Bicycle helmet

So I have found my dream bike, and what I think is the most adorable bicycle basket. This got me thinking about finding cool bike helmets because as much as I would rather not wear one, I realise it's better to be safe than sorry. After much searching I found this cool one from Yakkay.

"Yakkay 'smart one' is a new smart design that differs by its rounded ear straps and adjustment buckles in polished stainless steel. But the real difference shows when one of the many different covers is attached to helmet – It changes from its characteristics of a helmet to a hat and becomes an accessory to your outfit. You adjust the helmet to your head with a number of adhesive foam circles which have the added advantage that air can circulate between them. When you are riding your bicycle, air will be pushed into the helmet, and pleasantly cool down your head. In addition, your head will stay dry in rainy weather, as the covers are designed without open holes."

Flickr faves Sunday

I love Flickr. It's what got me started on my blog, so I wanted to highlight here some of my Flickr Favourites (view them all here). I will endeavour to bring you four of my Flickr Faves every Sunday from some of the most inspirational photographers on Flickr.

Pretty! Oh, so pretty! Some beautiful shots that I have favourited (clockwise from top left):

• I love the colour of the Girl Crush vintage camera from sfgirlbybay.
  
• Distressed labels on some vintage suitcases from Freudian Slips Vintage.
• Totally delightful jars of vintage threads found at Freudian Slips Vintage.
• One of my first Flickr Faves, vintage French ribbons in adorable colours from Such Pretty Things.

Plumo sale

Pretty bird hooks and beaded hangers are just a few of the pretty things in the Plumo sale.

Designers Guild sale

It's the time of year when all the sales start, so I have pulled together a few of the beautiful items on sale at Designers Guild.

Designers Guild - Sale by Torie Jayne on Polyvore.com

Bicycle basket

So as I said in one of my recent blogs ("I want to ride my bicycle!") I have been dreaming of owning a bicycle with a basket on the front. Well, I've found what I think is the most adorable bicycle basket: the Carrie bicycle basket from Design Stockholm.

"Carrie is an unique bike basket designed for the urban cyclist. The designer Marie-Louise Gustafsson selected the ornate material as it reminded her of the Swedish crochet tablecloths on which her grandmother used to serve afternoon tea. Also doubles as a shopping basket."

Bird hooks

My enchanted bird coat hanger hooks were a Christmas gift and I had been saving them until we decorated our cloakroom to put them in there. In the meantime, we finished decorating our bedroom and the wall opposite the bed seemed like the perfect place for them instead.

To get the look see my Polyvore set below:


Bird hooks by Torie Jayne featuring Monsoon accessories



Enchanted bird coat hanger hooks from Dot Com Gift Shop



Animal print bangle from Accessorize
Enamel bracelet, vintage find
Sequin cape, vintage find



Bird necklace from French Connection
Beaded necklace from Accessorize

Bunting

I recently helped to organize a tea party for my friend who is getting married in a few weeks. To decorate outside we made bunting to match the outdoor tableware that we were using. I designed and printed out different triangle patterned pieces, cut around the edges, punched holes in the top corners, and threaded them onto rick rack tape. Voila! Matching bunting.

Please feel free to use the bunting patterns below for personal projects. Just click on the pics below for a larger version ready for printing.

Bird door stop

The above cast iron door stop is from Anthropologie and has a really lovely weathered vintage effect to it. Sadly, they don't sell them anymore but Cast in Style sells them unpainted (see cast iron door wedge in rust effect finish below).

Sequin jars

Over the years, I've collected so many sequins that it seemed a shame to hide them away in boxes. So now they proudly sit on my window sill!

The two large jars are old bath cream jars from M&S. The small one is a spice jar from Habitat. I tied 3mm aqua ribbon around their necks to match the colour scheme in my craft room.

The butterfly clip was from Tchibo, but unfortunately they only stock items for a couple of weeks, if you're lucky!

Tin signs

I love the way old-fashioned tin signs evoke nostalgic memories and I have many dotted around my house. My garden metal sign hangs on the wall on the side of my house leading to the garden. There's also one hanging on my garden shed.


Next, I'd really like this No Junk Mail one above to hang on my front gate.

