katy – Page 66 – Apartment Apothecary

katy 18th May 2015

Soak and Sleep

I have to say I am not a particularly good sleeper, much to do with the fact that I sleep so lightly so I will wake at the drop of a hat. I’ve also come to realise over time the importance of being completely comfortable in bed in order to get to sleep. So when I was invited to a brilliantly creative and fun sleep event last week held by Soak and Sleep, I jumped at the chance. I got to see and feel their sumptuous bedlinen for myself, all made up in the gorgeous Artist Residence hotel bedrooms – heavenly. And, yes, I did end up jumping into a few of those beds.

I’m going to whisper this next bit…the truth is, I didn’t really need the beautiful beds, pillow consultation, yummy drinks, canapés, yoga exercises and delicious Pact coffee tasting of that evening to fall in love with this company. All I had to do was look at the collections and the amazingly low prices, which is something I don’t normally talk about on the blog as who am I to say what is or is not affordable for others. But when I see beautiful, beautiful 100% French linen bundle from £85 and next day delivery – I’m so sold!!!

I figured you’ve probably seen enough of my bedroom of late, so here are a few images from Soak and Sleep’s lookbook…

My favourite of the range is the soft blue French linen – it was made up in one of the hotel’s Art Deco beds and the colour is perfect for my bedroom. During the event we also had a pillow consultation and I found my perfect pillow, which is made of wool. I can not wait for it to arrive and I’m so looking forward to Soak and Sleep’s Summer of Linen!

Katy x

katy 15th May 2015

Coat hanger jackets

When Sarah-Lou and Heather began their The Everyday Spruce project I was immediately hooked; the name of the project basically describes my life. I spend everyday at home trying to make things more beautiful or functional. I have a mental list of everything in my home that needs improving, clarifying or beautifying. Strangely, the list never seems to get shorter or finished.

Anyhoo, I am very pleased to be joining them and contributing my idea of ways to spruce up your life (I will focus on home ideas) in one way or another. They would also love others to join in with their project so please do join in, too!

I have a really quick and easy sewing project for you today to help you spruce up your wardrobe – I don’t know about you, but me and mine are at constant odds with each other. One of the problems is I can’t justify buying a matching set of beautiful hangers so I have loads of awful wire ones that get mangled and twisted together. Is there anything more frustrating than pulling something out of your wardrobe only to find the hangers are fused together?!

These simple little coat hanger jackets really help and they look good. Double win.

You will need:

Medium weight fabric, cotton or linen work best – approx. 42 x 18 cm for each hanger. I used Kokka Crossed Leaves in Turquoise and Kokka Circle Flowers Yellow in cotton linen mix from Guthrie & Ghani.

Fabric scissors

Pencil

Pins

Step by step:

Step 1 – Place two pieces of fabric together (this will be the front and back of the jacket) and make sure the piece of fabric on top is wrong side up. Pin the fabric together. Lay your coat hanger on top and draw around it, except the hook part, as this will not be covered by the jacket.

Step 2 – Cut 1cm outside the line around the shoulders of the hanger but cut 4cm outside the bottom line of the hanger.

Step 3 – Unpin the two pieces of fabric and press a 0.5cm hem on the bottom edge of each piece. Repeat this so you can no longer see the raw edge.

Step 4 – Sew the hem as near to the bottom edge of the fabric as possible. Do this for each piece of fabric.

Step 5 – Pin the two hemmed pieces together, right sides facing.

Step 6 – Sew the two pieces together. Start from the bottom edge and sew up the shoulder of the hanger but stop in the middle and leave a 1cm hole for the hook to go through. Begin sewing again down the other shoulder to the bottom edge.

Step 7 – Press the seams open, turn the jacket inside out and press. Do not sew the bottom edge together – this will remain open.

Step 8 – Place the jacket over the top of the hanger, push the hook through the 1cm gap at the top and it should be a snug fit.

I look forward to seeing loads more sprucing tips – do join in with the project and perhaps it will help shorten my mental list of things that needs tending to at home. Share your post/tip using the hashtag #theeverydayspruce.

Katy x

katy 15th May 2015

A workspace makeover

As you know, I love room makeovers. So when I saw the ‘before’ shots of Holly Marder’s Dutch studio space over on Avenue Lifestyle, I rushed to see the the changes that had been made.

Avenue Lifestyle studio makeover | Apartment Apothecary

Image: Holly Marder, Avenue Lifestyle

The ‘after’ shots left me in a dreamy daze! Cool colour scheme, hanging planters, vintage rug, all set against a light, bright canvas…I was in heaven.

Image: Holly Marder, Avenue Lifestyle

Image: Holly Marder, Avenue Lifetyle

Image: Holly Marder, Avenue Lifestyle

Head on over to Holly’s gorgeously stylish blog for loads more pictures of her room makeover and the healthiest dose of inspiration you will find this weekend.

