Guest Post: Oval Soul*

Sara Baillie is my kind of girl.  Obsessed with vintage patterns, prints and designs, she loves rummaging in bric-a-brac stores and antique fairs then revamping her finds.  When she asked if I would like to feature her gorgeous cushions on my blog, I took one look at her online shop and was immediately sold.  

Gorgeous, jewel-bright colours, with bold prints and stunning got-to-touch-them-trimmings, these cushions have a modern-vintage vibe and I am in love.

Sara is a freelance writer and lives in Birmingham with her husband Max and her adorable son, Dexter, who's 2.  She's an inspiring woman to know; she loves a good slab of homemade cakes and enjoys a bit of a dance round her living room from time to time.  However, despite being a working mother, with another baby on the way, she also manages to create beautiful home accessories which she sells alongside a few vintage goodies that she unearths on her travels.

Oval Soul was born when Sara was looking for cushions for her home that would add a bit of zing to a room; she wanted bright, on-trend patterns with beautiful trimmings.  Understated is not the Oval Soul way!  As well as fabulous design, Sara also wanted quality fabrics and materials and, like many of us, it was important to her that they be manufactured in the UK. 

It occurred to Sara that she couldn't be the only one struggling to find such items and having put together a few ideas, she created a selection of prototypes and started to sell them at craft fairs.  Unsurprisingly, they were very well-received and Sara was soon producing more and more to meet an increasing demand.  Very quickly, it became apparent that Sara's personal sewing machine wasn't going to keep up; especially as it was important to ensure consistency across the range.  

A small, local, manufacturing company just down the road from Sara makes the cushions now which makes Sara very happy.  Having grown up in Birmingham, surrounded by closed factories and failed industries, she likes the idea of a nice group of ladies at the factory sewing her cushions.  I love that Oval Soul is supporting the local textile industry and can confirm that those nice ladies at the factory are doing a stirling job!  The cushions are exceptionally well made and the beautiful trimmings that Sara selects are very sturdily attached (totally on my radar now following the disappointing shedding of pompoms from my gorgeous, but shoddily made, Cath Kidston tapestry cushion).  Sara uses fabrics and trimmings from UK companies and specially selected feather and fibre inserts also made here in the UK.  

Not only are the cushions bedecked with silky tassels or fluffy pompoms, they are also reversible.  A genius idea, Sara wanted to achieve two looks from one cushion.  The large floral prints are my favourite, but the three cushions I chose are backed with the most amazing geometric prints in contrasting colours and it's difficult to decide which side to show off! 

Bright yellow fabric, hot pink pompoms with a monochrome geometric pattern on the reverse.  Stunning.

Love this yellow geometric floral with peacock blue trim.  Swoon.

If you fancy treating yourself to a few new beauties, Sara has offered a generous 25% discount to my blog friends; just use the code HOMEBIRD25 at checkout.  My cushions are seriously gorgeous but you don't have to choose the same ones as me, you can switch trimmings, fabrics and colours.  Pop over and have a look.  You will also find napkins, tea towels, cards and a few one-off vintage items.  Let me know what you choose! 

Thank you, Sara, for affording me the opportunity to review your cushions and do let me know when gorgeous Dexter's little sister arrives!  :)

Nicki 

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* for those of you wondering, Sara's brand name was inspired by a Sylvia Plath poem about balloons.

Follow Sara on both twitter and instagram 

Book Loving: Holiday Reads (part 1)

As well as picking out a crafty project or two for my holidays I love having the opportunity to choose my holiday reads.  This year I read six, quite different, books but first I'm going to tell you about the book I read just before our holiday:

The Ice Cream Girls, by Dorothy Koomson

I've read a few of Dorothy Koomson's books and am not a massive fan.  I picked up The Ice Cream Girls in Tesco purely because I'd heard of the TV series and was disappointed to have missed it (plus Tesco had their usual multi-buy offer).  

However, once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down.  I loved it and stayed up until the wee hours (on a school night!) to finish it.  Don't you just love it when that happens?! 

Disguised as chick-lit, this book is undeniably a thriller.  The story starts in the 80s and is about a creepy, slimy teacher who separately, and subtly, seduces two of his teenage students until they each find themselves in abusive, destructive relationships with him.  For both of the impressionable teenagers, this man is their first love, their first sexual relationship, and they relish his apparent adoration and attention.  Very soon, though, they see the man for what he really is and both girls become trapped in abusive, destructive relationships with him.  Neither of the girls knows about the other until, one day, he introduces them and, cruelly, plays them off against each other.  An horrific event occurs and the teacher is murdered; the reader is then left to work out what actually happened.  The tale flits enticingly from the past (the 80s) to the present day and we hear both sides of the story from each of the girls.  The plot is believable and the girls are likeable - growing up in the 80s, I can relate to them.  The teacher is one of those men that you love to hate - the subtlety and slow pace of his abuse is entirely believable.  I was surprised to enjoy this so much.  Don't write it off; I urge you to give it a whirl.

