OH, LUCKY ME !!!! ..........

HOW LUCKY AM I ?.......... I have been sent a gift from a fellow blogger and have won two giveaways !!!!First of all, I came across a most beautiful blog called 'Feelings' . It is written by Luiza from Sweden and I was one of the first to follow her. She is a wonderful photographer and she makes the most beautiful things .......... imagine .......... Swedish (good start !), clever at making things (great!) and is a brilliant photographer (fantastic!)........... what more can you ask of a blog.

Anyway, Luiza said that she wanted to send me a gift and this is what she sent me. Isn't it wonderful? I can't tell you how much I love it and I will give it pride of place in my home. Thank you so much, Luiza.


Now the giveaways.......... I came across another blog, as you do, written by Kimberly, called Boardinghouse.

Well, the first post that I read was all about her Grandmother called 'Cockle Mommy' (see photo above). It was a really good read (I love hearing about peoples grandparents, don't you ?) and how they were going to have a big celebration for her 100th birthday, I didn't know about any giveaway, as I hadn't read one of the previous posts, so you can imagine my surprise when I found out that, anyone who had commented had been put in the draw, and I had won !!!! I found out that I had won a favour from the party and had no idea what to expect, so you can imagine how delighted I was when I received 'this' in the post ....................

Isn't it pretty, and doesn't it just match my dining room beautifully so thank you so much, Kimberly and HAPPY ONE HUNDRED BIRTHDAY COCKLE MOMMY !!!!

Now, my second giveaway came via The Magpie's Fancy and Gigi. Another wonderful photographer, poet and collector . She lives on an island off of Portland, and writes and takes photographs of her surroundings ....well, she had a giveaway and her cat, Scout, picked my name out ... how lucky am I ? ............ and this is what the postman brought to my door..........

First of all, weren't they wrapped beautifully ?.......... There was a book of poems, written by Gigi, a sketch book, some coloured pencils, some stickable notes that are so pretty and some sea glass and shells that she had collected from the beach..... what a hoard and so personal .....I love them all, Gigi.

The book of poems

So ......... thank you all for such wonderful gifts and, everybody, go and visit their blogs because they are all beautiful, interesting and well worth a look and, don't forget to enter giveaways 'cos, if I can win, so can you.

Jackie

AWAY WITH THE FAIRIES...............

Do you believe in Fairies ? Say quick that you believe. If you believe, CLAP YOUR HANDS!

J.M.BARRIE 1860-1937

PETER PAN

Browsing through my library the other night, I came across a book on Fairies. I removed it from the shelf and took it to the tapestry sofa for a bit of a trip to fantasy land..........

Well, book, comfy sofa, evening all adds up to a trip to the Land of Nod...........

............................ OOOooooooooooOOO ............................



Well, it's there in black and white for all to see..... 'FAIRIES EXIST'.....


Oh look..... that looks like a fairy house, if ever I saw one. Shall we go through the door and see what we can find ? .....

OOOoooooo...... a fairy bed. I have heard that fairies LOVE to sleep......

Oh, there must be quite a few fairies living here ....another fairy bed. Sparkling dandelion wine, candles and rose petals ................

.......... Bedroom three ..........you can tell fairies live here.......they just love fairy lights.

I think that this is where the Queen Fairy lays her pretty head.

This is the fairy bathroom..........

............... and, sometimes, when all of the beds are taken, the fairies have to think of ingenious ways to find a bed for the night........ she has found herself a nice detached, fully insulated, fully furnished little love nest here.

Oh look .......... the fairy dining room..... they do love sparkly things, even when eating !! ..and there they are....the obligatory fairy lights.

Shhhhhhhh .......... I think that we have disturbed one who has just come out of the bathroom ..... don't let her see you ..... there could be dire consequences if she does.

This is dandelion tea....... an essential fairy beverage, and a book of fairy spells. You never want to cross a fairy ....... they can do untold damage to you if your not careful !!!!

Fairy dust is the most important tool for a fairy .......... they never know when they might need it... and there is an art to using it......... none of this throwing it over people. It must be poured into the palm of the hand and gently blown. Look..... I'll give you a demonstration...............

.......... see..... and you have to be wearing your best frock !!

