HAPPY NEW YEAR !

Well, the first six months in my shop have flown past.  It's been a roller coaster of ups and downs, doubts and highs and I am learning everyday.  I plan to write regular posts this year on what is is to set up and run a small bricks and mortar business in an age of recession and internet shopping.

I am running a sale in my shop at the moment which, is frankly driving me insane as it looks cluttered and jumbled and totally out of line with the look I am trying to achieve, but, I am distracting myself with the plans and sourcing of stock for the Spring look which will consist of the ever popular :

Nautical style.  Living by the seaside and having my shop in a coastal holiday destination I have many customers interested in nautical  products.

White, White and more White .  I love white, no matter how I try to diversify I always come back to this wonderful , calm colour and I will be sticking very firmly to my guns with my furniture this year.  More and more people are (finally) coming around to what I have been preaching for most of my adult life that white is THE only colour to use in your home for many reasons.

French influence.  Again another style I adore, although in recent years it has become harder and harder to buy authentic French homewares at reasonable prices.  I hope to accent the shop with French inspired items and where I can find them for a good price, authentic pieces.  There are hopes that we might even fit in a trip to France !


In the meantime please pop over to my facebook page to see the daily updates or take a peak at my Pinterest page for work I have carried out for customers, images that inspire me and what I think the trends in homes will be.

Happy New Year and may 2014 bring you all that you wish for.


Karen xx

Christmas at the white approach shop

I always think you have to get Bonfire night out of the way before you can really start thinking about Christmas, but, well, I couldn't wait and have spent since Saturday night trying to transform my shop into the Scandinavian image of Christmas I have in my head.  I haven't quiet succeeded in the perfect all white with accents of red and grey but I am pleased with what I have acheived .

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I pride myself on selling unique and affordable items from local independent crafters and artists.  Its important to me to have ideas and products not supplied by other retailers.  I have a wonderful selection of those, including the wooden advent calender made for me by my husband.  It stands approx 4 ft high and is hand painted.  I commissoned a talented local lady to make the numbered bags for me and think the end result it stunning.  A favourite Christmas family piece for years to come.  For Sale in the shop or online for £65.

 

I really love everything about Scandanaivian style, the fresh, clean look of red and white is particularly  apealing.

Pretty, framed hand crafted picture decoration available at the white approach £27.50

Affordable, handmade table runners, placemats, bread holders, bottle bags and more. 

The front window.  I love these large candy canes.  Please ignore the reflection of the old woman in the window !  If you are in the area would love to see you, pop in for a browse and a chat.

The Blanket Box

We are very busy in the shop at the moment with customer commissions.  Lots of people wanting items given a lick of paint in time for Christmas. 

This blanket box is in the shop today waiting to be collected.  The customer wanted a Lloyd loom style box to match a chair in her bathroom.  We sourced one that was very dirty and badly painted but was in good general condition with no holes or damage.  We removed the old fabric and seating, gave the box a good clean and rub down with sugar soap to remove any remaining dirt and grease. 

With this style of furniture we have found its best to spray paint the item.  It gives a much more even finish and you don't get paint clogging up the gaps.  Several light spray coats are best to achieve an even cover.  But you will need to keep checking the item from different angles and including putting it onto a table so you can see it properly. 

The customer wanted us to retain the original braiding.  A job for my talented hubby, removing the braiding can be a bit tricky but luckily this one had been previously recovered and the braiding had been tacked on so it came away easily.

We put a new thick foam seat onto the lid and covered it with the customers fabric choice.

Sorry there are no photos of the process, we will try to remember next time.

Not a lover of gold myself but I think it turned out lovely.  Just hope the customer is happy.

Creative Family Home by Ashlyn Gibson

I was recently sent a copy of Creative Family Home by Ashlyn Gibson to review.  I am always on the lookout for beautiful books on home decor and style and I can tell you this book does not disappoint.

A bold, bright book crammed full of ideas on home, style and decorating when your home includes children !  The book  " explores the heart and soul of twelve specially photographed homes " celebrates the magic of childhood and whether you have just started a family or have a tribe of pre-teens this book has it covered.

