lists and things

Always one for lists and planning, I sat down and wrote a list of the things I was going to need and scoured and cut up interior design magazines for inspiration of the style of house I was going to create. The planning helped, it really turned days filled with negativity, tears and uncertainty into days with a new beginning, a way forward and a challange, as I wasn't going to be able to afford it all!

Having bought and been given some bits of second hand furniture in my previous previous life and restored them by following the instruction in 'how to' books borrowed from the library, I realised that this was an enjoyable talent that I could resurect and save myself a tidy sum of money to boot. It was a shame that I had discarded those peices previously but now that the vintage, cottagey style was all the rage again it was perfect timing so I began to scour the charity shops for furniture that I needed.

As I didn't own the house yet, I couldn't buy because they have no interest in storing things for you and some really lovely bits were lost. The furniture in these places moves fast, if you don't get there early morning it'll be gone by the afternoon but visiting regularly I soon realised there seemed to be a never ending supply. People chuck out some perfectly good stuff and with a little vision you can create some really unique bits of furniture for your home. Of course if your property developing this is never a waste because you just simply take it all on to the next property with you or leave it there as a fully furnished house for tennants.

A lot of the stock was house clearences which is very sad, someones whole life, previously polished and cared for sitting awaiting its fate, which is what had happened to my Grandmas furniture only 6 months before, if only I had known. Sideboards, tables, wardrobes that she had collected over the years from antique shops and charity shops and had formed the familiar stability in my childhood and beyond everytime we visited, all bundled into the back of a van and carted off.
They could be sitting in my house now but everything happens for a reason and as I inherited my love of foraging and finding treasures from her, I would like to think she helped me on that wonderful day when I walked into the Mind shop and found everything I needed just sitting there waiting for me, even down to the Imperial typewriter that I had cut out and stuck into my folder. It was uncanny but everything seemed to fall uncannily into place in those first weeks and I have a theory about that but we'll come to it later.......