katy – Page 59 – Apartment Apothecary

katy 29th July 2015

Ask Apartment Apothecary – decorating a blank canvas

You’re probably thinking what on earth has the image above got to do with decorating a room. Don’t worry, all will become clear. Tia recently asked me over on my Facebook page whether I had any advice on how and where to start when decorating a completely blank canvas. At the time I told her that I usually begin with one object that I really love, like a print, a particular fabric or a piece of furntire to help me plan a colour scheme. However, that can be tricky when you pop down to the paint shop and end up with what you think is a perfect match for the colours that you love but they actually end up being way off. I have found a solution to that problem!

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be invited by the Amara Interior Blog Awards team to their first blogger masterclass at the KLC School of Design. When I was still teaching I used to look at Interior Design courses on offer at KLC and dream about what could be so it was a real treat to be given this opportunity.

Established over 30 years ago by Jenny Gibbs, one of the 2015 IBA expert judges, KLC is one of the most highly acclaimed design schools in the UK and the masterclass was held by the school’s Deputy Director of Studies, Julia Begbie, focusing on colour and pattern.

Julia did a great presentation for us and then we did a hands on task that I thought would be a really useful thing to share with you here as it is an invaluable tool for building up a colour scheme for a room.

Julia gave us a range of ‘concept images’ and she had used the software Color Explorer to draw out the constituent colours from these images. So, for example, I was really drawn to the image below from my Pinterest account but if I were to think about creating a colour scheme using that image as inspiration I would only identify light pink and mint green. However, this programme is much cleverer than that and extracts a range of colours and their RGB and Hex codes (the way computers display colours).

You can then use this rgb.to programme to convert the RGB number or Hex code to a RAL number, which you can take to paint shops and have paint mixed to that specific colour. Colour scheme created!

You can then begin to think about where you would like to use those colours – walls, wood work, floors, fabrics, furniture and so on. Julia gave us a black and white copy of a room that we stuck in the middle of a large piece of paper. We then cut out the colours from our concept image and placed them around the picture to help us work out where to use the colours.

Hope you find this useful. If you are interested in doing a one day class or even a full course at KLC yourself, pop over and take a look at the courses they offer.

Thank you again to KLC and the IBA team for such a great day.

Katy x

katy 27th July 2015

Shibori dyeing technique

One of the crafts I have enjoyed most was taught to me in a brilliant workshop run by Bethan of Decorator’s Notebook and Heather of Growing Spaces. We spent such a lovely morning together at Sisterhood Camp creating something out of nothing using the Japanese dyeing technique of Shibori. I took along an old white cotton pillowcase and managed to completely transform it with a few elastic bands and a bit of Dylon. If you would like to give Shibori a try there is a great tutorial here.

I really love the variety of colours created using the Shibori technique and I’ve been thinking about incorporating these colours into my home more. Here’s a Shoibori inspired collection of homewares that you can buy right here, including the dark blue plates featured in this post…

When I got home from Sisterhood camp I decided to turn my Shibori dyed pillowcase into a set of unique napkins. I just had to cut the case into four equal pieces and hem the edges on the sewing machine. And here are my hand dyed napkins in all their glory complimenting these gorgeous deep blue plates from Minor Goods and some ceramics from Bring The Outside In…

DIY Shibori napkins | Apartment Apothecary

Our Shibori dyed fabric hanging out to dry.

It was so exciting to untie the fabric after the dyeing process to reveal the pattern that I had created. I’m quite in love with the dark blue of these plates with the blue dyed napkins.

The ceramic bowl and beakers have a really interesting glaze that complement the napkins perfectly.

If you give Shibori a go I’d love to see some pics! I would like to make a quilt next – perhaps that could be a project for the Autumn.

Katy x

katy 24th July 2015

Simple Shape

I am so pleased to share Simple Shape with you today; the best of British and Irish crafted products for the home. You know you have found something special when everything is either woven, knitted, plaited, sewn, thrown or shaped by established craftspeople and emerging makers. As Helen Ogersby, who founded Simple Shape just a few weeks ago, says: “This first collection is conceived to live alongside the things you already own, they are things with integrity that stand the test of time, heirloom pieces that will age gracefully, wear in, not wear out, and that will be passed to children and grandchildren.”

Just take a look for yourselves…

Simple Shape - the best of British and Irish design carefully crafted things for the home | Apartment Apothecary

Elliott Ceramics collection made from porcelain. Stain is worked into the body of the clay and thrown on the wheel generating a marbling pattern unique to each vessel.

Baskets woven by Jenny Pearce using willow grown in her garden in Herefordshire.

Shetland Herringbone Throw. These throws are made in a mill that was established in 1837.

Irish Linen Tea Towel. 31 Chapel Lane specialise in the finest Irish cloth and source all raw material from a handful of Irish Linen Guild approved mills.

Hand carved spoons. Roanna Wells began by learning the basics of greenwood carving and has adapted these skills to produce hand carved simple, functional spoons.

There is so much more to see and appreciate over on the Simple Shape site so do take a look (and you could even treat yourselves!).

