sail away

These lovely little Jurianne Matter paper boats are made of eco-friendly paper, ready to fold. From the Selvedge shop:

fish supper

As a special treat, the boy cooked up an awesome tuna steak with rocket and bean salad from Jamie's iPhone app (who else?). 'I'm a genius!' he declared and, for once, he was right. It was the most tasty thing I've eaten in a long time:

refreshing

Start saving now for these Toast tumblers, hand made from recycled glass in Damascus (£29.50 for a set of four). Perfect for picnics or al fresco dining! (Wildly optimistic at this time of year, I know).

wickle

Nestled in my favourite corner of Sussex, Wickle is perhaps the loveliest shop in England and, let me tell you, I don't make that claim lightly. Top of today's wishlist is this Muskmallow eau de parfum, tied with a beautiful solid silver charm of a chicken by the jeweller Jude Kenny, which they describe as 'a sensual and rosey scent with a musky erotic note'.

studio mela

I just got this Studio Mela print back from the framers and am super pleased with it - now busy deciding where it should go:





These are some of their other limited edition prints (I like to think that the bottom one looks like me and the boy):

petite properties

January is accompanied by a long list of things to do around the flat - hanging pictures, clearing out my wardrobe, making curtain ties. When it's all done and I've created a little nook of space, I intend to fill it with one of these totally charming Shelf Cities, from The Oak Leaves:

Why is really small stuff always so appealing?

beautiful biscotti

Snowed in, I made Christmas biscotti (from a  BBC good food recipe), packed full of spices, nuts and dried fruit. It was the first time I'd tried making them and they worked out perfectly. They'll keep for up to a month in a tin, but I'm quite sure we'll have scoffed them all long before then.

christmas cards

I thought I'd start December with a round up of my favourite Christmas cards. First up, this from dicky bird (£1.90 each), who I came across at Midcentury.Modern:

I love Ruth Green's work, and you can buy these handprinted cards (£5 for a pack of five) at not on the high street:

These are part of a set from the marvellous gemmabear on etsy:

I did try hard to source all my cards from UK suppliers, but couldn't resist these from Vandalia Street Press in Saint Paul:

and these from Lucky Bee Press in Santa Cruz:

Both will deliver to British shores. 

crafternoon

Spent a very happy afternoon crafting with friends. We made pom poms for my Christmas tree and super cute felted acorns, as seen on i diy:

mini men

These handsome little men were created from my all time favourite winter biscuit recipe (thank you Nigella). They're made with mixed spice and when you bake them the smell is, to me, the epitome of festive warmth.

anna fewster

Anna Fewster is a Brighton-based letterpress printer and book artist, who creates delightful paper goods on a vintage Adana Eight-Five platen press. Each piece is unique, produced with careful attention on a small scale and in short runs, under the imprint Lampyridae Press. You can read more about Anna's work and see bespoke commissions on her website, or you can purchase a range of pieces from her etsy shop
 

catherine tough

Spotted these darling knitted lavender hearts by textile designer Catherine Tough in Abode:

upcycled vases

Lately, I've been buying firefly tonics at the Italian deli on my way to work. My favourite is 'sharpen up'. Not only are they delicious and packed full of all sorts of healthy things that your body needs, but they also make amazing little vases.

before...

and after...

brown paper packages, tied up with string...

I adore these illustrated brown paper bags from humunuku's etsy shop:

wedding card

Some exceptionally good friends of mine are getting married this weekend in Dorset. I cannot wait to celebrate with them (and to post some pictures of the festivities for you to enjoy). I made them this card for the occasion. They both love travelling so I incorporated a vintage map, which I got from a second hand bookshop for a mere pound. The card came from the Chelsea College art shop, which is full of crafting delights and is exceptionally good value. If you're ever in Pimlico it's well worth a visit.

a weekend away

A few weekends ago, I spent a debauched hen weekend at The Residence, a magnificant Georgian townhouse in Bath. The property is available for hire all year round, sleeps up to 15 people and makes the perfect location for getting together a big group of friends. It even has its own cocktail bar, complete with sparkly floor, what more could a girl ask for?

We passed perhaps the most entertaining Saturday afternoon that I've ever had at The Makery, a fantastic creative hub and craft studio that is run by the ever lovely and hugely talented Kate, a friend of the hen.

atelier eva juliet

I am a total Francophile. Check out this adorable print from Atelier Eva Juliet (via Etsy):

 

home sweet home

I thought I'd start by sharing a few pictures of our new home and the inspiration for this blog.

It's a victorian conversion flat, with a bright red front door. I fell in love as soon as I saw it.



The boy and his best friend jim ripped up the carpet in the living room to sand and varnish the floorboards. It was a super hot day and they emerged at the end of it tired and sweaty and coated in a very thick layer of orange sawdust.

You can find sideboards like ours for about £40 on eBay, but it helps to be able to collect them. I sanded it down, revarnished the top and painted the sides and doors to give it more of a vintage modern feel.