Patchwork Harmony

91 Magazine - Issue 2

2012-01-31T11:59:00.000Z

Well, so far this January I have managed to break one of my New Years resolutions, which was to blog more! I really miss blogging, but with all my other hair-brained ideas, its getting a little waylaid! I promise to do better! Basically January has been taken up mainly with preparing the 2nd issue of 91 Magazine! I haven't just been sitting on the sofa eating chocolate! So I hope it will make up for the lack of blog posts, as it is packed full with beautiful things!
From a beautiful Etsy shop selling vintage French homewares, to a feature on four London tearooms and their interiors, a look inside the Cole and Son wallpaper factory, some gorgeous Easter craft ideas, to the lovely homes of Kate Jenkins and Tif Fussell. I hope you will find lots to feast your eyes on!

There's 78 pages, so dive in! And do let me know which are you fave features!

www.91magazine.co.uk

The Matchbox Challenge

2012-01-27T22:55:00.001Z

One of the most lovely creative people I've met over the years through blogging, is Jeska from Lobster and Swan. She has a beautiful blog, lives in Hastings (which I love!) and has two very pretty kittys! If you haven't already heard, she is doing an exciting little challenge for February, which, if I had more time, I'd love to join in!

She is planning to create a tiny art work from a matchbox every day of February, containing a special little object! Each matchbox will have a different theme, and they will then be sold on Etsy to raise money for her husband's London Marathon fund! What a splendid idea! Creative and charitable! :)

She's inviting everyone to do the same, and you can loosely follow the daily themes which are listed on her blog. Then upload photos of your matchboxes to the flickr group here

I'm excited to see what Jeska creates and what everyone that joins in does too! I can feel a matchbox obsession coming on.....!

Find out more about the challenge on Lobster and Swan

I Like it Here: NEW online shop

2012-01-14T17:16:00.000Z

I have mentioned before that I am a bit of an enamelware addict - especially when it comes to pastel coloured enamelware! So these lovely images from new online shop I Like it Here had me swooning....

Check out the full range on this new website here These are a few of my other favourite picks:

Georgetown Blanket - £238

Amherst Tea Towel - £14

Green Stag range - from £14

Crafty Critters

2012-01-13T19:12:00.000Z

Today I came across this sweet little website, where you can download (for a small price) templates to make these little paper animals! Great for the kids on a rainy afternoon....

Also in the shop, they have these great teatowels, which can be transformed into a lion! there's even a video you can watch to see how to make him....

I'm also a fan of these prints for a kids room, cute and educational....

and for the adults, these lovely tile transfers will spruce up plain tiles.... very retro.

Check out the full range of products at www.mibo.co.uk

Bursts of Colour

2012-01-04T19:09:00.000Z

at this time of year when its so dark and drab, I am always drawn to bright colours, and I am loving this home found via miss-design.com - originally from www.husohem.se

I love the white backdrop of the house, with the bright bursts of colour coming through in the furniture, accessories and artwork...

2011 in pics

2012-01-02T18:17:00.000Z

Happy New Year!! I hope you have all had a lovely Christmas and new year! At this time of year I always like to look back on the last 12 months and have a little review. It makes you remember all the (hopefully!) nice things that have happened and what you've achieved.

At the start of this year, I relaunched the Patchwork Harmony website which I hope is now much easier to use, looks prettier, and I hope you've liked some of the new items we've had this year.

In March a friend and I took a lovely day trip to Hastings, on the hunt for junk! One shop that we found which I wish was a bit closer to me is Butlers Emporium (2nd pic)... see more pics here

Another month, another south coast town to explore! This time, the other half and I took a little drive to Rye. We ate ice cream in the sun and sat on the beach, in April! Again, another fab place to go if you love a junk shop or two! Plus lots of pretty houses and cobbled streets to explore.... see more pics here

April also seen the Royal Wedding, what a great day! We had a few friends round, ate lots of British food and drank Pimms! The sun even shone for us and for Kate and William! :) See the project for making mini bunting and flags here

April was the month of long weekend's in 2011, so we also managed a lovely day to see the bluebell woods in Surrey.... stunning.

The 2nd half of 2011 was looking busy so we took a little break to Santorini....

I even managed to find an antique shop! oh yes!

Straight back from hols and we held our first event with Y.E.S! London to raise money for Dress for Success London.... I faced one of my fears of speaking in public, although can't say it got me over those fears!

In August I took a little trip to Glasgow and visited a friend in her lovely flat, we did a LOT of car booting and junk shops that weekend, as you can see from our haul! (some of which are on my shop website) see more pics of my friends flat here

At the start of October I turned 30, and went for a lovely weekend of pampering in Suffolk.... I was spoilt rotten! and no trip away in Britain is complete without a good junk shop rummage (of course!) and a cream tea!

I don't think I've ever worked as hard as I did in the last 4 months of the year. I had an idea earlier in the year, and at the end of August, with lots of support from some amazing creative people, I decided to go for it and launch an online magazine. At the end of October, 91 Magazine went live. I was overwhelmed by the support, and was truly touched by so many lovely comments, and the turn out to my little launch party! Thank you again, and I'm working on Issue 2 as we speak, so I hope you will come back at the start of Feb for the next installment!

In November, we held our 2nd event with Y.E.S! London, the Merry Magpie Christmas Boutique, with 17 stallholders, where we raised just under £300 for Dress for Success. thanks again to all our lovely stallholders! :) more pics here

And after a crazy few months, we took ourselves off for a little day trip over to Bruges! Only 60 miles from Calais it really is a lovely place to visit to get yourself in the Christmas mood!

So there you have it, my highlights of 2011! Its been a busy one, but looking back on its been a pretty great year! And thank you to everyone who stops by to read my blog, I do hope I can post more in 2012. Blogging is where it all started for me, and through it I've meet some fab people, found lots of great little businesses and I can say I now feel satisfied creatively, which was the goal right from the start! :) Thank you readers, and here's to a fantastic 2012! xxx

Cute stuff from Solitaire

2011-12-14T08:22:00.000Z

Some cute gift ideas from Solitaire shop.... a husband and wife team design the products inspired by English tradition, birds, vintage crockery and tea!

Teatowels, cushions and lavender bags... sweet! :)

Visit the shop here

xxxx

A Rustic Christmas

2011-12-13T09:39:00.000Z

2011 has definitely been the year of the voucher - for me anyway - I think I may have a bit of a reputation for only doing or buying things if I have a voucher! We've had trips away and ate in places we'd never usually be able to go, and bought things I probably wouldn't have, all with a voucher! So when Voucher Codes asked me to take part in their Christmas Home Styling Challenge, I thought why not, and it is such a fun idea to come up with lovely Christmas ideas for decorating on a budget, everything for under £50....

For me a neutral, classy theme is the only way to go at Christmas, so my picks have a distinct rustic feel....

Some lovely model horses on wheels - An Angel at my Table from £25

Set of 4 wooden decorations scented with cinnamon - Plumo £15

Rusty Metal Candle Wings - Re Found Objects - £5

Pine Cone Garland - John Lewis - £15

Rustic heart decoration - not on the high street - £4.95

Vintage Tin Star - not on the high street - £25

And essential for that rustic christmas - lots of greenery indoors! I've used off cuts from our Christmas tree, to decorate the mantelpiece, and plan to buy some pussy willow, (M&S are doing bunches at £7) but also eucalyptus stems, thistles or for some colour, red berries.... available at all good florists.

And don't forget to check out Voucher Codes before you buy! ~You might just get a few pounds off!

Companies include The White Company, Zara Home and Oliver Bonas

xxx

flower pics via Green Parlour and Twenty Two Pleasant

Stencil It

2011-12-10T16:18:00.000Z

With so many of us pulling in the purse strings in the last year, we have to get creative to make things special, especially at this time of year! One way of adding interest to anything thats plain is stencilling. The great thing about it is it can apply to so many things....

The most obvious is on your walls, but rather than stencilling a few things here and there, create your own wallpaper by designing a repeat pattern.....

Or create a wall calender in your office space with some number stencils....

And why not extend it to furniture which you've customised? A couple of old chairs from the flea market with a bit of sanding and a detail with a stencil will give a lovely rustic feel....

On a smaller scale, its a lovely idea to stencil designs onto cakes and other food, its so easy to make your own stencils for this kind of thing too - and you can do it with food colouring or with icing sugar...

