Tuesday 31 January 2012

The one about the gilt mirror...



So this mirror has been with me for around 15 years. It lived in my folks loft, an empty frame (the canvas that was in it destroyed by woodworm years ago) until I took it with me to my first flat in Glasgow's Merchant City. It sat propped against an immaculate white wall in my loft cum studio flat. An empty gilt frame saying something or nothing- well I thought it was a statement.....

When we moved to our house I painstakingly repaired the broken and missing mouldings, building them up with polyfilla. I also had a mirror put in it- bringing it properly back into use.

Originally it came down through my family from my fathers grandfather, who collected art, and in fact supported some artists. Taylor Brown, Christopher Meadows and Sam Fulton amongst others. he collected.  My great grandfather was a butcher, with his own business. Its intriguing isn't it to have such an interest in art- he must have been no ordinary butcher. I love hearing about it from my father and would like to know more one day.

Anyway I was thinking about that love of art as I painted the frame these last few days- my father has it and I have it. These traits must be deep in our make up, our DNA, and the sense of continuity I feel from knowing that is reassuring. Just as I felt contentment hanging the mirror back up in our newly painted bedroom this afternoon.

The colour of the bedroom- well will you laugh at me when I say we have painted it the same colour these last 8 years!! It was originally a Farrow and Ball special artist edition of Charles Rennie Mackintosh colours, (long since discontinued and colour matched over the years by me). Our colour is called 'Glasgow Grey'. It was supposed to be a particular violet grey that Mackintosh used and loved in his watercolours. It also looks good in the (little) light that we have on the West coast. Its restful and pleasing to me when sometimes all the white we have can be a little overwhelming. A chalky pastel palate has always appealed to me.

Now I am deciding what else to put back up on the walls- I have a reasonable collection of paintings, drawings and prints myself these days......

Saturday 28 January 2012

BITS + PIECES.





In between all this we had morning coffee with friends, a lovely, lovely lunch and play with friends, and got the house back to normal after the painters finished some final work upstairs. It was a good, busy day and thanks again to James from Bleubird Vintage for the inspiration and opportunity to share.

1. Breakfast play.
2. Kate's lovely flowers.
3. New Hama creations.
4. Gingerbread man decorating.
5. Kiddo disco!

Have a fab weekend! Jx

Thursday 26 January 2012

Small things


A wee purchase last week- its a tiny vase that I Love! Nice pattern, nice shape- whats not too love!

Jx

Monday 23 January 2012

Surprise present!


Well there is nothing nicer than a surprise present that is just for you and EXACTLY what you would have picked yourself! My brother and sister in law brought this amazing Dinosaur Designs bangle back from their honeymoon for me. I swear I thought the lovely jute bag was the present- and I loved it, but my Mum  told me to look again and there inside, beautifully wrapped in tissue paper as only DD can do it was this beauty.

And if you haven't checked out their website at my urging before, then please do so now. Their products, jewellery and homewares are to die for- go on check them out.

And D & S thank you SO much again!

Jo x

Sunday 22 January 2012

Her Red Shoes

We spent this weekend celebrating our good friends wedding in Edinburgh. The bride told me at my wedding, where I wore red and had red shoes that when she got married she would have red shoes. And here you see some years later she damn well did it. This fab pair as said by the bride's father- 'are a force for good together'. So true and so special. I hope you all had as great a weekend as we did.

Jo x

Tuesday 17 January 2012

Till Tuesday








A busy but happy Tuesday. Nursery, play group, lovely lunch with an old friend, some baking and crafting and the usual clear up. Here is the detail in the pictures;

1. First snowdrops in the woods.
2. Morning light through our stained glass.
3. Sweet cardigan from a friend for little N.
4. Snuggling under quilts.
5. Oranges boiling for choccy orange cake.
6. Finn's beautiful crafting- a fancy nest for a wee bird apparently!
7. My lovely new cards from Seventy Tree (with some more Aubrey fabric in the middle frame!)
8. N's first taste of a chocolate eclair brought by a good friend- yum!

Happy Tuesday, J x

Friday 13 January 2012

Lucky Friday





Its just a number huh! We had a great day, lots of chat with good friends, mmmm lots of tea and coffee. Play for the kiddos and some nice sunlight which always improves my iphone pics. Happy weekend everyone, have a good one, Jo xx

{this moment}

Thank you Amanda at Soule Mama.
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Jx

Wednesday 11 January 2012

Boy in Blue

No prizes for guessing what a certain boy got for Christmas! And if you think I have gone all 'blue for a boy' on you well his secondhand bike that my folks keep for him at their place is screaming pink!

Jx

Tuesday 10 January 2012

Aubrey


Its my favourite Florence Broadhurst fabric (and just about my favourite pattern fabric ever)- remember I used it on the unit I painted for the hall. Well I've been using it again. Just some left over bits in frames. So so dark this afternoon that the pics were not good. Later this week I promise!

Jx

(top pic courtesy of http://borderlinefabrics.com/)

Monday 9 January 2012

BH Makes



I have loved Bridget Harvey's jewellery for a while now. It strikes me that it would be super comfy to wear- it just looks so soft and textured. I love the third picture where lace has been used to imprint a pattern. The rings and bangles would look super good with winters chunky knits, don't you think?
J x

(Pictures courtesy of BH Makes)

Sunday 8 January 2012

Donna Wilson


I am currently in love with this Donna Wilson 'Birds Nest' plate. And well pretty much in love with everything Donna Wilson. I was lucky enough to get the 'Meg Plate' for Christmas and the kids some lovely 'Meg' and 'Mog' egg cups.

Meg reminds me of my two beautiful wee red heads!

Hope you are all having a great weekend, Jxx

(photo credit- Donna Wilson website)

Friday 6 January 2012

How is it Friday already?






I fully intended a post on Tuesday but we had such bad storms the night before and quite a bit of damage to clear up the next day (fallen roof tiles, fences etc etc).

So a lovely day today, but as usual at this time of year kept in for the afternoon with the weather. Lots of playing, crafting, good fun!

1. The boy.
2. The girl.
3. The crafting (!?).
4. The thank yous.
5. The village.

Thank you as ever for reading- I really appreciate you stopping by. Lovely to have your comments. Happy weekend one and all!

Jxx

Thursday 5 January 2012

Vintage dress

I just ordered this from the lovely Anne-Marie at London Vintage on Etsy. I had been uuuhming and aahhing about it for ages and well generally being a pest to Anne-Marie (who has been very patient). Anyways I ordered it eventually for Nevie (when pennies allowed!) and its on its way just now. Recently I have been dressing the wee one in some of my old dresses that my Mum kept and this reminds me of them so much. Pics to follow!

Jx

(pic by Anne-Marie- thank you)

Monday 2 January 2012

101 Posts and Happy 2012

Well I nearly missed the 100 posts mark- I am quite happy to have made it and I enjoyed writing and posting every one of them. And if you read what I post I am so so happy to have you here. My wee space on the internet has been great for me- to create, reflect and celebrate. So here's to the New Year- its going to be great! Love J xx

PS This was my glass of sparkling rose Champagne while in a bath on New Years Eve- both a bath and a glass of Champers are rare enough to be a real treat for me these days!