Category: Creative
Christmas Creative x
It’s the last day of the term for the kids, which would normally herald my favourite time of the year – hunkering down with crafts and an open fire to embrace everything glitter, festive and fun. It’s not the same with builders in the house…but why – really – should it be any different? In fact, with all our decorations in storage, the call to make everything is stronger than ever..I’m just thinking we need to keep everything as cheap and as simple as possible…decorations from paper?
Surprisingly effective: Cut out the shape, glue 2 sides together..and keep going. Miniatures for a garland..larger for a tree..
Or these globes? Fun with scissors and a hole-punch..
If we get really carried away…. a spot of origami?
(Or maybe we’ll just stick to to the good’ol paper chain….)
Laters, Kate x
Foxy Lady x
All I want for Christmas is a Christmas tree..but it’s not going to happen..there’s no space and it’ll just get covered in dust. But I might compromise with a fox scarf..I like the play on the vintage look. I’ve seen children’s versions, which could be like a neck scarf. But personally I like the longer, Tom-Baker-Doctor-Who ones..
This one promises to be soft, strong and very, very long.
(All links to examples can be found on Pinterest)
A girl can dream..
Laters, Kate x
Just Because..
Laters, Kate x
The Cellar x
Sigh. This is part of the inspiration for our cellar renovation..a warm, inviting room from epic the Hotel Provinence in Paris.
But before we get to the fun bits (we’re still shovelling soil), the room layout has to be nailed (literally). It’s not the easiest room – there’s got to be lots of multi-functionality but I’ve found a brilliant site – The Make Room – which is the easiest, most practical room planner I’ve ever played with.
You can pull in furniture..and alter their sizes to represent yours..or what’s on the dream list.
Save different layouts.
Add in measurements to ensure there’s enough walk space..(Top tip: As a base line the site uses feet and inches, to change – look to the right and click on ‘add all buttons’ then, look to the left, find ‘view’ click and change to centimetres)
You can choose plugs..lights..even slippers.
At the end – oh the joy! – it gives you a list of the sizes of all the furniture you’ve used..is that not heaven on a page?
Then just print off..and hand to nearest Bank Manager…
Laters, Kate x
Woolly Palette x
Sheepskin has that rare mix of standout and empathy.
It’s come a long way from the full blown saturation of it’s seventies hey day which resulted in total burn out.
But it’s appeal is sneaking under the radar and gently returning, softening edges and singing of warmth and cosy nights by open fires.
No doubt the flokati rug will soon follow.
Laters, Kate x
Best Christmas Craft EVER!
Bella and I had a festive Saturday afternoon covered in glue ‘n’ glitter, making our own Christmas cloche dioramas…they were so simple…yet so satisfying!
In amongst our renovation/building chaos we gathered all our bits together: A glue gun, uhu glue, foam plates, plastic wine glasses, glitter and all the little Christmas ornaments we could find.
We carefully, using a sharp knife, cut the end of the plastic wine glasses off, and cut out oversized circles from the foam plates.
Then we arranged and glued on our festive scenes.
The upturned glasses were glued down and had glitter added through the still open stems.
Finally they were topped and glued with the hanging part of an unwanted bauble and the bottoms trimmed off.
So effective.
Such fun!
Making them together and seeing them all…just made us smile.. and want to make more and more!
If you can..just do it!
Laters, Kate x
Feel the Force..
Love this. Because of new legislation in the Ukraine all remnants and symbols of the country’s communist past now have to be taken down. But in Odessa (in a town far, far away) they’ve taken things an artistic step further and converted their statue of Vladimir Lenin into none other than Darth Vader.
Artist Alexander Milov has added a helmet, cape, boots and a secret weapon…
Under Darth’s hat is a wi-fi hotspot providing free wifi to all those who stand at his feet.
Oh the symbolism. Ahh the parody. Ker-ching the tourist revenues..
Laters, Kate x
Hats Off!
Hats are having a moment..the humble bobble is back big time..so maybe there’s hope for the rest hitting the mainstream again.
It would be fun. Hats may not speak, but they say volumes about an outfit.
All of these tempting delights are by the talented Karen Henriksen, a milliner working in London who’s perfected the tightrope between modern and timeless.
(All pictures Karen Henriksen and Pinterest)
Oh to have a few precious hours trying them all on and pouting in a fetchingly foxed antique mirror. Such stuff dreams are made of.
Laters, Kate x
Skirts and Trims x
The latest obsessions on our renovation are skirting and architrave…and the difference it can make to the personality of a room.
Particularly if it’s picked out in a darker colour.
Oh! The height! The scale!
And ours is going on! Only the top layer mind, as the floor has yet to go down..but it’s a bright, burning light at the end of a long dark tunnel.
Laters, Kate x
Kitchen heaven!
The kitchen light’s are coming! The kitchen light’s are coming!…and I have no real idea what they will look like or whether they will actually work, except that in my head they are totally brilliant.
I needed three pendants to hang over the new island unit but didn’t want to go down the industrial look, not because I don’t like it..I just wanted something very different.
Also, I’ve realised over the years that I have a passion for folk art..an art form we don’t take seriously enough here in the UK. All the images here are typical examples of British canal art – the traditional means of decorating canal boats and barges. I think it is stunning, ingenious and totally covetable.
So I’ve commissioned three milk churns to be painted just for me by my favourite canal art painter…and they’re finished!!
Seriously. Can’t. Wait. More details when they’re here.
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 