Culture Label

Chances are, if you're a regular Internet user and based in the UK, you've already come across Culture Label's fabulous website (www.culturelabel.com).  If you've ever been stuck for a gift for someone and Googled 'unusual gifts' or 'gift ideas', it's usually up there near the top of the search results.  Founded in 2007, the aim was to create an online store that offered affordable style, and where money spent on shopping made a positive difference to the arts.  Their founding partners included iconic and internationally renowned British institutions such as Tate, V&A, Saatchi Gallery, and the Whitechapel Gallery. Five years on, Culture Label is now home to over 200 brands and designers, including, as of March 2012, my very own Bluefinch Boutique.  


It's early days for my own little corner of Culture Label, and I have lots of exciting plans for an exclusive range of jewellery which will only be sold through there, but in the meantime, I wanted to share some of my favourite pieces from other Culture Label sellers.

Green and Gold Cup Necklace by Louise Buchan £32.50

Cat Scratching Decks by Maiden £16.50

Blue Birds Purse by Custom Made £13.50

His 'n' Her Set of Mugs by Rob Ryan £17.95

Retro Green Printed Clutch Bag by Anna's Design £19

Sew-Your-Own-Fox Tea Towel by Maiden £10

See anything you like?  I particularly love the Sew-Your-Own-Fox Tea Towel - it would make a really cute gift for a fox lover or a crafting virgin!

Jenny

  x

What I made when I was ill

I've been feeling a bit flu-ish this week, not real, full-on flu, but bad enough to have to take it easy for a few days and drink lots of hot lemon and honey.  

Lying on the sofa, surrounded by tissues and boxsets of Sex and the City, I had a flick through an, as yet, unused present, The Busy Girl's Guide To Sewing by Carrie Maclennan. It's a good little book, more useful to a sewing novice like myself, I imagine, than someone who knows what they're doing already.  It's filled with supposedly quick little projects and I was suddenly filled with an urge to make the Keep-It-Neat Pattern Sleeve to store my embroidery in when I'm not working on it.  I'm new to embroidery (you can see my first completed project here) but have already found that two big fluffy black cats and white cotton fabric do not mix.  In an attempt to store my embroidery safely away from cat hair and busy paws, this is what I made:

I'm pleased with how it turned out, although even as a novice, I'm sure I could have easily winged it and made it myself without the book.  My sewing machine has only just come out of a three year long hibernation though, so I thought I'd play it safe for my first project!  According to the book, this should have taken me around 30 minutes to make...if that's so, then they were the longest 30 minutes of my life.  I think this is actually the first time I've made anything from scratch with my machine though, so I'm quite happy :-)

Finally, I just wanted to show you my cute little Cath Kidston needle holder which was a gift from a friend:

Isn't he cute!?

Jenny

  x