91 MAGAZINE SUMMER 2012
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HOMES / STYLE / VINTAGE / SHOPPING / CRAFTS
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TEAM
Caroline Charlotte Hannah Clarke Taylor Bishop Editor and Art Director
Deputy Editor
Researcher
Bonjour!
Welcome to issue 3 of 91 Magazine! A lot has happened since we last met. I travelled to South East Asia for the first time, visiting Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand - all of which I’d highly recommend if you haven’t been. On our last week on the Thai island of Koh Tao, my boyfriend proposed! A year from now we hope to tie the knot in the South of France, and we are busy making plans already, so I found our DIY weddings article on Page 38 very helpful! I have also made the difficult decision to close my online boutique, Patchwork Harmony. You can find out more about this on my blog - but one of the main reasons is that I want to focus my attention on 91 Magazine. I have loved putting this issue together - from five ways to use wildf lowers, to the home of a Parisian artist, to a look at the world of vintage Blythe dolls - there is a real mix of features I hope you’ll enjoy! Thanks again to our wonderful contributors, do check out what they do via the contributors pages, they are a talented bunch! I also hope you will take a peek at some of our fantastic advertisers - all carefully selected retailers who I personally think you will love to shop with. Don’t forget to check out our website too, where we have recently added some free downloadable wallpapers for your computer, phone or iPad! As always, I love to hear your thoughts, so get in touch via email - info@91magazine.co.uk or through Twitter. Lots of Love,
Caroline x x x 91 Magazine is a Patchwork Harmony publication. All content is copyright of 91 Magazine and its individual contributors. Images can be used only with a link back to www.91magazine.co.uk and where possible, the contributors website. Cover Photograph : Shipshape Studio by James Royall
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CONTRIBUTORS
Bonny Colville-Hyde Craftaholic www.overstuffed.co.uk
Photographer www.allisondandrea.com
Charlotte Love
Leigh Metcalf
Illustrator & Styling Assistant www.charlottelove.bigcartel.com
Blogger & Photographer www.foundnowhome.blogspot.com
Helen Ruff Event Manager and Stylist www.doilydays.co.uk
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Allison Dandrea
Nicola Sanders Interiors Writer, Editor, Decorator www.thevintageteaparty.co.uk
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Michelle Guy
Corinne Lee-Cooke
Interiors Writer www.uk.linkedin.com/michelle-guy
Illustrator www.violetlakestudio.co.uk
Jen Pringle
James Royall
Designer and Illustrator www.penandpringle.co.uk
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Photographer www.jamesroyall.com
Heather Shuker
Joanna Simmons
Photographer www.brighton-photo.com
Journalist and Writer www.joannasimmons.com
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CONTRIBUTORS Rin Simpson Lifestyle Writer www.rinsimpson.com
Gabrielle Treanor
Designer www.thegreengables.co.uk
Sophie Warren-Smith Writer & Stylist www.sophiewarrensmith.wordpress.com
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Catherine Sprunt Fashion & Lifestyle Copywriter www.styleanthro.tumblr.com
Katie Tregidden
Design Writer www.confessionsofadesigngeek.com
Michelle Young Photographer www.mycreativephotography.co.uk
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Contents Page 8
Interiors & Style News
Page 10
Shopping: Transport style
Page 12
A Vintage Lovers Guide to... Hastings
Page 14
Etsy Seller Spotlight... Inkkit
Page 38
DIY Wedding Style
Page 44
From Paris, with style: Lise Meunier
Page 55
Homespun Style
Page 28
Page 72
Page 35
Page 78
The History of Vintage: Typewriters
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Page 48
Page 63
Style Notes...from a guest bedroom
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Round up of the best Vintage Fairs in 2012
Page 18
Eat, Drink, Decorate, Wear & Give Wildflowers
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A visit to London’s Shipshape Studio
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The world of Blythe dolls
Ladies Online: Papa Stour
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NEWS
Our top picks of the latest, most stylish buys for your home this season
Loop the Loop was launched in January 2012 by Laura Holmes and Adam Norgan, with the view of creating a business they are passionate about. The result is an online boutique that sells beautiful vintage and contemporary homeware. Each item is carefully sourced as their philosophy is sustainability and recycling, a combination of on-trend designer pieces and f lea-market finds. Laura then takes photographs of these items - which can range from mirrors and textiles to lighting and kitchenware - to show how customers can create a look in their own homes. Decorative china tulips and roses £6.45 www.looptheloop.org.uk
By Sophie Warren Smith
Pedlars are always coming up trumps with individual and quirky pieces. With antlers and neon all the rage this summer, their antler heads on a specialist car sprayed mount make them the perfect stand out statement! Choose from green or pink with natural or limed antlers, £425 each, www.pedlars.co.uk Gabrielle Treanor, owner of The Green Gables, designs unique British made products that are made in an ethical and environmentally-friendly way. Newly launched are her A5 recycled notebooks, ideal for making notes or sketching, each one features a hand drawn illustration. We love the vintage typewriter design, £4.50 each. www.thegreengables.co.uk
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91 This time of year is always exciting for new products! House of Fraser are consistent at producing gorgeous homeware and this summer is no exception. Their vintage Shabby Chic range consists of pretty pressed glassware which has always been a classic summer time buy you can’t go wrong with! Glass pillar candle holder, £16, glass candlestick, £14, pressed glass votive, £5 and wooden photo frame, £14. www.houseoffraser.co.uk
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High Street store, French Connection have a fresh new home and lifestyle range. Consisting of lamps, bedding, occasional furniture and accessories, it encompasses industrial elements with a simplistic classic design. Their rustic hanging pendant is handcrafted with an industrial style bowl shape in white washed iron making it the perfect choice for a more discerning home, £65, www.frenchconnection.com
Vanessa Arbuthnot has been producing beautiful fabrics and wallpapers for the last 12 years, her relaxed style and pretty colour palette has made her known for understated country inspired prints. New this season is the Swedish Collection which sees bolder colours of deep pink and apple green which makes it ideal for the summer. All fabrics are £46 per metre. www.vanessaarbuthnott.co.uk
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Fly the Nest
Travel & transport are a big part of most of our lives, whether it’s by bus, train, plane or bike. But who would have thought that our modes of transport could also bring a touch of style to our homes?
Luggage Racks – small: £150, large: £250, London Transport Musuem Shop
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Ford Advert Print £40 Colporter
Tickets Please Cushion £35 Mini Moderns
Routemaster Moquette Design Throw £79.95 London Transport Musuem Shop
Bike Mug, £15, Bike Bowl £18, Julia Smith Ceramics / Folksy
Tin Plane £40 Vintage Archive Vintage Bus Stop Sign £45 The Old Cinema
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Dyke and Dean Printworks, America Ground, 14 Claremont, Hastings www.dykeanddean.com Tucked away in Claremont you’ll find a new addition to the town, the hidden purveyors of homeware; the uber cool Dyke & Dean (below). The baby of some recent St Martins’ graduates, the slick and suave store is certainly eye candy for those with a passion for design and utilitarian chic. From industrial lights to Riess en a m el wa re , Dyke & Dean is a must-visit for interior buffs.
