'Old White' Dresser and Old Pink China

Remember this? I do and how I hated it! I did a post a while back about my plan to transform my orange pine beast into a ravishing painted beauty. Well, at last it's finished and I for one am hugely pleased.

This is the paint that enabled the transformation to take place. The Goddess of the paint world (or so I'm led to believe) and I chose 'Old White'.

This is the lovely old fan that kept me cool whilst I was losing my cool. I have to say that painting something outdoors has its drawbacks. The main one being that wet paint attracts dust, flies and any low flying debris like a magnet. Talk about frustrating! In the end I did a shabby chic look on some parts of the paintwork because of all the sanding down needed to remove the aforementioned objects glued to my surfaces. I have to confess that David did his fair share of painting too. Anyway, between us we got it finished and treated it to some lovely new knobs. Crystal glass no less, made in glorious Devon according to the gent who sold them to us. I think they look really nice.

This is the china that was destined to adorn my newly painted beauty. After all I had nowhere else to put it all.

And here are the photo's of the finished result. The glittery letter "S" was added as a final flourish, a sort of signature. I couldn't get a letter D to go with it but I shall keep on looking for one. This was a plain wooden blank bought from a craft shop. I added paint and the coarse glitter to pretty it up.

I went for a pink and green theme and I think it has really brightened up that alcove. The white spot in the background is a reflection from a crystal hanging from a candelabra in my window. It casts lots of lovely rainbows around the room.

Amazing what a lick of paint can do for a piece of furniture. I seem to remember once reading that traditionally, pine was never left unpainted and the craze for stripped pine started in the 1970's. I don't know whether that is true or not but all I know is that this looks like a different dresser.
The lamp is made from an antique French glass perfume bottle and I bought it a few years ago. I love the poppy lamp shade too.

I think I will go and pour myself a celebratory drink and sit down to admire my efforts.

Now then, what can I paint next. Watch out Dante, I'm armed and dangerous with a paint brush and you might just end up with an 'Old White' tail!!!!!

Hope you all have a lovely week-end whatever your plans. The weather here is glorious at the moment and it's meant to last all over the Bank Holiday too.

Finished at last!

This is one of those projects that has to be very much long term if you want to hold on to your sanity! It just cannot be rushed. At least not in my opinion. I started making this bedcover many, many years ago. I did all of the small squares and sewed them together. Then I left it for a few more years. I then added some rows around the edge as I just couldn't face doing any more squares. It isn't the making of them, but all of the sewing and the loose ends that have to be tidied up. I am not the most patient of people and in the end I got really fed up with the whole thing. I recently found my poor abandoned blanket and decided that enough is enough. It deserved to be finished. It looked at me accusingly, if you know what I mean. It needed to feel complete. O.K. I've really lost the plot now. I know a blanket doesn't actually Feeeel, but I felt guilty about another unfinished project lurking in the closet!!! I bought a new batch of wool and got stuck in. I have just finished it and am so pleased. The only thing is I now have lots of oddments of wool left over and am wondering what to do with them all. I know, I could always crochet a bedcover........

Roses and Thorns

What a week it has been! I have worked extra days so haven't had much spare time plus we have been having problems with our internet connection. I am now sitting here late on Sunday evening, having suffered withdrawal symptoms from blogging. Just thought I would slot in a very quick post and share this delicious photo with you. I took this picture on Friday (my only day off) in my garden. It reminds me of one of those very flouncy ballroom dancers dresses. I just love the colour, sooo pretty.
Hope you all had a good weekend and I look forward to catching up soon.
Sandi x

Old lace and china shoes

I work in a small market town and during my lunch-break I like to go 'mooching' around the charity shops - we do have four after all! There is also a kind of outside antiques vendor in a courtyard just off the High Street that has a wide selection of bits and pieces. When I wandered through yesterday she had just had a whole load of lacy stuff in. One woman had already bought lots of it as soon as it was put on display. Gnashing of teeth going on here. Anyway, I managed to purchase a few nice things all at £1.00 a piece. Some of it is destined to be made into fairy frocks.

Anyway, I thought I would show you a few more things recently acquired. I am beginning to think I have an addiction to anything pink or that delicate shade of peach but I just love it. This trio of cups were among the lot of stuff I bought at auction and I can't believe that I got it all for just £3.00. No one was interested in it and until David brought it all home I didn't realise just how much stuff there is. All I can think is that I have very peculiar taste but I know you collecting addicts out there will appreciate my delight.

This tea cup is just so dainty, don't you think? This is a definite one to go on to my dresser once I have finished painting it. Might get it done a lot quicker if I didn't spend so much time blogging.

This pretty dish was one of my lunch-time charity shopping finds at £1.00.

Well spotted I thought.

The trinket box was bought in a moment of ebay weakness. Quite nice, but I have to say that I don't ebay as much as I used to. Don't have time now as I much prefer to spend my computer time reading lovely blogs.

Another charity shop bargain and I do confess I only really bought this because of the pretty little spoon. Incidentally, I photographed this on top of the partially painted dresser. The colour is called Old White and I am quite pleased with it. I think all my bits and pieces will show up quite well against this rather than that horrible orange pine that I have put up with for much too long. But you know how it is with some projects, something else always seems to take priority but I couldn't put up with that colour any longer, it had to go.

This is a Minton plate bought in the aforementioned antiques courtyard. Too pretty to pass up on and only £2.50. There were some larger ones too but as I am going to use this for display I only wanted one. So if you happen to be in the area I have left some for you to buy.

The shoe and clogs were in with the auction stuff so although I wouldn't go out of my way to buy anything like this they are quite sweet. I did go through a phase a few years ago of buying shoe ornaments but I'm over it now. Lol.

Thought I would finish off with a very sweet postcard that I have had for years. I don't 'collect' postcards but the sentiment of this appealed to me . Hope you all enjoy your week-end whatever you're doing. Bye for now.

Summers Evening Walk

It was such a beautiful evening that we decided to go for a walk 'up the lane'. Just a short stroll from our house is the most delightful spot called Brick Kiln Plantation which is cared for by the Woodland Trust.

We are so fortunate to have this on the doorstep and it is one of our favourite walks. Dante loves it too, he is able to run free and sniff to his hearts content.

There is always something to look at, quite often another doggy friend out for an evening stroll.

And of course when he is really, really tired he can rest awhile on the lovely soft grass.

The area is a mixture of mature woodland, newly planted broadleaf trees and wild flowers and grassy walkways. It is really lovely in any weather and I always feel refreshed after a walk around here. I feel so fortunate that all of this beauty is just minutes away from our house. I thought I would take the camera with me this evening so that I could share this with you.

There are lots of Rowan trees which I really love and the berries this year are stunning.

I love the way the sunlight shines through the trees and creates lots of lovely shadows.

This is one of my favourite views as you walk through the more mature woodland. In springtime the whole area is covered with bluebells and the scent is just delicious. There are lots of logs left lying around to provide habitats for various creatures and we often see squirrels high up in the trees.

This photo is a view towards the woods and is taken from the top of the field. There is a bench where you can rest and enjoy the sight of the town just visible over the tops of the trees. Sometimes, after a day at work I get home really tired and my daughter will suggest a walk and I feel reluctant to move from my chair. But when I sit on the bench and look around me at the beauty I can't help but feel refreshed and oh, so fortunate. The English countryside is very, very special and although I was born and bred in a city I cannot contemplate a life without this. It feeds my soul, puts my problems into perspective and clears my mind. How lucky I am.