IKEA hack crush..

I know, I know.. first you don't hear from me for ages, and then bang bang bang.. three posts in a matter of days..! :) 

I can't help myself because by finally having time to catch up on my favourite blogs I am coming across some wonderful posts. Like this really brilliant IKEA 'Moppe drawer' hack that I just had to share with you.

There are several blogs out there dedicated to 'hacks' but this one by clever cookie Kristine over at 'The Painted Hive' appealed to me because of the simplicity of the project and the impact of the result. A perfect marriage in my mind!

I also really like that she paid attention to details like the rounded edges/corners, turning the drawers back to front (genius!), and the brass card pulls. These nice touches make all the difference!

Click HERE for Kristines post and full instrucitons.

Happy Thursday hugs to all! 

xx Charlotta

T is for Tea Towels..

Hello my dears! How are you all and how has your week been? All is just dandy here. Actually it is better than that and I feel as if I am on a total high at the moment. Happy through and through to be in my beloved Sweden in fact. I feel as if my soul is filling up on the energy of my birth country, and it is heaven to be back permanently after so many years abroad. :)

Today I want to share a wonderful online resource - 'All Tea Towels'. 

The store is run out of the UK and carries hundreds of tea towel designs in a variety of high quality finishes - 100% pure linen, pure cotton, and/or blended varieties too. For someone like I who loves tea towels it's like a well stocked 'lolly store', and to my delight I was given the opportunity to choose two designs for free in return for an honest review.

via All Tea Towels

Good quality tea towels aren't all that easy to come by (really!) and I like mine highly absorbent and durable whilst nice to look at. Kitchen aesthetics people - so important, don't you think!?

Having had the hardest time choosing from the extensive range (!!) over at 'All Tea Towels' I chose two from the 'Flowers & Nature' section (there are an impressing 26 sections in total!!).

 

Both designs are 100% Pure linen and I just love them! 

I followed the instructions and machine washed them several times in hot water to remove the starch and they came out beautiful. 
Though I love both my towels, I fell extra hard for the bright red 'Chrysanthemum' design and just placed an order for another five (making a total set of six) so that I can use them as napkins for when we celebrate 'Australian Christmas' in December. They are actually so big that they could easily be cut in half and still work as napkins, but I quite like the quirky look of over-sized table linen so I will use them in their original state.

via Inspire to Inspire

via French Larkspur

via Copper and Wood

I also bought a set of six super cute linen towels for a dear blog friend overseas. Actually, the kind owner of 'All Tea Towels' threw in an extra tea towel (making them a total of 7!) . So generous. Thank you again Al! x

I can't show you the design or my clever friend will know they are for her.. Again I pictured them being used as table linen but who knows, they may end up being used as picnic napkins, aprons, breakfast-tray liners, sewn together as cute pillows covers or something else..!? This girl is very creative and I can't wait to see what she comes up with once she receives them..  In the mean time, here are some other cute tea towel ideas..

Tea towels as cutlery storage

Tea towels as 'two-way-place mat'

Tea towels as gift wrapping

Tea towels as curtains

Tea towel as tray liner

Tea towels as napkins

Tea towels as bistro aprons

 Tea towels as pillows

 Tea towels as layered runners and also made into seat cushions

Tea towels as tote bags

Tea towel as art on the wall (of course you can frame them or stretch them over a canvas too!)

Ok my lovelies, that's it for today. Hope you enjoyed this tea towel inspiration post and review, and that you hop over to 'All Tea Towels' and place your orders. They really are a brilliant online shop and remember that the festive season isn't all that far off and that tea towels are a cute hostess gift too..!

Warm hugs and happy weekend wishes from Sweden

xx Charlotta xx

P.S. Don't forget to check out the 'All Tea Towels' sale section. 

They have this really lovely 'Magnolia Flower' design that I think could look adorable as table linen on a Spring time table. I'm loving the colours and the fact that it's 100% pure linen!

Domestic cleverness..

Do you struggle with unruly bundle of wires & electric plugs in your home...? I certainly do, and I can't tell you how many times I have spent hunched underneath my desk trying to find the (friggin') printer or scanner plug.. This clever idea makes it all so neat & easy..

What to do:
Dig through your bread bin for left-over bag tags and attach these to your cables - one at the top and one at the base. Voila, cable navigation issues solved!

via Unplugged

xx Charlotta

Sweet D.I.Y...

Hello lovelies and happy new week!  The other day I came across a really simple & sweet DIY over at 'Daily Suze' (authored by Susanna in Parma, Italy). 

image via Delicious Delicacies on Tumblr

Don't you think that these cute heart shaped sugar cubes are the perfect touch to a romantic breakfast, afternoon tea or baby shower!?! And the best part is that they are super easy to make..!

images via Daily Suze

And why stop at hearts lovelies!?! I can imagine a whole raft of other shapes that would work for all sorts of occasions. Let your sweet imagination run wild..!

Full tutorial and more images over at Daily Suze.

Happy Monday hugs to all!

xx Charlotta

Silhouette snacks..

Loving these silhouette ideas, some of which I spotted over at the sweet 'Luxe and Lillies' blog. Like my dear friend Mon who framed wallpaper silhouettes of her children, I too would love to embark on some cutting edge projects after the holidays ('xuse the pun.. though it was entirely intended..).

