Haul of Randomness

It's been a while since my last haul post, so I think it's time for a new one. I do love a good haul! I love reading them on other blogs even more. (I guess that's because I'm just plain nosey!) Instead of doing a fashion and beauty haul, I'm going to share some of the random bits and bobs I've been buying lately. So, I give you my haul of randomness...

I've been looking forward to showing you these awesome brooches for ages because I know some of you would love them as much as I do. Aren't they amazing? I bought them about a month ago from a little shop in Cheltenham's Regent Arcade called the Cheltenham Collective, which sells homeware, accessories, and art from local artists and small businesses. I wandered in for a browse with the sister, and got a little over-excited when I discovered a basket full of these quirky brooches. I had to buy these five immediately, although I would've happily bought one of each design if money grew on trees. They were all amazing. I think my favourite is the bespectacled French bulldog, closely followed by the deer, but I'm smitten with all of them. They're hand crafted from acrylic and wood, and I'm impressed with how well made and sturdy they are; the quality is fantastic! The best part is they were only £6.50 each, (except for the deer which was only £5), which is very reasonable, and far more affordable than the similar Erstwilder brooches every fashion blogger seems to be wearing or coveting right now. I'm hoping to pick up some more designs if they're still available next time I'm in Cheltenham, and I want to find out who made them because the packaging doesn't reveal a thing. I was hoping there would be info to lead me to an online shop, but even after a few Google and Etsy searches I got nothing. If I do find out, I'll let you know, but if you're in Cheltenham, you should still be able to find them in the Cheltenham Collective opposite The Body Shop in the arcade. It's well worth a visit!

I also picked up a couple of small votive Yankee Candles in Sweet Strawberry and Pain Au Raisin to make those cold, dark Autumn evenings a bit cosier. And yes, they both smell as good as they sound! The scents are pretty spot on, too. 

I bought this lovely box of Nordic Nights sticky notes from Paperchase last month, which will come in handy for jotting down blog ideas, journaling, and writing notes. I have a real weakness for pretty stationery, and Paperchase is one of my favourite places to find it. At the moment, I'm loving the entire Nordic Nights collection, which features lots of cute woodland critters, brown paper packaging, and a good dose of colour.

One of my favourite purchases of late is this metal Alice in Wonderland sign, which I found on Truffle Shuffle here. Alice in Wonderland has been my favourite Disney film since I was little, so I just had to have it. It's not often that I come across Wonderland things from the Disney cartoon, so finding it made my day. Yeah... I don't get out much! 

I also came across this vintage (reproduction) movie poster (here) on Amazon the day I found the metal sign. I wasn't sure if the quality would be any good, but I decided to chance it, and just ordered it in A4 to be safe. I think that was for the best, as the saturation of the picture isn't quite right, but you win some, you lose some. I don't think I'll ever get it framed and hung up on the wall, but I still think it's kinda awesome.

And the final thing in my haul of randomness? This lovely cross stitch kit from Riverdrift House. I've never seen such a pretty, colourful 'Home Sweet Home' sampler before; they're usually so ugly and frumpy. I love its modern spin on a classic craft that people have been making for generations; centuries, even. I won't be embarrassed to hang it on my wall when it's done. I'm working on a Christmas sampler from the same company (this one), so I probably won't start it until the new year, but I'm looking forward to getting started- if only to play with all of those colourful threads!

Have you bought anything exciting lately?