I HEART this website!!!

Of course these birds (4.00 each) strike a chord with me, but RE-found objects sells loads of other amazing items as well.

Here's more about the store from the owners themselves:

In November 2003, RE was born in a small converted workshop at the back of a filling station in Corbridge, a small market town in north east England and was followed by our first mail order catalogue in May 2004.

After careers in fashion design we both wanted a new challenge and with years of comparative shopping experience, and inspired by some of the stores we visited globally, we decided to set up shop. There's no point attempting to shoehorn the range of RE's stock into a paragraph, but if you do need a plaster Virgin Mary and a bottle of the best bubble bath in the world, this is the place. We have a huge cross section of customers, and everyone goes out with something - even if it's just a smile on their face!

More of our products are presented online; our most REcent finds, some favourites; some raRE or REmarkable; some REcycled; some REscued and REstored; and look out for REgd. - our unique range of originals and textiles designed by RE, and made locally whenever possible.
Online we've tried to REcreate the atmosphere of our colourful store and the site is a live link so you can shop online at anytime if you can't visit RE in person.

And the name RE? It's a found object itself. Two large metal letters bought in a Paris flea market. Now you know.

Ok, now back to my faves=

As cheesey as the are, I love this things! Handmade Shell Frame: 11.00

Lovely glasses: 6.50 each

As if I don't have enough methods of posting greeting cards, pictures, postcards and other mementos. . .Wire holder: 24.00

Green glass mixing bowl: 36.00, Wooden Spoons (just like Momma's!): 1.50, and Pretty little butter dish: 11.00

Incredibly affordable glass drops - perfectly priced and in time for Christmas: 1.25

Baskets are a weakness: 9.00-13.00

Mercury glass. . .another weakness: 5.00-28.00

Now, finally, something I don't have - crocheted hangers: 12.00

Wire shelves -aren't the perfect???: 19.50

Vintage Quilts: 75.00

Based on vintage traveller's scarves, these pillows/cushions would fit in nicely at my house: 35.00

Fantastic Lighting: 85.00

Hand-Knitted dish rags (I could do this myself of course, but that would mean less blogging): 6.50 each

Giant french cup. . .oh I would give anything for a cup of hot chocolate right now-must put Swiss Miss on the shopping list: 6.00

Vintage cooking trays to die for - assorted styles: 12.50

Wool-work Pillow - very wintry colours unfortunately don't coordinate with the house, however, this would make a great Christmas gift for Momma: 75.00

More decor for the tree - precious hearts: 3.00-4.00

I am indeed slightly obsessed with Jadeite - because this is a British company they're calling it 'American Milkglass' but from my experience this is Jadeite (ps: at least that's what her highness Miss Martha Stewart calls it) and milkglass is white and much more affordable. I have several pieces of each but nothing like these gorgeous cake stands: 25.00-49.00 or this adorable drinking set: pitcher 25.00, glasses 9.00 each

I know a lot of people would be completely against this idea, but I'm head over heels for it!!! Antlers: 26.00

Why I love these, I have no idea, but I just do - vintage leather measuring tapes: 30.00

Cutie pie wire trivets - made for cute pies!!!: just 5.00

Brightly coloured velvet ribbons - they would look divine with the silver hearts or glass drops I believe: 5.00 each spool

Finally, nothing could be finer than these glorious union jack and coronation pillows, another tug at my heart strings. . .its a very long and painful tug since I think most of my heart is still located across the ocean in England. Sad :(

So on my next trip I'll have to visit these guys - although, by the looks of this store, I might never want to leave!!!

Note: all prices in pound sterling

Flickr Fun

Is it just me or is Flickr really one of the greatest sites ever developed. Of course some people won't let you steal their pics. to post to your website, but every now and then you find some fabulous person who doesn't mind as long as you give them credit.

Here are some of my favourites today, hope you like!

"Hello Handsome" from my bff kate.haynes:

"Heaven's Tree" from bitzi:

"High Summer at the Quirky Cottage" from *susie*:

Amazing Peony "10.000" from white red flower:

"My Talking Bird" from little miss sunshine:

"Eastern NC Corn" from my bff kelleymac2001:

"Cat Stairs" from fofura'sfelines:

"Who needs orange?" from melissann:

"Jewel Chair" from CruisAir:

and finally, one of my personal favourites from ME!:

I think I realized while doing this particular post that this blog has become so much more to me than just a design platform and I guess I really am proud of that. Its a perfect avenue for me to share my life with anyone and everyone who wants to listen. I think I've also realized in the past few days, that not everyone has the capacity to be so open and let people/love in. That's really truly a sad state to be in, so thank God I'm not scurred he he he. . .ya'll are welcome any time.

I need some more friends on flickr though - please please please comment with a link to your site. . .I'd love to be able to keep this sort of post updated from time to time, so help me out a bit guys!!!

Cheers!

Alva

Note: The first photo is "I Can See You!" from tripowski.

Free Spirit Fabric

Another one of my favourite fabric websites - here's some of the best (only made so by my own opinion of course):

This last one is what I'm considering for the dining room and possibly living room curtains. . . .perhaps, maybe, still not sure - God, why oh why did you make me so indecisive???

Today's Agenda: clean, organize and semi-decorate the office

This is definitely not a one-day project. This area of the house is in such a disastrous state that I can't even remotely show you a before shot, therefore, I say SEMI.

Here are a couple of inspiration photos I'm using (resources=martha stewart living, domino and whitney english):

Wish me luck!

Have a wonderfully blessed Sunday!

Exquisite!

I fell in love with this artist a few years ago when I found note cards with his paintings as the cover.
I'm still very much in love - I think it has something to do with my penchant for Victorian Painted Ladies. . .

so much fanciful perfection, almost too much to behold at once-my cup runneth over.

painted lady photographs 1 and 2 from here 3 from here 4 from here and 5 from here

Clean Getaway

I met someone at the bar.

He had a great smile and a great heart.

He felt just like love.

Except no fear of losing, and it wasn't tough.

I finally made it.

I made a clean getaway.

I finally made it.

I made a clean getaway.
And I miss you,I miss you every single day.

Lyrics from 'Clean Getaway' by Maria Taylor

Kitty Wigs

I'm telling you right now, when you really need a laugh, this is gonna be the post you come back to. Freaking hilarious, it drives me crazy in fact - I giggle for hours because of this: and this:
and especially this:

but then, it gets even better because now they have a flickr group just for insane people who like to use this method to humanely torture their furry friends. I LOVE IT!

The genius behind these head props is the same fabulous woman behind Subversive Cross Stitch. This particular lovely is going to be a divine Christmas present for a couple of my favourites :

It fits their personalities, don't you think?

As for decorating the kitten, well he does that on his own - case in point, his new dress:

Note: what's worse than the crazy cat lady? the crazy cat man!!!! ladies, be aware of this male and stay away stay far far away!!!

More to come this weekend, cross my heart and kiss my elbow!!!

Another Fabulous Melanie

Find more info on Melanie here or here and have a divine Monday! I'll be back soon with a post on what I'm working on for a wedding gift. Ciao my love!