Maud & Mabel

Sorry I've been remiss about posting for a while. We have moved into our new house and it's wonderful, but it has taken up valuable blogging time! I will hopefully be back soon with a proper post, but for now, here are some new delights on Maud & Mabel.

 Antique Scent Bottles

 Pottery Bird Whistle

 Muslin Baby Smock

 Cigarette Card Album 1939

Edwardian Glove Stretchers

Cold Comfort

I thought it was about time for an update on our two favourite elderly ladies.....

Mabel knew christmas had arrived when Maud said that she might turn on the second bar of the electric heater.

Of course, they always used to have a roaring log fire in the old days...........

........but wood and coal became so expensive and since they had to let Seth go after that unfortunate incident with their great-niece, Olivia, well........

.....things haven't been the same since and the poor dears are reduced to living in one, large and draughty room with insufficient heating. (Mabel still hasn't forgiven Maud for giving Seth his marching orders and who can blame her?)

They are in desperate need of boosting up their income by selling off various knick knacks from the vast attics of their home.  So lets see what they have for us today.

Antique Baby Gown

Vintage Huckaback Towel

Vintage French Book

Victorian Needlecase

Vintage  Faux Pearl Brooch

Vintage French Postcards

Maud & Mabel would be most awfully grateful should you wish to purchase anything, or even just for stopping by. They are also not ashamed to admit that after Christmas eve, the gin level is a little low. (Mabel should never have left Maud on her own.)

Maud & Mabel

Love In A Cold Climate.

As you know, I'm having a love affair with all things Nordic, so this week I shall be posting some links to my favourite blogs that reflect that style.

First off is Franciskas Vakre Verden or Franciska's Beautiful World. She is a photographer and writer for the interiors magazine Maison.

Filled with beautiful imagery this blog is a real inspiration and if you head over now, she is giving away a collection of beautiful, creamy handmade lace. (Click here for post.)

All photos courtesy of Franciskas Vakre Verden.

The Eleventh Hour!

I have been a little unwell recently. I was rushed into hospital with a suspected mini-stroke and had to stay in for a week. Glad to say, I am now home and making a good recovery.

However, this left me very little time to arrange christmas stuff and even less time to work on my submission piece for Seth's book. Details here.


My piece involved doing a photo shoot with my children, Kitty and Nico and today was my last chance, but the weather couldn't have been more perfect.

These are some of the extra shots I took of them against the beautiful, wintry backdrop of Boughton estate.

Kitty needed no encouragement to get in front of the camera, especially when I said she could wear my original victorian petticoat. Nico, on the other hand, had to be bribed with £5, but it was worth it for such beautiful photographs.

I Pray You Hear My Song Of A Nest.

Getting very excited now, as it's only a couple of weeks until we move into our new home. You can see it here. The kitchen needs some work. I shall eventually take out those horrid units and have free standing stuff instead, but that will have to wait a while.

I've been indulging in lots of interior design porn, as you can imagine, so here's a few inspirational images. The Nordic shabby look is still winning at the moment!

These images are all from Jeanne D'arc Living

I also love the grey/blues of this look, but it may look a little cold in reality.

(image from Birger et Mikkelson)

 I have some deluded fantasy that my many collections of junk/treasure will be sorted into something aesthetically pleasing like this. Ha ha!

Taken from the fabulous book, etc by Sibella Court.

Ok, time for coffee, cake and oh, is that my new Country Living magazine there? ............

Tales From The Edge

Well, its been a crazy time here as I've had to get ready for 6 days of craft fairs. I did one at Barton Hall yesterday which went really well, but I hadn't taken in to account, the fact that people would actually buy the stuff, so I'm having to continually make things to re-stock! Ah, Jo... business woman extraordinaire!

Anyway, to see my messy work space, head over to Seth's at The Altered Page, where his chapter of The Pulse this week is ......

Meet lots of new artists and see where they create.

As today is Remembrance Sunday, I'll leave you with some photos of my Dad, who fought in WW 2  and was a Normandy veteran. I love seeing him looking so proud when he was marching.

John Henry Archer 1924-2004

 Lest We Forget