Season's Greetings

Just a quick post to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas in my New Home

Today is the first day of my Christmas holiday and I am off until 3rd January - lovely! I thought I would enjoy a nice long lie in bed this morning, but I was so excited about being off work I bounced out of bed at 7am. I wonder why this does not happen on a work day? This is the first time I have been off work since I moved, and I can't wait to lock myself away with a box of chocolate covered brazil nuts and lashings of mulled wine. Om nom nom. 

I have had two mini drinks parties this week, and I have a few people coming over for mince pies tonight. It is a wonderful home to entertain in, and my friends have found all my eccentric and eclectic mix of objects most amusing. My fabulous colleagues (Kate, Lucy and Alex) came over last night, following a whole afternoon at The Randolph drinking tea and eating scones with jam, lemon curd and clotted cream - heaven. Lucy completed on her first home today (yay!) and has already asked me to provide some interior design advice.

The reason for this post is I wanted to finally share a few photographs of my new home with you, especially because I have some kitsch Christmas items on display. I never have a Christmas tree because as a child I always found it sad when it was taken down. Silly I know, but each to their own.

I have painted the entire apartment brilliant white and had rustic oak flooring laid in the kitchen and living room. The previous owners laid oak in the hallway - which was one of the many reasons I fell in love with the place. I am having coir / seagrass laid in the bedrooms after Christmas, then the floors will be complete. I guess the style is modern retro, or maybe modern Granny chic! I gave roughly half of my vintage collections to charity when I moved, I wanted a fresh start, and I hoped someone else would enjoy them as much as I did. I currently prefer a less is more approach - most unlike me! I will be blogging some more photographs of my home very soon - I ran out of light so quickly today - roll on summer.

Bluebird

Patchwork

Eames

Mrs Doyle

Trim phone

Christmas is Coming...

I have been rather uninspired by what I have seen in the shops this Christmas. Same old, same old. The retailers are reporting poor sales, but they are not giving me anything I am willing to part with my pennies for.  

The only two things making my heart sing this Christmas are Dottie Angel's 12 Days of Joyfulness, as Tif rather beautifully crafts her way to Christmas. The many wonderful, and affordable, joyful Christmas craft ideas are an inspiration. If only I had more time! The other is the cute Cath Kidston Christmas designs, incorporating an adorable little bluebird. I will certainly be investing in the tea towel, and I also have an item wrapped up for my Mum. 

I also love the Cath Kidston kitsch deer Christmas decoration - a must for all vintage deer collectors. 

Dottie Angel

Dottie Angel

Dottie Angel

Dottie Angel

Dottie Angel

Dottie Angel

Dottie Angel

Dottie Angel

Cath Kidston

Cath Kidston

Cath Kidston

Cath Kidston

Cath Kidston

Cath Kidston

Fifi and Me

My sister and I ran a 10k race on Sunday, and my lovely niece came to cheer us on - sporting a super cute outfit. It reminded me of an old photograph of yours truly taken in 1975. Fake white fur is clearly a classic!

Anyway, thank you Laura for pacing me.

At 9k Laura said 'now you can use everything you have left' - I had nothing - I had used it all overtaking an Eynsham Road Runner at 6k. I am (rather shockingly) looking forward to many more races, and lots more unnecessary pain, in 2012.

Fifi - 2011

Candy Pop - 1975

I Heart Instagram

You show me one person who is not addicted to Instagram, and I will show you five who are. It is like Twitter for photographers; a constant stream of everyday lives, documented through photography. I love it.

My username is candypopimages - see you there.



1. Just Married, 2. Brighton, 3. Brighton, 4. Addicted.., 5. Brighton, 6. Lace, 7. Radio, 8. Rosemary, 9. Basket

Friday at Portobello Market

I haven't been to Portobello Market for years, and to be honest I avoid it - overpriced and too many tourists. Anyway, while passing through Notting Hill, I thought it's Friday (the quiet day) and it's December (few tourists). So I braved it.

The market was lovely, and quiet, and full to the brim of beautiful things. But so very very cold.

I saw numerous antiques I wanted to take back to Oxford, but carrying a French chair or kitsch child's horse around London would not have been a good look. Instead I browsed, took photographs and drank hot chocolate, with cream and marshmallows, as I watched the world (and his antiques) go by.

vintage coat (The Ballroom, Oxford) scarf (agnes b) dress (Whistles) suede boots (Clarks) vintage bag (Urban Outfitters)

I wonder how many people have looked into these camera lenses?

French bedside cabinets - they sold just after I took this photograph 

vintage tweet coat from The Ballroom, Oxford

chandeliers on Portobello Road

delicate vintage beauties 

a ceiling of chandeliers