Life would be a lot easier if I was dear reader, I could have spent years moving nothing around a virtually empty house musing about the spaciousness of it all.  Sadly I like stuff on the walls, the shelves, in fact pretty much every surface I have has something on and when it doesn't I feel it looks empty, I like a homely home, I like a cluttered home, I like vintage trinkets and treasures to adorn the furniture which is also usually used because I hate new stuff.  This of course is a problem with wardrobes because of the weird town house we live in I can't actually get assembled wardrobes up the stairs. The one in my bedroom which is from around 1930ish had to be dismantled and reassembled and you can imagine the glee that caused ;)  The only solution to the top floor bedrooms will be to buy flatpack Ikea wonders...harumph!

Halloween is almost upon us, I'm also not a huge fan of Halloween because I feel it gets in the way of Christmas but the kids like it and the Amazon Halloween department has just about everything you could ever need for next weeks spooky spectacular.  Looby has her costume already, she's going to be little red riding hood and Petunia is going to be the ferocious wolf, I'm not sure she's going to be able to carry that performance off quite frankly!  Abigail mostly hasn't decided if she's joining in because she's at that funny age where she'd still like the big haul of candies which make your teeth fall out but she feels she's to old and sophisticated to go and knock on neighbours doors wearing a witch costume.  I have a feeling knowing Abigail that she will as ever decide right at the last moment and I'll be ordering the day before hoping that Amazon haven't sold out.

I've decided that I'm not buying house decorations this year, I only end up throwing them away the next day whereas I always store Christmas decorations but I just feel it's an unnecessary spend and after taking 3 black bags full of stuff to the Charity shop yesterday, giving away some Disney costumes, a slow cooker and a hoard of craft supplies I am definitely trying to downsize the clutter I have an not increase it with dead hands and rubber faces.

I finally framed some of my recent images and they'll make the perfect Christmas gift if you're planning ahead, the rustic framed ones are only £25 and the black framed ones are £35, if you would like to purchase one just send me over a quick email and if you would prefer to do your own framing then you can purchase any prints from my Etsy store Philomena's Boutique

It looks like a beautiful day out there, I am going to Jesmond Dene for a couple of photo shoots and it looks like being a sunny lovely morning so whatever you are up to today make sure it's a fabulous Thursday

That's not fog it's vintage haze

Dear reader, I'm a bit sick of the fog and mist and even calling it vintage haze does not seem to be working, I'll show you the proof -

Sunday, Mothers Day up at Ladyburn Lake, Druridge Bay, couldn't see beyond our own noses

at work, working on vintage style fine art prints for my Etsy store Philomena's Boutique

So I've added a bit of a vintagy haze on the bottom one, no haze needed on the top one!

Having a bit of a chill on the tummy day so I'm on the sofa with a tartan blanket and trying to catch up and get ahead with my newsletter, blogging, social media, you know I think there's every possibility that life was a lot easier in the days of the carrier pigeon!

On Saturday you might remember I photographed 4 generations of the same family and delightfully I'm going to photograph 3 generations of the same family  for another lovely client, at least this one is indoors so it'll be warm and cosy all the way!

This weekend I am outdoors and I think the weather is supposed to get much better which is brilliant, on Saturday I am photographing a couple of lovely families in Saltwell Park and on Sunday I am photographing a couple of lovely families in Jesmond Dene, if you would like me to add in a mini session or regular session for you and your lovely family/kids/love of your life then do get in touch either via email or you can click through to my website 

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!

Claire and John a 1940's love story [Photographer Northumberland]

The Dressing Up project has allowed me to indulge myself in shoots I don't usually have the time to do and  a 1940's themed shoot is something I've wanted to do for ages so after a few drinks with the very lovely Claire and John I managed to persuade them they would be perfect.  With thanks to the Little Theatre for the costume hire.

If you would like to join in with the dressing up project or you would like to have your very own 1940's themed shoot please email me or contact me through my website

More Blogging coming soon....

I have been such a naughty blogger and it's all about to change.

In recent weeks I have been shooting many gorgeous weddings, kids and families and as if thats not enough I have also been decorating our house and I've also started walking, I take myself on jaunts to interesting places and have become the queen of Charity shop bargains.  You see the thing is, I want to have a house which matches the personality of our family, so basically vintage, quirky and fun, now I have a penchant for old and interesting as well as funky retro and so you can only find these things at Car boot sales, antique stores and charity shops so I've incorporated my walking with hunting for lovely pretty things for our house and I have to say that it's all going fabulously.  I've sprinkled in a little new because I love John Lewis and Laura Ashley but for the most part everything I've made use of has been a bargain!!  thanks to my lovely friend Julie over at Applause Accountancy for the suggestion that I should incorporate my shopping tales

1 more important thing, my wonderful friend and awesome photographer who inspires me every day, Mr Matt Wagster has his amazing and gorgeous photographs from our vow renewal on his blog at the moment so if you have a moment go and have a look and then leave him a lovely comment, I call Matt my big brother even though he's technically a little younger than me so I really want him to feel the love!!

So I promise more blogging, more photography and more shopping tales coming very soon.

Oh and just so this blog post has an image, here's something I shot at a vintage wedding recently -


 

Play

This layout is packed with vintage loveliness, I took this photograph of my children when we were at Kielder at the weekend and after turning it sepia I printed it on textured cardstock and embellished the layout with lots of cut and ripped Jenni Bowlin papers and other various goodies in that vintage style. I remember when I first started scrapping, I never could master the vintage or distressed style and craved to be as wonderful at it as Snipper, well 3 or 4 years later and I think I might be getting there, I'm certainly happier when I create layouts in this style than I used to be :)