Papillon and Peony

Happy birthday Polly!

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 18:13:00 +0000

It's my best friends birthday today, so I thought I'd show you the birthday card I made for her. She had a Mexican themed birthday party earlier in the week so I used that as inspiration :)

Happy birthday Polly, I love you xxx

Tamara Lichtenstein

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 18:13:00 +0000

I've had rather a long break from blogging, I've been overwhelmed with work, sorry! But I am back with some gorgeous work Tamara Lichtenstein, a 22 year old photographer from Texas.

I think I might have to spend some of my Christmas money on one of these, they are just stunning. I love her use of water and light.

Her dreamy prints are available from Etsy and there are hundreds more pictures on her Flickr. Which is your favourite?

Salted caramel hot chocolate

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 16:52:00 +0000

Salted caramel is one of my favourite things in the world, the saltiness and the sweetness is just so good together. Add that to a nice warm frothy mug of hot chocolate and you have something close to warm, wintery, sweet tooth heaven.

Makes 2 large mugs

Salted caramel sauce:

1 cup golden caster sugar

1/4 cup water

1 tsp treacle

1 knob butter

2 tbsp double cream

Big pinch of flakey sea salt

Heat the sugar and water in a pan. Keep stirring and watch closely until you're left with a dark golden brown, clear syrup. This should take over 10mins, so don't freak out if it takes a while. Add your teaspoon of treacle and continue to stir until you're left with a glorious dark nectar. Add the salt. Turn the heat right down and stir in the butter, followed by the cream. Put to one side.

Hot chocolate:

50g good quality dark chocolate

50g milk chocolate

1pint milk

Blitz the chocolate in a food processor until you're left with a fine, soft, chocolate gravel. Pop into a jug and put to one side. Heat the milk and just before it begins to boil, pour in the chocolate. Stir until totally melted.

Pour a few glugs of caramel into the bottom of the mugs, pour in the hot chocolate, top with whipped cream and drizzle with extra caramel.

Light a few candles and snuggle down with someone delicious.

Recipe from The Londonder

Curious Doodles

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 20:31:00 +0000

How cute are these DIY embroidered greetings cards by Curious Doodles?

Halloween costumes

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 18:44:00 +0000

Halloween is in just a few days and I've been looking around for costume inspiration.

This is my favourite ever.

Honeycomb balls

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 14:02:00 +0000

Paper honeycomb balls are perfect for decorating a party, a wedding or even just your home. I really want some, but you have to have at least a few for them to look good...and my room is already full of stuff!

Which are your fave?

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

In A Row

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 10:00:00 +0000

One of my favourite art prints of all time: In A Row by Annie Clark

Available here

Scalloped shorts

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 13:04:00 +0000

I followed the tutorial on page sixsixsix to make some scalloped shorts out of an old pair of jeans. What do you think?

Not perfect, but they make a pretty pair of shorts considering I was going to throw the jeans out!

Enjoying autumn

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 11:04:00 +0000

Is anyone else joining in with Joanna Goddard's weekly autumn challenges?

She has made a new series on her blog so that anyone can join in with her challenge to have more everyday adventures. Sounds like a good way to make sure you don't get those autumn blues...

The first is to not watch TV for a week, let's see how this goes.....

Sian Elin

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 11:22:00 +0000

A bit of Pinterest stalking the other day led me to Sian Elin. Sian is a Welsh surface pattern designer with a really lovely range of textiles influenced by the Islamic and Moorish architecture she saw on recent travels in Israel, India and the Mediterranean. I love her cushions most!

Ghana

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 21:52:00 +0000

Tomorrow, I will be on the plane to Ghana where I will be volunteering for 10 weeks. Can't promise there will be any posts until I'm back....enjoy your summer!

Terrifying canopy walk :(

xxx

Do you ever feel

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 16:22:00 +0000

like you could really do with one of these in your house? Filled with tissues, chocolate, chick flicks, and your best girlfriends?

