Blog | Minna.co.uk

Blog | Minna.co.uk

It's pub time.....

This week has been one of those week's when all I seemed to have done is sitting in front of my computer doing my accounting ( my pet hate, and I always leave it until the last minute). I did not ride my horse, yelled too much to kids/dog/poor husband, did not start my running routine ( which I have attempted to start for the last three months) and my to-do list kept growing despite trying to hand out some work to girls at the office. So the best thing to end your week, or shall I say to forget about it, is a good old pub lunch...sans the wine, which is unusual for me. My absolute favourite pub, near the picturesque village of Tisbury is the Beckford Arms. It never fails me and it is the perfect pick-me-up treat! Hayden had gorgeous creamy beacon and pea pasta ( that my husband manage wolf it down, despite telling me that he is full), I had equally gorgeous Barley and smoked duck salad with a mustard dressing and my husband had a good old burker ( which I ate half of it, despite telling him how unhealthy burgers are...) Anyway, this pub is worth a visit with gorgeous rooms, movie nights and wonderful ambience and decor. Just my cup of tea... Kids are very welcome, which makes me want to move in. Since that is not possible, all I can do is to buy a little piece of the Beckford and buy their gorgeous, heavenly scented body products...

Something for the house...

It's foggy out there....

This morning was one of those mornings that my mind was as foggy as the weather outside. Where we live it often gets very foggy with visibility down to zero. I absolutely love it and the kids find it hilarious! Despite the fog, I took Haydento so some antique shopping ( yes, they need to be trainer early on...)to our local town Shaftesbury. Needless to say, I did not come home empty handed.....

The secret to successful antique shopping is to arrive early, and because of the fog and horse, I did not get there early enough so all the lovely stuff that Iimmediatelly laid my eyes on, had already found happy new owners. Damn! Never mind, I found an old battered metal trunk with some cool stickers on it. Costing only a fiver, I decided that it will find a place at home...something that I am very good at...

All this greyness and lack of day light has made me determined to get some more lighting. I am currently lusting after Abigail Ahern's amazing and quirky lighting. Take your pick between the bulldog, pelican or whippet.

Also available from my favourite shop Graham & Green

They do not come cheap though, which means that I better start saving for one...although there is always Christmas.....

Oh dear....My obsession with Union flags

Since seeing the latest Waitrose add ( yes, check it out) I have had a bit of an obsession with Union flags. There is a scene when entering a room where you get a quick glimpse of a stunning doorway with an old pair of Union flags hung as curtains. Since then, I have been driving around the muddy country roads in search for the perfect pair of matching ( or at least similar size) Union flags so I can use them as curtains. I only had to wait a week when I found the perfect pair. Tisbury is one of my favourite little towns in the area. I often found my self checking out all the little shops such as the most gorgeous florist. Ted Martin's flower shop is a stunning little shop and I often go there to get some flowers and find inspiration or to hear the good old local gossiping.

This week, few doors down the road I found an old lonely looking antique shop, which for some reason had gone unnoticed....Not sure how that is possibly as I can normally smell an antique/charity/junk shop miles away. However, what mattered was that I had found this little shop and sure enough, there it was; the perfect union flag, slightly too big what I was looking for, but big enough to draw me in. And after telling the fabulously eccentric owner what I was after, he quickly disappeared in to the back room bringing me two, the most gorgeous, immaculate old linen, hand stitched union flags. My credit card was out of my pocket quicker than I could say " I will take them".

Thank god, I am not alone with this obsession. Check out Vivianne Westwood's collaboration with the Rug company

And with Cole & Son

Or perhaps my next DIY project will be the hand stitched quilt made from antique union flag...in fact, I already know where to get one.......However, as time is my enemy, I might have to settle for Anthropology's one-of-a-kind piece that will set you back £580...

Or why not draw inspiration from my favourite photographer's Tim Walker's world

I think next time when I catch a train to London from Tisbury, I better go and get the large linen union flag that I left behind....knowing me, it will find a place in my house...soon....

Once about a time there was a dress.....

Once about a time there was a dress.....and what a dress. I know it looks a bit plain boring shift dress but trust me, it is nothing but plain boring. When I saw this fabric in a shop, my heart skipped a beat. It is made from delicate wool and we lined it with silk georgette. The girls at the office are so busy that I got to do the fun bit, the bit I love doing most; hand embellishing! Florence and the machine playing in the background, my little assistant Hayden playing with fabrics ( and making a huge mess ) and soya latte in my hand, I started playing with fabrics and ideas how to turn this dress utterly divine!

After three hours of hand sewing, puzzle and banana bread making and one mud mask later, the front of the dress was covered. And I love it. My face still covered in mud mask, little Kristiina snapped 2 pictures and I was sold. This little dress is travelling to London tomorrow for a magazine shoot, how exciting!

Oh dear...Lazy Saturday

Antique shopping + family walk and pint at the local pub+ lovely ride with my boy = Perfect Saturday

Happiness is......baby love

Yes, it is raining, windy and muddy outside. Even my dog does not want to stick his nose out....let alone the horse, who keeps walking sideways and using me as a wind barrier when I take him outside to stretch his legs. My kinda solution is a fire in our spanking new wood burner, glass of wine and play a date....not for me though. We are lucky to have amazing neighbours here in Dorset. My three year old son ( the one who has the robot addiction) loves nothing more than putting on his skeleton outfit and calling his girlfriend Anna for a play. And boy did they have great time. I could not resist taking my camera out....

I want....Broderie Anglais vintage dress

I should really stay away from Ebay....This morning I came across this stunning old vintage dress that is just screaming for lazy summer days!

And yes, I know, the images are just hideous but if you can see beyond them, you will get the point. This-dress-will-be-divine!

That dress will be mine..... Images: Ebay and from my lace bible Miss lace