PINSPIRATION #12

Wedding invitations

When me and George recently started designing our own wedding invitations, I spent lots of time searching on Pinterest for ideas and inspiration. Here are a few of my favourite finds, in keeping with our rustic/ woodland theme.

One: Script and block lettering.

Two: Wrapped in twine.

Three: Shit just got real..

Four: Beautifully illustrated.

Five: Lined envelopes.

Six: Rustic invitation bundle.

Seven: Kraft paper and string.

I'll be sharing our own invites once they are completed. Don't forget to follow me on Pinterest :)

Amy x

ETSY FAVOURITES: GIFT IDEAS FOR HER

This is the second part of my current Etsy favourites turned 'gift guide', this time ideas that are more suited to the ladies. Check out my previous post 'Etsy Favourites: Gift Ideas for Him' if you haven't seen it already. 

Again these can be gifts for any occasion, but since Valentine's Day is around the corner, it seemed an appropriate time to share my favourite items or ideas with you. If you're not shopping, I hope you enjoy browsing through these gorgeous shops anyway, if you haven't discovered them already.

Woodland Print by Snowdon Prints

For anyone like me who loves nature, print and interiors, this shop is perfection.

Amethyst Rain Drop Earrings by Aubergine Fox

I adore Aubergine Fox and their rustic style. Jewellery is a pretty standard gift idea but this shop is especially great if you're after something a little more unique and unconventional.

Owl Jewellery Dish by Bohemian Craftress

Why not get an adorable little dish to hold all your pretties? This shop has lots of lovely designs to choose from.

We Go Together Painting on Wood Slice by Jesiiii
This is one of my all time favourite Etsy shops. It has tonnes of hand painted goodies in the most beautiful, vibrant colours. I'd love to receive one of these wood slices as a gift, but will probably just buy one for myself anyway..

Print Infinity Scarf by Chic Days
If you're after something cute but practical, this shop has lots of lovely printed scarves to choose from.

Robot Notebook and I Love You Quote Card by Candy Face Creative

Take a look at this shop for adorable paper goods. These are just a couple of my favourite designs.

Terry the Corduroy Owl and Roy the Corduroy Penguin by Midgins'

Of course, I couldn't help featuring some creations from my own shop. These guys are wearing limited edition Valentine's bow ties, but you can also choose from a collection of other styles as well.


Don't forget most Etsy sellers take custom orders so you can always have something made that is completely personal. I hope you have taken something away from these posts, whether it's a gift idea for someone special, a treat for yourself, or just some new Etsy shops to add to your own list of favourites!

Amy x

ETSY FAVOURITES: GIFT IDEAS FOR HIM

For this edition of my Etsy favourites, I managed to rope in the assistance of my fiance George, who kindly gave me his expert opinion when putting together a little collection of gift ideas for men. Since Valentine's Day is approaching I thought it would be a fun idea to post my favourites in a 'gift guide' style, with one for men and one for women. 

We don't personally celebrate Valentine's Day in this household, but these could be gifts for any occasion and will hopefully give you some inspiration if you're on the hunt, or just a little insight into some of my favourite shops. Obviously they may not be suited to everyone's taste, but George and myself personally think they're great! Have a closer look for yourselves and see if you spot anything that you or your other half might fancy. 

Geeky Robot Plush by Ginny Penny

This little guy would make a perfect desk companion for the geek in your life.

Ukulele Octopus Print by hine

This artist is incredibly talented and we think one of her vibrant prints would look just right in a music lover's home.

Horny Dinosaur Mug and Horny Dinosaur Card by Newton and the Apple

This shop has a tonne of amazing items, but this illustration in particular made me giggle..

Shark on a Bike T-shirt by Dark Cycle Clothing
This is just one example of the many awesome t-shirts available from Dark Cycle. We love them all!

Get Naked Print by Sams Simple Decor

Get straight to the point with one of these cheeky quotes.
This is another one of those shops with a huge amount of choice so go and check it out for yourself!

Telecaster Guitar Necklace by Orchard Hill Gallery

Choose something a little more sentimental with a beautiful hand engraved necklace.

Gordon the Corduroy Monster by Midgins'

I couldn't resist putting together a gift guide without featuring my very own monster. Plus he's been a firm favourite among the men in my life..


I hope this post has given you some sort of inspiration. I've also got another Etsy favourites on the way, this time gifts ideas for women, so keep a look out for that. As you can imagine, it was even easier for me to put together since there's so many beautiful things on Etsy that I would like for myself!
Please leave your thoughts below and don't forget to visit all the fantastic shops I mentioned. Also feel free to leave suggestions for any other Etsy shops that you think I might enjoy.

Amy x

PINSPIRATION #10

Here's a little pinterest update for you. No theme for this one, just lots of random things I have been loving and pinning recently!

One: Rules to live by.

Two: Constantly searching for the perfect tartan scarf.

Three: Adorable vintage furniture.

Four: Pinning so many succulents lately. I want these for my wedding flowers.

Five: The cutest embroidery.

Six: Such a simple but clever idea!

Seven: This beautiful amethyst bracelet has been on my wishlist for a while now..

Eight: Some more wedding inspiration. The guitar brooch is perfect.

Nine: Just a cute illustration that made me chuckle.

Don't forget to follow me on pinterest!

Amy x

ETSY FAVOURITES

Since I'm about to launch my own Etsy shop, I thought I would share a few of my favourite Etsy finds with you. These are all the things I genuinely adore and would buy if I had some spare pennies in my pocket. Maybe I'll drop a few hints before Christmas..

It's the amazing creators like these that have inspired me to continue designing and making, and to begin building a small business of my own. "Midgins'" on Etsy will soon be opening, so keep your eyes peeled for my launch post!

