Adventures at Kitty's Cottage

What have I done now?!

Well, ladies, I closed the shop yesterday, after rising at 5.30 a.m. and started the refurb. I took all the goods out of the shop, took down all the shelves, cut them, re hung them, brought the (V.heavy) Armoir in from the back room, made more shelves and put them upp, re-stocked the shelves. redressed the windows, put up lights, tidied the house and did all the housework, finally to sit down with a glass of diet coke at 10pm.





I have to tell you that I've never been so tired. And the impending accounts, orders, cards, christmas stock, ebay listing and everything else that has fallen by the wayside is making me even more tired. But still- I'm living the life of my dreams and count my blessings everyday that I have everything that I could wish for. (Well, almost!)
xx

Wonderful, wonderful Lavenham!

Sorry for the delay in posting this (We got back on Wednesday and I really have been busy in the shop!) But I MUST tell you about my new favourite place- Lavenham!
It is SOOO pretty, wonky and English- and only an hour away from where we live! I felt like I was hundreds of miles away, and I can't wait to get back on a little jaunt.

We were in a little cottage full of period charm (Shall I get a job as an estate agent?!) and one afternoon, whilst lying on the bed reading short stories from a very aged book off the vintage bookshelf, I overheard two ladies walking past the front:
"Kitty's Cottage.. ahh, that's a nice name"
"Isn't that the shop in Thorpe le Soken?"
YES! I'm famous! anyway, whilst there I descovered my new favourite shop....


I went back over and over again and couldn't stop cooing over everything! She had many of my own suppliers in there, and we had chosen the same things from them! We obviously have great taste!
In the afternoons we went into gorgeous tea rooms and ate real clotted cream teas, with fresh baked scones as big as our heads! Then we would go back home for a nap, I might wander out of the house and into Vintage Pink again!, and then we went out to dinner. On our second night there we ate at the Great House, which is a gorgeous French restaurant and we ate sooo much wonderful food, all finished off with the most amazing selection of cheeses I have ever had. Oh, Lavenham, I love you so!

Look,Look!

I'm heading into hand painted ceramics! Personalised mugs, house plaques, you name it! How cute! more designs coming soon......

I made a card rack!

There. It's only taken 7 weeks for me to be more professional about my displays! It took me all day in front of Ben Hur to make it. My rechargeable drill kept running out of battery. Grrr! Now it's up, I'm so pleased I've finally got rid of that ugly plastic thing I had before. Still, my customers didn't seem to mind. Today has been a really boring day. I have taken £4.90 in total (It's half past two!!!) and I can't get the impetus to do anything. I think I shall veg out in front of the t.v. after work and snooze. That will be my first lazy day since I opened- well deserved,  think!

It was our wedding anniversary  on Sunday and we had the most romantic time! The recipe book I bought Gary went down well and we decided to cook Maryland crab cakes in Tarragon butter and a lovely bit of Barbecued Salmon. I wish I had taken pictures- it was like we were dining at The Ivy! Then the conversation went very weird- I was discussing why I hadn't eaten meat for over a month. I can't bring myself to eat anything that I don't know exactly where it came from and how it was treated, so I'm jut staying away from meat altogether. Beloved said that we are the top of the food chain, and because we know how to catch food, we can eat what we like. I told him that's a hop, skip and a jump from cannibalism, and he said- get this- that he would have no problem eating me to stay alive! A charming conversation on our second wedding anniversary indeed! I don't believe he would be able to eat me without crying and being sick, but he just carried on and said he would start with my bottom. (Presumably because it is the biggest bit?)  Well, now I know my cards are marked and I must never venture into the desert with him, thankyouverymuch.
By the way, that's the card I made him above. How happy we were.....
I can't wait for next monday, We're off to Kitty's Cottage for a short break and I'm about to win a set of Jo Malone Bath Oils from ebay! Yippee!!!!
Adieu my friends xxx

Ah, me me me.

First of all, Thank you for posting your comments! I didn't know so many of you were avid readers, so from now on I shall update you with Interesting items, instead of really boring stuff. This week's installment is all about ME!

