Nonnie

Cornishware

I love Cornishware. I mean really love it. I've been collecting it for a few years now but have loved it for longer. Even since before it started popping up in every single issue of Country Living Magazine.

I'm not a fussy collector. I'll just as happily pop into Peter Jones on my lunch break and buy some new pieces as go rummaging in a junk shop for old pieces. Actually, looking for old pieces is becoming more and more expensive since it appears so regularly in CL.

I really love the rolling pins. I haven't got one yet so I think it might have to be next on my search list.

There's something about it that just really cheers me up. Because I live in a rented flat I don't have the vintage kitchen I would love. Unfortunately developers in London seem to think that everyone wants 'contemporary' with lots of pale wood, granite and stainless steel. I'm not one of those people, but I try to disguise the modern look as best I can with lots of jolly stripey Cornishware, my red enamelware collection and a red gingham table cloth. Oh, and a string of red bunting! Maybe one day I'll get my dream cottage kitchen to show off the Cornishware properly.

I have virtually no demands on me this weekend which is bliss and means lots of sewing and listening to radio 4, with maybe a quick walk along the riverbank and having the time to cook myself some good food. Can't wait!

I want to crochet!

I really want to learn to crochet. I've been knitting for years but somehow have never got round to learning crochet. Can anyone recommend a good and simple (ie idiot proof!) book I can use to teach myself?

In the meantime, I think I'm going to have to order one of these gorgeous little crochet lavender pockets from Decorative Country Living. I think they're absolutely gorgeous.

Happy Weekend!

Just a really quick post to say have a great weekend and show you a little bag I made. It was my 'feeling summery bag' but now the summer is almost over I thought it looked pretty just hanging on my wardrobe handle as extra storage. It makes me think of the summer when I look at it.

I'm going to my see my Sister and gorgeous little nephew Hamish this weekend. I haven't seen him for a couple of weeks so I'm very excited. He's such a little love and he's changing so quickly at the moment. My Sis told me he's virtually walking on his own so I can't wait to see that. I'm going to help her with some preparations for his 1st Birthday party which is coming up in a few weeks. He's having a little party with 3 of his little friends. So cute! At the moment Aunty Nonnie is trying to decide what present to buy. I have to admit that if finances allowed I could quite happily spoil him rotten! Well, finances not allowing I will anyway!

I am already known as Aunty Nonnie rather than Aunty Fiona. Nonnie is the name that my Sister used to call me when she was little because she couldn't manage to say Fiona. Somehow the name stuck and all my family and old friends all still call me it. That's why I decided to call the blog Nonnie. Although work colleagues and newer friends don't know me as Nonnie, it really is how I think of myself so dear little Hamish couldn't call me anything else.

Have a lovely weekend everyone. x

Coordination!

When I got home from work this evening I took my shoes off and popped them next to some others in my hall. Then I suddenly realised just how 'staged' my little row of shoes look. For some reason I've ended up with shoes in the hall that coordinate with each other and my rug. And it's not deliberate. Honest!

Maybe I've just got too many pairs of red shoes. I do quite like the way they look though. So now I'm probably going to have to leave them all there.
I'm very glad that my nasty cold has finally all gone and I feel myself again. I was back at work again today and I must say it was good to be back to normal. I love being around the house normally, pottering and sewing and doing other nice things, but when I'm at home sick and don't really have the energy to do much more than watch dreadful day time television, well I just hate that. By the end of yesterday I felt like a big fat slug sitting on my sofa with my brain gone to sleep. Glad to be back to normal again today. Looking forward to the weekend!

Lovely Flowers

I opened the front door the other day to see these beautiful flowers. I've spent the last couple of weeks looking after my neighbours flat while they were away on holiday and they bought my this gorgeous bunch of flowers as a thank you. Usually the flowers in my home are bought by me so it was a real treat to have some bought for me.

They're definitely cheering me up to day as I have to admit to feeling a little sorry for myself this afternoon. I am off work as I have the most horrible cold. I don't know why, but whenever I get a cold it's not just a little sniffle, it's a full on 'feels like my head is going to explode' affair. So if anyone has any good tips for keeping colds at bay or making you feel better when you've got one I'd love to hear. It's only September, I definitley don't want anymore like this as as the winter approaches. But I can't really complain, at least it's giving me time to spend catching up reading all my favourite blogs. Hopefully I'll be feeling better tomorrow.

A great idea

I saw a lovely idea from Nicki the other day and decided I just had to have a go myself as I had a very sad lampshade by my bed that was in need of some renovation. Here's how my attempt turned out.

