Top website for cushions

As we all know, swapping out your cushion collection is an easy way to update your interior. You can change them with the seasons, or just when you get bored. I thought I'd share a fave website of mine for purchasing cushions covers, which is not only super affordable, jam packed with 1000's of designs, it is also quite an interesting concept. Society 6 produce the cushion covers (amongst many other products including shower curtains, iPhone cases, rugs, t-shirts and prints for your wall) on behalf of the artists/designers. So rather than the designer having to front the money for printing costs, dealing with packing and shipping etc, they literally upload their designs, and Society 6 do the rest.

This was one of my recent purchases from the site, and despite being US based, orders seem to arrive quite promptly to the UK. This design is from Sweet Reverie.

There really is an insane amount of designs on there, you could get lost for hours, so I've picked out my top 20 designs to tempt you! Most of my faves are quite graphical or illustrative, but you will find so much more on there if this isn't your thing... All cushions are priced the same no matter what the design, and vary from $20 for a 16"x16 cover only up to $35 for a 20"x20" with cushion pad included. Oh, and you can choose between indoor and outdoor cushions! The only problem is, there are so many designs on there, you might not be able to find the one you liked again! Make sure to pin them, I lost of a few from my selection I'm afraid so apologies for some missing links...!

Top L: Georgiana Paraschiv / Top R: Amy Hamilton / Bottom L: Allyson Johnson

Top R: Wesley Bird / Top L: Alice Rebecca Potter / Bottom L: Her Art / Bottom R: One Happy Mess

Top L: Sweet Reverie / Bottom L: Very Sarie / Bottom R: RK//Design

Top L: Ninola / Top R: Isaiah K. Stephens
Bottom R: Rebecca Allen

Top R: Beth Thompson Top L: LinnMaria_ink/ Bottom R: Kelli Murray / Bottom L: Tangerine-Tan

Visit Society 6 to find your own favourite designs.

DIY: oilcloth cushion

So apparently we are promised a little bit of sunshine this weekend! hurrah! The perfect time to get out in the garden and add some more finishing touches to accompany the recent spray painted plant pots you've all been making! :)

I made this little oilcloth cushion which looks really cute on my garden bench and adds an extra injection of colour!

If you fancy giving this a go, you can follow my tutorial over on the AO at Home blog.

Fab followings: Goose Home & Garden

One of my 'go to' shops while I've been sourcing furniture for our kitchen and the nursery has been Goose Home & Garden. I can't remember where I first came across them, but their stall at the Decorative Living Fair last year really caught my eye, and I've since followed them and have got to know the lovely couple, Sarah and Paul, who run it. You couldn't meet a lovelier couple and they are both clearly passionate about their business, and will go out of their way to make your shopping experience with them top rate.

I've bought smaller things from them in the past, but my first furniture purchase was this cupboard which is now in the nursery, but is actually to hold all of my craft supplies. I've really had to downsize on my collection as it used to fill this whole room when it was my office, but I've managed to pack most of it into the cupboard - it's really quite roomy, especially with the little drawers.
 

Sarah and Paul paint pieces like this to a really high standard, so I feel it's worth the extra money to get such a great finish. I know if I was to do it myself, I'd probably use a lesser quality paint, and the finished look just wouldn't look this professional.

So after buying this, I'd been keeping my eye on their site on a regular basis, as I was also on the look out for a big cupboard for the kitchen, so when I spotted this one above I emailed Sarah straight away to reserve it. I've procrastinated before over things on their site, only to miss out, so this time I was straight in there! It was lucky too, as Sarah said another buyer called not long after I'd emailed her! I'm absolutely in love with the cupboard, there's so much space for our larder essentials and other bits of china, glassware and books.

Do pop over to their site to see some of the other lovely pieces of furniture they stock, and if you're not in the market for furniture right now, there are lots of great decorative vintage items which are pretty hard to resist too! Here's a bit of a preview...

