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?

Paperchase Stationery Haul

One of my main weaknesses in life, besides pretty dresses, animal motifs and polka dots, is stationery. I just love stationery. I don't really know why or when my fascination with pretty stationery began, but I find it so hard to resist- especially if it's made by Paperchase. Oh how I love that brand.

To me, going in to a Paperchase store is as enjoyable as browsing a shop filled with colourful, quirky dresses with flared skirts and awesome prints. Perhaps, dare I say it, I find it even more enjoyable! Did I just say that? I think I did.

I can go in to Paperchase and easily lose an hour or two to browsing at all the pretty things. It's been a while since I've been able to do that, but this week my sister and I drove in to town, (for me, this was the first time I've visited the local high street in two years), and headed to Paperchase (and Cath Kidston). I may have gotten a little carried away while I was there...

I treated myself to lots of lovely things, but saved a little money on them with the sister's student discount. Sadly, I've not been entitled to student discount for over a decade now. Sob.

Most of the items I chose were in the woodland design, covered in little woodland critters and foliage. I think the designs are adorable and I just couldn't resist the little bunny tails, foxes, and squirrels. Would you like a closer look?

I bought the woodland letter set which contains 10 sheets of writing paper, 10 envelopes, stickers, and address labels. It's such a lovely writing set for just £6, and I think it'll come in handy for sending letters with parcels come Christmastime. I think the address labels are a sweet touch.

I got this woodland sticky note book, which contains about 150 sticky notes and was only £5. I thought they would be great for writing extracts and quotes on to stick in to my disc injury journal.

I couldn't resist these little woodland stickers, for journaling and adding to snail mail. They were only £1.50 for two sheets, and I grabbed them on impulse near the till.

I fell in love with these adorable notecards on brown card which included 10 notecards in 2 designs and envelopes. The owl cards are blank inside, and the fox cards are thank you notes, which I plan to send to friends and relatives who give me gifts this Christmas. I always like to thank people for their kind gestures. This set was only £4.

I'm loving cute washi tape at the minute, which are fun for journaling, scrapbooking, and sealing gifts. I just had to have this little set of four, which were also from the woodland range. There are four rolls in the set, each with a different design and five metres in length, which is pretty generous for £3.50!

My main stationery weakness is notebooks; I collect them even when I have no need for a new one, just because they're pretty. I love the luxury of writing on the first page of a new notebook. This Feather Flock journal is printed with birds and feathers on the outside, and the cover is textured and feels like velvet. The inner covers at the front and back are blue and printed with cream feathers, and the pages are cream and blank, apart from a bird design in blue. It's so pretty! Not cheep (yes, I went there! Groan!) at £8, but definitely worth the indulgence.

And the last item I bought was this Dotty Stripe Multi List Book, which is another book made up of sticky notes. It's designed for list making, and it's another set I bought with my journal in mind. It would not only be useful for shopping lists, but great for writing quotes, goals, inspiration, and all sorts of lists that could be added in to a journal or scrapbook.

What are your thoughts on stationery and Paperchase? Do you love pretty stationery as much as I do?

May 31 Day Blogger's Challenge: Day 23- Something From Your Favourite Store

Day 23: Something from your favourite store...

It took me a split second to decide what my favourite store was: Cath Kidston. I adore all things Cath Kidston.

Cath Kidston's stores are the most amazing pieces of heaven. They're treasure troves of beautifully patterned every day goodies. Walking in to one of their stores, where these gorgeous retro-inspired products hang from pretty wall-papered walls and pop out colourfully from displays, I temporarily lose all self-control and like a kid in a sweet shop, I have to browse through everything. It's heaven.

The pretty polka-dots, vintage-looking florals, and bird prints that adorn everything from bags to kitchenware are quintessentially English, and have a 1940s feel to them. And obviously I only mean that in a good way.

I love how Cath Kidston gives a retro yet modern twist to their patterns and products. They sell cases for all the modern gadgets in vintage looking prints which change each season- I have a beautiful Kindle case to prove it. They sell everything from bags to stationary, to wall paper and wellies. I have quite a collection of their products, but today I will share with you my CK wallet and purse...

I might as well confess something to you: I'm obsessed with stars. I even have a star design on my wrist. So, when I saw this pattern it naturally didn't take me long to choose a few items. I think I actually picked them up in an outlet village.

 The wallet has been my day to day wallet for a couple of years now; and the clasp purse is used when I carry smaller bags or am travelling with two different currencies. They're both really practical and sturdy, and the oil cloth is easy to keep clean. I also have a camera case with the same small star design as the purse.

I also found an old shot of my messenger bag on my laptop.

A peek inside shows the wallet, and if you look closer you might see a star-print purse (behind the book) that I use as a make up bag.

As well as Cath Kidston, I also love browsing in Paperchase. I love stationary. There's nothing like writing on the first page of a new notebook.

Where do you like to shop?