Trivial Pursuits - New Ways to Show Off your Photos

If, like me, you are guilty of taking photos and never doing anything more than storing them in files on your computer, you may be looking for some unusual ways to display or share them.

I found these, and more, on Huffington Post's website and thought I would share.  Some I didn't like and others wouldn't suit my home, but I'm certainly going to have a go at a couple of these, especially the envelopes which would be great to personalise thank you cards.

This is a simple way of displaying photos on a shelf or table top.  You can find out how Rikki recycles the jars for use on her website here.

And I'm definitely going to be using this idea for sending out business correspondence.  The simple advertising that I will be able to include with various images of babes in my hats will be perfect.  And I'm sure grandparents would love to open a thank you card with a photo inside the envelope too.  See how to make them here.

And I'm going to rethink how I display my art in the kitchen when we finally renovate it.  I love this idea of wooden clip boards which was created by Love Grows Wild.  Check them out here.

I assumed that these coasters had been sent away to be made. I know that most of the supermarkets and photo labs make them, but it is possible to make your own.  If you want to a have a go, check out Granny Girls' website here.

And if you want to let someone else do the work for you, these lovely framed windows are available on Etsy.

I've been doing a bit of my own recycling in the office.  I took the prints from last year's calendar and mounted them in some old frames I had brought with me from our last home.  But although I love the images, I think I might have to try something a bit more original with the way I display them.  If you want to see some more amazing photos I've been sent by both customers and professionals check out our galleries on the website.

Do you have unique and interesting ways of using or displaying your photos?  Do let us know.

www.cobwebknits.co.uk

Let's Celebrate .... Burns' Night

We love an excuse to party and since we also love all things Scottish, Burns' Night provides the perfect opportunity.

When looking for inspiration for our new living room since moving, I happened upon these sumptuous cushions which I freely admit to coveting.  Produced by Voyage Maison, they are divine.

 Another great thing about moving is I get the chance to discover some new shops - one of them being Pethau Bychain in King St, Carmarthen..  Here you'll find an eclectic mix of lovely interiors, homeware and jewellery along with a great coffee shop, making a welcome respite from the chains found elsewhere.  And this is where I stumbled upon my cushions, as you can see here.

We always take the opportunity to celebrate so on the day we'll be donning our thistle hats (you can get one here), ....

.... and aprons, tucking into an enormous haggis, complete with neeps and tatties, and having a crack at Robert Burns' famous address to the haggis.  If you fancy a go, here are the first few lines.

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, 

Great chieftain o the puddin'-race!

Aboon them a' ye tak your place,

Painch, tripe, or thairm:

Weel are ye worthy o' a grace

As lang's my arm.

Slàinte! (Cheers)

www.cobwebknits.co.uk

Boutique and Unique - Polkadot of Winslow, Bucks

Stumbled across Polkadot on Facebook and thought you might like to see what they get up to.

Lisa (aka Miss Dottie) runs Polkadot and spends her days hand-painting gorgeous stuff & things in a farmhouse in the middle of a field in the beautiful Buckinghamshire countryside.

She specialises in handpainting wooden signs, canvases, hearts & boxes and the sound of sawing, sanding, drilling & painting, dogs & chickens can always be heard!

I love the fact that when Lisa gets cold she fires up the kiln and makes a few of her sweet little mugs, jugs or teapots!

There seem to be no end to Lisa's creative talents and she also produces a range of cards & prints.

As well as a shop in Winslow you can also buy her stuff online.

All images (c) Polkadot of Winslow

Boutique and Unique - Vintage Living, Baslow, Derbyshire

Vintage Living in Baslow is a real find.  Owner Sarah Copley began a life long interest in antiques at a very early age, unsurprisingly since both her grandmother and mother were in the business. She deals in original distressed and decorative painted furniture, sourcing stock from England, France and Europe.

      

Sarah's trained with Ann Maurice the House Doctor so has a wealth of experience to help you with your interior design. Her amazing shop is full of lovely furniture and accessories dressed cleverly so you could simply transport the it straight into your house.

    

And if you want more than just a bit of inspiration, Sarah is going to start running courses that will help you to  style your home and work with colour.

All images (c) Vintage Living

Boutique and Unique - Hambledon Gallery, Blandford Forum, Dorset

Another great reason to live in Blandford - Hambledon Gallery on Salisbury St.
Slightly off the beaten track this shop is a hidden nugget of retail treasures.  

They have two floors full of beautiful things: women's and children's clothes, toys, glass, china, toiletries, table linen and quilts.  And if you really insist I suppose any of their products would make perfect gifts too!

The upper level is devoted to beautiful designer women's clothing.  Labels include Great Plains, John Smedley, Masai Ali Capellino and Johnstons Cashmere.

Downstairs in the toy shop, we love their traditional and wooden toys.  It is a veritable treasure trove for little people.  Labels include Charlie & Lola, Olive & Moss, Trunki suitcases and the Very Hungry Caterpillar.

There is something to cater for home makers too.  Vintage inspired baking utensils, paper party pieces, glassware, picnic essentials and gardening implements too.

    

And their stylish window displays are sure to tempt you in - at any time of year.

All images (c) the Hambledon Gallery

     

Meet the Maker - Jo Lucksted, Ceramic Artist

Jo Lucksted confesses to having a bit of a magpie personality. She covets things of beauty, whether it’s because of it's form, texture or material but mainly because of the skill that has gone into creating handmade.  She hopes that her work reflects some of these qualities. 

Jo's work is influenced by the stonework of churches she knew as a child, in particular Wells cathedral and it's not difficult to see where her inspiration has come from for her Angels and Mythological sculptures.

 

But she believes that ceramics are accessible to everyone and runs workshops in and around Somerset.  She has her own shop in Shepton Mallet from where she runs workshops, but there are also courses in Wells, Yeovil and Frome.  They are half day courses and are an inexpensive way of getting some excellent tutoring and making something for yourself.

Her interests are summed up simply.  Her, family, music, creating, spending time on her allotment, and avoiding exercise or housework

 

Surf's Up - Nelly Pepper: Interiors and Kitchenware.

If, like me, you like vibrant and quirky this website might be just what you're looking for.

With products are as bright as their website there are a number of 'departments' including Kitchen, Home, Accessories, Kids, Gifts and Jewellery you can browse through.

Nelly Pepper was conceived by Jane Kelly and Zoe Friskney who were fed up with having to scour the internet looking for kitchenware that offered quirky, modern and unique quality products.

Surf's Up - Country Life and Other Passions

If you're looking for inspiration for interiors, landscape gardens and mood boards, you could do a lot worse than check out the images on this Facebook page, Country Life and Other Passions. 

  

We love the photographs and advice on many small and great passions of life ... with a focus on simplicity and reflection .... With an emphasis on beauty in the broadest sense, extending to art and nature, music and style ... 

    

Their page welcomes all those who love good taste and love the little things!