The Shop 32 – 34 Norman Rd, St Leonards on Sea www.facebook.com/pages/Shop-Norman-Road/242065882523045 Based on Norman Road is The Shop with it’s very cool collection of vintage homeware, furniture, clothing, jewellery and cool kidswear. Housed in an airy, loft style space, this hotspot for midcentury furniture and pretty pyrex is a must visit for seaside visitors. And with it’s cute little café, it’s the perfect place to rest your weary legs after a morning’s vintage shopping.
Wayward Vintage Fabrics 68 Norman Rd, St Leonards on Sea www.wayward.co
Another Norman Road delight is the South Coast’s answer to Portobello Rd, Wayward Vintage Fabrics is a haven for haberdashery. Get lost in Wayward’s shelves of vintage silks, ribbon reels and wonderful trimmings that you’ll be hard pushed to find anywhere else. Simply heaven for savvy seamstresses and definitely one of Hastings & St Leonards best kept secrets!
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Photos by ©Astrid Limal, ©Jeska Hearne ©Tim Conway
Wha chara beau local from place
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Bell’s Bicycles 4 George Street, Hastings Old Town www.bellsbicycles.co.uk You too will be singing “I want to ride my bicycle” upon a visit to Hastings’ delightful vintage bicycle store Bells Bicycles (below). Drool over Bell’s ever changing collection of Pashleys and lovingly restored vintage bicycles. If you fancy a little bike ride, you can hire one of their little beauties and take a spin along the seafront. And if that wasn’t enough, they’ll even pack you off with a picnic with some tasty local produce. Or, why not cycle along to one of Hastings’ many fish and chip shops for a taste of the local catch of the day?
A.G. Hendy 36 High Street, Hastings Old Town www.homestore-hastings.co.uk
Butlers Emporium
If you love Labour & Wait in London’s Shoreditch, you will be salivating in this store, for A G Hendy Home Store (below) is a tardis of beautiful vintage hardware for the home, caringly displayed in rooms and corridors that tell you a story and have you fascinated by it’s Victorian dilapidated charm. Brooms and brushes galore, chores are certainly no bore in this store.
71 George St, Hastings Old Town
at was a once a traditional hardware store, the racterful Butlers Emporium (left), is the home of utiful old and new finds, from handmade crafts from l artisans to cool and graphic homeware and prints m the likes of Anorak and Aardvark. The perfect e for finding a gift with a difference or simply finding something unique for your home.
Compiled by Jen Pringle Illustration by Corinne Lee-Cooke
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The pursuit of Craftiness A mother and daughter team combine Scandi style and Woodland chic to create a perfect range of stationery and craft products
Words by Rin Simpson
seller spotlight
INKKIT www.etsy.com/shop/inkkit
First and foremost, Caitlin Lucas and her mother, Kristen Wilson, are collectors. From beads and textiles to beautiful paper, their eclectic finds have formed the basis of two collaborative stores – Oddlyeven Supply Co. and the more recent addition, Inkkit. Inkkit supplies papers, stationery and textiles – anything you can put ink on, in fact – and is inspired by world design, from African tribal art to the Native American and Spanish inf luences of Caitlin and Kristen’s home town of Albuquerque, New Mexico. There’s a definite Scandinavian feel in the way the products are styled too and Caitlin admits that the playful woodland feel – like her own favourite stock item, the twig pencil set – comes straight from her inner child. But it is the duo’s combined tastes that give Inkkit it’s unique and balanced edge. While Caitlin loves simplicity and a neutral palette with splashes of colour here and there, Kirsten is drawn to anything bright and vibrant.
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Although the company is only a year old, Caitlin and Kirsten are planning for the future, with new products and ‘products in waiting’ to be added to the mix shortly. There will be more handmade papers, more craft kits… more, in fact, of whatever takes their fancy. Good design, says Caitlin, is something that comes from inside each of us, whether we use it to create the paint scheme of an aeroplane or the layout of a breakfast table. It is whatever makes us comfortable and happy inside. View more of Inkkit’s products at: www.etsy.com/shop/inkkit
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Wild .. once mor
As recession rumbles on, we all look for ways to continue having s a budget. Flowers are not something we should have to forgo, per them for free! We show you how to eat, drink, de
Words and Styling by Catherine Sprunt
..
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re....
style and beautiful things in our life... only now we’re doing it on rhaps thats why wildflowers are having a moment; we can forage ecorate, wear and give your wildflowers in style!
t : : Photography by Michelle Young
. F
rom
floral
patterns
ing fanatics, edible flowers
having a starring role
are becoming increasingly
on the runway season
commonplace.
With the
after season, to the deli-
likes of Jamie Oliver rus-
cate blooms taking center
tling
stage on the crockery at Co-
topped with delicate chive
penhagen’s famous restau-
blossoms, what better way
rant, Noma, it’s safe to say
to enter the mainstream?
that flowers are always en
From the mild minty fla-
vogue. But the latest trend
vour of pansies and the cu-
we’ve
cumbery scent of borage,
got our eye on is a
up
summer
salads
to the peppery tang of car-
wild one.
nations and nasturtiums,
.
Springing up everywhere
you’d be surprised what
from the Chelsea Flower
you can make a supper out
Show (Royal Bank of Cana-
of – just make sure they are
da’s 2011 New Wild garden)
not of the last-minute ga-
and haphazard brides’ bou-
rage bunch variety.
quets (think Junkaholique and
Style
Me
Pretty),
it
Follow our recipes and
seems like wildflowers are
craft projects over the next
having a bit of a moment.
few
Even Nana’s crystalised vi-
the versatility of wildflow-
olets and dandelion and
ers, from a relaxed rustic
burdock soda are having a
salad and table setting, to
revival with their retro rep-
a bohemian flower crown.
utation.
You will be out foraging
pages
and
discover
for your next batch of these Previously associated with hippy remedies and garden-
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delicate blooms before you know it!
91 When eating flowers, remember that not all specimens are edible. Pesticides put garden centre specimens firmly off limits. Forage only from wild settings free from chemicals & human interference, or grow your own with organic soils and lots of care and love.
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Eat...
Summer Flower Salad with Dandelion Dressing • Combine rocket leaves with lambs lettuce for a delicate salad and top with borage, nasturtiums and carnations for a peppery taste with a soft, cucumbery scent. • For the dressing, combine extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar with agave nectar and horseradish mustard to taste. Season with salt and pepper, and add small dandelion buds (as they get larger, the flavour becomes more bitter) before tossing through the salad.
