on marriage.

' I was thinking about my wife June and I, how we share everything. When we're cut we both bleed. When one of us is hit we both hurt. When you're married, you're one. Ane whether its a soulmate marriage, or a holy matrimony marriage in a church, its all the same you know. If you're bonded to someone you love then you pull together as one.'

Johny Cash, on his marriage to June Carter Cash.

another real veil.

image: love me do photography

I was hopping through a few blogs this morning and I came across this photo. It was the suitcase that first got me (I really might have to do that!) and then I realised that the post was about the veil, because I was on the blog of the maker of the veil! For anyone who's thinking about wearing a veil, or wondering if you can wear one at all, have a look at this blog. I've only looked through two pages so far but theres been some great advice given out on there on practical ways to wear types of veils, and inspiration for different styles. And while you're at it, have a look at the rest of this gorgeous brides wedding here.

I hope you both don't mind me posting about you, but your wedding (Liz), and your veils (Melanie) are gorgeous! that last link will take you to one little doves etsy shop of veils and fascinators. enjoy!

business card inspiration.

image: (oh, hello friend)

Arent these just the sweetest? found amongst many other lovely, interesting and original business card designs, here.

my new obsession.

yes, thats right, I've become obsessed with quilting fabrics. I love the ditsy patterns, the way they come in 'fat quarters', and the way every shop seems to have a different way of folding their fat quarters, but they all end up the same size, wrapped with a little paper belt. Some of the quarters I've bought with a project in mind, some I just liked. and look how cute they all look stacked up together!

The two on the top of the pile below are liberty. I'd be lying if I said the name didnt sell them to me, but I love that the florals were large than the usual ditsy patterns, I want to make something reasonably sized with these too so that the patterns are still visible. I thought the starry one was quite christmassy, I thought about making a tree skirt with panels of that one, but really I want it in a darker colour for that. and the bottom one I got ages ago, but dont have a use for yet.

This lot, I just liked because they co-ordinated. I know thats stupid, but I'll find a use one day!

These three are going to grace the tops of my jam pot favours hopefully, I bought the middle one ages ago, then the other two joinded it ast week. I like that they're all roses, but have other colours in them too.

I bought these two with the sister in law in mind. she has a hankering for the cath kidston sewing box, but from looking at the website it doesnt seem to come with anything inside. So I'm going to make her a little needle book, pincushion and a scissor pouch out of these cath kidston-esque fabrics.

floods.

image: bbc cumbria

my thoughts today are with everyone in West Cumbria, and when they're not there, they're wishing and hoping and praying that the rain tomorrow isn't as bad as forecast. The towns of Cockermouth, Kendal and Keswick, and many small villages in betweeen are underwater, because of rainfall in excess of 300mm in one day. My best friend comes from Cockermouth, and in some way or another most of her family is affected, although she herself lives here in Carlisle. About 4 bridges have been broken by the force of the water, and a policeman was lost when this happened, so there are searches out for him now too. Many of my old college friends live in the area as well, and its just brought back too many memories of 4 years ago when Carlisle itself was flooded, and the student house I lived in was under 5 foot of water. So please, if you have a minute today, spare a thought for everyone in the Lakes, because its a horrible thing to happen, especially before Christmas.

DIY:bubble veil

image: Sarah Maren via 100 layer cake

I've been wanting to do this for a while a while now, well, since I first saw it when it appeared on 100 layer cake. This lady, Lisa, made her own dress, veil, little chalkboard speech-bubbles, moustaches for the photobooth, the stationery, EVERYTHING. Although its the veil I've been dreaming of, although their looks of absolute joy are right up there too.

image:lisa welge

She wrote a tutorial for how to make the veil, as she did with everything she made I think, which you can find on her own blog and I intend to follow when I get some russian veiling. I'm thinking I might put one of my Great Grannys lace flowers in the centre, maybe with some plummy ones around the edge...

doilies

They keep popping up in my reader under diferent guises this week... first:

labelling jars in very cute ways:

image: papermash via tea for joy

then adorning brown paper packages tied up with string...

image: lobster and swan

you may remember my fondness of them, here, I think I'm going to have to break them out for christmas, with the typewriter perhaps!

by the way, I'd never looked at papermash before, but do! there are some gorgeous, things on there!

it never rains but it pours...