Katy x

katy 22nd July 2015

Houzz feature

I’m delighted that my flat has been featured on Houzz this week! In the first of a brand new series visiting interiors bloggers at home, I opened up my London flat and discussed my blogging journey as well as a bit more about me with beautiful photos of my home by Katharine Peachey. Houzz is a hub for home renovation and design, bringing homeowners and home professionals together so it is full to brim with interiors inspiration. I can’t wait to see the other homes that will be featured in this series!

The Houzz team also asked me to pick a piece from my home as a prize for leaving a comment on the feature. I chose this brass hanging planter from Out There Interiors that hangs in my bedroom.

Houzz feature - win this brass hanging planter | Apartment Apothecary

Win your own Bloomingville brass hanging planter that hangs in my bedroom.

Pop over to have a look at the feature and leave a comment to be in with a chance of winning the hanging planter!

Katy x

Houzz Tour: At Home With… Katy Orme of Apartment Apothecary

katy 20th July 2015

Picnic bag tutorial

This month’s #TheEverydaySpruce theme is ‘getting ready for summer’. I have decided to make the perfect summer picnic or beach bag using a couple of my favourite fabrics. The bag is large enough to fit all of the summer essentials and has handy outside pockets on both sides for sun lotion, sunglasses, a bottle of water and everything you will need for a lovely day out.

I made two of these bags, one to keep and one for a magazine. For my bag I used these great fabrics from M is for Make – I used Firefly Whisper for the lining and Half Round Kokka pattern for the pockets (I think they’ve sold out of that one at the moment).

What have you been doing to get ready for summer? If you’d like some ideas search for the #TheEverydaySpruce hashtag and pop over to Heather’s blog and Sarah-Lou’s blog for more inspiration.

Katy x

P.S. If you would like to make the bag here is my tutorial…

You will need:

Two pieces of heavyweight canvas or calico for the main bag measuring 50 x 75 cm – I bought mine from Home Crafts

Two pieces of heavyweight canvas or calico for the straps measuring 10 x 140 cm

Two pieces of lightweight cotton for the lining measuring 50 x 75 cm

Twelve trapezium shaped pocket pieces the top edge measuring 22cm, the bottom edge measuring 18 cm and height should be 26cm.

Medium weight iron-on interfacing for six of the pocket pieces.

Pencil, ruler, tape measure, fabric scissors, pins, matching or contrasting thread for top-stitching.

Step by step:

Making the lining

Step 1 – Pin the two pieces of lining right sides together. Stitch the two sides and bottom edge, leaving a 20cm gap in the centre of the bottom edge.

Step 2 – Make boxed corners. Measure 7cm from the corner seam (don’t measure from the edge of the fabric) in both directions.

Step 3 -Pull out the sides of the bucket and line the marks up. Draw a line across the corner

Step 4 – Sew along the line (I do a double row of stitching to strengthen).

Step 5 – Cut off corner and repeat on the other side of the lining. Press seams out. Set the lining aside until the end.

Making and attaching the pockets

Step 6 – Add interfacing to the six front pocket pieces (follow the manufacturer’s instructions).

Step 7 – Sew the pocket fronts to their backs by placing them right sides together, pin and then stitch all the way round, leaving a 10cm gap on one side.

Step 8 – Turn the pockets right sides out, press and make sure to press the raw edges of the gap into the pocket. These will be sewn up when you stitch the pockets to the bag.

Step 9 – Draw a horizontal line across the bottom of the main piece, 12cm from the bottom edge. Draw a vertical line 10cm from the left side and another vertical line 10cm from the right side of the bag. Your pockets must be placed within these lines. Mark out where each pocket should go so that they are evenly space across the bag. Mark out two vertical parallel lines for each pocket so that when you stitch them on to the bag the pockets will gain volume.

Step 10 – Pin the pockets into place following the guidelines you have drawn.

Step 11 – Top stitch the pockets into place.

Step 12 – Fold the handles in half lengthways and pin together. Stitch across the top of one end and done the length of the handle. Turn in inside out (pushing it out over a broom handle is the easiest way of doing this, which is why you need to stitch up one end). Cut the stitched end off and press so that the seam runs up the centre of the handle.

Step 13 – Pin the handle into place. The raw ends of the handles should meet the raw edge of the main piece and run up between the pockets.

Step 14 – Stitch the handles into place either using a matching or contrasting thread. Only sew 4cm above the level of the pockets.

Step 15 – Stitch a square to strengthen the handles.

Repeat steps 9-14 on the other main piece.

Making the outer bag

Step 16 – Pin the two main pieces, which now have pockets and handles attached, together, right sides facing. Stitch the two sides and bottom edge, leaving the top open. Repeat steps 2-5 to make boxed corners on the bag. However, do not leave a 20cm gap in the bottom edge.

Attaching the lining

Step 17 – Place the bag, right sides facing out into the lining, which should be inside out. Match up the corners and the seams and pin the top edges (the raw edges) together all the way round.

Step 18 – Stitch the top edges together all the way round.

Step 19 – Pull the bag out of the lining through the 20cm gap. Stitch the 20cm gap closed.

Step 20 – Press the top edge and then turn over a 1.5cm hem inside the bag. Press this hem and then stitch it with either matching or contrasting thread.