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Pansy Collins with wildf lower ice cubes • To make ice cubes, opt for small blossoms or pick off petals to freeze in an ice cube tray. Herb flowers such as those from basil, chives, dill and sage make particularly pretty cubes, though the bright leaves of Nasturtiums would look great in a fiery cocktail for a Spanishinspired spread complete with homemade tapas. Just ensure you’re using edible blooms as they will melt into the drink. • To make this delicate floral cocktail, shake together 2oz gin, 1oz fresh lemon juice, and 0.8oz St Germain Elderflower liqueur. Pour over ice, top with soda water and add a couple of whole pansies to garnish. Don’t forget to let your guests know they can eat the flowers too!
Drink...
St Germain Elderflower Liqueur is distilled from hand-picked elderflowers. Due to their fleeting 4-6 week blossoming period, only a limited quantity are harvested each season and every bottle of St Germain liqueur bears its production number and date stamp on the unique, art-deco inspired bottle.
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Decorate... .
.
• Flowers needn’t be expensive. As well as growing them yourself (try grow bags and planters for a balcony garden), you can find lots of table-worthy varieties in the wild, including Ox-Eye daises, dandelions, cow parsley and poppies. Greenery is always a good way to bulk out small bouquets, and fresh spring and summer greens sit brilliantly with white. • You don’t need to be skilled at flower arranging to put together a pretty table setting:. Try small glass vases grouped together for a pretty centre piece – we used jugs and tea cups, or float daisy heads in a crystal bowl. Even a teapot makes a nice home for a few freshly cut blooms and adding levels draws the eye in.
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A Garden Party table setting
• Think of a colour theme. It’s generally best to stick to two or three base colours that you can carry through your set-up, though use as many as you like for a thrown together look. We used white and green with hints of purple, for a garden lunch setting.
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Wear...
Wire-free flf lower crowns • Gather your chosen flowers – ones with a long, thick stem such as roses are ideal and wildflowers such as poppies and Ox-Eye daises look beautiful, but you can use any blooms to fit your colour theme. • Using a needle, poke a hole through the stem of your first flower and thread the next one through. Use thread to secure them at the joint and repeat. • You can use thread to attach smaller flowers for a fuller garland – beading wire or floral wire will both work. • You can secure the garland into a pretty up-do with a few bobby pins, or add ribbon to the ends and tie together for a crown design. Being able to ditch the usual wire hoop means that the crown will sit more naturally on
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the head and will feel comfortable all day long.
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Seed packet favours Personalised seed packets make a lovely and thoughtful party favour. Chances are, your guests will be impressed that you thought outside the box and introduced them flowers on their plate and herbs in their glass. If they’ve done it all before? Well, then they’ll be more than happy to take home more seeds to plant and eat. You could:
Stamp small brown envelopes with little letters
Print out vintage seed packet images from the internet and make your own packets
Use washi tape to secure the flower that corresponds to the seeds inside for a little favour to be planted right away
Give...
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Style Not... from a guest bedroom
Words by Gabrielle Treanor Photography by Allison Dandrea
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A
few thoughtful touches and some practical items can make your house guests feel more welcome and comfortable. It will also make their stay that extra bit special. We don’t all have the luxury of a dedicated guest bedroom but even if the room your visitors sleep in doubles up as something else there are a few simple inexpensive things that you can do to make the most of the space and make your guests feel welcome. You can use a theme to tie everything together or continue the style of the rest of your home within the guest bedroom. Clear some space on a surface so that your guests can lay out their personal items. Use a decorative tray, some scented candles and a few old books to add interest to a plain desk
Practical pieces like a clock or a fan can be stylish too, ideally look out for vintage items. or shelf. Adding a freestanding mirror, gives visitors somewhere to hang their jewellery as well as the option to check their appearance before they leave the room. Find an old mirror at a f lea market or car boot sale and spruce up
the frame with a coat of paint. Even if your friends or family are only staying for one night there’s a good chance they’ll want to hang up their clothes. If there isn’t room for a wardrobe you could add a couple of decora-
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Use a decorative tray, some sce candles and a few old books to interest to a plain desk or shelf
Barr-Co Candle, ÂŁ24, Period Features (UK) or K. Hall Designs (USA); Large Mercury Glass Jar Candle, ÂŁ24, Anthrop
ented o add f.
pologie, All other items found at f lea markets.
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Linens & Eiderdowns, yellow jug & clock, all found at f lea markets; Find similar journals at Paperchase from £3.50, a f lea market. Shells, collect on the beach or check Ebay.
tive hooks to a wall with pretty hangers. A guest dressing gown can be hung here too, or on a hook on the back of the door. A cosy cover-up always comes in handy when staying away from home but people rarely have the room to pack one. And when you don’t have guests you can hang favourite outfits of your own or treasured vintage pieces on the
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hooks as a display. As well as providing additional seating, a spare chair can also be used as a clothes’ horse. A simple dining chair can be picked up cheaply at a junk shop and given a new look by re-covering the seat with a piece of fabric. Stack a neat pile of spare pillows and blankets on an old trunk or chair in case your visitors
feel chilly in the night. As well as providing guests with their own towels why not make the extra effort and provide them with a few toiletries and a scented candle? A collection of magazines and books gives guests something to read and enjoy if they wake early or just want to enjoy some quiet time. A notebook or pad of paper is an extra special
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similar towels from Anthropolgie from £6, similar soap cubes from Angel Lifestyle, £4.50. White bowl found at
touch and using a pretty tray is a great way to keep all these elements together. Adding a few simple but useful items onto a bedside table such as a lamp, tissues and a glass of water means your guests will have everything to hand - without falling over objects on the f loor in the dark! Practical pieces like a clock or a fan can be
stylish too, look out for vintage items so they look great when not in use. Whether you have space for just a single bloom or a vase full of f lowers, little touches like these let your visitors know you’ve made an effort to make them feel welcome.
I picked up from one of my favourite interiors shops, The Corner House in Dorking, Surrey, a few years ago. When friends or family come to visit I like to write their names on the zinc heart and tie it to the guest bedroom door handle as an extra welcoming surprise. One visitor was so taken I own some zinc metal with her nametag she hearts threaded on pa- photographed it before per covered-wire, which she left!
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History of Vintage
The tale of the humble Typewriter Words by Katie Tregidden
Search on Etsy for “typewriter” and it returns over 11,000 items. From vintage typewriters, to necklaces and cuff links made from single letter keys and everything from screen prints to cushions and stationery printed with iconic typewriter images.
