✴ meringues

At four pm everything stops for tea. Ok maybe not a stop as such but a slight pause, a quiet second to refuel and take a moment. I'm a huge fan of the afternoon tea. In every job I've ever had, there has been a call out for 'tea?' at four, and a packet of biscuits is ripped open, or if really lucky, a piece of cake, or sticky bun.

I've decided to get organised with all of my scraps and cuttings of this and that, pretty things and inspirations, and start sticking them all into a journal. I was never that good at keeping a written diary, but cut & paste {the old fashioned way} I think I can do. I already have 6 files of recipe cuttings!

I came across these cuttings on my desk and with some new {old} supplies currently holding my interest, I can't help but think of an afternoon tea of delectable prettiness.

I'm imagining scoffing a raspberry meringue with lashings of fresh cream from a china dish on a crisp linen covered table scattered with periwinkle blue petals. Of course, I'd be wearing this tulle frock by Marchesa, and perhaps an olive green feather coquette in my hair....There would be an infinite calm to my surroundings with the soft playing of a piano and gentle background chatter....

Hhmmm....the reality is not entirely parallel to this daydream and is likely to involve a chipped mug, mr kipling, tatty jeans and peppa pig....So there you go!

It's nearly time to put the kettle on. What will you be having for afternoon tea?

{ps. In a completely blushed way of blowing a trumpet, that is mine.... I am so thrilled to be a winner of the Straw Styling Competition as hosted by Tea for Joy! How lucky am I?! I have the delight of a voucher to spend a papermash, and I'm already thinking, journals!!!}

✴ the straw that broke...me

{ down the ale }

Morning. I am having a very poorly weekend. I feel as rough as onions {?} and generally a feeling of 'yak' has descended on my poor achey bones. I'm trying to make the most of being able to stay in bed, but am all twitchy with things I want to do and get done.

Having left things to the very last minute {so not like me!?...ahem....} I spent most of yesterday taking piccies for the straw styling challenge as hosted by Tea for Joy. The theme was the Royal Wedding. 

I had loads of ideas but I'll be honest I do have a problem with keeping things simple. I get a bit carried away with the story telling aspect of an photograph and so find it hard not to crowd the image with tons of 'props'! Oh well, it was all good fun and such a lovely theme, made me itchy to arrange a street party, although probably not on my street.....

Also, my new desk is now in place {hooray!} and I spent a few hours on friday morning in a brief break from feeling yukky, to start tidying and sorting all my bits and pieces and stitchery wot nots into neat little piles. It is truly smashing to have my own little space again I must say and as it is nestled in the bay window, the light is amazing. Also it's pretty nice to be working next the mr of an eve. It's cool to be sharing an office, although his corner is neat and tidy and full of proper grown up worky stuff and my corner is, well, not, but rather looks like a haberdashery department that has been 'turned over' by some very untidy thieves....

Things I have learnt;

• Cats have absolutely no regard for a perfectly set up 'shot' when looking for a place to curl up and go to sleep.
• Kate may be marrying a different prince, according to this company.
• An addiction to shopping on etsy is heightened when ill
• Probably a good thing, but a two year old doesn't appreciate the sadness of the 'Bambi's mum is killed' scene in said film and actually gets bored after the first 10 minutes of any old Disney film, dismissing them all in favour for the preferred and watched often, 'Finding Nemo'.
• Hot elderflower cordial with a spoonful of honey is a lovely alternative to hot lemon.

Hope you all have/had a lovely weekend.

Check out the straw styling over here.

✴ full of grace

I spotted this Italian silk scarf a few weeks ago in a charity shop on the high street but didn't buy it. Then I thought about it, in that way that you do when you wish you'd just got your purse out and given in to temptation. So on friday after a runaround in the park and and on the swings, I popped back into the shop and was delighted to find it still in there, at half price....a delectable £2.50! Yay for waiting - doesn't always pay off but big cheers when it does! It looks like it may be 1950's or 60's and totally reminds me of Grace Kelly, if only I could look so chic wearing it!

More Fleamarket Finds over at Sophies...

image here