This picture made me think that having family table linens printed with silhouettes could be a really cute idea. Don't you think!?!

xx Charlotta

Image credits: 1 & 2 Luxe & Lillies, 3 Domino and 4 Life with Lia

Butterflies and Thank You!

Take a look at the stunning details of the 'Butterfly Room' at 'Singapore House' (British India Trading Company). Love themed art clusters and these butterflies had me at the first flutter of their colourful wings!

 A dash of industrial, a helping of colonial elegance, a spoonful of arty edge, and a pinch of Victoriana happily married to live happily forever after. Yum!

This restaurant first seen on Brown Button. Images seen via 'Singapore House'.

Though I could never feel comfortable with this at home ('this' = a wall of dead creatures - I prefer them alive... That said, I really like the idea of a butterfly themed wall and I absolutely love how the frames are hung like tile work on the entire wall. Such a statement! I am now thinking this would look amazing in Isabella's room! What are your thoughts?

 via Papertissue

I'd also take this opportunity to welcome all my new followers! I am so glad you found your way here and I hope that I will get to know you better through your comments on my posts. As my long term friends know, I love it when you leave me a message and it makes me very happy each time a new alert pops up in my mailbox! I will visit you all in the near future and say 'hello' properly, but for now I just wanted you to know I am so happy to have you all here! xx

Have a great weekend y'all!

xx Charlotta

P.S. I have teed up the most amazing girls to do guest posts here whilst I travel to Europe. Man o man are you in for a great treat! You may not want me to ever come back as these ladies totally rock!! :)

Great table runner idea..

Am just ducking out from reading wonderful posts over

at 'Anzu' (you will love this blog), and felt I had to share

this great table runner idea that Ellen found via 'Brooklyn Bride'.

Image from 'Brooklyn Bride' via 'Anzu London'

I love the idea of using old photos (read: scans and printouts of..)

as a unique and arty table runner like this. What a great treat to have

old memories scattered on a table like that - imagine the lovely

conversations the pictures will inspire! Would be great for a family

reunion, wedding anniversary or birthday party. Endless uses indeed!

x Charlotta

D.I.Y. - Fragrant candles..

I just realized that I am not doing enough D.I.Y.  posts.
In fact, I don't do enough D.I.Y. full stop. Must change this!

I love crafty self-made projects and could spend all day

doing things just like this one below if only life allowed. 

The post is from the wonderful '100 Layer Cake' and is

written by a guest blogger, 'Truly Smitten'. Both of these

blogs are amazing for crafty little projects and fantastic

for general inspiration and eye candy. I love them dearly!

Below is the essence of the editorial guide by Sarah, the writer;

Sarah warns that if you are a first-timer it might get messy and

she says it is always best to do a few batches at a time - bite size.

Here’s what you’ll need:
Glass tumblers
Wax chips / or microwavable wax
Candle wicks
Fragrance
Decorative paper
Natural twine
Double sided table
Skewer sticks

First you have to melt the wax in a double-boiler or in the

microwave if you manage to find that kind of wax flakes.

I actually don't know what a 'double boiler' is, but assume it

is a bowl inside a vessel of boiling water. Is this right?

Make sure the wax is properly melted before you pour it into

the tumblers and make sure you put the candle wick into the

glass before you do. The base should be attached to the

bottom end of the wick and top end tied to a skewer.

The scent is added before you pour the wax into the tumbler.

It will take a couple of hours before the was is solid and

cool. Once it is you can start the decorating. This particular

design uses Japanese rice paper and decorative crafting paper

applied in layers as the pictures below show. Needless to say

the options are endless here and you can design your own.

I would love to do this for a newly married couple and use their

monogram on the label, or for a housewarming gift, or for Christmas.. 

I am so going to try this one day, and if you do my lovelies, please

don't forget to tell me about it. I'd love to see your designs!

To read the original tutorial please go HERE.

xx Charlotta

P.S. If you like this project, do check out Sarah's other guest post
and tutorial about how to make 'Rosemary infused honey'.. So cute!

Such a great idea!

I love it when aesthetics, practicality and happy kids

come together! A sandbox on wheels - it's genious!

Instructions via

The Nonchalant Dad

xCharlotta

P.S. This clever dad is not only nonchalant, but

also has a nice dose of self-irony. You may have read

THIS before but I still let a sarcastic and all-knowing

chuckle pass my motherly lips when I read it. :)

Cute!

Aren't these just adorable!!?

Sorry, I can't for my life remember where I found this picture...

Isabella would LOVE little biscuits like these!

xCharlotta

Easter eggs..

Though I must confess that in our house Easter does not 

entail any major decorational efforts, we try to find time

to decorate some eggs. They may not be as stylish or

elaborate as the ones below, but it is great fun!

National Geographic

 

I was totally blown away when I saw this image via the

'National Geographic' magazine - isn't this amazing!?

Travel Ukraine

Ukrainian beaded eggs. These would be great in as part of a

traditional Easter table, but where does one find the time.. 

I wish my days (& energy levels) allowed for things like this..

 

Cottage In The Making (both)

Just love these simple yet ornate eggs. Just look at some of these

patterns - they are amazing! Love the colours as well.

S

Sweet Paul

Last but not least, I have drooled over the perfection of 

this egg that was done for Sweet Paul as part of a shoot. 

Wouldn't a series  of these with personal messages for 

Easter-over-night-guests would be a magnificent treat.. 

If only...*sigh*

What Easter treats are you guys cooking up this year?

xCharlotta