I've been given this lovely award by Fay of Dreaming of an aga

I get to answer all these quickfire questions about myself, and then pass it on to other people that I'd like to find out more about. Here goes...

1. Your hair: annoys me, I have a cow lick right where a big chunky side fringe should sit.
2. Where is your cell phone : in my pocket. always.
3. Your father: is hyperactive, and a perpetual child. also very practical.
4. Your mother: is tired from moving.
5. Your favorite food: oooh too difficult to pick one. I'm a sucker for a good pudding though...
6. Your dream from last night: don't think I had one.
7. Your favorite drink: orange juice.not squash, juice.
8. Your dream/goal: to make money from selling my textiles. actually, my dream right now should be to actually start making those textiles. one thing at a time!
9. What room are you in: the living room.
10. What is your hobby: ummm, not sure? my weaving isn't really a hobby...maybe currently, its making pompoms?!
11. What is your fear: I have a perpetual fear of falling down stairs, or tripping up in the street. apart from that, losing someone I love, including the cats, or the fear that I'll never do anything with my damned degree!
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years: ummmm, married, hopefully have a child, or two ;) and at least the start of a business?
13. Where were you last night: at home, homemade pizza for dinner, and James listening to David Gray on repeat while I did christmas shopping online.
14. Something you are not: standing up for myself. I will argue a point in my head, but I go to pieces in person.
15. Muffins: are nice...
16. Wish list items: currently, navy blue tights that fit me, more dresses, a house elf to sort the bedroom, and a 25th hour in the day.
17. Where did you grow up: Helpston. near Peterborough.
18. Last thing you did: went to a farm shop just out of town, because theres a quilting shop there. spent a bit much on fabric I have no need of.
What are you wearing: teal stripe jumper and my howies jeans.
19. Your TV: Spooks :), bbc breakfast, and most things on Dave.
20. Your pets: 2 cats. Benny (named after the pope - don't ask - all black, clumsy but elegant), and Louis (we just liked the name, I pretend its de Bernieres, black with white paws and bib, small, disobedient and stupid)

21. Your friends: are few but lovely. I know many many people, but theres only a couple I'd turn to for comfort.
22. Your life: is quite good really. seems all mapped out at the moment, which I don't mind, I like plans and lists.
23. Your mood:meh. I should be less meh, and more yay, I'm just not always good at being on my own.
24. Missing someone: my Grandpa, I wish he could have seen me through college and to get married. but I think he's watching still.
25. Vehicle: a hyundai atoz, the ones that look like postman pat vans. in fact I should sit louis on the parcel shelf and wear a blue cap. Its moved my house for me twice, without aid of a van, and gets me from A-B no problem, so I can't complain.
26. Something you're not wearing: earrings. it makes me feel underdressed not to have jewellery on, I'l have to go find some.
27. Your favorite store: for what?! I'm loving M&S at the mo, but I don't think their homewares are that great shakes. I love accessorize, I wear mostly Laura ashley because I get clothes for uniform (yes, I work there), I get my veg from the market, my meat from the butchers, my food from morrisons but I can't wait for the sainsburys to open, and I like independant shops for gifts and originality.
28. Your favorite color: oooh toughie. I'm wearing a lot of purple at the moment, but I love teal too. jewel shades really.
29. When's the last time you laughed: I think it was at bill bailey on bbc breakfast.
30. When's the last time you cried: I cry too much, but probably the last time was the night before my parents moved, when I realised Helpston wasn't home anymore.
31. Your best friend: is lovely :)
32. One place you go over and over: home, carlisle home. ma-in-laws house, because its about 2 minutes away, and the vets!
33. One person who emails me regularly: amazon!

34. Favorite place to eat: casa romana in town. its not amazing, but its familiar and cheap.

and I also got given this brilliant award from Kristy at I'm gonna marry you someday

Its from Brazil, and means your blog is super cute. which is just too sweet.

so Ill just pass this double bundle on to a few supercute people who I want to know more about!

