Moving in Day

As we near the end of the major renovations on our house (don't worry I think I will always be tweaking and changing bits and pieces around) all the major building work has been completed mostly by my amazing husband, I decided to create a page on this blog to document how far we have come.  One of my biggest regrets was not taking more photographs on the day we moved in but at the time I was too busy dealing with exhausted removal men, traumatised friends (more on that one later), screaming twins, sulking ten year old and a shocked husband.  There are some photos to show the before but really they do not do justice to the horror of the inside of this house that had been lived in for ten years by an elderly, infirm lady.  Prior to her a family had lived here for over 40 years.  Very little had been changed internally from the 1930's.  We actually loved the original features that still remained like the heavy wooden doors complete with brass handles and original keys!  Although filthy and black with age we could really appreciate their beauty. 

Every room except the kitchen and the bathroom had a fireplace in it.  We are not talking discreet Victorian types tucked away in a corner either.  These were HUGE take a look at us, ugly fireplaces.  I am sad to say the only one that remains is in the living room.  We just could not live with them.  They dominated the space and were really not in keeping with the rooms also taking up valuable wall space.  Anyway more of all this later.

Here are the few pictures I did manage to take on the day we moved into our house.

Boxes, boxes and more boxes.  Piled up in every room.  This is the kitchen as it was.

The dining room.  You couldn't actually get it there.  We had so much furniture, moving from a large house to a much smaller one.  My husband put our lovely family photo portrait on the wall thinking it would cheer me up.  I promptly burst into tears with exhaustion and sadness at all that we had lost and left behind.

Another view of the dining room.

and another !  What were we going to do with all our sofas !  We had four from the old house.  It was hell that night, I can remember not even being able to think or talk at this stage.  I just wanted to sleep and wake to find it had all been a horrible nightmare.

Our bedroom.  It was Summer, look how dark it is outside and still no bed put together for hubby and I to sleep on.  This was taken about 10pm.

Jacob's bedroom.  He refused to stay in the house the night we moved in.  Our great friends who helped us that day had to take him home with them.  I do wonder the extent of what had happened to us in such a small amount of time and the huge changes to his life he had to undergo how they have affected him.  I like to think they have made him a stronger, kinder more understanding person.  I do hope so.

The doorway of the twins room.

They were the only ones who had a good nights sleep on that first night.  I can remember sitting in that blue chair nursing them in the early hours with tears streaming down my face and feeling lonelier and sadder than I had ever felt before in my life.

I am happy to say that seven years on, life is much different.  We have come through so much together and have worked so hard to make this house a real home.  Follow our story on The House Renovation Page.

More soon xx

It's only a chair

but oh ! What a beauty !

Spotted at the back by the van of one of my regular sellers, I couldn't believe this hadn't already been snapped up.

I love it, its shape, the way its legs kick out at the front like a beautiful girl showing off her feet, its colour, the smooth, smooth wood.

I won't be selling it, I won't be painting it.  It's perfect just the way it is.

and the cost ?  Just £3

I can't get enough wicker baskets. I have them in all shapes and sizes, perfect for holding stock and displaying at vintage fairs.  I bagged this one complete with linen liner (in the wash) for just £2.  Its a great size, would make a wonderful hall basket or storage for linens.  We'll see.

These won't be going anywhere either.  Bit of a trend this week, most of the treasure I found at the bootsale is destined to stay in my home.  These are the most beautiful, heavy turquoise glass candlesticks.  I love them, popped them on the newly built bookcase, displaying my books etc is still a work in progress but I have made a start.

After the success of my recent jewellery finds I've been keeping an eye out for more.  Not much about yesterday but found these pretty ear rings.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if they were real diamonds !  Doubt it very much, they belonged to the sellers grandma and have the old fashioned screw against the back of the ear fastening.

Last week I regretted not buying a set of teacups, this week I wish I had picked up all of these.  The seller had about twelve of them.  On reflection I know I could have sold them on.  The most gorgeous Scented East of India ceramic hearts !  Argh, so cross with myself.

Finally for this week, couldn't resist this jug for just 20p !  It depicts the characters from the famous Widdicombe Fair tune (where the words Old uncle Tom Cobleigh and all, come from ) Just look at the poor horse.

That's it for today. Boys on Easter holidays, sun is shining.

Linking up with Liz from Magpie Monday

Friend and Artist Kath Hadden

It never ceases to amaze me how many people I know are truly talented.  I met Kath as a parent at the twins school.  She is a wonderful, bright and beautiful lady.  She is also an artist.  Take a look at her work.  All available for sale on her website http://kathhadden.co.uk/

Walk from the Esplanade iii

Walk from the Esplanade i

Road to the Lighthouse

Road to Harlyn

The final floor

The living room is almost finished.  After seven years in our home and starting from scratch the final floor has been painted and the sofa arrives tomorrow.

The complete room makeover will follow soon ....

Magpie Monday - Stuff, stuff and more stuff

Despite loosing an hour's sleep getting up at what amounted to 5 am to take hubby to work, I had a bumper morning at the boot sale.  The sellers were out in force (but so were the buyers). Elbows at the ready I ploughed in.

First find this gorgeous large cake stand from a (regular) seller who I haven't seen over the winter, but who has now reappeared.  She goes to France to source her stock.  Love it, so pretty.  The bonus is her items are always immaculate and clean too.

Lovely hand painted cup and saucer from the same seller

Set of three beautiful Soup bowls and plates or you could use them for a large cup of steaming coffee.  Yum.

I found lots of plates yesterday, this stunning plate is Royal Worcester

Another stunning plate from the same seller, hand painted flowers on a transfer print.

Set of really pretty unmarked plates.  These again, an example of how something can sit sad and filthy in a box but can wash up a dream.

Stunning Grimwades Byzanta Ware Lustre small bowl

Pretty Side Table already repainted in Craig and Rose paint !  I thought I recognised the colour when I saw it, got talking to the seller and managed to knock £4 off the price.  I will rub it down a bit, give it a wax and think it will look much better.  Looking a bit flat at the moment but I love the shape.

Absolutely beautiful coffee set.  I might not be able to bring myself to sell this just yet.  Talking to the seller, who was Dutch, she told me her three daughter used to play with it when they played house !  All I can say is they must be amazing children, its in immaculate condition.  I regret now that I didn't also buy a pair of the authentic clogs off her too.  She had about six pairs of children's clogs in all different colours.  Argh!  Always something you regret picking up.

Pretty Colclough tea set trios

Woop! another 1950's Meakin plate to add to my now growing collection.  This one is called Covered wagon.  I love it, so as with all my other "story" plates what do you think the story is here ???

I have lots and lots more stock but haven't the time to put anymore on today.  Will do another post later in the week.  Now that the nice weather is bringing out the fairweather sellers its looks like I might have to up my bootsale budget.

One last thing today, not begging or anything but if you like my blog and think its worthy I would LOVE you to nominate my blog in the home or photography category of the MAD BLOG AWARDS  You need to pop a blog name in first along with your email and name then you can go to the second page which gives you the catagories.  Thank you so much if you take the time to vote, it means so much to me xx 

Linking up with Lizzies MagpieMonday