The books covers Creative family style, ideas for using space imaginatively, Print and pattern, Storage and organisation, homework and creative zones and brilliant ways to showcase treasured artworks and prized collections.

Ashlyn visits twelve real life homes all of which are wonderful and inspirational and NOT like they just came out of the pages of glossy magazines.  We all know that kind of living is unsustainable.  The homes featured in this book are imaginative, quirky, bright and interesting.

Perfect for the way modern families live today.  I love the way all the families have combined new, old, recycled, crafts, homemade and included the children's work throughout.  Real imagination without costing the earth.  Homes that are beautiful and say so much about the occupants, such a refreshing change from the flat pack mentality that invades many homes these days.

I LOVE THIS BOOK !

and I'm giving you the opportunity to win a copy .

Just comment below.

 For additional chances you can like, comment and share the link on facebook and twitter

and don't worry, if you don't win :  Creative Family Home by Ashlyn Gibson is published by Ryland Peters & Small and is available from www.rylandpeters.com
I was sent a copy of this book for the purpose of review.
Giveaway entry date closes at 8pm on Tuesday  29th October.
Winner will be selected at random.

Something to be said for a lie in

Since opening the shop I work 6 days a week.  Four in the shop and two days as a school secretary.  Leaving the only "day off" Sunday, to clean the house, catch up on the washing, spend quality time with the children and hubby and go treasure hunting of course.  Yesterday I was determined come rain or shine I would make it to the boot sale this morning but its been a particularly tiring week again and when hubby woke me at 6am I already knew there was no way I was dragging my tired bones out of bed to treasure hunt in the darkness and rain.

I turned over and went back to sleep for two hours.  I woke up feeling much better if not a little annoyed with myself that I had missed all that potential treasure at the boot sale.  Nothing for it I would have to go out searching "just in case".  The boys really didn't want to leave the house and hubby was happy pottering in his shed so off I went.  I have several places I like to visit on the Sunday and they certainly didn't disappoint today.

Here is a little taster of the goodies I found .

You might wonder what I could possibly want with this beauty, but I can tell you my heart skipped a beat when I saw it.  A genuine French Plum drying rack !  A what ? I hear you say...

 

A plum drying rack, a rack for drying all those delicious French plums from the sunny orchards of France.

Anything remotely French, vintage and rustic is so desirable at the moment.  I LOVE it and I have a great idea for using it in the shop (unless, of course I sell it first ).

Next up this great galvanised Herb and Flower drying rack, it has all the hooks too.  Would look fab hanging from the ceiling with herbs and flowers (obviously) or even pots, pans or cups etc .

Love the colbolt blue of these glass Salt and Pepper pots.

A large, silver painted wooden letter Y.  Just because I love collecting random large letters and thinking this could be the start of my YO, HO, HO for christmas.  Or maybe somebody called Yolander or Yvonne will buy it.

and finally for now because I have to spend some time with my family before I start all over again.

A huge ceramic bowl and platter in the most divine Mink colour.  So as it turned out, my little lie in today was worth it.

Linking up with MagpieMonday

The wood burner

The nights are drawing in and there is definitely a chill in the air.  I do love this time of year but I also dread it because of the cost of the heating bills.  We try to put off turning the central heating on for as long as possible.  Layering on the clothes and reminding everyone to close doors, put more clothes on, turn down the radiators etc etc. 

Recently hubby and I have spent more and more time discussing the possibility of installing a wood burner, we know several people who have them and apart from looking fantastic they are supposed to be really good value for money and super efficient.  As we live in a 1930's house we already have the fire places (with unblocked chimney's) in place.

While we discuss the pros and cons further I thought I would have a little day dream,  here are some I really like the look of.

How wonderful is this one in a bedroom complete with a full sized picture wall of a winter
 woodland !

 

We could do this in our living room as the layout of the chimney in the room is the same.

 

oh Rustic Love !

 

Now this one is really me !

 

Modern style

all pictures from #pinterest