Book Review: Jan Constantine's Love Stitching

Hey peeperettes,

I've had a lovely, lovely morning, 

planning out my Christmas crafts for the next few weeks. 

Will I be sharing them with you? 

Is Santa's belly big?

Of course!! 

{We're besties, right?!}

I've got an utterly gorgeous book to tempt you this Christmas. 

I only ever review books that I own and use and adore myself....

Published by Jacqui Small and written by Jan Constantine, 

Love Stitching is a gorgeous mix of handicrafts that YOU CAN DO!

Do you remember my Jan Constantine Union Jack cushion from our dining room? 

I bought it a couple of years ago and it's STILL one of my absolute favourites. 

Well, my pretties, Love Stitching is choc-a-block full of similarly divine projects dreamed up by Jan Constantine herself. If you love the look of that cushion then you will L:O:V:E this book

I am in lust with her skill, her designs and her attention to detail.  

It's a collection of 25 appliqued and hand-embroidery designs 

....and includes the Union Jack cushion - waahhhey!

Divided into four chapters: 

Love and Hearts, 

In The Country, 

Flying the Flag 

Beside the Sea...... 

....with luscious projects to match each theme.

There are some easy-peasy crafts and one or two that are way up there in the difficulty stakes...but you somehow know that they'd be treasured heirlooms forever.

The instructions are written by Jan who completely knows her crafts inside out, which makes them a pleasure to read (and follow!).

I can't wait to share my first Christmas project of the season with you - complete with tutorial - inspired by Love Stitching! 

You'll be drooling, I tell you. D.r..o.o.l.i.n.g.

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The Beatbox Nativity...

Part 2 of How To Gild: Using Transfer Leaf is up on the Relics blog...

just click here to be magically transported to the official Gilding Heaven...

Speaking of heaven (!), I came upon this during the week 

and it brought a huge smile to my face. 

I hope it lights up your day, whatever you're doing....

Christmas is coming.....

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Modern Country Bathroom

Modern Country Bathroom, I love you.

After so much of forcing you to choose between stark, minimalist Modern and little English country cottage from my The Holiday series, I thought I give you a treat.

No choices.

No tension.

Source: Unknown

Just. Pure. 

Modern Country Bathroom 

Loveliness.

Modern Country is always where I am happiest. 

It's not so much of a choice, as a feeling. 

I feel my shoulders drop and reeee-lax.

The last day of November.

Christmas is a-coming.

I can hear those sleigh-bells already.

Can you?

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The Holiday Houses: Get The Look

If you follow Modern Country Style on Facebook, 

then you'll know how excited I am about Christmas. 

Over at the Relics of Witney blog 

(remember the other blog I write?), we're starting a 

Beginners Guide To Gilding series. 

Have you always wanted to add a little bit extra to your Christmas decorating? 

Then this series is for YOU! 

{Come over and say hi!}

So then, how to Get The Look of both 

The Holiday Cottage AND American house?

Although they look very different, 

there's actually plenty that these to homes have in common....

Let me first of all get these heart-breaking pictures out of the way....

Yes, the dream English cottage is all a fake. 

Shocked? I was!!

From that to this...

Don't be sad: every cloud has a silver lining...and the lining of this particular cloud is so thick that it pretty much makes it a silver cloud through and through.

If The Holiday cottage can look so characterful 

and yet be a complete sham

 then just think what you can do with your house.

It means that ANY house can be given character with a few tweaks here and there. Lots of books, carefully chosen fabrics and bare wood, and you'll be well on your way....

Once again, just as in the Something's Gotta Give house, both houses have a consistent palette all the way thorough.

Amanda's home has a backdrop of white, 

with brown and black accents, plus lots of greenery. 

It's hard to spot any other colours. Can you?

Iris' Rosehill Cottage gives the impression of being charmingly flung together but take another look. The palette is just as tight as Amanda's. Cream and Blue-grey with the odd touch of raspberry.

You all know what a fan I am of restricting the colour's in your home for a gorgeous, cohesive whole. These houses perfectly demonstrate how well the concept works.

Secondly, in both houses, Nancy Meyer has chosen a theme and stuck to it. Consistency is her middle name. There's nothing in either house that stick out. Nothing Country in the Modern house and nothing Modern in the Country house.

You want more specifics about creating a very English look?

That'll be coming in the New Year....

But for now....

it's Christmas time.....

{and my crafting fingers are getting very itchy....}

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The Holiday Houses: Living Rooms

We've been having a nose round both The Holiday houses: Rosehill Cottage and Amanda's American Modern home. 

Have you missed out on any of the other posts?

The Holiday: Bathrooms

The Holiday Bedrooms

The Holiday Kitchens

The Holiday houses: Modern versus Country

The two homes are an incredible contrast: one is the essence of English cottage style and the other seems to be the epitome of spacious, calm American Modern.

Both are utterly gorgeous, to be sure. Modern and Country: both span what I love, as Modern Country is my favourite, don't you know. ;-)

Let's take another snizz at The Holiday houses, shall we?

The living rooms in each could not be more different.

The Holiday Cottage is a pretty good size compared to the rest of Iris' home, though, of course, it fades into insignificance compared to the American house - can you say 'It's gimongous'?

 Woooooah! It's huuuuuuuge! 

But here's a secret: 

I find it hard not to imagine all American houses like this! 

Yes, it's true. *blush* 

I was talking to an American about how I naively think of all Americans living on ranches. She completely and adamantly denied it...but on further quizzing from me, it turned out SHE lived on a 50-acre ranch! So my utterly unfounded stereotype remains unchanged!

But, anyway, back to the case in point. I can't believe how much space Amanda has. Acres and acres of roomage. 

I love the spacious airiness of Amanda's home but if I had to plump for one, this time it would be Iris' Cottage. I love the softness of the room. Much more of a 'kick-off-your-heels-and-slop-around-on-the-sofa' room, which suits me down to the ground.

And don't get me started on the Rosehill Cottage fireplace. I love it!

I know woodburners are all the rage, and they are, it's true, a zillion times more effiecient than alternatives, yet, still, I cannot resist the primeval lure of the open fire.

The only thing I might have done very differently is this odd extra sofa in the back corner. I would have thought that being so short on space, it would be more usefully employed as a study area. 

But, minor niggles aside, this is one room that wins hands down for me.

What about you?

Are you Modern or Country? 

Or, like me, a liberating dash of both?

Because that's Modern Country Style all over.

Let's take a last look on Friday at how how YOU can get the look! 

Combining both houses to get my perfect house......

Can it be done?

Come back and see!

One more thing before I go.....The winner of the Finishing Touch Interiors Silver bowl and servers giveaway is....

Laura from Happy Homemaker UK.

I'll be with you in two shakes of a lamb's tail.

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