Friday 3 February 2012

Keeping snug

The weather has turned bitterly cold for the last few days and for the first time this winter we lit our open fire.
Normally with our central heating running  it never really gets chilly enough to light the fire but the wintry weather gave us a great excuse to do so.
There is nothing like a real fire. It is so mesmerising to watch the flames. When we moved into our 1930s terraced house in 1983 I really had no real interest in these style of houses. It was just a good house, at a good price in a good location and we bought it. In the front room still stood the original 1930s tiled fire place and if I am really honest I didn't like it and fully intended that when we decorated it would be removed.

The front room when we bought out house was just about the only room which did not need redecorating. We decided just to buy new carpet and it was a very livable room for many years. As we are such slow decorators it took us years until the time arrived to decorate it. As the years passed by I became more and more interested in the style of our house. When we replaced the windows (horrible picture windows with louvres put in during the 1970s by the previous owners) we even went back to the original style with individual panes.

So when the time came to re decorate the front room I was really pleased that the original fire place still stood. It is one of the few left in our road which have not been pulled out. I love it and of course it suits the room as that is what it was made for it. I often think of what it must have been like when the house was built in 1935, in those days open fires were  the only form of heating.


The other project we undertook to restore the appearance of our house to that of the 1930s was to find a talented stained glass maker who reproduced for us the number window which every house would have had in their porch. There are only 2 remaining in our road and those owners kindly allowed us to photograph and measure up. We did slightly add to the design but it is pretty faithful to the original.






This is taken in the evening from inside the hall (and obviously the number is visible the correct way round from outside) but you can see how well the light streams through. On a sunny day the light dances about in colours on the walls and carpet.













And here is a close up showing the individual pieces of glass and the lovely colours. We spent a long time choosing them, even the clear glass is faithful to that used in the 1930s.

So this lovely new window see the house through may be another 100 years. The old has become "new!"




Now with that fortunate link I can show you my card challenge for today. It is actually for a New Baby. No there are no babies arriving yet in our family but I am often asked if I make these cards.  Up until I few weeks ago I did not own any New Baby Stamps but I decided to buy this very sweet set from my friend Kerry. They are really lovely and I had a play with some colouring...
I have also bought some sweet baby boy and baby girl papers. I decided to make my first card as a Baby Girl card and here she is






Rather than keeping to just pastel pink I decided to go for more bold colours, red and pink.  The backing paper also  has browns in it. I also added some "celebrate" worded paper which I matted with pink card.









I coloured the stamped image using my trusty Promarkers and added a little gem in the centre of the bow on the pram for a little bling.



















I finished off my card with a  piece of shiny brown satin polka dot ribbon, a red polka dot button and some red pearls.

I rather like this different colour way.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

Passion for Promarkers Challenge 134 New Beginnings
Cupcake Craftroom Feb Challenge New Beginnings
Really Reasonable Ribbon challenge 41 pink and red
Divas by Design challenge 20, anything goes
Party Time Tuesday's challenge 53 anything goes
Just Tracey's Crafts Something for a female
Joanna Sheen's Feb challenge  Love is in the air



I am still on a lovely roll with my cards and found I won another challenge last week...have a look here. I really am doing a lot of happy dancing here. I will show you my winnings for my stash when they have all  arrived.

So it's fingers crossed for some Lady Luck again this week for my cards ;0) Thank you so much for all the lovely comments you leave about my cards. I am sure it is all your good wishes that have stirred the ether and made my cards into winners. I am proudly wearing my winner badges in my side bar of my blog.

The forecaster are saying we may well have snow here over the weekend but even if we do it should be short lived. We shall definitely be lighting our fire again. Keep snug wherever you are and have a lovely weekend.
If it snows then it is crafting and chocolate for me...!


Bye for now,

Jane x

39 comments:

  1. You so did the right thing keeping your fireplace Jane, it is lovely as is your stain glass window!
    I'm actually sitting by the fire with the laptop on my knee this very moment! :)
    Good luck with your new card challenge but I feel I don't have to wish you luck anymore. ;)
    I always think pink and brown is a good combination.
    Happy weekend, stay cosy,
    V x

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  2. I'm so glad that it took us years to decorate the front room Vivienne. Latest snow news is heavy overnight snow tomorrow ... I will be digging out my wellies . Keep snug.
    Jane x

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  3. I love the old tiles. My fireplace just has brick around it, though some nice woodwork outside of that. Maybe you're winning prizes because you make really cute cards? Though I'm glad to stir the ether for you too. Good luck!

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  4. We certainly stirred that ether Linda didn't we and its kind to say you like my cards.
    Jane x

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  5. Hi Jane, such a pretty card. Lovely image and coloured so well. Wonderful patterned paper as well.

    Sarah

    PS - Interesting fireplace, our house has fireplaces in living, dining and bedrooms - all original apart from the living room one. Someone had taken out the original and replaced it with a 30's one (the house was buily 1904) - looked rather like yours and I really disliked it!

    Ours went and a repro age appropriate one has replaced it - first time I've lived in a house with a fireplace. It's wonderful to have it roaring away, so warming and cosy!

    Love the stained glass tho, it's beautiful.