Visit Goose Home and Garden and follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
 

DIY: Painted plant pots

After flicking through the gorgeous pages of Selina Lake's new book Outdoor Living, I'm feeling inspired to give the garden a little bit of love. Spray paint is amazing for injecting some colour, easy to use and great for outdoors, so I've just posted this quick little tutorial over at AO at Home for decorating some terracotta pots... read the full post here

Top Summer reads - Interiors books

There are so many fab interiors and styling books being published at the moment, some of them being penned by fellow bloggers which is so amazing to see. It seems bloggers are finally being recognised for their talent and expertise which is wonderful. I've put together my top five books that you should have on your wish list this summer, I'm absolutely loving every single one of these. So in not particular order...

Decorate with Flowers by Holly Becker and Leslie Shewring

You can't really go wrong with gorgeous photography of flowers can you? This mixed with creative ideas for using flowers within your home and the stylish design of the book itself,  it is a total joy to flick through these pages.

It's got some lovely little DIY projects for incorporating flowers into your decor in interesting ways, pretty moodboards for inspiration, not to mention styling ideas from Holly and Leslie that will having your rushing down to the florists!

Published by Jacqui Small Publishing

Design Bloggers at Home by Ellie Tennant

Interiors journalist and blogger Ellie Tennant has put together a collection of gorgeous homes belonging to fellow bloggers who she describes on the cover as 'leading online trend setters'. And indeed they are! Homeowners include Karine of Bodie and Fou, Victoria of SF Girl by Bay and Ilaria of IDA Interior Lifestyle.

I love how there are so many different styles of home in this book - from homespun, to pared back to retro chic. Rachel Whiting's photography is stunning, and I found every single home provided inspiration.
 

Published by Ryland Peters and Small. Available from rylandpeters.com

Outdoor Living by Selina Lake

This is Selina's 5th book, and I don't think I will ever tire of her effortless feminine vintage style. As the title suggests, this book shares tons of ideas for creating a beautiful outdoor area - from a romantic breakfast table, to an eclectic garden oasis to the most perfect of picnic settings.

Again the photography is just delicious, the wonderful Debi Treloar capturing Selina's style so well as always. If you are planning an outdoor wedding or party then you will find lots of gorgeous ideas for these, and Selina includes some simple DIY ideas to give your event that special handmade touch.
Published by Ryland Peters and Small. Available from rylandpeters.com

Home for Now by Joanna Thornhill

Multi-talented interior stylist, writer, blogger and crafter Joanna Thornhill has released her first book, which details how to go about 'making your rented space or first home beautiful'. Such a timely theme, as so many of us struggle to get on the property ladder these days and continue to rent until finances will allow such a purchase.

With the restraints of rented property, people often struggle to get creative with their interior, but in this book, Joanna shares some lovely rented and first time homes to inspire you, as well as crafty tips for updating your space without breaking your landlord's rules. The book is separated into the different rooms, making it easy to hone in on the areas which you feel need attention in your own home.

Published by Ryland Peters and Small. Available from rylandpeters.com

Bright Bazaar by Will Taylor

We all need a little bit of colour in our lives, and Will Taylor has been providing colour inspiration via his blog Bright Bazaar since 2009. Now, in his first published book, he shares an abundance of colourful homes, including his own.

Will tells of how he is inspired by colour in his everyday life, from a yellow taxi cab in New York to a blue post box in Stockholm, and explains how he incorporates these snapshots of life into his interior. There are also 'get the style' moodboards throughout each colour led section to help you break down achieving the looks and making colour work together.

Published by Jacqui Small Publishing

A Floral Feast

So what does everyone have planned for the long Easter weekend?! We're going to a BBQ on Friday followed by more decorating in the new kitchen and a bit of shopping for the nursery! If you are entertaining, then I suggest you have a little peek at the lovely feature we have in the current issue of 91 Magazine. The recipes all use edible flowers and will look, as well as taste, delicious, giving a proper summer vibe to your gathering.

Lovely drinks such as cloudy clover cordial and a violet martini, a tasty fresh chicken and cous cous with nasturtiums dish and an AMAZING lilac cream chocolate cake are just a few of the recipes.

