Elvis and me

It's a little known fact but I was going to marry Elvis Presley. Tragically, he died before I could meet him, but if he hadn't, I was going to marry him.  I remember being on a campsite in France with my family when my Mum told me the devastating news, and my 11-year-old dreams were shattered.

I know he was a rubbish actor, but he was So Gorgeous! Damn that Priscilla getting in there first.

I still have his photo on my bedroom wall.  RIP beautiful man.

Drat

Drat, drat and double drat. I have totally failed to keep to my weekly post schedule and need to get three of them out by this weekend to catch up. Drat some more.
I did start a post about my daughters, but having rewritten it about 10 times and not being able to find the photos I wanted (thanks to one daughter 'kindly' moving everything off of the laptop onto the portable drive), I have given up on that idea - I couldn't finish it :(
So anyway, I asked my Talented Younger Artistic Daughter (aged 12) what she thought I should write about for D and she said "Dolls and Doillies". So here they are (minus the doillies):

I love this dolly, she doesn't have a name yet, any suggestions?

These adorable little 1940s wooden dolls live amongst my china, my children think they're creepy!

Peter in a tree

Millie and Olga

Joined by Jana. What are they all looking at?

Bratz. I find these really creepy - they have detachable feet. I have been trying to sort out all the feet so we can pass them on but still have several 'single' ones... so there will be a couple of them with odd feet of different ethnicities ;)

P.S. Because I do love my girls lots and lots and don't say it enough:
My eldest (14 in a couple of weeks) is very bright, has a beautiful singing voice, is amazing with technology (give her a gadget and she's an expert in an hour). taught herself to play the piano, is pretty grown up, thoughtful and responsible and of course, beautiful.
My younger daughter, fun, artistic (self-taught drawing skills, inate talent with layout and design, great eye for photography), clever, beautiful, affectionate, creative. Love you Lulu and Abi xxx
P.P.S. My boys - I'll dedicate some blog to you another day, you know I love you both too xxx

C is for Charity

I confess. I am a charityshopaholic. I am fortunate enough to have three charity shops within yards of my front door and I visit them all regularly, at least once a week.  The nearest one is great for clothes, and I have bought some vintage china and linen there too. Oh, and a gorgeous pashmina. And some shoes...
The middle one is very tiny and full of tat and gems.  My youngest loves to go there and peruse the Wii games and dvds. I tend to give a lot of stuff to them too, maybe I feel a bit motherly towards that one, it seems a bit more in need, and I love Christine who runs it. I've bought some vintage jewellery gems there, quite a lot of china and glassware, a silver tray and one of my favourite dresses which always attracts comments (and amazement when I say it was only £3).
The furthest one, all of a block away, has racks of clothing (most of which needs recycling to be honest) but the odd gem amongst it, and furniture.  I love the little display cabinet I bought there a while ago and my coat stand. Oh and the plate rack in my china room.
Another one I try to get to at least once a month is a short drive away, but on my way home from work. Inconveniently it closes at 4.0 p.m. every day so it's not often I get there in time - hence once a month!  But they do have great things every now and then. There was a whole Royal Albert dinner service in there for AGES, I hope it went to a happy home.  I also found a gorgeous sequined evening dress there, tag for £180 still on it - I was compelled to bring it to live with me although I've yet to find an occasion upon which to wear it. Thinking about it, that's the place I bought a fabulous necklace and one of my favourite vintage vases.
I have planned a day trip to The Charity Shops of Chiswick with a friend of mine in The Near Future - I shall report back....

I Spy With My Little Eye....

Something Beginning With B

A bit late this week, I had so many ideas of things to post and wanted to take lots of photographs and it's led to me being a bit rubbish :(  Seeing as it was Easter, I am including a photograph of one of the bunnies that occupy our house (along with the cats and children, oh and a little vintage bear too), sitting happily upon a nest of vintage suitcases that grace my sitting room. Sitting room! Ha! I rarely sit in there because the cushions are rarely actually on the sofas and I'd rather not look at the wires, games and gadgets that the children leave all over the floor...

Photo taken by my (talented) younger daughter

On Easter Sunday we had a family meal at my mum's. Her house is full of a million things (many of them beginning with B) but something that I lack myself is/are the vintage books.  I love them, they create an instant atmosphere and make for fabulous displays. You could even read them if you felt like it.

 

In my own house, in addition to the bunnies, cats, children and vintage stuff, I have some birdies and butterflies hidden in the 'things'. One of the cats did decide to try and kill one of the birdies, so my robin is a bit bedraggled and minus an eye but hey, it adds to the charm don't you think? :)