Oh dear ........... I think that this fairy has had too much dandelion tea...... it's a bit like drinking too much alcohol ...... it can make you hallucinate and do silly things ..........I think that she may be losing her wings if she gets caught !!!!

They love beautiful dresses ..................

.................... and more beautiful dresses ..........

.................... and beautiful fairy shoes (stilettos are not permitted as they can be dangerous when flying) ..........

.......... and whoa betide them if they forget their fairy crown or fairy wand when they go out. That's why they always leave it on the chair by the door .

Fairies are like magpies or is it jackdaws ? ....they love shiny sparkly things and collect and hoard them. Look at this fairy's collection, she certainly likes a bit of bling.

If you like the latest designer handbag well, this is the fairy equivalent ....... it's a jewel encrusted cupcake handbag, and costs £10,000 or whatever that is in fairy money. I don't think that your ordinary fairy would be able to have one......... probably in the Fairy Queen's price range.

This is where the fairies dance all night until it starts to get light again, when they go ...................

............... through the spiders web ...........

................ along the beautifully lit garden path.............

.................... and back home to bed again, to dream of fairy shoes, fairy dresses, of being like their heroine, Tinkerbell and of all things sparkly.

.............................. OOOooooooooooOOO ...........................

OH, where am I, what time is it ?

Was I dreaming or do you think that there really are such things as fairies ?

Jackie

REFLECTIONS ...............

I think that, being a blogger, we should all be allowed a little bit of poetic licence and, as this post is all about mirrors, this first picture doesn't really fit in, but it IS the most brilliant photograph and I wanted to use it .................BUT, water reflects, doesn't it , so I'm letting it in !!!! I think that I must have at least one mirror in every room in my house, and it's not all about vanity, although I have been known to glance in them as I pass !!!! They are great for making rooms look bigger, but I just like them as they can be really pretty and a lovely addition to any room.

Isn't this a lovely little bathroom, but, that's not what we're talking about, is it ? I think that it's only lovely because of the mirrors. Take them away and it wouldn't look so good, would it ?

Now, you obviously couldn't live like this but there are a lovely selection of mirrors to choose from here. Which one would you choose out of this little lot ?

I don't normally choose photographs with people in them, but isn't this pretty ? I love the finish of the walls and the two little mirrored candle sconces.

Doesn't the mirror look good in this one, just propped up against the wall.....you don't even have to get the drill out !!!!....and look at those dear little shoes on the table. Not too sure about the light fitting but, it actually seems to go.

Oh, what a gorgeous room. Another propped up mirror and, I love the empty frame, leaning against it....and what a great rocking horse and the lantern just fits in beautifully.

Here's another wonderful one. This room would be just as lovely without the Venetian mirror but, it just gives it some drama.

I just love the use of the over mantle as a bedhead...now, stop it, you lot...I can hear those naughty minds working !!!!

All this is, is an old mirrored cupboard, a few old bits and pieces on top of it and you've got something beautiful and at minimal cost............ Brilliant.

We probably all put pictures up the stairs but maybe not a collection of mirrors, but it works so well.

I really like this room as it's full of surprises and yet it remains very serene ..... look at those massive shells in the fireplace. Would you have done that ? I certainly wouldn't have thought of it , but it really is a focal point, and a nice one !!.......... and that beautiful pale, pale green works so well.

This photograph by Michael Eastman is showing us mirrors in an opulent setting which, forgive me if I'm wrong, but I don't think many of us live in a place like this !!!! If you do, could you email me...I'm due a holiday and could come and stay !!!!

You're spoilt for choice here. There are round ones, square ones, oval ones, ones with carving, etched ones, wooden ones ....I'll take one of each. !!!!

I have had this picture for ages, before I even started blogging and I think that it comes from a Scandanavian blog. I apologise for not crediting it, but if someone is reading this post and it belongs to them, please let me know. I had to show it as it is so beautiful and, as the Scandanavians do so well, it shows us what can be done with a few things that we have around our homes.
I NOW KNOW WHERE THIS PHOTOGRAPH CAME FROM. IT'S FROM THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BLOG www.inspirationivitt.blogspot.com GO AND VISIT. YOU WILL LOVE IT.

................... and finally, the mother of all things mirrored .....the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.

I'll leave you with this wonderful photograph of opulence and indulgence and remember....mirrors aren't just for looking in.

Jackie