My week in craft

Maybe it's the hint of spring in the air, maybe my nesting has gone into overdrive since our move or maybe I've just spent too much time reading the lots and lots and lots of lovely crafty blogs I follow...but whatever the reason this week has become The Week of All Things Crafty...

And at home: I've dusted off (literally) my sewing machine and had a couple of practice runs back on the trusty old friend. Modelled by Crumpet here: 

Slightly out of season but these were *clearly* the only socks to wear while sewing...

With friends: Russian Doll crafting with the Blookclub gang at the excellent Ziferblat (pay per minute and quaff all the tea you can drink) cafe: 

Russian Doll now settling in back at mine:

And even at work: as we put on a Thornback & Peel screenprinting bloggers evening, which was lots of Easter themed inky fun too:  

H&M Home - a revisit, 5 years on

A little call back to an old blogpost, as waay back in 2010 (and two blog designs ago) I took a 'first look' at H&M Home when it was all shiny and brand new. Back then, what is now a high street norn, only did single duvet covers, had an Argos style system of ordering products (?!) and I think just one shop. Ah the olden days. 

Now it's rolled out across most of the major stores and, my, how nicely grown-up it has become. I visited the same H&M Home in Oxford Street today for a little bit of compare and contrast. 

And twas looking good! The themes are really strong this season, with on-trend marble (look obvs), copper and geometrics galore. Plenty of botanicals and a gentle nautical feel for SS too. All, still, with very affordable price tags. Yes they might be jumping on a few bandwagons but (especially as I'm super skint right now...) you can't turn your nose at bringing design to the masses. 

Here's what I loved, starting with jade style-y glass ware: 

Chevron towels: 

Cactus love (got a bit of a good green thing going on too):  

 Marble-esque: 

And I even ended up taking these lovely bits home (can we just pretend that the sweet polka dot bowl doesn't have LOL inscribed in it though? Thanks...):

Picture(s) of the day: 28.02.15

Friends who bring flowers are always welcome (ditto: cake).

Proper new flat pics to follow someday! It's been funny, after waiting so long to get here. We've come to a bit of a standstill with what to do next. The List is as long as both of our arms (and this is a ready made easy move new build!) so we're a bit lost as to where to start. Think maybe we just need to breathe and get used to living here. Then y'know pictures. Promise. 

Bag borrowed from Betty & Walter (one of the lovely brands I work with for my day job) 

Styling the Seasons: February

My February is *all* about getting organised. As we've settled into our new pad: the last of the boxes has been unpacked, my Babysham glasses have been (safely) unwrapped and our plants have found new spots in the sun.  

Which means it's finally time for me to find a space to claim as my own. A place to get creative, work on my blog, sort out the important things I've been putting off as I have 'nowhere to do it' and (erm) spend time on my Pinterest boards ;)... And, my, does it feel nice! 

So this month's Styling the Seasons blogpost is dedicated to setting up a (home) work space. Just for me. 

Lovely Laura Ashley have kindly asked me to be part of their project with some of the Styling the Seasons gang (represent!) and let me shoot a roll of their new SS15 wallpapers as part of my new work space. 

I chose this super subtle seventies vibe wallpaper Palm Leaf. You like? I like it lots - for me it's just on the tame side of tropical, perfect for a bit of pre spring inspiration. 

You'll also spy a Laura Ashley Teacup and Saucer (filled with boy made coffee) Storage File (a girl's got to keep her mags nice and neat) and Seagrass Bin (almost too pretty to pack full of rubbish) in these shots that Laura Ashley sweetly sent along too.  

  

Here's the obligatory pic of the shoot's viewer (who was *very* keen on the gold twine...). 

The #stylingtheseasons project has been devised by two lovely bloggers Katy from Apartment Apothecary and Charlotte from Lotts & Lots. Two ace blogs that are full of home and craft inspiration. 

Laura Ashley will be sharing pics from this post and 11 more of my Styling the Seasons blog pals on their blog to introduce the new SS15 wallpapers. These will be up on the Laura Ashley blog on the 10th and 11th February so head over if you'd like to vote on a friendly little competition. 

Mondays are for Mugs: Reiko Kaneko

Leap into the first, strong, cuppa of the day with one of these Jumpy mugs by clever ceramicist Reiko Kaneko. Now is a good time to hop over to her website as the Jumpy set of mugs are currently on sale for a cracking £7. 

The BMX mug is a fave round ours obvs.

Jumpy Mugs, £7 each, from Reiko Kaneko 

Picture of the day: 01.02.15

Having fun planning a shoot for the blog...

Mondays are for Mugs: Modcloth

This prickly pear should be ideally be filled up with super healthy cactus tea. 

Alternatively, if you're suffering with the cold no.5 of the season like me...Lemsip, as those spiky spines have got to be good for the sorest of throats...mmm *reaches for Lemsip*  

Cactus What You Preach Mug, from Modcloth, price $11.99