And to save you a few pounds on gift wrapping this Christmas, just buy plain brown or white paper, and then decorate with your own stencil designs! Anything from letters as in the pic below, or snowflakes, stars, trees will look fab!

If you fancy trying a bit of stencilling, check out Stencil it - the latest book from The Stencil Library founder Helen Morris. lots of lovely ideas, plus it includes 20 stencils that you can use!

More info on the book here

xxx

New to Patchwork Harmony

2011-12-03T14:30:00.000Z

I'm really excited to introduce a new product to the Patchwork Harmony range! They are truly beautiful and will make a lovely gift!
The butterfly illustrations are printed on lime veneer, laser cut, then framed in custom made box frames. A modern take on the Victorian butterfly collection!

We have 4 butterflies to choose from: Blue Morpho (Tropical); Monarch (Tropical); Green Veined White (British); Brimstone (British)
Buy individually or as a set of 4.

I am totally in love with these! Would love to hear what you think.

Available now at Patchwork Harmony

xxx

Today I am loving....

2011-12-01T08:51:00.000Z

this bug cushion by Patchwork Butterfly... it is hand embroidered onto vintage fabric, and the backing is a dusty pink crochet with a vintage button. Beautiful. View more work from Patchwork Butterfly on their website.

Merry Magpie Photos

2011-11-29T19:01:00.000Z

Thanks to everyone who popped along to the Merry Magpie Xmas Boutique on Saturday! And thanks to all our lovely stallholders - your stalls all looked fantastic!

We are still adding up the funds raised for Dress for Success London, but we are hoping it will be over £250 which is great, so thank you! xxx

This Saturday! Merry Magpie Christmas Boutique.

2011-11-22T23:45:00.000Z

I've been busy busy busy preparing for our event which is happening this Saturday in The Book Club near Old St! If you don't already know, we are holding a pop-up boutique with Y.E.S! London, to raise some cash for the charity Dress for Success London! I've just started to get in the Christmas mood, and I think this weekend I am most definitely going to be humming a few of my fave xmas tunes! (Step into Christmas: Elton John & All I Want for Christmas: Mariah Carey, if you must know!)
So why don't you pop along and join me?! :) Here's a little taster of what to expect, although we have around 17 stalls so this is just a small selection!

As well as some gorgeous stallholders with gifts, homewares, clothing & accessories, jewellery and baked goods, we will also have the lovely Lynne from Papermash running a gift wrapping stall - have a go at wrapping your goodies with some of her lovely stationery.

Also, we will have a make up, nails and massage area, so you can pamper yourself in between shopping! And of course enjoy a festive drink and try your luck on our tombola!

So put it in your diary now - Saturday 26th November 2011 from 12pm-4pm at The Book Club,100 Leonard St, London, EC2A 4RH. I'd love to hear if you can make it!

PS, if that gets you in the mood for a bit of Christmas shopping, there are more events on in London this weekend too - On Sunday, check out Got Craft in Tooting Broadway and also on Sunday Bust Magazine Craftacular over in Bethnal Green. A weekend of 'not on the high street' shopping awaits!

xxx

Winners announced!

2011-11-15T13:57:00.000Z

Thanks to everyone for entering the competition to win one of our 91 Magazine goodie bags! I've now chosen the winners, sorry there could only be 4!

So, here goes, I will try and contact winners by email/twitter etc.... please send your postal address to me by Nov 30th, otherwise I will have to choose a new winner.

Congrats everyone!

xxx

Cake with Giants

2011-11-11T10:04:00.000Z

Today I am loving these delicate and pretty illustrations by Amy Borrell, a Melbourne based Illustrator...

You can purchase her work as A4 or A3 prints from her online shop Also worth a look, her portfolio and blog

Enamel Addict

2011-11-09T00:14:00.000Z

Is there anything you are automatically drawn to like a magnet when you go to flea markets or car boots? For me, it is enamelware. Any colour, condition, size, shape, I am pulled to it. Its got that knack of working the romantic, pretty look, as well as the rustic, homecooked vibe....

There is a lot of it around, probably due to its durability, and its seen many a camper through a tough few days in the great outdoors! Scour flea markets and car boots for cheap finds, and Etsy is also great if you'd rather shop from the comfort of your sofa....

Etsy

Or if you'd rather opt for new enamelware, Falcon is the place to go....

xxx

PS Don't forget to enter our competition to win a 91 magazine goodie bag!

Click here to find out how to win

Closing date Fri 11th Nov 12midnight

WIN a 91 Magazine goodie bag!

2011-11-05T15:07:00.000Z

The 25th October seen the launch of our brand new online publication - 91 Magazine and on the 27th I held a small launch party with friends, Issue 1 contributors and future contributors and collaborators! A lovely time was had by all, you can view some more photos from the evening here I have 4 goodie bags from the party to giveaway, and all you have to do is go and check out 91 magazine by clicking here and then leave a comment on this post letting me know which was your favourite feature in the magazine! Closing date is Midnight on Friday 11th Nov when I will randomly select 4 winners. It is open to international readers too, just make sure you let me know how to contact you if you win! Good luck! xxx

Craft Cafe Revolution

2011-11-03T09:42:00.000Z

There was a day when visiting a fabric shop / haberdashery was a less than thrilling experience, often pokey with drab interiors, and usually with a choice of fabrics that left a lot to be desired.... but these days it is most definitely the age of the craft cafe! With bright, airy and quirky interiors, the many craft cafes popping up around London and the whole of the UK, is where many people are choosing to spend their weekday evenings, or weekend afternoons. Learn a new skill, meet some new people, or just purchase some fabric for your own crafty projects at home - what could be more pleasant?!
If you haven't already, here are a few of the London based venues worth a look...

The Papered Parlour (Clapham)

The Make Lounge (Islington)

Homemade London (Marylebone)

Sew It Over (Clapham)

Ray Stitch (Islington)

Oh, and if you are in the North West London area, there is a brand new craft venue opening in Northwood soon! Shipshape Studio - follow them on twitter to find out about the launch! @ShipshapeStudio

Autumnal stationery

2011-11-01T10:14:00.000Z

I don't know whether its the crazy weather we've had this year, with warm temperatures right into October, but even though its warmer than usual for some reason it feels more Autumnal to me... maybe its because the leaves are richer in colour than normal, or the warmer temps make it feel like we still have some time before winter properly hits, either way, if you're feeling all 'autumnal' too, you should check out the lovely wares over on Papermash at the mo....

letterpress print by designer Abigail Borg

Leaf Post Its

Leaf Index tabs

Leaf Post Its

Leaves Clear tape

Leaf notebooks

Also, a lovely selection Christmas tapes, cards and tags too.

Check out the full range here

A Munckin Halloween!

2011-10-30T18:10:00.000Z

I'm not really big into Halloween, not sure why, maybe if we got time off work it would be more appealing?! ;)
Also, its my other half's birthday the next day, so I'm normally concentrating on planning for that....
The other day though, while browsing in Waitrose, I spotted these - mini pumpkins or Munckins as they called them! Now, maybe I am just late to the (halloween) party on this one, but I have never seen these before!!
Anyway, it inspired me to check out Pinterest for any mini pumpkin decorating ideas....

via Country Livingvia Better Homes and Gardens via Party Resources

via Midwest Living

If you can't be bothered to get crafty, then you can always just draw a cute face on your munckin! Love it!

via We Heart it

Happy Halloween!

xxx

91 Magazine is here!

2011-10-25T12:16:00.000+01:00

I've been such a bad blogger of late, but I am really hoping that this will make up for it! Finally I can reveal what I have been beavering away at for the last few months!

Introducing 91 Magazine! An online magazine for the vintage style and craft lover. This is the latest member of the Patchwork Harmony family, an extension of the blog, with lots of lovely features from a selection of talented writers, bloggers, photographers and illustrators!

The magazine focuses on Homes / Style / Vintage / Shopping / Crafts - regular features include “A Vintage Lovers Guide to...” Suggestions for those who like to sniff out vintage shops, flea markets and tearooms! Visiting a different town or city around the UK in each issue, and “Style Notes...” Advice, tips and ideas for decorating and styling on a budget. In our 1st issue, we look at how to make the most of student digs. There is lots to have a look at, so I hope you will enjoy!

Click on the magazine cover to read the magazine. Or visit the website to find out more. I'd love to hear you feedback!

xxx

Today I'm loving....

