Working together

Do you fancy collaborating with me?

I recently ran my first Giveaway on my blog and it was a big hit with my readers and something I would like to be able to offer them more of!

So, I'm asking if you would like to run a giveaway on my blog, maybe a giftcard for your online shop, a gift or a signed book? In return I will write a post about your shop/business and feature pictures of your products. The products would need to be something that I am interested in and something I think my readers would be interested in ~ homeware, garden, crochet, craft, parenting etc.

I would advertise the post on my Facebook page (currently 873 fans), Twitter (currently 532 followers), Instagram (currently 633 followers) and bloglovin. And also pin your pictures to my Pinterest boards (currently 299 followers).

Alternatively, if you would like to send me a product to review or add a banner to my blog then I would be happy to discuss this too.

If this is something you might be interested in then please e-mail me at thechimneypot@outlook.com

Thank you for reading x


*Post last updated 24th June 2015

Etsy Shop

Hello, how have you all been? I have just been on my friends Hen weekend in York which was fab, I'm still recovering to be honest - hangovers seem to last longer the older I get :)

Anyway, just wanted to show you a few new items from My Etsy Shop and also share a little offer with you.

Handmade grey felt Heart with vintage buttons

 

Trio of Handmade Hearts

 

Personalised Handmade Star

 

Follow this link and you will receive £5 off your first order (that's off anything on Etsy not just my shop)! Also, if you were to buy anything from my shop then use the coupon code 'ETSYKIDS' for free delivery ;)

Are you an Etsy fan? I love it and have bought quite a few bits from there, I always find the sellers really helpful and friendly. I'm now a member of the Etsy Kids Team (which you can read more about here) and my latest treasury list challenge is available to view here.

That's all from me, hope you're getting some nice weather where you are.

Thank you for reading xx


Oh, also have you entered my Giveaway ??? its to win a Big Shot Machine from Hobbycraft worth £74.99, check it out, it ends on Friday - Good luck!!

I am linking up with:

The Dedicated House ~ Make it Pretty Monday

 

Giveaway #1

I am so excited to be hosting a GIVEAWAY! The prize is a Sizzix Big Shot Machine worth £74.99 from Hobbycraft.

(Images courtesy of Hobbycraft)

 

 

I would love one of these machines myself! I have used a friends before and they are fantastic for cutting felt as well as paper, I used them to make a felt garland but they can be used for cardmaking, scrapbooking, invitations and an endless list of other projects. They are really easy to use, have a big collection of dies and embossing folders and can be used with other leading brands. For the huge range of die cutting machines and accessories available at Hobbycraft please click here.

 

So, if you want to be in with a chance to win one of these fantastic machines please click on the box at the bottom of this post. The giveaway closes on Friday 2nd May. The winner will be selected at random.

 

Good luck!! :)

 

 

 

 

(Please note: all opinions are my own, I am not sponsored for this post.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Etsy Kids Team

I am now a member of the Etsy Kids Team!

Every fortnight they set a Treasury Challenge to promote others Etsy stores. Please check out my Easter inspired Treasury Challenge #33 here.

 

To celebrate being a member of the Etsy Kids Team, I am offering free postage in my Etsy Shop. Just enter the code 'EtsyKids' at checkout.

Thank you for reading xx

Displaying Kids Artwork

This week is project kids room! They are both sleeping in the little bedroom while I decorate their bedroom. I'm going for white walls, white skirting and door, a white blind and curtains and then adding colour with bedspreads and artwork on the walls.

I have been looking on pinterest for inspiration on how to display artwork and storage ideas:
Follow Tracy @IHeartHome's board I Heart...Kids Decor on Pinterest.

I have also set up a pinterest board for 'shared bedrooms' to look for layout ideas. What would I do without Pinterest???

Here are my ideas so far:

Framed Art:

 

 

Large Cork Board:

Curtain rods and pegs:

Washi tape:

Art wall:

 

Picture Ledges:

All images from Pinterest

Which is your favourite? How do/did you display your children's artwork? We have a couple of bits on the fridge and then some in the bedroom (and some in the recycling ahem) so would be nice to make a feature of it.