Laura's Handmade Life, by Amanda Addison

Knit and read at the same time, it's not all bad.

The type of book that you don't have to concentrate on AT ALL.  I finished this in an afternoon.  It was OK, not one I'd recommend but if you find your hands on a copy then you may as well read it.  Bit of a cliche, not especially likeable characters and you could see the fire coming a mile off. (Couldn't you?  Oops, sorry.)  I didn't love the 'alluring' ex at all and was constantly irritated by him.  I did love the stitching references, however, and the book allowed me to indulge in my personal fantasies of staying home in my pretty little cottage and stitching all day instead of doing my boring office job. 

The Poison Tree by Erin Kelly 

More easy-reading but I loved the way this was written.  It was my favourite read of the holiday.  Unfussy writing with bohemian characters I could relate to and admire (Biba = dislike, Rex = love).  A cool and believable story about a summer with a group of people I'd have loved to spend time with myself.  Friendship, romance, mystery and nostalgia make this a fantastic read. Another intriguing murder story with a highly satisfactory ending. I very much enjoyed this book and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. 

The Power Trip, by Jackie Collins 

Rich, over-sexed and obnoxious characters.  Loved it.

What's a holiday without a Jackie Collins novel?  The usual suspects appear in this book; billionaires, movie stars, supermodels, sports heros and the token gay boys.  This time, they all head out on an exclusive yacht for a luxury party to celebrate the supermodel's birthday and end up held hostage by a clan* of pirates (*unsure of the collective noun for pirates - must google it**).  Everyone's attractive.  They all have fantastic bodies; amusingly, they have either massive willies or huge boobs.  The characters have sex anywhere and everywhere.  There's a hot rough diamond of a man and a simpering politician who sounds like a right arse.  It's typical Jackie Collins and I loved it.  I especially loved reading the more explicit sections aloud to my [easily embarrased] husband, who couldn't believe the trash I was reading.  It made us laugh out loud.  Hugely entertaining and an absolute must-read.  Not one for the prudish but your grandma would secretly love it.

What have you read lately?  Anything I'd like?  Please let me know in the comments box below.

Nicki 

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** Googled it; it's a crew of pirates. Or a mutiny.  Mutiny's my fave.

Launch of a Weekly Feature: Book Loving

I read.  A lot.  I finish at least a book at week; very often two books.  I'd choose a novel over the television in a heartbeat and I read, without fail, every single day.  

I have been reading like an addict since I was a teeny tot.  There were obsessions with Topsy & Tim, Enid Blyton, Little Grey Rabbit, Dodie Smith, Noel Straetfeild, Sweet Valley High and Virginia Andrews in my youth.  

From a very young age, mum bought me a book per week.  I'd choose one at the front of the supermarket and sit in the trolley (or later, walk around the store, bumping into random people and objects), nose buried in the pages, as Mum completed the boring task of our weekly food shop.

As a child, I enjoyed trips to the library more than any other shop, particularly as we walked through the recreation ground and stopped at the swing park on the way.  We lived in an historic market town and the 16th Century market house served as our library.  

The Market House.  The library was upstairs.
photo source:  wikipedia.  I wish someone had thought to remove the rubbish bags, pre-snap! 

I remember the building vividly.  I adored it, even at the age of 7 or 8.  I remember sunlight pouring through the large leaded windows, warming the room as I knelt on the polished oak floor and picked out a selection of beautiful hardback books.  I liked how quiet it was and I loved the heady, slightly fusty, smell of well-handled paper and ink.  I enjoyed watching the librarian hand-stamp my chosen books with the return date and would put each book carefully into my mum's cream string bag before dragging it home (I insisted on carrying it, even though it was enormous, mis-shapen and heavy).  Back home, I'd sit on the kitchen counter and read to my mum as she cooked dinner.  Brer Rabbit was my very favourite and I remember us laughing a lot over his antics.  Those were truly happy days. 

♥♥♥♥♥♥

It's fiction I love best, although I relished every single one of Torey Hayden's books from her days as a child psychologist.  Nigel Slater's 'Toast' is an all-time favourite, too.  

 I love crime stories, thrillers and horrors. I have read and re-read many of the classics.  I read the occasional piece of erotic (grim word) fiction and I often pick out a regular old-fashioned, feel-good novel:  the Miss Read stories of Fairacre and Thrush Green are as cosy as a book can get.  The Persephone range of neglected female writers of our past is a new favourite discovery (love Dorothy Whipple) and I have devoured all of the Alexander McCall-Smith books about the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.  I'll read almost anything, if it is well-written and suits my current mood.  