Typewriter print from Lolas Room / Etsy
What is it about old typewriters that appeal to us so much in this digital age? Most of us own laptops, iPhones, Blackberrys or iPads, all of which far out perform the humble typewriter, so what’s the attraction?
Do we miss being able to see how things work; the sheer mechanics of an inked key imprinting clean white paper with a single letter? If that’s the case, it’s worth knowing that early typists (confusingly known as typewriters themselves) couldn’t see what they were typing, because you had to raise up the carriage to look; the words were typed on the bottom of the carriage.
pher,” the precursor to the typewriter and then between 1829 and 1870 typewriter design was a f lurry of patents that never made it to production. In 1856, The Cooper, a circular index typewriter, which used a revolving disk, was built and in 1861, Father Francisco João de Azevedo’s made a typewriter from basic tools and materials such as wood and knives. During this time, Peter Mitterhofer made many models and finally a Is it the familiarity of the shape and de- prototype in 1867, and in the same year, sign of vintage typewriters that appeals? John Pratt’s ‘Pterotype’ was published in Perhaps. But look far enough back and Scientific American magazine. they don’t look very familiar at all. The very first typewriter only exists as a It took until 1870 for the first typewriter patent filed by Henry Mill in 1714 for “an to go into commercial production. And artificial machine or method for the im- it didn’t look anything like the ‘vintage pressing or transcribing of letters singly typewriters’ we know and love. or progressively one after another, as in Danish pastor, Malling Hansen’s “writing writing, whereby all writing whatever ball” was a metal sphere with letter keys may be engrossed in paper or parch- all over it. The sphere moved until the ment so neat and exact as not to be dis- right key came into contact with the tinguished from print” (and breathe!) paper. Ingenious. But it looks more like Sadly Henry never got as far as making a hedgehog than a typewriter. it. It didn’t take long for Remington to get in The first typewriter to have actually on the act, beginning production of their worked was built in 1808 by Pellegrino first typewriter, the Sholes & Glidden Turri for his blind friend Countess in 1873 – and introducing the qwerty Carolina Fantoni da Fivizzono. Many keyboard. Remington’s experience in early attempts at building sewing machines might explain typewriter design the foot pedal (for moving paper along) were to help and decorative f lowers that featured in blind people their early models. They also produced write. Turri guns, so we should probably be thankful also invented they went down the sewing machine c a r b o n route. By 1901, the Underwood No. 5 model, which included a ribbon selector, paper. In 1829, Wil- a back spacer and a tabular was launched liam Austin and went on to to sell millions, allowing Burt patented Underwood to topple Remington as the “Typogra- the top typewriter manufacturer in the Left: Prototype of the Sholes and Glidden typewriter, 1873, the first commercially successful typewriter, and the first with a QWERTY keyboard.
Th his un
... Hunter S. hompson used IBM Selectric ntil the day he died ...
world. The No 5 looks like a typewriter. In fact it is lauded as the world’s most successful typewriter and has certainly seen its fair share of screenprinted tea towels. But besides providing charming graphics for homewares, what is the typewriter’s role in today’s society? Why does it have such enduring appeal?
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to a computer, laptop or iPad and used as its keyboard. It seems people just can’t get enough of that clackety-clack sound. And many, many fonts exist to create the effect of the typewritten word on screen. Another slightly more lateral adaptation is Tyree Callahan’s Chromatic Typewriter in which the letters and keys of a 1937 Underwood Standard typewriter have been replaced Pink with colour pads Typewriter and hue labels, creating a paintabove from Joevintage / Etsy ing machine. A very structured approach to art perhaps, but with some surprisingly good results. And there are plenty of collectors out there keeping typewriters purely for their aesthetic or for basic functionality. A blog called Typosphere provides a space for “bloggers who collect, use, and otherwise obsess over typewriters and other “obsolete” technologies. Life in a Typewriter Shop documents, well, life in a typewriter shop. And Typewriter Heaven is “typing for peace, democracy, and the glory of the typosphere”.
Will Self is reputed to write on one to this day – an Olivetti Lettera to be exact. And P.J. O’Rourke uses the IBM Selectric. They follow in some pretty fine footsteps – Hunter S. Thompson used his IBM Selectric until the day he died – quite literally - his body was found sitting at it; the word “counselor” typed onto the page. Mark Twain was the first author to submit a typewritten manuscript – Tom Sawyer, produced on a Sholes & Glidden. Ernest Hemingway’s Royal Quiet de Luxe sold at auction for $2,750. George Orwell and Agatha Christie were both fans of the Remington Home Portable. But Self and O’Rourke could opt for a MacBook, so why don’t they? For O’Rourke, it’s a case of avoiding the distractions that inevitably come with a computer’s easy access to the Internet. For Self, it’s a desire to construct prose If you want to buy a vintage typewriter, in his head before he writes, rather than www.typewriters.co.uk is a fantastic resource with a wide range of makes working it out on the screen. and models. If you’re after something And they’re not the only ones. There inspired by a typewriter, one of Etsy’s is such a demand for typewriters that 11,000+ items is sure to catch your eye. they’re being upgraded into modern- Folksy only offers 45 items, but they’re day equipment by including a USB port, all very lovely and likely to be quicker which will enable them to be connected and cheaper to ship.
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Bunting, and Bu
H
elen Ruff runs vintage wedding c tips and tricks for creating your
Photography by
Bouquets udgets
company Doily Days. She shares her r perfect wedding on a tight budget.
y Heather Shuker
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S
o you’ve just got engaged. How exciting! But there’s so much to do, how will you ever plan a wedding on top of work commitments? And how much will it cost? Don’t worry, if you’re organised, creative and budget savvy you can save thousands and have the wedding of your dreams. Consider holding a marquee reception in a friend or family’s garden. Barn venues on farms can also be cost effective and are a great choice for a blank canvas in a rustic setting. Google ‘wedding barn’ and you’ll come up with the most commercial venues that have f lashy websites and big marketing budgets. Try contacting local farms for advice. If you do your research thoroughly, you should be able to find this type of venue for around £2k.
with the hog and ask your friends and family to bring bowls of coleslaw, potato salad and bread rolls. Don’t be shy, you could also ask some guests to bring a cake or dessert. Set up a cake table, fête style with whole cakes, trif le and fresh berries. It will be much more fun than an elaborate wedding cake allowing your guests to tuck in! If your mum or auntie is itching for a task, ask her to make a big batch of homemade jam and distribute it as wedding favours. You can buy jars online, handwrite the labels and tie circles of fabric around the lids.
