At The Heart Of Love

The date ...... February 14th

The Place ..... Blackpool

The Event ...... A Gruff Rhys solo gig

The motive ....... A proposal of marriage

 Some photos of hearts and flowers in honour of St Valentines day.

  

James and I decided to book tickets to see Gruff Rhys ( singer from a favourite band of ours, Super Furry Animals) who was performing at this funny little hotel, in Blackpool of all places.

Have you ever been to Blackpool?  Have you ever been to Blackpool in February, in the rain?  If the answer to the last question is a yes, then I can completely sympathise, because you know and I know that it sucks.  Any town in the grey British drizzle is not going to be at its best so perhaps I can forgive it a little, (or can I)?  I bravely took a few photos.

Not much to work with I'm afraid.

Rain, fish and chips and kiss me quick hats were the order of the day.  Thank goodness that the gig we went to was fantastic.  It was really special and a little surreal.

 Blackpool must have brought out the romantic in me (I'm not sure how), because the next morning (Valentines) I asked James to marry me.

He said 

Yes

Phew!

Enough soppy stuff for now.  Normal service will be resumed shortly.

xxx

It's Only Love

It's time for some love, and also some hearts.  Thank you for the inspiration Holly and Domesticali

 Ok, they may be a little wonky, but I feel that just adds to their charm. 

The wonky hearts in action

They are quite simple to make.  All you need is a magazine or newspaper, scissors that are blunt and too big, a heart template that you cut out using the big old scissors.
I always find it handy to serve customers while you're in the middle of crafting. A top tip is not to use pva glue on newspaper because it may take ages to dry and end up all wrinkled and curled over, and so you will have to screw everything up and start over again.

Love is in the air

Time for a love song me thinks




More of the soppy stuff to come


xx

True Colours

It is after school drop off and I am walking Katy the dog.  It is cold.  The sort of cold that is dense and unyielding. The sort of cold that makes me wish I had put on some thermal leggings and an extra pair of socks before I left the house, indeed it makes me wish that I had never left the house in the first place.  There is a slight wind that I try to ignore but it bothers me anyway.  I need to buck myself up and out of these February blues, and then I remember, with a little pop of excitement, that it is Splash of Colour week.  Oh frabjous day callooh callay!  I can look for colour, take a photo (or ten) and feel a little more cheery.


I gaze about the frigid landscape.  There is an awful lot of brown, quite a lot of grey and bits of dark boring green.  I walk for a while, thinking that I shall have to make do with taking a photo of some rhubarb when I get home, and then, I spy, nestled in amongst the frozen bracken, a PINK BALLOON.


What the.... How the.... I must admit I am surprised, also a bit happy and strangely a little sad.  I also must admit that I made quite a meal out of telling that story.

The pink balloon on a colourless day

and some more bursts of colour that I have come across in the last few days

From a lost balloon to happy havianas in three colourful photos

Join the colour parade

here

and stay warm

Birthday

It was my birthday and I went to London (again) and got excited (again)

We started off the day visiting an art gallery

This sculpture (Swarm by Tessa Farmer) is incredible.  Tiny skeletal fiends sitting atop all sorts of hand crafted insects.  I took lots of photos and youngest son Benjy thought it was hilarious to jump into view every time I pressed the shutter (and to be fair it was quite funny)

More swarm photos

over here

After all the arty stuff it was time to get down to some good old shopping in the west end.  I managed to find some inspiration for our shop, at Top Shop, of all places (how common)

You write a message and post it through the bird box.... I want one!

Hanging vintage tea cups.  I don't know why, or what for but I want this display in our window.  I may have to copy it.

Anyway that was a bit of my birthday

Cheers!

Take it away Clare

Looking Through The Window

Our windows got smashed which is such a complete and utter pain (no pun intended).  It isn't the first time. It's what comes with having a shop situated in the pub and club end of town. The good news, is that we have now had all of the windows and the wooden frames replaced.  They look very marvellous indeedy.  The bad news, is that we're having grills fitted over the windows to protect them from drunkards and idiots.  The plan is that we should be able to remove them each day, I'm not looking forward to that bit, on the bright side it will be good for the old arm exercises.

While I was clearing out the windows I found lots of treasures that needed a bit of a dust off and a new place to live.

Aah where would we be without the retro pineapple ice bucket 

Or indeed an apple ice bucket

 

Remember remember.......?

Just a small selection of our window wares.

While cleaning, photo-ing flitting and serving,  I listened to,  The Decemberists ,  Tunng,  The Kings of Convience and  Jose Gonzalez.   All a bit mellow but that's how I'm feeling at the moment  (and long may it last)

London Calling

I went to London this weekend.  It was very exciting.  Whenever I go there I become a bit like a kid seeing the sights for the first time.  

For lunch I had the most amazing meal at this cool japanese restaurant.  

I went to two birthday parties in one evening.

I scampered around the streets of London, record shopping (boring), retro clothes shopping ( I bought a denim skirt) and trying to take some photos that reflected my trip to the big city.  I'm not entirely sure I made a good job of it but here are a few pics anyway.

I loved this art supply shop.  It's the type of shop that is filled with all sorts of art stuff that I don't need but still really want. I don't draw or paint which makes it even weirder.

A happy sign

I'm going there again next week for my birthday with my family in tow, can't wait.

We may as well listen to this to keep the whole London vibe going

Baubles Bangles and Beads

I've been finding it hard to get my work head back on after my lovely Christmas holiday.  My mind is still having a lovely time over 'there', while my body is having to deal with shop stuff, school stuff, dog stuff, cooking stuff, housework stuff, grey weather day stuff......

On the bright side Emma at Silver pebble has been hosting her monthly Splash of Colour thing.  I must admit I struggled for a while, I mean we're not in Kansas anymore Toto, we're in gloomy old England and it's January for goodness sake.  Luckily for me I have the ever colourful Beatnik for inspiration.

The beads caught my eye

The last pic is a badge (70s possibly 80s) that I found in the shop while I was looking for colourful stuff, I really like it.  I love all our sixties beads too.  We don't seem to sell as many as we used to.  I think they have had their fashion moment, but it will return ( I hope so, we've got loads).

I found some more splashes of colour 




indoors....

And out.....

Take a look 

over

Here

For some winter

cheer

while listening to 

this

It works