Washi tape picture frames

I was asked this month to be the Guest Pinner for Homemade With Love magazine. I’ve been a bit lazy of late with my own Pinterest boards, mostly re-pinning from those I follow or pinning my own creations. Being asked to pin for someone else has refocused me; what I loved most about Pinterest when I first signed up was discovering new blogs and actively searching for inspiration. I’m really enjoying perusing blogs, magazines and websites for new and exciting craft and home projects. If you would like to see what I have pinned so far, you can see my Guest Pinboard here.

I originally discovered the joys of Washi tape from Pinterest. It comes in all sorts of contemporary prints, patterns and colours and gives everything a modern edge. The tape is very low tack, which makes it very versatile and there are so many different things you can do with it. One of the ideas I like, and have copied the most, is using Washi tape to create photo frames around pictures and postcards. I also use it to tape up notes or pictures above my desk for inspiration.

Mia Fleur, an online homewares boutique, very kindly sent me a set of their lovely vintage pictures. I decided to combine the freshness of the Washi tape with the vintage feel of the pictures to create an alternative wall display.

Washi tape picture frames

You can use the tape to create all sorts of different shaped frames.

Washi tape picture frames

You can experiment as much as you like because the tape peels off very easily but doesn’t lose its tackiness.

Washi tape picture frames

I really like to stick postcards, notes and pictures on the wall temporarily by just taping the corners. It’s so low tack that it leaves no marks when you want to take them down.

Washi tape picture frames

If you would like to buy some Washi tape, you can order it online here.

Thanks again to Mia Fleur for the lovely pictures, which are very reasonably priced for a collection of nine printed on beautiful paper. If you would like some you can buy them here. x

 

 

Great British Bake Off

I am totally in love with everything Great British Bake Off.  Mel and Sue are obviously the best bit (I wish they were my best friends!) but I also can’t get enough of the calming effect of watching others bake. Tuesday evenings are something special these days.

Unfortunately, I have never learnt how to bake, and if I’m honest, I don’t have much desire to learn, but I really adore kitchenalia. The GBBO set is so aesthetically pleasing, which is probably another reason I love the show. Therefore, I have put together some of my favourite baking accessories – perhaps this could be enough to inspire me to get baking…

Vintage rolling pins

What’s a kitchen without a vinatge rolling pin? Nothing, I tell you. Find a lovely selection at RE-found Objects.

Retro Betty and Walter apron

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous prints from the super-talented Lisa Levis. I love this pinny from the Betty and Walter collection.

Retro kitchen timer

Surely everyone needs a retro kitchen timer in their lives. Love this magnetic one from John Lewis.

Mason and Cash mixing bowl

Going all Downton Abbey with this Mason and Cash mixing bowl from John Lewis.

Love from Rosie vintage kitchen scales

Apparently being exact when it comes to measuring ingredients is important in baking so I’ve chosen these scales, which are new but have a vintage feel to them. Available from Love From Rosie.

 

 

Le Parfait preserving jars

Perhaps my favourite kitchen staple – Le Parfait preserving jars. Available from Dunelm Mill.

Blue and white enamel pie dish set

This five-piece enamel pie dish set from Liberty is perfect – can’t get enough of blue and white enamel.

Kitchen Aid

The Kitchen Aid is the secret star of the show. Available from Liberty.

Jamie Oliver cake tins

These Jamie Oliver cake tins will keep all those bakes fresh as a daisy. Like the vintage flavour of these tins.

Vintage glass butter dish

Beautiful butter dishes are a must when it comes to equipping your kitchen. Available from Not On The High Street.

Belle and Boo cupcake wraps

How sweet are these cupcake wraps? Can’t go wrong with Belle and Boo party accessories.

Jadeite cake stand

And last, but not least, these beautiful Jadeite cake stands are perfect to display your baking efforts. Available from Borrowed Blue.