2011-10-16T14:26:00.000+01:00

the work of ceramicist Karin Eriksson. Karin sells her items from her shop Manos in Stockholm, Sweden, or online here .... I'm particularly partial to these turquoise bowls...

and how different are these hanging baskets? A great contemporary twist on it....

I love an oil burner too, and often find it hard to find nice ones....

Turning 30

2011-10-10T21:50:00.000+01:00

Goodness! I can't believe my last blog post was last month! I'm so sorry! Life has become pretty much consumed by 91 Magazine which I am loving putting together and I really hope you will love it too when I launch it later this month!
The other thing which I've been busy with, is Turning 30. It does feel like a little bit of a milestone, and when I think back to my last 'big birthday' at 21, things have moved on a lot! Firstly I got together with the love of my life just a month after my 21st, and since then he has supported me, shared the good times & bad, and put up with my crazy interior design projects since we bought our first home together! I also got a degree, worked in NY, got my dream job back in London as a picture editor, realised I needed more creativity in my life, so started blogging, set up an online business, bought a house and got a cat! :)Its been a busy 9 years!

So the other half kicked off the birthday celebrations with some amazing pancakes, cards and presents....

and then there was the cake - a masterpiece I think you'll agree!?

Then off we set for the beautiful town of Lavenham in Suffolk, to spoil ourselves with afternoon tea, champagne and some AMAZING food at The Swan hotel...

Lavenham is gorgeous, literally like stepping back in time...

Next morning, we headed east, stopping off at the fantastic Snape Maltings - well worth a visit if you are in the area..... it includes a huge shop full of homeware goodness, an antique shop, a gallery, pub, and much more.... I could have stayed there longer rummaging, but we had to push on...

When we arrived in Southwold, our first stop was Tillys tearoom..... for afternoon tea and the first glass of fizz for the day!

Back at our room in the lovely Sutherland House with another sneaky bottle of cava! and there it was...

the bathroom bigger than our living room! and that bath!! I've never actually sipped cava while lying in a huge bath before, but I guess your 30th is a good time to start! ;)

All followed by another lovely dinner in the hotel restaurant.... Our last morning was spent walking on the beach, buying fudge and other treats to bring home, oh and I squeezed in at least 2 more antique shops....!

An amazing trip with an amazing boyfriend! Turning 30 is actually quite good after all!

xxx

Feather Ideas

2011-09-22T23:07:00.000+01:00

Probably slightly odd, but I do like to find a feather if I'm ever out on a country walk.... there is something quite romantic about them.....but I'd never really thought about the many uses of a feather....!

Style me Pretty

Luna and Chloe Weddings

Design Sponge

Etsy

Styled - issue 1

Some good reasons to collect feathers me thinks! :)

xxx

91 Magazine

2011-09-16T23:39:00.000+01:00

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook you may have already heard about the other project I've been working on recently! If not, I'd like to introduce... 91 Magazine!
I am currently in the process of putting together a brand new online publication which will feature lots of similar things to what you find here on the blog, but much more indepth and with some lovely design, photography and illustration.
I'm really excited about it, and would love to hear what you think! Especially if you have any thoughts or feedback on the types of things you'd like to see in the magazine.
Mainly it will focus on Homes / Style / Vintage / Crafts / Shopping - so lots of lovely craft ideas, style tips and homes to ogle!
The first issue will be launching in October, and you can follow us on Twitter for updates in the run up to the launch.
Also, if you are interested in advertising your business/blog/shop/event in the magazine, our ads in the launch issue are super cheap, starting at £10 for a quarter page ad! Less than buying a round of drinks in the pub! :) Click below to see the website which will be hosting the magazine....

Embracing Autumn

2011-09-12T23:53:00.000+01:00

As sad I as I am to see Summer fading away (or what we had of summer!!) I do quite like the transition into Autumn, getting out those woolly cardi's, picking out some new winter boots, and cosying up on the sofa.
Close your curtains to the world, light some candles, and snuggle down!

Beautiful Autumnal images by Robin Stubbert

To brighten your day....

2011-09-06T09:07:00.001+01:00

I'm just about to step out into lashing rain and blustering winds which always puts my in a bad mood! So before I do that I thought I'd post some beautiful photography by Hamburg based photographer Julia Hoersch... her work has certainly brightened up my day! Spotted over at Decor 8.

have a lovely day

xxx

The Merry Magpie Christmas Boutique!

2011-09-03T12:02:00.000+01:00

As I mentioned, I've been working on a few projects of late, and now I'm excited to let you know about one of those and invite you to get involved, either as a seller or as a visitor!
After our first successful collaboration in June this year at the Soho Secret Tearooms, Patchwork Harmony & Y.E.S! London have decided to get together again in November to hold the Merry Magpie Christmas Boutique! We are looking for female run businesses, designers and makers to join us in selling their wares and services on Saturday 26th November 2011 from 12pm-4pm at The Book Club in Old St, London. We are open to any kind of stall holders, from gifts, homewares, clothes, baked goods, handmade items or if you offer a service that you think might fit, such as a mini sewing lesson for example, then we want to hear from you! We will only have a limited amount of stalls due to space and we want to have a nice range of stalls, so we are asking everyone to apply by the 23rd September, and we will announce stallholders on the 30th Sept, giving you plenty of time to prepare!

the venue....

As we will be raising money for Dress for Success London again there will be a minimal stallholder fee and a small percentage of sales donation.. We hope to have lots of visitors coming along to have a fun day, have a drink, while shopping for some Christmas gifts! If you are interested in joining us, selling some of your products or services while helping a very worthwhile charity, then you can download the application form here and further info & terms here.Or drop me an email and I will send you the form and info. info{at}patchworkharmony{dot}co{dot}uk

Illustration by Kate Wilson

A quick cuppa!

2011-09-02T21:40:00.000+01:00

As I mentioned in my last post I am super busy at the moment, both my day job and other projects are crazy! I am excited to let you know a bit more about the things I've been working on hopefully this weekend! So keep an eye out!
In the meantime, just a quick post continued from the last one, from my lovely weekend in Glasgow. Mainly because I had to mention the Hidden Lane Tearoom we visited just before I got my train back to London (literally accompanied by my suitcase and a bag FULL of car boot buys!) The tearoom is literally about 1 min from my friends lovely flat. and we were in there as soon as it opened so were the only customers, so we got to have a good nosy around! and take a few pics.....

Very nice it was too!

Check out their blog here.

xxx

A weekend in Scotland

2011-08-25T23:05:00.000+01:00

Apologies for lack of posts recently... I have a few projects going on at the minute that are taking up every moment that I am not working or sleeping, plus I have just been away for a little mini break in Glasgow to visit a friend who has just moved from London to Scotland to start a new life up there. She's only been there a few months, and has only been in her new flat for a couple of weeks, but I thought I'd share a few snaps from her flat, as I was amazed at how homely she'd managed to make in such a short time and on such a small budget!

She is one thrifty lady, and most things in her flat she's picked up at car boot sales and markets (which we visited while I was there!) I love these cushions which a woman at the car boot sale had made herself to sell! beautiful!

Thanks for having me Nici, I had the best time!

xxxx

Feature walls & windows

2011-08-15T22:52:00.000+01:00

The trend for feature walls does not seem to be going away, there just seems to be even better designs and ideas coming onto the market... like these self adhesive wall coverings from Purldeco... no paste is needed and they are easily removable! They are made to order to your specifications too, so no wastage...

I love stamps and old postcards so these designs are right up my street, perfect for a downstairs loo I think! Oh and how amazing is this stained glass window film?! Again it is ordered to your measurements, so easier to apply than rolls of window film and looks fantastic... I just need a beautiful old glass house like this one to put it in!

Purldeco full range here

Rugs at Urban Outffiters

2011-08-15T08:59:00.000+01:00

How was your weekend?! We were living the frugal life this weekend - yesterday we made an apple and blackberry pie with fruit from the other half's dad's garden, and we also had chicken with roasted courgette which came from a friends allotment! Both very delicious! We also used a Groupon offer to go for a lovely Italian meal in Ealing on Saturday night.... which in total, cost us about £16 for a 2 course meal and glass of wine! bargain!!

Anyway, last week I was having a little browse on the Urban Outfitters website - I always used to think their homewares range was a bit of an after thought and often a bit 'novelty' but i was pleasantly surprised to see some nice things on their site, particularly textiles and rugs....

