Second Phase Living

Ardingly Antique Extraveganza.....

2010-10-25T23:36:00.000-07:00

Today I am heading off to Ardingly Antiques Fair. A huge fair with 1, 700 stalls selling everything from fine furniture and ceramics to glassware and textiles. This is where the dealers go in search of stock so I am hoping to pick up some fabulous things.

Creating space.....

2010-10-20T03:28:00.000-07:00

So we are still in the process of doing up the cottage, the wedding took precedence (and money) so there have not really been any improvements made over the past year. We have had wardrobes and bookshelves built but apart from that, I would say that no room is complete quite yet and in fact, one room is still full of boxes.

The reason for this is that we are waiting to have our loft converted. We have planning permission and building reg approval but we just cannot find a builder. It seems they are all busy until well into the new year! The space will be small with low sloping ceilings but it will be beautiful......

We are Wed......

2010-10-20T03:07:00.000-07:00

So after a year and a half of planning - relatively stress free I may add, we tied the knot. It was a fabulous day and one that I cannot stop playing over and over again in my mind. For your delectation......

So the end of an era so to say. I am very happy to not have to think about flowers, colour schemes and stationary anymore. I feel as if I have my life back and more importantly....my blog. I look forward to concentrating on interior design and crafting.

Saturday sewing....

2010-02-20T09:53:00.000-08:00

Mr G is away in Berlin on a stag weekend so it meant I could finally get the sewing machine out. I popped into town today to get some Cath Kidston material to make my own cushions. I have been admiring the chintzy union jack cushions for quite some time but cannot believe the price of them, so..... I made my own.....I have to say - they are pretty darn good for a novice.

Accessorize the dress

2010-02-19T23:15:00.000-08:00

First of all apologies for gap in the blog.....sooooo much has been going on that I just have not had time to post anything. I suppose the most exciting thing that has happened is that we have moved to the countryside! As I sit here typing all i can hear are birds singing and the geese in the field opposite. We have been here for two months and it has been idyllic.

Anyway, back to matters at hand - The Wedding! At the last count we are down to 190 days. I have achieved nothing more since ordering the dress nearly 5 months ago. I am hoping a swatch of the material will be coming through the letterbox this morning so I can start to think about shoes and accessories!

VEILED BEAUTY.......

The biggest idea i have had with regards accessories is having a veil. Now, not just your average veil.....a cathedral length, lace edge, mantilla veil! Check these delightful images out.......

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T03:16:00.000-08:00

Shed Chic......

2009-11-24T11:09:00.000-08:00

We should be completing on the cottage in the next week or so which fills me with so much excitement it's untrue. Whilst the inside will need some TLC the one place I cannot wait to get my green fingers on is the garden. I would love to have an outdoor room, a shed, a chic shed....

Aren't they fabulous....

Reindeers and Robins.......

2009-11-22T13:35:00.001-08:00

A few more designs......

A space to call my own.........

2009-11-21T02:34:00.000-08:00

Oh my..... how I would love to have space for this in the new house. I dream of having such a beautiful space to call my own and have all my material, ribbons and inspirations I have been collecting on display like this. There is an area I have earmarked in the new place but I will be fighting with Mr G over who gets it! This space is taken from Storage Style by Lesley Porcelli. Check out her book for more ideas when space is at a premium.

Felt Christmas Decorations........

2009-11-15T12:10:00.000-08:00

It was a real weekend of crafting - as well as the bib necklace I made some hanging decorations for Christmas. They are felt hearts in coordinating colours ( I am not one for red and green at Christmas). They were so easy to make - I am going make some felt gingerbread men....

Homemade bib necklace......

2009-11-15T10:21:00.000-08:00

Here is what I made! I am very pleased with it. I just need to get some cream ribbon to make the ties and it will be ready to wear.

2009-11-14T03:52:00.000-08:00

I have just found this fabulous tutorial over on www.pompomemporium.com and think it is the perfect way to while away the hours while Mr G is watching the rugby this afternoon.

It will look great with some of the ribbon corsages in my post yesterday.

For the tutorial pop over on Anji's blog

Have fun!

Weekend Workshop.....

2009-11-13T01:44:00.000-08:00

This weekend I will be making decorative corsages. I have posted a step by step picture guide for you.....

Very simple to make and a great way to use up any bits of ribbon or material hanging about the house. You can make them any size or colour and can be used to decorate bags, t-shirts, scarves, hats, presents.....anything your corsage making heart desire.... have fun.

Oh to Sew......

2009-11-09T03:37:00.000-08:00

I am going to be turning 30 in a couple of weeks and would love to be given a sewing machine. Now, I know nothing about sewing machines and with the vast array of makes and designs - where does one start. A friend and fellow blogger over on http://thesecretsewer.wordpress.com/ has been advising me on the ins and outs and I was delighted to see a post dedicated to me and my search:

http://thesecretsewer.wordpress.com/2009/11/07/for-jane/

Looks like it could be the one.....just need to pass it under the nose of Mr G and see if he takes the hint! Thanks secretsewer - I will be looking out for tutorials fit for a novice very soon (hopefully!) x

Hair Flair.......