Enjoy GBBO tonight! x

 

 

 

Antiques shopping

Have you ever wanted to go antiques shopping but had no idea where to start? I’ve received a few emails recently asking for suggestions and I spent a long time putting together a list of the places I have been to and I thought it might be nice to share this with you.

Now, unfortunately, this list is very much based around London, so apologies to all my lovely followers from America, Australia, Japan, Germany, France, Canada, India (the list goes on – I LOVE checking out the locations of visitors to the site! It always amazes me that someone from Indonesia or Iceland has found my little blog). However, to all of you from other parts of the UK and the world, please do leave a comment and tell us all the best antiques shops or markets near you just in case we visit your part of the world soon. One of my favourite things to do on holiday is to spend the day wandering around flea markets, brocantes and antiques shops.

So here goes (in no particular order)…

1. The Old Cinema – 160 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 1PR

Huge shop with a variety of antiques, vintage finds, upcycled furniture and reproductions.

The Old Cinema vintage and antiques shop

The Old Cinema

2. Alfie’s Antique Market – 13-25 Church Street, Marylebone, London, NW8 8DT

Church Street is a treasure trove with shop after shop filled with all sorts of antiques.

3. Bermondsey Square antiques market – corner of Long Lane and Bermondsey street, London, SE1 3FD

Right up the street from me, this market is open every Friday – get there early as a lot of professional buyers pick up all the good stuff. Each stall is filled with different antiques from jewellery to cutlery. This market isn’t about fine antiques – think more car boot sale.

4Lassco – 30 Wandsworth Road, London, SW8 2LG and 41 Maltby Street, Bermondsey, London, SE1 3PA

This is one of my favourite places ever. It’s an enormous Georgian manor house slap bang in the middle of the Vauxhall roundabout. Every room in the house is filled with different antiques: baths, sinks, radiators, salvaged floorboards, door knobs, apothecary bottles, furniture, street signs etc. There is also a cafe and all the furniture is for sale! Love it.

Lassco vintage and antiques shop

Lassco’s cafe.

5. Stella Blunt – 75 Broadway Market, London, E8 4PH

This shop is full of lovely vintage finds: 1950’s Formica tables, G-Plan, 60’s glasswear, handpicked curios, art deco mirrors, Victorian kitchen tables.

Stella Blunt vintage and antiques shop

Stella Blunt

6. Kempton antiques market – Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex, TW16 5AQ

A sprawling mass of antique market stalls. Go prepared with a keen eye, car/van, comfortable shoes and stamina.

7. Bleu – 327 Railton Road, Herne Hill, London, SE23 0JN

Mid-century and modern vintage furniture and lighting.

8. Barn Antiques Centre – Station Road, Long Marston, Warks, CV37 8RP

This is near my mother-in-law’s house and it’s a huge barn divided into smaller sections filled to the brim with all sorts of affordable antiques.

9. Vintage Heaven – 82 Columbia Road, London, E2 7QB

Based on Columbia Road I love popping in here whenever I go to the flower market. Overflowing with vintage china, pottery and glass wear.

Vintage Heaven Columbia Road vintage and antiques shop

Vintage Heaven

10. Crystal Palace Antiques – Junction of Westow Hill & Jasper Road, London, SE19 1SH

Four floors of antiques and vintage finds.

11. Two Columbia Road – 2 Columbia Road, London, E2 7NN

Mid-century heaven!

12. Eltham Palace Art Deco fair – Court Yard, Eltham, Greenwich, London, SE9 5QE

The Art Deco fair happens here twice a year and the Great Tudor Hall is filled with beautiful Art Deco pieces as well as a marquee. Well worth a visit as you can see the Art Deco house and beautiful gardens at the same time.

13. Northcote Road Antiques Market – 155a Northcote Road, London, SW11 6QB

This is a bit of a tardis as it opens up into different sections run by different dealers. There’s also Braemar’s just up the street.

