Bibelot » Guests

Jun 27

by bibelotm_wp in Guests, Read 0 comments tags: Books, Flying Eye Books, Nobrow, Will Taylor

Beautiful Books: June

Whether you are planning an exotic holiday by the beach, a few lazy weekends lounging in the garden or (if you are like me and live in Scotland) several evenings indoors curled up under a blanket trying to distract yourself from the fact it is still this cold in June – every creative needs a good Summer reading list. Lucky for you, I have rounded up a small selection of titles to keep you entertained on any Summer afternoon, whether it’s sunny or not… Dream Decor Known for his #MakeYouSmileStyle, Will Taylor is founder of Bright.Bazaar, one of the happiest blogs on the internet, and author of a series of equally positivity-fuelled design books. His latest title, Dream Decor, takes the reader on a whistle-stop tour of some of the brightest and most beautiful homes in the world, pausing along the way to give insight into what makes these spaces such a success. By the time you are just a few chapters in, you will already be conjuring up your own dream home, preparing for the cooler days when you can go about making it a reality. The Wolves of Currumpaw Having won the Kate Greenaway […]

May 06

by melinosa in Guests, Read 0 comments

Beautiful Books: May

My treasured collection of books includes a large variety of different genres and styles; from big, beautiful coffee table books that are thick with text to stunningly illustrated concertina books which double as artworks, from short, heartwarming picture books to long, intelligent graphic novels. My favourite finds are those I have stumbled on for no reason at all and can come from any of these genres and that is why for this month’s Beautiful Books list I am doing something a bit different for me – a post without a theme! Below is, quite simply, a selection of books which have inspired me over the last four weeks. I very much hope they do the same for you! Modern Retro A prime example of the big, beautiful coffees table books I just mentioned is Modern Retro by Caroline Clifton-Mogg. The book showcases an array of homes who’s owners, by keeping one designer foot in the past and another in the present, have created unique and eclectic spaces. By juxtaposing bold vintage patterns and statement pieces of retro furniture against clean, bright white walls, contemporary finishes and modern accessories, Modern Retro shows you how taking inspiration from the past can create […]

Apr 22

by bibelotm_wp in Fashion, Guests 0 comments tags: Pip Jolly, Vintage

Pip Jolley – A Dedicated Unfollower of Fashion

‘You have to accommodate your pasts within your persona… it helps you reflect on WHAT you are now’ – Bowie. Clothes are a great way to express your personality. Whether you wear head to toe black, or if you throw on all the colours under the sun (the latter tending to be my port of call when getting dressed these days!) You could say I’m somewhat of an extrovert and I most certainly like to make an effort with what I wear, but for some reason I have never been able to stick to any one particular style for a long period of time. About 3 years ago I found myself stuck in a rut; I was really into ‘vintage’ – and don’t get me wrong I still am – but I just wasn’t having fun getting dressed in the morning. At the time I was working in a vintage reproduction clothing shop full time, and I had to wear the brand’s clothing and look a certain way everyday. I felt my creativity was being stunted, and as I’m not really a fan of wearing an outfit more than a handful of times, my bank balance was suffering […]

Apr 06

by bibelotm_wp in Creative, Guests 0 comments tags: Books, Children's Books, Coco Chanel, Frida Kahlo, Illustration

Beautiful Books: April

As I am writing this month’s Beautiful Books list, everything feels very different from last time. It’s now April, Spring has officially sprung and there is a feeling of positivity in the air. Having gotten over the end of the Winter slump and recovered from the obligatory Easter chocolate coma, the start of Spring always comes with an excitement as to what the rest of the year has to offer. The publishing world has reacted to this exciting time by releasing a plethora of fresh and inspiring titles aimed at building on your general knowledge and sparking the imagination of your inner creative. As it’s such a jolly month, April feels like the perfect time to learn something new and here are my picks of the best titles to help you do just that… Professor Astro Cat’s Atomic Adventure Continuing on their war against dull textbooks, Flying Eye Books recently published Professor Astro Cat’s Atomic Adventure, which takes the reader on an education adventure through the incredible world of physics. Written by Dr. Dominic Walliman and illustrated by Ben Newman, the book is as entertaining as it is educational. If you are anything like me, boring science classes at […]

Apr 04

by bibelotm_wp in Craft, Creative, Guests, Make 0 comments tags: Circle Skirt, Craft Book, DIY, Sew, Tutorial, Zeena Shah

Zeena Shah – Circle Skirt Tutorial

Having always enjoyed making my own clothing, I’ve fallen in love with dressmaking even more this past year. So I want to introduce it to you with this starter project, which is just right if you’re a beginner. A circle skirt is very much how it sounds – made from a circular piece of fabric, it can be made to any length, a mini, midi or maxi. Add a waistband and a hem to your desired length, and you’ve made yourself a skirt! YOU WILL NEED Printed fabric, as per your body measurements (see Step 1) Extra fabric for the waistband, your waist measurement plus a 1.5cm (58in) seam allowance at each end Zip, 15cm (6in) in length Sewing machine and matching thread Hand-sewing needle Trick marker Pencil Scissors Tape measure Pins Iron INSTRUCTIONS 1. Start with a square of fabric measuring no less than 1x1m(40x40in) – the exact size will depend on your waist measurements and the desired length. I chose my fabric to measure 115 x 115cm (46 x 46in), as I want my skirt to be a mini length. 2. With the right sides facing, fold your fabric in half, then in quarters. 3. To […]

Mar 14

by bibelotm_wp in Craft, Creative, Guests 0 comments tags: Artists, Ceramics, Festival, SIT Select, Textiles, Workshops

