Too good for the table 09-06-2010
I have recently decided i cannot enjoy a hand embroidered table cloth on a table..it seems to entice spillages. So a far better use for me is as a new cover for our headboard, teamed with a contemporary print on the pillow it's a real visual treat.
The perfect pot for wasabi 13-05-2010
I love this cute lidded pot, with its tiny silver spoon it is so perfect for something fiery like wasabi. I think it is so much nicer to serve condiments in something unique.
The Isle of Mull 09-05-2010
Many miles from home deep in the heart of Mull we found our sanctuary for the week. No computers, no phones....just binoculars
Blue Bell Woods 04-05-2010
The delights of blue bell wood were waiting for us on our return from Amsterdam...there was as much stitchwort as blue bells this year which made it even more magical.
Vintage storage 29-04-2010
We all manage to aquire heaps of bits and pieces which are moved about from drawer to drawer, i urge you to do what i do and stuff them all into lovely tins. We found a some stunning tins recently that would be totally perfect for this. Your friends will admire them unaware of the rubbish inside them..everyone is happy.
Traditional Amsterdam Ladies 27-04-2010
We saw a group of around twenty of these amazing ladies walking through the market one morning, doing the Dutch thing in a big way...womens institute perhaps? Love it.
Main Market 26-04-2010
The perfect start to a perfect day, a small flea market, buzzing with energy. There are no more than 20 stalls but each one is a complete joy to discover. Tins was the word du jour and in particular a rather beautiful large bird tin...it will be in bric a brac.
Embroidered Linens and lace 26-04-2010
I totally believe that all the best linens and needlepoint are found always abroad, France, Holland and Belgium are just the best...a selection for the site is coming soon.
Amsterdam Antique Market 25-04-2010
As we drifted along absorbing the inspiring sights of Amsterdam we saw a sign for a brocante market that day. The market was held inside a church, we found heaps of treasures here...more 1930s tins and a beautiful wooden box, handpainted with roses.
Sticker collage Holland 25-04-2010
The door of the Grey Area coffee shop...if i remember correctly, we love stickers!
Portobello Market 24-04-2010
A really crazy, packed, slightly frustrating Portobello. The only good thing i experienced was a chocolate muffin and discovering some wicked bedside lamp stands by Hummel, they were ceramic figurines of children standing around tree trunks, naff yet totally not at the same time. The dealer told me they were made by German nuns..i have now a new interest.
The Beach 27-02-2010
happiness is the beach...
SnowDrops 26-02-2010
Soon to appear in Textiles our ever growing collection of lovingly stitched one off textile pieces to jazz up a bedside table or something.
Wallpaper 25-02-2010
This totally rubbish weather has meant that we have been becomimg stir crazy....so there is nothing like changing the walls we have been staring at for the last few months! I have been raiding my stocks of wallpapers and vinyls and getting my better half to slap them up for me. We dont have the time or patience to do a whole room which would be fabulous, so just the odd wall and nook will do. This particular one is from the 60s/70s and is a vinyl coated paper. I have five untouched rolls for sale, please refer to Textiles for details.
Snow Mouse... 09-01-2010
So much snow and totally stranded, what else is there to do but attempt a snow man....20 freezing minutes later we have made what we call a snow mouse with bay leaf ears, star anise eyes and kiwi buttons.
Snowed In 07-01-2010
A festive scene a little bit late, its totally magical here at Delphina HQ. We cannot take enough pictures of our sparkling icy garden.
Buttered Rum 26-12-2009
We had to kick start Boxing Day with a pokey Buttered Rum.
I used 2/3 of a bottle of dark rum, one bottle of Copella Apple juice, a large cinnamon stick, orange zest, 8 cardamon pods and 3 star annise....a thumb sized knob of butter to finish. It did the job, and tasted better by the hour.
Stich and Bitch 27-11-2009
My mate Helen asked me to join her Stich and Bitch monthly session, run by Alice Butcher. It was my first night out away from baby and the perfect gentle progression back out after dark!
Winter is here and Christmas is on its' way 24-11-2009
I'm not wild about this rubbish, soggy weather. I'm thinking about Christmas..a break, falling asleep infront of the fire guilt free. If you are Christmas shopping here, i'm free gift wrapping; (don't tick the giftwrap box just send me an email to let me know if you want it to look extra pretty.)
Chinese Russian Dolls 08-11-2009
I have always loved Russian Dolls, the colours and the detail as they get smaller. These are the first ones i have seen like this...very cute.
Click for kids:
http://www.delphina.co.uk/?page=kids
Old School Avon 06-11-2009
My recent obsession is these lovely lovely Avon boxed Soaps. The graphics are amazing despite their age. They all have the original unused soaps in but they are, for me to good to use.
