Shabby Chick

TUTORIAL: Vintage china cake stand

By Jennie Hughes

Do you wander around your local charity stores picking up the odd pretty, but mismatched, china plate? Beautiful ceramics and bone china are so enticing, but what do you do with them? It’s not sense to keep them stashed away in a cupboard, and an entire un-matching dinner service takes some chutzpah to carry off, but what about a pretty cake-stand?

It is, just as it seems, a pile of three plates of decreasing size and two sherry or liqueur glasses, preferably one of each so they are of decreasing size also.

The other thing you need is Araldite – that’s the glue that comes in two tubes, an adhesive and a hardener. Trust me – no other glue will do.

Free vintage-style labels

The very lovely Eat Drink Chic has free downloadable labels for oil, vinegar and bit-and-bobs-boxes. They are stylish, have muted, vintage-look colours, and would add the perfect finishing touch to a home-made gift or shabby chic larder.

For full instructions and the link to download go here.

Isn't oilcloth brilliant?

Isn't oilcloth brilliant? It's cheap, cheerful, wipeable, and it adds a delicious retro flavour to any kitchen-diner. It comes in a dizzying array of colours and patterns - both 'off the roll' and finished with fabric edging.

This 'sweet' design from Berry Red costs £43 for a large tablecloth, £32 for a small one and it's neatly edged in red.

ECP Fairy Cakes tray

The Fairy Cakes tray, designed by Martin Wiscombe for ECP,looks pleasingly vintage whilst actually being brand new. Great if you like the look, but not the idea, of aged kitchenware.

There are cake tins, mugs and jugs to match the design and you can see the whole range here.

Marian World Globe

There is something undeniably classy about a globe and if it screams vintage style, so much the better.

Pedlars stocks a selection of antique globes, but if you want an up-to-date globe for homework help and general smartiness, then check out the Marian from After Noah.

It's illustrated to look like an antique, with beautiful muted colours, but is a modern globe. Perfect!

£48 from After Noah.

Gladiola Dessert Coupe

Anthropologie is one of my favourite fantasy-shopping hang outs. The site now delivers to the UK, making that pass time infinitely more dangerous.

This vintage-style dessert bowl comes in dusky pink, a light lime or pretty turquoise (pictured) and, despite its delicate appearance, is dishwasher and microwave safe. £5.05 each, available online.

French style flower trays

With the weather (finally) improving, it really is time to get out in the garden.

As my fingers are not exactly green (I prefer the sitting and admiring of beautiful gardens to the hard labour of weeding and planting), I shall have to rely on the pretty flowers on these vintage-style trays to brighten my patch.

They cost from £6.50 and come in three sizes from The New Eden.

Enchanted Broderie Anglaise bed linen

This simple white bedding set from Tesco is 100% cotton but costs just under thirty quid. Although I love colour, there is something - yes - enchanting about crisp white bed linen. Plus, it's the perfect base for any number of pretty cushions, blankets, quilts or bedspreads...

Circus quilt kit from Buttonberry

I'm thoroughly enjoying Kirstie's Handmade Home, how about you? Kirstie is such a warm and enthusiastic presenter and there have been some truly beautiful projects and crafts on the show.

Most of the crafts (glass blowing, iron work, cake decoration) are probably beyond my skill and time - and cash - but I loved the idea of quilting (Episode 4, catch up at 4OD here). Firstly, I have a sewing machine and basic needlework skills. Plus, I am a fabric junkie. In fact, I can't believe I've never considered quilt-making before...

When trying something new, I'm all in favour of starting with a kit, and this cheerful Circus quilt from Buttonberry is calling to me... It's £28 and could be used as a picnic blanket or toddler's playmat as well as a cosy quilt.

Related: Fat quarter handbag

Elizabeth Cook bird decorations

Fabric hearts are a shabby chic staple, but I see no reason why pretty hanging birds cannot enter the mix.

These are made from felted wool (taken from old blankets and jumpers, so ethically very sound) by British designer Elizabeth Cook.

The birds are handmade and will vary slightly. They cost £4.50 each from Green Tulip.

Related posts: Bird and heart ribbon | Bird clothes pegs