Looking back on 2020

December 21, 2020

I’ve written year reviews on my blog for a long time and I’m quite annoyed with myself for skipping it last year, I don’t really know why I did. This year though, it feels like a necessity to have some kind of record of 2020. It was the year that so much happened, but yet so little.

When I was looking through photos for this, there were a few months were we really didn’t do much at all. I’m also a bit annoyed with myself for not documenting more of the unusual moments in the past year - like wearing face masks, home schooling etc. I guess at the time it seemed mundane and un-photogenic, but now it feels like so much of what the last year looked like. Anyway, on to what I did photograph… let’s skip back to January 2020, just before our lives changed so much…

JANUARY

Heju’s gorgeous home which we featured in Volume 9 of 91 Magazine

The year started off quite fun. Myself and photographer Jemma Watts took a day trip over to Paris to shoot a gorgeous home for 91 Magazine. We had a lovely morning shooting the space and afterwards we did a bit of shopping before our train back. (We did run into some slightly scary street protests though, which wasn’t so fun!)

January saw another work-related trip, this time to Margate with my colleague Hannah. We were there on a recce for the 91 Mag event we were planning to run in the summer, which of course had to be cancelled. We had such a great day planned for June, working with these guys above and many others, so hopefully we will be able to reschedule this for 2021!

I also hosted the first of our online workshops in January, which was something I’d had in the pipeline for a while and turned out to be the perfect addition to the business for 2020, considering what was soon to happen. It made up for the absence of the in-person events as we were able to connect with and help lots of small business owners across the world. As well as attendees from all corners of the UK, we also welcomed people from across Europe and the US which was amazing.

FEBRUARY

When I was looking through photos I scrolled past a screenshot I’d taken on the 31st Jan which I guess I must’ve Whats App’ed to my other half - it was a BBC news update saying the first case of coronavirus had been identified in the UK. I guess that was the day it all officially kicked off here for us. It just took the government a bit of time to do anything about it, so February still felt relatively normal. These shots above are from one of the last visits I would make into London for the rest of the year. It honestly feels so strange to think of getting on a busy tube train or bustling round a museum now - something we all took for granted, but would soon give anything to be able to do.

In Feb, we also took our last mini break before the country went into lockdown a few weeks later. I remember at this point we were definitely talking about it more and were wondering what would happen, but we were still very much going about our lives as normal. I remember we stopped off in Bristol on our way home from Wales and met some family for a cosy lunch on a tiny restaurant table and I popped in this mini plant shop - again all things that became impossible to do as time moved on.

One thing I got into doing at home and continued throughout the spring and summer, was propagating plants. I’ve spent a lot of money on plants over the last few years, but finally felt I had enough knowledge to give propagation a go. Although out of these six specimens here, I think only two of them have managed to survive! It’s all a learning curve and I did have more success later in the year!

MARCH

Getting Volume 9 of 91 Magazine out in lockdown

March is when the world was turned upside down. But it wasn’t til towards the end of the month that the UK actually went into a full lockdown, so for some reason we thought we could make a start on our bathroom renovation! We’d had quotes, so we decided to make a start on ripping out the old one. Thankfully, we left the essentials in place, as the bathroom is still looking pretty much like it does in the above photo!

Like so many other parents around the world, we suddenly became teachers for the next few months, which was tricky on one level but interesting on another. We discovered more about our daughter and where her strengths and weaknesses lie, and we had the chance to teach her things that we feel are important that might not necessarily be covered in the curriculum. Of course, the battle was both of us trying to continue with our work minus childcare, and for a while I was terrified that our printers would have to close, and I wouldn’t be able to get the new issue of 91 Magazine printed.

APRIL, MAY & JUNE (Lockdown 1.0)

lots of lockdown walks in the countryside

Thankfully, my printers stayed open and we got 91 off to print on schedule. I didn’t have my usual team help with packing all our pre-orders and subscriptions though, so I had to enlist the help of the immediate family! Another home-schooling lesson - sometimes when you run your own business, you have to do the not-so-fun jobs too!

The rest of our April reads like a huge lockdown cliché! We went on daily walks in our local area, we did lots of crafty things like flower-pressing and of course we got really into jigsaws! We had lunch together in the garden every day and again, like so many others across the country we cracked on with some DIY - painting quite a lot of our uPVC windows and doing a bit of upcycling too!

It’s heartbreaking knowing so many people have had really difficult experiences due to the pandemic, from redundancy to loneliness to losing loved ones. Sometimes it hard to bear the suffering that this horrible virus has brought to so many. This year has definitely made me so grateful for all I have, and I can honestly say I feel different because of it. We were so lucky we were both able to continue working and that we have plenty of space and a garden to enjoy. I don’t think I even experienced any boredom throughout as I can always find something to do between working, home-schooling, housework etc. While it hasn’t been an easy year by any means, I will look back on these months in lockdown with a strange kind of fondness, where we got to spend so much time together as a family, really appreciating and supporting each other in every way we could. I think our daily lunches in the garden all together must be one of my best memories - when do you ever get to do that?! We probably never will again either!

JULY

Gorgeous independent shop Frank in Whitstable

As much as I am happy pottering around at home, July did feel like a breath of fresh air; being able to get out in the world again and do some relatively normal things! We were able to celebrate Ruby’s birthday with a small kids party and my folks were even able to visit from Northern Ireland. Once the school term finished, we started taking little day trips to the coast, visiting Whitstable and Deal, and what wonderful weather we had too. It was so nice to be able to see friends again and we spent an afternoon with some wandering around the lavender fields near us. We also continued with some of the DIY in the house - painting the inside of the patio doors and we tiled underneath the windows to add some colour. We finally got a new dining table too, so this space started to feel much nicer. I still need to paint the struts on the glass ceiling…. a job for 2021!

AUGUST

Camping again - this time in windy Wales!

August was a great month. One of the things we had started to do during the lockdown was grow things from seed. Then in August I built a raised bed in the garden and planted out lots of things we’d grown - basil, tomatoes, chillies, sunflowers, nasturtiums and carrots. The basil & sunflowers did brilliantly, but I think I need a bit more practice with the rest as you’ll see in next month’s pics! I think we sowed the seeds a bit late really.

It was so lovely to be able to take some time away from home, and unbelievably I was finally convinced to give camping a go! We did two trips - one with family and friends in Sussex and one to Wales, just the three of us. I think the photos of Ruby with all her cousins and friends lined up holding hands is one of my favourite photos from this year. They had the best time together even though it was SUPER hot the week we were there! Our trip to Wales was a bit more stormy, but it was still fun and we stopped off in Cheltenham for a night and also managed a trip to Daylesford Organic which is just gorgeous. This is why I love looking back on the year - especially this year - as it is a reminder that there were good times amongst the tougher times, and I’m so happy that the summer months allowed this.

SEPTEMBER

getting the next issue of 91 ready to print

Volume 10 of 91 Magazine - created in lockdown

September certainly brought about a sense of normality as the schools returned, although remember those first couple of weeks when every kid in the country caught a cold and every parent rushed to get them a Covid test and there was barely one to be found?! It was nice to be back in a normal work routine though, and we got the second edition of 91 off to the printers.

Lots was happening in the garden, our sunflowers looked amazing (although some of them of them decided they’d face over the neighbours fence instead of into our garden!) Our carrots were disappointing, but perhaps I just pulled them to early?! Growing things is such a learning curve and I’m looking forward to having another crack at it in 2021.

Ruby desperately wanted a hamster, which I succumbed to. And while I knew I’d be the one who ended up cleaning it’s cage every week, she has actually stayed pretty engaged with it. Even though we’ve had a cat since before she was born, it’s nice for her to have a pet that is hers.

OCTOBER

In early October, I turned 39! I honestly can’t believe I’m nearly 40 sometimes. I’m desperately trying to turn my mindset around for the big birthday next year and be excited about it. So many women have told me their 40s are the best and I’m really trying to look at getting older with a different perspective. If we can, I’d love a nice holiday somewhere to celebrate. (hint, hint!)

At the October half term, we were due to go to Wales and Herefordshire for a few nights, but Wales had just went into another lockdown so that part was cancelled. We did go to Herefordshire and stayed in a cute little cottage and it was so nice to have a change of scenery, even just for two nights. Disappointment and cancelled plans have been a recurring theme this year, but with each one, we did our best to appreciate the reasons and simply make the most of what we could do.

No trick or treating this Halloween (which to be honest, I didn’t mind!) instead we painted pumpkins, make yarn ghosts and made some quite successful cat ears!

NOVEMBER (LOCKDOWN 2.0)

The lack of photos from November is a tell tale sign that we went back into a lockdown this month. Not a lot was happening other than work and school. We did a huge clear out in the house though - we got a couple of Hippo bags - have you ever used them?! Like a skip but a giant bag that you fill and they come and collect. They were great and it was so cathartic to clear lots of stuff from the garden and the house. I spent a day tidying and organising my office too which felt great.

As the month came to a close, there was nothing for it but to start getting festive. We gradually introduce some Christmas decor and even got our tree the last week of November! I’ve always enjoyed the build up to Christmas more than the day itself - making decorations and baking festive treats, watching Christmas movies, and enjoying Christmas outings (usually). For me, it’s all about creating memories and mini traditions, rather than just focusing on this one day and getting presents. I think this really helped me deal with what was coming up in December and reduced the disappointment about the situation.

DECEMBER

As I write this, the country has just found out that the relaxing of Covid rules for Christmas has been scrapped and in our area, we are again pretty much in lockdown for the foreseeable future. It’s been super upsetting for so many who had made plans and I totally get how hard this has been. But for us, what this year has taught us, is to be grateful and at peace with what you have. I’m so thankful of how lucky we are and the fact that we get to spend a cosy little Christmas just the three of us is absolutely fine in our eyes. Of course we’d love to see our family and friends, but when the choice is between waiting a few more months when things are safe again and potentially risking more people’s lives, the decision is easy for us. All you can do is make the most of the situation make it as special as you can, and not constantly look for the negatives that this horrible pandemic has dealt us.

My mind constantly returns to those who have suffered directly at the hands of this virus, either losing a loved one, being left with the debilitating effects of Long Covid, and those who have sacrificed so much to care for those affected. Having a smaller, slower Christmas is a small price to pay. As a family we are totally happy in our little bubble and look forward to the days (hopefully in a few months) when we can embrace our loved ones with no worries and share and create memories with them again. But for now, we are making the most of every moment we get to spend with our daughter, knowing that this too shall pass.

I also had a mini celebration this month after finding out I’ve been shortlisted for Editor of the Year (Homes and Interiors) in the British Society of Magazine Editors awards! This is so exciting for me, as while I’ve won a couple of awards for our blog before, this is the first time the magazine (and me!) have been up for an award. The selection process and final decision is made by peers in the industry which makes it feel even more special, as being recognised by others in the magazine world means SO much. The winner will be announced in February, so I will keep you posted!

As we hurtle towards the end of one of most difficult and strange years in living memory, I am taking stock and considering what this experience has taught us. For sure it has become clear that nature is bigger and more powerful than us. As a species we could be wiped out quite easily and the world would keep on turning, and would probably thrive without us to destroy it. Life is a journey, and we should learn from this year what is truly important. For me, being kind is one of the biggest take-aways. Being kind to our planet and the animals that inhabit it (lets not forget that the exploitation of animals is what got us here). Being kind to our fellow humans and being kind to ourselves is all that really matters. As we enter 2021 and the continuing challenges we face, lets try to support one another, not judge others and simply enjoy the small things that make life worthwhile.

Happy Christmas everyone, wishing you well for the year ahead.

Caroline xxx

10 independent businesses I shopped with this Christmas

December 4, 2020

For some reason, I always feel guilt at this time of year about not blogging here more! I can’t believe April was the last time I wrote something. Shameful. I really do want to be here more next year, but I’m pretty sure I say this every December and then things get busy!

Anyway, I wanted to pop in to share a selection of independent stores I have been spending my pennies with this year. I would say about 85-90% of the presents I buy at Christmas are from small businesses. If they aren’t, it’s generally because it’s not the kind of thing you can source through a small brand or someone has asked for something specific. My daughter asked for a trampoline this year for example!

Bear in mind, that I am mainly shopping for a six year old and for other small people belonging to our family and friends, so there are quite a few shops below that are aimed at children, but there are some lovely lifestyle stores to check out for adult gifts, too.

