Grandma's teacups and Grandfather's clock

No matter what I do, it's something I can't help. It's in my blood - an undying love of fine china and tableware. My dear Grandma was a manager for Royal Doulton for decades and my gorgeous Mum is still a manager for Waterford Wedgwood after many, many years in the business. So a love for this stuff has been passed down through the generations and we can't get enough!

I fondly remember days at Grandma's house when she would pull out her cups and saucers and we would play tea parties. And I always remember looking in amazement at her collection of 'crazy' sets laid out on an antique butler's trolley. I was so lucky so inherit a few of these and I knew you would all love their beauty as much as I do...

This pattern, 'Dainty Blue' by Royal Albert has always been my favourite since I was a little girl. Grandma gave me her entire tea set for my twenty-first birthday. The ivy and the daisies are so delicate and 'dainty'.

I always wanted my bedroom to look like this...

The tea cup to this set sadly broke, but I still love admiring the stunning pattern on the plates.

Part of a tea set, 'Posy' by Royal Crown Derby. To me, the pink rose painted on this is perfection!

I have also been lucky enough to inherit this Grandfather clock. A piece like no other I have seen before. It is one of the more imposing pieces of furniture that we have, yet it is by far the most charming.

You see, on the hour it does't just chime...it plays sweet melodies through a music box behind the clock face.

There are enough records to suit every mood...

I hope this post has inspired you to admire a treasure that you may have from someone passed and evoke feelings of nostalgia and fond memories.

xx

Powder Blue Tealights

As it's the accent colour in our living room, I am alway on the lookout for bits and pieces that are that 'just right' powdery blue. I couldn't believe my luck when I waltzed into a clearance shop on a whim yesterday and found these little beauties.

Did I mention they were under $5 a piece?

The perfect backdrop for writing school reports and sipping a cosmopolitan on the lounge.

xx

Creative wrapping

The other day whilst wrapping a gift, I thought I might take a leaf out of Miss Sew & So's book and bring a little doilie into my life! I had some silver doilies lying around for just such a thing and put them to good use.

Some other doilie treasures...

http://www.mondocherry.blogspot.com/

http://www.flickr.com/

http://www.songbirdisnesting.com/

http://www.giverslog.com/

http://www.mondocherry.blogspot.com/

Bring a little doilie into your life!

xx

Union Jack'ed

Do you remember that union jack wall hanging I spotted on the Shabby Chic website a while ago..? And do you remember that I said it was next on my project list..? Well, mission: accomplished!

Now I will be the first to admit that my eyes were bigger than my sewing machine. Nevertheless, it was a labour of love and I am thrilled with my hours of sweat and tears.

I used some scrap fabrics as well as some prints I bought to make up the remainder. I chose some florals for the diagonal lines and hemmed them in.

I then secured them onto the pale blue backing one by one. It was a little tricky trying not to get the backing fabric puckered, but my perseverance paid off.

All done...to Jack's liking!

The flag panel was then hemmed in...

...and sewn onto a white backing sheet. I went with a white calico that was a little thicker than the normal one.

This was also hemmed in...

I used some scraps from one of the floral fabrics to create hooks for hanging...

...and ta da! The perfect piece to cover up a blank wall (that is until I get my dream china cabinet...hehe)!

I thought it was quite fitting that I finished this in the lead up to the royal wedding!

xx

Easter table

 We had some friends over for a casual Easter supper over the weekend. We said it would be casual so I promised myself not to go overboard...but I couldn't help going to a teensy little bit of effort. Easter decorations are so cute and whimsical after all.

I started preparing in the afternoon...

I took the opportunity to bring out the silver, inherited from one of my Grandmas. This year was the first that I was also able to use these gorgeous eggs that Mum brought back from a recent trip to Canada, purchased from Pottery Barn.

  

 With the table set and the food ready, we were able to enjoy dinner under the fairy lights.

The wooden bunny was a present from Mum this year, from the Villeroy & Boch range for Easter 2011. 

Mr found me this bird's nest whilst out working one night.

xx

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everybody! I hope the Easter Bunny hops your way!

xx