{quotable thursdays}

Today I pick up the keys to my new house! There is lots to do--painting, pulling up carpets etc... and I'm doing it alone. I feel rather emboldened by the task that lies ahead but I know in a few days I will likely feel deflated and overwhelmed. Here are some quotes to remind me that this is the start of something new & fabulous & wondrous!

{beginnings}

{things take time}

Soon I'll have lovely wooden floors & will say goodbye to the awful stripe wallpaper. soon!

wish me luck!

xo, 

L

{musings from the little red book-think pink!}

Today I officially own a house! I'll pick up the keys tomorrow and start measuring and planning the painting & decorating!

One advantage of being a single woman owning her own house is that I can do whatever, yes, *whatever* I like.
I could paint the door pink!

{bright bazaar}

{even the shutters are pink!}

{pink & roses}

Lovely inspiration can be found all over the UK...I could have a pink globe: 

{pink globe}

or sweet feminine touches everywhere: 

{fashion framed}

or pink walls: 

{what elegance!}

{old world charm with pink walls}

or maybe, I can frame a big portrait of my cat in a LBD & have it prominently displayed: 

{HRH Simla}

Anything is possible!

stay tuned for more...

xo

L

{new home owner}

{good news!}

Some exciting news ladies and gents!
I bought a H O U S E !
Yes, my first house! It's all so very exciting!
It's a Victorian terrace, that is in good condition but needs some TLC in terms of decorating (& some reinstating of its original period charm). Just my cup of tea!

{cuppa?}

Perhaps you can sense my excitement by the number of exclamation marks I've used? I'll have plenty of more pictures to come when I show you some before and afters...
but here is a little shot of the front of the house:

{SOLD!}

This does mean that I'll be bidding London farewell. My little house is in a small medieval market town in Bedfordshire--much closer to my work, but still only a very short train ride into the capital. The good news is I'll have loads of country walks at my doorstep, including a lovely canal that links lovely little villages & canalside pubs...

{the canal}

{the town on market day!}

As you can imagine, I've been thinking about all the lovely things I can do to the house--paint colours, floors, beds, furniture, curtains. Can't wait!
Here are a few images I've been using for inspiration (you can of course check out more on my pinterest boards, particularly under home inspiration)...

I'm currently loving greys, and I think they're a tone that's timeless and soothing. Who can resist Farrow & Ball? Although I've recently fallen in love with Little Greene (who have some heritage colours in association with English Heritage):

{colour scheme by the Paper Mulberry}

I think some William Morris has to make a presence on a feature wall somewhere:

{bird & pomegranate}

I certainly need bookshelves everywhere!

{bookshelves in a lovely shade}

{I'm loving dark greys & golds/bronzes in the kitchen (even though some are saying this is already out!-I think if done right it can look timeless)}

The bedrooms have little fireplaces, so I've been looking at small fireplaces for inspiration:

{the pink is totally tempting!}

One thing I'm absolutely thrilled about is it has a wood burning stove in the sitting room. Fantastic for cold wintry nights! Can't wait to have a little home for me & my sweet Siamese cat:

{we're moving!}

I'll have the keys in my hands next week!
Stay tuned for more & looking forward to you joining me in the renovating/decorating projects that lie ahead! (There will be surely more posts in the series 'musings from the little red book')
xo,
L

{quotable thursdays}

{indeed!}

Things feel a bit impossible at the moment, but there will come a time when all my 'to do's are all done!

{come on, you can do it! and you can do it in style too!}

xo
L

{Family Celebrations in Bristol}

My family hails from Bristol, at least on my Dad's side, which is probably why sailing and the sea is in our blood. Last weekend I visited the West Country to celebrate my great aunt's 90th birthday & a cousin's 20th wedding anniversary. I stayed with my Dad's cousin and his family in Long Ashton--in a beautiful old house. We went for a lovely walk in the Mendip Hills, had a big party with cream teas, & general merriment was had by all.
Some pics to tell the story:

{Clarks on a walk, Mendips}

{fantastic birthday & anniversary celebrations in Clevedon (pic taken on a polaroid)}

{my great aunt & me}

xo,
L

{quotable thursdays}

It'll be short & sweet today, but take from it what you will:

{Lions don't lose sleep over the opinions of sheep}

xo, 

L

{quotable thursdays}

It's finally summer for me...the weather is warmer now in London and teaching responsibilities have quietened down for the summer... yay!
I'm now scrambling to meet a bunch of publication and writing deadlines before things get crazy again in September.
Here's a quote that can be about life, but also about writing (& the creative process of writing). It can easily happen when we rely on other authors' too heavily because we are unsure of our own voice & are scared to take ownership of our arguments:

{beautiful illustration by Ana Victoria Calderon}

{let your voice be heard}

I'm off to celebrate my great aunt's 90th birthday this weekend! more to follow...
xo

L

{these streets}

{Columbia Road, East London}

The one thing I love about London is that you can always find a new neighbourhood to explore. London is also always changing so a walk down the same street might be very different year after year.
Last weekend I decided to check out the Columbia Road Flower Market and the lovely shops that line the street. Simply a delight for the eyes:

{friendly feathers at the fantastic natural history shoppe!}

{how cute are these?}

{LOVE}

{hipsters abound}

{lovely antique shop}

{lots of flowers to buy (and shoppers dressed in equally bright arrangements!)}

{love the paint peeling here}

 I then continued walking towards Hoxton and stopped in at Pitfield--an amazing space of interior design, antiques, furnishings & a cafe:

Then continued my walk to Spitalfields market where there were more funky spots to see...

xo,
L