I’ve shared a few of the things I’ve purchased, but not all just in case any of the recipients are nosying around here! Happy independent shopping!

SQUID INK CO

I bought my daughter one of these gorgeous weaving kits from Squid Ink Co. Although I’ll admit, it may be partly for myself too! I think it’s something we’ll both enjoy. As well as these kits, Squid Ink Co sell some gorgeous concrete plant pots and candle holders and lovely plywood flower presses, too.

www.squidinkco.com

COTTON TWIST

My little lady loves anything crafty and Cotton Twist have some gorgeous plastic free craft kits and art supplies that can even be customised with the child’s name and a message. I think they are really reasonably priced and there are lots of options, from keyring making kits for £2.65 through to large bead kits for making lots of bracelets for their friends for £16.95.

www.cottontwist.co.uk

where to shop independent this Christmas

QUARTERS HOME

For this one I’m sharing a pic not of what I purchased, but what I really want for myself! :) Quarters Home is a newly launched online shop which I’m a little bit in love with. I discovered them when owner Eleanor approached me about stocking 91 Magazine (which you’ll now find on their website). It’s a carefully curated collection of simply lovely things, and given half the chance, I’d buy one of everything.

www.quartershome.co.uk

CHERRYADE

Cherryade in Poundbury is one of those physical stores that I am desperate to visit. Perhaps I’ll suggest a Dorset camping trip next summer just so I can make a detour there! They have just recently launched their online store which has made me SO happy. My only problem with doing my Christmas shopping here, is that (again!) I just wanted everything for myself!

www.cherryade.store

indie stores to shop with this Christmas

BERYLUNE

I’m pretty sure I buy a few things from Berylune every Christmas (and throughout the year!) as they’ve got such a vast range of beautiful goodies, so you can sort out people of all ages in one go. They offer amazing ‘build your own’ treat boxes - meaning you can set your own budget and also select the items you know the recipient will love. I also usually grab a few little stocking fillers, too.

www.berylune.co.uk

shopping independently for great kids gifts

THE DEN KIT CO

What kid doesn’t like making a den and / or making potions?! This website offers really lovely little kits for these and other outdoor activities. Prices ranges from £7.50 for the mini kits and up to £60 for the bigger den kits.

www.thedenkitco.com

BOHEMIA DESIGN

Ok, I’ll admit, the ratio of my purchases from here turned out to be 2:1 - two for me, one for someone else! But hey, you can never have enough storage baskets and I feel like I’m constantly striving for more organisation in our house. My ‘someone else’ purchase was this sweet little picnic basket for my sweet little girl.

www.bohemiadesign.co.uk

MOLLY MEG

Molly Meg is another of my go-to stores for children’s gifts, with such a wide range to choose from, featuring lots of gorgeous brands such as Nobodinoz, Olli Ella, and Rose in April. They have a great selection of the Little People Big Dreams books. I ordered one of those, along with some lovely little stocking fillers.

www.mollymeg.com

ATTIRECARE

So, I’m not sure whether you think it is weird to gift someone cleaning products, but I for one, know a person who spends an incredible amount of time cleaning their shoes, so a kit from Attirecare feels like something they will appreciate it. They also stock a lovely pillow mist spray and garment care products that I also think would make nice gifts. At the moment, they are including a free hand sanitiser with every order - something I think we’ll all still be using for a few more months yet…!

www.attirecare.com

EVA AND ROSE

This was actually a ‘new-to-me’ online shop that I discovered when googling for something specific; the little panda pictured above to be exact. They have one of the biggest collections of Maileg products I’ve seen, which I think are loved by kids and parents alike. They’ve also got a great selection of dressing up items which are always a win.

www.evaandroseboutique.com

There you have it. I shop with many more independent shops and makers throughout the year, but these are just a few I’ve shopped with in the past few weeks for gifts and stocking fillers. I would much rather give a smaller amount of gifts but that are a little bit more special - quality not quantity folks!

I’d love to hear which indie shops you’ve been supporting this year so do leave a comment below so I can check them out!

Merry Indie Christmas one and all! xxx

Slowing down with jigsaws - my top ten

April 14, 2020

It’s been a while since I popped up on here. The first part of this year flew by at breakneck speed; I was so busy working on the new issue of 91 Magazine as well as a picture research project for a book publisher, amongst other things. Then, in the past six weeks life has changed beyond recognition. The global pandemic we are currently living through has forced us to slow down, many of us finding ourselves with less or no work to do, or even if you are still working, you’re probably finding you have a bit more spare time on your hands than usual. Going out for long, leisurely weekend lunches or spending an afternoon browsing the shops are not an option for the time being, so we are all looking for ways to entertain ourselves at home.

If I’m honest, I’m generally pretty happy with spending a lot of time at home. I already work from home and with a young child I rarely go out in the evenings, so it hasn’t felt like a massive adjustment for me. But, I’ve still enjoyed the challenge of finding other things to do rather than spending all my down time in front of the telly. I can’t quite remember how it happened, but myself and the other half have found ourselves really enjoying jigsaw puzzles. Truthfully, if you had have told me six months ago we would be spending hours of our time hunched over an 1000 piece puzzle, I probably would’ve snorted with laughter, but here we are!

Puzzles pictured: left - 500 piece Cat puzzle, £16, 1000 piece Gradient puzzle, £16.99

Activities that occupy your mind, like gardening, colouring and doing jigsaws really are a tonic right now. I know I’m not alone when I say I have had moments where anxiety and worry about the situation has tried to overcome me. I’ve found turning off the news and immersing myself in another activity has really helped.

I must say, I was quite surprised that when I started to look online for jigsaws that there were in fact many more contemporary designs around than I’d expected! Seeing as we are all in the same boat right now, I thought I’d share with you a few that I’ve come across. A few of the ones below have gone out of stock since I initially found them (clearly I’m not the only puzzle fan!), but I’ve included then anyway, as I’m sure they’ll be available again in due course.

1000 piece - Jonathan Adler Now House Vertigo puzzle, £21.50

285 piece LA MURALLA ROJA by Slowdown Studio, £30

1000 piece Midnight Garden puzzle, $22.50

Double sided 500 piece succulent puzzle, £12

1000 piece Love Lives Here puzzle, £13.50

800 piece Bathing with Flowers puzzle, $48

500 piece puzzles in various designs, £16

I’d love to hear if anyone else has been enjoying a puzzle in recent weeks?! Or if you might now give it a try? :)

Having a conscious, more mindful Christmas

December 19, 2019

Over this past year, environmental issues have become mainstream. Many documentaries have brought the plight of our planet into full view and we’ve really had to take stock about how we live our lives day to day. I can honestly say, not a day goes by when I don’t think about it and it has really made me reevaluate how we are approaching Christmas this year.

The more I thought about it, the more I realised that it was not just about being kinder to the planet, although my thoughts about it are mainly underpinned by this, but it was also about society’s need to consume, to want more, to buy buy buy. I won’t lie, I’ve always loved shopping, but just buying for the sake of buying wasn’t making me feel good anymore, in fact it was making me feel terrible. I knew I had to change my habits and also aim to teach my 5 year old that Christmas (and the rest of the year) isn’t just about receiving presents. We need to be more conscious about what we were buying, why we are buying it and what impact it is having, and also just to feel content with what we have already and not believe that something shiny and new would somehow make us feel good.

I did mean to write this post a lot earlier so that it might inspire a different approach to the festive season, but alas, work and life took over, but here it is anyway, and even if it’s too late to implement anything this year, hopefully it might be helpful for future…

BUY LESS BUY BETTER

If you’ve read this blog before, or if you are a 91 Magazine reader, then you’ll know I am a big advocate for shopping independently. Some folk may feel that buying in this way is more expensive and, yes it often is - but the best way to approach it is that you can buy one really lovely gift that has meaning and will last, rather than say, three cheaper items. You can also offset it by buying second-hand for other gifts (see next section)

If you are worried that the gift doesn’t look ‘substantial’ enough, then when the recipient opens the gift, take time to enthuse about it, perhaps tell them a little about the maker or if you’ve used the item yourself (a beauty product, for example) tell them how much you love using it and hope they will too. I find so much more joy in buying from independent shops and makers - they will often wrap it beautifully for you, or put in a handwritten note or sometimes they might even throw in a small extra gift! You definitely don’t get that when purchasing from a big corporate brand. Also, these days, most indie sellers and makers are much more conscious about the environment and will have considered the materials they’ve used in their production and also packaging will often be recyclable.

While many small brands struggle to offer big discounts to compete on days like Black Friday, many will offer them from time to time, whether it’s free delivery or a small amount off your order, so do sign up for emails from your favourite independents so you can take advantage of these as and when they are available.

SHOP SECOND HAND

I believe, now more than ever, it is totally acceptable to give someone a gift that is second-hand. Charity shops, vintage shops and eBay are your friend, and you can honestly find some amazing gems AND save yourself money! It is particularly great when you are buying for children as they more than likely won’t notice that it doesn’t have a label on it or it didn’t come in the original box. (which really doesn’t matter anyway) This year, I have picked up some lovely books for Ruby, both in charity shops and on eBay (a vintage The Snowman book which I’m particularly in love with, for example!). I’ve also got her a gorgeous vintage globe and a Donna Wilson for John Lewis dress both from eBay.

If you are unsure how other members of your family or friends will feel about receiving something second-hand, try and sound them out in advance. I knew, for example that it was fine to give my nephews and nieces second-hand presents as me and my sisters-in-law talk about environmental issues a lot together, and they both also shop second-hand. I found some really lovely things for them in our local charity shops - often brands that I would not be able to afford if they were brand new.

Buying second-hand is not only a great way to be kinder to the planet, you’ll often be helping a charity in the process and I can honestly say the buzz from finding something amazing in a charity or vintage shop totally outweighs the usual retail therapy high you get from buying new, mass-produced items!

EXPERIENCE OVER STUFF

As my daughter is still quite young (she’s 5) and still listens to me (!), I really want to teach her the value of experience over stuff - not just at Christmas - but all year round. Most children, when you ask them what they are most excited for at Christmas, they will probably shout “PRESENTS!”, and Ruby is no exception. But, every time we’ve had this conversation in the past few weeks, I’ve tried to then chat to her about how it’s not just about what is under the Christmas tree, but that it’s about spending time with family, having fun days out and fun days at home, too.

Of course, presents are lovely, but we’ve also been trying to teach her that a present doesn’t always have to be a ‘thing’, it can also be an experience or a kind gesture. In November, it was my husband’s birthday. He has a coat that he’s had for years, but the lining had ripped apart. Instead of asking for a replacement coat, he asked me to have it repaired for him. I really made a big deal of this to Ruby - she came with me to the menders and we talked about how much better it was for the planet to mend daddy’s coat than to just throw it away and buy a new one. Then, a few weeks ago, Ruby asked me if I would mend a hole in her onesie and she said, “that can be your Christmas present to me Mummy” - my heart almost burst into tiny pieces! To be fair, I’m not sure how thrilled she’d be if she opened a parcel with her old, mended onesie inside on Christmas day, but the thought was certainly there. :)

It was also lovely to observe her writing her letter to Santa this year. She decided to only list three things - guitar lessons, a Roald Dahl book and craft supplies. I was so thrilled that she came up with the idea of learning to play guitar (she got a mini guitar for her birthday in the summer) and hopefully it’s something she’ll go on to really enjoy. Maybe in years to come when she is strumming away on her guitar we can remind her that Santa brought her her first lessons back when she was 5! It’s unlikely we’d be reminiscing about how he brought her a LOL doll in five or ten years time!

As her main present from us, we got tickets to go and watch The Snowman at the theatre in January. (hence, the vintage book that I will wrap up with the tickets!) Last year, she got tickets to Disney on Ice from her grandparents and it’s the one thing she got that she still talks about now. Those special family days out mean so much to children - it’s those making of memories that mean more to them, even if they don’t realise it now.

My husband and I decided to not buy each other gifts this year but instead both put money into buying ourselves a little night away in the new year. It feels so nice to almost buy ourselves time together rather than gifts we might not even really want.