SIT Select

SIT select is an exciting busy arts organisation based in Stroud in the Cotswolds. It focuses on the applied arts and crafts and is passionate about promoting and profiling contemporary artists both local and national and emerging new talent as well as established big international names such as Ptolemy Mann, Matthew Harris, Mary Butcher, Carole Waller, Cleo Mussi to name a few of the hundreds of artists who have exhibited and been a part of the SIT select programme over the 10 years it has been running. The job of running a successful busy organisation such as SIT select, is varied, creative and can, at times, be challenging. There are deadlines to meet as well as the demanding and difficult job of fundraising. We are mainly funded by the wonderful Arts Council England but recent cuts to the arts mean that nothing is a given. Renishaw plc is a sponsor and their recognition for innovative design and creative skills is a welcome addition. SIT select director Lizzi Walton: ‘’We run an annual festival that takes place every May with a month of exhibitions, events, workshops, talks, a conference and a recent addition of selected films. We partner with […]

Mar 09

by bibelotm_wp in Craft, Fashion, Guests 0 comments tags: B&Q, Boots, DIY, Zara

B&Q IT

I like boots. And I love my £19.99 (sale RRP £39.99) Zara patent sock boots. What I don’t like is that I’ll be wearing the same boots as another 1,000 trillion other bargain hunters. So, I wanted to make my pair stand out from the crowd; I’m going to pimp up my stride, DIY style. The SS16 and AW16 catwalks were full of colour, prints, embellishments and general maximalism. Say good bye to blending in. First of all, I needed some inspiration, so I spent a few internet minutes (aka three days) drooling over boots online. Words can’t describe how much I love the Vetements blue heeled sock boots (£775), the Fendi red heeled ankle boots (£870) and the Maison Margiela gold heeled pair (£800). However, I’m not technically trained, so my DIY skills had to be resurrected from a (very) long ago school technology class. After finding a few pairs that I liked, and because I wore my old Zara Perspex heeled boots to near death, I decided to concentrate solely on the heel of the boot. I took a surprisingly pleasant Saturday, mid afternoon trip to B&Q to check out their self adhesive plastic, […]

Mar 04

by bibelotm_wp in Creative, Guests, Read 1 comments tags: Books, Branding, Children's Books, Design, Illustration, Interiors

Beautiful Books: March

Hello again! I’m back with the second edition of my Beautiful Books column – a monthly round-up of some treasured titles from my ever-growing collection of illustrated books. The first two months of the year always feel like a bit of a slog to me – it’s cold and wet and not in the fun festive way I love at Christmas. This section of the year just seems to go on and on… but then March comes. Bringing with it promises of Spring and an air of positivity and excitement, the start of Spring is the perfect time to launch a design project and I hope my March book list inspires you to go on your own creative adventure this Spring! How to Style Your Brand A few weeks ago I launched my very own creative venture – a new design blog by the name of Headless Greg – and whilst designing the new site, I found Fiona Humberstone’s How to Style Your Brand to be an invaluable resource. When planning any new design project with lots of elements to think about it can be easy to get mentally overwhelmed but worry not as Fiona’s best-selling book guides you […]

Mar 02

by bibelotm_wp in Eat, Food, Guests 0 comments tags: recipe, Vegan, vegetarian

Sri Lankan Sweet Potato and Cashew Nut Curry

We often partner this creamy, coconut curry with a simple pea pilau – it adds a flash of colour and is fragrant without being overpowering, though the curry has more than enough flavour to serve with plain rice if you prefer. We also like to serve it with garlic roti’s and tomato and coconut sambal. The roti’s require surprisingly little effort to prepare and the mild, fresh flavours of the samba bring a lovely acidic punch to the plate. Serves 6-8 Ingredients Vegetable oil 3 large potatoes, peeled and cut into 4cm chunks 1 large onion, diced 5cm piece of fresh root ginger, peeled and chopped 3 garlic cloves 2 green chillies, trimmed and chopped 12 fresh or frozen curry leaves 2 teaspoons ground turmeric 1 cinnamon stick 1 tablespoon Madras curry powder 1 x 400ml cans coconut cream 100g creamed coconut 1 tablespoon caster sugar 300g basmati rise, washed thoroughly and strained 400ml boiling water Salt 250g roasted cashew buts, to garnish Method Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/Gas Mark 6. Drizzle a little vegetable oil on to the base of a roasting tin. Add the sweet potato pieces, season with salt and mix together thoroughly. […]

Feb 05

by bibelotm_wp in Guests, Read 1 comments tags: Books, Review

Beautiful Books: February

Despite being a blogger by trade and finding much of my visual inspiration online, I still harbour a love for beautiful books! Whether they be big lustrous coffee table books or small, delicately printed limited edition comics, they never fail to entice me and so my collection has grown to include everything including inspirational interior design books chock full of ideas and design-philosophies, catalogue-style titles introducing you to a whole new crop of talented artists, stunningly illustrated picture books suitable for any age and boldly designed sprawling concertina books. In this new monthly column, I will be delving into my collection to unearth and share some of my most treasured titles. So without further ado, let the printed pages parade begin… Sage Living Lifestyle writer and design blogger Anne Sage’s debut interior design book, Sage Living, not only showcases a series of enviable homes but also presents a whole new approach to decorating. Drawing from both her personal experiences and those of the troupe of creatives who’s homes are included within the books pages, Anne preaches brilliantly on the art of decorating for the life you want to live. Deconstructing the home, Anne explains how each individual area […]