And what wedding is complete without some bunting to decorate your venue? Invest in a pair of pinking scissors, cut big f lags of fabric and attach them to long lengths of ribbon. Fairy lights can A big chunk of your budget will go be bought cheaply at DIY stores and on feeding your guests. Hog roasts strung up to create a magical effect. are a nice option for a rustic wedding. Prices vary from £6-£25 per head, Shop for f lowers at a local wholesaler with the former being a man with – you don’t need to be a trade customa knife and a bun and the latter er, you just need to buy in bulk. When including staff, crockery and an array choosing f lowers, make sure you have of accompaniments. A cost effective a good balance of colours and shapes solution might be to book the man i.e. rounded (roses and peonies),
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spires (delphiniums and stocks) and fillers (such as waxf lowers). You can collect jam jars and bottles to display your f lowers. Soak off the labels, add some pretty ribbon, or wrap with lace. You can pick up vintage glass bottles on eBay but you can also use teapots, jugs, coffeepots and crystal cut vases. You can even make hand tied bouquets for the bridal party. Start with one stem in your hand and add to it, gripping the stems tightly and making sure the arrangement looks good from all angles. Secure with a rubber band, wrap with ribbon or lace, cut all stems to the same length and you’re good to go!
guests names and make a tableplan using a mix of old frames. You might have some knocking about at home or you can pick them up for around ten pence each at f lea markets. Grouped together they look fantastic.
Mismatching china adds colour and interest to your dining tables and vintage main plates are great for a hog roast. Hire some from a local company or raid your friend’s cupboards for an eclectic mix of old and new, patterned and plain.
These are just a few DIY ideas to get you started, but remember it is your day and should ref lect you and your partners personalities. Spend time researching ideas on wedding blogs and getting inspired by Pinterest, and then get to creating your perfect day!
Plain tablecloths can be livened up with lacy runners and doilies. You can pick them up at boot fairs for next to nothing and they can be arranged along trestle tables in a haphazard way. Use brown luggage tags for your
Did you have a DIY idea at your own wedding which you’re particularly proud of? Let us know by emailing info@91magazine.co.uk with pictures, and we may feature it on the Patchwork Harmony blog!
You can search for a second-hand wedding dress online on sites such as preloved.co.uk, Oxfam.org or Save sellmyweddingdress.com. money on bridesmaids dresses too by giving them a loose theme i.e. pastel colours or f lorals and letting them buy their own dress. They’ll still look the part with their rustic bouquets.
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DIY... Y
ou don’t get much for free when it comes to weddings these days, and wedding stationery can certainly be a big expense, especially if you are keen to have the full set of Save the Dates cards, invites, RSVPs, placecards, menus and thank you cards. But look no further! The lovely ladies at The Wedding Chicks blog have gathered some beautiful free printable stationery sets, which you can download and print yourself - the only cost: some good quality card, and a little bit of your time. If you have a bit of a budget, you can always take them to a local printers. We love this pretty kite themed set. Click the link below to view all the available designs.
printable wedding stationery
FREE!
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www.weddingchicks.com/freebies/
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hether you’re by the sea, in a quaint village, historic town or large city – vintage fairs will be popping up all over the UK this summer. If you fancy doing a spot of vintage shopping this season, read our pick of six happening around the country from June to August
Complied by Michelle Guy
June
The Vintage Home Show Manchester What’s on offer: A self-confessed ‘homemakers heaven’, The Vintage Home Show is held in an ideal setting - the historic, restored Victoria Baths building in Manchester. If you love mid-century designed furniture, as well as retro and kitsch homeware from the 1930s-70s, then this is the place to find it. Around 40 stalls will be offering a variety of lighting, furniture, art, ceramics and glass from across the decades, so there’s plenty on offer to suit all tastes. Location: Victoria Baths, Hathersage Road, Manchester, M13 0FE When: 10th June, 11am-4pm (Trade Entry 10.30) Entry fee: £3 (Trade £5) Get in touch: www.vintagehomeshow.co.uk
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Illustrations by Charlotte Love
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June
Shoreditch Vintage Fair London
What’s on offer: If you’re in East London this June, head to Shoreditch Town Hall for the Shoreditch Vintage Fair to pick up some great vintage goodies. Featuring around 60 stalls, there’s everything from homeware to jewellery, accessories and clothes to browse, spanning the 1940s to 1980s. Plus, a pop-up beauty parlour, ‘Lipstick and Curls’, will be there so you can really embrace the vintage vibe and get your hair and makeup done too. You can also grab a cup of tea and a cupcake in the vintage tea room after a hard day’s shopping. Location: Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old Street, London EC1V 9LT When:16th June, 12pm-5pm Entry fee: £2 Get in touch: www.facebook.com/shoreditchvintage
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Crikey! It’s Vintage at the seaside Devon What’s on offer: Launched in 2011, ‘Crikey! It’s Vintage’ runs quarterly events in Exeter supporting local vintage sellers. You’ll find around 50 stallholders from the south west selling everything vintage – from kitchenalia to textiles, homewares to collectable items. Local artists will also be selling pretty handmade goods, including soaps, jewellery and fabric items. The events feature 1940s inspired entertainment; the event in July will feature a Lindy hop dance and workshop, pop-up beauty parlour and retro photo shoot. Location: Exmouth Pavillion, Exmouth EX8 2AZ When: Saturday 14th July 10.30-4pm Entry fee: £1, under 16s free Get in touch: www.crikeyitsvintage.co.uk
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July The Great Seaside Vintage Fair Whitby What’s on offer: A stroll along the sea front, ice cream in hand and a vintage fair to visit too – a perfect way to spend a summer’s day. The Great Seaside Vintage Fair in Whitby has 40 stallholders selling wares from the 1920s to the 1980s. As well as a great sea view, expect a range of pieces and prices on offer – from £1 vintage sewing patterns to Art Deco tea sets going for around £15-£30, to mid-century coffee tables on sale for around £100. Location: Whitby Pavilion, West Cliff, Whitby, North Yorkshire YO21 3EN When: Sat 28th & Sun 29th July, 9.30am-4pm Entry fee: £2 / £1.50 concession on the door
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Get in touch: www.roseandbrownvintage.co.uk
Vintage Village at Stockport Market Hall Stockport What’s on offer: Held every second Sunday of every month, the Vintage Village is a pop-up vintage fair held in Stockport Market Hall, so whatever the weather, you can shop vintage. As well as around 60 stallholders selling all manner of vintage items in the Vintage Village, you can also visit the Room at the Top Vintage Goods section, located in Produce Hall, which overlooks Stockport Market Place. Here, you’ll find resident vintage sellers offering homewares, furniture, restored items, textiles and collectables that get re-stocked regularly so there will always be a variety of pieces on offer to explore. Location: The Vintage Village at Stockport Market Hall When: Every second Sunday of every month, 10-4pm Entry fee: £1 Get in touch: www.vintagevillagestockportmarket.co.uk
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August The Cotswolds Vintage Fair Toddington What’s on offer: Located in the quintessentially English village of Toddington, The Cotswolds Vintage Fair is a perfect place to pick up a vintage treat. You’ll be able to stroll around 35 stalls selling vintage and antique pieces, as well as handmade designs that are vintage or retro inspired. Browse original homewares, furniture and textiles. Take the weight off your feet and admire your purchases with a cup of tea and homemade refreshments in the vintage style tea room created by Lavinia’s Tea Party – outside seating on the terrace to take in the views will also be available. Location: Toddington Village Hall, Stow Road, Toddington, Glos GL54 5DU When: Sat 25th August, 10am-4pm Entry fee: Adults £2 / children and OAPs free Get in touch: www.thecotswoldsvintagefair.blogspot.co.uk
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From Paris, with Style
Lise Meunier
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Words and photography by Leigh Metcalf
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f you’ve ever dreamed of living the life of an artist in Paris, then step inside the apartment of ceramicist and textile designer Lise Meunier, and get a little taste of this envious lifestyle. Lise’s passion for crafts and found objects is evident in every corner of her spacious, light-filled apartment, which she shares with her partner and two children. Located in Paris’s 19th arrondissement, between Jourdain and Menilmontant. Lise says “it’s like a village, which has many gardens.” She says she misses the countryside but enjoys her “balcony full of f lowers where she loves to settle down to work.” And who wouldn’t want to get creative while drinking in a view of this beautiful city?
