Portobello Market, Notting Hill...

I've just returned from an incredible two weeks in Europe with my sister, it was total bliss! We had four days in London, showing her the sights, exploring the shops and reminiscing.We then headed to France for the main event, my brothers wedding, which was a beautiful, perfect day in an idyllic french village. We finished up with a couple of days in Paris, sightseeing, shopping and working our way through the delicious patisseries. Again, total bliss. Throughout the trip I took loads of photos with my blog and it's followers in mind. I'll share them over a few posts, starting with this one on Portobello markets, Notting Hill.  The sheer array of vintage goodies is just incredible, and although I wanted to bring SO MUCH home, my suitcase and the often exorbitant prices kept me in check. The atmosphere is fantastic though too.  We got there early and wandered with ease before the crowds descended.  The aroma from food stalls, great people watching and GORGEOUS buildings makes it one of my favourite experiences, which is why I spent many Saturdays during my OE roaming the market and why we booked our flights to arrive the night before!

I had to bring one of these wee trays home.

The street food, fresh produce and flower stalls were amazing. Oh to be local!

Oh, to live in one of the gorgeous pastel houses too!  I suspect my husband wouldn't be too keen on painting our home pink, somehow it works so well in Notting Hill, New Plymouth? Probably not.

And for those Cath Kidston fans out there (I know a few of you are!), here's a peek inside her Portobello road store, my first visit to one of her shops.  I loved the way genuine vintage props are used throughout her stores, I only wish they'd been for sale.  She had the cutest tins, baskets and chairs.  Check out the yellow kids chair in the last photo.

A few treats for the kids came home from here, love the ballet range!

See you back here soon with some pics from France, including a peek inside the cutest kids shop EVER!

Sarah x

Who loves vintage?

Clearly I'm a tad obsessed myself.  I love the history of vintage items, imagining the owners over the years, the games played with toys, conversations over tea from vintage china... the tales they could all tell!  If Beths vintage caravans could talk they'd have a few tales to tell I'm sure.  

Some of you may have seen the gorgeous Mary-Lou, I shared her trademe link on facebook recently.  But did you check out the rest of Beths gorgeous restorations on her website, Love Vintage Caravans?  If you're wanting to recreate a little bit of her style at home, visit her wares page, it's beautiful, but you'll have to be quick, she sells out fast. The gorgeous vintage thermos will be under my Christmas tree courtesy of my (instructed) husband.  I've been wanted one just like this for ages!  

I'll be selling some of my vintage treasures shortly too (well, realistically it may not be till the new year), so keep an eye out on my trademe page or follow me on facebook (be sure to change settings to receive notifications) as I'll announce listings then.  Included will be the enamelware collection spotted above oven here. 

If you liked the pink shelf (also spotted here) then you'll want to check out the other listings from the woman I bought it off.  She sells under juliesgirlshed on trademe and has some cute listings on at the moment, my faves being these two...

Would love this for Bens room!

I'm presuming this is the same colour as used on my shelf and it really is the perfect pink.

All the best if you decide to bid, I'm sure you'll love your purchase from Julie, just as much as I love mine.

If you're eyeing anything up in my store, don't miss out (a few items are down to the very last ones for this year), but please be aware all purchases placed from Saturday 30th November till Sunday 8th December, will be shipped on Monday 9th December... when I return from my holiday!

See you back here then

Sarah x

Your Home & Garden Article

Some of you may have spied me in the November issue of Your Home & Garden, for those that didn't I've managed to get my hands on a copy (thanks Your Home & Garden!) to share with you.  It was a bit of a secret dream of mine to feature in a home magazine, but never in a million years did I think it'd be our modest first home, which we moved from just two weeks before the article came out.  A little over a year ago I received an email from a freelance writer, Debbie Harrison, who had stumbled across my blog while searching for "the perfect duck egg blue".  I'm not sure which post it was that she found, as duck egg blue is mentioned a fair bit.  She thought our home looked lovely from what she'd glimpsed and asked if I'd be interested in emailing her some photos to show to a couple of magazines, which I did, after some extensive cleaning.  In February we heard that Your Home & Garden were interested, and the photos were taken early April, after some more cleaning, decluttering and styling.  I love the photos and the article too, and am so pleased to have it as a memento from our much loved home, a home with many happy memories.  

I tried to credit as many people as possible in the article, as we have quite a few items from favourite artists, crafters and fellow bloggers.  Here are a few of those, please ask if you want to know where anything else is from.

Illustration (in our bedroom) of Eden and Ra Ra by Stella

Doll on dresser by a little vintage

Wedding cake print (above china cabinet) by Sam Broad from Kina

Framed cards in bathroom and on china cabinet by Leanne Culy

Alphabet print in kids room by Sweet William

Turquoise jug, white dish and boat, by Tony Sly Pottery

Painting of Back Beach, Taranaki, in image below is by Deb Hoare

Favor poster and Poufs are also available in my store, MissMollyCoddle

Here are some more photos that weren't used, but were favourites that I really wanted to share, thanks to the photographer Jane Dove Juneau, for kindly letting me do so.

Sarah x

Things I'm loving....

My latest kids toy prop (anyone else a guilty purchaser of vintage toys purely for aesthetic reasons?), picked up for a song from my local hospice shop.

Still loving this beautiful vintage Sanderson fabric and all the goodies I've been making from it.

My little coffee treat while Ben's sleeping and Poppet's at preschool, a moments bliss!

Loving this song.  I seem to hear it everywhere and am still not sick of it (my husband assures me I would be if I had an office radio).

and these wholesome foodies blogs....

http://www.homegrown-kitchen.co.nz/

http://www.petite-kitchen.com/

Have a nice afternoon :)

Come fly with me...

watching telly 'fly in' movie styles!

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with flying.  If I get a whiff of bad weather I can worry for days prior to flying, and my eyes are never open as we land (and I'm saying a little prayer that we will land...on the runway-not San Fran styles either-poor people), but  on the other hand, I love all that it represents, reunions, adventures, shopping etc...  I love the whole flight experience too (so long as there's no turbulence), and yes, even the in flight meals.  When I recently booked flights to Australia, for an upcoming wedding, I was appalled to discover the new budget flight options,  I'm afraid I'm paying the extra for my glorified microwave meal, and I'll enjoy every morsel (that I didn't have to prepare), and I'll wash it all down with my (not so) free glass of Sauvignon blanc... thank you very much!

While we're on the topic of planes (omit reference to Sauv blanc), I recently purchased this vintage quilt for Ben, actually i got two, so I'll be able to have matching twin beds when he gets his own room.  It's adorable, and looks super cute with his mobile, made by his lovely Aunty Est.  

Here's a few more aeroplane themed favourites for you...

my favourite themes always seem to make it onto my baby shoes!

flat out frankie plane

vintage plane decals, available here.

these would be cool for a kids plane themed party, or a farewell. Available here.

Have a lovely day and I'll see you back here soon x

Ben's new bunting...

Poor Ben never got the room makeover that his sister did, one of the cons of being the second born and sharing a room I guess.  He's 15months and until last week was still tucked in under a (albeit beautiful) ballerina quilt, with a dolls coat hanging at the head of his cot and fairy paintings the length of it.  But we've remedied the situation!  My sister made the gorgeous aeroplane and cloud mobile, and I made some bunting for him.  I bought a vintage fabric book from one of my favourite vintage shops, faded fancy, in New Plymouth.  Judging by his squeals and pointing, I'd say he's pretty happy with his new decor.

For more creative spaces this week, pop over here.

Sarah x