How to make a copper pipe candle holder
Copper continues to be on trend in our homes, so why not create a centre piece to wow your guests? What is great about this copper pipe candle holder, is that you can make it as small and simple or…
10 key pieces for your vintage 1930s & 1940s kitchen
My latest enamel pin in the Vintage Pin Club is based on the 1940s classic scales and mixing bowl; something that most fans of vintage have and use! I remember growing up with my grandma using the mixing bowls and…
10 hidden things to look out for when buying an old property
I am a huge fan of old properties, loving them for their character and period features. I spent my teenage years in a Victorian semi detached house, then my second property was an Edwardian terrace, followed by a 1930s bungalow…
Recycled & Upcycled Christmas Gift Ideas supporting Emmaus
Earlier this year I was asked to join up with the charity, Emmaus to create something upcycled to celebrate Recycle Week. I created a cushion made from men’s ties and thoroughly enjoyed it on two levels. One, I loved making…
Vintage style Christmas cushions
While researching Christmas gifts for my two articles for The Lady Magazine, I found these amazing vintage style Christmas cushions from We Love Cushions. They not only make me nostalgic, they also make me smile as they are both kitsch…
How to make an upcycled cotton reel Christmas tree
Rather than making a wreath this year, or maybe as well as, why not create another festive shape such as a Christmas tree or star? I have created a framed tree using lots of cotton reel, bells and buttons to…
How to make vintage fabric lampshade fairy lights
Autumn is finally here, the evenings are getting darker and the clocks soon will be put back, so it is now time to cosy up your home. I love this time of year, I enjoy adding fluffy throws and textured…
7 reasons why Annie Sloan is so important to interior design
Recently I was asked along to a workshop hosted by Annie Sloan at her colourful HQ in Oxfordshire. It was a real pleasure to meet her and to have a go at some paint techniques; learning from the lady herself…
How to create picture frames from vintage trouser hangers
I love to hang pieces of art on my wall, whether it is a photo, something my children have drawn or even my favourite album covers. Rather than buying frames which always feel a little more staged, I like the…
How to create a mid century living room
A mid century living room looks perfect in so many settings; from a city apartment to a family home as it’s clean lines create a calm mood and uncluttered feel but can sometimes seem unobtainable due to the prices of…
An upcycled men’s tie cushion for Recycle Week, supporting Emmaus
I have teamed up with the charity Emmaus UK for Recycle Week, to promote the amazing work that they do there. Emmaus helps the homeless, not by giving them shelter for the night, but by giving them a home for…
100 years of Fashion Illustration by Cally Blackman
100 Years of Fashion Illustration is a new book, published by Laurence King Publishing written by Cally Blackman. It is a fantastic reference for any vintage fashion fan, sharing 400 illustrations from the Edwardian era through to the noughties which…
The perfect wall art for your vintage mid century kitchen
Finding a piece of wall art that you connect with can be hard. When I go to shops like IKEA for example, while I like the furniture with its sleek lines, the canvas prints can sometimes leave me a little…
How to make an upcycled tyre footstool
Brighten up your decking or even a kids room by creating a brightly coloured tyre footstool from an old thrown away item. Add vintage fabric to give it a retro feel, then sit back, put your feet up, grab an…
12 ways to create a vintage-style child’s bedroom
I have created a calm, nostalgic feel for my daughter which has been perfect for her as a baby and will work through to about 10 years old, based on using vintage and handmade pieces. Here are some of the…
10 reasons to go to a vintage festival
For many of us in the vintage world we know all about a vintage festival, and in fact go to them regularly. But for many, it is totally new and people can be unsure what to expect, what to wear…
How to create a vintage garden
Vintage Garden History: Amateur gardening was a popular pastime in the 1930s, with rows of neat flower beds in the front and back gardens of the newly built suburbs. These quickly turned into allotment styled gardens in the 1940s as…