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Back inside, Lise shows us her craft corner, where she works on textile projects and comes up with her ceramic designs. The workspace is filled with eye-catching inspiration that is both whimsical and cheerful and at times a little dark and quirky. Craft supplies and objects d’art such as Japanese washi tape, buttons, ceramic and plastic figurines, paper umbrellas, and Marrakech dolls dot every patch of her craft nook. Her interest in collecting doesn’t stop there. Her entire apartment is a treasure trove of found objects, pieces carefully selected at f lea markets and from quirky Paris shops, which are all thoughtfully styled throughout the space. She especially enjoys scouring the surrounding countryside for unique pieces, and also frequents many charity shops. Looking around her living space, its no surprise Lise is also a photo stylist when she’s not working on her own creations. Her styling work includes books such as Shabby Chic: 40 Projects to Customize and Decorate Interiors. Lise’s creative passion began as a young girl in her childhood bedroom, “making all sorts of things with found objects.” She studied Art History and worked as an illustrators’ agent after graduating and enjoyed taking pottery classes. But deep down, she knew she wanted to devote more of her time to her own creations. So she quit her job to pursue her creative passions full-time. She currently divides her time between her studio where she can fire her ceramic work and designing and creating
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from her home. Her ceramics designs, all of which are enamelled earthenware, primarily have a natural aesthetic. With a neutral colour palette, most pieces being an earthy, stone-like white, she often adds interest with carefully crafted f loral designs. Some pieces are functional, serving as vases or small dishes, others are more decorative and purely ornamental. She often uses vintage glass half domes, crocheted doilies or table linens to display her work which compliment it well. Lise also explains she
is inspired and inf luenced by “plants and insects, folk art, outsider art, religious art and curio cabinets.” For her textile pieces, she uses vintage and antique fabrics, often mixing them to make patchwork cushion covers or to make various pieces such as the blue pedestal pin cushion which she uses at her desk as she sews. When she’s not crafting, Lise also spends as much time as she can getting out and enjoying Paris. I asked her to share some of her hidden gems, and she has many!
For more information on Lise’s inspiring work: www.lise-meunier.blogspot.co.uk www.lisemeunier.book.fr www.lisemeunier.bigcartel.com View more photos from our shoot here
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{ Restaurants }
Lise’s Paris Hidden Gems
Les Quilles - traditional cuisine Lao Siam - thai, delicious & cheap! Les 400 Coups - perfect for kids.
{ Shop for clothes }
Pataluna - for children Pollen - for women
{ Shop for gifts }
La Petite Maison Dans la Villette L’Embellie Design
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HOMESPUN STYLE By Selina Lake
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Words by Joanna Simmons Photographs by Debi Treloar
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A fresh white backdrop punctuated with colour and pattern on cushions is a classic homespun look that’s super easy to achieve.
J
ust like fashion, interiors styles go in cycles. We’ve had minimalism; we’ve done neutrals; we’re slightly over our love affair with grey. So it’s time for something completely different! We’re ditching serious, understated schemes, in favour of colour, pattern and bags of personality. We want our homes to ref lect our lives,
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travels, friendships and families. We value second-hand and vintage pieces as much as - or even more than - designer or high-street buys. We might even f lex our creative muscles now and then; reaching for a paintbrush or a needle and thread, to transform a worn or simple piece into something personal.
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Spotting this trend for unpretentious, colourful, crafty interiors, Selina Lake put together Homespun Style. Together with photographer Debi Treloar, Selina sourced and shot homes as far afield as Norway, Sweden, France and Denmark, as well as in the UK. Each one shares a love of colour - whether splashed abundantly across walls or used to punctuate an all-white scheme. Upcycled and repaired pieces that are bursting with character, sometimes set alongside design classics, are another feature of the homespun home. A passion for pattern is dazzlingly apparent too, with striking rugs making plain boards sing, and metres of vintage fabrics reborn as cushion covers, quilts or simply displayed in colourful stacks.
Top Right; Good lighting and a chunky piece of storage keep this creative corner organised and practical. Botton Right; Vintage fabrics, beautifully displayed according to their colour, wait to be transformed into a quilt or cushion cover.
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As the name suggests, the homespun look leans heavily on homemade ingredients. If you want to inject relaxed personality into your interiors, there is no better way than with a piece you have decorated, adapted or even made. But while crafting used to be all about dying arts and complicated techniques, modern craft is not difficult. Skill with a crochet needle or sewing machine is handy, but not
necessary! Modern craft is as much about modifying and remodelling existing pieces, using simple tweaks and easy ideas to brighten and personalise. Anyone can stitch buttons onto a cushion cover to give it a fresh look. Anyone can give an old wooden chair a bright coat of paint. Experimentation is key simply get stuck in! You might be surprised how easy it is to create something gorgeous and unique.
This modern, sleek kitchen is given the homespun treatment via a splashback made of vintage wallpaper swatches.
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Customising a simple chest of drawers with paint and paper gives it a gloriously quirky new look.
Above left; Have fun with display. Here, images, trinkets, plates and photos are hung, taped and even suspended on a wire off the wall. Above right; Traditional dining chairs are used on this terrace, their austere shape softened by cushions and oilcloth seats in bright colours.