Jan 20

by bibelotm_wp in Fashion, Guests 1 comments tags: Denim, Jeans, Up-cycle

Raw Edge Denim

It’s January, our bank balances are suffering with the blues, but we still want some new clothes – damn, what on earth do we do? Well step away from the store cards and the hustle of the high street – you’re going to “mend and make do” 2016 style. We’ve taken inspiration from the super stylish Leandra Medine (aka Man Repeller), Natalie Hartley (Fashion Director – Glamour Magazine), Erin O’Connor (Supermodel extraordinaire) and Emma Roberts (Actress, Niece of Julia and one hell of a lucky girl – her boyfriend is Evan Peters) who are all wearing raw edge denim jeans. If you’re a hoarder like me, go and find that pair of straight legged jeans at the back of your wardrobe. You know the ones; you last wore them circa 2006 with a Siena-esque boho top, before skinny jeans gripped the thighs of the nation. If you don’t have any jeans, don’t fret. You’ll simply have to raid the penny jar and take a trip to the charity shops. Save time by hitting the shops in the more affluent suburbs as the people who live in these parts tend to have wardrobe clear outs more often. I visited […]

Jan 18

by bibelotm_wp in Craft, Guests 0 comments tags: DIY, Fabric, Handmade, Liberty Fabric, Make, Sew, Up-cycle

Liberty Print Elbow Patches – Live it Love it Make it

What a treat to be posting a tutorial on Bibelot, we hope you like what we have in store! We decided to keep it British and use some lovely Liberty print fabric we had lying around to jazz up a plain jumper. I do love an elbow patch, maybe it’s the geek in me! So I thought it would be great to update the look. You will need: Jumper Scissors Pinking shears Fabric Bondaweb Patch pattern (in whatever shape you want – I went oval, but you could do heart, diamond etc) Embroidery thread Needle Tape measure Tailors chalk Iron You will need to pop your jumper on so that you know where your patches need to go. Use some tailors chalk to mark where your elbows sit and a rough idea of top/bottom and edges so that when you take off the jumper you will have it nice and straight. Use your tape measure to measure down from the shoulder seem so that they sit around the same area on each side. Cut out a rough size piece of fabric and add the bondaweb to the back. Using your […]

Dec 23

by bibelotm_wp in Bibelot Jukebox, Guests, Listen 0 comments tags: Christmas, Music, Songs

Bibelot Jukebox No5 – ‘Songs For A Winter’s Night’

As those long, cold nights draw nearer, and the seasons festivities approach, there are few things more tempting than curling up on a warm sofa with a movie, some comfort food, a much loved one – or if you’re very lucky, all three. And perhaps a few seasonal sounds? We DJs sometimes like to warm our fingers spinning vintage platters, and although you might hear one or two of these selections on continuous repeat whilst buying last minute Xmas gifts in a hellish shopping centre, I do hope a couple of these December ditties get you shakin’ the snow from your shoes. Let’s kick things off with a festive frolic. Whether or not you believe in Santa, Jesus or elves, most of us enjoy mucking around in the snow – even more so on a sledge of some kind. The wonderful Ronettes take you for a ride on some slightly more fancy transportation… 1. Sleigh Ride – The Ronettes The feisty, irrepressible Miss Kitt was still entertaining crowds well into her ’70s. She never sounded saucier than on this ode to Mr Claus. 2. Santa Baby – Eartha Kitt Another unmistakable 20th century voice […]

Dec 18

by bibelotm_wp in Craft, Guests 0 comments

Christmas Bauble Garland – Little Teawagon

You will need: White card Pencil Scissors Stamps with letters and Christmas motifs Ink pad Washi Tape Hole punch Bakers string Small cup or something round to draw around // 5cm diameter. 1. Take the white card and draw around the cup to make the bauble shapes, add a small rectangle shape to the top of each bauble. You will need 12 for this garland. 2. Neatly cut around the shapes. 3. Add washi tape to the top of each bauble. 4. Add decoration by stamping the baubles with Christmas motifs or festive words, allow to dry. 5. Punch a hole at the top of each one. 6. Cut a 1.5m approx piece of the string and leaving a gap of 20cms thread through the hole of your first bauble and tie in a knot, leave a gap of 10cm and then tie on the next bauble. Continue until you have attached them all. You can also use this DIY to make Christmas parcel tags the same way, just resize them to be 10cm diameter and add string to tie onto your packages. Jane Hughes […]

Nov 30

by bibelotm_wp in Ethical, Guests 0 comments tags: Christmas, Cruelty Free, Gift Guide, Vegan

Cruelty Free Christmas Gift Guide

This year I wanted to put together my very own ‘Christmas Gift Guide’ to help you along your way with that all important impending task of Christmas gift buying. I’ve selected some of my favourite vegan and cruelty free products available right now which I’m sure you will love! Maybe you have a vegan or vegetarian in your life who you’re worried about buying for? If so then this guide will hopefully point you in the right direction and ensure some big smiles on Christmas morning. This post might also give you some ideas about what to put on your own Christmas lists too. I don’t know about you but I always struggle when people ask me what I want for Christmas so I am looking forward to reading other gift guides for ideas too. Whether you have been good or bad this year the most important thing to remember is to shop more ethically for those around you and encourage others to do the same. Gift buying and Christmas shopping is a great way of introducing new products and brands into other peoples lives and I for one plan to shop completely cruelty free this year. […]

Nov 09

by bibelotm_wp in Ethical, Fashion, Guests 0 comments

Fashion Month’s Ethical Designers

From high end to high street Fashion Month consists of four weeks of catwalk shows hosted in the ‘big four’ cities. Taking place twice each year in February and September, the month starts in New York, before moving to London, Milan and finishing in Paris. Women’s ready-to-wear shows gain lots of media coverage, making them the main event in the fashion calendar. But smaller fashion weeks happen in cities all over the world, all the time. While only women’s wear is shown during Fashion Month, leading designers show menswear, cruise, resort, bridal and haute couture collections outside of the four weeks. The fashion world throws its doors open to exhibit and entertain during the month. The main cities host hundreds of catwalk shows, parties and events in a schedule full to the brim. What is it all for? Catwalk shows introduce looks from leading designers, which are then translated into trends and available to the general public in stores around six months later. It’s a trickle down effect where higher and lower end brands alike take inspiration from the shows to create their own ‘consumer-friendly’ versions. This has been the structure of fashion for at least the last ten years. […]

