Annie Sloan Paint Workshop at Home Barn

A proper, tech free day off is a real rarity for me lately but last Saturday I left my Mac behind and drove down to Home Barn in Little Marlow to spend the morning having fun at an Annie Sloan paint workshop.

Home Barn is quite simply my favourite vintage destination right now. I'd actually just like to move in there and potter around re-arranging stuff as the mood takes me... but on this occasion, I was there to paint.

My company for the session included two of my all-time favourite lifestyle bloggers, Will of Bright Bazaar and Natasha of Candy Pop Images as well as two of my best pals Claire of Bad-Fiction and Lizzie of Mummy in Manolos. 

We listened, we talked, we painted wall hangings, we drank gin (at 11am.... on a Saturday) and we giggled away.

Then things got competitive - even though we were told that it wasn't a competition. 

Give a blogger a vintage stool and a selection of paints and the pressure's on. Who was going to create a masterpiece?

I went for yellow. Not sure why, as I don't have anything else that's yellow but it seemed like a good idea to me.

We painted, sanded, aged, waxed and left to dry, before styling and shooting.

The result. A pretty awesome pile of stools. Yes that's mine on the top. 

Top stool...

A very big thank you to the guys at Home Barn for such a fab morning and to Lizzie for being - well for just being Lizzie.

Home Barn are showcasing their very first pop-up at Cybher™ on 1st June and Natasha of Candy Pop will sharing her expertise in the 'Living the Lifestyle Dream' session. There are a few Cybher™tickets still available - but only a few.

I've already spotted our fabulous stools popping up on Bright Bazaar and Candy Pop. I think we will be seeing a lot more of them!

Here's mine...

BlytheCon 2012

I collect. There I've said it. When I think back I realise I've always been a collector. It started with novelty soaps when I was about 9 and kind of grew from there.

The soaps are long gone but the collections are still growing. Ladybird books, 60's Big Eye art, kitsch toys, hearts and Blythe dolls. I'm obsessive about them all but Blythe is the centre piece.
Though a 70's throw back, the original Blythe was way ahead of her time. Her big head and colour changing eyes just didn't catch on and Kenner retired her from production at the end of 1972 after less than a year on the market.

Twenty eight years later, thanks to American photographer and doll collector, Gina Garan Blythe was to be reborn and the rest as they say, is history.

Since 2001 Blythe has been produced by CWC and manufactured by Takara who are currently releasing around 12 new dolls every year.

Her quirky looks are now celebrated around the world and she's become way more than a children's doll. She's sassy, stunning, beautiful and a photographers dream. She's clocked up pages of editorial in Vogue and had tiny replica outfits created for her by some of the worlds leading designers including John Galliano, Prada, Gucci, Vivienne Westwood, Issey Miyake, Versace, Sonia Rykiel and Alexander McQueen.

On Saturday the UK Blythe massive came together for the second annual BlytheCon event.  Hundreds of Blythe lovers and their girls together in one place is a sight to behold. Its a doll lovers dream with mini everything to tempt your money from your pocket.

Next year Blythe turns 40 and she'll be celebrating with a massive knees up in October. Keep your eyes on the BlytheCon site for ticket information - but don't leave it too late, the last two events sold out. Fast.

These girls are all from my collection.