Buhdoop

Eden Rose

a english(ish) wedding

anna and the ring

my spare thoughts

I'd have passed it onto more of you but you all seem to have just had it! you know I think you're all super cute! anyway, enjoy...

remember, remember...

We stood at the top of our hill this evening watching the citys bonfire and fireworks display down in the park. I only took the rubbish camera with me, so the photos aren't great. I wish I were a decent photographer.

pots and pans.

I thought I'd just show you what I found at the mill on the edge of town yesterday. I don't go there often, I really should though. They print fabrics by companies like Romo, Jane Churchill, John Lewis, loads of lovelies. Sometimes they're seconds, sometimes not, but its a great place to get cheaper but still great quality fabrics. They had a jane churchill fabric there that I've been dreaming of for months. I'd been to an interiors shop for a swatch of it, and she'd told me the release of it was being delayed (which isn't a problem since I don't live in the house I want to put it in yet!) but they had it there! One of the leaves was slightly the wrong colour, a sort of limey green instead of yellow, but it was great to see it in real life. And I still love it!

Anyway, while I was there I found this:

isn't it cute? It was the colander on there that did it for me...

I bought a metre for £7.50, and its a generous metre at that. Our kitchen has two walls in that deep red, and I have a canvas which has a different fabric over it at the moment which I'm going to recover with this one instead, and put it up in the kitchen. I'll show you the finished things when its up, I love it!

Sugar award

Hello all, again I'm sorry that I've not been here much recently, there's a lot of changes going on at work, and wedding wise all is quiet (mainly because I'm avoiding facing the things that I really need to sort at the moment, but hopefully I will soon). I've still been here, reading your blogs and posting about irrelevant things like pompoms (I'm up to 16 by the way). In the meantime though, Buhdoop gave me this award, which always makes me feel better of a morning! (Thank you Buhdoop) so I have to pass it onto ten other bloggers, and tell you ten things about myself :).





I'm going to try and pass this onto some of the newer blogs I've been enjoying, so...



Blushingjoy

Cowdy Calling

For the easily distracted

I'm gonna marry you someday

My spare thoughts

Under lock and Key

pepper stitches

Conversation pieces

Colour + Sound

I will make do and mend



phew! enjoy, all of you! you get to pass it onto 10 others, and post ten things about yourselves too.



And now for my ten things...

1)I love love love Christmas. hence why I'm spending my evenings making pompoms to drape across my fireplace come December. I find Christmas window displays quite inspiring, I really want some of the gigantic purple baubles in the NEXT Christmas windows to hang over my stairs. I could go on.

2)I love coffee, but don't get tea at all. I'm sorry, it tastes like dirty water. Don't hate me.

3)I'm just starting to like fish. I think it was the bones, and I don't like smoked flavours, but I've come round to salmon now, and fish pie/cakes. in fact, I'm starting to crave the stuff!

4)I'm just starting to learn how to wear heels. not big ones, but James bought me some lovely small-heel-tan-leather-mary-janes that I wanted recently, I'm training my feet by wearing them at work for increasing periods at work.

5)I collect images and samples of things I love in interiors/home decoration. We are moving next year (more on this to come but its a tricky subject to write about) so I keep images of things that I like and put them in a sketchbook so I don't forget what I like!

6)I'm really loving this blogging lark, everyone I've 'met' virtually on here has been wonderfully supportive and really inspire me. Thank you to everyone who comments on here, I love reading your reactions and opinions, and most of all your own blogs!

7)I would love to be able to knit, I know how to do the stitches, but I can't ever cast on neatly, and I have a tendency to forget my pattern of stitches halfway through so I end up pulling it all apart.

8)I'd also love to learn upholstery. That would be an amazing skill.

9)I'm really superdooper excited because I literally just a moment ago saw an advert for Spooks starting tomorrow on BBC! so so so excited!

10)Florence and the machine is permanently on my ipod at the moment. I really really love them, and I don't care who knows it :) I know some of the songs have slightly morbid ideas, but I don't care. I find her voice, and the music really uplifting. You can see me grinning my way across the bridge in Carlisle nearly every day because of Florence. that is, if any of you were mad enough to come here.

That was harder than I thought! over to you lot now...