It happens to be our 2nd wedding anniversary on Sunday and my beloved is the worst person in the world to buy presents for. He is a computer nut, into Sci fi films (zzzz) and playing the guitar. You can see why I married him, readers...
Anyway, as he himself admitted the other day, he is not an accomplished cook, so I decided to get him a Rick Stein cookery book (He loves fish!).
Unperturbed by the British summertime shower, I donned my prettiest vintage dress and hobbled down the street to Connaught Avenue, in Frinton, where there is the most darling bookshop. I spied the book I wanted and another little one for Beloved, and on my way out, my beady eye fell on this little lady. "Domestic Bliss by Rita Konig". It really is the sweetest little book if you're looking for a great bedtime read. Rita shares her tips on making the perfect home and throwing relaxing parties. I thought I was reading my own little article for the Village Magazine at first, it is so similar. I feel we are sisters in homemaking. I really should write to her and congratulate her on beating me to the post as far as writing a funny modern book for the busy modern gal.
Thoroughly enjoyable with my afternoon gin and tonic as I kick off my winklepickers and relax in the shop. The weather has turned away a few customers today, so it is nice and peaceful. A little Nora Jones in the background, the sweet scent of grapefruit from my arromatics candle and the twinkle of the fairy lights in my window display. Ahhh, you can't beat a rainy day at Kitty's Cottage!
Love to you all
Carli xxx

A special friend...

Dear Sarah.
As you are the only person who appears to be logging on and leaving a comment, this is especially for you! I honestly thought I would be very successful at this blogging lark, and although it is just a bit of fun, I thought I might have had a few more friends by now! I might have to even.. shock horror- stop the blogging account! Then at least I would have more minutes to spare! Since we are just exchanging comments on each other's blogs, it seems a very expensive way to keep in touch! So, if you are not Sarah, and happen to be reading this, maybe you could leave a comment so I know I have more readers? Mwa ha ha!

Shabby Chic Shack!

Well, I've had a crisis of conscience. A lot of what I was selling was coming from China, and although I have no idea if the factory is indeed a sweatshop, I thought I'd better not take the chance any more, so I have decided to make all my own bags, aprons etc.

And actually, I believe they are really rather nice. I am also selling a range of fragrances from Scotland, and am about to place an order with a company from Denmark, so I am feeling quite smug at the moment. Business is getting better every day, in fact, last week was the best week so far! I'm off to Suffolk tonight to look at some local creamware and am very excited!
I'll be back soon!
Love Carli xxx

An apology.

I would like to add my humble apologies to my sister Vikki, who was distraught that I posted a picture of her looking not quite her best. This is what she actually looks like:

There. I hope that clears everything up for you darling xxx

How d'ya like THEM apples?

Hello Mother, How is father? Here I am in....... HEAVEN! That's what I'm talking about ladies. This is exactly the kind of shop I wanted- not that silly dark shelf-ridden place I had before, now we are in paradise. And to top it all off, the holiday traffic is building up and those lovely ladies just can't get enough of me. I can actually here them say "Oooh, look at that beautiful shop- we'll have to stop on our way back!!!" (Well, that's what I heard this morning anyway!!!!) And I'm not kidding- since i started putting my handbags outside, I've doubled my business!
No time for the website, although I have just started to advertise with a fab wedding directory on the web. In the meantime, have a gander around my shop....





Phew! must go- got customers. Adios Senioros!

How's this for coincidence?

Hello everybody and welcome to I-DON'T-HAVE-TIME-TO-BLOG-ANYMORE!!!! It's killing me- this blog was an outlet for all my excitement, so all I can do now is blab to the customers who come in to my little shop about how happy I am! The wesbite is not going well at all- I think people are afraid to buy on there, but I'm quite thankful as I really can't find the time to keep checking for orders/altering stock! I have now decided to sell on Ebay instead- as much as it pains me (I have paid out a lot of money for the site) But maybe in a few months time I can get back to it. As well as selling my gorgeous bits and pieces, I have sourced some wonderful vintage-

And these...

these...

As well as...

If you want to see anymore you'll have to log on to ebay of course!
So now it is 5.20 p.m., and as usual, I have a mountain of things to do before I can close the shop. After I close, I have to sort out the kitchen/my dinner/ my stock/banking.... Where's my husband? thousands of miles away! Grrrrr.
I'm off to bring in my signs... bye!

Oooh, by the way, I spoke of a coincidence- well, I just googled Kitty's Cottage and a sweet little holiday cottage came up. The owner loves vintage (Like me) and the cottage is just 45 minutes away from where I live- right on the doorstep of a brilliant supplier I want to use! Yippeee!! Working break coming up I think!
Love carlixxx