Nov 04

by melinosa in Eat, Guests 0 comments tags: recipe, vegetarian

Butternut Apple Tart – The Forest Feast

I know fall is here when my CSA starts to brim with apples and squash. This savory tart is very comforting when the weather starts to cool. I used a pre-made pie crust, but you can certainly make your own. It works for breakfast, lunch or dinner and is great with an herb side salad. Recipe from The Forest Feast Recipe, photos and illustration by © Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast www.theforestfeast.com Buy the book here Follow Erin @theforestfeast

Sep 18

by bibelotm_wp in Craft, Guests, Learn 0 comments

Bias Binding – Learn to Sew with Lauren

Bias binding is great to add little details and decorative touches. You can use ready made binding or make your own to hide raw edges of seams, highlight a hem or pocket opening, strengthen necklines or armholes, or as decorative piping. Bias binding is so called because it is cut at a 45-degree angle to the straight grain of the fabric. This makes it more pliable and gives maximum elasticity for stretching it around corners and curves – plenty of those in dressmaking! I prefer to make my own bias binding because in this way I can give my sewing projects a uniquely personal touch. Also, quite often ready-made bias binding is a little stiff or rough, due to the coating put on it to help it keep its shape on the roll. When you make your own from a lovely soft cotton lawn, for example, it just feels so much nicer! There are two methods for making bias binding. The continuous method makes one very long length of binding. It is useful for when you have extra long edges to bind or if you know you’ll use that particular fabric a lot in future projects. The single length, piecing method will make shorter lengths, but it is quicker; so if you just have a small […]

Sep 11

by bibelotm_wp in Guests 0 comments

Living with Limited Space

We’ve all faced the same problems when looking for a place to rent – the rooms are tiny, but the location kicks ass. The building takes ‘shabby chic’ to a whole new level, but the rent is affordable. Or maybe the slightly lesser known but equally irritating trade off – the location and price are perfect but the flat is so stuffed full of furniture that your own possessions barely get a look in. Want somewhere to store your bike? Sorry, that rickety hall table was here first. Need a stand for your TV? No problem – there’s three to choose from, or you can use that random set of drawers propped in the corner of the living room. That’s the problem I faced on my last move. Having landlords who own a handful of properties means our place has been not-so-affectionately nicknamed ‘The Dumping Ground’ and I’ve chosen to close the door on the living room completely since we decided it was better to store the excess of beat up furniture in there than our precious bedrooms. Everyone needs somewhere to wind down in peace at the end of the day, after all. So how have I made it more than a year […]

Aug 28

by bibelotm_wp in Ethical, Guests, Shop 0 comments

Welcome to the ASOS Green Room

During December 2014, Asos.com received 98 million visits in one month. With visits set to increase for this December, it is safe to say Asos.com is a global go-to desitination for online shoppers. Asos houses a vast selection of established and emerging fashion, footwear, accessories and beauty brands, as well as their own clothing and accessories lines. The buying and design teams at Asos tend to pick up on emerging trends before they appear on the high street. This equates to a well-curated, yet diverse first pick of fashionable pieces, all in one place and delivered to the door – a winning formula. However Asos is not all trend-led fast fashion. Did you know that Asos also partners with ethical brands? Not only in its ‘Marketplace’ where many smaller emerging boutiques use this hosted platform to sell vintage, secondhand and handmade items to a wide audience – but in a ‘green room’ edit on the main website. Simply go to the top left and hover over the ‘Women’ section, and just underneath ‘A to Z of Brands’ you will find ‘eco brands’. Click. Now browse the green room edit. Not only do conscious fashion accessories and garments live here, […]

Aug 14

by bibelotm_wp in Eat, Guests, Treat Yourself 0 comments

Hand Pie Recipe

There’s nothing more satisfying than eating a warm pie with delicious vanilla ice cream. However, sometimes you just don’t have the time (or patience) to bake an entire pie. These incredible little pies eliminate a lot of work, yet still deliver on the delicious pie taste. They are also a fantastic option for changing up the traditional slice of pie into something you can easily hold in your hand. Portable, quick and delicious, what more could you ask for? Ingredients PIE PASTRY 4 cups all purpose flour 1 tablespoon granulated sugar ½ teaspoon salt 1 ¾ cups cold butter or shortening (unsalted) 1/2 cup ice cold water 1 tablespoon vinegar 1 egg FILLING Your choice of jam, fruit filling or chocolate spread ON TOP (optional) Egg Wash – 1 egg + 1 tablespoon water whisked together Cruelty free list: Eggs, from Hen Nation www.goodfoodnation.co.uk Dairy free margarine – We like Pure and Vitalite from health food shops and most supermarkets. Most supermarkets now stock their own brands too! Dairy free ice-cream – We like Booja-Booja and Swedish Glace available from most supermarkets. Method 1. In a very large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar and salt. […]

Aug 07

by bibelotm_wp in Bibelot Jukebox, Guests, Listen 1 comments

Bibelot Jukebox No3 – ‘Sweet Shades of Summer’