TIME TOGETHER

As well as these gifts of experience, I’ve also been trying to do different festive activities with Ruby throughout the month of December. The anticipation of Christmas is almost the most exciting part, and some of my fondest memories as a child are of decorating the tree, wrapping gifts together or days out ahead of the ‘big day’. Granted, it can become costly if you opt to do things like ‘meet Santa at Harrods’ or such like, but children, especially younger ones, don’t necessarily need these kinds of extravagant days out. It can simply be a winter walk, gathering natural objects to decorate your home with, or staying at home making cards or decorations. Ruby loves a day out in London, but not necessarily doing anything in particular. Last weekend we went to Coal Drops Yard in Kings Cross and she was mainly interested in looking at the canal, the colourful Christmas trees and the water fountains! We then had lunch together and browsed the Crafty Fox Market and I talked to her about how lovely it is to buy handmade gifts direct from the people who made them. It was such a lovely, festive day together.

Choosing the most sustainable Christmas tree

TREE AND DECORATIONS

We took a bit more time this year thinking about the most sustainable option for our Christmas tree. When you are considering what to go for, I think it’s worth working out what is best for you and your family. For example, if perhaps you suffer from allergies, then a real tree in the house might not be your best option. If this is the case, then invest in a high quality fake one and make sure you make it last. Pack it away carefully each year and it should last for many years to come. You could also look out for a second-hand one, but do make sure it is good quality, or it probably won’t last.

If you prefer a real tree, then the most sustainable option is a potted tree. But, this might not work for everyone. The idea is to plant it back in the ground each year and then bring it in again every year. You might not have a garden, or if you aren’t particularly green-fingered then the requirement of keeping it alive might be challenging. If you do go for the potted option, a word of advice from a friend of mine who has done this: When you first buy it, choose a relatively small one. Even after just one year, my friend’s tree had grown significantly and they struggled with fitting it inside this year! Give the tree room to grow! We decided against a potted tree as I was unsure of my ability to keep it alive, so we looked into locally grown trees and found a farm about 5 minutes from us. We will then give it over to the recycling men in January.

I recently heard someone talking about how they were planning to buy a full set of new tree decorations this year and it made me wince. The thought of them potentially just chucking out existing (probably plastic) decorations and buying more made me feel really sad for our environment. Our decorations consist of: some inherited from family, a few that we’ve collected gradually over the years and handmade ones. Last year, Ruby and I made some dried orange slices and wool pom poms to hang on the tree and we are using them again this year. They are actually my favourite items on the tree! Making decorations can be one of those activities I mentioned earlier that you can easily do with kids in the run up to Christmas. If you are completely adverse to crafting, then do check out those charity and vintage shops for decorations, you might well find something really cool and retro!

eco friendly way to wrap Christmas presents

Wrapping, packaging and cards

It is a startling statistic that consumers in the UK will use 227,000 miles of wrapping paper each year. This article is really interesting to find out more about the amount of waste we produce at Christmas. It’s tricky, as it’s hard to get away from the fact that part of the excitement of Christmas - especially for children - is the joy of unwrapping a gift. The problem is that a lot of the wrapping paper we buy is not actually recyclable. Anything shiny and/or glittery in particular is not going to be recycled with your paper waste. So, if anything, try and avoid this kind of paper. Brown paper is one of the best options and you can jazz it up for children by using stamps, paints or adding ribbons and pom poms and for adults a sprig or two of greenery or dried flowers looks wonderful.

Easy way to make your own Christmas cards

I don’t tend to send many cards, just a few to family I don’t see often. I usually delve into my drawer of cards and find a few left over from last year before buying or making new ones. Ruby wanted to give some to her school friends, so I decided to make some. I got some plain brown recycled cards, splattered them with green and white paint and added a wooden Christmas shape. It only took me about 20 mins in total to do the paint splattering and then about 10 mins max to glue on the wooden embellishments, so it wasn’t hugely time consuming and it was super easy to do. Ideally I would’ve forgone the cards thing completely, but I think when you’re a kid, it’s part of the bonding process with your classmates, so we tried to do it in the least impactful way possible, I just hope her friends recycle them after! :)

Also, a note on packaging - there is SO much waste generated from gifts at Christmas. Toys are often over-packaged with loads of plastic casing and those toiletry gift sets (that no-one wants anyway!) are always laden with unnecessary packaging. So, going back to my earlier point about buying from independent or from charity shops: these options will reduce the overall amount of packaging you’ll consume. At the end of the day, the child wants the toy so whether it comes unboxed from a charity shop or eBay really doesn’t matter to them. If you are buying online, which I had to do for some items, you will probably notice that independent sellers will be more considerate about how they package their goods than bigger companies who shipped their goods from a warehouse. So buy indie, buy second-hand! :)

FOOD

SO much food is wasted at Christmas. I’m sure we will all admit to buying too much and cooking too much on the big day. This year we have decided to eat out on Christmas Day. This is for a few reasons - the obvious reduction of stress - no shopping, cooking or cleaning up to do. Then, since in the past few months I’ve made the change to become vegan, and my hubby isn’t eating meat either, we thought it would be easier overall for the family to eat out, that way everyone can choose what they want to eat, and no-one is being forced to eat something they don’t want (or cook something they don’t agree with). With it being my first year as a vegan, I’m also pretty sure my local pub will make a much better nut roast that I could attempt at home! Also, I imagine each person’s meal will be served on their own plate, rather than the table being laden with lots of different side dishes, so I reckon there will definitely be less wastage. I’m not too sure on whether it is better or worse for the environment for us to eat in a pub on Christmas Day, but for this year at least it feels like the right thing for us to do.

EVERYTHING we do has an impact, and while it can become overwhelming to get hung up about every little detail, I feel like just making a few small changes to how we approach this massively over-commericalised time of year can make a difference. It hasn’t dulled my enjoyment of the holiday season one bit, to be honest, it has actually made it much more enjoyable. I’ve have special moments with my daughter, I’ve relished the challenge of finding gifts that are kinder to the planet, and I’m definitely feeling WAY less stressed than usual as I don’t have to think about cooking a huge meal next week! I’d love to hear if you have any thoughts or other suggestions on how to be more conscious and mindful about Christmas, It will continue to be a work in progress. Have a wonderful Christmas all and see you in 2020!

Guest bedroom makeover

November 17, 2019

I recently wrote about my plans for our guest bedroom and I’m happy to say it’s now all done! yay! You don’t know how good it feels to have this room sorted as I always cringed when we had people staying as it was just so horrible in there! You can see a few ‘before’ pics here.

It’s really tricky to photograph this room as you are shooting towards the window a lot of the time, but hopefully these images give you a bit of an idea of how it looks!

Small spare bedroom makeover - bare plaster and pink walls

Guest bedroom makeover - bare plaster walls and pink paint

bedroom makeover - pale pink, mustard yellow and forest green colour palette

Transforming the room was relatively straight-forward and low cost. Firstly, I stripped all of the old wallpaper and we then had the entire room re-plastered - including the ceiling as it was artex previously. We then had some electrical work done as I wanted the hanging pendants on either side of the bed. Once the tradesmen had done their bit, it was over to me to finish the room. We pulled up the horrendous carpet and simply painted the floorboards white. For the walls, I did the reverse of what I did in my office - I left the top half and the ceiling as bare plaster and painted the lower half in pale pink, as well as the skirting boards. I tried out loads of paint samples but ended up going with the same colour that I have in my office as it seems to work best alongside the plaster. It’s Dulux Jasmine Shimmer. I love this paint technique - it’s great if you’re a lazy decorator like me, as you don’t even need a ladder to reach the high bits and it takes half the time! A good masking tape is essential though!

I’m so pleased with the lighting - I love the dash of mustard yellow against the pink and plaster walls - they are by Muuto, which I bought from Nordic Nest. I also changed the main light to a shade from Made.com as I wanted to bring in another element of the forest green colour. We’ve keep the walls quite simple at the moment - I think as it’s a small room it needs simplicity, so we’ve just added a couple of pieces of art which I was kindly gifted by Juniqe. (There is actually a 35% off discount code for their shop at the bottom of this post BTW!) I went for the GRRRL Poster and The Purple Umbrella. I found the vintage cane mirror in a little shop during a recent visit to Winchester.

There is not much space on either side of the bed, so my plans for a wall shelf had to be abandoned when it arrived and I realised our guests would just keep knocking into it! So, again I’ve kept it really simple with some plants by the bed. I bought the basket from Scandiborn and the yellow pot is from Arket. The little vintage table is one I’ve had for ages. I’ve actually kept quite a few bits in this room that we previously had - the bed, the bedding, cushion and a clothes stand (unseen).

We had these drawers in here before too, but I’ve attempted a bit of an Ikea hack on them! They’ve been painted in Craig and Rose Angelica and I added these drawer pulls from Anthropologie (which I’ve had for a few years). I love the deep green next to the pale pink.

I’m so pleased with this little room and despite it not being ‘in use’ every day, I really enjoy coming up the stairs and getting a little view of it as I walk past, so it was worth getting on and doing it! I’m sure our guests will thank us too that they no longer have to walk on that manky carpet! I’ve love to hear what you think! :)

As I mentioned before, Juniqe kindly gifted the two art prints to me, and they are offering my readers an amazing 35% off for a limited time. The minimum order is £19 and you just need to use the code CAROLINE35 at the checkout. The offer is valid until 24th November 2019 so go take a look at all the lovely prints they’ve got before it’s too late! www.juniqe.com

Paris Airbnb of dreams

November 10, 2019

This post has been in the pipeline for a while, as we actually visited Paris at the end of August during the school holidays. We decided to do a stop off in Paris on the way to and from my in-laws in the Dordorgne. We had two nights in the city on the way there and one night on the way back. When I’m searching for Airbnb’s, I swear I literally spend hours on the website before I finally decide on a place. There’s so much to consider - the location, the cost, whether it’s suitable for your families needs, not to mention how stylish it is! ha! When I came across this apartment I really wanted it to be the perfect fit for us, and it turned out it was.

You never really know what you are going to get when you book an Airbnb, but this one really exceeded expectations. Paris is known for it’s tiny apartments, but this place is super spacious - a large kitchen with a dining table, through to a lovely living room with a typical Parisian balcony and then two really spacious bedrooms. The second bedroom had only a single bed, which was fine for our daughter, but I’m unsure if they can provide another fold out bed if you have more than one child. There was certainly room for a travel cot if you brought your own.

With Airbnb’s, I always think there is a fine line between making the place feel homely but not having all your worldly possessions on show. This place had it just right in that there were a few carefully chosen objects dotted around to style the space - books, ceramics, artwork, plants and dried flowers - making it feel stylish and inviting but not cluttered. They had loads of built-in storage in the kitchen and the bedrooms which obviously allowed the owners to store their own stuff when they weren’t there. Since we stayed there, I actually discovered that the apartment was designed by Heju - a French architect duo who I’m a little bit in love with. You can see more of the spaces they’ve designed on their site - just dreamy.

With an apartment like this, you could almost not leave the place during your stay, but we managed to drag ourselves away and the other bonus was that it is located in the Montmartre area of the city. We hadn’t stayed here before, but it was super close to the metro station, and was in walking distance of the Sacre Coeur. Early one morning, my other half went for a run and said this was the best time to visit the Sacre Coeur - before the droves of tourists showed up, so he got to enjoy the wonderful view of the city, almost interrupted.

The nearest metro was Jules Joffrin, which made it easy to travel around the city, It’s also well situated if you are planning to visit the flea markets at Clignancourt. On our return trip from the Dordogne, unfortunately this Airbnb was unavailable, so we stayed at Mama Shelter, which was also really fab, but I’ll save that, along with a few of my fave places, for another post!

BTW, I feel like I need to point out, this post isn’t sponsored - it wasn’t a gifted stay - I just loved it so much that I wanted to share! :)

We paid around £130 per night which I thought was pretty reasonable for such a great location and amazing accommodation. You can check out their listing here.

Guest bedroom plans

September 18, 2019

I wrote about our plans for our master bedroom nearly a year ago (unbelievably!), but, believably, we have yet to implement any of these plans! :( I’m still desperate to sort that room out, but it has kinda fallen down the list of priorities right now. However, we have actually made a start on the last spare bedroom, which is actually the one that guests stay in, so even though it is used less it seems more important to get done.

