tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78876652541152012332024-03-18T09:00:31.520+00:00Dee at the CarltonWelcome to my blog, my name is Dee & I love eclectic, individual things. I constantly change, move & paint things. My home has a global mix because I have lived in several countries & this is evident in our home. I also post about my travels using my own photos. I hope you will enjoy the journey with me so please subscribe, stop by often; leave a comment so I know you have visited - thank you ... Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.comBlogger745125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-4496410497298580942024-03-18T09:00:00.001+00:002024-03-18T09:00:00.364+00:00Familiar favourites for the Easter sideboard Easter is very early this year & falls on my birthday weekend. However, the sideboard had to change for Easter & I gladly got out my favourites again. Some previous Easters at home - I love looking over previous settings - 2012 Cakes on the stand & an Easter tree 2013 Easter shaped bread & chocolate treats 2014 The bunny Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-34950331786200681872024-03-17T17:22:00.001+00:002024-03-17T17:22:32.790+00:00Up to date with circular stitching ... I have really enjoyed the challenges associated with the Circular Stiching challenge. The monthly project comes with advice & it is something new which I am enjoying. I have completed the first three now. Snow blanket Conceal & Reveal Renewal The third one, Renewal, started as a circle with the open blanket stitch & I was minded to leave an open spot, Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-87208888905413858342024-03-09T18:03:00.006+00:002024-03-10T15:39:00.711+00:00Long Meg and her daughters stone circle Come & visit a fascinating stone circle in Cumbria with me ... Stonehenge is our most famous stone circle but there are many other fascinating ones dotted around hillsides all over our Isle. I always find ancient stone circles fascinating. I wonder why they are where they are & ponder on their significance to the local area. Long Meg and her daughters was one I did Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-4858984437346512662024-03-07T20:36:00.000+00:002024-03-07T20:36:28.531+00:00Early Spring renewal sewing ... Hi all, I have had a little break away at the seaside, revisiting some places I have not been to in ages. I love visiting places again because you enjoy them all again ... However, I am back now & am on to the third of eleven monthly stitch projects for the Circular stitching project. The first was - Mid winter - snow blanketLate winter - conceal & reveal&Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-13609493521296100662024-02-29T19:00:00.002+00:002024-02-29T19:00:16.473+00:00Bowls of spring bulbs Hi all, Cheerful flowering bulbs always look elegant in a glass bowl. I bought some flowering bulbs on a market in Ludlow & potted them in this vintage blue bowl that I often use for plants. I think it looks cheerful & when it has finished flowering, the bulbs will be planted in one of the patio pots so it can be enjoyed for many years. I hope you are bringing inDee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-24495399859483964342024-02-18T17:46:00.002+00:002024-02-18T20:16:08.295+00:00100 days of creative time ... I mentioned in a previous post about the concept of 100 days of stitching. This is another 100 day project which is inspiring too - this one starts from today 18th February for 100 days which is the time it takes to change your mindset. I have already started my sewing one but will get inspiration from this one as it runs in a different 100 days time frame. Are you temped by Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-64317862642205532762024-02-18T16:31:00.001+00:002024-02-19T08:57:38.595+00:00An embroidered Spring bouquet It feels rather lighter, brighter & spring like at the moment. I have been enjoying my half term break from tutoring. I always love to have a project to finish over this break & saw an embroidery project in a group I follow. I downloaded the pdf, printed it off (unfortunately at 89% size as I did not increase the printing size) then traced it on to my hooped fabric with aDee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-27570136210721490222024-02-18T15:27:00.000+00:002024-02-18T17:40:08.736+00:00Planning a new sewing roll ... Two years ago, I started doing the 100 day stitch book with Ann Wood which involved 20 fabric pages, with hand sewn stitching (collage, slow stitching, traditional or any form of stitching) which was then stitched together in a book after the 100 days. The book construction was interesting with a series of tabs & slots. It was all going rather well until commitments put it on Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-7773833014913978642024-02-07T14:53:00.000+00:002024-02-07T14:53:19.594+00:00Conceal & Reveal circular stitching ... The second month of the circular stitching project has 'Conceal & Reveal' as its seasonal title, the brief suggesting circular holes that have a padded / infilled backing that is then stitched in whatever way we like to reflect winter. I immediately thought of snowdrops as they are slowly emerging from their winter blankets of earth or snow. That leads on nicely from the Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-42257186769569339792024-02-01T21:03:00.003+00:002024-02-02T14:15:57.667+00:00A circular stitching project … I know, I know - this is the second project I have on the go, alongside my 100 day one which is making progress & I will post an update soon. I am eternally grateful to artists & talented people who share their skills online & then encourage us to push our comfort zones. I saw this group mentioned in a sewing group I already follow on Facebook & was immediately Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-21094237604178001382024-01-29T19:12:00.001+00:002024-01-29T19:12:11.133+00:00When you need a self saucing chocolate pudding ... I realise I have not shared any baking lately. It is purely an oversight on my part. Last night, hubby & I both felt like something sweet after our roast supper so I thought - mmm it has been some time since I did the self saucing chocolate pudding. It is simple enough - with ingredient that we all have at home already Ingredients 1 cup of self raising flour1/2 cup Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-48953824143687573732024-01-20T15:58:00.000+00:002024-01-25T17:57:24.018+00:00Honouring a life .... Many here know the story of my parents, of their life long love & our life across Southern Africa with parents who were mindful of our strong personalities & desire to explore & just do. With the anniversary of my Father death again, my Mothers is in March, I thought I would share ways in which I try to keep their memory alive & to honour the lives they lived. In what Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-62846490465565823882024-01-03T20:38:00.001+00:002024-01-03T20:38:43.301+00:00Calming cream parian ware Twelfth Night is almost upon us & after a few days of heavy storms & rains, we have been mostly at home so it is opportune to pack away the festive items while I can. I don't like to rush the packing away. I am always sorry to see the glistening tree in our lounge go; the gentle lights are very calming but it is a rather large one so the space is welcome again. The inglenook Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-62118356313408342892023-12-31T22:31:00.003+00:002024-01-01T10:31:24.378+00:00Ready for 2024 The New Year is knocking at the door, the rollover from one year to the next imminent.Our festive decorations are still up, I like to keep them up till Twelfth Night, as Epiphany is an important time.TIME & clocks feature prominently in our home - a reminder of the passing of time in our lives & how things move on .. The handbeaded South African ornaments a reminder that my Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-34961322951982144702023-12-29T16:10:00.005+00:002023-12-29T16:25:48.833+00:00Enter 2024 with Intention We stand at the cusp of another new year. The time between this year & the next is good to ... Reflect on the year we are leaving in 2023 What did I do well? What challenges did I overcome? What lessons did I learn? What brought joy to my life? What is on my 'must do better' list? What were the highlights? What do I want to leave behind? What drains my energy? What things am I most Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-20280397928763229152023-12-24T09:25:00.000+00:002023-12-24T09:25:48.306+00:00PEACE on the last Sunday of Advent I send PEACE to all on the last Sunday of Advent. It is needed in the world where there is so much dissent. The four Advent candles burn together, having been lit progressively over the last month, each burning down more than the next one lit ... HOPELOVEJOYPEACE We need love, hope & peace to bring joy in to our spaces. Four important messages to take forward Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-90925659814252254042023-12-23T10:44:00.000+00:002023-12-23T10:44:06.087+00:00Essential festive baking for little hands … Festive baking has been a part of my life forever. I used to bake at my grandmother & mother’s knee & it always sets the scene that Christmas is near..My Godsons baked alongside my daughters Baking & carried on the tradition for years until well into their teens. We always made an evening of it & the baking was decided by what they enjoyed. Little one baked Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-57277966181430554132023-12-22T17:08:00.003+00:002023-12-22T17:45:08.090+00:00A Winter Solstice simmer pot ... A simmer pot is a ritual that uses natural winter / yule ingredients in a pot of boiling water to scent the house with fragrances that remind you of winter & the festive season. Last year I did this simmer pot with sliced oranges, cloves, cinnamon, sprigs of rosemary & sage, star anise, nutmeg & a splash of vanilla. This year I had no oranges so I used sliced Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-47019025597256349822023-12-21T03:30:00.000+00:002023-12-21T15:42:51.223+00:00Celebrating the Winter Solstice Our Winter Solstice is officially at 03:27 on the 22nd December 2023 when our sun is at its lowest point. We will have just 7 hours & 42 minutes of sunlight in London. The solstice starts the astronomical winter on the 21st or 22nd of December (the dates change). There is a always a confusion between astronomical & the meteorological winter (1st December - 28th February) Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-14881218133849534122023-12-18T16:13:00.003+00:002023-12-18T16:13:33.127+00:00Sew this is Christmas (trees) It has been a few years since I managed to fit in the beautiful trees at the National Trust property near us. One of their previous years they did the 1940's mansion This year the theme was All that Glitters / what is precious to you This maids room would have had a tiny bed, which according to the info board, would have been up in the day & only made up (late) at night.Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-90041772335850603272023-12-17T16:52:00.002+00:002023-12-17T16:52:53.990+00:00Winter Mindfulness Darker days can bring about low seratin levels, especially for those of us who grew up in bright climates. How to raise your positive levels in winter as the days shorten? These are some of the things I do to keep positive - Get out in nature - I love the changing seasons & how different it all looks as the leaves cloak themselves in their autumn colours, the sound of theDee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-92205984002619735812023-12-17T09:00:00.005+00:002023-12-17T11:04:10.488+00:00A JOYful third Advent Sunday ... How quickly the candles are lit - today is the third of the four candles lit, just one more Sunday to Christmas. The first two were for HOPELOVEThis one is for JOY May you find it in all you do today, go gently amidst the noise of the festive preparations. The commercial demands can become too loud so step away & take in the things that bring you joy. Perhaps itDee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-54336171519853477662023-12-11T08:29:00.040+00:002023-12-11T08:29:00.146+00:00Decorations & a glistening tree ... Night comes early in Winter & the little lights go on in the kitchen windows & everything is cosier with the coloured glass lit by the lights. The bowl of Christmas cookie cutters are ready too. The little nutcrackers are in position above one of the clocks, these ones are not as frightening as some. There is nothing more lovely than the decorated Christmas tree twinkling Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-58496730093316448152023-12-10T09:00:00.006+00:002023-12-17T10:42:24.787+00:00A second Advent candle is lit ... The first Advent candle was lit last Sunday amidst a snow storm, with everything quiet & white. It was peaceful & a day to just "be" at home, pottering, putting up the Christmas decorations in perfect peace & quiet. How blessed the day was as the first candle is traditionally for HOPE.The second Sunday comes amidst rain & winds that are blowing things about &Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887665254115201233.post-76686859136229873602023-12-03T08:00:00.006+00:002023-12-05T16:09:18.158+00:00Welcome Advent ... I have had a rather busy time & between a cousin & myself, we seemed to have mixed up our Advent dates. Christmas falls on a Monday so our four Sunday countdown begins on the 3rd only. How did I get that wrong? Busy times mess with our planners ... However, being so keen means that my candles are ready now. Last year I did the traditional Advent colours, Dee at The Carltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09551533826140859168noreply@blogger.com0