And the boys one!

Ta da! Second box and for the boy this time. I actually think that I like these patterns, especially the orange one, the best of all. Can you imagine a wall of the orange paper- I would LOVE that!

Hope you are all having a fab weekend, the sun is shining here so all is good.

Jo xx

{Vintage wallpaper from Littleteawagon}

Wowls!

Wowls- that is the bubba's name for them just now! Aren't these lovely! They belong to my friend Richard- one of my closest friends with whom I share many similar loves and likes. He has a stunning home- can you see that wallpaper?

I believe these candle holders were from Tesco. Sadly I see them no more. Tesco can be like that- you see something you love and when its gone its gone!

If he lets me I might show you some more of his home sometime!

Thank you Rich- love ya! Jxx

Lou's print and a big thank you!

I was really overwhelmed by everyone's lovely comments on my last post. It is such a big thing for me that I have 'met' so many great people through this wee blog. The fact you read, comment and in turn inspire me with your own places on the net is just brilliant!

Lou from Little Green Shed's print  'Spring Flowers' arrived today- And I think its just beautiful! In fact for just now it has a home on my Nana's sideboard. Check out Lou's blog- its an inspiring read.

I wish you all a fab weekend- Love Jo xx

The one about Ikea Family Live Magazine....

It was really, really nice to get some kind comments about this room yesterday- thank you all very much. And they have prompted me to post these pics again which I put on here at the very start of my blogging journey. We did this extension a few years ago and I can't tell you how much it has changed our lives for the better. It replaced a small projection on the back of the house which would have been the original wash house. It had a solid floor, no insulation and was running with damp. We now have a big, open space where the kids can scooter about- straight outside if they want (West coast weather permitting!).

We were really chuffed with how this family room, cum kitchen/dining room (you can't see the dining room here) turned out. So much so that it a fit of excitement I sent these pics to Ikea Family Live magazine. Then I totally forgot about it until a few months later I got an email saying they were considering my house for a feature. Well I was excited but my heart dropped a bit when they asked for pictures of the rest of the house. Firstly the rest of the house is a turn of the century semi, quite different from this modern room, although my usual mixy- matchy decor, and well secondly I was putting myself and my home out there to be judged. I guess a bit foolishly I sent off more pics and never heard anything until eventually I got a rather sheepish email telling me that my home wasn't 'strong' enough to be featured after all.

I was quite upset about this and felt really stupid to have been so arrogant as to send the pics off in the first place! I suppose I felt like I had forgotten what my home is, its a repository of the things we have pulled together from our separate lives and then what David and I have created together- a happy home for our family. So a lesson learned- I won't be sending off any pics to magazines again. And I am showing it here on my terms because I am proud of what it is. Sometimes you live and learn. We love it and its a happy, bright, muddled, creative space. We think its a 'strong' family home and that's what matters isn't it?

Jo xx

Till Tuesday

Kept it quiet today, aside from morning pre school for the boy we were in and around the house. Tidying the kiddos rooms hence the pics- big clean out and some new things going up on the wall etc. Making rainbow badges for rainbow day tomorrow at nursery. Cooking tea, doing some searching for songs my music mad boy loves on Youtube and lots of dancing and playing. As ever a lovely wee day together.

1. Wee ones room.
2. Jammy nose!
3. Our room.
4. Tea set.
5. Monkeys and bears.
6. Owl family (and copy of Beautiful Son by Hole).
7. New thrifted tray.
8. Rainbow badges.

Till Tuesday

This is a 'Till Tuesday' with a bit of the weekend shoved in for good measure. As I have blogged before we have all been a bit poorly so I just didn't feel like doing a post at the weekend. I wondered if you did a straw poll of all UK Mama bloggers this last month- I bet kiddo sickness, bugs etc would feature highly. Anyway onwards and upwards!

We started with lovely fruit (vitamins!) on Saturday morning, then we got a new fence put up out back. As work went on all day we nipped off in the afternoon for the kiddos first trip around Glasgow's Clockwork Orange. The bubba hated it, witness the petrified wee face above- the boy on the other hand LOVED it!

We cooked some food for the week- with two wee helpers.

Tuesday we had a trip to Milngavie town centre and hit the Charity Shops. Top toy for the bubba by way of a Mystery Machine, an owl money box and a Royal Copenhagen Little Mermaid plate for me. The boy scored a cute wee Pingu purse but no photos allowed apparently!

My eye is trained for the particular shade of  Royal Copenhagen blue. Having had a Danish boyfriend  in the past and an amazing trip to Denmark for my 21st I have always loved all things Danish- a highlight was seeing the mermaid and this little plate was made for me. The fairytale is haunting- I have never forgotten the way she felt every step on land like sharp blades in the soles of her feet- a true reminder in a grim wee tale that Nothing comes without a price.

Finally we took Miss James from Bleubird Vintage's lead as usual and tried her homemade crayons- they were a big hit.

Anyway I hope you are all well and thank you again for reading.

My very best wishes Jo x

1. Finn's fruit.
2. Wee orange one on the Subway.
3. New fence.
4. Wee cooks.
5. Little Mermaid.
6. Mystery Machine.
7. Owl moneybox.
8. Homemade Crayons.

The last wee while

Sometimes in seems that everyone has a lovely, lovely life and when yours is sad or rubbish or just plain monotonous (the chores, the tears, washing the floor for the 10th time!!) well looking back at a few sweet moments is a good, good thing. I guess that is why I keep writing. And thank you for your lovely comments- it means a lot to me that you read!

Some wee high points in maybe a not so bad week after all. Jxx

1. A cheeky one.
2. Plates from my great grandmother (my mum passed them onto me).
3. As above.
4. Noah's Ark (played with so much two glue jobs in a week).
5. Bubba's milk drinking wee feet.
6. Sky over the high rise.
7. My new cardi.
8. Tiny bunting on the wee guy's new shelf.

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......