2009-11-07T00:46:00.000-08:00

Credits: Butler and Wilson (3), Magpie Vintage (3), Sheena Holland (2), Portobello Etsy

After choosing the dress the next thing to consider is what to do with my hair. As I have mentioned, we are getting married in Spain so that we can take advantage of the 35 degree sunshine now while that sounds fabulous, it does mean I have to consider the heat effect on my locks. Mr G loves me with my hair down and I agree that I should not be troussing it into a top knot on the day as it really is not me. So how to make my hair look divine? Well, choose one of these divine accoutrements......

Butler and Wilson have some lovely pieces for the hair and they are quite reasonably priced. Magpie vintage whilst using new and old pieces would mean spending a little more money, I would be comforted to know that it is a one off piece and so perhaps I could justify the extra spend? Sheena Holland has some very different hair jewels and I am really loving the feathered hair clip on the right. Sheena's accessories are quite well priced and again, I have not seen many similar items on the market. Etsy also offers some great ideas such as this delicate headband from Portabello Oh decisions, decisions.......

Labour and Wait(ing for a garden)

2009-11-04T10:34:00.000-08:00

I have just stumbled across this fantastic little shop in Cheshire Street, London (Cheshire Street is situated in the top half of Brick lane, just below Bethnal Green Road in the East End of London).

Selling garden, living and kitchenware as well as clothes and gifts this is an Aladdin's cave of new and vintage items. I am really looking forward to having a garden so some of the delightful items that grabbed me were for the green fingered amongst us. Next time you are in town, pop by - they even have a stand at Dover Street Market (17-18 Dover Street . London . W1S 4LT) for those of you who live West.

Baby Shower

2009-11-02T01:29:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I arranged a baby shower for a very good friend of mine. Now, us English Roses are a little bit shy when it comes to these sorts of things so I wanted something low key but still fun and something that centred around the mum to be. I arranged for us all to meet at the Athenaeum Hotel just off London's Park Lane. This has to be my favorite London Hotel, it is sumptuous and girly and not on the tourist trail so really the perfect place for a spot of afternoon tea. What I like about this hotel as opposed to some of the others is that you can stay for as long as you wish without being rushed out because they have another sitting - which is the norm at most high-end hotels.

When it came to arranging activities, I had to think of something that would not bring attention to ourselves (we were a baby shower and not a hen party after all). I bought some plain white baby vests and different coloured fabric pens and we all designed our own vest for the new baby. These vests are invaluable for new babies so you can never have enough - they are usually worn under other garments so it was OK for them to be a little amateur. We had great fun.

The afternoon tea was spectacular also - I ate so many delicious sandwiches, scones, slices of gateaux and tea cakes that it could have fed an army. The service is fantastic also and I would definitely recommend this Hotel for afternoon tea and it my goal to spend a night there sometime soon....

Please save the date.....

2009-11-01T08:00:00.001-08:00

It is incredibly difficult to find a stationer in the UK that does not specialise in wedding stationery that includes pinks, flowers, butterflys or diamantes. Now don't get me wrong, I like all of the above at certain times and for certain occaisions, but for the big day, Mr G and I wanted none of it. I have a new found obsession with the website Etsy and after spending an afternoon looking through the site I stumbled accross Laura Nhels and her shop LetterPunchDesign.

When I saw her vintage train ticket I knew it was what I was looking for. These are our save the dates, we had a map of spain created for the envelope lining. We have had great comments from friends and family and are really pleased with how retro they look whilst still fitting in with our elegant theme. I cannot wait to see what Laura comes up with for our invitations. Watch this space.....

To have and to hold.....

2009-11-01T07:10:00.000-08:00

So as well as moving to the countryside to fulfill the dream of owning a vegetable patch and a pair of wellies, I am up to my waist in all things wedding. So far we have decided to get married in Spain and have chosed the venue. We will be married in a gothic palace just outside of Barcelona. We, that is Mr G and I, are going for an understated yet elegant affair with food and drink galore and all our nearest and dearest having a ball. With the use of Stylemepretty's StyleCircle I have dreamt up this inspiration board. White seems to be the theme with a hint of off white. I hope you like it - any comments would be appreciated. I am toying with the idea of having my two bridesmaids in white and would love to hear your thoughts.

Move to the country

2009-11-01T04:31:00.000-08:00

So as I sit here typing in my North London flat, all I can think about is our move to the countryside. Yes, after living the dream in London, me and my fiance are heading south to a little cottage (complete with white picket fence) in East Sussex. We have bought a small two and a half bedroom place and I cannot wait to move in. Fingers crossed we are in before Christmas.