I'm still here!

Hello! First of all, I must apologise for my lack of posts recently. I have been extremely bad at keeping up with blogging. Lots of things have been happening around here since I last posted, the shop has been updated with lots of lovely new items. I have bought even more pieces that need to be photographed and listed before they start taking over my house.

 

I have finally been cracking on with my vintage sheet quilt. I got a bit fed up with it a while ago because it hadn't quite turned out as I had expected. I've had a bit of a rethink and I'm back at it, here is a bit of a sneak preview...

 

 

As you can see, I have also been getting to grips with the A Beautiful Mess iPhone application. I think it's really nice for adding a little something extra to your instagram pictures.

 

At chez Radford we have made a lot of progress on the bathroom, it's finally (FINALLY!) coming together and looking good. I really enjoy seeing what I had pictured in my mind in it's physical form. I will share some before and after photographs as soon as I have finished accessorising.

 

We have also started work in the garden. I have never before had a garden of my own and it's a bit overwhelming, but I have become rather adept with a pair of loppers recently. Here I am in action...

 

"I have become the destroyer of plants"

 

You can almost see the plants quivering in fear. The eventual plan is to have a decked area with chairs and a table and a firepit so we are just clearing some space at the moment. Here are some of the lovely plants that I haven't chopped down...

 

 

 And finally, my very special friend's birthday is coming up so I wanted to get started on a quilt as a gift. May, if you are reading this, look away now!

 

 I have ordered the rather wonderful Back to Black bundle from M is for Make. I have visions of half square triangles arranged in a chevron pattern, or maybe even pinwheels. Jade green polka dot fabric for the backing and then something lovely and bright for the binding. Hurry up and arrive please!

 

 

 

My New Terrarium

Today I got up extra early (8.30am - which is impressive for a Sunday!) and went to my first car boot sale of 2013. It wasn't the busiest car boot ever as the weather didn't look too great this morning, but I'm glad I did as I picked up a rather cool vintage terrarium.

Does your cat insist on being in every photo too??

As you can see it was in a bit of a state when I bought it. On the stall it was actually still half filled with dirt and rocks but the man kindly emptied it out for me. I am usually the worlds worst haggler as I get too embarrassed to ask, but I managed to get the stallholder down from £15 to £12. I realise £3 is probably not the most impressive discount ever, but I consider it a victory!

I have been looking for something to go on the window ledge in our new bathroom and as soon as I saw the terrarium I knew that it would be perfect. I couldn't wait to get creating, so after a quick trip to the garden centre and a date with a bottle of windolene, here is the finished item.

I am so pleased with the way it has turned out. I would love to tell you the names of the plants that I used but I accidentally paid no attention to the labels before throwing them away. I am certainly not the most green fingered lady in the world but I am really hoping these will survive, at least for a week or two. You can see my bathroom is currently in progress, there are still a few things that need to be done, like adding border tiles but I think we are pretty much there. What a relief!