Check out their bedding and pretty floral lighting too.

xxx

PS. If you have a min please nominate my blog for the Cosmo Blog Awards and my shop for the Good Web Guide Website of the Year! Thanks for your support!

xxx

Green Fingers...?

2011-08-12T09:18:00.000+01:00

The last few weekends I've spent quite a lot of time sorting out our garden... I know its a little late in the year! But i thought better to do something than nothing! So with the help of my green-fingered Dad we went along and picked up some plants at the garden centre last week....

I also planted some bulbs for spring, and we even planted a TREE!

this is a smoke tree, I'm so excited to watch it grow from a little tree into a big tree! :)

I really hope I manage to keep on top of it this year, and keep everything alive...

We also need to deal with some neighbours with japanese knotweed right next to our boundary... but thats another story....

xxx

Mismatched Bedding

2011-08-10T21:29:00.000+01:00

Even though at the moment I have all white bedding in my own bedroom, I have developed a thing for mismatched bedding... never happy eh?! :)

I think it is designers like Lulu and Nat that make me lust over this relaxed, nearly thrown together but pretty look...

Also easy to do by gathering vintage pillowcases in different patterns and maybe a vintage embroidered quilt, or patchwork quilt.

I also love these pillowcases from Plum Pretty Sugar...

xxx

PS... if you like reading my blog, please nominate me for the Cosmo Blog awards! Click on the link on the right hand side! thank you!! xxx

Unbelievable

2011-08-09T14:56:00.000+01:00

It is impossible to ignore the scenes that have occurred in London and other cities around the UK in the last few days - particularly last night... there are no words to explain how saddened I think we all feel to see a portion of our youth reap havoc and literally make us cower in our own homes. The fact there is such a huge lack of respect and no fear of punishment that is scary. Lets hope that the police can take control of the current situation and going forward there will be a long term solution to saving these anarchic youths. Stay safe x

Catherine Hammerton's Flight cushions

2011-07-30T09:20:00.001+01:00

I LOVE pastel colours so when I saw Catherine Hammerton's new Flight cushions at Pulse a few weeks ago, I feel in love with them! I particularly love the blue/green version....

Catherine has also expanded her Bottle Garden range.... I love the details and how her designs are very much contemporary but with a pretty and vintage edge...

If you around in London this weekend, pop into the Vintage Village at 'Vintage' on the Southbank, a 3 day event inspired by Wayne and Geraldine Hemingway. Catherine is exhibiting her new range all weekend, visit her in marquee 35.

All info here

Have a great weekend!

xxx

Jam Jar Love

2011-07-27T21:17:00.000+01:00

So this week I had a little photo session getting some brand new products up onto the Patchwork Harmony boutique! Check out the NEW section here for more like this lovely butter dish below...

And when I went to get up some props for the shoot I picked up a jar of Bonne Maman Caramel, as seen in these shots... mainly because I liked the unusual coloured jar, different from the usual red and blue. I am still mourning the loss of a purple ja r that I'd bought in a French supermarket last summer only to have it confiscated by the airport officials!! :(

{Not long after these photos were taken I was tucking into those pancakes covered in the Caramel, and I can confirm, it is pretty amazing!}

Anyway, it reminded me of the love there is out there for Bonne Maman, and I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of that is down to their classic jar design... there is even Flickr groups celebrating it! And while browsing Flickr I came across this lovely set of photographs by Sad Ferret all featuring Bonne Maman jars....

Aren't they lovely?!

You can see the full set here

Do you hoard Bonne Maman jars too? Would love to hear if you have any unusual uses for them!

xxx

New home for the TV!

2011-07-21T22:50:00.000+01:00

You may remember a recent post - 'Where's the Telly?' - where I stressed about my quest for a suitable piece of furniture for my TV? Well, I have finally found something to replace the Habitat Kilo table, and here it is!

I know one of my gripes was about hiding the wires, but to be honest, I seen this on ebay, I loved it, and it fitted the space, so I had to have it! and really when you are facing it straight on, the wheel kind of hides the wires... (a little!)

It was described on Ebay as an Ex Eastern Block Army Cart.... I love the idea of something like this ending up in my living room in Surrey... much more interesting than a TV media unit that came from a John Lewis warehouse in Bracknell! :) (although I do heart John Lewis!)

I'm very pleased with my purchase - even though it wasn't my biggest bargain to date, when I compare it to the high street shop options it really is a pretty good deal! x

Japanese Stationery

2011-07-19T22:06:00.000+01:00

Anyone who says they don't love stationery is lying. Who doesn't love raiding the stationery cupboard at work or writing with a brand new pen on a fresh notebook?! And if they still protest they're not that into stationery then they are obviously not looking at the right stationery! I am already a big fan of online shops such as the UK based Papermash, Australian Upon a Fold and American Rifle Paper Co. and today I stumbled upon Japanese shop Uguisu

Gorgeous Japanese masking tapes, possibly the most stylish tape dispenser ever and the most beautiful dishcloths I have laid eyes on are among their wares....

Luckily Uguisu ship worldwide... otherwise our photo albums and future gifts would be seriously deprived of being adorned with the loveliness!

Check out the rest of their fantastic range here

Just a reminder....

2011-07-15T00:02:00.000+01:00

...that the Patchwork Harmony summer sale is still on! We've had some items sell out already, and others I only have a few left and won't be restocking all items, so if there is anything you've got your eye on snap it up asap!
Here's a few of the top discounts....

Fabric Dilemma!

2011-07-13T09:10:00.000+01:00

I've mentioned before my concerns over choosing curtains but I seem to have made some progress in that I have whittled down 3 fabrics for our front room and its now just a case of choosing one... but being a Libra, I am completely indecisive... Do I go for a pattern and make a feature of the curtains as the rest of the room is white and plain, or keep the neutral theme running through and go for a plain fabric?! So I'm thinking maybe I should put it to a blog vote!! :)

These are the 3 samples I brought home but I think we have ruled out option 3 - so its really between 1 and 2. This is them in my front room....

I know its subjective, but as we have never had curtains made before its so hard to visualise... what do you think? There's a few snaps of the room here, basically its completely white, with neutral sofas.

Its quite a big bay window, so feature curtains, or curtains that blend in?! help!

xxx

Extraordinary lighting!

2011-07-12T16:42:00.000+01:00

If you are a dab hand with DIY and all things electrical (or have a nice man who is!) then take some inspiration from these upcycled lightshades I spotted on Boots N Gus's Etsy shop today... Or of course you could just buy one from them! although if you're UK based the shipping is pretty hefty....

They've used various vintage items from glass vases to jugs, to pyrex bowls and mason jars, but you could use anything similar that you've got lying in a cupboard or picked up from the car boot sale...
But of course don't attempt anything like this unless you know what you are doing with lighting! Its not worth eletrocuting yourself in the name of vintage! :)
There is a little project on Design Sponge for creating the mason jar lighting - see instructions here

xxx

Making your home Romantic!

2011-07-07T00:03:00.000+01:00

I am feeling incredibly guilty for once again neglecting my blog! Do any of your other bloggers get this?! I feel overwhelmed from time to time (*most of the time!) with the constant 'to do' list and the continuous checking of email, facebook, twitter and my latest obsession Pinterest! (I knew I'd get addicted!)
This evening while scrolling through the tons of inspring images on there, something caught my eye and lead me to link through to the source, and what a treat! The photography of Germany based photographer Christine Bauer. I especially love the Romantic section of her Interiors portfolio.

It seems white, pastel colours, lots of flowers and a dash of vintage is whats needed to create the 'Romantic' look! Beautiful! Anyway, there is lots of stunning pics on Christines site, so have a visit here. If you are a Pinterest user you'll love it!

The Little Zoo

2011-06-29T23:23:00.000+01:00

Since decorating our front room recently, I've been on the look out for nice art work for the walls, even though I still haven't managed to hang any of our existing pictures back up! But these things take time and consideration don't they?! :)
But today, Over on Automatism I spotted this fun and beautiful photography by Elizabeth Soule.
The series which she has most of on Etsy is called The Little Zoo - so cute!

