A Wedding Shower Present Idea

Spring is just around the corner and that means so is wedding season.  I have an idea that I've been meaning to share with you for a bridal shower gift.  Long ago a friend gave me this idea and I thought it was fantastic.  Funny thing is I have never actually given it.  I have been in the lull between attending showers for my friends and attending showers for my children and their friends and haven't been to very many showers for years so I had no place to use the idea.  However being the helpful person that I am, I thought I would pass it on to you.



Wouldn't it be fun to give a set of seasonal tea towels to a young bride in your life.  It would be a practical gift, one that doesn't matter if there are duplicates, and one that would help the new couple add a bit of decoration to their home.  The trickiest part of this gift is that you need to plan ahead.  As each celebration rolls around then you need to buy a few tea towels - maybe even in the sales after the special day is over.  As the year progresses and you collect each celebration you end up with a complete collection to give.   You could also collect other things such as placemats, serviettes, and napkin rings to help set a festive table.

I took some pictures of my seasonal tea towels - because honestly what's a post without photos -  but when I got my tea towels out to take pictures of them I realized that many of them are past their finest and are a bit worn and faded.  Anyway it gives you the idea.
The different tea towels I have include one for St. Patrick's Day and several for spring/Easter.

I don't really have any for the summer per se, but I have a back-to-school tea towel, and of course, several Hallowe'en tea towels.

I also have many Christmas tea towels and one Valentine's Day one.

What seasonal tea towels do you have?  Wouldn't they have been a fun gift to receive when you were first starting out.

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Inside Razzberry Bazaar in Tynemouth

Some snaps I took inside Razzberry Bazaar - one of the more unique shopping experiences in Tynemouth. I wouldn't want to dust or stocktake in here, I don't often buy but I always look because looking is really the journey in this shop for me!

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Happy Shabby Chic Valentines Day 2012 + Free Notepaper Download!

Wishing all my readers at I Heart Shabby Chic a most fantastic Valentines Day whatever you may be up to! I hope that there are some proposals in store for some of you today or at the very least some suprises. When a romantic partner springs something you never thought possible it can renew faith in your relationship tenfold. So enjoy yourselves out there! (Ring from Sparklethots)

As a little gift I am offering free download of my printable Valentine notepaper (in case there are some who fancy writing a last minute note!). To download just view the larger image and right click save to your computer. A5 size and high resolution. Happy scribbling!

P.S. Here are the rules - you are able to download this for personal use only. It is copyright protected and cannot be resold or claimed as your own. It cannot be offered for free elsewhere. If you wish to link to this post instead then please do. Thank you!

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Shabby Chic Valentines Day Gift Ideas 2012

 

Time for a round up of some shabby chic inspired Valentine's Day gifts and where to get them. Here are my selections from some of my favourite stores! The above are glass love tokens from Daisy Park.

Wooden heart frame or mirror from Daisy Park

Elephant art print from Black Baroque

Necklace Red Rose Flower from Woodland Belle

Eco all natural soy heart crayons from Earth Grown Crayons

Hand stamped vintage lovers sppons from Jessica N Designs

Paper Cone Wreath Kit from The Olde Salt Box

Valentine Packaging Kit by Somerset Market

Stay tuned for my posts on Valentine cards for this year and Valentine gift tags, all selected by me!

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Shabby Chic Christmas from Through The Cottage Door

Christmas is closing in on us and the lovely people at Through The Cottage Door have sent me this great video to get us all in the mood. Below are some of my favourite products from their store...

 

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SEW SPECIAL

Whenever my mom is in town, I always like to take advantage of her amazing sewing skills.  

Okay, "Take advantage of" sounds a bit selfish. 

What I mean is, I always beg her to teach me more about sewing.  

I had a vision in my head of a special birthday present I wanted to make for a good friend of mine.  

I knew my mom could help me make that vision a reality. 

Here is the reality.....

It seemed like such a simple project to me.  It didn't turn out to be quite as simple as I anticipated, 

but it involved fairly simple sewing skills and it took my mom and I about one hour to complete.  

I must admit, I was basically her assistant on this project.  

I did the designing, cutting and watching, she did the sewing. 

We lined it with this leftover wool fabric I had on hand. 

Look familiar?  It was also used to cover these wingback chairs.  

And I used some to make this ruffle wreath.

My friend is hard to buy for (even though she would disagree).

I knew she would appreciate a handmade gift.

I gave it to her on Monday and she loved it (or at least she said she did). ha ha. 

It took the front of a felted wool sweater to make the wristlet.

I already have the back of the sweater cut out and ready to go.

Now that I know how to make one, I think I'll give it a shot on my own.

Sharing with:

Savvy Southern Sytle

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Ginger Snap Crafts

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Shabby Chic Christmas Card Round-Up

I don't even know how I feel about the Christmas Card list this year - I've been taking online classes with Feng Shui and clutter clearer, Marie Claire Carlyle, and one of the tips I've picked up is either dump the list or seriously cut through it so that it's only you're nearest and dearest receiving cards from you. Therefore, does that mean we can focus on handmade ones, the more personal approach? 

I have found this lovely card (abaove) on Folksy for £2.50.

This cutie comes from Inkcurable...

Cute Etsy offering...

From Stampin Up!

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Shabby-esque Christmas Selection at Unique Boutique

 

Just been having a little search around Unique Boutique. There are several shabby-esque goodies on sale and if you like what you see here you might also like their sister company, Unique Home Stays - check out some of the places for your post-christmas escape/rest period!

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Etsy Round-up of Shabby Chic Christmas Gifts

I've just been doing a round-up of some lovely shabby chic related Christmas gifts from Etsy. This is a gorgeous wrap knit from Ayca Hoser.

Shabby gift box set from Ember.

Beautiful hair comb from Lonkoosh.

 

Flower bib necklace from Beauty Spot.

Handmade hair comb from 2007Musarra.

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Showing Some Shabby Christmas Love for DotComGiftShop

Metal Wreath Christmas Card Holder

No one needs reminding that Christmas is on the way but I find myself thinking about gifts today and no online window shop is complete without a visit to Dot Com Gift Shop Hope you like the selection I have picked out. How are things going for your own Christmas shopping? Started? ...Finished?!!!

Merry Christmas Doormat

Wooden Rocking Horse 

Hanging Decoration in White

Decoupage Candles

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Top 10 Shabby Chic Christmas Decorations

 

 Compiling a Top 10 of everything can be hard - so much to choose from! Here are my current Top 10 ideas for Christmas decorations starting with this Wooden Hanging Dove set from Carol Ridler at Daisy Park.

Secondly this Metal Gold Christmas Tree hanger from Country Moon

Third is this fantastic and novel Rusty Bucket Advent Calendar available at Meggy Moos.

For my fourth choice I have picked this red parcel stack from Melody Maison.

Fallen in love with number five - Partridge in a Pear Tree, another available at Melody Maison see above link...

Great Felt Advent Calendar which you can find at Freddie Freckle.

Another Freddie Freckle product - cute Scandanavian Heart Box Set.

Striking snowflake decoration from Vintage Shabby Chic...

Gingham Christmas Set from Denbee Country Crafts.  

White wicker heart also from Denbee...

And that concludes my Top 10 shabby chic decorations 2011 - stay tuned for further Top 10s x x x

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