What's in my cupboards?

 Pretty Tea Sets!

Violets and Roses!

 Hello,

It's Friday and nearly the end of August, so I'm popping in to share some of my favourite pretty vintage tea sets we've been using this Summer.  All pictures are taken from Crafternoon teas this Summer, so you may spot the odd kettle, tea towel or cake in the background!

My love of china started about ten years ago and five years ago I started to collect in the run up to our Wedding.

white roses

I love white china as it really shows off the food with a pretty gold painted edge. Also, I take a peek at the stamp on the bottom as I like British made china.

Pastel coloured china in duck eggs, pale pinks and greens is probably the biggest colour palette in the china cupboard. It looks really vintage and nostalgic and compliments the rest of the china.

And finally my favourite!

And it's all washed up by hand so it doesn't crack but with patterns this pretty, we don't mind!

Happy Friday,

Samantha

Grow Your Roses!

Hey!

Just popping in on this super chilly August day to share some of my beautiful roses from this Summer. I've been working on these beauties for about three years! Wow, writing that sounds such an age.

It's been lots of pruning, feeding and good soil but I am sharing as it been worth it. I've been cutting beautiful roses since June, not only have I saved a fortune on cut flowers but they smell gorgeous and for me, they are worth it 100%.

If you are inspired to grow your own, start looking for rose bushes at the garden centre now or wait until the DIY centres get rose roots in store in the Spring. Make sure you feed and plant your plants so they can get enough feed from the ground. Check out this video to get blooms next Summer. Roses, if looked after well and cut correctly twice a year (Spring and Autumn) will get you the most wonderful flowers.
 

As you can see I've a mix of roses! I tend to plant similar bushes in rows such as Queen Elizabeth roses above in one bed to block colour. Then statement roses like this lovely one below in corners to add colour to what would be an empty corner of the garden.

 I could write and write about my roses, so if you have any questions drop me a comment below!

Bye for now,

Samantha x

Two Years of Homemaking

So, I've been blogging for two years now about my homemaking journey as a new Mamma and leaving my career girl days behind. I've been hosting Crafternoon teas for a year and this is getting exciting now. Gosh time has really flown. I've chosen this picture of Little L's Christening as she looks so very happy and this was taken the week before I started blogging! As you can see I look very tired as she was still waking up in the night and also I was at the start of getting my teeth fixed so they look a little goofy here!

Two years ago I was blogging whilst Little L was sleeping away.I was using nap time and any down time to take photos and work my way around twitter and blogger! Here is my favourite post, this really cute storage for her nursery, an un-edited photo I just uploaded!

And a cot tidy to match...

One year ago in 2013, I was discovering vintage crafts and creating Crafternoon projects...she was sleeping less and I was looking at bringing my ideas to a commercial project. Also, I was getting a bit more web savvy with layout, pictures and working on the style of my blog a bit more...

Looking back,I've made so many lovely blogger friends over the last two years. I love to write and share and be encouraged by the blogging community (that's you!).

I've still tonnes of projects still to do and whilst Crafternoon teas is now a growing business and Little L is at pre-school, I want to keep on working on home projects and lovely sewing makes. I still want to do so much more!

So what will the next year bring...?

Bye for now,

Samantha x

August ..so far

 

Hello,

I'm taking part in #craftyaugust over on Instagram thanks to the lovely Beak Up Crafts. Here is a snap of the best bits from my month so far ... my beloved storage box, cupcakes for my business' first Birthday do and lovely flowers from my English Country Garden!

Each day Kate has coming up with a crafty theme and we post a new picture, so far we have covered sparkle, storage, love, pastels and our favourite makes! Thank you Kate, really enjoying it and thank-you for putting me in touch with all the lovely new crafters I've met so far this month. I'm getting a post together as I type.

So for more crafty inspiration from Kate at Beak Up Crafts check out her lovely blog and why not try her pretty paper lanterns. 
  


How pretty!

 Thank-you Beak Up Crafts, looking forward to the rest of August and the challenge!

Bye for now,

Samantha