A touch of Shabby Chic - Inside a home in Lincolnshire

Today I wanted to share this gorgeous Georgian home situated  in Lincolnshire, England. I chose this house for it's "shabby chic" feel. The house is available for film/magazine/production shoots, what a great setting for romantic fashion shots similar to the image below... 

Image via Fashion Gone Rogue (note this image was not photographed in the property below)

click "here" to contact JJ Locations for use of this property or for further information

Please note:  The above images are owned by JJ Locations and are reproduced on Lee Caroline Art with prior permission from JJ Locations.

Well, I'm off to Laura Ashley to collect some gorgeous products

for a Christmas feature. Hope your having a wonderful

day wherever you are in the world.

Lee oxo

&

Poppy

A Shabby Chic Christmas Inspiration

Take one white washed table...

some white embossed dinnerware...

vintage floral porcelain...

silver cutlery...

crystal glasses...

white linen napkins...

pale pink and silver baubles...

a white or pink Christmas cake and...
VOILA!

you have yourself a Shabby Chic Christmas!

Individual photos via google - collage created by LCArt.

Image via flickr photo by Suzanne Dudar

Vintage style Christmas crackers, the Pretty Baker - NZD$24.95 

If your not into "Shabby" but still into "chic" we're having a silver and purple Christmas theme this year and over the next couple of weeks I

 will be sharing a Christmas table setting, Christmas tree

 and a Christmas cake in these "chic" colours...

So please come back and join us :)

Lee oxo

&

Poppy

How To - Step By Step To Crystallized/Candied Rose Petals

Ingredients

1-2 egg whites

Organic or un-sprayed Rose Petals  (pink/red are prettiest but can be any colour)

soft watercolour  paintbrush

very fine granulated sugar (castor sugar)

Method

Gently pluck rose petals, it is best to use slightly closed buds...

Place egg white in a bowl...

gently whisk...

Paint petal gently with egg white, do not paint thickly, try to keep it delicate but completely coat the petal both sides...

Cover petal with sugar both sides. I place the petal on the sugar then sprinkle a handful from above over the petal

turn the petal and repeat to the other side so petal completely coated with sugar...

Place petals gently and  carefully onto parchment/cooking paper.  Make sure they "sit" on the paper lightly, if they are too wet (egg white too thick) they will flatten and ultimately stick to the paper...

Place paper gently onto a wire rack to dry or alternatively what I did was to place them in an oven on a very low temperature 50 degrees celsius for 20 minutes.  I then opened the door and allowed them to dry naturally for the remainder of the night....

completed rose petals. Keep dry in an airtight container, do not store in fridge. They should keep a few weeks.

All images above copyright Lee Caroline Art, please email me for re-use

Some Petal Inspiration:

Collage above designed by myself however photos are sourced from the following:

photo 1 - credit Mark Thomas at Bon Appetit Magazine

photo 2

photo 3

photo 4

photo 5

I hope this gives you some "rosy" inspiration.... Next I will be sharing decorating a sweet little Christmas tree in my Christmas colours for this year, Puple and silver.

Lee oxo

&

Poppy

I am linking with:

My Romantic Home

The Rose Garden In Malevik

Rose Paintings - The Kiss & Serenity Rose, step by step process

Often people ask me how long it takes to complete one of my paintings, I never clock my hours so to speak, rarely does an artist, for me its about my passion and love of painting flowers. If it takes me a month or even two months to complete a painting it doesn't matter to me as depicting its beauty and reflecting it back to the viewer is more important than the hours it takes. 

Today I am sharing some step by step photos into the process of two of my works.  The paintings are first completed in Burnt umber prior to any colour being applied (similar to a sepia photograph), this allows for more depth to the final work. The first painting however, I did not adhere to this practice with the top rose as I needed to complete this work fairly quickly. 

The Kiss - oil on canvas 1.10 metres x 1.10 metres

Serenity White Rose - Oil on Canvas 80 x 80cm

I hope your having a wonderful

Thanksgiving break

Lee oxo

&

Poppy

Happy Thanksgiving - A little music and love for today

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night

For health and food, for love and friends

for everything thy goodness sends

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I found this little music box at BHLDN, its really sweet and I am sharing its tune with you today.

I will leave you with this gorgeous white Thanksgiving table image from House Beautiful

I hope my USA readers have a wonderful Thanksgiving

May it be filled with Love, family, friends

and happy memories.

