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I have fallen in love with this beautiful pottery, which is produced by husband and wife team, Philip and Heather Walton. Eden Pottery is on the Ards Peninsula in Northern Ireland. They use an amazing colour palette, and their designs are so pretty I want to own them all. I will definitely be adding one or two things to my Christmas present list this year!
Photo: Eden Pottery
I was hoping, when I joined the PTA at my children's school, I wouldn't have anything to do. I was pushed into it by one of the ladies leaving to go back to college, on the understanding that as I had a full time job, I was there only to make up the numbers. Suddenly, in the midst of the manic stitching, photography and page layout for my next book, I find myself thinking of things that I can make for the school Christmas fete! I imagined it would be easy to turn out Christmassy things, gifts, hanging decorations, but I find that my research has left me oohing and aahing and with little to show at the next committee meeting. These really lovely advent calenders are featured on the Country Living Magazine site- a bit big to make in large quantities, but I just might make one for my children and keep looking for those quick, easy cheap projects that I can turn out in bulk!
Photo: Country Living Magazine
These adorable women certainly are not Desperate Housewives. This bridal shower party was inspired by the iconic 1950′s housewife, but with a modern twist and a more vibrant color palette! Love the cherry red lips, flirty false lashes and the winged eyeliner. Hostess With The Mostest set up this amazing shoot. This is such a creative way to celebrate a bridal shower or a birthday party.
Photo: Hostess With The Mostest
These dinky little tarts are made in rainbow colours and are perfect for a little girl's birthday or for after school tea. If you can track down a lovely old tart tin from an antique shop, then serve these straight out of the tin – it looks really good, as the old tins are cute and very girly! Check out the Jamie magazine for more yummy recipes!
Photo: Jamie Magazine
Cousins, friends and now business partners, Juliette Collins and Sarah Silver have both studied Graphic Design at London College of Communication. Having always wanted to develop a project together, in 2009 they formed Brownpaper from their kitchen, hoping to bring something new to the handmade card industry.
Inspired by typography, stationary and packaging materials, they make all their wares at their studio in London.
Photos: Brownpaper
I need a wooden ironing board to make an appearance in my next book, and as I am in the process of re-vamping my own laundry, I decided to buy one suitable for both jobs. It needs to be elegant, strong and adjustable to stand up to the thousands of items of clothing that pass through my laundry every year. Here are some of the best that I have found. John Lewis (top left) do a natural-wood board made from rubber-wood; Amazon sell a Kandu solid wood board with galv iron stand and a handy shelf for the iron underneath (bottom left); Pullymaid (bottom right) make a beautifully crafted solid beech board with a stainless steel iron rest, and I just love the blue metal French Laundry sign from Amazon - so cheap! I'm sure that my new board and sign will make my ironing-days a much nicer experience!
Photo: John Lewis (top left); Amazon (top right and bottom left); Pullymaid (bottom right).
I will be looking for pretty yet practical boots for the girls this weekend. Love the moss green tall leather boots from Boden (bottom right). The grey riding boots (top right) and the fringed suede booties (bottom left) are by Olive Juice - based in America, they make wonderful European inspired shoes and clothes for children. The chocolate workwear boots (top left) are from Next.
Photo: Next - Chocolate Workwear Boots; Olive Juice - Grey Riding Boots and Fringed Suede Booties; Boden Moss Green Tall Leather Riding Boots
My two small apple trees planted just two years ago are laden with fruit. Next week I am planning to make a huge amount of apple chutney for my children's school Christmas fair - wish me luck as my Aga has been playing up for a few weeks. The nice man from the gas company assures me it is now working .... I really hope he is right!
I found this wonderful Caramel Apple Cake on Pinterest.
Photo: Jamie at The Great Cake Company