Hopefully won't be long before I can show you the finished bedroom, think I need a trip to Ikea!

Thank you for reading xx

Books for a Penny!

I love nothing more than putting my feet up with a cup of tea and a pack of custard creams a biscuit or two, and a lovely interiors book to flick through. I recently showed you my stash of interior magazines but my collection of books is also growing with a little help from Amazon.

Some of you may already know this, but for those who don't you can buy used books from Amazon and the prices start at just 1p. I was a little dubious at first thinking the pages would be tatty and torn but I have ordered quite a few and they have all been great. One book was a used library book with the library tag on the spine but I don't mind that, it even had somebody's library ticket inside so I have left it in as a bookmark. Obviously there is p&p to pay on top but still a bargain and still cheaper than some magazines and will last longer.

Here are my favourite buys so far:

The White Home - Caroline Clifton-Mogg

Pure Style - Jane Cumberbatch

The Relaxed Home - Atlanta Bartlett

Country Style - Judith & Martin Miller

Pure Style Outside - Jane Cumberbatch

At Home with White - Atlanta Bartlett

So, next time you buy a book on Amazon, check out the used price first. Lots more book can be seen on my Amazon Wish List here! Have fun shopping :)

Thank you for reading xx




My Reading Wish List 2014

Before and After ~The Downstairs Loo

Our downstairs loo is tiny, its so tiny I hardly ever go in there. We have thought on many occasion about taking it out and having a nice spacious area at the bottom of the stairs - maybe with a desk in or a nice comfy chair and make it a reading area? However we found that it proved to be invaluable during potty training so for now it remains!!

So, as it is staying it has also been turned white along with the rest of the house!

We had a not very pleasant green carpet going from the hall, up the stairs and onto the landing that was there when we moved in - and it was also in the downstairs loo! I hate carpet in bathrooms so I pulled it up, and wish I had done so sooner as these lovely floorboards were under there!

 

I pulled up the gripper rods, sanded them, filled in any holes with wood filler, sanded again, undercoated with Farrow & Ball Wood floor primer & undercoat in white & light tones, and then gave it two coats of Farrow & Ball Floor paint in Cornforth White.

 

It was well worth the effort! Really pleased with the result! Also, love the metal basket from Sainsburys - perfect for the downstairs loo! The skirting is painted in Farrow & Ball eggshell 'Strong White' and the walls are painted in Crown emulsion 'Sail White'.  

As you can see I have gone for a coastal theme, not very original I know but very pretty :) The ceramic bowl was made by my Partner, we have a matching one in the bathroom which you can see here.

 

 Charity shop mirror painted in Annie Sloan 'Old White'.

 

 

As well as painting the floorboards in the downstairs loo, I have also painted them in the Hallway but will save that for another day! The stairs are next eek!

 

Thank you for reading xx

 

 

 

 

Today I am linking up with:

The Dedicated House ~ Make it Pretty Monday

Unusual containers for planting

I love to fill my garden with unusual planters filled with flowers, much nicer to look at than ordinary pots from a DIY store and also a lot cheaper. I have been collecting them for a while and wanted to share them with you:


Belfast Sink

 

 

Galvanised metal containers:

Food can

Watering Can - has a hole in it so doesn't function as a watering can but going to make a great planter - watch this space!!

Chimney Pot - needs a smaller pot (its on my to do list)!

 

 

I have picked up the pots from car boot sales and markets pretty cheaply. I get my Partner to drill a few holes in the base and then fill the bottom with stones, broken tiles or anything I can find for drainage, then fill with multi purpose compost and plant!

 

 

 

I saw this picture on Pinterest and am now saving the Kids wellies :)

 

 

 

 

 

See here for my garden planter makeover.

 

What do you think? What do you use as planters in your garden?

 

Thank you for reading xx

 

 

 

Crochet ~ The Beginning

Do you remember I told you about the Knit & Stitch group I go to on a fortnightly basis? Well, we try to work on joint projects as well as our own things. Previously we did a knitted patchwork blanket which was donated to the East Cheshire Hospice. Now, we are doing a crochet granny square blanket. I was a little nervous when they suggested it as the only crochet I have done is the edging around my Daughters blanket but that didn't involve any counting so was quite simple.

