Many years ago whilst looking for pretty items for my home on Ebay, I happened upon a book by a lady called Rachel Ashwell. From that moment on I was smitten, here was someone in America (English lady actually) who styled her home just the same way that I did. She loved white and pre-loved items, buying from yard sales, fairs etc, just like I did and was the originator of the term "shabby chic".

I had to have her book, I checked Ebay and found at that time she had 3 books published. I bought them all and waited excitedly for them to arrive. I was not disappointed. A feast of beautiful, pretty and sometimes breathtaking pictures. A step by step guide as to how she had transformed her home (as a single mother ). I spent every single spare moment pouring over those books and waiting excitedly for the next one.

To date she has published five books and a dvd (I have been unable to find an English version of the dvd)
If you like my shabby style, you will LOVE Rachel's books. Pop over to Amazon (cheapest place I have found to buy them) and treat yourself, you will not be disappointed.

Rachel went onto open several stores and a host of lines, opening her first store in London's Nottinghill (sadly not with shabby prices) . I really would love to visit it one day, just to look and long ....

Take a look at her Blog - Total heaven on Earth ! Sigh ........