pattern pattern pattern

Dear lovelies, I'm in London on a work placement this week so posting will probably be a bit rubbish. Ooh, and any shop orders will be shipped on the 7th. Thank you, that is all. Carry on!

I found this beauty last weekend and it is just such a joy! The preface is dated July 1867 and proclaims that '"Johnson's Dictionary Modernized," it is hoped, will supply a great public want.'

Word of the day:
ABNEGATE, v.a. to deny, refuse, reject.

Hadn't heard that one before!

The fabric I mentioned a few days ago I just couldn't leave alone, and some of it is now a cushion cover (backed with mustard yellow faux-leather, for a more hard-wearing cushion...) and a few scarves, which are/will soon be in the shop. Our dining table is very low in comparison to the chairs that are around it, so I embarrassingly find that sitting on a cushion is necessary so as to not look like a child trying to eat it's dinner with the grown-ups...

bookface

I found these old Reader's Digest books in a charity shop the other day, priced at 20p each, and of course just couldn't resist. I don't think it would be too controversial to say that from a literary point of view they are, ahem, no great shakes but I love the covers and they are rather nicely typeset inside. I was abstractly planning on ripping them up to do something nice, but haven't decided what. Any ideas?

The charity shop world has been coming up trumps lately, and I'm quite excited about these bits of fabric. The tapestry one below is just about big enough for a cushion case but there's miles of the lovely red diamond stuff to if anyone's got any suggestions I'm all ears!

Thanks, Carly!

This is definitely the best time of year for charity shopping, what with all the unwanted Christmas cast-offs! My favourite local one looked like it was holding an exhibition of rustic ceramics and pottery the other day - I wonder if a hoarder had brought a lot in all at once or if they just squirrel them away out back until they've amassed a collection? Anyway, these useful-looking bits came home with me. I'll put olives in them or something...

Also, a quick note to say that you can an extra 10% off everything from All Things Original, including sale items, until Sunday with this code: SALE10. There's loads of very pretty things to cheer you up (is it me or has it gotten colder and miserabler outside again?!)

Lovely Sunday brunch with lovely ladies at the lovely Bicycle Shop. Can you tell I'm a sucker for a vintage lace doilie?! And a cake with glitter on it.

Horse

Everyone, meet horse. I've had him for ages (an impulse ebay buy) but never put him up because he was bright green and clashed with every wall and room I've been in. The other day I decided on a whim to spray him with black enamel paint, which of cause ran out before I'd finished so he's patched up with acrylic paint but it looks okay. Necklace tidy or frivolous ornament? Haven't decided yet!

Woolly Colour Combination Of The Week

This may or may not become a series, I do have a lot of jumpers... (sweaters, to our American friends. That's one language thingie that I find perpetually confusing! Two nations divided, at least in the clothes-shopping stakes, by a common language.)

It seems like forever'n'ever until there'll be flowers outside again, so I'm improvising! I've also been a busy busy bee making some new leathery jewellery appearing in the shop pronto. Is it too early to start moaning about wanting it to be the Spring?

bye bye Christmas money, part 2

Here's a couple more bits from the below-mentioned purchasing spree. The cable knit tights, from New Look (oh yes!) are so so soft and comfy, I love 'em. And apparently I can't resist a pouch on a chain, even without whichever fancy phone it was designed to hold! Hope you all had lovely weekends.

bye bye Christmas money, too

Seeking a little retail therapy, I popped into town looking for something pretty the other day, and accidentally spent ALL my money in H&M. Not sure how it happened really, none of it was in the sale, either! This is just a tiny part of my haul, i think my favourite is the ridiculous gold chain. Yes, everyone else might all be over enormous chains, but I have always had a weak spot. Damn you H&M!!!

Interesting thing to add: I've only worn the shoes twice and one of the soles is already peeling away a bit from the toe. I did walk very far though today. Still...

Bye bye baubles

Well, that's it! Christmas is officially over, back to work, school etc and the baubles are down in our house. At my parents we would wait til the 'twelfth night', but it felt a bit odd having them up here where the cold realities of getting on with stuff are rudely intruding! I've had a bit of unwelcome news and am feeling a bit blue so please forgive rambling. Roll on the spring...

This is one of my favourite Christmas presents - it's just the most beautifully designed thing with lovely thick paper and the most incredible geometric illustrations. It also has a mix of recipes and nice explanations about all the pasta shapes, their history and which sauces they work best with. Too nice to actually go near my slovenly messy kitchen, that's fo sho. It's available, of course, from here, should you fancy one yourself!