I haven't mentioned 'chick lit' yet for a reason.  I hate the term 'chick lit'.  I think it's a derogatory expression and most often used, scathingly, by individuals who have an inflated sense of self-worth.  People who, actually, don't read very much at all.  I adore a bit of light-hearted modern fiction every now and then.  I find it easy to read, entertaining and - very often - amusing.  I agree that there are some dreadful examples but isn't that the case for every genre (don't get me started on James Patterson)?  As I have said already, my pre-requisite for a book is that it must be well-written and suit my current mood - Adele Parks, Jane Green, Lisa Jewell and Sophie Kinsella very often hit the spot .  

♥♥♥♥♥♥

And so,  I am launching my first weekly feature, entitled, 'Book Loving'.  I'll share my thoughts on the book/s that I've read that week and would love you to tell me about the books you've read too.  I'm always happy to do a book swap, if you fancy.  Don't expect great long reviews from me - it'll be a paragraph or two about what the book's about and what I liked/disliked about it.

Let the book loving begin!  

Recipe: Lemon and Mint Biscuits

Lemon and Mint biscuits 

Just lately I seem to have a constant supply of lemon and mint in the house.  Not surprising, I suppose, considering it's one of my favourite flavour combinations (Five Valleys lemon and mint cordial is amazing if you haven't tried it; it's a store cupboard staple in this house.)

J, my stepson, was coming to stay for the weekend on Friday and I like to have something freshly baked for his stay, if I can.  Given the huge pile of lemons in the fruit bowl and an overflowing herb crate of mint I thought I'd try the biscuit recipe I found in my 'Secrets of Aga Puddings' book by Lucy Young.

They are easy to make and taste quite sophisticated (if you know what I mean).  You could certainly make them to accompany a syllabub, mousse or fruit salad as a special dessert but it's also nice to have a couple with a strong coffee and an episode of 'Stenders if that's your bag.

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Lemon & Mint Biscuits 

Ingredients

175g softened butter

Finely grated zest of 1 lemon and 2tbsp lemon juice

2 tbsp of chopped fresh mint

110g caster sugar

225g plain flour

25g demerara sugar

Method

Beat together the butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, mint and caster sugar in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Stir in the flour, bringing the mixture together with your hands and knead lightly until you have a smooth dough.  (My dough was quite sticky so I needed to liberally flour my hands and the kitchen counter.)

Roll the mixture into two sausage shapes, about 6" long each.  Roll the dough in the demerara sugar to evenly coat, wrap in foil or baking parchment (not cling film; the mixture will stick) and then chill in the fridge until firm.

Cut the dough into slices about 5mm thick and place on a baking sheet that you've greased and/or lined with baking parchment*.  Allow a little room for the biscuits to spread. 

AGA baking:  Bake on the grid shelf of the floor of the baking over for 12-15 minutes until pale golden brown.  (For a two-oven model slide onto the grid shelf on the floor of the roasting oven with the cold sheet on the second set of runners.)

Conventional oven:  bake in a preheated oven at 160 ºC/140ºC fan or Gas mark 3 for 10-12 minutes.

Lift the biscuits onto a cooling rack and leave to cool completely before scoffing delicately nibbling. 

*Here's where I sing the praises of my new cooking essential:  Bake-O-Glide.  I have only been using it since we got the new stove but I wish I'd bought some when we had our regular oven.  It's a reusable tin liner and comes either ready-cut (for roasting tins, baking sheets etc) or as a single piece for you to cut to size.  Nothing ever sticks to it and it's dishwasher-friendly.  Can definitely recommend you try some if you don't use it already.

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Let me know if you make them!  They went down quite well here and I'm thinking of other flavours I can add to the biscuit mix.  Lavender and rose are obvious choices for me!  Orange would also be delicious.  If you're not keen on mint then you could easily leave it out - they would still be lovely.  

Nicki 

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Guest Post: Top Home Decor Trends for 2013

Guest Post

Whether you lean to the more modern or the more traditional look for your home, updating your interior can at times be a little bit daunting. We’ve rounded up the best interior trends of the year to help you re-think your surroundings:

Everything emerald

Named Pantone’s colour of the year, this vibrant hue has decorators in a frenzy. But if emerald leaves you feeling green, don’t fret. Alternatively look out for bright, saturated reds and blues inspired by the jewel tone trend.

Where to use it: accent walls, lacquer lamp bases, fabric on sofas and chairs.

Wood, reincarnated

Due to the increasing popularity of sustainable design, reclaimed wood is already a firm favourite among those in the know. The rustic look of solid, worn-in wood is worth an investment: it will wear much more gracefully than any particle board imposter.