Issue 8 of 91 Magazine can be read online here.

Happy Easter all!
xxx

Images by Emelie Ekborg

DIY: quilted potholder

I had actually never used bias binding before I made this little quilted pot holder. I found it was easier to use than I'd suspected, once I'd mastered it that is! So if you're in the same boat, then this little tutorial should hopefully give you a chance to give it a go on a small scale before trying something bigger!

The full tutorial is over on the AO at Home blog along with my fabric covered eggs for Easter too! ;) Happy crafting! xxx

Fabric decorated eggs for Easter

The Easter holidays are fast approaching, woo hoo! Four day weekend, although I can't imagine I will be able to take much time off, I've so much to do before baby arrives! But if you've got a little get together arranged and want to give your Easter table a pretty pastel vibe then why not have a go at these fabric covered eggs?!

You can follow my full tutorial for making these over on the AO Blog.

Oh and you can check out some more Easter content here too including more crafts and recipes! 

DIY: Mothers Day gift boxes

It's Mothers Day in the UK this weekend, 30th March. These little gold-gilded gift boxes are the perfect way to present a little gift to your mum, whether it's some artisan chocolates, a piece of jewellery or a gift card for her favourite shop. 

I've shared the full DIY tutorial for these over on the AO at Home blog and don't forget you could always scale it up if have a larger gift which requires a bigger box.

DIY: Wire cloud decoration

Spring seems to be gradually showing it's face here in the UK, but we are never usually far away from a cloud are we?! I created this cute and easy cloud decoration DIY tutorial for AO at Home blog - super simple and costs next to nothing. Great for a rainy afternoon project!

Full instructions are here

Fab followings - Southwood Stores

I haven't done a fab following for a little while, but today I thought I'd give a little shout out to a relatively new online shop called Southwood Stores. The website is run by Hayley Southwood and has a real Scandinavian influence, a style which I seem to be becoming more and more drawn to these days.

There is a real mix of products from home accessories to stationery to clothes and jewellery, all sourced from lovely independent designers such as Mabel and Bird, Paper Moon and Jane Foster.

Here are some of my fave picks from their current collection....

Sokeri pink tea towel, £15

Fine Little Day tray, £35

Raindrop wall sticker, £12

Notebook in soft grey, £5

Mountain print, £45

Visit Southwood Stores for their full range.

DIY: Make a pretty pinboard

If your new years resolution was to get more organised in 2014, then here is a quick little DIY for pinning notes, deadlines and appointments to, but that will also look super pretty hanging in your office or kitchen. Or simply use it for displaying inspiration and pretty things. The full DIY instructions are over on the AO at Home blog, but here's a peek...

What do you think? Will you give this idea a go?!

xxx

DIY: tablet device case

For Christmas the hubby got me a Kindle. It was by request, even though I've been in the 'I prefer real books' camp for a long time, I finally gave in, because I realised I read a book once and then it just lies in the house, never to be read again, until I decide to give it to the charity shop. So as I am trying to declutter, realisation dawned that perhaps a Kindle was the way forward. Plus, it's a lot easier to carry around in your bag when getting the train, which is often when I read the most.

So far, I'm loving it, but straight away realised I needed a little case for it to keep it protected when I am carrying it around, so of course, I decided I'd have a go at making one!

I've actually shared the tutorial for this little quilted number over on the AO at Home blog, so you'll need to pop over there for the full project, but just so you know, it's not just for Kindle, you can easier adapt it to fit your iPad or Samsung Galaxy or whatever device you have!

What do you think? I'm quite pleased with my Liberty-esque fabric which I found in my local Fabricland. ;)  

xxx

91 Magazine craft special is online!

It's that dreary month of January, I'm sure it's most people's least favourite month of the year. Everyone's broke after Christmas and it's cold and dark outside. Well! We've decided to try and remedy this problem with our brand new issue of 91 Magazine! It is our first ever Craft Special, as we thought it's the perfect time to stay indoors and get making and also with the new year, it's time to try out some new things!