It really was a horrible room. We hadn’t done anything to it as you really couldn’t polish this turd, it needed to wait until we could give it a complete overhaul. The carpet was gag-inducing, and the walls were covered in a yellow-beige-y painted paper. So, at the start of the summer holidays, I decided enough was enough, and stripped the walls to get things going. We’ve since had some electrical work done in there and this week we’ll have the entire room re-plastered as the walls are a mess and the ceiling had some of that gorgeous textured paper on it!

It is a small room, and the bed can only really go one way, so I’m having to work around it in terms of fitting anything else in there. It also has to be practical in terms of what our guests need when they come to stay - so there will be a narrow set of Ikea drawers which I’m currently painting in Craig and Rose Angelica and a wooden clothes rail, which will both be either side of the door.

Other than that, we are going to have hanging bedside lights, and I’m thinking a small wall shelf on one side of the bed, and possibly a mustard made locker on the other as I know my mum likes to keep some of her bits and bobs here as they visit regularly from N. Ireland. I absolutely love the colour palette of the image above by one of my fave designers/bloggers Marij Hessel of Enter my Attic.

Below is my moodboard which I am roughly working to. We are going to keep the bed; as much as my design eye would love to change it, it is a perfectly good bed, and in fact everyone who stays comments on how comfy it is, so for now, it stays… We plan to rip up the carpet this weekend (the final manky carpet to be stripped from this house! hurrah!) and we will paint the floorboards white to be in keeping with the rest of the first floor. I’m still a little undecided on the walls - I just love the look of bare plaster, so I am almost tempted to do the same thing I did in my office - but then it feels a little weird to do the same thing! I’ve ordered a sample pot of Earthborn Paints Peach Baby, so I shall see when that arrives….

Pink, green and mustard interior mood board

Above: Muuto mustard light fitting, £46, Annabelle; Green pendant light, £29, Made; The Purple Umbrella Print, €23.99 for 60x90cm, Juniqe; Rattan shelf, £48,95, Scandiborn; Green Mustard Made locker, £129, Rose & Grey; Basket, £29, Pea Style; Berber style rug, £99, La Redoute; GRRRL poster, €19.99, Juniqe; Pom pom cushion, £36, Trouva; Earthborn paints

I’d love to hear what you think of the plans! I can’t wait to share the results when it’s all done. (hopefully within the next couple of months!)

Small sustainable steps we've made

June 27, 2019

Living more sustainably and more ethically has become increasingly important to me over the past six months while I’ve been absent from this blog. So, I thought I’d stop by and share a few of the small changes I’ve been making to our daily lives. First, here’s a little of what’s been going on in my head…

Climate change and the plight of our planet is not a new story by any means, but it seems that in recent months the world is finally taking notice. I know I certainly have and I have felt so much embarrassment and shame over how we, as a society, have been conducting our wasteful lives over the last few decades. I cringe at how I used to gloat about the bargain clothing I’d picked up for next to nothing, or how I didn’t give a second thought to purchasing yet another bottle of mineral water or a hot drink in a single use cup.

When you watch or read about the effects us humans have had on our planet, I honestly don’t know how anyone could not feel guilt. We have completely disrespected our beautiful environment and the other beings we share it with.

One of the toughest things for people to get their heads around, I think, is that in many ways, we almost need to regress in terms of ‘convenient living'. For so long, we’ve wanted everything to be easy, quick, convenient - and that is what retailers and manufacturers have catered to - we want our lives to be made ever easier. In many cases, it’s this need for convenience which is causing the problem. For one, it has exasperated the overuse of plastic packaging - pre-prepared vegetables in plastic for example, rather than just buying a few loose carrots and chopping them by hand. Clothing - we’ve had the convenience of buying something new that’s super cheap, rather than take the time to mend an existing item. Our mindset has been: ‘it’s so cheap, it doesn’t matter if I throw it in the bin after a few wears’. But, when you discover that 235 million items of clothing went into landfill last year - and that is in the UK alone - it really makes you stop and think.

I’m not going to bleat on about all the issues that urgently need addressing or the facts and figures associated with the problem, as I’ll assume you are already aware, or if you are not, then there are lots of resources out there to find out (a few which I’ve mentioned here). Instead, I thought I’d share a few of the changes I have made - they are nothing drastic -just small, easy steps towards trying to make a difference. I’ve found it best to do it one step at a time and tackle things as you go along rather than trying to change everything in one fell swoop.

Some people may think that it’s not individuals that need to change, it’s governments and big businesses, and yes, they definitely need to tackle some of the big issues with urgency. But, there is so much we can do individually that can make a difference.

There are two thoughts that constantly play on my mind and that help to spur me on:

1/ The idea that my daughter could turn round in 20 years time and say ‘why didn’t you do anything mum?’ How could I explain to her that I could have lived differently to reduce my impact on the environment but I choose not to. It’s not fair on her and it’s not fair on our future generations as a whole for us to not do anything.

2/ I saw a placard that a young person was holding at a climate change protest that said: ‘The biggest threat to our planet is assuming someone else will save it.’ This hit home, as it’s easy to think that we’ll leave this enormous task to the powers that be, but small changes collectively can make a big impact, so we can’t assume that we are not part of the problem individually and that we can’t influence the people in power to do something too.

MY 8 SMALL SUSTAINABLE STEPS

1. I’ve reduced my consumption of meat. I would like to say I have went full vegetarian, but at the moment I am still eating chicken and fish but avoiding all other meat. This has probably been the biggest change to my lifestyle, although so far I haven’t found it that difficult. After watching Cowspiracy, I was convinced I needed to cut out beef, and then one of the comments made in David Attenborough’s Climate Change documentary stuck with me which was that ‘one of the most impactful things we can do in the fight against climate change is to cut down on beef and lamb.’ I know there are many issues with eating chicken and fish also, but you know, baby steps, and I am trying to be mindful of which chicken and fish we buy.

2. I’ve swapped to oat/coconut milk. I was finding large cartons of milk in our fridge problematic for a few reasons - the single use plastic and how many we’d get through a week, as well as the production cycle for cows milk. Initially, we switched to having our milk delivered in glass bottles which felt great to be cutting out the plastic, but then we decided to give some of the alternative milks a try and found it totally fine. Annoyingly, you can’t yet have these milks delivered in glass bottles, but at least they are in cartons rather than plastic bottles.

3. Switching to eco-friendly cleaning products. Ever since becoming a mother, I’ve felt uneasy about having bottles of toxic solutions in our cupboards. It just feels wrong to be actively putting toxins into our air and on our surfaces and clothes. So, I am slowly phasing out any we still have and replacing them with alternatives. I’ve been using brands like Kinn Living - whose products are lovely, although a little pricey and still in plastic bottles. I’ve recently bought an Eco Egg for our laundry which is amazing - it does 720 washes and cuts out the need for detergents and in turn the plastic bottles. I’d also love to try making some of my own cleaning products when time allows.

4. Reducing my clothing purchases. The True Cost was one of the first documentaries I watched about anything to do with the environment. The fashion issue feels like it is possibly one of the most complicated - there are so many facets to it - from who is making your garments - are they being paid fairly? What are their working conditions? - to the materials your clothes are made from to the fact that we are just buying too much and allowing it to end up in landfill. If budget wasn’t a concern, then opting to buy only from ethical brands when you really need something new, but as this isn’t always possible, I think the goal is to simply buy less and buy more mindfully. I ask myself a lot more questions before I commit to a purchase these days (often ending in me not bothering!) I’m being mindful of the fact that I don’t need something new for every occasion, and if I do want to wear something ‘new’, I’ll consider asking a friend if I can borrow something, or I will check out second hand options before going down the ‘brand new’ route.

5. Decorating my home with plants. The homewares market can be just as damaging as the fashion industry as we are constantly being told to ‘update our homes’ and ‘get the latest trends’, so we need to stop and think a little about what we are adding to our homes also. I’ve become a huge plant geek over the past few years so I’ve found that rather than buying objects to decorate our home, I’ve been turning to plants more and more. When I do buy things for the home, I am again much more thoughtful about whether it’s needed, and mainly opting for small, independent brands where possible.

6. Switching out bathroom products. As well as the kitchen, the bathroom is big producer of single use plastic, so we’ve been trying to cut back here. We switched our toilet roll to Who Gives a Crap (a toilet roll delivery service), we changed most of our hand soaps to bars instead of pump bottles and I’ve also stopped using cotton wool pads for removing my make up. I bought one of these muslin cloths and this cleansing butter which is all I need for taking my make up off, reducing the need for loads of plastic bottles of cleanser, toner etc. I’ve also switched to a reusable tampon applicator & organic tampons by Dame. I tried a shampoo bar a while ago and didn’t get on with it at all, but I’ve just bought a Lush one which I’ve heard are good, so hopefully that will suit better. We also switched Ruby’s toothbrush to a bamboo one. Hubby and I use electric ones, but we’ve had them for years and probably only change the heads every 6 months or so.

7. Reducing plastic toys. I suddenly became very aware of how much plastic is used in kids toys and the short life span that most toys have in our lives. I feel like it’s something that should definitely be addressed more widely. It is a constant battle, but I am slowly trying to teach Ruby about plastic pollution and why it’s best for us not to buy these items. Recently, she really wanted to go to McDonalds, and while we do go now and again, I had to sit her down and explain why we couldn’t go so often as I know her main incentive is the happy meal toy. I have banned magazines which have plastic toys stuck on the front and mostly I buy her Dot magazine from time to time, which she loves. Another great independent magazine we’ve bought is Bravery - it’s from the US and pricey, so she usually gets it as part of a birthday or Christmas gift. It focuses on an inspirational ‘brave’ woman in each issue so has a great message. It is tough as she will be given plastic toys as gifts, but I have decided for her birthday in a few weeks I will request that people don’t buy her plastic toys. I’m also putting together plastic-free party bags for her friends.

8. Thoughtful food shopping. I’ve found this to be one of the hardest tasks. Sadly our village doesn’t have a regular food market and not much in the way of independent food stores, so we are a little bit restricted to the major supermarkets. I get so frustrated by the fact that so much of the food in packaged in plastic - and like was highlighted in the recent TV show by Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall and Anita Rani - a lot of the loose fruit and veg is more expensive than if you buy it packaged! ridiculous! I have started using the only greengrocers in our village and buying it loose - ironically the staff in there always automatically try to give me a plastic bag rather than trying to promote no plastic themselves! Generally, I am simply trying to be more mindful when shopping and opting for the options with least packaging where possible, and live in the hope that someone might open a zero-waste food shop near me soon!

I’d love to hear what small steps you’ve made and if you are finding it hard or easy to make the changes? We can’t ignore this problem anymore, even the high temperatures this week - particularly in France and Spain - surely highlight that things aren’t right. It’s SO much easier than ever to start making small changes, so let’s do what we can, while we still can!

A 2018 review & a new blog perspective

January 18, 2019

We are only just over two weeks into the new year and I already feel like I am a bit late with this post. It is a constant battle to stay on top of everything, and while I love writing here, I’ve found I’ve had to succumb to prioritisation, and the tasks that help to bring in the cash are what need to come first.

The past few months, I’ve even toyed with the idea of closing this blog, but every time I think of it, it makes me feel sad. This is where my creative journey began, I feel like it is almost a part of me. My life, interests and style have evolved over the past 10 years since I started blogging, but that’s ok, and I’ve decided that it’s also ok to just check in here when I can, wherever I’ve got something to share, without feeling the pressure to make it a business.

91 Magazine has very much become my main focus business-wise, so I feel happy to let Patchwork Harmony be here, quietly in the background. Always there when I’ve got something to share, like an old friend who doesn’t mind that you haven’t called for a while, and who accepts you however much you’ve changed over the years.

The blog has changed too over the years, I guess reflecting me and my life - I feel like it has slowly evolved into more of a personal lifestyle blog rather than solely interiors. I will of course continue to share our own renovations and home projects, but the topics I am feeling the urge to write about here are more focused around general life as well as my passion for creative and independent business. I see this blog more as a platform to share my thoughts on things I feel strongly about rather than trying to ‘make a living as a blogger’. I wrote a post last year reflecting on ten years in blogging and how the industry has changed, which I think is what has led me to change my perspective on my blog.

So, looking ahead to 2019, I am going to simply go with it. If I write here - great - if I don’t, I’m not going to beat myself up about it. There’s only so much one woman can do, but I do hope to pop in here now and again with posts that will hopefully be inspirational and/or thought-provoking.

