sunday Showcase Party @ Under The Table and Dreaming

a lamp and some lace

Once again, blogland has inspired me. Someone who thinks out of my box, put lace on a lampshade, and I have lots of my Grandmother's lace and a ghastly coloured lampshade that desperately needs an update.

The lamp used to be in the dining-room.

Love the mirrored base, hate the colour of the shade when the light is on.

I made a new lamp for the dining-room (see below) and this one went to the mini guest room.

After some considerable time (months and months), I finally ripped the fabric off the shade.

I fixed it.

Taped up the nice shiny central section, and sprayed the rest white.

I looked through my lace, tried a few things, and settled on this.

I don't think my Grandmother made it, but I'm not sure, there's no-one left to ask now. Anyway, it's been sat in a box of mine for over 25 years, so I think it's about time I used it, as it's too lovely to sit in a box any longer.

Luckily there was 6 1/2 metres, so I didn't have to cut it, I just kept wrapping it round, using a little hot glue, so that it didn't slip.

I added detail, with a tiny bit of ribbon and a couple of buttons.

I made sure that everything looked straight at the front, and that the scallops looked good at the bottom.

I think it works perfectly, in my little corner of the mini guest room. You can just see a bit of the pelmet, that I made here.

It sits under my little shelf unit (full of treasured items), that I made here, and a cross-stitch  of a pear. 

A photo of my parents wedding and my Grandfather, Mother and Uncle in the sea somewhere. I re-gilded and aged these frames years ago as they were bright shiny gold.

I love my little corner with the lace lamp. I hope my Grandmother would like it too, and wouldn't mind the way I used her lace.

linking up with - 

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays @ Coastal Charm

Cowgirl Up @ The Farmhouse Porch

Knick of Time Tuesdays @ Knick of Time

What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants

Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style

Primp Your Stuff Wednesdays @ {Primp}
All Star Block Party @ Full Circle Creations

Inspiration Friday @ At the Picket Fence

Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

Air Your Laundry (Friday Textile Party) @ Freckled Laundry

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Sunday's Best @ My 1929 Charmer

Sunday Showcase Party @ Under The Table and Dreaming

self-diagnosis

I am self-diagnosing myself !
I have lazy-itis (BIG TIME). I've had it before and I'm sure I'll have it again.
This time I think it was brought on by completely-shattered-itis.
I've been doing more shifts and much longer shifts in the cafe where I work, because the sun is finally out in the UK, and everyone wants to sit on our decking right on the beach.

My lazy-itis and completely-shattered-itis have been compounded by Olympic Fever (BIG TIME).
I'm the least sporty person you are ever going to meet, and I never even tried to get tickets, but from the moment I started watching the Opening Ceremony I've been obsessed.
Team GB is doing incredibly well, and I feel so proud. It's great to not only watch our achievements but watch our commentators delight in all high achievers from countries across the world.
Although our audiences are extremely vocal when cheering on British athletes, I hope other nations have experienced encouragement here too, and enjoyed their Olympic experience.

It's very easy to diagnose the end of Olympic Fever - I know it will be over in a few days. I don't need a doctor to tell me that my temperature will go down and I will be back to normal, as long as I can get through my lazy-itis.

I definitely need to get over this soon, so that I can check out all your posts - I'm sure I've missed some great stuff !


(OOOOh, my temperature just went up - a certain US hurdler called Mr. Richarson, just got a Silver medal - that is one gorgeous man !!!)

my best friend

This is a little tribute to my bff.
It's her birthday today and the last year or so hasn't been easy for her, and yet she keeps thinking of me, and helping me out and visiting and really, I could never thank Pandy enough for all the things her, and her family have done for me over the years.

We met at nursey school when we were 5.

We then both went to St. Hilary's School, Sevenoaks. And even though we were in different classes, we would see a lot of each other at weekends.

When my mother was very ill (I was 11 or 12), I went to live with her family for a few months.
One day, when her mother was dropping us off at school, she handed us our bags from the boot of the car and said - here you go Andy Pandy (for Amanda) and Oni Poni (for Fiona).

I have called Amanda Pandy ever since (some of you will have heard this name often around here), and what I love is that only I call her Pandy.

I think it's quite fortunate that I don't get called Poni ! - to Amanda and her family I am Fee Fee.

We have lived very different lives. After school, I went to Art College and Amanda went to Finishing School, to learn manners and etiquette, though from the stories she told me, it sounded like one big party !
She got finished off good and proper, as she knows what knife and fork to use and has a great appreciation of alcoholic beverages, especially dry white wine !

We sometimes haven't seen each other for a year at a time, and when I went travelling it was Pandy's parents who told me that if I wanted to come home, at any time, they would pay for the flight.
I went for a year and a half, and never made the call, but it was Pandy who I saw first, when I got home.

Pandy's style is so different to mine - you won't find any shabby shit (her phrase, not mine) in her house, but our common interest has always been interiors.

This is Pandy's dining room.

This is mine.....................

Hmmmm,  It's a work in progress, as is the living-room -

Whereas, this is where Pandy and her family entertain !

Yup, our lives have been very different, but we have always been the best of friends. Pandy thinks we'll end up living together in our twilight years. She thinks we'll be like the Ladies in Lavender - a British film about two sisters who live by the sea in Cornwall. The Maggie Smith character is rather domineering and bossy and the Judi Dench character is rather daft and dreamy. 

We haven't quite decided who will be who, as we both tend to drift between both of these descriptions. However, I am rather bossy, and I'm convinced that Pandy's favourite tipple will take it's toll eventually !!

Pandy and her mother are especially generous with gifts as well, and I was going to show you the amazing presents I've had (not just on birthdays), but I've run out of time, and I want to post this.

If I need something, they do their best to find me it, and if I like something - they find me that too.

I was recently given six amazing dining-room chairs, a printer's block tray (I've wanted one for years), a gorgeous glass jar for my kitchen.

Over the years I've had furniture, a dryer, curtain fabrics, a chandelier, a bathroom suite - the list is endless.

My life is better for having a best friend like Pandy - not because I've received amazing things, but because she knows me better than I know myself sometimes. She understands me, she listens and she doesn't judge. She would do anything for me and she is the most loyal person I know. 

Thank you honey, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The last time we made an effort, on her sons 18th birthday in April this year - not quite yet over the hill !