Colour Makes People Happy!

These 60 clogs displaying paint colours are hanging inside the nicest paint shop I've ever been in!

"Colour Makes People HAPPY!" is a magical venue located in East Dulwich selling Dutch paints created by the owner Simon March
 

...each paint has a cheeky name.....
 ....and comical and quirky description:

The brand of paint is called Siecle and has its own manifesto!

Paint parties are also run from the venue; including clog painting and artworks created using this huge picture painting device built by Simon! I'd love a go!

 I love individual and independent shops like this and wish the high street was full of them!
 

 

 

 

Petain Street, Singapore

I love the Shop Houses in Singapore. This is Petain Street in the Little India area - a row of 18 ornate terrace houses built in 1916 on what used to be swamp land.

Indian-style stucco pillars and chinese symbols in the bas-relief plasterwork depicting animals, including rabbits and peacoks or flowers

Beautiful spanish floral tiles. I'd love these in my bathroom at home!

The full beauty of the tiles surrounding the windows

A sky scraper menacingly towers over its old neighbours!

The architecture is a blend of European, Malay, Indian and Chinese influences with carved wooden eaves which are apparently found in Malay houses, classical-inspired columns and pilasters

The architecture is termed Singpaore eclectic or Chinese Baroque. I love the stained glass too!



The decorative facades reminded me of delicious royal icing piped onto cakes!

Great care has even been taken crafting the iron work above the doors

Hard to believe that these houses, typical of 1920's architecture, have survived and are located on a busy road surrounded by modern sky scrapers!

Thank you to Theres more to Singapore for signposting this street and sharing the information. They have also described other interesting walks in Singapaore that are worth reading about on their blog.  

 

 

Upcycled vintage foot stool

BEFORE!
How the footstool started life; dull, dated tapestry print fabric and boring handles!
 

AFTER!
Recycled using vintage fabric, old trimming, left-over paint and spare kitchen cupboard door knobs



DURING!
Painting, replacing the knobs, pinning and securing the fabric, adding trimming

Before and after end view with magazine rack

Before and after side views

Before and after end views

Before and after drawer knobs 

Before and after fabric

FINISHED!

Tin-tastic!

I love tins! All shapes and sizes.

Whether they be iconic, old, new, commemorative, novelty or kitsch....  

When ever I go abroad, one of my first port of calls is the supermarket...
....the olive oil was a gift from Lisbon and the Peppers are from
the wonderful Bills produce store in Brighton

Antique HOVIS bread tin (Now used to house my corsages!)

I've noticed that M&S have started a seasonal range of "Biscuit" tins
which seem to be on sale twice a year.

This belonged to my grandma and must be about 25 years old!

Ireland has some lovely tea caddies and old fashioned storage tins!

Bought for my Royal wedding tea party!

Music travels!

My great grandfather, Hymie Goodman (H.G), enjoyed travelling. I am now taking care of his collection of monogrammed leather suitcases. As handsome as they are, especially when I've just polished them, they are a little too small for all my paraphernalia! So they now live in Ealing, housing my DVDs!

I spied these silver suitcases in a pub at St Pancras train station. From one extreme to another...

Darling Lakeland!

These products are the darlings of my cleaning cupboard! Sadly, I derive endless pleasure and satisfaction from them! Highly recommend.Good old Lakeland! 

Tea-potty!

A lovely family friend is like a magpie. Her home is magical! Behind every cupboard door and inside every drawer there is a collection of goodies...in this case, an arsenal of colourful tea-pots! Love it!