March favourite five #mumlittleloves

April 10, 2015 by Hayley 1 Comment

Last month I shared my favourite small businesses from my hashtag #mumlittleloves on Instagram. That post got such a great response (you can see it here), I thought I would do it monthly. What do y’all think?

You all know I love to support small businesses, so I’m not going preach about the importance of it today, but please try to ‘shop small’.

Here’s my favourite little businesses from March, there are some great gift ideas or maybe you could just spoil yourself!

SQUEAK DESIGN

Squeak is a Melbourne based, boutique, design label specialising in digitally printed scarves, cushions, blankets and other fabulous products. Pippa is the talent behind Squeak, all the beautiful fabrics are designed by her, she studied textile design at RMIT in Melbourne and specialised in print.

I am completely and utterly in love with the Mia Blanket, I adore the geometric pattern on one side and the pretty, hand drawn floral on the other side. The colour palette of pinks, orange and teal is fresh and vibrant. Sigh!

They have some beautifully unique products and are well worth checking out.

HOUSE OF CHERUB

House of Cherub has a vision to create original, timeless and tasteful décor and furniture for the young and young at heart. Their gorgeous pieces are designed and handcrafted by a husband and wife team based on the Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia. I had the pleasure of meeting Maja a few weeks ago, She is creative, thoughtful, inspiring and beautiful. I love this little business, I’m sure you will too!

My favourite piece from House of Cherub is this amazing LOVE shelf!

EVER SO WOVEN

The Ever So Woven little business started with an idea to create ultra stylish handmade crochet pieces for the home. They are proud to say that at Ever So Woven they do it all. They don’t don’t buy ready made yarn, they cut and make it all themselves. They also create all their own tags and labels.

I was lucky enough to be gifted a couple of pieces from Ever So Woven, I can confirm that the quality is impeccable and I don’t hesitate it recommending their products. I have the floor rug which my 3 year loves to lay on, I also use it as a table topper and love it’s chunky textural qualities. I have my eye on the laundry powder basket next, isn’t it sweet!

UNWINED

The Unwined business idea came from their desire to design products from high quality and re-purposed materials. The Unwined team understand the need to be more resourceful with our environment and are on a mission to save 5 million wine bottles from landfill by repurposing them, and they are well on their way.

I love the whole concept, the packaging and especially the cork lids!

CONNIE LICHTI

Connie Lichti has been creating pottery for over 10 years. Connie designs and creates her ceramics with an emphasis on original design, quality, function and beauty. Her pieces are fun and quirky while still being practical, and her colour choices are fabulous. Oh and those gold spotty mugs are just gorgeous.

I would also like to take this opportunity to answer a couple of questions I get asked regularly.

“Do you get paid to feature products?” No, I don’t. I feature products that I like or feel that my followers will like. I prefer to feature products that I have personally seen or used as I would hate to promote something that is of inferior quality or is not as it appears in photos. I want my followers and readers to trust my judgment on products.

Will you do promotional post in return for products? Yes, If I believe the product is of interest to my viewers. If I come to an agreement with a business to promote their business in return for a product I will disclose it as a ‘sponsored post’. Be prepared, If I do a sponsored post I will ask for a special offer for my readers, there has to be something in it for them too! Occasionally, I receive gifts with no prior arrangement to promote the product, If I choose to share these with you it’s because I genuinely love the item.

How do I get on #mumlittleloves? Simple! Tag me on Instagram, send me an e-mail, leave me a message, send me a sample, just alert me to your product. If I think my readers and followers will like it, I’ll feature it on Instagram and Facebook, and maybe even my blog!

FYI – I received a rug and coasters from Ever So Woven as a gift, I shared them because they are genuinely gorgeous. Everything else I shared just because I love them.

Hayley x

Cabbage-ware and Lettuce-ware dining …

April 8, 2015 by Hayley 5 Comments

You probably saw some cabbage-ware or lettuce-ware proudly displayed in your Mothers, Aunts or Grandmothers cabinets when you were younger. It has been around for hundreds of years and was handed down through generations.

Cabbage and lettuce ware is dining and serving pieces crafted in the natural shapes of cabbage and lettuce leaves.

Well, It’s back, so go and raid your parents and grandparents china cabinets and get your hands on the good stuff!

Many of the big ceramic manufacturers did their own version, including Carlton Ware, Beswick Ware and Wedgwood.

Some of the most well known pieces of cabbage-ware were made by Bordallo Pinheiro in Portugal more than 100 years ago and it is still in production today. This is my favourite range of cabbage ware, and it is hard to come by in Australia.

I have a found an online stockist for you if your interested – Pigotts Store. It is also available in store at Oliveaux in Brisbane and The Potting Shed in Bowral.

In the 1960’s Dodie Thayer created a range of lettuce ware that was very popular in Palm Beach. Tory Burch has recently done a collaboration with her and released a stunning range of lettuce ware. It is green and glossy and everything I dream of putting on my table one day, swoon! You can buy it directly from Tory Burch, and yes, she ships to Australia.

If you prefer something a little more organic and locally made, I found a Melbourne based contemporary ceramics business called Bear and Bone. They produce a lovely range of individually handmade cabbage bowls they call ‘Cabbage Patch Kids’, like the 80’s dolls they all have their own unique personalities. They are available in white and liquorice colours. I’d like a white set to mix in with my blue and white Spode, Aren’t they beautiful.

Here’s a few dining tables set with Cabbage and Lettuce Ware. It always looks so crisp, especially when it’s paired with white, but I particularly love green and navy together.

50dd3ba8e1b67a111465fb22bb5d1968 — Dodie Thayer for Tory Burch.

6640ff22a473e8ab2b7b1d695b1222e1 — Dodie Thayer for Tory Burch.

What do you think? Will you be sporting some Cabbage or Lettuce Ware on your table anytime soon? I’d love to get my hands on some!

Hayley x

April 7 Vignettes.

April 7, 2015 by Hayley Leave a Comment

Another month, another #7vignettes challenge.

‘7 Vignettes’ is the creation of Jen from The Interiors Addict. Starting on the first day of the month, and running for 7 days, with daily photo themes or words, you post a picture and use the hashtag #7vignettes. It is a friendly, supportive and encouraging community. I have met new people, followed new people and gained new followers. I highly recommend you have a go, I’m already looking forward to May.

I found this months words quite difficult. I only give myself 15 minutes per day to get the shot, I don’t think is long enough and I will make more time to think about it, plan it and take the photo next month.

I like to challenge myself, and although not everything went to plan, I did learn something new this month. I was depending on the beautiful morning sunshine streaming into my house for the Day 3 theme of #light, it rained for days and I missed out on my glowing sunlight. I had to quickly improvise and use candle #light instead. Probably my least favourite photo so far.

Here’s my April efforts.

And here are some of my favourite round-ups from other Instagrammers.

What do you think? There are some talented stylists out there! Good Luck everyone!

Hayley x

Easter Pinning …

April 3, 2015 by Hayley Leave a Comment

So, I have all these fabulous ideas for crafts and decorating on my Easter Pinterest board. I have the best intentions of having a go at most of them, then I never quite find the time. Do you? I wanted to share some of them with you, maybe you could try them and show me! I particularly love the easter egg garland, so cute!

So … then I found some gorgeous handmade things on Etsy, but they don’t ship to Australia, Bugger!

So, then I found these great handmade things from some local artist and crafters.

Oh, I also had great intentions of setting my table like this on Easter Sunday, Hmmm I don’t think that is going to happen this year either … Oh well, there’s always next year!

Hayley x

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