Where to use it: for a kitchen table and chairs with a great story behind them, or as an unconventional choice of flooring.

Luxurious metals

Heavy, opulent brass is very much in vogue this year, though gold (or gold-effect materials for those on a more realistic budget) makes a nice alternative if you're looking for a more polished look.

Where to use it: try a classic approach with decorative accents like frames and bookends, or look out for mixed media furniture like bookshelves or coffee tables. 

Patterns, prints and texture

Patterns and prints are a fantastic way to enjoy this year’s vibrant colours without reaching sensory overload. Texture offers a similar effect for fabric furniture. Wallpaper is also back in a big way, with great designs emerging as an alternative to daring paint jobs.

Where to use it: try animal prints for wall hangings, rugs and throws; unusual textures for rugs and sofas, or consider papering an accent wall.

Retro chic

Between last year’s Jubilee celebrations and this year’s obsession with all things 1920s, vintage-inspired designs are all the rage. While kitchen trends give a nod to retro kitsch with appliances doubling as decor, you’ll find a more sophisticated art deco feel in prints and antique furniture.

Where to use it: display retro appliances in a sleek, modern kitchen to create contrast, or fashion an opulent look by placing an antique sideboard against a backdrop of deco-inspired wallpaper.

Remember, if you're going to undertake any ambitious DIY as part of your home spruce-up, be sure to check that your home insurance cover includes accidental damage in case of mishaps.  Axa provides competitive home insurance - click here to access their website.

Happy decorating!

Staying in a villa in Spain: How to holiday the Homebird way!

We are just back from a blissful week in Spain.  The sun shone every single day and we did nothing but hang around at the villa and relax.  It was perfect.  Here are a few of my personal tips for a fun and happy holiday:

'Our' Spanish villa:  the breakfast terrace

• Pre-holiday, loftily declare that you will only eat salads and fruit whilst away because 'it will be too hot' to eat anything stodgy.  Throw a paddy on day three about having 'arsing salad' for dinner again and drag husband out for paella and chips. 

• When packing your suitcase, spend a disproportionate amount of time pondering which craft projects to take.  Luxuriate in the prospect of 7 whole days stretching ahead of you where you have nothing to do but sit around and stitch. Happily fill your case with 30 (only small!) balls of yarn and a selection of hooks (in case inspiration strikes).   Wake in the middle of the night feeling mildly ridiculous for having a case full of yarn and remove it all except two.  Spend entire holiday pining for the stuff you left behind.

Knitting, but I wanted to crochet my sunburst blanket.   Sad face.

• If your suitcase doesn't have a 'heavy' sticker slapped on at check-in, you've forgotten something.

• Don't let being on a remote mountain in Spain curb your spending or IG habits.  3G capability will enable you to maintain peak performance and return home to a sackful of lovely things including yarn, embroidery thread, books and bags.  

The shopping hub of Frigiliana.

• Pack six dresses but only wear two of them.  Pack a similar amount of t-shirts and wear just one.  Resolve to take fewer clothes next year. 

• Buy a hat at the airport, forgetting you look middle-aged and dumpy in them.

Obligatory departure lounge hat purchase.

• Burn legs, arms and chest in the sun on day one and spend the remainder of the holiday in the shade.  Watch dispiritedly as all tanned skin peels off on the weekend that you're home and return to work on Monday as pale as when you left. 

• Spend at least 30 minutes per day dancing around in bikini bottoms, wafting away a variety of insects.  Yell occasionally for good measure.

• Ice-cream o' clock is 3pm.  Bacardi-coke o'clock is 6pm and hourly thereafter until you start to feel dizzy.

• Cover entire body in thick layer of insect repellent before bed and realise, in the nick of time, that you are asphyxiating your husband.  Hastily open a window.  Repeat each evening.  

• A flip-flop in the hand makes an excellent insect swat.  Havianas are particularly springy and produce a satisfying whack noise. 

The view.   Look, no neighbours!

• Remind husband several times a day that swimming in the pool is no substitute for a shower with soap.

• Accept that there is no way to mount a lilo elegantly. 

• Bikini bottoms become looser when wet.  Discover this when inadvertently flashing husband upon leaping into the pool.  (Prepare self for lots of wheezy laughter from husband and resist temptation to punch him.)

• A tiled floor becomes very hot in the midday sun.  Temporarily forget this and deliver drink to your holiday companion bare-footed.  Perform impromptu comedy dance and resist temptation to throw said beverage over husband as he doubles up with laughter.

• Deal with the fact that reading outside (with a boozy drink) as the sun sets will feel like a distant memory the second you download your first work email.  Start planning next year's holiday.

Reading by sunset.  Perfection.

Nicki 

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