Lines and Current

When I think of what I like in a piece of fine jewellery or precious metal, it’s normally along the lines of understated and simple. Somehow, to me that translates as elegant, timeless and outside of fashion trends. I especially like the idea of simplicity carrying relevence forever. I know that’s how I feel when I look at my simple, gold wedding band. It holds the most significance and meaning to me above any other piece of jewellery I own, yet it is the most stripped down, aesthetically ‘bare’ item I own.

I couldn’t help but feel the same way when I first began chatting to Rebekah who runs her business, Lines and Current from Northern Ireland. Her stunning designs very much reflect a minimalistic approach with a really charming simplicity.

 ‘I like to think that when there is a sense of simplicity in our style, we’re not over-complicating things and it allows us to focus on things that matter. I'd like to be part of a 'slower' fashion model that goes against the fast-paced disposable fashion culture.’

(Photo courtesy of Lines and Current)

Rebekah’s words really challenged me to think about our ‘fast-paced’ culture and to rationalise our consumerist tendencies. Staying true to her ethos in wanting to give back, whilst taking an opportunity to educate on important causes; Lines and Current are also committed to giving a portion of all proceeds to charities.

Particularly poignant are Rebekah’s words which I feel, encompass the whole concept of her brand: “Lines & Current is a brand dedicated to WORKING HARD TO KEEP IT SIMPLE…"

This tribute is so applicable in day to day life, isn’t it? We work hard, we strive for excellence in whatever we do. Yet, at the end of the day, how many of us know that it is the simple things that truly matter most?

When I asked Rebekah what she loved most about the brand, she was quick to praise fellow artists whom she had had the opportunity to connect and collaborate with.

  "I also love that the business has given me the opportunity to roll with the entrepreneurial spirit inside me and I Love the social-minded aspect to my business model. Most of all, I am so grateful for the flexibility ​​being self-employed has given me as a mum.”

Rebekah was kind enough to collaborate with me in this blog post and I wanted to show you some examples of her work. I was particularly drawn towards her Jewellery collection which very much plays with the theme of water and the concept of following the current. 

 'Inspired by the flow of water and it's power to bring life, the jewellery line is delicate, cool and in touch with nature. With fine engravings & subtle ripple effect markings, Rebekah's designs are understated, minimal and connected to raw elements.’

This month Lines and Current are supporting Trekstock by giving 10% of all profits to the charity. Trekstock is a UK based charity set up to support young adults thriving through and beyond cancer. You can find out more about the charity on lines and Current's website (here) 

It has been a real pleasure working with Rebekah over the last few weeks. Lines and Current will be featuring in my Autumn/Winter lookbook which I am very excited to announce to you all. In the mean time, do head on over to Lines and Current's website to have a look at more of the stunning designs available. You can also keep up to date with Lines and Current on their Facebook and Instagram  pages and check out their new products coming soon!  

(Photo courtesy of Lines and Current)

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Love Bunty

xXx

*Whilst I have collaborated with Lines and Current in this post, all opinions expressed are authentic and representative of BuntyLiving. 

Great British Bake Off with Garden Trading

With The Great British Bake off taking the nation by storm, I think we have all felt a little inspired to dust off our aprons and get creative in our own kitchens. I know this has certainly been the case for me! For the past few weeks, I have been excitedly tuning in on Wednesday evenings to see what I might be inspired to bake next! Granted, my skill level is not up there with the talent of the Bake off contestants, but a girl can try, right?!

I’ve said it before and i’ll say it again: the key to a successful bake lies in the equipment used as well as the ingredients. When it comes to baking cakes and ensuring plenty of air gets into your mix, large mixing bowls and flour shakers are brilliant for this cause. Garden Trading are so good at providing all the necessities to ensure a happy baking session with wonderful results. I have been using their large mixing bowl and find it great for bakes, large and small. 
I always ensure I sieve my flour when baking cakes to make my sponges light and fluffy. Garden Trading's flour shaker is a brilliantly handy utensil to ensure the air mixes with the flour evenly before being folded into the cake batter.

