handmade with love linen cushions in store!

I feel like I have been caught up in a whirlwind of media possibilities of late.  We have had a pinterest page for The Drill Hall Emporium for a while now (see it here), maintained magically by mum.  We also have a Facebook page which is such an instant place to receive feedback.  And now we have just joined Instagram!  And can you get any more instant than Instagram? I feel a little crazed but then again, when you are inspired by beautiful objects and images, the more creative media outlets the better, right?

Anyway enough reflection on the changing times, lets go back to basics.  Mum has been busy again pouring her skills into these linen cushions. 

This Union Jack inspired cushion is an absolute one-off creation at this stage.  Isn't it gorgeous?  And isn't mum clever?
 

And she also made these Swiss Army inspired cushions using alpaca wool for the grey cross in the centre. 

There are two only of this design.  Now, how do I put these images on Instagram?  Help anyone???

Until next time,

new in store! cushions with antique linen fragments...

Look at what my clever mum has been up to, making these gorgeous linen cushions for the store!  She has created a window effect looking through onto an antique linen fragment, I think the mix of textures and colours is just divine. 

At the moment, there are only two cushions of each design available.  All have quality feather inserts. 

 

 

I bought this linen a few years ago overseas.  I am not sure of its origins, whether it is perhaps French or English?  The red ticking is complimentary and a bit unexpected which is why it works. 

This is the other cushion design available, it is made using an entirely different linen fragment, a brighter red colour. 

 

These have a more neutral ticking border and the very outer border is 19th century handwoven linen in a white.  

I like that each central panel is different, the bottom cushion depicts a cornucopia shaped posy of flowers.  I will be on the hunt for more unusual antique linen on my next overseas buying trip. 

 

Altogether different are these vintage chinoiserie linen cushions in soft purple hues.  If you like these cushions you must check out my mum's (AKA Bonsai Queen's) chinoiserie pinterest board.   

 

 

Until next time, 

some of my favourite Pinterest pins this week...

Image from here

 

As you may already know I happily confess to a healthy addiction to Pinterest.  I am even more so hooked then when I last gushed about it in October and December last year.  There are so many beautiful images such as this picture of a French chair in front of a carved blue grey French cupboard, above. You can check out my ever-growing pin boards here.  I love looking at what other people like, you get an idea of what inspires people.  In fact, of the pinners I follow I can generally guess who has pinned it from the image alone. 

 

Image from here

For example, as soon as I saw this image of pink and cream roses in blue glass bottles, I instantly knew that it was from my good blogging friend Ria.  She pins the most beautiful images, from all aspects of life - animals, interiors and even the humble preserve jar of which she has dedicated an entire board!  Not to mention her "oh dear oh deer" board, just for deers!  How sweet.

Image from here 

Just as I knew that this casual outdoor dining image was from the gorgeous Ria.  It is bang on her style, relaxed yet so beautiful, not to mention inspiring.  You can see Ria's Pinterest boards here.

Image from here. 

And I just knew that the above image was pinned by none other than my mum, aka in the Pinterest world as Bonsai Queen, who has a passion for English cottage gardens.  You can see her pin boards here, they will take you all around the world where you will spend quite a bit of time in Japan studying the art of bonsai!  And admiring bridges, tree houses and gypsy caravans, of course.

 

Image from here

And finally, back to Ria who pinned this quote, so simple and true.  I have a friend who is going through a very hard time at the moment, and I think about how important it is to enjoy the here and now and the love around us.  To not take for granted a smile from a stranger or a daily goodbye kiss.  I saw another quote that went along the lines of "never let the things you want make you forget the things you have".  Again a reminder to appreciate the things that are good in our lives just that little bit more. 

Until next time,

the world of pinterest! and amazing kitchens

Where have I been living?  Why has it taken me so long to find Pinterest?  This is what I am now asking myself after my recent discovery of this online pinboard where you can organise and share things you love.  I think vaguely I have come across it over the last year.  But not so much that I have put too much time in to scanning all of the amazing images pinned by seemingly like minded interior lovers!

As you may know my kitchen is complete, although I could imagine one day in a few years giving the cupboards a change of colour.  But I still love looking at other kitchens!  And if I were looking for inspiration I would definitely head to Pinterest for a fix.  Look at these industrial kitchens that I found!



I love the over sized pendant lighting in this kitchen, and the brick walls.  How fabulous!  But there is so much more to see on Pinterest then interiors.  I am headed back there now to drool a little more.

And guess what?  The Drill Hall Emporium has been pinned quite a bit!  That makes me feel very special.

Until next time,