Be there rain or shine – and we’ve had plenty of each recently – summer is a many hued thang. Think pink mornings, crimson sunsets and the pale blue skies of twilight time. And all around, the lush green landscapes seem greener, and more vibrant beneath the sunny rays. So here’s a small palette of colourful ditties to tap along to in July, August, and maybe even September… We kick off in 1966, with a samba-inspired song from L.A.’s finest. 1. Love – Orange Skies Back to Blighty where a young troubador wrote a paean to our editor’s favourite colour! 2. Donovan – Turquoise If these sounds are a shade too mellow, why not try this something yellow? You’ll soon be back on your feet! 3. Yellow Sunshine – Yellow Sunshine Summer lovin’ is in the air on this psychedelic pop classic from 1968… 4. Tommy James and the Shondells – Crimson and Clover …though these Boston garage rockers find the summer skies a little more melancholy… 5. The Rockin’ Ramrods – Bright Lit Blue Skies Here at Bibelot, we can only speculate what constitutes this particular ‘little green bag’, but we’re guessing it […]

Aug 05

by bibelotm_wp in Fashion, Guests, Vintage 0 comments

Oxfam Online: The Bibelot Edit

My favourite kind of shopping is charity shop shopping. You never know what you’re going to find. It’s unknown as to what items of clothing are going to spark your imagination and what knick-knacks you just have to go home with! Now Oxfam are giving you the opportunity to browse through gorgeous clothes, rare records, books and kick- knacks with their revamped online shop. Pair the hundreds of unique items with the organisational skill of e-commerce and you are able to seek out treasure at your leisure. If you are looking for a certain brand or designer, there’s a handy search bar to write something specific and you can refine any search by price, relevance and colour. An added bonus is the curated trend selections made by the team at Oxfam Online. They are presented on the homepage of the ‘Shop online’ section of the website, a favourite being the current focus on vintage garments from the 1970’s. Shopping second-hand or vintage means that not everything is handed to you on a plate. I find high street shops tend to organise by colour and have already built up the outfits for you to slip into. But where’s the fun in that? Here at […]

Jul 27

by bibelotm_wp in Creative, Guests 0 comments tags: Creative Spaces, Decorate, Interior Design, Nooks

Defining the Undefined Space

Every house has one: an awkward corner (or a bit of “blah”) in an otherwise well-dressed room. So what’s the solution? A seriously show-stopping nook, that’s what! You don’t need a lot of physical space to create an environment which fills your heart with joy and relaxation. All you really need is to designate an area and furnish it with things you love. The first step is deciding what your area will be used for, as this will determine what you need to include. You may want a spot to place your essentials when you come through the door, a space that you can flop down in with a book or magazine, or perhaps you’d like a defined work/create space in part of a larger room. Here are some easily implementable ideas: Create a bold, colourful reading nook In this teensy reading nook, a bright area rug has been used as the base for a really fun and colourful corner, making the space seem much larger. The cane chair is the perfect size for the space and all the open wicker means that it creates light in what could otherwise be a dark and unused corner. Adding lots […]

Jul 22

by bibelotm_wp in Eat, Guests 0 comments

Midsummer Berry Cake

Midsummer has arrived! You’ve gotta have a big flirty berry cake in midsummer and strawberry is the royal berry on a day like this. This cake is baked without refined sugars and using wholegrain spelt flour, cacao, honey, banana and salt which goes really well with the refreshing strawberries. The filling is a delicious mix of raspberry and quark yoghurt and the topping a layer of mascarpone cheese, whipped together with lemon, honey and a bit of cinnamon. Nothing spells midsummer more than wild flowers and I must confess that I enjoy decorating the cake just as much as I do eating it. When it comes to styling or simply decorating I like to give it an effortless look. Perfection doesn’t charm so much and a bit of a bohemian natural style is more enjoyable and relaxed. This cake has a delicious dense taste with a light cacao flavour and orange zest that you will love. The Swedish summer cakes are often made juicy by adding a fresh accent of orange lemonade to the dough. I still remember my childhoods summer cakes tasting like banana and cardamom, so that just had to be added to this creation. A […]

Jul 17

by bibelotm_wp in Guests, Lists, Read 1 comments

Flying Eye Books

From imaginative story books and titles with a focus on education, to those which effortlessly weave information and narrative together – Flying Eye Books are varied, intelligent and incredibly beautiful! Whilst the target market for this imprint of Nobrow Press is undeniably children, there is no reason that Flying Eye Books can not be enjoyed just as much, if not more, by adults. After all, the publisher has produced a plethora of innovative and stunning titles – and why should children have all the fun?! Flying Eye Books have countless amazing qualities which make them appeal to a wide audience; they often have a moral, but don’t feel the need to slap you around the face with it. They tell short stories, not stupid ones, and the artwork within them is produced by some of the worlds best illustrators. Below is a list of some of my favourite Flying Eye Books and the reasons why they are perfect for an adult audience. Wild by Emily Hughes Wondrous, witty and uncontrollably wild, Emily Hughes debut Flying Eye Book tells the story of a little girl who knows nothing but nature from birth. The buzz around Wild – and Emily’s second title […]

May 13

by bibelotm_wp in Craft, Guests 0 comments

Lessons from Audrey Hatch

Recently I gave up my real job. I have two young monkeys at a new school with no after school/breakfast club facilities, and Mr.Collins and I haven’t actually spent any time off together since the big one started in a vain attempt to manage the school holidays. I’ve just had my first book of crochet patterns published and the second is on its way, so I’ve given up the real job, can manage the monkeys, and in the wonderful world of dreams, all income can now come from crochet. Two months in, a new collection was coming together, conversations have started with the publisher about another project, the purse strings are drawn verrrrrry tight, and I found myself becoming a little unstructured and erratic. In fact I found myself pulling over in a layby and spending 15 minutes digging croissant crumbs from the back of the car in an attempt to lure the local crows from the trees to become my friends and bring me presents. This is when I realised that I needed to pull myself together, get some direction and find some human contact. The next day I was browsing ads in a local yarn […]

