One of the simultaneously most wonderful and yet most frustrating things about reading beautiful blogs from around the world, is getting to discover and read about the most marvellous shops in far flung places.
Wonderful, because new discoveries are always a pleasure – especially when they come in the form of vases, lamps and homewares, but the downside of this, of course, is that when a place is far flung, it usually means that it is far too distant for me to eagerly exercise my rights as a jolly consumer and clear it’s shelves in one swipe of a credit card…Much to my husbands delight I expect – which is perhaps why he so enjoys seeing me caught up in International blogland – “Dream on…” he smirks smugly from behind his vintage car magazines!”
Perhaps one day I’ll be quick enough to stare pointedly at said magazine, and retort “Likewise Darling…”
Imagine my delight, therefore, to be able to highlight a wonderful shop that is just a few mile from my front door. Now a Norfolk mile ladies and gentlemen, is at least five times the distance of a regular mile, but, as I discovered when I moved from London three years ago, when one lives in the countryside, anything within an hour’s driving distance is considered close, and somewhat misleadingly (to the uninitiated) “Just up the road!”
Well, the delightful homewares emporium CATESBY’s (images above) is not only “Just up the road” from my house (okay – 45minutes away) but it also sells on-line, and it is from here, that I came across my beautiful, new lamps. Now, they are not strictly balustrade – see below – rather more ‘urn’ shaped, but they fulfill the same theatrical romanticism that I was aiming for, and I LOVE them!(More ‘souped up in situ’ images to follow at a later date – busy, busy, busy!)
What’s more, the lovely owners of Catesby’s – Neil and Jonathon – have very generously agreed to take part in a lovely giveaway, to celebrate The Hill House Diaries, having reached almost 300 followers. They are offering no less than FIVE lucky readers, the chance to each win a pack of their lovely Letterpress Correspondence Cards (six in a pack, with envelopes) featuring either a vintage typewriter or an old candlestick-type phone!
Charming aren’t they?
So perfect for writing those little thank you notes or just a quick “hello” in that old fashioned, oft forgotten way – i’e. WITH A PEN!!! (the caps are for my children’s benefit by the way…)
Now, the rules are very simple. You just have to be a follower of this blog, and to pop over to the Catesby’s website and then leave me a message telling me your favourite thing in their shop. If you’d also like to receive their newsletter, please leave me your e-mail address.
The winners will be announced on Monday 29th October, only one entry per follower.
In addition to this, the Oh SO generous Catesby’s boys,are offering all UK ‘Hill House Diary’ readers, free delivery on all orders until 2nd November 2012 (limited to one order per reader, UK delivery only). All you need to do is enter the following code at check out – FREEHILL – remember, UK readers only for this one, but my international readers are free to enter the giveaway as that is open worldwide!
In the mean time, let me leave you with some more wonderful images from Catesby’s, plus a few from their beautiful Georgian home, which is equally as scrummy, and if you’re ever in Norfolk, or just close by (i.e. in Norfolk terms – in England), do try to pop in to see them – not only are they wonderfully welcoming, but they also have a glorious tea shop in their courtyard which is worth a visit alone! WWW.CATESBYS.CO.UK
Enjoy and Good Luck!
images courtesy of; wwww.catesbys.co.uk and The Hill House Diaries.