SourpussKnits

I'm a big lover of autumn/ winter and all the snuggly knitwear that comes with it, so a piece from SourpussKnits is right at the top of my wishlist. I particularly love this cute mustard and grey beanie.

TheFoxintheAttic

This is one of my all time favourite Etsy shops for it's attention to detail, branding and stunning photography. I am especially fond of these printed animal cushions and would very much like an autumnal looking fox in my home. 

myfriendmonster

The creativity and craftsmanship that has gone into these monsters absolutely amazes me. Each one has tonnes of character and is totally unique. This shop focuses on upcycling, meaning each monster has been made from sweaters. Upcycling is something I also really enjoy and will be incorporating into my own shop.

cherijame

I stumbled across this adorable shop when searching for a ukulele case of my own and genuinely struggled to pick a favourite. I want them all!

darkcycleclothing

Creators of exclusive hand screen printed t-shirts. I just love these original, hand drawn designs, especially the 'animals on bicycles' collection!

misala

These unique kiss lock purse creations are unbelievably cute. This is another one of those shops where I struggled to pick a favourite and was totally overwhelmed by the creative design that went into making such beautiful gifts.

hitree

The sheer amount of detail in these perfectly hand crafted items is incredibly impressive. I am totally smitten with anything woodland themed and would very happily decorate my desk with a handful of these little trees.

nothingbutapigeon

Nothing beats coming across a shop like no other, which sells something you have never seen before. I'm sure there will be others out there, but these designs genuinely surprised me, and it's very pleasing to come across something new and exciting. I desperately want to hang one of these crochet taxidermy creatures in my office.


What's in your Etsy favourites?

Amy x

PINSPIRATION #9

It's my dream to one day have my own sewing room in our house. A place which I can decorate and organise however I please, and where I can feel inspired and motivated to work every day. Me and George currently share the spare bedroom in our flat which we use as our office/ studio space, (half music/ half sewing room). Whilst it's enjoyable to have our own little hideaway up in the converted attic, where we can both be doing the things we enjoy together, I one day hope to be running my own little business full time, so having my own room to work in, as well as escape from when I need some down time, will be essential. Although this is a long way off, I'm constantly pinning and dreaming of my own studio. Here are some of my most recent loves.

One: Neutral colours, cutting table and rustic details.

Two: Bright and airy.

Three: Beautiful barn studio.

Four: Vintage furniture.

Five: Thread display.

Six: Bunny clock.

Seven: Mustard and grey.

Eight: Fun and creative decor.

Don't forget to follow me on pinterest!

Amy x

PINSPIRATION #8

1. I'm loving having my toe nails painted for the warmer weather at the moment, seeing as I don't really have my tootsies on show at any other time of year. This mint and black combo is super pretty.

2. I'm currently looking at storage solutions for my disorganised sewing space and loved this metal and wood storage cart.

3. Of course I am constantly pinning all things wedding related right now and had to throw a couple in here.. These wooden signs would look perfect in our barn venue.

4. Best coasters ever! Really want to learn how to make these.

5. I absolutely love the gorgeous colours in this bouquet.

6. I recently bought a bardot top from River Island and it's a super flattering style. Now I'd really like to find a dress version like this one!

Hope you enjoyed this random selection of recent pins. 

Don't forget to follow me on pinterest!

Amy x

PINSPIRATION #7

As some of you may remember, I got engaged at Christmas so I am currently planning my wedding! Being a bit of a crazy pinterest lady, I have been gathering lots of ideas for the big day and thought I would share some of my favourite things with you..


THE VENUE

1. One of the first things we decided was that we wanted a barn wedding. Neither of us are fond of traditional weddings set in churches or manor houses and would instead prefer something small and rustic that we can decorate to our own taste.

2. This barn is a better representation of the size of venue we would be looking for. We also LOVE this type of lighting. It creates a gorgeous, warm atmosphere. Lots of candles are also a must!

THE DECORATIONS

3. This tree slice cupcake stand is one of my favourite finds so far. In case you hadn't noticed, we like a lot of wood and want our wedding to have an autumnal/ woodland feel. We're also going to have an assortment of cupcakes rather than a wedding cake, so this would be perfect for displaying them. Rather than buying one, we're thinking it should be fairly easy to make one at home. Especially since my dad is a carpenter ;)

4. Candles, candles and more candles. We've been collecting jars since Christmas..

5. We don't want to overdo it with the flowers, so I love this simple arrangement. I think one of these with a table number attached to it would look lovely as a centrepiece, and it's another use for all the jars that are taking over my cupboards.

THE DRESS

6. I'm set on finding the perfect 1950s style dress. I really don't like full length, princess-like wedding dresses and would love something shorter and more doll-like with a vintage feel. Everyone asks me if I'm going to make my own dress, which is something I constantly think about, but I'm not sure I could handle the stress of making my own wedding dress! I'm keen to get designing though and can't wait to try some on in the shops, so we'll see where I go from there.

7. At the moment, this is one of my favourite necklines. It's such a beautiful, flattering shape. The lace detail is really pretty too.

8. Another reason for having a shorter dress.. so I can show off a beautiful pair of shoes!

THE INVITATIONS

9. We both enjoy graphic design and are really looking forward to making our own invitations. We love this idea of a pack which would include the invite, a map of the venue and any other bits of info.

10. I love how cute and handmade this invitation looks. The button is very 'me' and George loves the idea too!

I thought I would stop here, or this post could get very long..

I hope you enjoyed this little insight into my wedding ideas. There's so much to think about at the moment and it's all very exciting! I'm thinking of doing regular wedding related posts on here, whether it's more of these pinterest updates or just when anything significant happens.

Have you been to any weddings lately? Are you planning a wedding of your own?

Don't forget to follow me on pinterest!