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Gingham, sure...j
But do you catch a glimpse of Something Else, too?
I'll tell you about the flowers first. My dad came to the supermarket with me just before he went home after Christmas, and asked me if I'd like some flowers! Well, indeed I would! I chose this lovely pot of three cyclamen plants, even though I've not had an awful lot of success with cyclamen before.
Part of the reason I chose it is because I remember how much my mum loved them. Anyway, I had a quick look in my M & S book of houseplants, and noticed that most cyclamen go wrong because they need to be kept at 15°C - yikes! Even in our fairly cool house, we stay warmer than that in the winter. I put them near the French windows with a thermometer, which showed they were hovering between 16° and 17°, and they soon showed their displeasure - yellow leaves, impressive mould on the pink plant, and drooping flowers. I plucked of the offending bits and moved the pot up to the 'bookshelf' in our bedroom, which is near the window in a cooler room, and I think I've got it! One month on and the ill bits are replacing themselves, while the healthy bits live on... BTW, bloggers, can you spot things you've sent me in this photo?j
And now for something completely different. For a project I'll tell you about later, I went to La Foir'Fouille today (cheapy shop), to see what they had in their offcuts of oilcloth. The French use so much oilcloth that the choice and value is good in any shop, but La Foir'Fouille is particularly good value and always keeps and sells its offcuts, which is green too (about the only green thing in that shop, I'd say...).
Having said I didn't favour 1950s style only yesterday, what did I find but this incredible, futuristic, mid-century modern, stuff? The blue gingham toile cirée was an offcut, but I decided to ask for a metre of the snazzy stuff too. When cutting it the shop assistant made a bit of a mess of the last few centimetres, and was going to throw it in the offcuts and start again from scratch when I explained that it really didn't matter as I was going to cut the cloth up and use pieces of it anyway. She was so grateful to have her messed-up piece accepted that she gave me the offcut for only 1€! So the metre was at a sale price of 4€50 and I got the two for a total of 5€50! I just had to share my joy, friends...
Having said I didn't favour 1950s style only yesterday, what did I find but this incredible, futuristic, mid-century modern, stuff? The blue gingham toile cirée was an offcut, but I decided to ask for a metre of the snazzy stuff too. When cutting it the shop assistant made a bit of a mess of the last few centimetres, and was going to throw it in the offcuts and start again from scratch when I explained that it really didn't matter as I was going to cut the cloth up and use pieces of it anyway. She was so grateful to have her messed-up piece accepted that she gave me the offcut for only 1€! So the metre was at a sale price of 4€50 and I got the two for a total of 5€50! I just had to share my joy, friends...
13 comments:
The cyclamen look lovely. I can't wait to see what you do with the oil cloth. I need to get myself some as it makes a great "messy craft" table cloth for the small one and me. And what a good bargain you got!
Pretty cyclamen. I didn't know they needed such cool temps. I had one years ago that lasted and lasted.
Great deals on the oilcloth!
Oh great oil cloths. The perfect colour of course. My cyclamen is doing well as well. Didn't know that was the secret though to keep it at or below a certain temperature. I was lucky it got moved to the utility room!
A bargain indeed!
Thanks for sharing what you found on Cyclamen. They have always been a favorite of mine but I have faiked with them. It is no wonder why they died, I was doing just the opposite!
Hello. I found your blog yesterday.
My son was in Toulouse for a few mths last year. He went to Paul Sabatier university but decided it was not what he wanted to do, so we went get him just before christmas.
The few times I went to Toulouse, I thought it was very nice. Does your husband work in the air industry?
Good bargain with the cloths. I like to go to incroyabable, do you have one of those?
Sue
Oh the joys of the french lifestyle.
We are planning to visit again this year :)
I have given up on cyclamen.
I buy them for the garden and never see them again!!
Any signs of spring your way?
I ended up putting my cyclamen outside as it looked at deaths door. I've got another dying one on my kitchen windowsill.
Love the great deal on the oilcloth, well done.
cyclamen don't like me either indoors, but they do thrive well in hanging baskets outside - I guess they really don't like heating.
That is definitely joy worth sharing.
What will you do with the oil cloths? The modern one is quite pleasing.
That's probably why I haven't had much luck with cyclamen too, although they don't seem to survive outside either...... Great oilcloth and fantastic colours!
Hi Floss, I've given up with indoor cyclamen but have quite a few in the garden (and in flower now).
Wow, what great oilcloth and such a bargain. Have you seen the toadstool steps Niki covered with oilcloth, great idea.(Wednesday's post) http://nostalgiaatthestonehouse.blogspot.com/
I could imagine some kitchen or garden stools covered with your blue and white oilcloth.
Carol xx
Can I confess that I have never, ever had oil cloth anywhere. BUT. In a major project that I am currently planning for PC, of which he is dimly aware, there will be much beautiful oil cloth stapled round shelves. Does this, however, sound feasible to seasoned oil cloth ears?!
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