pinterest pick of the week...

Happy Friday! This week I thought I would start something new for Fridays and launch a regular post called 'Pinterest Pick of the Week!' Now generally I try and keep away from Pinterest during the day or I tend to get lured in by all the pretty pictures...but come the evening when all my chores are done I do like to have a little peek at the various and always inspiring collections. And so this post idea was born! Instead of picking just one image (so hard!) I thought I would share a favourite board and some of the 'pins' from it with you!

This weeks 'Pick' is from Marta Miranda and the board is called Moustaches, it is such an unusual and quirky collection of prints, jewelry, cards, cups and glasses! I have chosen just a few of my favourites below, it has been a difficult one! Please click on the links above to view the whole board (and image sources) or for more of Marta's collections...x

and my absolute personal favourite...

How cool is this cat?! He certainly is the cats pajamas with that 'tache...hope you enjoyed my favourites, which ones were yours? What do you think of the new weekly post, good idea? Or maybe it's just an excuse for me to spend more time on Pinterest...like I need it! Have a good weekend everyone x

littletree bakes (cooks)...butternut squash soup

 

Afternoon to everyone, I just couldn't resist sharing my delicious lunch with you today, a wonderfully creamy butternut squash soup...it is just amazing! It comes from the Philadelphia cookbook, which I think we got free when you bought so many packs of Philly...it has some surprisingly good recipes! This soup is the recipe that's had the most use because it's so simple to make and I love squashes! So this soup is ideal for the autumn and it also has some unusual ingredients such as cinnamon and nutmeg which may sound weird but they really add a unique flavour unlike anything else! For me it is the wonderful rich orangey colour that you know is going to be comforting, just what I needed for a grey day like this!x

littletree visits...Cath Kidston Cambridge

above images taken by littletree

So as most of you may know I was in Cambridge a few weekends ago and I just had to do a little post about the fabulous Cath Kidston shop they have there, it is huge! The store spreads over two shops, one with this beautiful old shop frontage and next door a more modern glass fronted window into the wonderful world that is Cath Kidston! I did try and sneak a few pictures inside but they didn't turn out too well...if you have been to the store you will know that it has been sectioned off into areas, such as the classic accessories, clothes, kitchen, craft, bathroom and kids. Each has it's own individual style all filled with lovely old and retro furniture as the shop fittings displaying the products, so if you're down Cambridge way I urge you to pop by even if it's just to window shop! I have picked a few of my favourite stationary and crafty bits from the recent collection over on the website for you to enjoy below!

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above images from Cath Kidston

thank you cards...

So this is some of what I've been working on this morning with my newly drawn, scanned-in and re-touched doodles that took most of yesterday to do! I'm really pleased with the layout, lettering etc I just can't decided what looks best...plain black & white, coloured background with just white/coloured lettering or white background with coloured letters? I like all of them! I would love some thoughts...x

Etsy designs...

I haven't posted any of my own designs in a while so I thought I would share with you some ideas I have been working on which may turn into possible prints to sell on Etsy...I had thought of the tea pouring into two cups ages ago and it has now finally made it out of my sketchpad as a little doodle into a proper design! And with 'tea for two' I had to design something cake related didn't I? So 'cake for one' seemed appropriate, because everyone wants a great big wedge of cake to themselves once in a while! What do you think? x

print and pattern is back!

How did I miss that the lovely Bowie Style of Print and Pattern was back from her summer break! Last week I was so busy with the made-it market posts that I completely forgot and only checked it today to find lots of amazing posts to feast my eyes on! I feel a cup to tea is in order to keep me sustained as I wade my way thought all the loveliness...x

littletree features...Mel Made This

Happy Monday to everyone! Hope you have all had a lovely weekend? I thought I would start the week with something bright and cheery but there is a little story behind this post...On Friday I had a very nice e-mail from Mel of the wonderful Mel Made This, she had popped by my blog here and wondered if I was interested in her work for a possible post? Well this is the first such e-mail I have ever received here at littletree 'headquarters' and was of course delighted to say yes, although it wasn't a hard decision because her work is so amazing! 

Of course you know I'm a sucker for anything vintage, fabric, furniture, kitchenalia...the list is endless! But I particularly love Mel's work because, as she says herself, 'I believe strongly in re-cycling furnishings wherever possible, and complimenting them with the use of modern trimmings and fittings to restore pieces to a new glory.' This ethos is really up my street, I always spy bits of run down furniture, fabrics etc and want to buy them all and give them a new lease of life, but I would just end up with a house packed full of stuff because I'd want to keep it all! 

Anyway here is a selection of Mel's lovely furniture and accessories, I love the fabric wrapped chairs, such a clever idea for sad, battered old chairs other than paint! Plus who wouldn't want one of the little lavender filled 'gonks' to keep your clothes smelling delightful and make you smile? If your interested in seeing more of Mel Made This (how could you not be!) then please pop by her website or Etsy shop, she is also exhibiting at the show Handmade in Britain in London at the end of October. Thanks again Mel! x

all pictures from Mel

made-it market...Sconch Textiles

 All images from the Sconch Textiles Shop

Ok so this will be my last post about the made-it market, I hope you have enjoyed the posts this week! These little beauties are from the wonderful world of Sconch Textiles, don't you just love the pretty vintage feel about all the products? I think I am rather in need of a cute crochet phone cover with is little woolly corsage! There is more to look at over on the website plus a lovely blog packed with interesting finds and features. Hope you all have a lovely weekend, it's meant to be nice here in the uk so I'm keeping my fingers crossed...hope it's nice where you are! xox

littletree discovers...Grace Bonney in Living Etc

It's magazine delivery time in my house as all the new months publications land on my doormat and in this months Living Etc (october issue) I spotted this little sidebar interview with Grace Bonney...In case you didn't know Grace Bonney is the genius behind the fabulous Design Sponge blog and now book! I have been reading the Design Sponge blog for a few years now and it is always packed with amazing interiors, before and after pieces, artists and designers, food, diy projects and so much more! The book hasn't been launched here in the uk yet but you can pre-order on Amazon, (click link above) I have posted a few sneak peek pages from the book below...in the mean time get on over to the blog for your quick fix of design goodness!

above pictures from Design Sponge

made-it market...the patchwork peacock

Hello to all, more posts about the lovely made-it market! Today this is a little post about one of my favourite stalls from Saturdays market called The Patchwork Peacock by Anna Dean. Anna has posted a lovely picture and link to my blog on her Facebook page so I thought I would return the favour and post some pictures of her lovely work to share with you today! As you can see from the lovely peacock above and the beautiful products below they are all made from a fab mix of vintage fabrics, buttons and beads. I particularly love the patchwork cushions, they have that 'make do and mend' feel but with the funkiest fabrics! At the moment there is only a Facebook page to view products but Anna will be opening a new Etsy shop on the 26th of September! I know I will be stopping by for opening day!

all images from the patchwork peacock