I’ve written these ‘year in pics’ posts for as long as I can remember, not minding if no-one gives a stuff about my year, but because it is simply something I enjoy doing for me. I love to look back and recall the things I’ve done with my family, or the achievements I’ve made in my career - it is a mini celebration of what has passed over the last 12 months. Yes, not every day or month has been rosy, but rather than dwell on the bad, these posts give me the chance to reflect on the good things, and feel gratitude for life’s journey, which otherwise can seem to hurtle by in a heart beat.

Even if you aren’t a blogger, I really recommend you take some time to look back on your year and maybe jot down a few of the lovely things that you’ve done. I find Instagram and the photos on your phone are good places to refer to when reminding yourself of events. Here’s how my 2018 looked….

the gorgeous From Victoria shop in Lewes

end of the day drinks in a super edgy Mexico City bar

Jan-Mar

The year kicked off in a super busy fashion - I was either at home - working, decorating or planning our kitchen renovation - or I was travelling. Actually, I fitted in quite a bit of travelling in the first three months of the year! We decided to make a bit of an effort as a family to take more day trips, so we visited Margate in January and Lewes in February - both towns I love for their independent vibe.

At the end of February I popped to Bordeaux with my friend and 91 colleague Jemma to shoot a home tour for the magazine. Then at the start of March, I got an amazing opportunity to travel to Mexico City as a media partner at a design fair there. That was definitely a highlight of my year. If you had’ve told me last Christmas I would go to Mexico in a couple of months, I would never have believed it! It is such a cool city, rich in culture as well as hip and edgy, with loads of great shops, cafes and restaurants to explore. I wrote a guide to the city if you are thinking of visiting.

Straight after arriving home from there, we went back to my homeland of Northern Ireland to celebrate my dad’s 70th birthday. And bam! the first quarter of the year was done!

The glorious UK summer of 2018! Beach time on the Isle of Wight.

One of my fave shops ever - Rust Jewellery in Yarmouth

Apr-Jun

April is always a busy month for me as the magazine is published, but once the majority of the work for that was out of the way, we took ourselves off on another little trip! This time, we headed up to Wales, where we’d be invited to stay at this lovely place. I’d never been to Wales before - I really loved it, and got to visit a shop I’ve been wanting to go to for literally years - Baileys Home & Garden - although they have a no photo policy (which I find quite strange in this day and age) so no pics from there. We did discover some other lovely shops - more about them in this post.

Back in London, we were basking in a pretty glorious summer, and I fondly remember a lovely day at the Green Rooms Market which I also wrote about here. I remember I took Ruby in her buggy which must have been one of the last times I used it, as it now seems so funny to imagine her riding in a buggy -she is so grown up these days!

Writing this, I’m realising how much we got away this year! At the end of May we made our annual trip to the Dordogne to see family, visiting the flea markets plus eating and drinking a lot. I took one of my fave pics of Ruby and her dad here too, it’s still my screensaver on my phone now!

We did a day trip to Hastings to photograph some of the fab indie shops there for the 91 blog, and we rounded off June by celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary on the Isle of Wight. At our wedding, our celebrant gave us a wooden box with a bottle of wine and some letters she’d told us to write to each other - not to be opened until our 5th anniversary. We sat outside our little cabin in the warm evening sun, drinking the wine and reading what our ‘about-to-be-married’ selves had written. Such a lovely thing to have - I laughed and cried a lot! ; )

Running creative business workshops was a new thing for me this year!

day tripping near home - Hornimann Museum

Facing my public speaking fears in another workshop

the sixth print issue of 91 Magazine going to print

Jul-Sept

The hot summer continued, and I won’t forget the workshop we ran at The West Collective fair at the start of July - it was SO hot! It was a great event- as well as the workshop, we also sold the magazine alongside lots of other lovely indie makers - but England were playing in the World Cup, and it seemed everyone would rather be outside with a cold beer than shopping inside!

After all the travelling we did earlier in the year, we stayed put for most of the summer months, finishing off the kitchen makeover and getting other bits done in the house, like tiling the hallway. Ruby turned four in the summer, we had celebrations and days out with her, enjoying the amazing weather and making the most of our time before she started school in September. We adjusted to a new schedule of school runs and her having her own little life which felt like quite a big step in the world of parenting.

I rounded off the summer with another workshop for creative business owners while frantically trying to get the next issue of the magazine ready to go to print!

the final creative business workshop of the year at Winter’s Moon in Chichester

Interviewing some inspiring female business owners in Paris (Photo: Jemma Watts)

Oct-Dec

As autumn rolled in, it seemed the travel bug reappeared! We had a child-free weekend away in Somerset for my birthday, visiting Bruton for an afternoon and then staying in Frome for a night and going to the Frome Independent Market on the Sunday. I can’t recommend this highly enough, especially if you are a fan of independent shops and brands, I loved it so much!

For Ruby’s first half term holiday we whisked her away for her first city break. We went Oslo, which, wow - it was cold! We stayed in a ‘too-good-to-be-true’ Airbnb, and spent our days cafe-hopping to warm up in between exploring the city. I really enjoyed it, although it probably wasn’t my favourite ever city. I can’t quite put my finger on why, perhaps because we went to Copenhagen the year before, which I LOVED.

In November, I ran another workshop with my colleague Jemma. This was our first longer session, where we added in some practical exercises for attendees, and it was such a great day. I’m hoping we will fit a few more of these in this year!

We did a speedy day trip over to Paris to shoot of a shop for the upcoming issue of 91, and I popped down to Lewes to hatch plans for our first creative day event! It’s been a great year developing the magazine and the 91 brand - adding the workshops and events. I’ve got a few other ideas brewing for 2019, so I’m excited to get cracking on those too! The year ended with a quiet Christmas at home with a chance to recuperate from a busy few months and take stock on the past year and plan for the next.

I hope to catch up with you again here soon! Let’s see where 2019 takes us! You can follow me on Instagram for more regular posts both at @patchworkhrmy and @91magazine.

Caroline x

Master bedroom plans

November 22, 2018

When we moved into our house two years ago now, the master bedroom in the loft conversion was in need of immediate attention. We quickly got rid of the dark blue carpet and replaced with white laminate, and we painted over the plum coloured walls with their flower stickers (you can see some before pics in this post) We also had to have a radiator installed as there wasn’t one in there and it was freeeeezing! Other than that, we haven’t had the time to do much else to it, and I’m feeling the itch to get on and make some proper changes. While it is currently a nice, light and airy space, it is far from finished in my eyes, and really not very inspiring.

For ages, I’ve had in my head that I want to have clothes rails instead of a wardrobe, massively inspired by this gorgeous bedroom below belonging to Holly of Avenue Lifestyle. I think it’s also inspired by my love of shop design, and it reflects the idea of how clothes are displayed in a store. I’ve had my eye on the rails by The Little Deer (see below) BUT I’ve started to worry that the chances of it looking as beautiful and perfectly curated as Holly’s are incredibly slim. My clothes aren’t as expertly coordinated, and then I have my husband’s excessive collection of garments to consider which he already is not very good at hanging up, or putting away… It could just end up a massive messy clothes pile at one end of the room!

So, the other option (which will be more costly) is to build in some storage. I’d love to echo what we have done in the kitchen with some plywood wardrobes. My thoughts were to build it in under the sloped ceiling and turn our bed 90 degrees… although so far hubby is unconvinced by that idea. We could put them along the wall to the right of the bed potentially… we still need to have that debate! ;) I love this idea below of including a little bench seat.

I also came across these amazing plywood lockers online, which I think were made by Woodbasics, but A) they are based in the Netherlands, and B) their website is currently offline. I wish there was someone in the UK making these as I absolutely love them!

top left pic: via My Scandinavian Home; Wallpaper - Ella by Sandberg; Rattan mirror - La Redoute; Rug - The Little Deer; Art print - Hattie Maud, Pendant light - Made in Design; Clothes rail - The Little Deer; Plant - Beards & Daisies; String sh… — top left pic: via My Scandinavian Home; Wallpaper - Ella by Sandberg; Rattan mirror - La Redoute; Rug - The Little Deer; Art print - Hattie Maud, Pendant light - Made in Design; Clothes rail - The Little Deer; Plant - Beards & Daisies; String shelving - John Lewis

Above is a moodboard of the kind of look I’m thinking… so lots of white with wood, texture, pastel shades like pink and peach, with a dash of black to give contrast.

Goodness knows when we’ll find the time (and money!) to get cracking on this room, but at least I’ve got something to aim for! I’d love to hear what you think! ;)

Our kitchen - before and after

October 2, 2018

Last weekend was the two year anniversary of us moving into this house. I can’t believe it’s been two years already! One of the biggest projects on our list was the kitchen, which needed completely gutting and redoing. It’s taken most of the summer to complete as we did some of the work ourselves, but today I can finally show you the results, and I hope you’ll agree it was totally worth it! There hasn’t been any structural changes whatsoever, but it feels like a complete transformation.

If you saw my kitchen plans post from back in March, you’ll notice that most things did go to plan - although I ended up repainting the walls as the Wilkinsons paint we had originally chosen just didn’t look right, so we painted over with Farrow and Ball Calamine. We also had to rethink the flooring as the engineered wood we’d planned to get wasn’t going to work with the underfloor heating and the slightly uneven nature of the subfloor. Instead, we went for a white laminate, which I never thought I’d opt for, but laminate flooring has really improved in recent years, plus the wood flooring next to the ply looked all a bit too ‘woody’ so the white is a better contrast against the cupboards.

Below is the main area of the kitchen in terms of usage - cooking, making tea, washing up etc. You can see the before shot of this below too. As you can see we kept the sink and hob in pretty much the same place as before, but moved the dishwasher next to the sink and the oven is now under the hob. We got rid of all the high cupboards and replaced with open shelving and added an extractor.

There is a chimney breast in the kitchen which we initially planned to remove so we could have a flat run of worktop along this wall, but when the quote came in around £3.5-4K just to remove it, we needed to find another solution. Our builder suggested that he custom build a larder over the chimney breast to disguise it and we are so happy with how it turned out. It isn’t hugely deep inside, but it still has plenty of room for all our larder essentials.

left hand pot was from Anthropologie, the others are ones I’ve painted myself.

pink plant pot was from this shop in Margate; pot stand I bought at Baileys; small white salt pot is from White Black & Grey; the little enamel cups I bought in Utilitario Mexicano in Mexico City.

We kept our cream Smeg fridge and just relocated it into the corner by the larder which previously had built in cupboards, the fridge fitted perfectly into the space. We agonised over door handles for AGES - they really do impact so much on the look. In the end we opted for these small brass ones by House Doctor. I love them, although I must say they have started to discolour a little with use, and I’m unsure whether they will clean up ok…. I hope so.

hand print by Maggie Magoo, I bought in NgNg Design; Glass carafe I bought at a French flea market; the two cups are by Studio Arhoj but I bought them and the plant pot on the lower shelf from Boom Boom Shop; the plant pot on the top shelf I bought … — hand print by Maggie Magoo, I bought in NgNg Design; Glass carafe I bought at a French flea market; the two cups are by Studio Arhoj but I bought them and the plant pot on the lower shelf from Boom Boom Shop; the plant pot on the top shelf I bought in Baileys. The wicker basket is from Harriet Hare* and the stripy one is from H&M. The marble serving board is M&S*.

This area feels so different - removing the high cupboards really opened it up, and getting rid of the tall oven section gave us lots more worktop space. The worktop itself is formica faced birch plywood. I found it SO hard to find a worktop I liked that wasn’t extortionate. We needed quite a bit so the quotes we got were eye-watering. Then I came across this and it was perfect for the look we were going for and was affordable. The total cost including VAT was just over £900. Some of the other quotes we had were over £3000!

Be Brave print by Margo in Margate, I bought it from Rose & Grey. The Pates tin is vintage and the black and white pot is from H&M.

Wooden chopping board on shelf is from Baileys; the plant pot just in front of the board is by Oh Happy Glaze; the other ceramic pieces on the shelf I bought in Mexico City. Print on the wall is by Fran Murphy; pot on the right is from Ikea; the lar… — Wooden chopping board on shelf is from Baileys; the plant pot just in front of the board is by Oh Happy Glaze; the other ceramic pieces on the shelf I bought in Mexico City. Print on the wall is by Fran Murphy; pot on the right is from Ikea; the large round tray is from Feather & Nest*.

