Housekeepers Carousel

Hello Housekeepers! Wanna climb on the back of a pretty pony and come for a spin around the carousel with me? Of course you do! Though it’s been so long I do believe I may have forgotten quite how to get saddled up…
* First up I want to say a huge thank-you for your patience while we work behind the scenes putting in place the kind of systems and routines my little business has never quite had before. Ste is in the midst of tackling my overflowing inbox and some of you will already have received emails from him answering queries and righting wrongs. Please rest assured that though he is able to help with all manner of question and inquiry, he will always pass along anything personal or important to me, and I will be available wherever necessary.
In the past two weeks we have worked our socks off setting up the kind of back-end systems, spreadsheets, and plans for the future, that dear little BrocanteHome has never quite had in place before as I flew by the seat of my pants and made it all up as I went along. Its so odd for me being organised in any other arena than my housekeeping and as I am so very prone to worrying and time-wasting on the kind of details that no-one notices but me, Ste is right there hauling me back to the job in hand.
You will over the next few weeks, notice even more changes: First up, by special request I have created a new “archives” page that so many of you have been asking for. Nect both the shop and my membership scheme, Housekeeping Superstars will be back online, as will The School of Life and the forum. A more consistent newsletter will be coming your way and I am endeavouring to blog more frequently, because quite frankly nothing delights me more. Next week The Art of Homemaking will be available on Amazon for the Kindle, though no new downloads will be released until those that remain outstanding are tucked safely in to your in-boxes.

Next up: Some big news! My very first free BrocanteHome App has just been submitted to the Apple App Store and news of when you can download it to your iPhone and iPad should be available very, very soon. (Squuuuueeeal!)

Now: Happinez Magazine. If you haven’t yet laid your hands on this little delight then I rather insist that you step away from your screen and hurry to your nearest stockist, where you might just be lucky enough to procure the first English Language edition of this aesthetically beautiful piece of gentle, quarterly inspiration. Already well established in Europe, Happinez is visually stunning and each page resonates with the kind of modern take on New Age wisdom that doesnt make me want to stick pins in my eyes, but instead speaks to the part of me desperate for a more meaningful way of life.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmVLcj-XKnM?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0]
* Next Julia Roberts as Mother Nature: such a simple, engaging message surely destined to speak directly to even the most hardened of hearts?

* Tell me – is your reading attention span shorter in the Summer months? I seem to go to bed later. Tired. More wired. And I struggle to pick up where I left off the night before. And so this Summer I am reading short stories. Latterly Mischief by Fay Weldon. Not just because the tactile butterfly swarmed cover makes me swoon, but also because Fay Weldon, better than any other female writer gets to the underbelly of our souls in a way few other authors could make bearable to devour.

* Next: this installation by feminist group WomanHouse from 1972. A representation of woman’s place between the sheets and on the shelf. Heavens.

* Now… My entire gin sipping, vintage loving heart is yearning for this little teacup from Urban Outfitters…
* And finally a poem. Because I love a good poem I do. This one, from Deborah Landau, speaks of who we could be if only we would allow ourselves a moments pause from all this technology…
You’ve Got to Start Somewhere

Have a lovely weekend Housekeepers…x