Lee oxo 
& 
Poppy

A Little Bit Of Sparkle - My Picks for Christmas presents and stocking fillers.

Honestly... I don't spend a lot of money on line, I might spend a lot of time browsing and often fill up the shopping cart but then realise I have too much in it and end up emptying it :(.  However, I have done a little bit of spending on ASOS this week and excited about my parcel arriving.  I bought a gorgeous silver dress for Christmas, a smart T shirt, a camisole and a bracelet all for around total NZ$150 with free shipping. ASOS have free shipping for 6-12 day delivery, if you need your item to wear for the weekend, there is a 4 day option which you can pay extra for.


I am not affiliated with ASOS, it's just that Christmas is looming, they do have a sale and they have some great fashion, gifts and other goodies. The dress I bought comes in a Petite size, something I have trouble finding in NZ. ASOS site is fab, you can even see your item modelled on the catwalk. Honestly, I could spend hours browsing. ASOS's service is excellent, ordering only yesterday, I have already received an email informing me my parcel has been shipped, along with a link to be able to track it. I will share my goodies with you when they arrive and let you know what I think about their total service.  Meanwhile here are a few of my Christmas gift ideas. If you click on the links below they will direct you to the product... that is if you feel inclined to be wearing silver nails this Thanksgiving/Christmas. If the stray "male"  has made it to my blog, I am sure you'd be a hit with your wife, girlfriend or mum (hint hint!!...well, I do have two sons) with the gorgeous Juicy Couture earrings below.

1. Nars  Holiday polish 2011 -  British Pounds 13.50 from ASOS

2. Oasis bead cuff with jewel - On sale British Pounds 8.00 from ASOS

3. Nars holiday 2011 lip gloss - British Pounds 17.50 from ASOS

4. Juicy Couture heart huggie earrings -  British Pounds 45.00 from ASOS

5. Ted Baker, exclusive to ASOS gold & sliver 4 bow acrylic bangle - British pounds 45.00

6. O.P.I. Christmas shimmer collection - British pounds 10.50

Shoe Clips...you could also clip them on the front of your shoe.

I love this wrap bracelet with a topaz stone from ASOS UK Pounds 25.00

1. Michelle Mason silk satin T shirt - net a porter ...eeek!!! UK Pounds 216.00 (a little expensive for me)

2. ASOS metallic over sized bowler bag  - UK Pounds 32.00 on sale

3. ASOS crepe and leather tassel loafer - UK Pounds 40.00

Please note that these items were available at time of posting.

Poppy had her vaccination today, only one more to go then 
I can take her down the beach to meet other dogs.  She is growing fast and 
already sits, lies down and comes when she's called...Just hope she keeps up the good behaviour when she reaches her teen years!

Lee oxo 

and

Poppy 

Rocky Road Bark from Bakers Royale

Today I am thanking Bakers Royale for allowing me to share this recipe and image with you for Rocky Road Bark. Bakers Royale is a fab site full of great recipes, I definitely recommend you pay a visit.  I have made the Rocky Road Bark myself with a few little additions and added some step by step pictures below.  It was so easy to make and a  "hit" with my neighbour, her daughter and my son and his two friends who said it was the best Rocky road ever... my neighbour described it as "designer Rocky road!" So thank you again Bakers Royale for your unique twist on traditional rocky road :)

Rocky Road Bark

Preparation: Line an 8” x 8” pan with enough parchment or

wax paper for a 1” overhang on either side.

·         10 oz dark chocolate chips (Ghirardelli recommended)

·         1 ½ cups of salted almonds

·         1 ½ cups of mini marshmallows

Instructions:

Place chocolate in a saucepan over a low heat and stir continuously until chocolate is completely melted. Transfer chocolate to a heat proof bowl and cool for 5 minutes. (see my idea using steamer below)

Add almonds and mini marshmallows and stir to combine. Pour mixture into pan. Use spatula to smooth top.  Leave bare or sprinkle with 1/4 cup finely chopped almonds as in the photo above.  Chill for 10 minutes until chocolate becomes solid.

Lift whole bark out of pan by holding onto parchment or waxed overhang. Split bark into pieces with a fork.

Photo and Recipe above credited to Bakers Royale.

My adapted recipe below, I decided to add a cup of dried cranberries for a touch of Christmas spirit.  I increased the chocolate to 400grams to compensate.  

