simple things - creature comforts

sometimes everything goes wrong (or seems to) or you get ill - like me right now laying in my bed with a nasty wisdom tooth infection. all you want to do is go home and hibernate in your nest and surround yourself with all things cosy,such as blankets,pillows and candles, your favourite movie or book. and of course lets not forget the gorging. do you ever feel the need to gorge on anything in sight in the vain hope that it will make you feel a teeny bit better? that's me. i especially like lots of tea and lots of cake. it doesn't work but at the time i feel a whole lot better.


are you like me or, do you not feel like eating when you are unwell?
do you feel incredibly sorry for yourself at being ill? i do. sometimes i feel bad that i am making such a fuss and should be grateful that it will eventually go away. that's when we need the inexpensive pleasure of cosiness to make us feel better.
if you are feeling like me or are totally fed up for whatever reason, i hope the above images will lift your spirits - especially if you are hunched over a desk at work right now.


Rx


above images


collage 1 
left - source unknown,top right - interior alchemy,bottom right - blue velvet chair


collage 2
left - tig-fashion, right - paris 2 london


collage 3
left - delly star, right - source unknown

shoppe update

 i have added some new collage love cards to the shoppe. they are made with vintage papers and have heart shape detailing and typewritten text. hope you like them!
 if you are in the UK and prefer browsing in pounds, please view my big cartel shoppe here.


Rx

a porcelain tale - photo shoot

a couple of months ago i  was invited to send some of my paper goods to Ireland for a photo shoot by Pearl from Pearl and Godiva - who provide vintage china hire and are also stylists for weddings, magazine shoots and press events. the resulting shoot, a collaboration between Pearl (one half of Pearl and Godiva) and Shane from Aspect Photography, was set in the stunning location of Ballynatray Estate on the Cork/Waterford border.


of course i was delighted with the prospect of having my items photographed and styled by such professionals, and was surprised to hear that my humble cards and gift tags were featured alongside such amazing talent as Bonzie (handmade clothing) and Moth and Bay Leaf (beautiful handmade accessories)to name but a few. 


100 layer cake has featured this inspirational photo shoot, plus a video of it here 


all above photos Aspect Photography - please visit the website, Shane's photography is astounding.




Rx

shoppe update

 'field notes' mini notebooks

 travel gifting box sets

 woodland gifting kits

library gifting kits

i have been busy making things and updating the shoppe with the above new items. 

did you have had a good week? i have had a pretty boring one to be honest but here is a brief round-up of my activities, learnings, likes and finds -

- i love this shop that's filled with really sweet 'comfort boxes' and fantastic illustration cards and plates

- check out these clever collages 

- time definitely goes faster the older i get. it seems like only yesterday when i was dreading the big 30 and that was very nearly 2 years ago...

- not having a fringe makes my face look incredibly loooong. time for a fringe again i think.

- one good thing about getting older is that i definitely need less sleep - which is good news - more creating time!

- writing things down really helps me to get things out of my constantly churning mind and now i can do it securely online here

- i am really quite lazy sometimes but apparently it is a libran character trait so it's not really my fault...

- watched my favourite British movie again this week, Confetti. if you have not seen it you must - it's so funny

- came across this lovely song while listening to a chill out playlist on napster. this is the only online version of the song i could find and at the end it turns into another song which is annoying but you get to hear most of it.

- finally some happiness for these chimps

Rx

simple things - {cheap} treasure hunting

one of the simple things in life that i love to do is to rummage around charity shops and car boot sales. what i love about  thrifting is that it costs next to nothing to find really cool stuff for the home and to wear. i shop a lot in charity shops and it's nice to know that what i do spend is going to charity. i feel so satisfied when i find something i really love for a fraction of the price and for a lot of people, myself included -  it is becoming a necessity to be more thrifty with the pennies. 


my mum and sister also love thrifting and my husband has also started to enjoy visiting the local car boots. once he had gone and seen all the gadgets on offer - that was it! my sister recently found some teal (i think they are teal - or turquoise) linen palazzo trousers that were still wearing thier French (get me ;) )boutique price tag of 95 euros. my sister paid 50p for them but they weren't quite right for her so she gave them to me - i was thrilled - they fit me perfectly and are just what i was looking for to wear for a party. 