Maybe with this written on the door to cheer you up before you head back into the real world?

from here via here

Retro American home

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:04:00 +0000

How incredible is Laura's summer house?

I am dying for this scalloped oven hood in my house!

xxx

Amandine Rose Designs

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 12:59:00 +0000

Amandine Rose Designs is the brand new Etsy shop of my friend and fellow blogger Amelia Edmonston.

Amelia is a super talented Book Art and Design graduate, whose feminine typographic work is some of my favourite ever. Her Etsy shop is going to feature prints and stationery, and it is well worth checking out, as well as her blog where you can see some of her inspiration and the work that goes on behind her designs.

Which is your favorite?

Paint chips

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 23:18:00 +0000

can be so useful.

There's loads of inspirational craft ideas going around using paint chips but these are my fave...

Pretty heart garland

Simple geometric wall art

An incredible triangle necklace

Has anyone done anything crafty with paint chips? How did it turn out?

Lulie Wallace

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 23:05:00 +0000

I officially LOVE Lulie Wallace (site and shop)

xxx

Made by Julene

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 15:58:00 +0000

Julene Harrison is a British illustrator and designer who specialises in paper cuts. She not only has an Etsy shop where she sells laser cuts of the most popular designs, but she also creates commissions. And gorgeous commissions they are too!

I was lucky enough to have one of these beautiful paper cuts custom made for my 21st birthday. I told Julene the images I wanted, and I chose my favourite quote of all time. What do you think of the results?

Can you believe that Julene cuts these all out by hand? Such painstaking work, but such beautiful results.

xxx

You look just lovely

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 17:08:00 +0000

Just a little something I made to give me confidence whenever I look in the mirror

Mademoiselle Yo

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 22:38:00 +0000

Just some geometric stationery inspiration for you, courtesy of MademoiselleYo

xxx

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Thu, 31 May 2012 10:12:00 +0000

What a fabulous print

A parcel for my Polls

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:51:00 +0000

Being at uni and away from my besties from home is really tough. I miss them all the time. After my exams had finished last week, I was desperate to do something creative and decided to make my best friend Polly a nice parcel to cheer her up and let her know I miss her.

I got a old cardboard box which I decorated in various cuttings of wrapping paper, stickers, decoupage scraps and other crafty bits and bobs. Then I filled it with lots of treats - a nice pair of knickers, some pretty pins (she's a textiles student after all!), birdy stickers, friendship bracelet, and some yummy edible goodies.

Then I wrapped it all up and prettified it and waited in anticipation until she received it.

She loved it, and I loved making her happy :)

xxx

(I forgot to take any photos before I sent it, so these are courtesy of Polly's blog)

Creme Egg Cupcakes

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Mon, 28 May 2012 21:37:00 +0000

I am a sucker for Cadbury's Creme Eggs and for cupcakes. This is my idea of heaven.

via my baking addiction

Patchwork

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Mon, 28 May 2012 18:49:00 +0000

Last year I found this patchwork quilt that had belonged to my mum, who had made it with her mum when she was little. I love that it is still just as on trend 40 odd years later.....

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Somewhere over the rainbow...

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Mon, 28 May 2012 18:49:00 +0000

......lies a heart attack if these mouthwatering cakes are anything to go by!

Aren't they just stunning?

Whisk Kid's original rainbow cake

Rough edges rainbow cake

Incredible 28 layer rainbow cake

For something a little bit smaller...

...or simpler

I bought a box of Betty Crocker White Cake Mix especially to make one of these this summer. I'm so excited! Have any of you tried making one of these? Did it work?

xxx

Lusting over Liberty

noreply@blogger.com (Polly AB) — Sun, 27 May 2012 20:25:00 +0000

Liberty of London makes the most gorgeous fabric - bright, beautiful and detailed. I've been seeing quite a lot of Liberty fabrics incorporated into clothing recently and it reminded me just how lovely they are.

A few of my favourites....

How nice would these fabrics look as cushions?

I've seen this one in Urban Outfitters and it makes me to want to make some of my own and scatter them on my bed. If only....