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  6. Hi Sarah. I think the moral of this is to leave the originals in situ or if they have been removed replace like for like! Lots of people try putting Victorian fireplaces in 1930s houses and vice versa and it always looks so wrong! Enjoy your real fire.
    Jane x

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  7. Hi Jane,
    I love your stain glass window. The colors must really be lovely when the sun is out and dancing. The fireplace is charming and you're right there is nothing like being mesmerized by the warm and flickers of a fire. We have had a few this winter and we never tirer of them. Once again your cards keep getting better and better, if that's possible. I do love pink and red together lots of luck on this one.
    Hope you have a cosy weekend, xoRobin❤

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  8. Gorgeous fireplace.....wish I had one!!
    Love your sweet baby girl card, great colouring.
    Thanks for playing at Just Tracy's and good luck,
    Farrah

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  9. Again, I love your cards! Good luck on the competitions! I adore your fireplace, so vintage, and I'm so happy that you had a window made for your home to bring it back to it's period. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  10. Really sweet card Jane, cute little image! Thanks for joining us at Just Tracys. Jill

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  11. Hi Jane! Your stain glass window is beautiful and I'm happy you have kept your house in it's style with the old fire place!
    Wow - baby cards, those stamps are really cute and your card is so adorable! Good Luck!
    We sun after long rainy time and it sooooo nice!
    Have a wonderful weekend! x Teje

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  12. Hi Robin the colours are stunning on a sunny day. We will need a fire today it's freezing and the snow is on its way later. Glad you like my new baby card. Have a snug weekend.
    Jane x

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  13. Hi Farrah my daughter's new house does not have a fireplace and I think that you lose a lovely feature in a room.Happy Saturday
    Jane x

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  14. Thanks Teresa I have been very lucky haven't I. We love our new "old" stained glass window. Enjoy your weekend.
    Jane x

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  15. Thanks Teje I'm glad your wonderful Greek sunshine has returned . Enjoy it as we are freezing over here!
    Jane x

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  16. Oh, looks lovely and snug, Jane! Here in our "lovely" land of freeze&coldness a fireplace is an essential, but it's wonderful to see that you get to enjoy real flames too. And that stain glass window is so beautiful, I love the way it shows the number of the house too.

    And no babies arriving here any day soon I'm afraid, but those cards are adorable! And it's lovely how the baby girl&boy can be created by coloring only, that's so clever!

    Have a wonderful weekend, dear, and stay warm and cozy!

    Yours,
    Mia

    P.S. When we woke up this morning, it was -29,7C. Just mentioning.

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  17. Oh my goodness Mia now that IS cold. It's a mere -1oc this am and I am feeling it. We have lit the fire and the house is snug. Luckily we have no major plans this weekend so we can watch the snow if/when it arrives. It is due to start between 6 and 9pm tonight and fall all night. If I'm honest I'm quite excited..LOL. It is interesting the way the baby colouring make them look so different isn't it! Keep snug my friend and enjoy your weekend,
    Jane x

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  18. Beautiful photos of your place! I used to live in an 1888 home that had beautiful windows. I miss them! Your card is so sweet! Thanks for joining us for our Pink and Red Challenge at Really Reasonable Ribbon!

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  19. Hi Judy, lovely to see you here!
    Jane x

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  20. Hi Jane.. your card is fab!
    Love your colouring too... just perfect!
    Thanks for joining us this week over at PfP for my New Beginnings challenge.
    Hugs xx

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  21. Hi Lis-m and thanks for dropping in.
    Jane x

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  22. That's so kind Vicky
    Jane x

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  23. What a totally adorable card! Love the colors. Babies are always a great beginning. Thanks for joining us this month at the Cupcake Craftroom & Crafts.

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  24. Thanks Teresa baby cards are very sweet to make. I'm glad I finally got myself some stamps.
    Jane x

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  25. Lovely cosy post, Jane. I enjoy watching the firelight too, it's so relaxing and peaceful. The baby card is cute! Hope your roads were clear of snow this morning!
    Have a great week ahead.
    Helen x

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  26. Hi Helen, the snow came as promised and was still on the ground this morning but was quickly melting. It was the best kind of snow..! Have a great week,
    Jane x

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  27. Your fireplace is lovely Jane....very much like the one I remember many years ago in my mum and dad's 1930's house and the stained glass window is beautiful..
    Well done again for winning yet another card challenge..always so well deserved!
    I am sure you will keep warm and cosy with the glow of a real fire..such a treat!
    Susan x

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  28. Hi Susan there must be many 1930s fireplace still out there. It's great that some survived as that era is very popular now. Keep cosy too!
    Jane x

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  29. What a darling card! Thanks so much for participating in our Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge.

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  30. Beautiful card and beautifully made. Thank you for playing along with us at the Joanna Sheen 'Love is in the air' challenge. Teresa xx

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  31. Thanks Teresa, it's actually snowing again tonight!
    Jane x

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  32. So glad you popped into the Cupcake Craftroom this time to share such a gorgeous design with us. Hugs x

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  33. Thanks for visiting me here Anne,
    Jane x

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  34. Beautiful card, just adorable!

    Thank you for sharing with us at Cupcake Craftroom monthly challenge, good luck!

    Big hugs Jo xxx

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  35. Beautiful file and stain glass window. I love your card - it is adorable. Thanks for joining us over at Just Tracys.

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  36. Hi Janet the sun is streaming in this morning through my lovely window. Have a great Sunday.
    Jane x

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