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Wednesday 27 June 2012

PLEASE MR POSTMAN ...



Hello everyone, when the weather is as bad as it has been these last few days (or weeks) if you have a day off there is nothing nicer than making a cup of tea and sitting at the Big Computer (can't see the pictures as well on my ipad) and catching up on your favourite blogs.  

A good few years ago I found my first blog completely by accident while looking for a crocheting pattern on Google.  It was the lovely Lucy's blog attic24, which I am sure lots of you are familiar with, and I was completely drawn in.  I started to look at the blogs Lucy liked and the rest is history! 

In those early days I never thought that I would have a blog of my own, I just liked looking at the lovely images, getting inspiration for my own home, and even suggestions for what to cook for tea! Now I have my own, I love the way we all exchange views, recommend items and share a bit of our lives with each other.

Through my bloggy friends I have received a couple of lovely parcels this past week ...

A while ago,  miss-thrifty gave a link to a competition for the Diamond Jubilee which had loads of prizes and one in particular interested me.  It was from Graham and Brown, the wallpaper specialists, offering a roll of Jubilee wallpaper ...


I had never seen anything like this, so had to enter, because it was so me ... and I won a roll! (So did Miss-Thrifty!) As it is only one roll, I am going to have think very carefully what to do with it ... ideas on a postcard please!


I couldn't get a good picture of it as the light is so bad today, so have had to doctor it a bit so it isn't wishy washy ... the colours are more muted than this, but it's absolutely gorgeous, and so vintage! I am thinking of painting my bathroom in the salmony pink colour (and my roll-top bath) and papering the back wall beside the bath with the paper.  If I do this, will definitely show you how it turns out. I know it's very girly, but I do have a small shower room which gets used all the time and the bathroom is only ever used as a bathroom by me and my daughter.  The male members of the family just use it to get a towel out of the airing cupboard and splatter toothpaste and hair products all over the walls!

Another recommendation I had was via evelyn-may, who was hosting a giveaway which was won by my friend Maria of rosey tinted spectacles.  Evelyn-May recommended the Pretty Nostalgic magazine, and if you purchase a years subscription via her blog and mention who recommended it, you also get free the Pretty Nostalgic book.  So pop over to her blog, because I can easily say, it is very well worth it!

Maria was actually at my home yesterday, and we were having lunch when the postman called with this beautiful book ...


 the images are gorgeous, and the book is divided into chapters, with seasonal features and loads of ideas for titivating your home ...





There is a great 'make do and mend' ethos throughout, which I totally identify with! It encourages you to make use of what you have instead of going to the shops an spending a fortune on stuff that has a short shelf and becomes dated almost immediately ...


 It also encourages you to explore your own style and not follow the herd by having everything that everyone else has.


Loads of old fashioned hints and tips ...


  And lots of sayings that you don't hear nowadays ...


I don't want to reveal too much, but can honestly say that I pored over this divine book all yesterday evening, but on opening it again today to do this post, have found loads more things to look at.  It is absolutely jam-packed with images, old advertisments and household hints.


If you do nothing else this week, buy a subscription to this magazine, because it is £36 for the year (6 copies of the magazine) and this book is £25 rrp on its own.  Believe me, you will thank me!

Have a lovely week!

Love, Claire xxx

36 comments:

  1. your blog is just the thing to inspire me on a wet and windy day again!!! where oh where is the Summer love your description of this book and think i will have to subscribe thanks for the info Claire Love Su x

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    1. Hi Su, come and have a look at it before you commit, if you like ... the kettle's always on! xx

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  2. Oh my word, I adore that wallpaper! I love anything Londony and the images of Tower Bridge and Big Ben are gorgeous. Has it got any buses or taxis on it? Lucky you for winning it. I think it would look fab in a bathroom and the good thing would be that you would actually look at it if you were lying in the bath rather than just walking past it if you used it elsewhere.
    I will have a look at the magazine too. Thanks for the link.
    Happy Wednesday, it's sunny and warm here! Hurrah!
    x

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    1. Thank you Missy! It's got the Tower of London, Nelson's Column and Big Ben, ribbons, Prince of Wales feathers and pretty ladies, but sadly no taxis or buses! Lucky you ... enjoy the sun, it's chucking it down here again! xxx

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  3. Hi Claire,
    What unique wallpaper. I love the idea of it being in your girly bathroom. I think I would ban the men with their toothpaste and hairproducts. You don't want any splashes on your lovely wallpaper. I'm hoping to headover to somewhere called bygone times this week, it's in Eccleston, Lancashire. I think you and Maria would love it. So I'll be looking for some swaps.
    I also think Lucy at Attic 24 is fab. Her blog is just so lovely and colourful.
    Enjoy the rest of your week. Ali x

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    1. Hi Ali, I'm putting it on the wall furthest away from the men and their splatterings! That doesn't sound quite right, but you know what I mean! Ooh, have a lovely time in Lancashire, sounds fab! xx

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  4. What a lovely postie bringing you such gorgeous goodies, all mine brings me is bills. I'm sure the wallpaper will look fabulous in your bathroom, and the book looks really interesting, I shall check it out.