If you've never tried crochet, then maybe have a go at Emma Lamb's simple crochet pin cushion or try a bit of cross-stitching with Peas and Needles blogger Lucy Davidson perhaps? We've got 9 craft tutorials for you to try, all different disciplines and levels of difficulty, so hopefully something to suit everyone!

We also report back on some recent craft and handmade events we've visited, such as Renegade Craft Fair, where we met some talented makers, and we peek inside the home of crafty bloggerLeigh Metcalf, as well as checking out the colourful garden studio of screen printer Megan Alice England.

Lots to keep you busy until Spring appears! We'd love to see if you have a go at any of our tutorials, so please share your photos on Instagram or Twitter and tag with #91craftspecial.

Also, you may have spotted we have a little bit of a new look! We'd love to hear your feedback on this so do let us know, via commenting here or on social media. And of course please let all your friends, family and colleagues know that our latest issue is available and free to read for all!  

Below is a little peek inside, but why not head straight to the 91 Magazine website and get reading!

DIY: Fabric clipboards

Regular readers will remember how much of the decorations and the details I made myself for our wedding last June. One of my projects was making these little fabric clipboards to display our seating plan...

Well as I thought these are something that have many uses, not just for weddings, I've shared the super simple tutorial for making these over on the AO at Home blog. Pop over there now to see how I made them, and some other uses for these pretty little clipboards!

Wedding pic ©Jemma Watts / Pearl Pictures
Other pics: ©Caroline Rowland

DIY: Glitter jars and cocktail stirrers

The festive period is truly upon us! Apologies for the lack of Christmas related posts and/or inspiration, as I said in my previous post, it's been a bit more minimal for me this year! But here is a simple little DIY idea I put together for the AO at Home blog, perfect for Christmas and/or New Years Eve celebrations! Pop over to the AO blog for the full tutorial

Merry Christmas and a happy new year all!
I'll be back after Christmas with my year in pics post! Have a wonderful festive break! 

A weekend in a vintage wagon

It's taken me a little while to get round to posting about this, mainly because I took a lot of photos, and it's taken me ages to edit them! A few weeks back, myself and the hubby packed up our bags one Friday evening, and made the journey down to Cornwall in search of a few days of R'n'R. We turned up pretty late, and once we located the right field (yes field!) we were greeted by the sweetest little wagon, nestled in the long grass. Once inside, the first thing we did was throw a few logs on the wood burner, before I began poring over the vintage loveliness that the wagon was oozing....

The wagon we were staying in was part of Spring Park - a vintage inspired holiday business, set in the rural Cornish landscape, not too far from Launceston. Our wagon was originally a travelling showman's wagon, still with it's original interior.

The cosy little space was so well equipped; a woodburner, hot water bottles and a range of teas to keep us warm, magazines, books and games to keep us amused, and ample cooking equipment for when we got peckish. 

We spent 2 nights staying in Duke and while we did get out exploring during the day, it was actually quite nice just to cosy up by the woodburner, with a book and the radio on in the evenings, after having a nice feed at the local pub, The Springer Spaniel.

The business is family run, and we felt so welcomed... Kitty helped us with suggestions of things to do in the area, and she even gave me a little guided tour of some of the other wagons so I could take some pics to share with you!

Below, is Hercules. This is a hand built cedar living van, which has an original train carriage door leading into the bathroom and 1940's cinema seats to perch on while having your dinner... 
 

I also got a little peek inside Pip. The sleeping area is in a separate little wagon with this one, which was just so cute.... Again there was lots of vintage finds to pore over and some lovely handmade elements too...

I can definitely see us going back to this lovely little place, maybe in the summer when you can make use of the firepits which each wagon has outside.... toasting marshmallows while gazing at the stars! Fabulous! I was almost slightly reluctant to share this on here, as it's one of those places you nearly want to keep as your own little secret! But at the same time, it's so worth recommending, especially for those who love a bit of the outdoors but aren't so keen on camping (like me!) and of course who could resist all that vintage charm eh?!

To find out more about Spring Park, visit their website.