Red Sky At Night

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting the most delightful lady.
The artist who painted this.....

a small painting I treated myself to at my Pilates studio Christmas Fair.

Mixed media artwork. It's absolutely beautiful. Painted by Helen Kaminsky

I took a look at Helen's website, looking for something for my en-suite.

Helen had just added some new work, not only that she was on her way up North and agreed to bring a few pieces with her for me to choose from!

Here is what I chose....It is called Red Sky at Night

The more I look , the more I see. The colours are so vibrant (difficult to capture on film)

I have tried to photograph the silver and gold nets (fishing nets in the sea!)

 I love how Helen initials her paintings, wherever she can fit them!

So, thank you Helen, I absolutely love it and will treasure forever I'm sure.

Now not going in the en-suite, heading for my bedroom!

Helen Kaminsky - get lost in her wonderful blog....

Hope you like my new artwork!
Happy Sunday!
XX

So Many Shades - So Little Time

Yesterday I posted before and after pics of my recent en-suite overhaul. So hard to choose colours - so many available. I actually enlisted the help of my lovely friend, who has a wonderful eye for styling and colour (although she has a white home!) 

I wanted the en-suite to tie in with my bedroom, which has evolved slowly over the last few years. With neutral walls and flooring, colour and interest has been added through pictures, textiles, cushions and accessories, many with blue/grey shades. 'C' helped me to compare colours and pointed out that grey WOULD look great as all the colours in my en-suite are earth colours, something I hadn't thought about (I have a thing for grey at the moment) and it would make the visual link with the master bedroom I was looking for.

Here are some pictures of my bedroom, with aforementioned blues and greys!

Doorway to the en-suite where the new grey can be seen....

Who else has difficulty choosing paint colours?

How do you choose?

Many Thanks for dropping by! :-)
XX

Quick Colour Freshen Up

It's Spring. It's good to spruce and freshen up! 

Having had a stressful few work months and going through the most important thing in my career ever I took a few days off - & decided to give my en-suite a quick overhaul. 

With just a lick of paint it's gone from insipid to feeling stylish. I chose a lovely grey shade from Dulux - Chic Shadow, it brought out the grey of the tiles I had never noticed before and tied the earth colours of the tiles, carpeting and warmth of the wood nicely together.

Here you can see the old lemon colour on the ceiling above the shower cubicle.

After shots - chic grey walls ;-)

 Here you can see the grey of the tiles, which I had never really noticed before I started to apply the new grey colour.

 Obviously when decorating, it's a good time to de-clutter and pare back. I had a really good sort out of my toiletries. My cupboard has never been tidier!! (Not shown)

 Kenneth Turner candles are exquisitely scented and often available at knock down prices - This one is from TKMaxx, beautiful soft scent.

Must have new addition of Hammam towels from The White Company. Hammam towels are great for taking on holiday too! The grey stripe  & tassels add interest.

 

The grey looks really stylish next to the wood - I was a little concerned initially, but really pleased with the result.

 Bits & bobs!!

Gosh - that mirror needs a clean!!

Who else has been embracing Spring with a paintbrush in hand?

I still need to finish my front door I started last year ;-0

Bye for now & Happy Easter!
XX

Around Here Lately

Life captured over the last couple of weeks - probably longer as I have had an awful sickness bug this week, but have woken with a smidge of energy this morning, so hope to be back later to share photo's from my beautiful Daughter's Baby Shower!  

Edamame beans enjoyed at Wagamama Manchester, quick, clean, tasty food!

Pukka tea drinking - so hard to choose a favourite....

Cinema visit to see 'Riot Club' - not what I expected - disappointing end and really a teen flick!! Popcorn was good though!!

Enjoyed some much deserved time out with Mr.L at a favourite Indian restaurant, I just adore the copper pot's, particularly when they could tell a story like this one below ;-)

A favourite pastime - choosing gift's - this one is definitely for a magpie's Daughter, although this magpie has read 'The Joy of Less' and things are changing....

Family walks in St.Anne's and having a picnic by the iconic windmill :-)

Juicing.......

& still painting my front door - this is undercoat - 2 layers of topcoat to go - like they say, 

if a job's worth doing and all that ;-)

So, where has life taken you recently?
Thanks for dropping by!
XX

Seeing Stars

I shared here the wonderful news that I am going to be a Granny in December!!

My Daughter has embraced pregnancy and is one who glows and looks so healthy & beautiful.

I am so proud of my youngling & know she is going to be an instinctive, responsive Mama.

Here she is at the start of her pregnancy - 

just settling into the little cottage she has bought with her partner.

& last week when we went out to lunch!

Wow, look at that little bump - 30 weeks gone so fast :-)

Wearing her Mexican Bola Necklace, which makes soothing tinkly sounds for her 

Baba to hear and recognise when born!