Curio Cabinet

I have finally got around to completely filling my curio cabinet and blogging about it. I always loved the print trays that my Dad used to hang around my parents' house and really wanted one myself. After seeing this curio cabinet on one of my many internet searches I had to have it for three reasons. One, because it has a door; two, because it is deep enough to hold a variety of nicknacks; and three, because of the vintage weathered look.

Here's what I decided to put in it:

• Black and white photos from State Express/Ardath cigarette cards available on ebay.
• Antique buttons from The London Vintage Fashion Textiles and Accessories Fair.
• White laser cut butterfly from Tchibo.
• Sequin dragonfly Christmas decoration from Gisela Graham.
• Small glass jars with beads and sequins in (please e-mail me for further details if you're interested as I have some to sell).

"I want to ride my bicycle!"

Over the past few sunny days I have been dreaming of having my own bicycle with a basket on the front, and cycling along the river wearing a tea dress with the wind in my hair. I've found my dream bike, too! The new Pastel Blue Pashley Poppy above. I love the old-fashioned look of it with the tan brown leather seat and the cream tyres.



It is also available in Blush Pink.

As the song by Queen says: "I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride it where I like"!

Trims

Recently I covered my tailor's dummy in trims, in shades of white, cream and aqua that I have collected over the years from antique fairs, markets and haberdasheries.

My favorite antiques fair to find trims and fabrics is The London Vintage Fashion Textiles and Accessories Fair, which is held every four to five weeks in London. It is a magical place with over a hundred vintage fashion clothing dealers, selling an array of handbags, linen, lace, embroidery, shoes, hats, gowns, chiffons, beaded dresses, textiles, needlework accessories, necklaces, gloves, trimmings, fashion magazines, and costume jewellery.

"The show is the brain child of Paola Francia-Gardiner and Alberto Ricca (Paola is the creative force and Alberto the organisational supreme). An experienced antique dealer, Paola used to buy, sell and indeed wear vintage fashion in the late 70's. At that time, she got to know lot of people who were selling vintage clothes. By the early 90's the market was almost dead - no one was buying the clothes because the fashion scene had move on. The dealers were complaining to her that they had lot of stock and did not know what to do with it. With an innovative approach, in 1999 she decided to organise a fair that incorporated not just vintage clothes but also accessories and textiles."

For new trims and ribbons, I often visit the treasure trove that is V V Rouleaux. Their delightful shops are literally full to the brim with ribbons, tassels and trimmings: perfect for inspiring new ideas and elegant touches.

Baileys home and garden

Baileys is a wonderful store in Bridstow village, here in the UK; "The things we sell are a surprising mix of vintage and new from a variety of sources - but they all share the qualities integral to our repair, reuse, rethink philosophy."



Reusing products is just as important as recycling, in my opinion. So, for a work space that has a sophisticated retro feel about it try the galvanized metal chairs, antique 1950s anglepoise lamp and the rotary telephone. I'm particularly impressed with their handmade leather satchel in crackled white.



For original storage ideas, stack their wooden apple crates against a wall to create unusual shelving.

Alfresco dining

I like to make the most of dining outside in the summer months. Over the past couple of years I've collected everything I would need for entertaining outside in a colour palette consisting of pale pink, pale blue, green and red.

In the picture above, the dip bowl set was from Tchibo, the colour coordinated pink and blue cutlery from Cath Kidston, and the blue ribbed table runner from Casa Domani. The small glass green votive contains lemongrass scent from Restoration Hardware.



In the picture above, the striped red and white bread knife is from Tchibo, the bread basket is from a local store, and the bird print napkin is from Cath Kidston.



Great for summer garden parties or everyday eating (not just for kids!), I went for these large and small floral and bird melamine plates from Cath Kidston on the bottom and top, with smaller dotty melamine plates in the middle from Green Gate. The salad bowls, small bowls and red spot salad servers are also from Green Gate.

Tea towels

I have been looking for some new tea towels in pale blue and pink to match my kitchen. Here are some of my favourites:



I'm loving the hand illustrated VW camper van ones above. So pretty and retro.



Colt circles in seafoam from fabulous online store Etsy.




Pink scooter tea towel and blue bubble car tea towel. I love the simplicity and so retro.