Autumn 02-11-2009
It is a season of great natural beauty right now. We are keen mushroomers at Delphina and we have been enjoying nature's larder. The ones in the picture are non edible but so magical to see as they gradually populate the woodland floor day by day. I feel the need to get all the winter quilts and knits down from the loft and start to settle in for winter... the annual obsession with finding where the icy drafts are coming from has begun. I do love it though.
French Vintage Swatch Cushions for The Hambledon 21-10-2009
We found some beautiful French swatches from the early 1900s. They were too good to cut up so we made the entire pieces into 45cm x 65cm cushions. We used large vintage buttons on the backs which are made out of various recycled neutral linens. These cushions were made exclusively for The Hambledon in Winchester. Please call (01962 890055) for details or to purchase.
Click for Homemade: http://www.delphina.co.uk/?page=homemade
Vintage Cushions from selection of fabrics 21-10-2009
Over the years we have collected many different fabrics on our travels and now we have created a selection of 45cm x 45cm cushions. They are duck feather filled pads and each side has a different pattern, they are ruched in the middle of both sides with a fabric covered button. There is a selection available at The Hambledon in Winchester and they are also available to order from Delphina, so send me an email and we can help you to select the style and colour you want.
Click for Homemade: http://www.delphina.co.uk/?page=homemade
Original 1960s Doll 06-10-2009
She was sat amongst a lot of different pieces at a market and I just had to take her. She is an original 1960s doll wearing an off white plastic jacket and fur lined hood, she has a rather seductive look... she is very lovable!
Click for kids:
http://www.delphina.co.uk/?page=kids
10 Years of The Hambledon in Winchester 10-09-2009
I don’t really do 'shops' anymore.. Shopping with little people is generally too stressful. However there is one shop I will visit as I know it will be totally worth it. I discovered the joys of the Hambledon in 2000 when studying for my degree in Winchester. I applied for a job instantly and worked there for a few years at first to be able to be around the fabulous products and get a staff discount on all the things I dreamt of possessing. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life as many years on I have two of my best friends there and it remains my absolute and only Mecca for retail therapy. This year they celebrated 10 years of the successful independent department store. If you haven't been then get down there... you will not regret it.
Online Magazine: http://thehambledon.com/10years
10x10x10 10-09-2009
The owner of The Hambledon, Victoria and her sis Sandy produced a magazine to celebrate the 10th birthday of the shop. They did a feature with 10 valued customers with 10 different things they had bought over the 10 years of the shops existence... I was honoured to be one of them along with my Branksome China tea set I bought from them.
Vide Grenier Sale France 30-08-2009
It is always a treat to visit a car boot sale in France; they are obviously very similar with an assortment of total rubbish and bizarre clothing. However on our trip this summer we went to quite a few and found some lovely kitchen ware. We had to be there crazy early but being armed with a pain au chocolate and a coffee certainly helps.
Brocante store in France 28-08-2009
My best kept secret, a little drive from the cottage is a wonderful Mecca for all things pre-loved. It’s a charitable organisation, family run and packed to the rafters with a plethora of household bits and pieces from kitchenware to clothes and sofas. I'm there every day of our holiday.
Vide Grenier France 28-08-2009
There were a few lovely mirrors we brought back this time, a nightmare to pack safely into the van but well worth it if they make it home in one piece. A good excuse to buy plenty of fabrics and quilts to pack around them.
Bric a Brac store in France 23-08-2009
There were some wonderful light fittings in a particular bric a brac warehouse that we discovered off the beaten track. I wanted all of them but we chose just a select few.. check out Delphina's bric a brac page to see which ones.
Amsterdam Market 09-03-2009
Another small market we found along a beautiful street, the apartments here had stone steps leading to large wooden front doors and there were a few with an abundance of flower pots cluttering each step with brightly coloured geraniums. Simple, plain muslin strung on wire in the window of one of these apartments made it totally stylish in a completely unpretentious manner. I found these small touches so inspiring. I will be back again.
Amsterdam Open air flea Market 07-03-2009
My favorite city to have visited so far has to be Amsterdam. My partner and I take much delight in wandering the cobbled streets alongside canals and gazing with envy into the stylish homes of this stunning cities inhabitants. They have a unique way of lighting and furnishing their homes so that, at night especially I feel I could just walk for miles taking inspiration from every window... I am not referring to the ones lit up with red bulbs though, although these can be fairly fascinating too! On our last visit we were told about a regular flea market and on discovering it the next day I almost cried at the thought of my small weekend bag back at the apartment and the weight allowance for luggage on our flight! I had to make do with small easily packed purchases, but next time I intend to be better prepared.
