Shabby chic cushions

Spring is in the air! Throw open the windows, clear out the cobwebs and refresh your wardrobe! Well, don't mind if I do!

I never hold onto clothes for long. Each season I reassess what I like and what isn't working. If I don't LOVE it, I pass it on to someone who can use it. This spring cleaning vibe has rubbed off my partner, Jon, much to my delight!

He recognised he wasn't wearing certain items anymore, mainly because they are falling apart! Unfortunately, the romance between you and a beloved t-shirt or old pair of favourite jeans does have to come to an end one day, but perhaps only in it's original form....

I've recycled the best parts of his favourite tops and worn out jeans to begin exciting new lives - as cushions! 

He seems quite pleased with this idea and the new additions now take pride of place on our sofa. Not only that, it just might have solved the issue of the roaming remote, enjoying the novelty of pockets on show. Still haven't found any forgotten fiver's yet though..     

The Great Bed of Ware?

I wore my newly modified cardie out this Bank holiday weekend just passed. Of course, this is England, and public holidays mean rain. What to do when you're skint and it's miserable out?

To the museum I say!

Carved backboard, complete with worldly scenes.

And with good reason.

The Great Bed of Ware has in fact returned to Ware. Normally its on display at the V & A in London and they have kindly loaned it out for a year. Not really knowing what all the fuss is about, we went along to observe the biggest bed ever.

Textures from the back of the bed, potential backgrounds?

A tourist attraction in medieval times, the Great Bed moved around the many Inn's of Ware to rest weary travellers on route to and from London. It can sleep up to 15 people (if that's what you're into!)







The four post bed is intricately hand carved, with figures, faces and scenes to entertain the occupier. I admired the textures found on the front and back of the bed head, like a window into the past.

Wax stamps

The bed slept many people during it's prime time of 17th and 18th centuries, and like today, those people felt the need to leave their mark in the form of graffiti. Instead of the popular black marker pen and gangster tag of today's world, those who slept in the bed left their wax stamp and impression of their sovereign ring. Here the red wax can still be seen today.

I love this! People are always people, no matter where you go, no matter what century you're in.

crochet applique

With the recession killing off most of the high street shops in my little town, it was sad to see the last clothing store close. I hear the shop space is to be used though - as a Poundland! Nice.










However, for such a small main drag, amongst the pubs and curry houses, there are a surprising amount of secondhand stores. I love to snoop out a forgotten item, a lucky vintage find or a pre-loved prize. I like the idea of found objects and their life before. Being able to revive it and create a new life which echoes the old.

My latest find was this cute cream crochet cardie. Cardie? I know, I'm not entirely sure what it is either. It's not something I would normally wear, but for a £1, I thought it could be.


Turns out I was wrong. But I loved the texture and pattern of the crochet - so I chopped it up!












With some careful adjusting I have used a section of the original garment as applique detailing on the back of an ol'fave cardie of mine. Applique is sewing straight on top of a layer, to put it simply. 'Applying layers', if you will. By cutting away the back of the cardie underneath (only after the applique is sewn safely in place!) it creates a bit of peek-a-boo interest. Groovy.