I love the quality and the colours of the images and how quirky and playful they are! I am definitely considering one or two of these for my walls! have a look at her website for more pretty pics like these lovely flowers and sealife creatures!

xxx

Sew magazine

2011-06-23T23:09:00.000+01:00

The lovely Sew magazine featured Patchwork Harmony as their 'blog of the month' this issue! thanks so much to them! It was a lovely little write up so I thought I'd share... :)

Wimbledon Wallpaper

2011-06-22T20:36:00.000+01:00

I've said it once and I'll say it again - wallpaper is back to stay! I'm still totally in love with my Louise Body paper in the hall and my Thornback and Peel pigeons in the bedroom
For me, it has to be something a little quirky, I'm not that interested in straight forward florals - birds, animals, people, caravans, plates - that's the kind of thing I like on my walls! :)

So I was so pleased to find out about Turner Pocock recently when they offered some wallpaper for our raffle at our Soho event, as I am now in love with their designs! AND they do a very timely design for Wimbledon this week....!

I love how you can't tell what they are until you look closely! I think my fave is the ostrichs... which do you like?!

For more info and to buy visit Turner Pocock Wallpaper

New Vintage goodness!

2011-06-20T22:54:00.000+01:00

Just a quick stop by to say I've added some new goodies to the website ....

Set of 4 Green Bowls - £9.95

Set of 3 vintage glasses - £9.95

Cardboard pots - £4.95 each

these have nearly sold out already!!

Set of 6 vintage shot glasses- £7.95

Glass dessert bowls and serving bowl - £17.50 for set

xxx

Tearoom Fun!

2011-06-19T09:07:00.000+01:00

Thanks to everyone who came along to our event on Thursday evening at Soho Secret Tearoom in collaboration with Y.E.S! London It was a great success - the room was packed out! :)
We had 4 fantastic and inspiring speakers - Emma Jones from Enterprise Nation, Esther Freeman from Ms Wandas, Amy Clark from We Are Social and Anisa Saleh from Futures Focused

Our raffle ticket sales raised £240 for the charity we were supporting at the night - Dress for Success
Thanks again to all our prize donators - Camouflage Company, Caravan, Catherine Hammerton, Cinnamon Tree Bakery, FT, Fair Cake, Milk, Papermash, Papered Parlour, Rose and Grey, Sew it Over, Soho Secret Tearoom, Shop Floor Project, Tulip and Nettle and Turner Pocock
Our guests were very chuffed with their prizes!

I had a mini stall of Patchwork Harmony products from which 10% of all sales were also going to Dress for Success. I have decided to extend this until Midnight on Thursday 23rd June, so if you place an online order between now and then, and mention 'Dress for Success' in the special instructions box, 10% of your orders value will go to the charity!

So, thanks to everyone who supported the night, and if you were there, I'd love to hear your feedback!
We hope to have another event soon! xxx

Tin can times

2011-06-16T13:07:00.000+01:00

A table decoration in a little restaurant on my holiday in Santorini reminded me of how great (and cheap!) decorating with food tin cans can be! Whether it is for your wedding or for a summer bbq or just for displaying small plants like they have.
Keep your eyes peeled for interesting cans in posh delis or foreign supermarkets for something a bit more exotic than your Heinz baked beans tin! Or you can just peel off the labels for the plain silver look, or paint them different colours....

Sweet Paul magazine has some great little ideas and projects in their current issue... check out the instructions and more projects here

Or check out Ruffled blog for a another project for covering them in pretty paper.... directions here

Pics: (1) me (2) Brides Magazine (3) Garden and Gun / Peter Frank Edwards (4-6) Sweet Paul (7-9) Ruffled / Flourish Studio

Tomorrow at the Soho Secret Tearoom!

2011-06-15T17:04:00.000+01:00

So last week, I slipped away for a week in the Santorini sun, which was absolutely beautiful and well needed! More on that later, but for now, I am back to earth with a bump as tomorrow evening is the event I am hosting along with Y.E.S! London at the Soho Secret Tearoom! I will have a little stall of my products as well as our fundraising raffle and some lovely speakers talking briefly on business related topics, its set to be a great night, and we hope to raise lots of cash for the charity Dress for Success. I've been busy today getting all my stuff together and getting all the final touches ready!

I missed Claude while we were away in Greece, and I think she missed us too, as she has plonked herself right on the middle of my desk most of the day, rather than her usual spot on the chair or bed!

Anyway, more info on the event is here, if you'd like to pop along, drop me an email at info@patchworkharmony.co.uk and I'll put you on the list!

xxx

Lightbulb idea

2011-06-04T19:59:00.000+01:00

I've always found it really hard to find lampshades I like. Not so much for ceiling lights, but for lampbases. I don't know why, I just don't seem to like that many... So for that reason we don't really have lamps in our house! But then a few months ago I picked up a lampbase in a junk shop for £1, bargain. But what for the shade?! And then... I see this photo in Rue Magazine:

No need for a shade! Perfect! So, I'm giving it a go with my £1 lampbase with a globe bulb in it...

I actually really like the bare bulb look...

Decor 8 has some great projects using exposed bulbs...

(click on photos for project info)

What do think? Could you go shadeless?!

xxx

The White Living Room

2011-06-01T08:56:00.000+01:00

You may know that we have been decorating our front room from which seems like the dawn of time! (I've mentioned it a few times on here!) After having the artex on the ceiling plastered over, we had some issues with the cornice, which resulted in some DIY surgery, then EVERYTHING needed sanded, and then of course about 3 coats of paint on everything too... it is finally finished, although I have decided to leave the floor as is (mainly because anything involving sandpaper might just tip me over the edge at this point! - maybe at a later date!)

I still have pretty much nothing back in the room yet, no pictures on the walls, and I'm still in search of certain items of furniture (see last post) but as some friends and readers have been asking here is a brief peek! mainly at the fireplace which I'm quite pleased with... :)

Sea urchin shell came from Butlers Emporium in Hastings when I visited in March, jug on left is from TK Maxx and zinc bucket came from Kempton Market.

I agonised over painting the fireplace white for a while, I was slightly worried I might make a mess of it! But I am really pleased we did it now....
This is how it looked before.... oh and we removed those horrible wall lights which just left burn marks on the wall before!

Once I get the room sorted I will post more pics!

What do you think?!

xxx

Where's the telly?!

2011-05-31T09:51:00.001+01:00

Do you ever flick through interiors mags or books and think 'Where's the telly?'

High tech modern tellys are not the most beautiful of objects but lets face we all have at least one! Or most people do anyway. But we don't get that much inspiration on how to display them and incorporate them in to our interior. I struggled a little to find gorgeous pics online where the TV had been firstly, included, and secondly, looked good....

This very glamourous room above has discreetly mounted the TV on the wall, which looks very neat, but for some reason I'm not a fan of wall-mounted TVs and where is their digibox and DVD player?!

Oh, and I should mention I've also got a thing against 'media units' - the obvious choice of furniture for your TV, but I can't bear them! Practical but dull!

So below are a few alternatives ideas ...

We've currently have our TV on Habitat's Kilo Table - but it bugs me that you can see all the cables and wires everywhere, so now that we have finished decorating the living room (yay! pics to come!) I am on the look out for something else for the TV that will hide the wires better.
Something like this is cool, although same problems with wires....

Metro Retro

Pedlars have some good options, although sadly well out of my price range... starting at £1200.

One of my favourite shops - The Old Cinema has some great vintage drawer units... starting from £245, more affordable!

Ikea do the only 'media unit' that I may consider.... it has the gaps for the wires to feed through and your remote works through the glass for your DVD etc. £203.23

And finally I am loving this scrubbed pine cupboard from Rose and Grey... it would fit snugly in the space and has a cupboard door and a drawer to hid away DVDs remotes etc.

Am i over thinking this too much?! How do you display your telly?

Did you think about it this much? :)

xxx

Pics via Lonny Mag, Light Locations,

Apartment Therapy

Bank Holiday Treat!

2011-05-27T11:10:00.002+01:00

Modern Vintage Style

2011-05-23T22:18:00.002+01:00

I've blogged about Emily Chalmers a few times - her lovely book Cheap Chic and an interview with her here, so its no surprise I've got my mitts on her latest book Modern Vintage Style!

Emily's theory on interiors is so similar to my own, (although I imagine she is a lot better at putting it all together!) but that there is no need to impose rules on what goes with what - just trust your own instincts and if you're drawn to something for whatever reason you will find the perfect spot for it in your home!

The term 'Modern Vintage' is what stops all our vintage finds from just looking old fashioned and tatty - mixing them in with certain modern pieces and with modern living updates the look, and vice versa - quirky vintage pieces gives the home character which is often lost through purely modern furnishings.

