For this post, I interviewed three stylish entrepreneurs who are each dreaming of a green Christmas. If you are still searching for gift ideas, but looking for something a little unusual with a big heart, please have a read and let us know if any of these brands are a new discovery for you. Each of us love #communityovercompetition and to #shopsmall.
At some point during the 35 degree heat of Summer 2018, I boldly declared that my Christmas 2018 would be Sellotape-free. Christmas is a time of huge wastage in terms of packaging (amongst other things) but as December draws near, I’m very aware that I don’t really know how I’m going to present my Christmas gifts without compromising on style. Thankfully, Kate Stuart has stepped in to offer practical guidance for us to create environmentally-friendly gift wrapping. Kate is an artist, writer and runs The Phoenix Green Store – Newcastle’s first zero waste solutions store. She contributes to No Serial Number Magazine, a publication promoting ethical and sustainable crafts.
Continue reading 3 Tips for Environmentally-Friendly Gift Wrapping
After a few weeks of wardrobe despair, eagerly dressing in cashmere in the early morning and stripped down to a vest by lunchtime, it happened. It got cold. Things can officially get cosy. Here are five of my favourite Instagram accounts that I reference for autumn inspiration.
Continue reading Five of the Best Instagram Accounts for Autumn Inspiration
One of my favourite hygge rituals at this time of year is to spruce my home – especially the walls – with little updates. Hanging new frames, switching around pictures, tweaking colour palettes – all help to refresh and bring cosiness to the home. For this reason, I think the autumn season and hygge sensations go hand-in-hand. It’s something you feel, that ebbs and flows and brings with it moments of great joy and belonging. I spoke to four stylish brands about the little traditions at this time of year that best evoke these feelings.
Continue reading My Hygge Rituals: Stylish Entrepreneurs Share their Cosy Autumnal Habits
Stepping into The Pink House is a curious combination of being on the set of a magazine shoot and visiting any of my mum-friends at home. And it’s oddly familiar for somewhere I’ve never visited before, because for the past year I’ve been an avid observer of owner Emily Murray’s domestic life through the little squares on my phone – along with 53K+ other fans.
Continue reading My Prickly Pear Illustration in The Pink House
Come and join me for a quick look around the home studio. My HQ space is a former guest bedroom, south-facing, blessed with a floor-to-ceiling window. A few months ago, we decided my little empire had grown too large to exist on the dining table any longer. We donated the double bed to a charity and set about installing more storage for minimum cost.
A bespoke picture frame is always going to give you the highest quality finish for your artwork, offer reassurance about UV protection and give a perfect fit. But to reduce costs, give as a gift, or perhaps as a stopgap while you decide on your perfect picture frame, here is a quick, visual blog post to give some examples of 40x30cm frames readily available online or on the UK High Street.
Continue reading Six Picture Frame Recommendations to Fit 40cm x 30cm Art Prints
A bespoke picture frame is always going to give you the highest quality finish for your artwork, offer reassurance about UV protection and give a perfect fit. But to reduce costs, give as a gift, or perhaps as a stopgap while you decide on your perfect picture frame, here is a quick, visual blog post to give some examples of 30x30cm frames readily available online or on the UK High Street.
Continue reading Four Picture Frame Recommendations to fit 30x30cm Art Prints
Who can resist a Cinderella story? This is a tale of a much-adored sofa, in need of a little makeover. Well, in fact, no, that’s not how this tale begins. We were thinking of buying new, but 2018 has been a year of implementing a mantra of “re-use, recycle, re-purpose” into our daily lives. Every sofa we looked at, we realised, we were essentially trying to replicate this one in size, style and stature.
Continue reading BEFORE and AFTER: How I Chose My Perfect Green Velvet Sofa and Saved Time and Money
It’s been a real thrill to start to receive photos of my artwork in my clients’ homes. In the hope that you will also enjoy a snoop around, I’d like to introduce a blog series showcasing how botanical illustrations may find a happy home in many different interior environments. First up is 2017 Amara Interior Blog Awards-nominated and self-confessed DIY nut, Anne Marie Stoltman. She is a colourful vintage collector and cleverly combines her old-fashioned treasures with a cool contemporary palette and plenty of plant life. Let’s take a look at Anne’s living room. Continue reading In Your Home: Part One – The Colourful Vintage Collector
