Hastings #GatheredCheerSocial

A tiny peek into a lovely day: Ruth Garner, the super sweet lady behind the Gathered Cheer blog, has come up with a generous idea: Gathered Cheer Socials. A new kind of casual, no strings attached meet up for fellow bloggers to explore a new (and blogger friendly obvs) area. Gathering likeminded folk together with no pressure and no brand involved, just to hang out, explore a new place and enjoy a bloody jolly day out! 

So over the long weekend Ruth paired up with another blogger pal Jeska Hearne the creative mind behind the ever-beautiful Lobster & Swan blog (oh and the excellent online shop The Future Kept too) to give a happy gang of bloggers a tour of her home town: Hastings! 

Now I clearly had *far* too much fun to snap as happy as I'd planned (and could easily have snapped more but there was lots of chatting to be done instead...). But here's a little look into the fun we had taking a turn around the charming, creative (and quality antique shop heavy!) winding street of Hastings, its seafront and beautiful old town.

Some top shops include: Hendy's Home Store - wonderful vintage kitchenalia and homeware. I may *ahem* have done a bit of shopping here...let's just say enamel pans and Wood's Ware and leave it at that...

Wayward Haberdashery - the most beautiful, varied and (oh my) tactile! selection of fabrics, trimmings, ribbons and so many buttons. A must for anyone who has even looked at a sewing machine...

Bobo Flower and Garden Shop - there were flowers here that I've never even *seen* in a flower shop before - foxgloves, lupins and the biggest blousiest beautiful peonies ever...

Bobo flowers modelled here...the only way the wear them dontcha know :)

If you'd like to find out more about these Gathered Cheer Socials, Ruth lists upcoming events up on her blog and follow the hashtag #GatheredCheerSocial to see more from the great bunch of ladies I had the pleasure to hang out with in Hastings.

Flat snippets

The flat, it seems, is starting to come together nicely. Still lots to do, but it very much feels like home already. So I thought I'd share some snaps of bits I'm already happy with (just wait though...the pegboard is coming soon!).

Every home needs a spanner lamp :)

Shelves, books, plants - all things that make me happy: 

As does this little guy:

Legs eleven: 

Cheese plant pal (four months old and actually still alive!):

And big thanks to the lovely folk at Out There Interiors for donating this super hanging planter to the new flat:

Its succulent friend is settling into its new home nicely too I think.

Out There Interiors planter available here and plant (I think it is maybe an aloe vera?!) from good old Columbia Road Flower Market.  

French mini break

A very Bridget Jones title. But no turkey buffets or ill-advised bunny outfits here I promise.  Just snaps of the beautiful Midi-Pyrenees area in late April. Heavy on wisteria, doorways, hidden cats and lovely luscious greenery:  

And c'est moi:  

A bientot! 

Picture of the day: (Easter) Monday 6th April

Today I started with: A quiet bank holiday. Time to browse to find the perfect pattern. A ream of the lovely Liberty Tana Lawn fabric from the Styling The Seasons event back last year. A bit of sewing machine practice. 

And I ended up with these: 

Picture of the day: Sunday 5th April 2015

Today I made things (and may have eaten the odd chocolate egg...).

Picture of the day: Saturday 4th April

Today is all about cotching. Happy Easter y'all. 

One Good Deed Today: E2

One Good Deed Today. Is an admirable motto to live by (what's *your* good deed been today?), but it's also an excellent new shop too. 

This lifestyle store is right on Kingsland Road in the heart of Hoxton. Its (hard to photograph, but you get the point...) neon sign and the promise of lifestyle products, coffee and doughnuts are enough to tempt any self-respecting Hoxtonite away from the lure of the neighbouring Vietnamese restaurants.

One Good Deed has a pleasing mix of paired back and often nicely unexpected products (homeware, accessories, apothecary), featuring lots of independent designers.

The Garden Edit section and some superb plants in store especially tickled this new houseplant obsessive. 

And extra points given for this most impressive cheeseplant - just look at this monster!:

But now let's talk about the elephant in the room...you didn't think I wouldn't bang on about that AMAZING floor did you?! The impressive interior of One Good Deed was actually designed by one of its owners (who also has her own products on-sale in the store too natch) who hand coloured these marvellous wooden tiles. I need this pattern and colour combo in my life. On my floor. As tiles on my wall. As a fabric on my bed. Anywhere. Love!:

Lovely. Anyway do pop into One Good Deed Today (or they also have a rather nice website). Go for the shop (and the floor), but don't forget to stay for the doughnuts mmm.