The above 2 shots are from the home of artist Clare Baslar

whose art work is very obviosuly inspired by nature, this love also comes through in her interior.

She sets the modern Ikea bed frame and light fittings against a rustic canvas of bare wood floors and peeling paintwork accented with beautiful blooms and grasses.

See more from Clare's home studio here

Above artist Aurelie Mathigot adds a quirky twist to a modern appliance by adding a patchwork cover to her Apple Mac! I love the idea of putting your computer to bed and tucking it in with a patchwork blanket! :) Other images from Aurelie's home throughout the book show her obvious passion for textiles and her flair for mixing old and new seamlessly.

And finally another talented artist Nathalie Lete - (whose ceramics you can find in Anthropologie) has definitely not been bound with interior design rules when creating her home.... it is quirky, mismatched and fun - and she proves that its totally ok to mix florals with stripes and red with pink!

Get a further sneak preview of the book here Or go straight to Amazon to get your copy!

PS - if you are a fan of photographer Debi Treloar who worked with Emily on this book, check out her new blog! Especially her post about photography with an iphone, proving you don't need to be a whizz with a camera to get lovely shots!

PPS - you can win a signed copy of the book donated by Emily in our raffle at our event at the Soho Secret Tearoom on the 16th June! All info here. let me know if you'd like to come!

(All pics ©Ryland Peters and Small)

xxx

Dates for your diary...

2011-05-20T22:37:00.000+01:00

London is just a constant flow of events, launches, previews and private views isn't it?! I'm sure I could go out into London any night of the week and sniff out a free glass of vino at a gallery or press launch. I love it, and I know I don't make use of it enough... (although to be fair I don't know where'd I really find the time, unless someone invents something which means we never have to sleep again to gain back a few more hours in the day!)
Anyway, if you do have time to get out and about and experience our amazing city, here are a few of my picks of events in the coming weeks and months...

This Weekend!
Last days of Made in Clerkenwell
Open Studios where you can view and buy from some of London's most talented designers, from jewellery to glass, to homewares. Lovely gifts like Kate Clarke's prints...

26th - 30th May
Westfield Shopping Centre in West London is hosting a Home Trends Show - which will include celebrity guests, (I'm hoping for the Dulux Dog!) interior design master classes and demo's and discounts for the likes of Habitat, M&S etc. Definitely worth a peep if you are out shopping there over the bank holiday.

4th June
If you fancy a night out on the tiles, why not raise money for charity while you're at it?! Swing for Skin is a 1940's tea dance being held onboard the HMS Belfast to raise money for DEBRA UK, a charity who support those with EB - a genetic blistering skin condition. Get dressed up and go back in time for a night! :)

16th June
Patchwork Harmony is also holding a charity night in collaboration with Yes London to raise money for Dress for Success - a charity that assists the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. We'll be having a few interesting speakers talking about business related topics, and we'll have a fine set of raffle prizes for you to win! Come along for a glass of wine, a cuppa and some cake! More info here

10th July
If you are a design or craft blogger then why not sign up for the London Blognic?! Lynne and Ellie will be holding this as a get together for bloggers in Regents Park... get those picnic baskets out! :)

29th - 31st July

Vintage at the Southbank - Wayne Hemingway's event of all things vintage, from bands, to film, shops, dance and workshops. Make a weekend of it!

Anytime!

And hey, if you're just not feeling the traisping around London, and just want to curl up on the sofa (with your laptop) check out newly launched online publication - Midcentury Magazine Have a nose around other peoples homes, without leaving the comfort of your own!

Enjoy!

xxx

Car Boot Beauties

2011-05-19T08:19:00.000+01:00

thanks for your thoughts and ideas for my floorboards! I'm still undecided, although I think I am now swaying away from painting them white, mainly because it is hard work to keep them looking great...
I'm thinking more rustic, which means less work! I think I am too busy for high maintenance flooring! :) I love the floors in these shots from Sania Pell's portfolio....

Sania has just relaunched her website, with some lovely pics of her styling work, and I also love how she's been keeping a record of her flea market and car boot sale finds on her Facebook page.... she seems to find really unique and interesting items..... I especially love this collection of clock faces...

Sania picked up most of these things for just a few quid or less! I will have to photograph some of my car boot sale finds too I think! whats the best thing you've picked up at the car boot?!

(all pics ©Sania Pell)

Look up to the sky

2011-05-18T09:16:00.001+01:00

I hope you don't mind me going off topic today, but I've been doing a some fundraising recently and wanted to have a little shout about it!
Firstly, since the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan in March, I have been giving £1 from every order at Patchwork Harmony to the British Red Cross to help with the relief efforts in the country. I have also matched every £1 raised with £1 of my own money. I think everyone was shocked by the images that came out of Japan that week, so I felt anything we can do to raise even a small amount of money may help. We've managed to raise £104, so thank you to everyone who supports my boutique and made a purchase since March.

A year ago today I was at the funeral of a 26 year old family friend, the younger brother of one of my very close friends, a lovely young man who did lots for charity himself, and was in fact training for a marathon when he was diagnosed with Leukemia. An aggressive cancer which took John from us in a very short time. This weekend I am running the Cancer Research Race for Life, in Regents Park, I am really not a runner, so even 5K is a challenge for me, but I think it is going to be an amazing experience to run with women who are battling or have beaten cancer, plus the power of everyone remembering those they may have lost, I think, will push me through.
Our lives are so crazy and hectic, that every now and again, we should just look up to the sky and remember those who we've lost and those who struggle every day with illness and poverty, this quickly makes me realise that running 5K is nothing in the grand scheme of things.
John and his family will be deeply in my thoughts as I run around Regents Park on Saturday.

You can donate to my fundraising page here: http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/carolinetaylor0610 - even if its just £1, this will also be matched by my employer which will double my money!

And finally, one more event which you can come along and get involved in! On the 16th June, I will be collaborating with Yes London to hold an evening of tea, wine, talks & shopping!
Yes London (www.yeslondon.org.uk) are a network for career women who hold events to raise money for the Dress for Success charity who 'promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.' (www.dressforsuccess.org)
We are holding the event from 6:30pm - 8:30pm at the Soho Secret Tearooms in London, we're going to have some great speakers talking about topics such as starting up your own business and networking tips, and we already have some great raffle prizes coming in from the likes of Rose and Grey, Fair Cake and many more!
Patchwork Harmony will also have a small stall of our bestselling products. Money from the raffle and £1 from every sale on my stall will go to Dress for Success.
if you would like to come to the event, drop me an email at info@patchworkharmony.co.uk - we are not being hugely strict on the guest list, but it would be good to have an idea of numbers, so do let me know. :)
more info is below:

Hopefully see you there!

xxx

top image from Morning Light in my room

Floor Dilemma

2011-05-16T09:02:00.000+01:00

So we are still painting our front room! Possibly the longest decorating project in history! But is so hard when you are working full time, running a business and busy with hen weekend's, birthdays etc!
We haven't even discussed what we'll do with the floorboards yet, they are looking a bit of a mess at the moment with dust and paint splatters....

A few possible ideas....

stripped back and natural

white, light, bright

or stained darker to contrast the white?

What do you reckon?

(all pics via Hege Greenall-Scholtz's blog - my new fave blog!)

Mother Nature

2011-05-08T11:46:00.000+01:00

Another hectic week has flown by! I haven't had a chance to post some pics from the bank holiday weekend.... I will spare you my Royal Wedding party pics as I think I've missed the boat on that one! old news! But I was inspired by a walk the other half and I went on last Saturday. We drove up to Leith Hill in Surrey, to track down the bluebell woods, before they all disappear...

It was a gorgeous day and the bluebells were beautiful... (although it did take us about 3 hours to find them!) I found myself collecting things along the way, and it reminded me about how much we bring the outdoor world into our home decor... obviously plants and cut flowers, fabrics and wallpapers featuring flora and fauna... but also the idea of found objects, such as feathers, pretty stones, leaves, shells etc.

Not a new idea by any means, but I think it is the way you display them...

Elle Decoration has a lovely feature in this months issue of a Sydney home - and I love how they have displayed sea urchin and sea shells in jars...

I wish we had Pottery Barn in the UK, they have some gorgeous things, such as these jars....

I love how they've styled them here....

Or simply collect them in bowls ...

Frame your found objects... Or just buy these ones from Etsy sellers who have done the work for you!

