Bring Your Walls to Life

/

Remember our first ever guest post, sponsored by John Lewis? I loved it so much I’ve invited another John Lewis style spotter back on board to share their tips on bringing your walls to life.

 

Collecting ornaments, pottery and kitsch finds is great fun (especially if you’ve got a fantastic glass-fronted cabinet in which to showcase them) but if you’re running out of windowsills, shelves, mantelpieces and other surface space, don’t forget your walls and windows – think vertical.

 

Lovely lighting

Set the mood in a room with wall lighting – it’ll add atmosphere, and can also illuminate an area of the room you want to highlight – perhaps that which houses your most treasured finds. Besides classic Christmas-style bulbs, try twinkly flowers, butterflies, dragonflies, birds or other baubles. Current favourites from John Lewis are the Shelly LEDs – featuring beautiful beach-shells – and the pretty cream Orchid Line. Or if minimalist statement style is more your bag, go for a brightly-coloured ceiling lamp will add a practical focal piece. 

Marvellous mirrors

You can’t go wrong with a classic 1950s starburst mirror, but if you’ve failed to find one by trawling junk shops, vintage emporia and flea markets, there are many modern interpretations on the theme. Circular Venetian designs or Deco-style crests; heart-shaped or scalloped; gold or chrome, whatever you choose, mirrors add depth and a sense of space to a room. If you can’t decide which style you prefer, create a feature wall with mirrors of different shapes and sizes.  

 

Quirky curtains

Don’t overlook curtains as a quick and easy fix to update your decor. John Lewis has a range of retro prints, including the much-loved Sanderson Dandelion, Harlequin’s adorable What A Hoot owls, 1950s-style leaf prints, boats, dogs and even dinosaurs. Choose your material, see some sample swatches and order your made-to-measure curtains  or browse through the gems in ready-made collections. Check out Dinotastic from John Lewis’ Little Home children’s range – also perfect for a kitsch-loving adult with an eye for the unusual. 

And additional extras? Pop art pictures and wall stickers, such as those in The Nouvelles sticker range, which include Russian Dolls, Noah’s Ark and Budgerigars images, or Le Pre d’Eau’s silhouetted trees, will add the finishing touches. As they’re temporary, you don’t have to spend too much time deliberating before you commit to the kitsch.

 

All items featured availavle at John Lewis at time of publication.

American Candy Haul, Curious Candy, Bangor N.I.

/
I can't remember how I ended up on local business Curious Candy's Facebook page last night, but I spotted American sweets, and as you can see, I've already been down to buy them up.

Curious Candy is a traditional sweet shop in my home town of Bangor, Northern Ireland. Rows & rows of vintage sweets, old favourites as well as new confectionary (Jedward popping candy bars, anyone?).

First photo shows my haul, and I hope they won't mind that I've borrowed some pics from their page to show you the store.

You can join their Facebook here www.facebook.com/CuriousCandy

Crafty Belfast Relocates, Bigger & Better with the Set of Game of Thrones for a Neighbour

/

'Crafty Belfast' IS Emma Gilles, and where ever she goes, her ideas & magic go with her. She has moved with the times and brought her gallery to the Titanic Quarter in Belfast, just across the road from the soundstage where they film Game of Thrones.

Crafty's new home is equally epic. Housed in the T13 hanger, before you reach the gallery space you are led through a huge indoor skate park.

Emma took me on a tour of the new gallery space, and it really is pretty special. The first gallery is a vault like chamber with peculiar objects and stunning local art work.

Some of the peculiar items include my own Kitsch Boxes, so watch out for those when you visit.


Just off the 'vault' is an old, gutted male bathroom & toilet room. Perhaps used by ship builders years ago, this space is now adorned with Jai Sewell's beautiful watercolour pornography.
http://watercolourporn.tumblr.com/
Upstairs there is another themed room of art based around ship building and local sights. Another room overlooks the entire skatepark from two storeys up. I think I must have sounded like a broken record during my tour, everything was so 'brilliant'!

Emma just buzzes with ideas during any chat I've had with her. She has even themed the unisex toilets as a crazy little shop.

Lastly Emma showed me her office work space, with the best view in the city (top pic). Even at that she has further plans to turn that room into a hair salon. And she will do it too, the enthusiasm that Emma has about her work & other artists is infectious.

There are other galleries, but I'm keeping them secret for Emma to show you when you call to visit her. You'll be made most welcome.

www.facebook.com/CraftyHQ