Here is the start of my first Granny square (which took me nearly two hours to do):

 

Before and After ~ Chairs and Stools

I can't resist a challenge so when it was a challenge which involved re-loving a piece of furniture I was very excited! Any excuse to get my paintbrushes out!

The challenge was set by Emma at Frugally Peachy, see more details here.

We were recently given two dining chairs and two stools which had belonged to Jonny's Grandma. I had painted the chairs and re-covered the seats but hadn't got round to doing the stools so this challenge was my chance. The stools come in really handy around the house: opening the loft ladder, changing light bulbs, hanging curtains, extra seating etc etc. But they are just not to our taste so a lick of paint means they will still be useful but look good too!

Here are the stools before:

After, transformed with a coat of Annie Sloan 'Old White', two coats of Farrow & Ball 'Dove Tale' and the seat pad re-covered with spotty oilcloth.

Paint Rollers

I first saw Paint Rollers on the recent series of Great Interior Design Challenge, the lovely and very talented Sarah Moore used one on a bedroom wall and on a duvet cover.

Sarah Moore's winning bedroom design, using the Tussock roller.

 

 

I then saw them in again in the lovely magazine, Daphne's Diary (if you haven't read this yet then I definitely recommend it).

 

 

All images taken from Daphne's Diary

My Reading Wish List 2014

As well as my magazine addiction, I also buy way too many Home Interior books! I love them! I love ones that I can pick up and admire time and time again (when I get ten minutes peace that is).

I like to treat myself to new books but occasionally I come across good ones in the charity shops, car boot sales or the used section on amazon and then I can buy a few without feeling guilty!

On my wish list for 2014 are:

Design Bloggers at Home - Ellie Tennant (release date 10 April 2014)

So excited about this book! I love reading blogs and having a nosey around other peoples homes so will be great to see it in print!

 

Christina Strutt - Living Life Beautifully (release date 13 March 2014)

I really enjoyed reading Cath Kidstons book 'Coming up Roses' so am sure I will equally enjoy reading about the company 'Cabbages & Roses'.  I love reading about peoples influences and inspirations and getting a 'behind the scene' look.

Selina Lake - Outdoor living (release date 27 March 2014)

I have Selina Lake's other books and love them all so am sure this one won't disappoint.

 

 



The Great Interior Design Challenge - Decorate your home with style

 

I am really enjoying this series and love seeing the faces behind the very talented Sarah Moore Vintage and Kindred Rose. I've enjoyed following #GIDC on twitter too and seeing everybody else's response to the show. I also now have a few new blogs to read: Kimberly Plested, Lynne Lambourne and Emma McDonald. Can't wait to read the accompanying book and try out some of the tips from the show.

 

 

 

Creative Family Home - Ashlyn Gibson

 

Seen lots of good reviews to this in magazines so really want to have a look for some inspiration.

 

 

So, think I am going to have to be a very good girl this year to get my hands on all these haha! Which books are on your wish list this year?

 

Thank you for reading xx

 

 

 

Before and After ~ Small set of Drawers

These drawers came from  our old house and they were invaluable there for extra storage in our small kitchen. In our house now they were still in the kitchen but ended up all becoming 'Man' drawers, other words full of junk!

So, last week I decided to empty them and give them a new lease of life.


I gave them two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint 'Old White', sanded them to give them a distressed look and then rubbed down with Annie Sloan clear soft wax. This was my first ever attempt at 'distressing' so was a little nervous, but soon got into it and maybe even over sanded? What do you think?

 

Hello again Ikea

A while back I wrote a post entitled goodbye Ikea, all about wanting to remove the mass produced flat pack furniture from our home and fill it with one off pieces. However, I find myself going back on my word and back to Ikea, there is no getting away from its practical affordable solutions which are perfect for a family home. I'm particularly drawn to the Ikea hacks I keep seeing on Pinterest, the idea of making it my own is very appealing so this could be the way to go!

A few brilliant examples of Ikea hacking:

Book shelves made from painted spice racks (here) £3 each.