This handy measuring jug is perfect for when you need to follow a recipe a little more precisely than just a 'splashful.' It sits so well with all the other Garden Trading baking essentials and could be used for a variety of purposes during baking. Mixing eggs, milk, water...really anything! It's so sweet, I can even see myself using this outside of baking as a jug for my flowers!

And of course, once the bakes are made you need somewhere practical and decorative to store them. Garden Trading's very own cake tin is such a perfect way to store your bakes. I particularly love these designs: With a minimalistic approach, the understated aesthetics make these tins all the more inviting!

Garden trading really understand families and I feel they create products that are both flexible in use and application, in order to make domestic life easier. We have found their gorgeous step-stool a perfect way to allow Noah to help me in the kitchen. Our counter tops are too high for his little legs, but he does love seeing what I'm baking when I have all the ingredients out. This step stool is the perfect way to offer a practical little 'leg up' for curious little cooks! As you can see, Noah has really been enjoying helping mummy out!

What have you been inspired to bake lately?

Here are some links to the products photographed above:

Mixing Bowl

Flour Shaker

Measuring jug

Cake Tin

Enamel Jug

Egg run

Step Stool(Discontinued now but here is another option)

Love Bunty

xXx

*Disclosure: Whilst I was kindly gifted the products mentioned above, all opinions expressed are authentic and representative of Bunty Living.

Vibrant book covers

I love looking for ways to breathe a bit of life into used bits and pieces around the home. Whether that means simply painting a piece of furniture or having a change over of the displays at home, it’s really nice to get a little creative and just enjoy the pieces that make up your home.

 My dad was a classicist by profession and my parents' home is brimming with his books, some of which have been lovingly read to the point of serious wear and tear!

 I was having a look through one of my dad’s book cases the other day and felt inspired to revamp a few of his books. I remember reading a few of these back when I studied classics at college and uni and so for me, they hold a special value too. Whilst I don’t know what Homer would have made of me wrapping up his lyrical poem, The Odyssey in a floral design; I, for one, like it even better this way!

I decided to cover a select few of these books and, after doing so, thought these would make a really cute display, perhaps for a bedside table or living room. It’s a cute, simple and affordable way to inject colour into old books that deserve a little attention in their old age!

Just a little 'home inspo' I thought I would share with you as we move into the weekend!

Hope you all have a fab one!

Love Bunty

xXx

Clipboard calendar Inspiration!

I love how one conversation can spark a whole load of creative inspiration! That was how I felt after having a little chat with Bonnie from Bonnie and Bumble. I had spotted her beautiful homemade calendars from having a look at her stunning Instagram feed. We got talking and she explained how she had designed these desk calendars herself, printed them off and simply attached them to a clipboard!

I felt totally inspired! What a handy and beautiful way to quickly view the month at a glance!

Bonnie was so sweet to send me some examples of her homemade calendar and, after buying up a few clipboards, I decided to make some little calendar displays like hers for my home.

I bought a pack of five clipboards (here) and decided to get my Annie Sloan paints in on the fun. It has been a few weeks since I have even looked at these paints, so I was hankering to try my hand at some little project with them.

I decided to paint up a few of the boards in pretty pastel colours using Antoinette (the pink), Duck Egg (the green) and Louis blue (the blue.)  This probably took me all of fifteen minutes and, as these paints dry so quickly, I was able to set up my calendars really fast!

As I was putting the camera away, I began having lots of other ideas for using these clipboards. As we draw closer to winter and Advent in particular, I think it's safe to say we will be seeing a whole lot more of these on the blog!

I hope you're all having a lovely week!

 Bunty

xXx

P.S Don't forget to check out Bonnie & Bumble for some gorgeous little home accessories and decorative pieces!