Katy x

P.S. Get the look from my shop…

katy 13th May 2015

Organising your desk

Since doing my home office makeover last summer I have had to make a few changes here and there. Originally, I had expected Jules to take office space elsewhere last summer but that was delayed for a year so he needed to take half of the desk space in our home office. I had intended to use half of the double desk for my computer and half for making/photo-taking. Therefore, I have had to change the way I work over the last few months.

My home office as it looked last summer. Originally I thought I would be able to use the whole desk but my partner has taken one half for the past few months until he takes office space this summer.

My main aim when it comes to organising my desk is to keep the surface as flexible as possible as I can’t use one side for my computer and one side for making. The priority is definitely not about making it look pretty – function, function, function! My work means that sometimes I need to sit at my computer for hours responding to emails, photo-editing, compiling blog posts but at other times I need a completely clear surface for crafting, pattern cutting, photo-taking and I never really know which it will be as it depends on light and deadlines. Therefore, I want to share some of my tips for keeping a desk space organised, tidy and flexible.

Tip one: Manage cables

I have an amazing new Samsung curved monitor, that links up to my laptop, for those times that I spend all day photo-editing, writing blog posts or perusing Pinterest (!). When I gave up my day job and started blogging full time I didn’t realise how much time I would spend at my computer and this monitor makes that so much easier – more on that next week. I had to find a way to make it easy to move my computer to keep my half of the desk as flexible as possible so I have a wireless keypad and mouse to reduce the number of cables.

Samsung curved monitor

I cut out two notches, where the two desks meet, to allow the cables from my monitor and Jules’s computer to feed straight down under the desk and there is a basket attached to the underside of the desk to catch the cables and lead them to the power supply. This means there are no ugly cables draped across the desk and this also makes it easier to move off the table top without cables draped everywhere.

Tip two: Clipboard for paperwork

I always have a big to-do list and pieces of paper/receipts/documents that I need to deal with. The last thing I want is to have them lying all over the desk but I also don’t want to put them away in a filing box because I know I will forget about them. Therefore, the easiest way I have found of organising them whilst keeping them visible is using a clip board. I know I need to deal with everything that is attached to the board, I have my to-do list for each day or week at the top and yet everything is contained and easy to move, if need be.

Tip three: Metal baskets

Another way to make my desk space organised and flexible is I use metal baskets. I don’t want piles of bits and pieces all over the desk as these are so difficult to move so everything goes in a basket that be picked up and moved with no effort.

Tip four: Trays for little bits

For the little bits that I am using or may need I keep them in these lovely Hay Design trays. Again, I can pick these up and move them so easily and it keeps the desk neat and tidy.

I hope some of these tips are useful if you’ve been struggling to keep on top of a messy desk.

Katy x

*This post was written in collaboration with Samsung.

P.S. I have picked out some products from my shop that may help (or just look good on your desk!)…

katy 11th May 2015

How to make an ironing board cover

A quick and easy sewing tutorial for you today that I made and wrote for the wondrous Love Sewing magazine last month. I have a couple more sewing projects for the home in this month’s edition of the magazine that you can buy here. I have to say, I am seriously considering learning how to make clothes after discovering this magazine; imagine how much money I could save myself!

Have you been following Heather’s and Sarah-Lou’s #TheEverydaySpruce project, which is all about simplifying, clarifying and beautifying? Well, beautifying even the most mundane of household items can make a difference to the overall look and feel of your home. When I am sewing I always have my ironing board up in my home office and I realised that the cover was totally knackered and had become a complete eyesore. So, I decided to make a new cover, which is so easy to do and now having the ironing board up (I know so many people who have it up all of the time!) isn’t quite so bad.

You will need:

Medium weight cotton – the size will depend on your board. I used Laura Ashley’s Clarissa print.

Fabric scissors

The cord from your old cover

Pins

Pencil

Step by step:

Step 1 – Lay your fabric on the floor and place your board on top. Draw an outline of the board 10cm from the edge.

Step 2 – Cut out around the line.

Step 3 – Iron a 1cm hem all around the piece of fabric.

Step 4 – Fold the hem over again but this time the fold should be 2cm wide. You will need to make pleats at certain points to get round the curves of the board shape. Make sure all of the pleats face the same direction.

Step 5 – Remove the cord from your old board cover and place it around the board within the channel you have created. Pin it into place so it does not escape the channel.

Step 6 – Make sure the two ends of the cord meet in the centre at the bottom end of the board (not the pointed head). Place two pins in the channel either side of the ends of the cord so you know not to sew pass these points.

Step 7 – Sew the channel ensuring that the cord remains on the right side of the foot and does not get sewn over. Start sewing next to your marker pin.

Step 8 – Keep the foam from your old cover (you can adhere this to your new cover with spray glue but it’s not necessary) and place your new cover over this. Pull the cords as tightly as possible and tie in a bow. Give your new cover an iron!

Keep on sprucing…

Katy x