Jr. No More

My beloved Dad-in-law passed away this morning. My husband lost his father, my children lost their first grandparent.

My husband was named after his Dad, so he had a 'Jr.' attached to his name. No more...

I'll take a break for a few days.

Some More Liberty Crafting

These aren't exactly new, I made them a while ago, I just never got round to posting about them. They've been taken photo of in some of my outfit pics, but I think they deserve a close-up and a post of their own, especially the circles-bracelet. Isn't it fun?

I bought a pink wooden necklace last autumn because I liked the colour of the beads. I knew I wouldn't wear it as it was, but I wanted to use the beads for my crafting. I really liked the wooden circles but I had no idea what to do with them. Then I got my scraps of Liberty fabric and started making all sorts of things with them. And it dawned on me that I could just as well 'dress' the circles in Liberty, tie them together somehow and have a lovely, unique bracelet. I had the exact image of it in my mind but it took a while before I was happy with the actual product. And now I'm really thrilled with it!

The other two bracelets are much simpler. One is made of fabric-covered paper beads and the other one is just natural wooden beads with a Liberty bow. Lovely and simple.

How's the weather treating you? I'm really enjoying myself. I'm one of those (annoying) people who start living when the temperatures rise well up into their thirties. I'm just constantly cold otherwise and my body is really grateful for the warmth (heat by most people's standards...). So, yay for the summer!

Wind Of Change

I was fiddling with my blog template last night and then I didn't know how to retrieve the old one - I've never been very skilled at anything technical...

This is the closest one I could find, with as little 'disturbance' as possible; I don't really want too many colours or pictures in the background as the pics I post are usually bursting with colour.

I really liked my old template, for its simplicity, and it'll take some time before I get used to the new one.

But hey, changes are good, right?

Will you still visit, dear friends?

A Match Made In Heaven

This is it - my Peacock with the new Rice basket. I think they look great together, if you don't mind my saying so!

I just had to add some close-ups of the bike - the design is so perfectly thought-out! (I owe the idea for the close-ups to the charming S. of Academichic & Simply Bike.)

I love the bell with the pattern that matches the ornaments on the frame...

I love the logo - already bruised by the basket...

I love...
Well, what else is there to add?
I LOVE THIS BICYCLE!
(You'd never have noticed, right?)

Perfect!

I have found the most perfect basket for my Peacock! I mean, look at it, could it be any more 'peacocky'? The colours, the beaded handle, the daisies...! Yay!

The basket is from Rice, and I've added the corsage from H&M. I love it! Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to take a pic of the basket on the bike itself - even though we've already been grocery shopping - I promise to show you the lot A.S.A.P.!

Let's go for a ride!

Family Weekend In The Forest

We spent the weekend on a family picnic in a forest cabin (mainly outside the cabin, of course...). It's a sort of tradition in our circle of friends - we book this cabin for a weekend at the beginning of summer, usually before we all go away on holidays, and spend two days having a fabulous time together, eating yummy food, and exploring the wooded hills surrounding our town.

The kids really enjoy themselves, every year they look forward to spending a couple of nights sleeping on bunk beds in their sleeping bags. And all that only about a-quarter-of-an-hour-drive from our flat! I don't even bother joining them in the car, I prefer to take a hike!

We had a lovely weather again this year (it was pouring last year, but we didn't mind; there was a large covered area for BBQs and on our final day we even got some sunshine...).

Whenever we picnic up here, the place is buzzing with children - this year, I'm happy to say, with quite a few 'new additions'!

Good time was had by all, so...

...see you next year!

All Mine!

Proudly presenting...

... Electra Cruiser Peacock!!!

Courtesy of one very wife-and-bike-loving husband.

We've already been on a cruise.
And the Peacock is spending the night in our flat. Not kidding.

Relaxing

Beautiful summer day, the sun shining, children playing in their grandparents' garden...

The outfit expresses the atmosphere of the day. Comfortable and light, with all my favourite accessories.

I'm wearing:

plimsolls - Cath Kidston
shorts - Northbrook
belt - H&M
shirt - Ness (local brand)
scarf - Cath Kidston
corsage - L'Occitane
sunglasses - Marks&Spencer
bracelets - self-made
straw bag - Rice, re-decorated by me

Enjoy the sunshine!

My Cath

I'm so happy that Cath Kidston delivers to Slovenia! Yay! It means I am now a proud owner of several pretty CK accessories (and I'm not talking Calvin Klein here...)...

You've already seen my floral sandals, here's another glimpse for you under...

... my lovely badges! I love these badges, especially the cool Britannia ones. I think the British Tourist Board could put me on their pay-list...

Aren't these just the cutest thing ever? I also very much appreciate their lovely floral 'Thank you for shopping with us' card. Too cute!

Package No.2 contained a pair of plimsolls and three hankies (I borrowed the hankie pics from Cath Kidston website as they can be seen so clearly).

Folk Flowers Hankie

Britannia Hankie

London Hankie

Cherry Plimsolls

So yummy I could eat them!

Summer Weekend

It was a lovely weekend. We spent a lot of time outdoors. On Saturday we had a family B-B-Q in my parents' back garden. My Mum celebrates her birthday in July. It's at the end of the month but my brother & his family will be away then so we celebrated early.

This is my little girl on a swing. She loves her swing. It was a well-deserved rest after she'd helped Granny set the table for nine people.

Yesterday we attended an outdoor mass. In the middle of the woods. It was a solemn occasion, and yet extremely enjoyable. Ought to make it a family tradition...

How was your weekend?

P.S.: Belated congratulations to all American bloggers!

Birds & Blossoms & Bikes

OK, since I started the month of July with a wishlist I've decided to add another item on it. I've only recently discovered - with a little help of a friend & the charming S. from Academichic - Electra bikes. And now I'm in love.

I've loved bikes all my life. I can still remember my first one, sunflower yellow with training wheels and a silver bell with an embossed duck. Not having any pics of my beloved 'four-wheeler' is one of my few childhood regrets...

These days I'm a proud owner of two bicycles, a Marin Kentfield (ten years old, present from husband when I graduated from university) and a Nakamura Sense Smile (a couple of years old, again present from husband, you can tell he's a bike lover as well...). I've always wanted a cruiser, though. And now I've found THE ONE. Let me present...

Electra Cruiser Peacock...

... the prettiest bicycle in the world!

Inspiration - Cath Kidston

I've been growing really fond of Ms Kidston lately.

I read an article about her the other day in which she was referred to as 'the new Laura Ashley'.

I used to be totally and absolutely and madly in love with Laura Ashley.

I still very much appreciate her style...

... I have several items of clothing with her label in my closet and even though some of them are way too big for me now...

... (I used to be considerably larger in size, to put it mildly)...

I've kept them and use them as my pj's, for instance...

Anyway, Ms Kidston really inspires me and I love love love her designs!

I've already shown you my lovely sandals,

and today I've picked some more images from her website that I find irresistible...

This week the postman has delivered another package from Britain, it says Cath Kidston on it!

I'll keep you posted...