Apr 27

by bibelotm_wp in Guests, Listen, Lists 0 comments

3 Podcasts You Should Be Listening To

How Did This Get Made? Ever seen a film so bad it’s actually quite good?! Ever sat there alone comically imploding over the latest cinematic catastrophe you have just witnessed?! If you have ever wanted to share these experiences with someone else, then How Did This Get Made? is the perfect podcast for you. Let Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, Jason Mantzoukas and friends guide you through the world of terrible film making. From Sharknado to Tango & Cash there is a lot to be said for the amount of enjoyment a not-so-perfect movie can provide. This laugh a minute podcast will lighten your day as the crew of HDTGM explore the plot of each film; the budgets, the cast and writers, and search out unfathomable positive Amazon reviews for each chosen movie. Get involved on the Earwolf message boards suggesting future films, and enjoy the backlog of all 108 episodes currently available. Stuff You Should Know Have you ever wanted to know how a Slinky works? How grass works? How left handed people work? How tea works? I certainly would have previously said I have no interest in these subjects. However, Stuff You Should Know […]

Apr 20

by bibelotm_wp in Craft, Events, Guests 0 comments

Crafty Fox Spring Market

Crafty Fox returns to its original home at The Dogstar in Brixton on 25th and 26th April for a weekend of hand-picked stalls, creative workshops, live DJ’s and delicious food and drink. Visitors to the market will have the chance to discover unique, design-led, handmade products sold directly by talented designer/makers. The Tea’s Knees will be on hand with a selection of teas and homemade cakes in their first-floor tearoom. The main bar will also be open for refreshments, and the market will be set to a background of eclectic tunes mixed by the Crafty Fox DJ’s. Look out for quirky ceramics by Kinska, beautiful nature-inspired jewellery by We Are Arrow, and hand-printed textiles by Lulu and Luca. For those feeling inspired to tap into their own creativity, Mr. Wingate and Lucie Ellen will be offering workshops in screen printing and jewellery making. The market will also feature new and undiscovered talent in the Crafty Fox Uncovered section, where stalls will be dedicated to showcasing emerging creative individuals working in the UK and currently being mentored by an established Crafty Fox designer/maker. You might just discover the next big thing! Entry is free and all are welcome. Sinead […]

Apr 17

by bibelotm_wp in Craft, Creative, Guests, Learn 2 comments

Cane Handled Bag Tutorial – Kate Marsden

I spotted these cute cane handles in my local wool shop a couple of weeks ago and just had to get them. I decided to make a little handbag using one of my fabrics and some contrasting Liberty print. Here’s how… You will need: 2 pieces of fabric for the outside of the bag – each measuring 37cm x 26cm (I used my Park Hill Bold fabric in teal) 2 pieces of contrasting fabric for the lining (same measurements – I used this Liberty print design) A pair of cane bag handles (mine are a medium size measuring 14cm across the bottom and 10.5cm high). Thread Sewing machine, hand needle, pins 1. Pin the two outer pieces together (right sides together) along the bottom edge – take care when using a directional print as I have. Pin two long edges of the lining fabric together as well. 2. Stitch both of these edges with 1.5cm seam allowances. 3. Press both seams open. 4. Pin the lining fabric to the outer fabric (right sides together), taking care to line up the seams. Leave a gap along one of the short edges (to enable you to pull through […]

Apr 10

by bibelotm_wp in Creative, Guests, Lists 0 comments

10 Tips for Seeking Inspiration

Whether you’re working in the creative industry, planning fun summer projects or want to refresh your home, seeking exciting inspiration is always important. As creative duo – Buttercrumble – we know this first hand! We are illustrators and we are always on the look out for new ideas, methods and trends. But how do we continue to seek fresh inspiration? Here are our top tips for you! 1. Keep a journal or sketchbook 2. Watch, read and write 3. Follow blogs 4. Go for a walk 5. Visit flea markets, charity shops and antique shops 6. Be mindful 7. Collaborate 8. Take photos 9. Make mistakes 10. Smash the system We are lucky that we get to spend a lot of time by the sea which is wonderful for inspiring walks and photography. Also, as a creative duo we collaborate on a daily basis! However, the inevitable creative block occasionally appears. When this happens, we turn to our favourite artists. These include Mary Blair, Orla Kiely and Charlie Harper. We also love mid century films – Breakfast at Tiffany’s is our favourite. Who do you turn to when you’re running low on […]

Apr 08

by bibelotm_wp in Guests, Learn 1 comments

Tips for taking better photos – Zoë Power

I adore photography and creating beautiful images and thought it would be fun to share a few brief tips that have helped me over the years. All just as applicable to mobile phone cameras as well as DSLRs (all the images in this post were captured on my iPhone). 1. Background If you want your subject to be the focus, think carefully about what your background looks like through your viewfinder, are there any distracting elements? Piles of washing? Cables? I find simple backgrounds work really well as they don’t fight or detract from the subject; you want the background to complement the subject. You don’t have to spend a fortune, either. Things to try including: large bits of card from art shops, wrapping paper (but don’t go for anything too busy!), table tops, floors, bits of old wood, fabric/sheets (but give them an iron, it’ll be worth it!). 2. Light (and shade) Light can make or break your image. Photography is all about capturing light, there are many books on my bookcase entitled “waiting for the light” and similar. Natural light is your friend and provides the best quality of light. Look carefully and observe […]

