Snowbound!

Just when I was beginning to think we weren’t going to get any snow this winter, this happened! It started blizzarding in early January and continued to snow off and on for the next three weeks. Despite the chaos it causes I’ve always loved the snow –any excuse to pull on the willies and go sledging, skiing or have a snowball fight with some of my younger relatives! Although most of it has now thawed, I wanted to share some of very snowy photos I took around the village where I live.

Happy New Year & Some (Belated) Christmas Photos

I hope everyone had a merry Christmas and 2012 is getting off to a great start for you all. I wanted to upload a couple of quick snaps I took over the festive period and to thank everyone who helped to make it such a magical Christmas.

Christmas Tree in Red & Gold- this took nearly 5 hours to put up and decorate!

An adorable pull-up Santa I just had to have

Baubles on the tree

And another…I really think I need to invest in a macro lens…

My Christmas engineering project- a gingerbread house

My awesome pile of Christmas pressies! A huge thank you to everyone who bought me a gift, I feel so spoilt!

The First Snow of Winter (Well Kind Of)

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...

Living in one of the coldest most Northerly parts of England, it’s not unusual to find myself buried under several feet of snow at this time of year. Not that I mind at all, snow at Christmastime always makes me feel even more festive and cosy, but unfortunately apart from a freak blizzard a week or so ago we haven’t any snow at all this year. So while it looks like 2011 might not be a white Christmas I thought I’d share some photos I took last year when most of the country was snowbound for nearly a month!

...just like the ones I used to know

Thanks for reading! Have a great Christmas everyone

Affordable Art: Wall Canvases

Next 'Paris' Photo Canvas

There’s no better way to introduce personality into your interior spaces than by adding some amazing art. While original pieces can be incredibly expensive running into hundreds or even thousands of pounds, the growing popularity of wall canvases mean great artwork is now accessible to everyone. A modern alternative to traditional framed pictures, wall canvases usually feature a print of an original painting, photograph or abstract design printed onto canvas and stretched over a lightweight wooden framework- not a gilt frame in sight. I love how canvases can completely transform a room, they can complement and harmonise with your décor or stand out and make a bold statement, and best of all they can be bought from as little as £8 on the highstreet. Next, Matalan and TK Maxx all do a great selection of reasonably priced canvases so you can afford to experiment.

I picked up the gorgeous ‘Paris’ modified photo canvas above at a Next Clearance outlet (you can find a complete list of all the Clearance outlets in the UK here) a few days ago for the bargain price of £10. It adds a pop of colour to a plain wall and the golden beige tones –amazingly for an impulse purchase!- tie in perfectly with the rest of the décor. By hanging it directly above the bed it draws attention to it and creates a real focal point in the room. I’ve chosen some of my favourite canvases available in stores now below:

Next 'Stolen Kiss' Canvas £60

I absolutely adore this hand finished canvas from Next. On its own or in a horizontal grouping of three or four similar prints, this would lend a grown up sophistication to any room. It looks great against a plain oatmeal coloured background. Buy it here.

 

Matalan 'London Bus' Canvas £8

This grey scale/colour photo of a London bus has a real 1960s/70s vibe to it that is really fun, Hang it by itself or with other retro prints on a wall in a bold clashing colour for an instant talking point. Buy it here for only £8.

Next 'Aloe Vera' Glitter Printed Canvas £50

I love this stunning Aloe vera print from Next. It would make an elegant focal point in a bedroom. Hanging it on a wall painted in a soft grey from the same colour pallet looks really expensive and chic. Available here.

Matalan 'Ocean Horizon' Canvas £8

It's relaxing just looking at this gorgeous Ocean Horizon seascape! It makes me think of New England beach huts and days by the seaside. It would tie in perfectly with a nautical style scheme and soft blue or white walls. Click here to buy.

Matalan 'Vintage Flower' Canvases £8 each

This Vintage Flower print from Matalan looks so girly and feminine. It would be perfect in a bedroom or a relaxing lounge against a pretty pastel backdrop like this soft lilac which echoes the deeper purple in the photo. The symmetrical pairing gives it a really neat, prim feel. Available here. 

Thanks for reading, hope I've inspired you to try out some wall art!