Betty & Walter

Lisa Levis’s (nee Stickley) designs have been a huge inspiration ever since my days at university. I love how shes mixes vintage inspired patterns with quirky touches "modern with a vintage flavour". Since launching her new brand Betty & Walter in 2013 I've been smitten with every collection each season.

party rain liquorice apron

B & W is in inspired by her Aunt Betty and Uncle Walter, which I think is just lovely. The mid century retro prints for the new 'Allotment' range are inspired by vintage cookbooks and Uncle Walter's love for growing his own veg. I just love how there's a story behind each print and pattern....and those product names, bloomin' fantastic! I especially find the photo-shoot snaps very inspirational, mixing the retro finds with each new collection.



treacle toffee tote



pineapple souffle make up bag

After meeting the team back in the Summer at Selina Lake's handmade fete in Guildford I've been wanting to send the lovely ladies a personalised gift. The black & white spotty retro plate discovered in a local vintage store was crying out to be up-cycled with the B & W logo, with a hint of Heart Vintage of course. Here's the final design for you all to see - photographed in the lovely 

B & W studio. 

Heart Vintage for Betty & Walter

Make do & Mend

This month's make do & mend is......vintage lightshades.

patchwork fabric lightshade via At Home In Love

I recently updated my guest bedroom and wanted an up-cycled feel as the main wall features a gallery space for all my Heart Vintage plates. I wanted something different for my lighting....something individual.
I love the idea of using a collage of found fabrics and recovering it like the above photo..... 

up-cycled doily lightshade via Mollie Makes

or maybe recovering the wire shade with vintage dollies like this one is Lisa Meunier's home. I can imagine lots of pretty patterns on the walls when this turned on.

up-cycled wire lightshade via La Maison D'Anna G

The guestroom is painted with midnight blues and white, with accessories in mustard and aqua.

I love the shape and idea of spraying in a accent colour like the above lights, I managed to find similar in my local charity shop for a couple of pounds each....

...and here's a sneaky peek of my guestroom, the floor light base has been passed down to me from my grandmother. After stripped the shade of its fabric I sprayed the wire it in a bright aqua shade - I'm pretty chuffed with it the final result. 

It's feeling a lot like Christmas.....

It's four weeks until Christmas and I've been a busy bee...... I'm working on lots of new designs which I hope to add to the Big Cartel shop this weekend :) including more sets of plates which seem to be extremely popular for Christmas presents this year. 

Both sets inspired by vintage wall decor ideas - the birds taken from the retro brass swallows and the butterfly inspired from butterfly taxidermy.

I've also been working on new card ideas, including these packs of Christmas Cards for my stockist Alkaline I've up-cycled pages from vintage books with well known carols, copper paint & black tape. Hopefully I'll be added some packs of these to my shop too this weekend.

Are you all set for Christmas? I'll be buying all my gifts from local businesses and Etsy, will you be buying handmade too this year?