Apr 03

by bibelotm_wp in Craft, Guests, Learn, Make 1 comments

How to make Easter Egg Pom Poms – Frilly Pops

If like us, you’re a pom pom making fanatic, then you’re going to love these rainbow coloured egg-shaped pom pom’s by Stephanie Dulieu of Frilly Pops! They’re perfect for keeping little ones entertained during the Easter break and for people who find pom pom’s particularly pleasing… Materials Pen & Pencil Sharp scissors A piece of thick cardboard, corrugated or a cereal box. 2 large bulldog clips 1 small bulldog clip or paper clip An assortment of coloured yarns To make the pom pom maker: Step 1 First you will need to make your DIY pom pom maker, you can do this easily by cutting out 4 horseshoe shapes out of thick cardboard. You can make these as big as you like, the bigger they are, the bigger your pom will be but for this tutorial I have gone for 1.5” across and 2’’ tall. Step 2 Take a pen and draw a guideline where the curved part looks like a half circle. If you are making pom poms with children, then this helps to show them where the yarn needs to be filled and where to stop. Step 3 Take two horseshoes and hold them back to back, so […]

Apr 02

by bibelotm_wp in Eat, Guests 3 comments

Vegan Hot Cross Bun Recipe – Jessthetics

It’s not Easter without hot cross buns, am I right? It’s not difficult to find vegan hot cross buns to buy – some of the supermarket varieties are accidentally vegan – but there’s nothing more satisfying than the smell of home baking and the warmth of freshly baked bread. I highly recommend making these during a relaxing day at home because the dough needs a couple of hours to proof. Believe me, it’s worth it! The generous helpings of dried fruit and sugary glaze make these buns especially cakey. They’re my favourite indulgent breakfast treat! Ingredients for the buns: 350 g plain flour 2 tsp ground all spice 2 tsp ground cinnamon 7g yeast 50g caster sugar 100g sultanas 100g mixed peel 75g vegan margarine 200ml soya milk For the crosses: 50g flour Water For the glaze: 25g sugar 30ml water Step 1: Combine all the dry ingredients for the buns. Mix the margarine and the soy milk in a small pan over a medium heat until the mixture is warm, and gradually mix this in with the dry ingredients. If the mixture is too crumbly add more soya milk. Step 2: Dust some flour onto a […]

Mar 30

by bibelotm_wp in Birds, Creative, Guests 1 comments

A Birds Eye View – Polly Fern

My name is Polly and I am an illustrator living in Norwich, UK. I am currently studying the final year of my degree in illustration at Norwich University of the Arts. I first started to keep birds as a child, I used to hatch and raise chickens and nurture injured birds that had found their way into my garden. After a long, hard think about owning a canary I then decided that it was the right choice for me, as I’m at home working a lot, and I thought that owning a canary would be a nice companion to have whilst I’m illustrating. The first canary I owned was called Ellis, he was a very special, lovely natured bird, we use to have breakfast together everyday, and would even nap together on the sofa, his favourite place to sleep was under my chin, nestled within my hair. Ellis is where my love for canaries began, sadly after his passing I waited sometime before I got another. I couldn’t stand how quiet the house was, so I visited a lot of canary breeders before I came across some gorgeous green chicks. This is when I bought Ernest. One morning I […]

Mar 23

by bibelotm_wp in Eat, Guests, Silver Screen Suppers 3 comments

Silver Screen Suppers – Mary Astor’s Celery Crisps

Film archivist and food lover Jenny Hammerton suggests the perfect dish to accompany your screening of a Hollywood classic. Simply follow the recipe to enjoy a dinner with a twist and dine like a star. In 1927 an announcement was made by Photoplay Magazine’s Department of Personal Service. Resident agony aunt Carolyn Van Wyck had taken some time out from giving friendly advice on the many and varied problems of the flappers of the day, to write a cook book. The no-nonsense Carolyn had gathered together the favourite recipes of 100 of the magazine’s most admired movie stars for the delight and delectation of film fans. It was pitched as an “invaluable aid to the girl who likes to give parties” and was available mail order for the princely sum of 25 cents. In today’s money that’s about £2.50 – what a bargain for a book that contained recipes by megastars such as Gloria Swanson, Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford. If you would like to score a copy today, there’s one on ebay as I write for £30. This later edition of the cookbook contains 150 recipes, so would have been even better value for money at 25 cents back in the roaring […]

Mar 12

by bibelotm_wp in Bibelot Jukebox, Guests, Listen 2 comments

Bibelot Jukebox No.2 – ‘Flowers and Springtime’

Spring is nearly here, and the grass is almost riz. I wonder where the flowers is? They’ll be breaking through the earth and concrete alike pretty soon, and many songs will serenade them as they do so. But if you should think it’s all ‘Daisy, Daisy’, ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’ or ‘Tulips From Amsterdam’, you may be pleasantly surprised, and find a new floral friend among our bouquet of Springtime foot tappers. We kick off with a lesser spotted song by this notorious bunch, seen here very much in the Spring of their years… 1. The Rolling Stones – DANDELION A sadly late, surely great, and mostly unknown Irish Jazz singer provides us with a splendid seasonal theme song… 2. Ottillie Patterson – SPRING SONG …while these Florida basket cases do a little ‘floral courting’… 3. The Nightcrawlers – A BASKET OF FLOWERS Staying in mid ’60s America, the second most overused word of 1967 doubled up as the title to this little Psychedelic gem… 4. Licorice Schtick – FLOWERS FLOWERS …though clearly, not everybody enjoyed that years pollen explosion; a splendidly monikered L.A. combo explain why. 5. The Jefferson Handkerchief – I’M ALLERGIC TO FLOWERS Here’s something […]

Mar 09

by bibelotm_wp in Eat, Guests 1 comments

Spring Kohlrabi Salad – The Forest Feast

A spring-y salad that would be great for an Easter meal! Kohlrabi is a spring vegetable that is similar to radish or jicama. Chopped and combined with fresh peas, green onions, apples and other goodies, it’s delish. Recipe from The Forest Feast Available to buy here Words, photos and illustration by Erin Gleeson.

