Thanks Rachel Ashwell your Shabby Chic is fab !

My hydrangea petiolaris just now

To commerorate King George V and Queen Mary Silver Jubilee June 12th 1911

For people like me living on a budget eBay,charity shops and car boot sales offer a lifeline. There are so many advantages to buying vintage just one of those to buy the things you need at a cost more proportionate to  income. Car boot sales etc offer a chance for time spent rummaging to reap real rewards as a huge range of goods spanning many years are all there for the finding.
I find i can experiment with clothes more without making very costly errors - and clothes that really do not suit just get recycled. i have found that favorite items tend to get more compliments from friends and family and that is the best marker for whether a garment is really working for me. i only find out when i wear things!

To Commemorate King Edward V111 Crowned 12th May 1937

I love buying items for the home too that are really individual and especially love vintage curtains. Lovely vintage heavy lined curtains can be found very reasonably - they look fab and insulate windows. I carry my window sizes with me as well as a tape measure especially when looking for a specific size.
Then i found Rachel Ashwells Shabby Chic.I love her Shabby Chic concept and have three books of hers that have been given to me for birthdays. Her ideas are so original yet so achievable and adaptable. She runs a great blog which is full of photos and ideas - all for free - just Google her name. She uses a  palette of white and pale blue,green and pink. Everything has a soft faded look and she uses items in different ways. So inspiring whatever your budget.

To celebrate the wedding of HRH,Charles,Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer 29th July 1981

Rachel lives in America but was born in England. She has been celebrating the recent Royal events and often uses Royal Memorabilia in her designs. I have started collecting vintage Royal Commemorative mugs and yes she is right the artwork on them is fab-crowns and unicorns - gold pinks and blues. Now i treasure something in the past i have dismissed.

To commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11 June 2nd 1953

I am finding thanks to Rachel that i am now looking at things in a different way and now value items for their signs of wear or fading and look at items in terms of how i can use them rather than what were they originally designed for. Thanks Rachel!