Changing beds....

I bought this king size, ex Barker and Stonehouse, mahogany bed frame from a local secondhand warehouse the other day.

It has had a bit of a hard life I think, judging by the scratches and broken bed stretchers.

( Just don't think about it's previous "occupants"  Julie....best not go there.)

Thoroughly cleaned with a toothbrush and de-greaser...Then on with the Annie Sloan Old White Chalk paint to lighten the heavy, masculine look.

Two coats on the headboard...the broken stretchers glued, clamped and screwed for stability.

Clear wax polish and a fine sand for a distressed finish, then into the bedroom for its final position.

The Victorian, Scotch pine chest of drawers with a secret drawer at the top has been painted in Farrow and Ball Blue Gray, as has the Hungarian "knockdown " wardrobe. 

"Knockdown" because the top, bottom, sides, back and doors all come to pieces... Perfect for getting up narrow cottage staircases! So clever....

Just awaiting a nice, comfy mattress now...then on with the French linen sheets, snuggly feather and down duvet and the bargain goose down pillows from TK Maxx...bliss....

Julie x

A Grand Day Out...

A trip to God's own County... Yorkshire.

Ripley near Harrogate to be precise, which yielded a little bit of France for me at the weekend.

Stall after stall of salvaged and decorative pieces.

The weather was beautiful, and perfect for sitting with coffee and cake at the trendy coffee van...people watching. 

Somethings people pick up you think ...why? 

Others, you think... Ooh I would have had that...put it down and walk away please!

Tents full of nicely painted old furniture... Armoires, tables, chairs, beds etc

Autentico paint seemed to be the flavour of the month in the chalk paint department.

French linen sheets, cushions, nightshirts, curtains ... Cloth Shed heaven!

Naturally, I had to make several purchases along the French line,

A large, heavy weight sheet with initials....and a finer linen sheet made into a cushion. 

A lovely toile de jouy cushion... The old panel of toile depicting "The cut finger" 

Nicely backed with rough, French linen....another for my ever growing cushion collection.

Not to be outdone, Mr CS spotted two huge ex factory light fittings which, when re wired are to go up in the kitchen.

Industrial salvage at its best... Useful and different...real statement pieces!

Even Miss Ottie had a great day...she met so many dogs and people she was totally shattered. 

Even her favourite chicken dinner had to wait till she got her breath back!

Love that dog....xxx

Julie x

Lace panel dress...

This unusual French dress, hand made from lace curtain panels, tablecloth edging, and lace border dyed blue/grey ( no, not by me...) has found its way recently to the cloth shed emporium.

Three layers to the skirt, with a side free edge for extra movement.

Wide 3/4 length sleeves and cotton lace panel detail to the cuffs.

The reverse has a loose tie belt

 

The label has a 60's /70's look to it...with the name..

Eugenie Phung

Nuances et creations sur tissus anciens

( Shades and designs on old fabrics )

A romantic, floaty, vintage dress for the right person...

£38 plus p and p

Julie x

PS I know Jane from My Gorgeous Angel Pie would approve and appreciate the detail!

Toast and water....

Latest acquisition for the bastle kitchen...another large,white jug...only this one is more cream darkening to beige because of heat and use over time.

Pretty ordinairy you think....

Simple, plain shape, but when turned it has a cartouche in black under the strainer spout.

I was told that Toast and Water was made as an invalid drink during the 19th century... And yes, it was literally a piece of toast added to a jug of boiling water, allowed to cool, then poured through the strainer spout to catch the bits.

Goodness knows what it's nutritional value was to invalids, but obviously popular enough for the potteries to make jugs advertising the contents.

Missing its lid with a few chips too but what an interesting piece of history.

I wonder if this is where Emma Bridgewater got her inspiration for her Black Toast range which incidentally has a large water jug?

Julie x

Cat call...

Not to be outdone by the arrival of Miss Ottie to Northumberland... Monsieur Oscar from Paris has sent me some poses to show everyone how handsome he still is.

This is the cat that deliberately sits on the neighbour's window annoying the hell out of the dog inside ....and the same cat that sneaks into another neighbour's window with muddy paws and curls up on his white sofa....

Amazingly they still love him.

And who wouldn't?

Partaking of a light supper in the evening..

He is a great companion for my daughter, with a marvellous character and like all cats....has his own life rules.

Which as you can imagine are religiously obeyed by all around him.

Julie x

Catch the pigeon....

When I go to Grandma's house, she feeds the birds... Cutey little ones who eat seeds from feeders and from a huge fat ball which incidentally I don't like... In fact, I bark at it because it looks like a head swinging on a rope!

Anyhoo...she sometimes throws the crusts from white bread on the lawn and it's not long before those stupid pigeons descend...whoopee... playtime.

I sit patiently in her conservatory and watch....and wait.

Then, the cheeky so and so comes up a bit too close... 

So close in fact,  I am sure I could catch it if this window wasn't in the way.

Of course, by the time I have gone round to the back door the little blighters have taken off ...

 But one day, mark my words  I will get one!

You think I'm a cute little puppy Mr Pigeon,

But check out my new, big girl's teeth that are coming through...caught on camera last night as I snoozed on the sofa.

Grrrrr.....

Love Miss Ottie x