Join us for #primaveracrowns on 20th March!

Here’s a bit of fun Michelle and I dreamed up… join us to celebrate the start of spring on 20th March by making a flower crown and posting a photo of yourself wearing it on your blog, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram using the hashtag #primaveracrowns.

Please share the photo above to help us spread the word!

A few posts explaining how to make a flower crown to help you get started…

 < A simple step-by-step tutorial from A Beautiful Mess >

< A little more complicated for a lovely casual look from Green Wedding Shoes >

< A pretty video tutorial for those who prefer YouTube >

< Follow my Flower Crown Inspiration board on Pinterest >

We hope to see you next Thursday!

FREE PRINTABLE: Christmas holiday gift tags 2013

Each year we love designing a special set of festive gift tags for you to download and print as a little ‘thank you’ for following and supporting Decorator’s Notebook.

For 2013 we’ve chosen a vintage flora and fauna theme so you can use them for Christmas or any occasion through the winter months.

There are 14 different designs featuring archive etchings of British animals and plants. This year there’s the option of a full colour or black and white design, both of which can be printed onto plain, coloured or kraft card.

{© Decorator’s Notebook – not for commercial use}

We really hope you like our gift tags and will enjoy using them for your presents this Christmas. All we ask is that you share a link to this post via Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest before you download them using one of the buttons below. We’d love you to share them on your blog too, but please link back to this post rather than just pinching the PDF!

PLEASE SHARE then click this link to download the colour pdf

OR SHARE and click this link to download the black and white pdf

Thank you so much for reading our blog and for your fantastic comments this year… have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy new year!

Bethan and Joe xx

Eat. Sleep. Pin.

Just in case there’s anyone out there who’s missing out on the gorgeousness of Decorator’s Notebook’s Pinterest boards, here’s a quick reminder…

http://pinterest.com/DecoratorsNotes/

{via Pinterest}

If you’re there too leave a comment with your username and we can all pin and party together!

The art (and politics) of laundry

I’ve used Flickr a lot less since Pinterest came along, but it’s worth remembering that in addition to photos, Flickr is home to some incredible archives. I recently came across the Boston Public Library photostream which contains scans of the most amazing historical artwork, ephemera, advertising posters and photography.

You can spend hours getting lost in the collection but I picked out this little selection of nineteenth century laundry adverts. Feminists are advised to look away now!

{all Boston Public Library}

Dare I ask who does the laundry in your house?!

Free printable! 16 illustrated Christmas gift tags

It’s been brilliant having you all read my blog over the past year – it feels like last Christmas was only moments ago but so much has happened over the past year and 2013 is going to be the most exciting yet for Decorator’s Notebook. So to say thank you for reading I’ve been hard at work drawing a little present just for you!

{© Decorator’s Notebook / Photographs Joe John}

There are 16 different hand-drawn Christmas gift tag designs to print on any card you like. The PDF is free to download by clicking the link below… in return, please share an image and link via Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest by hitting one of the buttons at the bottom of the post. If you have your own blog please feel free to share it there too, but please post a link to Decorator’s Notebook rather than the PDF itself.

PLEASE SHARE THIS POST THEN CLICK TO DOWNLOAD PDF

10 best Christmas wreaths to make and buy

I have to start this one with a confession: I am a Christmas tree voyeur.

One of my greatest festive pleasures is discreetly (ok, not always discreetly) peering into people’s windows as I pass and perving on their Christmas tree decorations. This is also why I love wreaths so much. While the Christmas tree is the coy flirt of the decoration world, tempting our sideways glances, the wreath is the brazen tart, putting it all out there for the whole world to stare and admire!

So without further strange ramblings, I present for you all my Christmas wreath round-up. Five beauties to buy and five more to make yourself. Enjoy!