The mother and baby print is by Marta Abad Blay*, and the poster hanger came from Desenio. The plant pot on the far right is from Arket, while the others are from local garden centres.

The Mexico City poster is from Alvar Carto; the green vase on the left is from Albert & Moo* and the tiny black and white pot I found in a shop in a French village. The bread bin was a vintage find at the Decorative Living Fair. — The Mexico City poster is from Alvar Carto; the green vase on the left is from **Albert & Moo*** and the tiny black and white pot I found in a shop in a French village. The bread bin was a vintage find at the Decorative Living Fair.

This side of the kitchen was absolute carnage before. We had a big gap under the worktop, a mess of tiles in the corner, holes in the ceiling and only a small area of workspace. As you can see, we have moved the washing machine and dishwasher and instead added cupboards and drawers underneath. We also extended the worktop as there was space to do it, and then kept the area above simple with one long shelf.

the pink plant pot was from Anthropologie; the plant print I bought from Rose & Grey; the basket is from Clas Olhson, and the first aid box was from Hema.

the stripy plant pot I bought in Liberty, and the others I decorated myself.

Gold hooks were from Monpote; the black and white tea towel is by Happy and Co*, and the grey one is from Ferm Living.

I wanted to create a little utility area over in this corner which previously housed the fridge and didn’t really feel like part of the room. So we moved the washing machine and dryer there, then added some more worktop and a couple of cupboards for storing cleaning and laundry products. It now feels much more part of the room while also being separate from the food preparation areas.

In terms of the finishing touches, I wanted to keep the clutter to a minimum, yet still have some interest on display. Luckily we have a good amount of storage, which meant we could keep the worktop and shelving quite clear. On the worktop is mainly things that we use on a daily basis - kettle, toaster, coffee machine etc, and on the shelves I’ve simply added some ceramics I’ve collected and a few plants and pieces of art. I’ve popped a few easy-to-care for plants like cacti and succulents on the high cupboards so I don’t have to climb up to water them that often!

I’ve put some details of the smaller items in the image captions, although many of them I’ve had for a while so may not be available any longer. Also, I have starred * any items that were gifted to me. Below is info on the bigger items, but if you have any questions about anything do just ask! I’d love to hear what you think of the kitchen! :)

Large items:

The cupboards and drawers are birch plywood supplied by our builder.
Open shelving - I ordered a big 8ftx4ft sheet of birch plywood from buildermerchant.com which our builder then cut the lengths from, the sheet was about £135.
Worktop - formica faced birch plywood from Morland - I bought 4 lengths which was more than enough costing around £930 including VAT.
Fridge - Smeg
Oven, hob and extractor fan - all from AO.com
Flooring - white laminate from local store Jordans Wood Floors. We have similar in our bedroom which we got from UK Flooring Direct.
Sink - from Wayfair, in Crystal white
Taps - John Lewis in brushed steel
Tiles - came from Tiles Direct - you have to buy left and right tiles to make this pattern.

Living & shopping consciously with kids

August 10, 2018

Recently, I've been thinking a lot about the idea of being more considered in what we bring into our home in regards to our daughter and how to minimise ‘kids clutter.’

The first reason this has been on my mind is I was commissioned to write a feature for In The Moment magazine about living minimally with kids, which gave me the chance to think about this idea deeply, as well as speak to some other interior-loving mums who are totally winning at this concept.

Secondly, our living room was featured on houzz.com back in June, where they focussed on the play area I created for Ruby. To my surprise, there were a number of critical comments posted by readers, that Houzz have since deleted (they appreciate constructive criticism but not mean or rude comments), which raised some questions for me. Not so much about how we decorate a child’s space, but how we manage the amassment of toys and games and whether it is really necessary for children to have a ridiculous amount of toys in the first place.

The comments that the Houzz post received didn’t offend me. In fact, I find it kinda laughable that people can make specific judgements about you, your home and life from a series of pictures online, and then pass comment on it. (side note: I plan to write a future post on dealing with the negativity that sharing your home online can sometimes create.) The comments were mainly directed at the fact they thought the space did not look conducive with a child’s development through play and implied that it looked like it was created for the gratification of the adult rather than the child.

The point about judgement is that people seem to assume that the space looks like this 24/7. Of course it doesn’t! But, I’m pretty sure Houzz would not have wanted to feature the space if I’d photographed it scattered with Lego and My Little Ponies! Yet, at the same time, I do try to keep some level of organisation due to the fact that a) it is our living room after all and b) I don’t think it’s conducive with a child’s play to have absolute chaos in their space. One of the values I am trying to instil in Ruby as she grows up is to have respect for our home and for her possessions. I encourage her to tidy things away when she is finished with them and to be considered in how she treats her belongings, as well as our furniture, walls etc.

The remarks that some commenters made were implying that it was unrealistic and we’d clearly hidden our child’s clutter in another room, and that most people who have children accept that their home is taken over by toys once kids come along. These observations got me thinking about why our society feels children in the first world need to possess a gargantuan amount of brightly coloured plastic to be happy and to develop and learn. My experience is that Ruby is just as happy with a cardboard box or a load of ingredients from the kitchen cupboard as she is with Disney Princess dolls. And to be quite honest, what she learns from mixing up herbs and spices at the kitchen table is preferential to the influence of unrealistic female representations.

Unfortunately, even at the age of four she already seems to have the insatiable desire for ‘new’. This is something I touched on in my article for In The Moment (which is in issue 15, currently on sale) and that my current battle is to try and minimise this need and teach her about quality over quantity. I realise that most kids her age probably have this character trait, but I do feel it’s something I want to tackle with her now, as the importance of over-consumption is so high on our priority lists right now. Not only does it put strain on my bank balance, but giving in to your child’s constant demands for new things that will inevitably be forgotten about a day or two later, is not helping them to learn about the value of money or the environmental problems our society is currently facing.

I should probably disclose at this point that I also love to shop. Yes, I know, you’re thinking ‘You're one to talk then’, but again, this is something I have been working on myself, and over the last year or so I have been focussing on only buying things I really need or truly love, and as much as possible are from independent shops and makers. Having beautiful things around me is something that brings me joy, so I don’t believe we need to completely deprive ourselves, but the point is with children, their choices are not thought through, they are simply dazzled by advertising, bright colours and newness.

shopping independently for children's toys

So, what conclusions have I drawn and what steps do I plan to take moving forward? Here are a few things I hope to maintain which you might also find useful if you are trying to cut back on the kiddie clutter:

- Do regular decluttering sessions and take unwanted items to the charity shop or sell at a car boot. I recently did one of these and even got Ruby involved. I explained how many of the toys she had were for two year olds, and as a ‘big four year old’ she agreed she no longer needed them, and she happily filled up the bag for the charity shop.

- Continue to instil values of environmental respect in our child. We already tell her that plastic hurts the sea creatures which horrifies her (especially as a big fan of Octonauts!) We either try to buy toys & games from charity shops or if we are buying any new items I try to steer her towards non-plastic items and/or things that she will definitely get value out of rather than it ending up at the bottom of the toy basket.

- She loves to read, and has quite the collection of books which is so great, and I must admit I find it hard to hold back on buying her lovely new books. But, as she grows out of certain ones, I will donate these either to younger cousins, charity shops, the local library or her nursery or school.

- promote learning and play through activities such as crafting, baking, activity books and going on regular outings.

One of the anomalies in this approach is Christmas and birthdays. While we aim to be restrained and considered in our gift giving we cannot dictate what other people give her. Luckily our close family and friends generally ask what they should get her, but of course it’s not really accepted to write ‘no plastic crap’ on party invites to her school friends! There’s not really a lot can be done on that front I guess (any suggestions?!) so I guess for now, we only have to deal with that once or twice a year.

I’m not going to lie, this is not an easy task, children are often (always?!) difficult to reason with and bribery is a regularly deployed tactic, but I do feel like this is an important issue not only for my own clutter battles, but for the sake of our planet. I’d love to hear about your experiences and if you are trying to manage the kiddie clutter and over consumption? I’ve only been doing this parenting thing for four years so any other tips you might have would be wholeheartedly welcomed!

good quality toys, games and books for children

To finish, here are a few options for shopping more consciously for kids – independent sellers who sell wooden and handcrafted toys, beautiful books and decorative objects:

Sarah and Bendrix – wooden toys, handmade soft toys, gorgeous books and décor

Olli Ella – creative play and decorative items

Smallable – French brand with huge range of good quality toys, clothes and décor items.

The Modern Nursery – Good range of wooden toys, focus on babies and pre-schoolers.

Anorak & Dot magazines – Lovely magazines for kids as alternative to the mainstream

Indie shop tour: Louisa Grace Interiors

July 19, 2018

There's nothing better than a local gem is there? A great pub for a Sunday roast, a stylish cafe for a leisurely catch up, or in this case, three huge barns perfect for sourcing a great piece of vintage furniture! When we moved to Banstead in Surrey about 18 months ago, I was aware of Louisa Grace Interiors through Instagram, but it's only in recent weeks that I've had the chance to make the trip to the other side of the village for a visit. Why on earth did I wait so long?! Who blinking knows!!

The three barns, located on Seven Acres Farm, right near to Mayfield Lavender Fields are run by husband and wife team Jamie and Claire McFadyen. When Claire was on maternity leave in 2013, the couple were inspired to launch the business when they made a blackboard from a vintage frame for their daughters. Suddenly, they were selling these on eBay, and things gradually took off from there. Whilst Claire's background is in marketing and Jamie is an ex-London cabbie, the pair have always had a shared love for vintage interiors, so it felt right to make this the family business. The name for the shop was again inspired by their children - Maisy Louisa and Mollie Grace.

Being based in a rural location, Louisa Grace is definitely more of a 'destination'; one which shoppers have to make the effort to visit, which Claire admits can have its positives and negatives - although in the summer it can be combined with an afternoon at the nearby Lavender Fields. I asked Claire a few questions to find out a bit more about both the business and creative sides of running a vintage furniture shop....

vintage, retro and industrial furniture and acessories

Louisa Grace Interiors - indie shop tour

industrial, retro and vintage furniture shop in Banstead Surrey

Where and how do you go about sourcing your stock? What is it you look for when sourcing? We have various suppliers throughout France and Belgium. We look for unusual, original, rustic and industrial pieces. We also try to get good deals so that, in turn, we can keep prices down for our customers.

I love how you’ve used old doors, window frames and shutters to clad the interior walls of the barns – was that something you planned or have they just accumulated over time? A bit of both really! The oldest barn we have was once used to house cattle so the shutters looked far more appealing than muddy breeze blocks!

The barns have a unique feel of being carefully styled but at the same time with the air of a French flea market. How to you approach the styling of the spaces? Firstly, great, as that is the aim! Jamie does all of the styling and spends lots of time on Pinterest to gain ideas for making the space work.

The ‘shabby chic’ trend of a few years ago seems to have lost its appeal and the trend is now more for industrial and scandi vintage trends – would you agree? And where do you think the vintage aesthetic is headed in coming years? Are you a ‘vintage purist’ or do you like to mix it up with contemporary finds also? Yes absolutely – we banish the ‘shabby chic’ phrase at the barns, although my Dad still insists that’s what we do! We’re thinking less of an industrial scandi trend and more of a rustic, unfinished scandi look may be emerging, but we’ll just have to see! We definitely love our vintage finds but are happy to mix with contemporary, however we tend to steer clear of art deco and mid century.

As a small independent business, what have you found to be the best ways to promote and market your business? We do a little bit of local advertising but mainly rely on word of mouth and social media. Instagram is one of our favourites as we enjoy posting lovely images. Being on selling platforms like Etsy also helps us gain a wider geographical reach.

You're right, social media is a wonderful marketing tool, but do you feel it’s also worth investing in other marketing and PR activity? Yes, we have a PR who helps to get our products into national media. She also advises on content and images for social media. It’s an added cost but one which I think is worth it.

Louisa Grace Interiors - Banstead Surrey

Photography is a hugely important part of any online business these days. Have you experience in this or have you had to teach yourself? If so, how have you gone about it? I studied photography when I was younger and love that I now utilise some of those skills. I can’t rate my iPhone camera highly enough though and take most of my photos for my listings with that. However, I’ve also got a mirrorless Panasonic Lumix with different lenses which allows me to take much clearer and more interesting images.

