antique map home decor ideas

this week i will be adding more antique maps from the 1920's - these are ideal for framing and make really unique gifts.

here are some other home decor ideas using both vintage and modern maps -

                                   photo-source unknown

as a focal feature by incorporating ceramics in matching hues

                                                        photo from country living

you can *decoupage maps onto furniture

                                                                                      photo by hikinginstillettos blog

insert pieces of maps into the panelling in an internal door

                                                       photo by homedit

add map pieces to embroidery hoops for an unusual wall feature

                                       photo from purplehomes blog

hang large maps unframed and team with vintage furniture

other ideas include

• lampshades
• coffee tables
• bowls
• cut pieces of map into butterflies, hearts and other shapes and display in a frame
• cover notebooks for gifts
• use maps for wrapping handmade soaps
• photo frames
• scrap booking and card making
• gift wrapping

there are so many amazing things you can do with maps (if you know of any more please let me know!) although a simple map in a frame still looks great. click here for a useful 'how to' on framing maps.

* here is more info about decoupage and a simple 'how to' is available here

R x

sunday treasure hunt

this weekend myself and my husband went to a local car boot. i wanted to find some frames to hang some pictures etc for a feature wall in my living room.and also some more vintage items for the shoppe. 

along with some bargain frames - i also came across this lovely handmade flower pressing - it's so sweet - i don't think i want to part with it! some other unique 'treasures' i found was some amazing stamp collecting ephemera -

i am thinking that i will keep these too for my feature wall. there are six in total and i got them for a bargain price of £3. i'm not exactly sure what these letters are - they look like they were sent out to stamp collectors to alert them of the new stamps available. look at Prince Charles on the right - doesn't he look young!

R x

ALL PICTURES -  MY OWN

feature walls & some of my dream items

this weekend, for my sins - i will be finishing stripping the dining room and repainting the walls and the ceiling. then i need to paint the fireplace, paint all the mahogany-esque furniture and re-fabric the cushions. after that i will be hanging the lovely chandelier my mum bought us for our wedding (long overdue as it was in 2009 but I didn't want to hang it till i have decorated - you don't put your earrings on before your LBD do you?!) then and only then can i concentrate on my dream wall feature. sadly all or most of these gorgeous items above will be sold on Etsy, but at least it will give me some inspiration to focus on during the decorating process.

 PHOTO FROM house to home

some ideas for creating a feature wall -

• you can use objects as well as framed pictures
• why not create a feature with some of your favourite paper ephemera,photos,postcards etc.. by pegging them to some string with miniature pegs
• mismatched antique mirrors
• create a 3D wall display collage of anything that takes your fancy from car boots, charity shops etc.
• hang an embroidered rug, blanket or tapestry
• empty frames look amazing as a feature display. also try hanging them with jewellery and other beautiful items pinned inside
• other items you can pick up for your feature wall is sheet music covers, record label covers, old posters and maps
• why not cover a whole wall with vintage pages from old encyclopedias and books

PHOTO FROM sixth street design school

some tips for creating your display -

• you do not have to use frames for your pictures - sometimes finding frames causes a delay in creating your wall, but why not just go without - it will still look just as good
• if you are using frames, please do not overlook old / vintage frames. you can repaint them to suit you and often the oldest most shabbiest look the best. also you will often find old frames with their original contents such as vintage photos and paintings
• the collage does not have to conform to any type of shape - unless the items are part of a set or all have the same theme then, they do tend to look better in a more structured display
• you can try a small area first such as a cloakroom wall or above your bathroom sink
•  be brave - if you like it then that's fine - it is your home after all!
• if you are still not sure you can create a collage within a large shadow box or old drawers and hang that up, if you don't like it then it's only one item to take down

PHOTO FROM lonadeanna.blogspot.com 

TOP IMAGE COLLAGE CREDITS -top left drkennedyjones 
                                            top right maisonpaulette
                                            bottom left malcolmstudioshop
                                            bottom middle cabinetoftreasures
                                            bottom right theperfektionist

decorating on a budget - anthropologie look for less

everybody loves Anthropologie don't they? but not everybody has their budget (i certainly do not). however all is not lost. i have found a really great website called fine craft guild and they have some fab tutorials for you to follow to 'anthro up your house' for less! i am hooked - i can't wait to try out the lettered drawers tutorial and it's even given me some ideas for my dining room - finally i am getting somewhere. did you see the fabric on the chair in the top picture? i am in love. take a look at the fine craft guilds article here

above pics all from Anthropologie

peanut butter smoothie

oh yes, and stuff the calories - it's good for you , energy boosting and filling ;)

nice thing to look at - vintage botanical print

i love this vintage botanical print from The National Archives UK the colours are amazing and i also love it because it was illustrated aboard a ship in 1846 - i love ships.

PHOTO VIA FLICKR

getting there & a lovely surprise

i am not quite sure why i didn't blog about this at the time as i was so excited!i was lucky enough, earlier this year to win a free ad space on the oh,hello friend blog - my all time favorite blog. i am sure you must have come across this amazing design blog before, but if you haven't here is a little info. it is run by the lovely Danni, a graphic designer based in California. aswell as running her blog she also has an etsy shop where she sells adorable jewellery. she is so incredibly talented and her posts are always amazingly creative and interesting.
it's so nice to actually win something especially something so unexpected. please go and take a look at here blog, you will surely be hooked :)

i am nearly there with the weddings page, i just need to list my new items to my shoppes (i am adding another eccomerce site soon but more on that later) and then i can create all of my links to purchase items. i am also going to be adding a page with lots of links to wedding d.i.y tutorials too. here is a link to the page but please be aware there is a long way to go so it doesn't look much yet!

Roseanna x