Here are some of the things I found on my walk used in some product photos for my shop!

pics: 1-3: Me, 4&5: Burcu Avsar 6: Debi Treloar 7&8: Chris Court 9: Elle Decoration 10: Pottery Barn 11: Holly Jolliffe 12: Etsy 13: Etsy 14&15: Patchwork Harmony

Creative Walls

2011-05-03T10:04:00.000+01:00

I am loving this recently published book, Creative Walls, which focuses on how to adorn the walls of your home... The author, Geraldine James is the home buying manager at Selfridges - what an amazing job!

In the book, she shows us how to decorate our walls with a difference... from interesting objects to ways for displaying your art and photographs well, to ideas for the outside walls too... like the plate display below!

I created my own plate display in my hall (see 'how to' here and the results!) but I really like how the plates in the below shot have been arranged along the natural line of the plaster on the wall, giving this rustic room a delicate touch...

There are lots of other lovely ideas with natural materials and found objects such as these signs - the marble 'Pupo' slab was apparantely picked up from the road side!

So if you are currently staring at blank walls wondering what you should do, or you just fancy a change, this is a great book to flick through for some quirky inspiration.

Get a sneak peek inside the book here and buy from Amazon

Royal Wedding Fever!

2011-04-28T08:54:00.000+01:00

Wow, it really is reaching a crescendo isn't it?! People have been camping outside Westminster Abbey for days, Sainsbury's has sold over 195 miles of bunting and it seems its all people are talking about!

I hope the day all goes to plan for them, and I hope you all have a fun day whether you are going to a street party, having your own soiree or hiding away from it all!

oh, and don't forget you still have time to make some mini bunting and flags with my little template!!

Download the template here!

See info for making here - its really easy! :)

I'd love to see what you do with it, so send me a photo (info@patchworkharmony.co.uk)

or upload to our flickr page!

Have fun!

xxx

Wedding pics from Once Wed

xxx

Ice Cream & Antiques in Rye

2011-04-26T21:37:00.000+01:00

Well! what a fantastic Easter weekend we just had! The perfect opportunity for a little day trip... On Saturday we jumped in the car and toodled down to Rye, in East Sussex. First stop was for some ice cream, and then a wander round the lovely cobbled streets. There was wisteria in full bloom on every corner, quirky galleries, and an abundance of tea shops!

One of my fave parts of the day was of course rummaging in the antique shops! There are quite a few perfectly grouped together along Strand Quay so you can just duck in and out....

For lovers of kitchenalia, Country Ways (below) will literally make your heart race! Full of enamelware, glassware, kitchen utensils and so much more, I wanted everything so much to the point that I bought nothing, as I could never have chosen! I wish I could just pop back in there now and make a decision!

A lovely day which we rounded off with eating our picnic by the church, buying some fudge and then popping over to Winchelsea beach for a peek at the sea!

xxx

Easter Egg Hunt!

2011-04-24T10:08:00.000+01:00

Happy Easter everyone! We couldn't have wished for better weather in the UK to have a 4 day weekend! I even enjoyed the thunderstorm we had yesterday evening! ;)

This morning is another glorious one, and so far I have eaten mini eggs for breakfast and been hunting down some other chocolate treats! Every year since we've lived together, the other half does a little Easter egg hunt for me around the house (yes - I am nearly 30 but I still love it!)

Right - now I've found them all, I'm off to stuff my face! :)

Have a lovely weekend!

xxx

Livening up the garden

2011-04-21T08:51:00.000+01:00

The weather in the UK really has been amazing the last few days, and is set to last into the Easter weekend! hurray! I've been sitting out in the garden, thinking firstly, how bad I am at gardening, and secondly how uncomfortable it is perching on our current metal chairs! (Thats not my garden above by the way! I wish! Its a lovely shot from Graham & Green!) So I'm thinking maybe I should go for some garden furniture and accessories to liven things up this year, rather than wasting my time with planting stuff!!

I'd love a hammock if I had somewhere to hang one! They really are comfy! The above one from the Conran Shop would certainly inject some colour! And how cute is the hanging seat (also Conran) although I'd need a pretty sturdy established tree for that I imagine! A colourful deckchair may have to be my version of a hammock for now.....

Turquoise table and chair from Habitat

But if you after a bit more of a neutral vibe, (maybe you are better at the plants and adding colour that way than me!!) these lovely accessories caught my eye....

Fringed Beach Towel - Zara Home

Rustic Candle - Lombok

Sisal Placemats - Plumo

Enjoy the weather!!

xxxx

PS If you fancy that hammock - Conran Shop are running a competition on Facebook to win £150 of vouchers - check it out here.

A new candlestick

2011-04-20T18:19:00.000+01:00

Today I have mostly been marvelling at the heat outside and the beautiful sunshine, and eating cheese and crackers in my garden. I did manage to pull myself away for a few hours to take some pictures of a lovely new product thats just arrived in the boutique! A hand carved mango wood candlestick which is made in Northern India. It is part of a fairtrade project, and the group have benefited from a clean water project in the community. They really are lovely and chunky and sturdy, and I think will look great on a mantlepiece or dining table! :) I got a little bit snap happy when shooting it, so made a little mosaic!

In other news, if you fancy a 25% off discount code for the shop, please spare a quick 5mins to answer 10 easy peasy questions! I'd love to know more about what you think of my shop/blog! Click here to take part!

New Inspiration

2011-04-20T10:15:00.000+01:00

Sometimes when I should be doing work, I think I'll just have a quick peek at a few blogs, and before you know it I'm caught up in the forever-linking world and hours have gone by! The breadth of talent and of inspiring reads is overwhelming... I thought I would share a fwe of the blogs I have connected with this week - some are well known, so may not be news to you, but this is just what I'm being drawn to at the moment!

As Petals Fall

Katie is an artist, print maker & textile designer, and she likes lots of things I like - cats, old things, flowers, interior decoration, cycling, to name a few.

Yvestown

A popular blog from Belgium written by stylist Yvonne.

A fellow cat owner, with a gorgeous home.

Stephmodo

Stephanie is a lifestyle and food blogger,

who has a gorgeous property in France you can rent out.

A Creative Mint

A colourful and crafty blog by the very talented Leslie Shewring.

Cannelle et Vanille

Gorgeous food and photography blog by Aran,

a food writer and photographer funnily enough!

Simply beautiful.

This Home Sweet Home

A interior decoration blog from the island of Jersey.

Lana Lou Style

A South African blog on fashion, decor, weddings

and great tips if you're planning a trip to Cape Town!

Hope you enjoy these as much as me!

xxx

Flowers in the home

2011-04-18T22:26:00.000+01:00

I can't believe its been another week that has went by since I last blogged! So sorry, I guess its been another one of those weeks! I attended a lovely event last Wednesday at one of my favourite shops in London - Liberty
Holly Becker was launching her new book Decorate - which I reviewed a few weeks ago Myself and some fellows bloggers had a bit of a Q&A with Holly, and then we went over to the new Dining Room area for a styling demo with Holly, Sania Pell & Leslie Shewring

One of my favourite things about the table they'd styled was how the flowers were displayed. So simple to stack some vintage books to elevate the arrangements, and then just adding single blooms to interesting containers. They've used the Astier de Villante ceramic tin cans, but you could always spray paint some actual tin cans white for the same effect as Leslie pointed out! :)

You can check out a video about the book & the event here

To me, flowers are an essential part of any interior, and I think sometimes people think you have to spend a lot of money on flowers, but I have to say I only buy flowers when I see the 'reduced' stickers on them in Waitrose! Usually there is only 1 flower thats looking a bit sad, and the rest are perfect!

And sometimes they can be as little as 10p!

Or if you are lucky enough to have flowers in your own garden, just pick a couple of roses or peonies, and pop them in a bowl like Selina Lake has done above, again simple but beautiful!

And if you're feeling a bit more extravagant just fill a bucket with flowers....

If, like me, you are more a budget flower kinda girl, then all you need is a few stems, and an interesting vase or milk bottle, and your room is instantly lifted!

As we are still in the throes of decorating our front room, I have actually made a pact to myself to NOT buy any flowers until the house is all back to normal, so then perhaps I might treat myself to something a little more special! not from the bargain bucket that is! Or maybe even from one of these lovely flowers shops....

Scarlet and Violet

Wild at Heart

Miss Pickering

Cave London
xxx

pics by: Me, Scarlet & Violet Selina Lake

Mundo Flo/Flickr Planet Fur/Flickr

mini bunting and flags!