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    1. Hi Jo, you really need to have a word with your postie ... get him to bring you the book! xxx

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  5. Aww Claire,
    I cannot stop thinking about your wall paper....
    I think I was dreaming about it last night (which is soo Sad) I know!!
    But us blogging ladies fall in love with these things...
    We had a lovely time yesterday, didn't we!
    Am trying to make 'Mr sheltie' feel welcome , with all me moggies!!!

    Can't wait for my fab magazine to arrive too!!
    Maria x

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    1. Aww Maria, thank you ... I laughed when I noticed Sheltie had gone ... didn't really expect you to take him! xxx

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  6. Wow, what fabulous prizes. Well done you. The wallpaper is divine and yes your bathroom idea for using it is perfect. I'm about to embark on a similar plan (well, our downstairs loo) with some 60s wallpaper I bought from a charity shop.

    BTw, funnily enough I got into blogging by reading Lucy's amazing blog too. xx

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    1. Hi Loo, thank you and looking forward to you sharing pics of your newly decorated loo with us! xxx

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  7. Oh I LoVe this magazine and the book is gorgeous too! The wallpaper is stunning. Would look fabulous under a glass top coffee table!
    Victoria xx

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    1. Hi Victoria, that is a lovely idea, I have a circular, glass topped, metal side table that I could titivate with the offcuts ... I'll have to take Cath Kidston out of it first though! xxx

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  8. Oooh, what a lovely, lovely post, Claire! I adore that wallpaper sooooo much. It's wonderful. I want some! xx

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    1. Thank you LaaLaa!It's from Graham and Brown, I'm sure they'll have a website, not sure of the price though, but it's even nicer in real life! xxx

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  9. this made me think about when i first started reading blogs, seems like ages ago!!

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    1. Hi Claire, I know, time goes so quickly when you're having fun! xxx

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  10. Oh my goodness I love that wallpaper, i think it would look good anywhere, I'd wallpaper my front door with it!! it so gorgeous....well done. I have the mag of nostaglgic, but not the book....yet!! i love it xx

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    1. Thanks Sophie, you really NEED the book! Have a lovely day, Claire xxx

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  11. Love your wallpaper. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it.

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    1. Will definitely do a post when I have decided what to do with it! Don't know whether one roll is quite enough ... xxx

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  12. Hi Claire,
    Attic 24 was one of the first blogs I started reading too. Like you I never realised how much I would get from writing my own blog. The problem is there are so many great blogs out there that there isn't enough time in the day to read them!
    I am looking forward to see what you do with the wallpaper! That magazine looks great too.
    Sarah x

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    1. Hi Sarah, you can easily lose a day catching up on blogs! Hope you're having a lovely day, Claire xx

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  13. I am very tempted by that magazine....you may just have persuaded me! Thanks for the tip.

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    1. You're very welcome, and you won't regret it! xxx

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  14. That wallpaper is fabulous! I really like it. It would be perfect behind a roll top bath - if you do use it there, please show us.

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    1. Hi Gillian thank you and I'll definitely do a post on it! Have a lovely weekend! Xxx

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  15. Hi Claire!!

    Wow I LOVE the wallpaper too! I can't wait to see how you decide to use it! I am really enjoying your wonderful blog and what a lovely post - the book is stunning isn't it! Maria has won a copy of that and the magazine and a box of vintage goodies from me - i'm very excited to see what she thinks! Thanks for the mention of my blog! Marina xx

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    1. Hi Marina, thank you for your lovely comments! Maria had a little glimpse of my book and I can safely say she is excited about receiving hers ... hope you're having a lovely week xxx

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  16. Your wallpaper is amazing!! I think the bathroom idea is a good one. I brought the first Pretty Nostalgic magazine & was offered the free book, didn't do it but having now seen yours I wish I did!!! I don't always have time to read magazines, they end up just sitting around the house :(

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    1. Hello Josie-Mary, thank you for your lovely comments. I hadn't bought PN as I couldn't really afford it, and now I read blogs so often don't feel I need to look at mags quite as much, but you won't regret buying this book, it's absolutely unique! Have a lovely day, Claire xx

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  17. That wallpaper is just so pretty! I think it will look lovely in the bathroom :)
    The book looks very interesting as well..what fab photo's. I love the kitchen photo with the pretty china teacups etc..
    Have a lovely day today x
    Magie

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    1. Hello Magie, thank you! The book is fabulous, unlike anything I've seen before because it so jam-packed with lovely things, and no adverts, only vintage ones! Have a lovely day, Claire xxx

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  18. That little corner of peace is your blog, Claire!
    Here I feel at home,
    it's all very cozy
    I wish you a weekend full of sunshine ....
    Here we are 40 degrees and hot ..... help!
    Susy Love x

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  19. Hi Susy, what a lovely thing to say ... thank you! Glad you're having a sizzling weekend, it's very warm here, but blowing a gale! Enjoy the sun xxx

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I love to hear what you think of my ramblings and value all your comments ... I will try and get back to you, but am sorry if I don't always manage this ... sometimes real life just gets in the way! Claire xxx