5 best Christmas wreaths to buy…

{Frosted Faux Ivy wreath, £70, The White Company}

{Felt Ball wreath, £60, The Original Pop Up Shop}

{Lasercut wooden wreath, £20, NOTHS}

{Fresh Herb and Holly wreath, £70, Real Flower Company}

{Bittersweet Vine and Berry wreath, $32.95, Etsy}

5 best Christmas wreaths to make…

{Drinking Straw wreath tutorial}

{DIY Fabric Christmas wreath kit}

{Vintage Paper wreath tutorial}

{Lichen Twig wreath tutorial}

{Felt Ruffle wreath tutorial}

I think my favourite shop-bought wreath is the fun one with the felt balls and my favourite homemade one is the simple lichen twig wreath. I’d love to know which one you like best so leave a quick comment, and check out my Pinterest board for loads more Christmas decorating ideas.

Z is for Zinc

Wow, can you believe we actually made it! When I kicked off this series in September last year with A is for Aran we Pinterest fans were in the vanguard. Now it’s the third largest social network in the world and there are more than 20 million of us pinning and re-pinning like crazy people. I wonder how long it will be until ‘repin’ makes it into the Oxford English Dictionary!

So finally, ladies and gentlemen…

Z is for Zinc

{via Svenngården via my Pinterest boards}

{G-Style via my Pinterest boards}

{Salted & Styled via my Pinterest boards}

{via Grange de Charme via my Pinterest boards}

{Dreamy Whites via my Pinterest boards}

I’m going to miss this little Pinterest A-Z series and I hope you’ve enjoyed it and found some inspiration for your own Pinterest boards along the way – you can review the whole series here.

Thankfully my Pinterest obsession doesn’t stop here so why not follow Decorator’s Notebook’s boards for daily ideas, inspiration and visual loveliness?

Have a wonderful weekend!

X is for kisses

Ok, I’m a dreadful cheat. But believe me, you wouldn’t have wanted xylophones and x-rays were less than inspiring!

So, I’m spreading a little love on the blog today instead – and that’s why…

X is for kisses

{Miranda July via my Pinterest boards}

{via First Date via my Pinterest boards}

{via Lessons in Detail via my Pinterest boards}

{Alfred Eisenstaedt via my Pinterest boards}

{Rachel E Foster via my Pinterest boards}

Lots of love and kisses,

DN

xxx

W is for Windows

There aren’t many things that are unchangeable about a home. A new wall colour, different flooring, beautiful wallpaper and tasteful furniture can transform even the grottiest of rooms. Frankly, if that wasn’t the case, I’d be out of a job and Decorator’s Notebook would be a very boring place indeed!

But however hard you try, natural light is almost impossible to add or simulate, which is why it’s always top of my must-have list when choosing where I live. I’m lucky to have a big south-facing bay window in my living room which bathes everything in warm sunlight and always brings a smile to my face. My flat is a million miles from perfect, but I wouldn’t change that window for anything.

W is for Windows

{Pieter Estersohn via my Pinterest boards}

{House of Brinson via my Pinterest boards}

{Patrick Cline for Lonny via my Pinterest boards}

{Laura Resen via my Pinterest boards}

{via Life is Beautiful via my Pinterest boards}

Which of these beautiful rooms / windows is your favourite? Don’t forget to follow Decorator’s Notebook on Pinterest for even more decorating inspiration and ideas.

Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

Ps – The observant amongst you will probably have realised that my Pinterest A-Z reaches ‘X’ next time and are quietly sniggering at my folly. I have a back-up plan but if you have any bright suggestions please do let me know!

V is for Vignettes

This is a funny old term – photographically speaking, vignetting is a very particular technique, but in the world of interiors it’s come to refer to a close-up composition of objects, usually on a shelf or table. To be honest, what I’d prefer to call a straightforward detail shot. But for the purposes of this alphabetical series, we’re going for the more pretentious definition! And that’s why…

V is for Vignettes

{Louise Rastall via my Pinterest boards}

{via 79 ideas via my Pinterest boards}

{via Pretty Stuff via my Pinterest boards}

{via Berengia via my Pinterest boards}

{Holmberg via my Pinterest boards}

Remember to follow Decorator’s Notebook on Pinterest for a daily dose of design inspiration and general prettiness and if you’re on Twitter you’ll find me @DecoratorNotes.

Have a wonderful weekend one and all!