2011-04-12T09:04:00.000+01:00

wow, the last week has just flown by! Mostly I have been sanding wood work in the front room as I am STILL preparing it for painting! But hopefully that will begin this weekend. I also attended a bloggers evening at the Conran offices to celebrate My Deco's 3rd birthday which was fun, and I found a few quiet moments to make some mini bunting and flags for my Royal wedding party! It was really simple, but I took some pics so thought I'd share them.... Ooh, and feel free to use my flag template if you fancy making it too! ;)

I'm quite excited for the Wedding - I think mainly for the long weekend we'll have, and the excuse to make some cake and drink some bubbly! Has anyone got plans for it?

Crown Jug - £11.95

Vintage plates - from £4

XXX

Pale & Interesting

2011-04-04T21:37:00.000+01:00

You may remember a while ago, I mentioned about decorating my living room and painting the fireplace white? Well I am now in the beginning stages of preparing the room to be painted, and am still taking some of my inspiration from a house (below) I spotted on Light Locations....

And when I seen that Atlanta Bartlett and David Coote had just published a new book - Pale and Interesting - I knew it would be full of similar inspiring images and would fill me with hope that one day my room will look the ones in their book! At the moment, I'm not quite feeling like that though, as I have currently half stripped the paint off the cornice, and now wishing I'd never started!! :(

The beautiful photography by Polly Wreford really highlights the interior style Atlanta and Dave are known for - light, bright, fresh and simple, where vintage pieces are given space to breath, and stand out against the neutral backdrop...

I'd always been worried an all white scheme could be a bit boring or stark, but this book actually confirms to me that it only highlights beautiful furniture and objects you've collected, and that it can work across all rooms of the home - from an office space to the kitchen.

One section of the book focuses on collecting, and gives tips on how best to display these items. I love the image below and how these vintage kitchen utensils have been framed in plain contemporary style frames, setting them off, and turning them into art!

I could literally step into any of the pages of the book and happily live a peaceful, subtle and calm life! I dare you to flick through this book, and not have the urge to paint your floorboards white! :)

xxx

Buy Pale and Interesting from Amazon

Images courtesy of Ryland Peters and Small

Custhom wallpaper

2011-04-01T12:06:00.000+01:00

These wallpapers from Custhom have me looking round my house looking for somewhere else to wallpaper! I especially love the 3rd one here which has the little cat peeking through the foliage! In fact this paper is called 'Moggy'! love it! It is hand printed, which demands its £97 per roll price tag, but hey prettiness doesn't always come cheap! ;)

xxx

Last minute gift ideas for Mum!

2011-03-30T22:50:00.000+01:00

mum who likes a nice cup of tea.... Anthropologie £14

mum who likes to bake... The OK Corral £6

mum who likes to garden.... Patchwork Harmony £27.95

mum who likes to craft... Catherine Hammerton £24

with the above kit you can create your own wall murals like this one below with vintage treasures like buttons and old bus tickets!

mum who likes a posh bath.... Designers Guild £29

Happy Mothers Day!

xxx

Decorate

2011-03-28T13:04:00.000+01:00

Founder of Decor8 blog, Holly Becker has just had her first book published, Decorate, and it is literally packed full of great ideas, inspiration and photography. Holly and co-author Joanna Copestick haven't focused on one particular style of interiors, but rather looked at what, why and how we decorate our homes. It really does seem to cover every aspect of interior design and decoration - from how you lay out your space, to wallpaper, to making your home brighter.

The format of the book means you can dip into it at any time, and there are lots of small sections of text, and bullet pointed guidelines, plus lots of lovely quotes and tips from interior designers, stylish homeowners and bloggers (including me!)

They advice on developing your own style, by using moodboards, and building up your collection of furniture and objects gradually over time, to create an eclectic home that reflects your personality.

Its also lovely to see some of the gorgeous homes of designers, stylists and photographers such as Sania Pell, Jonathan Adler and Amy Butler.

This is definitely one book I'll be referring to when I need inspiration!

Published by Jacqui Small, and available to buy on Amazon.

Got it covered

2011-03-25T08:57:00.000Z

Just before it goes off the stands.... did you spot some Patchwork Harmony products on the cover of April's Homes and Antiques?!

Jelly Mould tealight holders, and vintage teacups where included in their Easter feature! The teacups and saucers have been sold already... but I do now have in stock some Vintage Mason jars like the one in the cover photo!

Thanks Homes & Antiques!

xxx

Typography trend

2011-03-23T18:23:00.001Z

I am loving Barnaby Gates new Typecast wallpaper - it has words hidden amongst the type, or you can even have bespoke paper made where you can choose your own words for them to hid in the design! And you can choose the colour too!

The typography trend is not a new one, but it doesn't seem to be losing momentum... here's a few of my other 'wordy' picks!

Catchphrase print - Pedlars - £175

Alphabet Masking Tape - Papermash - £3

Love Peace and Cake tea towel - Rockett St George - £10

Alphabet Art Print - Sycamore Street Press - $35

Quote wall decals - Single Stone Studios - $48

Anthropolgie - Decorator concept

2011-03-22T19:25:00.000Z

One of my favourite shops and favourite stylists - Anthropologie and Emily Chalmers are coming together this Sunday 27th March, when Emily will be in store to launch their new Decorator Concept.
If you love their store design and their products, you are sure to love this new section of the Kings Road store, where you will get inspired by their textiles, hardware, lighting and wallpaper, and by the various design books and magazines to browse and get ideas from.
Don't you just wanna start digging through those little drawers and bowls on display?!

Emily will be doing a question and answer session, and will also be offering one to one consultations which I imagine would be really interesting. (spaces for this are more than likely booked up already but you can email community@anthropologie.eu just in case!)
There will be lots of other things going on at the event on Sunday, with Design collective Custhom screenprinting postcards, and an exhibition by Leslie Oschmann. Sounds like a great day (pop in between 1pm-4pm)
Its making me want to start over again decorating my house! Although I'm not sure the other half and my bank account would want to hear that! ;)

xxx

Website Relaunched!

2011-03-21T21:52:00.000Z

I've been a busy little bee recently working on bringing together my newly designed website which has just went live today! After setting up my shop two years ago this April (!) I thought it was time for a refresh, and time to make things a little easier for shopping on!

I'd love to hear what you think of the new site!

Caroline

xxx

Vintage Shopping in Hastings

2011-03-18T21:53:00.001Z

I've been busy this week entertaining a friend visiting from Belfast. And on Wednesday we jumped in the car and headed down to Hastings on the south coast. Even the sun managed to make an appearance, just as we stepped out of the car and looked out across the glistening sea! But we were in search of one thing - vintage shops!!

And Hastings certainly has plenty of those! We strolled along High Street and nipped down Courthouse Street, poked our noses in boxes and scanned shelves!

I have to say though, I was a tad disappointed that some of the junk shops did not have the best quality junk, if there's such a thing! And I found it more expensive than I'd anticipated. Although saying that, I did buy a lovely wooden lamp base for £1, and was chuffed to find it was working fine when I got it home!

A quick stop for a good old builders brew in a fish and chip shop...

And then, the hightlight of the day - Butlers Emporium on George Street. This used to be a traditional hardware shop, but last year it was transformed into this gorgeous boutique. Lots of the original features are still intact such as these little drawers, although the owner told us she did have to get rid of some of the other (modern) fixtures and strip it back to the lovely bare walls and wood.

It was full of lovely items and I purchased the yellow wire rack on the right in the below pic for my office...

They don't have a website sadly, but if you do happen to find yourself in Hastings this is a must!

Also worth a peek on High Street, Hastings:

Little Treasures vintage - vintage Clothes and homewares

Made in Hastings - lovely handmade items by local craftspeople

And down Norman Road in St Leonards:

Eras of Style - great vintage furniture and fittings

Crafty heaven!

2011-03-10T22:41:00.000Z

I wouldn't say I am massively into crafting, mainly because I don't have enough time to sit down and make things, and I don't know much about scrapbooking, but still, I am drawn to the random vintage knick knacks that can be stumbled upon on Etsy... Today I found 58 and Grace, and literally want everything in their shop, even though I'm not quite sure what I'd do with them! I'm just so in love with the old typefaces and graphics on these kinds of items.... perhaps my inner scrapbooker is trying to get out?!