How do you see your business evolving in the next few years? Do you think you will have to diversify / expand? What are your plans for Louisa Grace Interiors? We aim to continue to expand and would like to offer a larger range of decorative objects and home accessories as well as furniture. Our ultimate goal / dream would be to own a property (we currently rent the barns) and have a showroom, workshop and a little café, so it becomes more of a destination… watch this space!

Finally, what wise words to you have to share with other small business owners or anyone looking to venture into this world? Ha, that’s easy - I’ve been told time and time again to ‘hold your nerve’ when things get tough and it’s become a bit of a mantra now!

Thank you Claire! If you can pay a visit to the barns it's well worth the trip, but if not, do check out their website and you'll find them on Instagram at @louisagraceinteriors.

Photography: Caroline Rowland

10 years of blogging... reflecting on the industry

July 9, 2018

There are two things in the title of this blog post that astounds me. Firstly, that I've been blogging for TEN WHOLE YEARS. Crazy. Secondly, the fact that blogging is now actually recognised as an 'industry'.

I began blogging in 2008, I was working full time as a picture editor for the Financial Times, but wanted a creative outlet separate from my job that involved my ever increasing passion for interiors. A friend sent me a link to Decor8, and straight away I made an actual scrapbook of ideas (not a Pinterest board - it didn't exist!), brainstormed some names and set up my first ever 'blogspot'. It looked awful but over time it evolved and has had various looks over the years. I learnt so much by just starting and finding out what worked and what didn't. Sadly, after years of blogging on blogspot, I managed to accidentally delete all my images in Picasa, which led to nearly all my posts losing their images. Gutting. I made a fresh start over on Squarespace, but it means that I can't direct you back to those naive posts from ten years ago for a bit of a giggle!

Back then, blogging was far from being considered an 'industry', in fact it was hard to be taken seriously when approaching brands to ask for use of images when I was putting together shopping posts. I certainly would never have dreamt of asking for a freebie! (I still don't tend to ask for these even now) There was no social media to promote your content so I've actually no idea how I ever got people to come and read my posts, other than interacting with other bloggers through commenting.

Over the years, blogging has become part of me, and while I often struggle to find time for it as my personal and professional lives have both changed dramatically too, I've always tried to keep connected to it and keep posting. I guess the most notable change for me personally was when I left my job and became freelance. It was no longer just a hobby, I felt the pressure to make it something that brought me income. Luckily, the evolution of this newly sought after industry meant this was actually possible. I've had many great opportunities over the years through my blog and I am SO thankful for that, but over the past few months, I've felt at a little bit of a loss with my blog's identity and it's place in this now hugely oversaturated market. I felt like the quest to make money from it had drained my creativity, and it was as if I'd lost sight of what I originally started it for.

It feels like the world of social media, blogging, marketing and PR moves so incredibly fast now that it's hard to keep up. When the idea of 'influencer marketing' - as it's now known - started to emerge, bloggers were frustrated by the fact that brands didn't want to pay for content, we were being taken advantage of. Then, brands appreciated or succumbed to the fact that if they wanted a slice of this new form of advertising they'd have to part with some cash. Many bloggers (who I admire and still read regularly) have learnt to create truly authentic content in collaboration with brands, but it now feels like SO many others are trying and failing, and that this is slowly destroying the world of blogging. I absolutely commend anyone that is making a living from doing something they love, but there is something cringeworthy about badly executed sponsored content, and I'm sure this is what is putting people off reading blogs. In the same way that people got frustrated with mainstream magazines and the pages and pages of advertisements they had to wade through before finding the actual editorial, people don't enjoy being sold to repetitively. Yes of course advertising is a part of our modern world, and as someone who publishes a magazine, I absolutely support it and believe there is a need for it, BUT the problem in the blogging world is that it is SO oversaturated and there is no quality control. Anyone with a computer can start a blog, and many millions of people have done just that, meaning it is just so incredibly noisy out there. Whereas, in the magazine publishing world it's not so easy to simply start a magazine, there is a bit more of a limit to how many publications will make it into the shops, and budgets limit how often they can publish and how much can be within the pages.

differences between the blogging industry and the magazine world

I realise it shouldn't be a direct comparison between the magazine industry and the blogging world, they are different beasts, but at the same time they have many similarities: They are providing content for people to consume, whether informative or inspirational. They are curated using words and images to construct a story or report. They are both media outlets that brands see as a platform to reach a specific type of person. Many people now say that they no longer read print magazines as they get their 'inspiration fix' online. But why is it that people have moved away from magazines to online? It is because it's free? Because it's easily accessible? Because they find the content better quality? Or because they wanted to avoid the advertising in magazines? Perhaps it's a combination of these things, but the most notable difference in the blog vs magazine comparison is that blogs are free to read, magazines are not.

Let's face it, money talks - and this is in reference to both the consumer and the producer. As consumers, we all love receiving things for free, so in that sense blogs and social media are highly appealing sources of inspiration. As producers, we need money to allow us to continue doing what we do. Blog advertising never really worked, hence the advent of influencer marketing. The contradiction is that consumers are now wise to the use of this kind of marketing, with many reporting that they don't like how it isn't always clear whether a post has been sponsored or not. This has led to many content creators having to become much more transparent, and explicitly labelling their posts with 'AD' or 'Sponsored', almost like a traditional ad.

Reflecting on these past ten years, I've found myself really thinking deeply about where the industry is to go from here. I'm currently reading Emma Gannon's book The Multi-Hyphen Method and she talks of how Gen Z (the one that comes after millennials) will have jobs that are not even created yet, and this has already been demonstrated in the past ten years. Social media managers, content creators, influencer marketing executives for example had not even been dreamt up in 2008. How can we foresee what might be to come? Wouldn't it be great to have a crystal ball and see where things are going so we can be at the forefront?

One shift that I have noted of late, is that people do seem to be more happy to pay for content online. Whether this is an e-course, e-book, or editorial content. I found this article interesting, particularly the reasons behind this shift - people want quality content as the internet is so massively saturated with rubbish and that they want to avoid the platforms that are heavily affected by internet trolls - people want a more enjoyable, friendly online space with great content they can truly benefit from.

I think this is great news - as I mentioned earlier, people are happy to pay for magazines, but have always been reluctant to pay for online content. Hopefully this progression means that people are starting to sway towards supporting those media platforms that they really thrive on reading. I think what Lou Archell is doing with her Sisterhood Camp is a great example of this. Following her successful 'real life' retreats for women, Lou has created a similar experience but online. You pay a subscription for a season and receive an abundance of well-written content around creativity, wellness, career etc, in both blog format and more in-depth e-courses. You also have access to a supportive, creative community.

The world of work is changing so incredibly fast, and it's more important than ever to keep a handle on the advancements and trends. I'm not going to lie, being a freelancer and running your own business can be tough, and I really do hope I can keep up.

I want to continue to blog, but I want to shed the guilt I feel from not being here as regularly as I'd like, as well as the pressure felt to produce content that will appeal to brands. Yes, I may occasionally work with brands, as at the end of the day, I am trying to make a living, but I will only ever do things I feel truly comfortable with and I always give my absolute honest opinion. I want to write content that appeals to my readers, both old and new.

When I started back in 2008, it was because I had a passion for magazines. I wanted to create my own little 'magazine' online. I never dreamt that I would eventually have my own 'real' magazine for sale in shops across the world! I want to go back to this here on Patchwork Harmony, and simply share with you things I love, things I've been doing and more posts like this that comment on the world we are living in. I hope that sounds appealing! I will of course continue to share inside my own home, but also I'd like to share other interiors if I can, something I used to do lots when I first began.

In terms of my career, it's clear that I need to continue to diversify my offering. Magazine sales will never make me my millions so I hope to run some more 'in person' workshops (I've got some in Sept/Oct), I'll continue to do some picture research work for book publishers which I enjoy, and I'm keen to do some more one-to-one mentoring for other creatives who might benefit from my ten years experience. I'm also considering writing an e-course aimed at small business owners to assist them in creating a strong brand as well as their PR strategy. I'd also love to host some day-long events for creatives to network with like-minded people while enjoying some uplifting inspiration.

If you've made it this far, thank you! I hope my reflective ramblings have been in some way interesting. I'd really love to hear your thoughts on the blogging industry as it is currently and where you think it might be headed. I'd really love to start some conversations on here again, so please don't be afraid to say what you think. :)

Here's to another ten years of blogging.... or whatever it may be!

Caroline x

Visiting Bordeaux: Darwin Eco-système

April 12, 2018

The last couple of months have been so so hectic - I took 6 flights in the space of about a month - first Bordeaux, then Mexico City, then Belfast! I was also getting the new issue of 91 Magazine ready (it's on sale now!) as well as meeting other work deadlines. Plus, we've been ripping out our kitchen in prep for the renovation (which started officially today! The noise of drills the current soundtrack to my day!)

Magasin General, Darwin eco-systeme, Bordeaux

So as I have finally come up for air, I wanted to share some of the things I've been up to. On my trip to Bordeaux I was there with one of our 91 photographers shooting a gorgeous home for the magazine. It was just around the corner from the Darwin Eco-système - a really cool venue which, in a previous life served as military barracks.

We headed here for a pre-shoot breakfast and were the first people here, so had a chance to take lots of pics of Magasin General which is an organic cafe/restaurant/bar and a lovely general store full of fresh organic produce and interesting food brands.

Magasin General organic grocery store, Darwin eco-systeme, Bordeaux

I really loved the raw, industrial building with all the vintage and salvaged furniture they'd used in the space. It was huge, and one of those places where you could literally spend a whole day - eating, working, chatting - in fact we pretty much did, as we went back after the shoot to edit the photos and have a well deserved glass of wine!

Caserne Niel, Darwin Eco-systeme, Bordeaux

There was also a shop selling lots of interesting products and books which we had a wander around. Loved the wicker chairs above! Again, it was a great warehouse style space, and the light through the huge windows was just lovely while we were there.

As we were there for a shoot, we were lucky enough that Carine, the home owner, gave us a little tour around the Darwin site, which is huge - over 3 hectares - and told us a little bit about it. It is actually part of a huge redevelopment of the La Bastide area of Bordeaux, which is being transformed into an eco-neighbourhood. Darwin is a hub for green living and working, and as well as the places mentioned above, it is home to lots of creative and eco-focused companies who share the co-working spaces. There is also an urban farm, a skatepark and space for free expression for street artists.

I was so impressed with this place - it had such a lovely vibe, even in February people were sitting outside having a drink and there was a real sense of community and liveliness. I wish there were more places like this in the UK! You can read a little more about it in the feature I wrote about Carine Giraud's home in the latest issue of 91 Magazine too.

If you are ever in Bordeaux do pop over to the right bank, it's a lovely way to while away an afternoon. More info here.

Kitchen makeover plans

March 27, 2018

It's been in the planning for a while, but we are finally on the cusp of embarking on the biggest project for our new house - the kitchen! It's not going to be quite as big a job as I'd originally planned as unfortunately the costs for what I wanted to do were just out of our budget (£6K to take out half of one wall for a start!) We aren't doing any structural work now, just replacing the kitchen, the flooring and decorating. It'll be a little while before I reveal it on here, so in the meantime I thought I'd share what the plan for it is and fingers crossed it all turns out how I've envisoned it!

Left: via eBay, Right: via Cantilever Interiors

If you are a regular reader, you'll have heard me harp on about plywood before, and we have decided to go for plywood door and drawer fronts, similar to the left hand pic above. We have employed a carpenter/builder to custom make these so I'm really hoping they turn out well. The plan is to have open shelving also made from plywood with the wall below the shelving tiled and the wall above it painted in pink! The worktop is going to be like the one in the right hand pic above - thick plywood backed in white formica.

Left: Pinterest (unsure of source), Right: Tiles Direct

I haven't got them in yet, but I think we are going for these chevron tiles. I have tested out SO many pink shades of paint at varying price points, and I was undecided until the other day when I picked up another sample from Wilkinsons, and amazingly when we both looked at it on the wall we both agreed it was just the right shade!

We'll keep our existing cream Smeg, and our current washing machine and dishwasher. There will be a little utility corner at one side of the kitchen for the washer and dryer which will be nice to have separate from the food prep areas. I have ordered the above hob and extractor from ao.com - which are both designed by Patricia Urquiola - I love the industrial yet simplistic feel of the hob. I found it really hard to find extractors that I liked, but this one really stood out and had lots of great reviews.

