Tudor Style

I can't wait for Wolf Hall to start on the BBC tomorrow. Controversial opinion coming up: I hated the way the book was written. I know it won all sorts of awards but it got on my nerves so much that I nearly couldn't finish it. I love the history of the Tudor period so much that I'll basically read anything set then, so I persevered, but the tv version is going to be so much more enjoyable for me. I can just tell.

(Might have something to do with Damien Lewis, my all time favourite posh fit ginge).

Ahem. Tudors! Here are some Tudor things I want:



I was tipped off about this Tatty Devine Tudor house necklace on Instagram by Char and I'm kinda in love.



Tudor pants, anyone? Twisted Twee make three different designs but I've always rather fancied these Anne Boleyn ones. It's a very close call between her and Catherine of Aragon for my favourite of the six wives but I'll tell you this for nothing: if you like Jane Seymour best then we cannot ever be friends.


I got my lovely Elizabeth I ring from Cheap Frills and I'm still hankering after their six wives charm bracelet (also comes as a necklace!)

If I ever do get round to making a Spoonflower fabric order then this Tudor quatrefoil design is going straight in my basket. It'd probably show up my utter inability to cut and sew in a straight line but what the hell. It's pretty.

Still waiting for Irregular Choice to knock my socks off with some Tudor style fabulous heels but I may be waiting a wee while for that. Ah well, wishful thinking never hurt anyone.

Shall we finish with some entirely gratuitous photos of Henry Cavill in The Tudors? Of course!

Spring Green

I love spring. It's by far my favourite season of the year (closely followed by autumn) but it's been so late in coming this year! I'm not exactly Mrs Green Fingers but working in a place with such beautiful grounds and gardens, I get a pretty good idea of when spring has arrived.  It's hard to miss it really.  At this time of year we're usually knee deep in bluebells, everything is turning various glorious shades of green and outdoor tea breaks are well and truly the order of the day.

It's the first of May today and we still have no bluebells. However, the daffodils lining the drive have started to poke their heads out and I spied some blossom on the fruit trees just this morning. Most of the other trees are still as bare as they were during the winter but they must be late starters.  We've had a couple of sunny days recently and, being hardy souls, our morning coffee and cake has been taken outside. Hurrah! It makes such a difference not to be stuck inside in the dark all day.

I think I can tentatively declare that spring has officially arrived.  I'm dressing for it anyway.



Minty pastels, a pale skirt, lashings of girly lace trim, pearls and glittery flat shoes.  That shouts spring to me! 

I even dug out my one pair of skin coloured tights.  They're the one thing I don't like about this time of year.  I am usually so good with tights.  I treat them nicely and they don't ladder or rip or generally fall apart.  Skin coloured tights are RUBBISH though.  One wear and they're laddering like nobody's business.  Stupid things.



This top is about as close as I'm likely to come to indulging in the sports luxe trend this year.  It's not for me. I just can't see trainers as a fashion item and I don't do things that cling.  I can, however, happily wear a nice, vaguely sporty, jersey top. Especially if it's as comfy and pretty as this one.













Top - H&M
Skirt - H&M via blog sale
Shoes - c/o TK Maxx
Pebble necklace - charity shop
Bird necklace - Cheap Frills
Bracelets - Primark (pearls) and gift (green)

ps - I'm over at Essbeevee talking about my favourite books if you'd like to pop over and have a read!

A Tudor Treat

Twitter can be a dangerous thing. Not for the usual internet-based doom and gloom reasons. The real danger is to my bank balance. I follow a lot of bloggers and by god, you girls know how to shop and how to sniff out the good things online! I'm usually very good and strong willed, but occasionally something will catch my attention and my good sense gets over ridden because I MUST HAVE IT.

Within limits, obviously... I'm not that daft.

This time, it was a ring. And as payday coincided with a 25% off discount code it was actually a very sensible purchase. *nods sagely*

Char retweeted something last week from Cheap Frills and as I had a spare moment, I went for a quick mooch around their site.  There was a lot of lovely stuff to admire but one glimpse at the Elizabeth I cameo ring and I really, really had to have it.

I am a complete history nerd and I have a special fondness for the Tudor period. I've even been on a Tudor themed road trip, which was awesome. This piece of jewellery could virtually have been designed to appeal specially to me. I'm super pleased I own it now.