Perhaps the chief draw of homespun style is its relaxed nature. It chucks out the interiors rule book and invites you to play around with pattern, texture and colour; mix old and new; and hang everything from postcards to pom-poms on your walls. In addition, the ingredients of a homespun home need not break the bank. This is not a label-conscious look, so forget scouring showrooms and head to your local f lea market or your granny’s attic
instead, for quirky pieces and vibrant fabrics. Keep an eye out for lovingly created works by small makers too. These one-of-a-kind gems that have been crafted with real talent and passion will add interest to any room. Most importantly - enjoy yourself! With an open mind, a dash of imagination and a sense of fun, you can take any home from humdrum to homespun in a f lash.
Homespun Style by Selina Lake is published by Ryland, Peters and Small, and is available on their website for ÂŁ19.99
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WIN! A signed copy of Homespun Style by Selina Lake. To enter, just visit the Patchwork Harmony blog, leave a comment telling us why you love the homespun look, along with your name & contact email and we will draw a winner after the closing date: 30th June 2012.
Click here to Enter or visit
www.patchworkharmony.co.uk/blog
ADVERT
Š Janine Vangool MAGAZINE
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A Shipshape Day
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onny Colville-Hyde spends a day at North West London’s lastest craft venue - Shipeshape Studio.....
Photography by James Royall
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T
ucked away in Northwood, out in Zone 6 of the underground, lies a little gem on the outskirts of London. Shipshape Studio is hidden away just off the High Street and its the sort of place that instantly feels special.
The studio runs classes and workshops on a range of crafts, with the focus being on producing something to take away at the end of the day. These workshops are for a variety of skill levels and are tailored to enable participants with different abilities to take part. The workshop I attended was a f lag making class lead by one of the studio’s owners, Emily Burt. The class is part of a new programme of workshops
under development by Emily and her partner Adam Tiratsoo. Since the studio opened last November, the duo have been testing out ideas to see what works best for their customers and have found this sort of fun and friendly workshop is a real winner. The studio itself is decorated with other workshop projects, like the gorgeous hanging paper globes that they teach bridal parties to make ahead of their special day. Emily and Adam have also decorated the space with vintage ephemera, retro collectables and handmade items. They also have a small but interesting selection of books about running crafty businesses, making things and other related activities.
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The f lag making class lasted three hours and was perfect for a group of participants with mixed skill sets. There were four of us that took part in the class with very different crafty skills and interests, but that was not a problem as Emily was on hand to guide us through the process of creating our own felt f lag.
As you can probably tell, I fell a little bit in love with Shipshape Studio! I found the afternoon very liberating, as I usually craft on my own and am very critical of my work. I tend to spend a long time planning projects and am often disappointed if my handiwork doesn’t match my aspirations. Spending three hours getting to ‘play’ was wonderful! For the first time in ages, I actually relaxed, and didn’t worry about the final result. It might have been the homemade cakes, the tea and the retro soundtrack in the studio, but whatever it was, I really enjoyed the process
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of making something in the company of other people. We made the f lags from brightly coloured felt and chose our own designs. We were given a selection of books to help give us inspiration drafting our designs and we sketched out our ideas before we got started with the felt. The f lags we were making were intended to be wall hangings, so we could really go to town with their designs. All the materials were provided, including sticky-backed felt which was brilliant to work with and made it possible to actually finish the whole project in a (relatively) short time. Emily gave us hints and tips throughout the session, keeping the conversation f lowing and making the class a very friendly place indeed. Adam kept the tea and cake f lowing too! As you can probably tell, I fell a little bit in love with Shipshape, and If I lived in London it would certainly be a haunt of mine. Being based in Bristol makes it a little far for me to trek to on a regular basis, but for some events it would certainly be worth it. Part of the programme
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The group sketch out their ideas using books for inspiration
Designing and constructing the f lags
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The finished f lags made during the class Bonny attended.
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of new initiatives Emily and Adam are working on include the Design and Illustration Forum, which sounds like it will be a fantastic way to network and discuss the business of working in this field, including those outside London making the trip. If you do get a chance to visit
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Shipshape, you should. Its got a lot of charm and heart. The passion for making things is also so clearly visible in Emily and Adam, it won’t be long before they have outgrown the little studio and will need somewhere bigger to cater for the demand – so get in there quick!
www.shipshapestudio.co.uk / 01923 828987 To see more photos from our shoot at Shipshape Studio click here.
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Digging up Dolly Our deputy editor, Charlotte Clarke, delves into the world of Blythe dolls and discovers there is more to them than just those big eyes....
Photography by Linda Holland
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D
igging her vegetable patch one sunny day, a woman comes across a doll. While most people may have dismissed this as being a worthless plastic toy, buried by a child or dog, this woman knew better. An avid Blythe doll collector, she took a closer look and found she had indeed hit the jackpot ~ a Kenner Blythe in her very own garden! Vintage Kenner Blythe is the pinnacle of the Blythe doll world; a community dominated by crafty, creative types who spend their free time sourcing the dolls, crafting outfits and photographing them.
released the cult photography book This is Blythe in 2000. Dolly ‘meet-ups’ and Blythe conventions are now regular features of this quirky community, consisting of collectors selling their handmade Blythe wares, hosting workshops and sharing sewing and knitting tips. Some go as far as customising their dolls, changing hair styles, makeup, eye colours, etc.
“I always describe Blythe’s as having other worldly charm” says Linda Holland, an art director and Blythe enthusiast who cites the story of the vegetable patch lady as one of her favourites, along with another about a girl who came across an Designed by Allison Katzman in 1972 and original in a charity shop for $2. Jackpot marketed by toy company Kenner in the finds indeed when you consider the US and Australia (and in Japan, under current market value of £1,000 plus. the name Ai Ai Chan), the dolls were originally Linda started her own personal search for deemed too a Kenner Blythe doll six years ago, after creepy for children seeing a Sony Walkman campaign that because of their featured a doll she recognised from her disproportionate childhood. “It was such an obscure toy heads and eyes from my past, I set myself the challenge that changed colour to find my own one on eBay.” and direction. At the time, she didn’t realise the After just one year, Pandora’s Box she was about to open. they were consigned “The online dolly world is so friendly” to the recycle bin. But she says “though it can also be very they have since evolved elitist, with old timers tending to dismiss into a global sensation. newbies.” The ‘old timers’ hark from the This is thanks to Gina early 90s, when connections were made Garan, a doll collector through message boards. The ‘newbie’ and photographer who wave started in 2005, using modern
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forms of social media such as Facebook, sews clothes based on vintage styles of the 50s and 60s, which she sells online in Twitter and Instagram. her Etsy store and at Blythe conventions Perhaps unsurprisingly, given their at- - most recently, Le Jour B in Paris. traction to the unusual, dolly world fol- Linda’s interest also led her to Leonidas lowers include Tim Burton and Christina Zafiropoulous. “a dolly courtier, restorer Ricci. Sophie Ellis Bextor is also a fan and customiser… who also dresses like and most recently, Blythe was the muse a gentleman from another century,” she for Alexander McQueen’s campaign for says, having found him when she wanted US retailer Target, with the marketing all to have Priscilla’s hair re-rooted. Using done under Gina Garan’s consultation. premium quality mohair that allows for brushing, combing and styling using Dazzled by such an abundance of choice water or heat - just like human hair – he and passion, Linda is now the proud transformed Priscilla’s hair so that it owner of two vintage Kenner Blythe now hangs long and straight like that of dolls: Priscilla and Pepper and regularly her owner.