Northcote Road Antiques Market

Northcote Road Antiques Market

14. Modern Shows – various locations around London

These fairs show case the best of mid-century and modern vinatge design. This October they head East to the recently refurbished Grade II listed Haggerston School, Erno Goldfinger’s only secondary built between 1964 and ’65. Buy tickets in advance or on the door.

15. The Modern Movement at Brockwell Lido – Brockwell Park, Dulwich Road, London, SE24 0PA

For the last six years the recently refurbished 1930’s lido at Brockwell Park has hosted the Modern Movement. Sellers bring their mid-century furniture and sell it around the pool. Pop into the cafe there, too.

Brockwell Lido modern movement

Brockwell Lido Modern Movement

15. Home Barn – Wilton Farm, Marlow Road, Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 3RR

A gorgeous barn filled with vintage and rustic pieces. A really lovely place to visit.

Home Barn antiques and vintage shop

Home Barn

16. RE-found objects – Bishops Yard, Main Street, Corbridge, Northumberland, NE45 5LA

If you can’t visit here, make sure you check out the online shop. A collection of vintage pieces that you won’t be able to resist.

RE found objects

RE-found objects

17. Tower Bridge Antiques – 71 Tanner Street, London, SE1 3PL

Reasonably priced antique furniture. Can take a bit of effort finding the gems here but there are definitely some to be found.

18. Camden Passage – Islington, London, N1 8EF

This collection of vintage and antique shops, along a cobbled pedestrianised street, is the perfect weekend visit.

19. Arch 389 – Mentmore Terrace, London, E8 3PN

An arch under a railway filled with retro furniture and knick knacks. Good for a dig around.

20. Cobbled Yard Vintage Store – 1 Bouverie Road, Stoke Newington, London N16 0AH

A rough collection of Victorian, retro and industrial furniture – hunting is required here!

 

Please, please, please leave your favourite antiques shop, market or fair in the comments section (no matter where you are from) – would be AMAZING to build up a personally recommended directory! x

 

Paris apartment

When I left university I dreamed of moving to Paris and living in a loft apartment in a beautiful building with a courtyard, a little roof terrace and views of the Eiffel tower. Instead, I ended up in Poplar…not sure how that happened!

It was a few years ago when I first saw fashion designer Vanessa Bruno’s Paris apartment on the cover of Elle Decoration. I still have the magazine (my house is falling down with interiors and crafts magazines), I still buy Elle Decoration (just can’t help myself) and I still love this apartment (please can it be mine?).What I love most, is that it hasn’t dated at all, which I think is a sign of good interior design. Also, seeing this apartment was when my love of mid-century furniture was born.

Have a look for yourselves and be inspired by the light, space, character, colours and beauty of this home…

Paris apartment of Vanessa Bruno

Paris apartment of Vanessa Bruno

Paris apartment of Vanessa Bruno

Paris apartment of Vanessa Bruno

Paris apartment of Vanessa Bruno

Paris apartment of Vanessa Bruno

Paris apartment of Vanessa Bruno

Photographs by Birgitta Wolfgang

Where do you dream of living? x

 

Pin it!

For those of you that know me, you know that I spend a lot of time pinning. I love Pinterest so much, as it allows me to collect all of the inspiring images of interiors, gardens and craft ideas in one place. It also introduces me to new furniture, design ideas, craft projects – pin, pin, pin, pin, pin.

I want to share a few of the pins that are inspiring me the most at the moment. Click on the images to find out their original source…

Paris apartment of fashion designer, Vanessa Bruno photographed by Birgitta Wolfgang

Freestanding butler's sink in vintage kitchen

Decorative claw foot bath painted turquoise

Victorian wood panelled tiled hallway

Circular window

Pretty mantle piece and period fire place

Hand blown glass vase and Roberts radio on window sill

Vintage medical cabinet

Chevron vintage tiles

Mid century dining room

Green velvet sofa

Bring the outdoors in

Cans of tomatoes as kitchen decoration

Happy pinning! x