Thursday, January 31, 2008

A Day Out In Northumberland With Me

Yesterday as you may know I was away for the day. Come on and I'll show you where I went and what I got up to.
gated road in northumberland
The sun shone all day long - lucky me.
First things to negotiate when leaving our cottage, the quick way, are the gates and if you are alone it's no fun.
ghost furniture chair and footstool
First stop was the upholsterers to pick up 2 chairs and a footstool for Ghost Furniture. I purchased the embroidered faux leather from a guy who bought up all the fabric stock from Voyage that famously snobbish company who would only admit stars and very wealthy people into their shop in London - got their comeuppance didn't they?
The Chair is a 1950s Danish design and the Footstool, believe it or not, has been made from cast iron, Victorian, ball and claw bath feet.
ghost furniture bedroom chair
Remember the beautiful Victorian skirt I bought when I took you on the last trip (below)? Well look what happened to it. It made the backrest panel and skirt for this fabulous vintage linen covered chair.
victorian skirt used for ghost furniture
di overton's friends
From the upholsterers to my good friend Helen's fabulous Georgian Farmhouse. This was serious girl time as my other good friend Gillian was there. We all spoke at 3,000 words a minute, ate chocolate cake and drank gallons of cappuccino and tea oh and sorry but we all smoked.
Clever girls these 2 - Helen (right) owns The Stencil Library which most of you will already know and Gillian (left) owns a fabulous shop and online store called Me Me Me, you can tell what sort of person she is by looking at the guys on her site modeling some of the handbags, yes that's right - GUYS.
We 3 are all like minded women who enjoy what we do and have little or no inhibitions so the conversation really should be censored.
helen morris bathroom
Helen's house is amazing. Look I even took my camera to the bathroom with me. Is that not a bathroom to die for. If you want to see loads more of this house then go to her lovely blog - Design Inspiration.
OK girls enough publicity for today I'm off to pick up my granddaughter Georgia.
ilva gateshead
I love spending time with Georgia my eldest grandchild. She is great company and sings to me in the car. You've already heard her so you know she's good. She told me yesterday that when she's older she just wants to sing, not be famous but just sing - and sing you shall my child.
First stop was ILVA that famous Danish store. We bought gorgeous storage items for her fabulous bedroom which is decorated in bright pink, black and white - that's my girl.
georgia outside ikea
Last shopping stop IKEA. We bought nothing as it all looked so tatty compared to ILVA. Sorry IKEA.
Tea at TGI Friday's was Georgia's request then home.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

I'm Off For The Day So............

Today I am off to the upholsterers to pick up some Ghost Furniture then for coffee with my friend Helen Morris of The Stencil Library in her fabulous Georgian Farmouse.
Later I am picking up my 15 year old grand daughter, Georgia (her of singing fame) and taking her to IKEA to buy some storage boxes etc for her bedroom which I have promised to re-organise then treating her to a meal.
Do not fret though I am leaving you with some lovely images and links all in this one post.

CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO BE TRANSPORTED

Reflections in a Chateau Garden

Beautiful Ceramics

Bottega Veneta Furniture

Chalk Rugs

Mad Cow Disease

Wonderful Illustrations

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Buttons and Bowlers

bowler bowls industreal
How's this for serendipity? I found these Bowler Hat bowls and these Button Plates yesterday within 1 minute of each other.
The Bowler Bowls are from Industreal in Italy and the Button Plates are from Kiki World in the Netherlands and I get to use the title BUTTONS AND BOWLERS. Hah!
bowler bowls industreal
button plates kiki world
button plates kiki world

Sculptural Chairs

dilles sculptural chairs
I was doing that wandering around cyberspace thing that I tend to do a lot and I came across this stunning site full to the brim with wonderful chairs. Dilles is a Belgian company and I advise you to go and take a look because this is only a handful of their designs. Go, go!
dilles sculptural chairs
dilles sculptural chairs
dilles sculptural chairs
dilles sculptural chairs
dilles sculptural chairs

One Day Back In 2004

belsay hall quarry garden
On a miserable Saturday back in 2004 I wandered off on my own. I was feeling very down due to business pressures and I was still trying to get used to Charlotte being in Paris. I decided to go and walk in the Quarry Garden at Belsay Hall not far from our house. It is the most peaceful place and even if there are other people there there are so many little corners and hideaways you always feel alone.
Anyway I digress. When I arrived there I found there was an exhibition in the Hall and it included this fabulous horse designed by Stella McCartney made entirely from Swarovski crystals. I walked round and round it for an age and it lifted my heart.
I just thought I would try and share that day with you.
stella mccartney crystal horse
stella mccartney crystal horse

Just Waiting

I hate waiting. I get so impatient when I can't find the things to finish items of my Ghost Furniture. Here's some pieces waiting with me.
ghost furniture
Waiting for a Wine Table to for this ornate wine bottle holder, goblet and a bunch of fabric grapes that the lovely Constance made from a picture of my favourite marble ones, I bought in Rome - isn't she clever.
ghost furniture
Waiting to go to the upholsterer. I experiment before I send them off and this beauty is being covered in black canvas which will be handpainted in copper.
Isn't that existing fabric hideous?
ghost furniture
Waiting for some room. This Art Deco drinks cabinet has all sorts of weird and wonderful drawers and swivelly things inside and it is massive. I need to clear my workshop of some work in progress to finish with this one. The 1930s steel champagne cocktail glasses (is there such a thing?) and cocktail shaker will be fixed to the top.
ghost furniture
Waiting for me to be inspired. I wake nights thinking what I can do with this. I bought it because I loved the shape but now I'm stumped.
ghost furniture
These are genuine Lurashell Chairs covered in their original bright orange fun fur (well worn). When I find the right fabric to cover these two I will be a happy person. I've had them for a year and a half so don't hold the front page. Whoever buys them can have the original covers also.

Coppersmithing - Gorgeous Bowls

coppersmithing by sian evans
Sian Evans creates beautiful things from copper including these fabulous bowls. I love the way copper ages, that wonderful verdigris that appears over time. I have a copper sink from Marrakesh that I am waiting to use and am still trying to figure a way to use it in the new extension to the cottage.
coppersmithing by sian evans
coppersmithing by sian evans

Monday, January 28, 2008

Even More From Paristic

decals from paristic
Paristic is a seriously great site for decals. They have come up with even more Parisian icons for your walls and look another staircase!
decals from paristic
decals from paristic
decals from paristic

Art and Ghosts at Etsy

Art and Ghosts at Etsy
Stunning illustrations from Art and Ghosts at Etsy. Hauntingly beautiful???
Art and Ghosts at Etsy
Art and Ghosts at Etsy

Letter Themed Cushions by Catherine Hammerton

cushions by catherine hammerton
I love these cushions by Catherine Hammerton there is so much detail and she adds little keys and buttons. Each one has letters stamps and other mail related items. Simply gorgeous.
cushions by catherine hammerton
cushions by catherine hammerton

Four Ways To Wear An Hermes Scarf

hermes scarf
A friend of mine loaned me a book from the 1980s on how to tie an Hermes Scarf. I have the latest book but just looks at these images from the 80s. Just shows that classics never date.
hermes scarf
hermes scarf
hermes scarf

Hunting, Shooting & Fishing

fornasetti screen
If you are the sporting kind then this Dressing Screen by Fornasetti could be for you.