Mar 02

by bibelotm_wp in Birds, Competition, Craft, Guests 1 comments

Birds – Jane Foster

I started my screen printing career 7-8 years ago now and have noticed that Birds seem to have popped up quite a few times over the years in my work!! One of my early screen prints was called ‘Birds at play’ and this was originally published by The Art Group and sold in Habitat. It then popped onto the back of a cat for a few designs and has recently been added to a few mugs in a collaboration with Make International. I love adding birds to my pictures amongst Scandinavian style patterns. I enjoyed designing a quirky seagull screen print after a summer holiday in Cornwall. It’s titled ‘Which way to St Ives?’ I’ve drawn several chickens for screen prints along with a Scandinavian Flowery Peacock, now also featuring on a mug and a glass. My latest bird has been my colourful Toucan, which combines my love of colour and stripes! This also appears on a new mug, coming out soon, but I’ve also screen printed this as a toy… Jane […]

Feb 27

by bibelotm_wp in Guests, Make 0 comments

Easy sew cushion cover tutorial – Zoë Power

If you’re new to sewing, cushion covers are one of the easiest things you can make and are such a great way to display favourite fabrics. I like to make the envelope style (no zips required) and to use lovely vintage fabrics on both sides of the cushion, so you get double enjoyment and two for the price of one! Here’s how I make my cushion covers: 1. Cut one piece of fabric for the front 43cm x 43cm (cushion cover will be 40cm, with a 1.5cm seam allowance either side). A fat quarter would be plenty. 2. Cut two pieces of fabric for the back 33cm wide x 43 cm high. These will overlap to form the back of your cushion in an envelope style. 3. Hem the long sides of your two pieces of back fabric (turn over the long edge by 1cm and press with an iron, then turn again by 1cm and press; stitch the hem about 3mm or so from the edge). 4. Place your front fabric right side up in front of you. Lay the first back piece of fabric on top of it, right sides facing the […]

Feb 12

by bibelotm_wp in Guests, Inside The Artists Studio 2 comments

Inside the Artist’s Studio – Thomas Burden

Our first peek inside an artist’s studio takes us to Chichester, where illustrator Thomas Burden has crammed his converted spare room with ‘vintage tat’ picked up at car boot sales. Join us for a nose round and hear how an obsession with the toys he was denied as a child has shaped his creative work. Step this way… I work from home, in Chichester, West Sussex, so my studio is a converted spare bedroom. Our whole house is pretty full of various things that my wife and I have collected over the years from travelling, car boot sales and charity shops, but my studio is my own space where I can cram it as full as I can without my wife feeling overwhelmed by clutter. (My wife has the other spare room as a walk in wardrobe, so that’s equally cluttered, just in a different way). As far as my collection of vintage tat goes, my eyes are always drawn to similar things that I grew up around. I was lucky enough to have a pretty idyllic childhood. I grew up sailing and skiing and travelling, so our house (and my grand parents house, which was like a […]

Feb 12

by bibelotm_wp in Birds, Guests, Vintage 0 comments

Nesting – Rachel Mansi

Just like birds and their nests, people and their homes come in all shapes and sizes.From minimalist modern white cubes to frill-filled country cottages, we all have very personal ideas about what kind of spaces we want to inhabit, and different challenges to face when trying to create our perfect home. On paper I probably look like a pretty conventional person – 40, married, 2 kids, a dog…but my early years were, compared to most people I know, quite wild and bohemian. I lived with my young single Mum in an assortment of shared houses and communes, moving house and school often…home became wherever my stuff was, so in a way my stuff became my home. My mum called me her little magpie, because I kept a little pile of shiny treasures and jewellery from jumble sales under my pillow…every morning it would have all fallen down the back of my bed and I’d root it all out and arrange it again in a little round pile, the size and shape of a birds nest. My treasure was watched over by a random collection of cuddly toys, some handmade by my Mum, some from jumble sales, and a one-eyed […]

Feb 09

by bibelotm_wp in Guests, Make 0 comments

Reviving the lost art of letter writing – Little Teawagon

I love sending letters, little packages and postcards…texting and emails are ok for business but its nice to receive a lovely handwritten letter every now and then. Here is a super easy tutorial for re using and making your own stationery, this is great for using up that stash of old birthday cards, unused postcards and papers or magazine pages. Things you will need for this project: Old birthday cards Postcards Mgazines or wrapping paper Scissors Pencil Ruler Pretty masking tapes String Stickers Stamps and ink Hole punch Sewing machine Thread Cut your cards down so they are all the same size. (mine are 10cm x 13cm) The cards are going to be taped together to form a concertina style book so you will need around 4 or 5 for each book. Place them right side up onto a flat surface and leaving a small gap stick the longer edges of each card together with the masking tape. Cut approx 50cm of string, fold in half and stick with tape to the top card. When you have taped the cards together they should look something like this…write your message on the blank sides […]

Feb 08

by bibelotm_wp in Guests, Vintage 1 comments

A Curious World

I’m Anna Lewis, a vintage dealer at The Nostalgia Exchange, my mother is an antique dealer, I was brought up surrounded by antiques and vintage wares so my love for this curious world has grown and grown over the years. My market stall is a way of life, combined with a full time job but working hard on the dream to one day soon do this full time, I incorporate it into my trips away as much as possible – the local flea markets always carefully researched before setting foot in any European city, charity shops clocked on every English high street and even in India I managed to source a treasure trove of vintage wares on a dusty, charming street in Mumbai. Here are some flea market finds: Early mornings are a given, to find the treasures you have to be up with the lark. In the winter that can mean turning up in a frosty field, layered up like a Michelin Man, sporting a head torch and delving through boxes in the dark. Most friends think I am mad, I probably am, but if I stayed tucked up in bed I wouldn’t get the […]

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