We painted his bedroom last week - Here's a sneak peak!

 'A' loved some star patterned wallpaper, at £18.00 a roll - lots to spend money on at the moment and I felt we could do better ourselves as we are both creative.......

We painted three walls & the ceiling white and one wall a soft grey.

Then using car sponges we cut out freehand drawn star shapes.

We then printed these onto the wall in red, dark grey and a gorgeous denim blue (which I am now wondering where I can paint in my own house!)

I love how the stars have patterns within them from the holes in the sponge

 and other areas are darker. It's a tiny room perfect for a little one :-)

 Apologies for the picture quality but we didn't finish till very late!!

We had such fun - who needs £18.00 a roll wallpaper?

What do you think? I will share more, soft furnishing's, furniture, lighting etc. as we add to this Baba's room.

As ever thank you so much for your comment's and dropping by!
XX

Replenish

So, this week I have learnt that to blog I need to feel on top of things.

This last week I haven't - apologies to anyone whose dropped by!

I've felt a little low, tired, a complete lack of energy. I realised late in the week I hadn't been drinking as much water as I usually would - probably because I haven't run.

So Thursday I drank - lots & lots of water! On Friday I woke and just felt lifted.

Gosh, can water do this or is it psychological?? Either way it worked so its all good!! :-)

I also had a good cry - empty nest rapidly approaching. I'm happy, but I love when my home is full of young people which it was at weekend.

I'm thinking this is normal???

So much catching up to do.....both at home and here.....

Today I enjoyed a girlie day out with 'C' and her beautiful Daughter 'T'.

A completely restorative day in York, one of my favourite City's. 

We ate, drank, meandered, most importantly laughed.

We ate at El Piano, a vegan, gluten free restaurant - which for 'C' & 'T' was wonderful as they could have EVERYTHING on the menu without having to think!! The food was glorious and inspirational and a return visit is a must.

How gorgeous does this Mediterranean Platter look?

 Square Root Chips!

The next couple of weeks I need to; 

• Finish cleaning out all the kitchen drawers and cupboards following a leak, resulting in pots and pans being pulled out and put all over the kitchen - still there...

• Paint the front windows and door of the house - currently with their natural wood finish which is peeling - I fancy Heritage Farrow and Ball and am leaning towards 'Breakfast Room Green'. What do you think?

 

• I need to cut back so much foliage in the garden and have a mahoosive fire!

• I also need to choose a new phone - it's like a minefield and so confusing! I just want to be able to talk, text, take good pics and instagram. Confused.com

Back soon with 52 weeks of happy!
I'm happy you are here! Thank you :-)
XX

Pick & Mix

That was the name of the Final Show for Art & Design Students on the course that 'A' will be starting in September.

The awarding body for the course is  UAL (Universities of the Arts London) & last night was great as we got to see the work of so many talented people. 

At last I feel my Daughter is following her heart - she was so at ease in her surroundings, chatting happily with the young designers and artists.

I didn't get as many pictures as I hoped, but hope you like what I chose to feature :-)

 These paper animals were amazing - the young lady who designed them spent weeks - not hours - doing all the cutting and feathering. I don't think the photos do them justice as they were WOW!

Just look closely at the feathers...a.m.a.z.e

  This butterfly installation was everywhere you looked....& so pretty.

 Tattoo Art - now this was something else! The young artist delivered his final piece live!! How talented is he? Who else thinks of  tattoo's as art?

There were three young men with sleeves of tattoos, all different but all equally amazing. I took a number of photographs and wish I could remember whose was whose!!

Recognise anyone?

I love tattoos that are done well, with fine detail, shading, slim outlines and time taken to produce something exquisite and personal, not an elephant that looks like a tracing done with a crayon. 

The young man below is another tattoo artist and I was fascinated and wanted to know why he had taken the decision to have his face tattooed. 

The tattoo is on both sides, like a block beard. He is a walking advertisement for his trade.

He was happy to chat whilst 'A' squirmed saying "Mum! You can't say that!"

Anyway he's a handsome chap who carries it off well ;-)

Paper dresses anyone?

Crazy what you can do with sheet music! 

& this I just loved *sigh*

Blown away...these beautifully decorated women's torso's - I think they are representing pregnancy from the way the hand rests just below the stomach, such delicate work.

 We watched the Fashion Show - I really liked the pieces by the talented designer below, unfortunately I didn't manage to get pictures of the two dresses that completed his capsule. I liked his pieces as they were different but wearable too.

  Fabulous pants :-)

 If I could choose one item for myself it would have to be the torso with the butterflies, it says so much. What would you choose?

 I am so excited for 'A' to experience time in the company of other creative people & hope to share as she goes!

XX