    WE HEART IT

this weekend i found a cute dried flower locket from a local charity shop, it's really sweet and only cost me £2.50. i wouldn't find anything like it on the high street - let alone for £2.50. it reminds me a lot of the picture i found on one of my other treasure hunting expeditions.

two of my most treasured possessions is an my old treadle sewing machine from the 1850's and my gorgeous vintage 1930's  typewriter that my mum picked up for me from a 'reuse and recycle' shop and a vintage shop nearby. it's so great when my family are into second hand things too - we look out for things we know each other will like. 

  THOUGHTFUL DAY BLOG

my three thrifty shopping tips


1. if you really like it - get it. if you don't you can be sure that next time you look for it it will be gone.


2. if it isn't the right size (too big) don't worry. if the material is of good quality then it is well worth taking it to a tailor to be taken in for you.


3. make sure to visit the fabrics/home section. they will often have curtains, duvets and pillow covers at amazing prices. i bought a Laura Ashley cushion for a few pounds and a beautiful new cotton duvet set for about the same price. if you are clever with a sewing machine (or have a relative or friend that is) you can even have them make things for you to wear or for the home at a fraction of the price. you can spend a fortune in a fabric store for material that you didn't even really like.

               ALL VINTAGE SHOP                                                  NORTH BROOKLYN DRY GOOD


some links to give you some ideas and tips for your own treasure hunting - 


- Mary Portas (Queen of Shops) top tips for charity chic here 
- thrifting tips for travellers
- Alexa Chung goes thrifting
- a chic apartment featuring lots of flea market/vintage finds


my favourite vintage loving blogs


- rubyellen's adorable blog cakies 
- this lady is vintage through and through
- this lady made a career of thrifting or as she calls it 'junking'
- cool american vintage finds with miss modish
- these guys sell thier finds via an little vintage shop on wheels
- mixing second hand with new sfgirlbybay

PINTEREST

for those of you seasoned {cheap} treasure hunters - do you have any tips for bargain hunting for second hand things?
what's your best bargain to date? 
what is the most unusual thing that you have come across or purchased? 




R x

in process

hello - hope you all have had a lovely weekend? i was able to get started on some new card designs that will be available to buy in the shop by early September along with some other cards and 'paper goods' style stuff for you to peruse - will keep you posted on those.

i am so glad that autumn is coming soon. i have enjoyed the summer but for some reason i don't ever have much inspiration during the summer months and i can feel it coming back now - phew!

Rx

simple things : flowers

sometimes in this ever more materialistic world we inhabit it's hard not to get obsessed with success and money and having more and being more..sometimes it's overwhelming and hard not to feel that things are lacking. so, i have decided that i am going to try to focus more on the simpler (sometimes free - but always inexpensive) things.

flowers are one of those things. simple. beautiful. ethereal. and always here for us to enjoy. they don't ask for much - just a bit of water and sunlight and they will grow happily and abundantly. they don't need anything else to survive in this world.

flowers are not just lovely to look at - they have amazing healing properties too, from aromatherapy and use in medicines and body products to even healing the mind.

for some flower inspiration take a look at one of my favourite websites and some stunning wedding flowers and styling at Amy Merrick here.

find out more about the healing properties of flower remedies for all kinds of emotional states here - i often use them and they work wonders.

photo credits
collage 1 -
left style me pretty right a well travelled woman

collage 2
amy merrick

collage 3
top the sweetest occasion bottom haven vintage

collage 4
left naturalist collection right edward bach

p.s hello new readers - thank you so much for visiting x