I spent a serious amount of time agonising over the floor. It's quite a big area and leads into our conservatory / dining area. Initially I was looking at tiles, but just couldn't decide on what would work, particularly as it would lead directly from our hallway which we are about to lay some bold statement tiles in.... so in the end, we thought going with a wooden floor would be best. I've earmarked this pale engineered oak, so hopefully that will look nice and light and fresh.

I want to keep the kitchen quite simple, uncluttered and fresh, but with a little bit of interest on the open shelving with plants, lovely ceramics and artwork, so watch this space! I can't wait to show you when it's done! Do keep an eye on my Instagram for mini updates when it starts in a few weeks! ;)

Nurturing yourself through motherhood

February 16, 2018

With Mother’s Day just around the corner it’s got me thinking about what I’ve learnt over the last nearly 4 years since I became a mum. In short, the answer is – a LOT. A lot about myself, a lot about patience and tolerance, a lot about juggling family with career and a lot about balancing my child’s needs with my own.

When you bring a child into the world, or become a foster or adoptive parent, it is the probably one of the most life-changing experiences we can go through. I assumed, and I’ve heard so many expectant parents say the same, that the baby would just fit in around our life. Ha! How foolish! A baby, at least for the first year of its life, consumes you. Their welfare and needs are at the forefront of your mind every sleep-deprived moment of the day, as it should be, absolutely – but often at the determent of your own well-being and health.

At nearly four years in to my motherhood journey, of course my daughter’s needs are still at the forefront, but I have slowly realised that being fulfilled and nourished (both nutritionally and mentally) in yourself is hugely important to your happiness but also to that of the people around you. If you’ve found yourself arguing or feeling resentful towards your partner, it is more than likely down to the fact you are not allowing yourself enough of what makes you feel energised, inspired and happy. Yes, children bring happiness and joy in abundance, but so do many other things. Allowing yourself to enjoy those things does not mean you are any less of a great mother by focusing on yourself, even for a short time.

Pink cushion, £19.50; Grey pom pom throw, £69; Serving board, £25 all Marks and Spencer

In the spirit of appreciating mothers (we should do it EVERY day, not just once a year, right?!) I thought I’d share a few thoughts on how to nurture yourself in motherhood. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this too – what do you do to treat yourself? How do you ensure you keep your mind and body healthy when carrying out the hardest job in the world? Do let me know. Here are the things I've found helpful or I am currently working to improve on myself...

1. Let go of the ‘mum guilt’ – We’ve all experienced it - guilt about putting your little one into nursery so you can go back to work, guilt because you fancy a night out, guilt because you lost your patience and shouted. In our modern world it seems like there is SO much pressure to be the perfect mum and do everything, but you just gotta let it go. NO-ONE is perfect, and you are doing a great job so you have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about. Instead, feel proud that you enjoy work as well as motherhood, enjoy the fact you have friends and a social life and feel fine with how you instil discipline, safe in the knowledge that you balance this with masses of love, affection and fun.

Scented Spring Posy, £25 from Marks and Spencer

2. Take time out – Time to yourself can sometimes be rare when you are a mum, but it is SO important. Don’t feel like this can only be a ‘once every six months’ occurrence. Plan ahead for those days or evenings out – and then go book yourself a creative workshop, meet a friend for drinks or go get a massage. When you’re at home, spend an evening with your favourite magazine and some cake, take up a craft which you can do a bit of every evening, or why not just do a bit of faffing?! I love faffing around with styling things in the house, or playing around arranging some flowers – those times when you aren’t really doing anything particularly useful but it allows your mind to wander and relax.

Lombard dinner plate, £5, Marks and Spencer

3. Eat well – I am totally guilty of not doing this one myself. I think about what Ruby is eating and constantly encourage her to eat her fruit and vegetables, but then eat badly myself. It’s something I really want to work on this year – firstly because if she sees me eating good things then hopefully she will follow suit, and also I’m sure if I am looking after myself nutritionally then I will feel less tired and run-down too. Rather than just wolfing down some toast for lunch, I want to try and throw together a salad or a wrap and substitute those biscuits with fruit. Generally, I think achieving this comes down to planning. Make sure to throw a few bits in the shopping trolley for yourself rather than only thinking of the kids meals. Meal planning can go a long way to ensuring you don’t just grab a quick ready meal on the way home, so try and draw up even a rough guide at the start of week.

4. Streamline your life – I’ve been reading The Empowered Mama, and I really enjoyed the bit about pruning your life. There’s a quote in it which says: ‘When we become skilled at selectively knowing what to prune out of our lives, what remains becomes stronger, brighter, clearer.’ Sometimes it’s people you need to prune – if there is a friend or colleague who demands too much of you, and makes you feel drained, or takes up time you could be doing something you love, then maybe it’s time to step away from that relationship. Sometimes it is ‘stuff’ you need to prune – clutter can become suppressing, so take a bit of time to evaluate whether you really wear all those clothes in your wardrobe (there are loads of great blog posts out there about creating a capsule wardrobe) or simply take half an hour and clear out a couple of drawers. It took me ten minutes the other day to go through my underwear drawer and throw out anything that was past it and I felt strangely lighter afterwards knowing that everything in that drawer was now useable. Or it may be activities that can be pruned – if you are the type of person who finds it hard to say no, you may have ended up with duties or plans that you’d really rather not do. Also, check with your kids if they genuinely enjoy all of their activities – you may find they’d rather not take that piano lesson as well as singing in a choir. Make sure you are all only doing things that actually bring you happiness and fulfilment.

5. Exercise – It’s easy to say that it is hard to fit exercise into your life, but I’ve recently realised that you don’t need to attend a two hour fitness class or go on a six mile bike ride to introduce exercise into your life. Obviously if you are on a mission to get fit or loose weight then by all means, but I’ve found that introducing just a small amount of gentle exercise can make such a difference. I’ve never been one for exercise classes, but I quite enjoy yoga, so I’ve started following ‘Yoga with Adrienne’ on YouTube and doing half hour videos a couple of times a week in my front room. I always do it in the morning and always feel really good after it and like it was a positive start to the day. I’m also trying to incorporate at least one brisk walk into my week when I listen to a podcast and keep up a good pace. You can also burn a few extra cals simply by having a run around the park with the kids or putting some music on and dancing round the living room with them!

Serving board, as before. Food by Marks and Spencer

6. Treat yourself – Mother’s Day is just around the corner, so fingers crossed a treat is on it’s way (!), but regardless, there’s no harm in giving yourself an extra little treat is there?! I find it is a real pick-me-up to surround yourself with pretty things at home – flowers, plants, candles, favourite books and magazines, a really cosy blanket – then simply put your feet up and remember you are doing fabulous!

I really hope you feel appreciated this Mother's Day and ALL the time! And don't forgot about your own mum - she knows how tough motherhood can be, only too well! Do let me know any thoughts you have on this post - I am far from a mummy/parenting blogger and am not attempting to be, but as it's such a big part of my life, I think it's nice to go there now and again.

** This post was sponsored by Marks and Spencer to celebrate Mother's Day and to highlight their Flower Shop where you can treat your mum or yourself to a beautiful bouquet. If you fancy a little bit of floral faffing like me, it's worth checking out some tips they've put together on flower arranging. M&S provided me with some product and flowers for my images. **

Mini makeover: porch

January 31, 2018

This may possibly be the most uninteresting makeover post ever, but well, I thought I'd share it anyway - I'll keep it brief! Our latest house renovation project has been sprucing up one of our porch areas. (we have two - this is the side entrance one) Yes, it's not somewhere we spend a lot of time, but first impressions count right?! Plus, there are practical reasons for doing what we've done - my hubby often keeps his bike out there and sometimes Ruby's buggy, so the walls were getting scuffed and dirty really easily, so tiling the walls seemed like the best course of action.

Below is what it looked like before - pretty uninspiring! We had given it a lick of paint when we first moved in, but as I say it quickly got grubby again.

The tiles kind of came about by accident. I had ordered samples of the five different colours from Topps Tiles Matrix range to see which one I liked best, and when they arrived, we realised that they all looked really great together!

We also added a proper skirting board as it looked really unfinished before. I can't take much credit for this project as hubby did most of the work, although I did give some plant pots a little bit of decoration!

The flooring will hopefully get replaced when we do the kitchen, and maybe one day we will replace the doors (these PVC ones just don't do it for me!) but for now, I'm really happy with this colourful little corner! It's certainly a much nicer scene to come home to than boring, grubby walls!

Indie shopping in Margate

January 24, 2018

One of the things I'd like to do more of this year is family day trips. I love exploring new towns and cities and visiting places I've been recommended or discovering ones I haven't. We kicked of 2018 with a trip to Margate, which I haven't been to since my uni days (14 years ago!), when I photographed it for a project on seaside towns. Much has changed in this little coastal town - the Turner Contemporary of course, Dreamland has had a facelift and the old town has become a haven for independent shops and cafes. This is where we spent most of the few hours we had, although I'm pretty sure I still missed some gems! Here's a little run down of the lovely places we popped in and out of as we wandered the streets of Margate.

Etcetera Vintage - This was the first shop we stumbled upon as we headed into the old town from the car park. It had a balanced mix of contemporary and vintage homeware and lifestyle products all beautifully displayed, and lucky for us, there was a sale on! I couldn't resist (another) plant pot purchase and hubby even treated himself to a leather keyring. Pop to their website to browse their online shop too.

Little Bit Margate - you can't fail to notice this shop as you come around the corner into Broad Street. It's polka dot exterior leads you into a riot of colour with it's blue and pink counter, multi coloured steps and kitsch objects galore. There's lots of fun things for kids, but plenty for colour loving adults too, like these gorgeous plant pots (I know, I'm obsessed!), statement jewellery and illustrated greeting cards. Their website isn't up and running yet, so head to their Instagram to see more.

The Harbour cafe - We spent quite a bit of time wandering around looking for somewhere to eat, and if only we'd known about GB Pizza Co which someone told us about after we got home - it looks right up my street! We settled on this sweet little cafe near to the beach. I really liked the frontage and inside it was cosy and bustling.

indie makers at the Turner Contemporary, Margate

Turner Contemporary gift shop - As we were down by the front, we took the chance to pop into the Turner Contemporary. We had a quick peek at the Tracey Emin bed (mmmm.... anyone else underwhelmed?!) and then had a browse of the gift shop. It had work from lots of indie makers which was nice to see - if I'd had more budget I would have been tempted by a Miss Pom Pom hat and an Artist pot by Alex Sickling!

Kin - Time was running out, so we took a dash back to the old town for tea and cake and I stumbled across a lovely little shop called Kin. I think they'd recently relocated and I can't find anything online about them, but it was a tiny shop filled with lovely lifestyle objects - candles, ceramics, textiles, greeting cards etc. I think it was just off Market Place...

Margate Mercury - Before heading home we walked up to Northdown road, to Margate Mercury's The Hub, which also has a small sandwich bar inside called Cyril's. I wanted to pop in as they are a new 91 Magazine stockist, but it turned out they'd already sold out! They have a small but perfectly formed selection of magazines and books and you can grab a coffee while you browse!

I'm sure there is lots more we missed in the few hours we were there, so no doubt we'll be back, and we definitely need to visit that Pizza joint! Thanks for having us Margate!

independent shopping guide to Margate, UK

Current Obsession: Terrazzo

January 17, 2018

I've been busy working on the plans for our new kitchen which seems to be taking FOREVER! Mostly due to getting quotes and then realising we can't afford something so then having to rethink it! One element I would love to include in the design is terrazzo. I've recently noticed it cropping up here and there, and while it's been 'trending' for a while, I think it's set to become even bigger in 2018. Not just in terms of it's traditional use on surfaces but also product and pattern designers are adapting it into their designs....

I think my chances of being able to afford a terrazzo floor are slim, so perhaps i will have to opt for some crockery or a notebook! Although I am loving this Ferm Living wallpaper and wondering where it could fit into our home! What do you think of this trend?

Terrazzo pattern notebook - Micush on Etsy

Terrazzo kitcheon floor - via Aestate Studio

Terrazzo pattern iPad sleeve - Design Delicatessen