I'm really pleased with the result.

Thank you for the inspiration Niki and I hope you don't mind me copying! I almost can't wait until it gets dark so I can see how it looks switched on.

I have to recommend a really great film I saw last night. It's called 'Little Miss Sunshine' and is really one of the funniest films I've seen for a long time. It's about a family taking a road trip down to LA in their VW Campervan for the daughter to take part in a beauty pageant. I won't spoil it by telling you anymore, but all I can say is I laughed a lot! Oh, and if you go see it please don't be put off by the opening scenes which may lead you to believe you're not going to laugh a lot. I'm sure you will.

I'm having a rather frustrating day in that I was planning on getting on with a lot of sewing but have spent rather too much of my day on the phone to Applecare trying to figure out what is wrong with my computer. It has kept quitting over and over every time I try to use it for the past week which has meant it has been difficult for me to email or write as many posts as I would like. It's also seriously cut down my blog reading. Not good! Anyway, fingers crossed it is ok now. The helpful apple man talked me through a lot of procedures which he now believes has cured the problem. I really hope so.

So now it's 4 o'clock and I haven't got a whole lot done so I'm off to salvedge what I can of the day. Hope you're all having a lovely weekend.

Thank you!

I just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who's left comments or emailed me. When I started writing this blog I really didn't know if anyone would read it so I have to admit that I get extremely excited when I see I've got a comment. Gosh that sounds a bit sad! I do have friends really. It's just that I'm finding that I'm really enjoying doing this and it's so lovely to know that there are people out there who I've never met, that enjoy similar interests, who are reading what I'm writing. I find it all rather amazing. So glad I started this.

Just thought I'd show you a work in progress. Two cushions I'm making.

Haven't decided yet if they're for me or to sell. I think probably to sell. I really wanted to get them finished this evening but I had a busy day at work and then ended up having a longer than normal journey home due to the volume of traffic. The perils of living in London! Mind you, I make it more complicated by choosing to take the bus these days. I could be home much quicker if I took the tube but I just hate it. I used to always use it but felt more and more stressed everyday. Anyway, I like the bus because I can be so much more nosey! I love sitting upstairs because you can see down into gardens and when it's starting to get dark I love looking into cosy living rooms. That sounds terrible doesn't it? I'm just facinated by interiors though.

I could have finished the cushions last night but I ended up turning these into tomato sauce to go in the freezer ready for quick plates of pasta on other late nights home.

Cath Kidston Wish List!

I just received my new Cath Kidston catalogue in the post and oh there are just so many lovely things I might have to have.

I wouldn't mind if it rained if I had this lovely umbrella

Couldn't wait for bed time if these were on my bed

And how cute are these? I'm imagining them in a pretty little dish in my bathroom. The urge to pop round the corner to my nearest CK shop at lunch time is pretty strong I can tell you! But then the wish list will probably get longer if I do that!

Cotswold Weekend Part 2

This is a view of a cute little row of cottages we saw in Bibury on Tuesday. I had a really lovely day out with Mum and Dad on a little tour of part of the Cotswolds not far from where they live. We followed a tour from a book they have which took us through some beautiful countryside and pituresque Cotswold villages.

I said earlier I'd show you some of my Birthday presents. This is a rug Mum and Dad bought me from Laura Ashley. I've had my eye on it for a while and dropped a few good hints! It's actually from the Children's range but the size is just perfect for my sitting room. I really love it.

They also bought me this cute clock for my kitchen.

And this is a little something that was part of my present from my Sister and Brother-in-law. Isn't it the cutest little cake you've ever seen? It came form Louise Loves. I would love to be able to knit things like that. My knitting skills mostly cover just knitting squares or scarves. I'm not sure if it's really supposed to be a pin cushion but it just seemed perfect for it and it makes me smile looking at it sitting on my sewing table on top of two of my old tins.

I'm spending the day tomorrow looking after my ten month nephew. I'm really looking forward to it althought I suspect I will be exhausted by the end of the day. It's the first time I've looked after him on my own for a whole day, although my Sister will be in the house in her studio if I need her help. Wish me luck!

Cotswold Weekend Part 1

Just a quick post for now to show you some scenes from my lovely weekend away in the Cotswolds. I had a really lovely time. The weather was beautiful and my lovely family made my Birthday very special. I got some lovely presents which I'll show later, and we had a gorgeous meal cooked by Mum with lots of yummy things picked fresh from the garden. We walked off the huge lunch with a walk up the lane and some blackberry picking. The hedgerows were laden with the most beautiful berries. All looking very autumnal. Here are some views of the day.