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“Perhaps unsurprisingly, given their attraction to the unusual, dolly world followers include Tim Burton and Christina Ricci.�
91 And that’s just one of his skills. In his shop, Poupée Mécanique, Leo uses numerous techniques to customise Blythe dolls, including repainting makeup and changing eyes and eyelashes. He makes clothes inspired by various styles, including 60s pop culture, mod, 70s romanticism, Rococo, Victoriana and contemporary Japanese Lolita culture. And he collects his own dolls
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- he currently has nearly 400, including his own prized Kenner Blythe; Spondee, who he found on eBay, broken, bald and gathering dust (though she looks nothing like that now, of course!) The idea for the shop came to Leo after his second trip to Japan in August 2007 and he has been working on it ever since, as well as hosting exhibitions which he writes about on his blog. He and Linda are now good friends, regularly updating each other on the next best thing in the Blythe community. For those who are keen to get involved but lack the funds for a Kenner Blythe, other more affordable versions are available. Japan in particular has adopted the style and created a distinct modern spin that has wide appeal. These designs are what keeps the hobby thriving, the most notable being by a company called Takara, who releases 6 new ‘Neo Blythe’ dolls per year for £150 plus. In fact, such is Blythe’s success; there is now an annual Blythe charity fashion show in Tokyo, where leading designers from around the world create tiny versions of their outfits for Blythe dolls to wear as they are carried down the runway by models wearing white gloves. Design houses, including John Galliano, Prada, Gucci, Vivienne Westwood, Issey Miyake, Versace and Sonia Rykiel also now regard Blythe as a veritable muse.
Global recognition, a f lourishing wardrobe, the catwalk – now that’s a big leap for a doll once considered dead and Top: Linda, Leo & Gaia became friends through Blythe events, buried. Middle: Blythe in Paris, Bottom: Linda’s stall at Blythecon UK 2011 www.blythedoll.com
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Ladies Online
More and more women are taking the plunge and setting up their own business. With the internet making this easier than ever, many of these businesses are being run solely online. We meet some of these inspiring women who have made cyperspace their marketplace.
Rosie Brown Runs online store Papa Stour www.papastour.com
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Interview by Nicola Sanders
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What did you do before printed Harris Tweed inspirational products and I was etc.)? Papa Stour? After completing a Master of Design at Glasgow School of Art, I worked for Sanderson in London where I was involved in developing a more modern incarnation of the brand. I then went on to become a freelance stylist and art director, working with the likes of Sunday Times Style, Homes & Gardens and Elle Decoration and with companies such as The White Company, Dulux and Laura Ashley.
looking for outlets to sell them; at the same time, I kept coming across really interesting work. I thought it would be a great idea to bring together a collection of contemporary craft and design under one roof, with everything made in Scotland. I looked at the competition in this area to see if any websites were doing the same thing and noticed that there was a gap in the market. I contacted artists whose work I liked – and seven years on, the collection we have is still carefully curated in this way.
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people,
I had lots of contacts from working in London which definitely helped when it came to promoting the website, but I also got great advice from friends, family and former colleagues – their combined advice was invaluable.
What has been the biggest benefit in having your own business?
Without a doubt being able to maintain a balance, to work round my What gave you the idea family, live anywhere and do something that I for the business? What research did you do love every day – that’s Did you have lots of incredibly rewarding. before starting up?
contacts to call on? What When I moved back up assistance did you get Have you had any mato Scotland I produced in starting your business jor business headaches a range of hand-screen- (advice, practical skillls, since starting up?
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No major ones, thankfully, but new businesses can be pulled in lots of different directions so it is important to do your homework and have a good business plan.
Papa Stour? How do you ments and feedback from customers. It’s impromote the business? portant to plan your time, though, as it’s easy to spend all day on social media and forget about the business plan!
Originally the website was the sole window but we have added Twitter and Facebook streams which are great commuHow important is social nication tools, especially How do you source new media to how you run in terms of getting com- products?
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If something catches our eye, we are onto it – and fortunately we are now contacted regularly by artists, designers and makers who are keen to be on the website. We recently brought on board Kevin, a new graduate from Glasgow School of Art working in ceramics, who makes amazing teapots, caddies and cups with beautiful little birds attached; and Helena, a silversmith from Skye who makes wonderfully intricate pieces of jewellery, both of whom I’m really excited about.
You recently went into collaboration with your sister, Sally – how has this changed or improved things for you? I was delighted when Sally decided to join Papa Stour. As well as being an astute business girl, she has brought lots of fresh suggestions to the business – we bounce ideas off one another, and we are focused on what we need to achieve in our meetings, which definitely makes them more productive. We have concentrated more on business strategies and timescales, which I really
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think has been important, otherwise things can drift along without focus. We are a good combination because our backgrounds are different: we naturally bring different dynamics. Apart from that, it’s fun to have a partner to work with, so it’s been a great success!
domestic interior for a croft up north. The couple who own it live in New York at the moment but he was brought up in the croft, so it’s proving to be a regorgeous ally interesting project.
You have a Scottish bolthole, Callakille in Wester Ross, which you run alongside Papa Stour. Do you think that this helps to illustrate the Papa Stour lifestyle or are the two businesses quite separate?
Do you think your business skills have improved since starting your business?
Absolutely, because running the website is quite different from the I definitely think it helps to styling side of my work, illustrate the ethos of Papa but it’s a challenge that I Stour; I have been visiting thoroughly enjoy. Callakille and Applecross for over 30 years, so it What advice would you holds a very special place offer to other potential in my heart. We have lots online businesses? of people who know the website and when they Believe in what you are visit Callakille, they really offering, do your research connect to the beauty of the and try to show that you place and the simplicity of are different from the living there. thousands of other online shops out there!
Are you involved in any other projects? Papa Stour: I have had recent commissions for both styling and photography projects, and I am currently working on a
www.papastour.com For more information on Callakille, visit
Wilderness Cottages
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We hope you’ve enjoyed reading
91 Magazine!
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91 Magazine is a Patchwork Harmony publication. All content is copyright of 91 Magazine and its individual contributors. Images can be used only with a link back to www.91magazine.co.uk and where possible, the contributors website. www.patchworkharmony.co.uk www.patchworkharmony.blogspot.com