1. Gather ingredients as in recipe above. I used 2 x 200gm bars of cooking chocolate to compensate for the addition of a cup of dried cranberries. You could use milk chocolate if dark is not your favourite. Save a few of the salted almonds to crush for topping to add texture.  I put them into a plastic bag and roughly crushed them with a rolling pin.

2. Break the chocolate up and put in a stainless steel bowl. I then sat the bowl in a steamer over a saucepan of boiled water turned down to simmer.

3. Stir the broken chocolate until fully melted then remove and allow to cool for 5 minutes.

4. Add your almonds (whole), mini baking marshmallows and dried cranberries, stir and pour into the prepared tray as in instructions in recipe above.

5. Allow about half an hour to set then turn out as instructions above.  I sliced with a knife as I had made it a little too thick to use a fork. I recommend you spread it very thin to make the bark as it should be.  I think I could have used 2 smaller tins and made it thinner. However, it was delicious as the chocolate melted in your mouth leaving you with crunchy, salty almonds and sweet cranberries.

6.  You could place some pieces in a cellophane bag and tie with a nice Christmas ribbon.  I chopped my pieces smaller and intend to present as a hostess gift when invited to friends places over the holiday period...hint...hint my NZ friends :).

My Rocky road bark version with a "cranberry" twist!

I have definitely over indulged in 

 the Rocky Road Bark!....hope you had a great weekend.

Lee xox

A White Thanksgiving table and embellishing candles

It's less than a week until Thanksgiving and I guess everyone has their tablescapes/settings all planned.  In New Zealand we don't celebrate Thanksgiving but Christmas is not far away and some of the white table settings below could be used for both Thanksgiving, Christmas or a wedding.  I love the use of pumpkins, I had only associated them with Halloween so was surprised to see that they are used for Thanksgiving too. Here in blogland we learn things every day! I also have some ideas for embellishing your candles.

I love the embellished silver detail on the candles. You could easily glue a narrow ribbon and attach a beautiful embellishment such as the ones below with a hot glue gun to your candles.  A silver ribbon with a silver embellishment, black ribbon with black embellishment, gold with gold embellishment etc for a beautiful designer look, making a gorgeous original gift.

These gorgeous embellishments are from Truly Blessed Apparel, an etsy store. The designs above range in price from US$8.50 - US$12.00 each.

Examples of embellishing candles, image via homerh's photostream on  flickr 

I love silver and white, its simply sparkles! Image above and below from Stone Gable a lovely blog see link below.

A touch of chocolate adds richness to this setting

1.Image via pinterest via rustic wedding chic 
2. Images of embellishments from Truly Blessed Apparel
3.Image embellished candles via flickr
4. This gorgeous image is from Stone Gable a really lovely blog I have just discovered, definitely worth a visit.
5. Image from Stone Gable
6. Image HGTV

A happy upcoming Thanksgiving to my 

USA readers..... Next I will be featuring a fab twist on a Rocky Road recipe

Lee xox

Ideas For My Dining Area - With a French Touch of Course!

I'm still on a mission to create a dining spot in my open plan living area.  I will be hanging a mirror adjacent to the table,  the reason being to create a feeling of more space.  Much of the time the drop leaf table will be folded down and against the wall in front of the mirror. I aim to create an attractive vignette of French style accessories on the table top when not in use.  I have created a mood board beneath to give an impression of the final look.  All of the products below are from Layla Grace I intend to purchase my accessories in New Zealand, achieving a similar style.  I am excited about changing this area in my home and will be sharing a before and after with you as I did with my bedroom makeover. 

I have a collection of blue ginger jars so this could be another idea of accessorizing & layering....

Helpful hint: Use an odd number of items when grouping

I am currently sanding and preparing the antique pine drop leaf  table I purchased ready for applying the French wash finish.  I will share with you step by step renovating my table next week.  I will be purchasing my paint from Porters Paints who specialise in paint finishes. I phoned them last week and they were incredibly helpful so I intend to visit armed with my fan deck of  pantone colours to enable them to match my chosen colour. I'm probably going to paint the legs and skirting of my table in a soft grey/green and then use the French wash over the top. My table is prepared including re building a piece of moulding on the leg that was missing,  I will discuss this and the product used when I write the full post.

I have discovered a great 5 minute video on how to accessorize and would like to share it with you. I have posted it on my Interior Design page so please click "here" to view.

Hope your having a lovely week

Lee oxo