Hunted and Stuffed Equestrian Cushion Featured on TV series GEORGE CLARKE’S AMAZING SPACES!

 

We’re thrilled to tell you that one of our Equestrian themed upcycled vintage cushions was selected to appear on last night’s TV episode of George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces on Channel 4!

For those of you not familiar with this programme, architect George Clarke presents a show that celebrates the extraordinary world of small design – from secret hideaways and space-saving retreats, to eco-friendly bolt holes and re-conditioned vehicles.

In this episode (series 2, episode 4), he meets Chloe Le Fay who magically transforms a smelly old horsebox into an absolutely stunning combined mobile shop for her vintage clothes business Crystal Vintage and living quarters. She managed this amazing feat on a shoestring budget and upcycled a variety of materials (many sourced for free) to create a real success story.

This is Gloria before the transformation.
Here she is after the conversion (with Mr George Clarke).
Here’s our Hunted and Stuffed Equestrian Cushion nestled behind an upcycled world map table.
Another view of the dining area – note the beautifulwooden cladding made with upcycled scrap wood.

If this is making you feel inspired about the possibilities of design on a budget or in a small space, check out Jane Field-Lewis’ ‘My Cool…’ brand at mycoolhomepage.com Jane is also the hugely creative force behind the Amazing Spaces series and books.

Already doing it? Get involved with the next series by emailing amazingspaces@plumpictues.co.uk

Join the conversation on Twitter….@huntedandstuffed @mycoolcaravan @mrgeorgeclarke @gcamazingspaces #amazingspaces

‘A Colourful Adventure’ – Upcycling project with Farrow & Ball, Purple Carrot and The Perching Post, London.

 

Last month I was approached by the lovely Lauren from Farrow & Ball, Richmond to collaborate on an exciting new upcycling project to support Purple Carrot, a community project based in Barnes.

Purple Carrot, the brainchild of Illana Adamson, upcycles furniture that would otherwise end up in landfill and aims to create a route for income for marginalised members of the community as well as create skills for the community as a whole.

‘A Colourful Adventure’
Farrow and Ball have just announced their gorgeous new 2013 colours

and have also produced this charming and whimsical little book about the adventures of some pieces of unwanted furniture and their upcycling journey.

(available here)

Using this book as inspiration, we soon found our own collection of pieces that were abandoned or on their way to landfill. Here they are just after we rescued them.

We began work at the Castlenau Community Centre in Barnes on the day of it’s grand re-opening after huge investment and rennovation.

Lots of members of the local community pitched in and we soon got sanding and priming.

Lauren and I get stuck in.

 Above left: Illana gives some advice to young helpers. Above right: Lauren tackles the hundreds of staples that needed removing from the wooden chair.

The new ‘YellowCake’ paint colour inspired cake made by Lauren – didn’t hang around long!

 

‘To Market’
Fast forward a few weeks and after much hard work the pieces were finally finished. Time to show them off in Duck Pond Market, Richmond.

The once staple-ridden chair was transformed with Yellowcake No. 279 (with a Hunted and Stuffed cushion).

This lovely little chest was painted in Dimpse No. 277 and had castors (spray painted red for contrast) added for a pop of colour. The handles were replaced with upcycled champagne corks.

The chair was painted with Nancy’s Blushes No. 278 and upholstered with a vintage kaftan featuring an amazing peacock design. This piece got reserved before it even got to market!

Lauren worked tirelessly on these drawers and made them look amazing with Stiffkey Blue No. 281 and some rescued brass handles and ‘windows’. The drawers are also lined with beautiful paper inside.
To the left is the little stool painted in St Giles Blue No. 280 with a vintage 70’s linen upholstered removable top and kid-friendly vintage hooks and fixtures for decoration.

This little stool was painted with Purbeck Stone No. 275 and the seat upholstered with a vintage feed sack textile from my stash.

This desk, painted in Mole’s Breath No. 276, was also lined inside with beautiful paper and the handles made with an upcycled leather belt and silver fixings.

Me with the Richmond Farrow and Ball ladies.

Illana and Lauren have a well earned sit-down.

‘The Perching Post’
Anna, proprietor of The Perching Post in Barnes, has kindly offered her support by hosting a pop-up shop where our pieces are currently available for sale. All monies raised will go to support the Purple Carrot project.

The Perching Post specialises in reintroducing items of furniture for the home which would otherwise end up in landfill. They add colour and rejuvenate them to make them attractive and functional. They also stock a range of quirky homeware, supporting local designers and goods made in GB. Do pop in!

The pieces are also available to buy from the Perching Post online store. Hurry though, they won’t be there for long!

Happy upcycling.
Ellie x

‘Creating The Vintage Look’ Book Launch and Pop-Up Shop at The Old Cinema, London.

 

Exciting news! – My first book ‘Creating The Vintage Look – 35 ways to upcycle for a stylish home’ is being published worldwide by Cico Books this month.

To celebrate the launch, we’ve teamed up with The Old Cinema in Chiswick to hold a free exhibition of unique upcycled vintage furniture and homeware projects featured in the book.

The Old Cinema is just that: a picture palace dating from the 1890s which has been refurbished to become London’s only antiques, vintage, and retro department store. They are at the forefront of the upcycling movement in the UK and we are thrilled that they are hosting our book launch exhibition and pop-up shop.

There will also be a Hunted and Stuffed Pop-Up Shop where you can find the latest unique pieces by this luxury upcycled vintage homeware brand.
Copies of the book will also be on sale.

VENUE:
The Old Cinema
160 Chiswick High Road
London W4 1PR

020 8995 4166
www.theoldcinema.co.uk
(nearest Tube station: Turnham Green)

OPENING HOURS:
FRIDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER 10AM – 6PM
SATURDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER 10AM – 6PM
SUNDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER 12 – 5PM

Free Entry
(Exhibition on ground floor – step-free access)

About the book

Dulwich Open House 2012

 

This weekend it’s Dulwich Open House for May 2012. Hunted and Stuffed have been hanging out at Jo from Mot Du Jour’s beautiful house along with lots of other designer/makers. I took some photos to share with you of some of the goodies and people behind them from this fab weekend.

This is Rachael from Moth & Co with some of her lampshades made from vintage fabrics and silk scarves. I love her fairy light shades below. Always nice to meet a fellow upcycler!
This is Joy from Random Retail holding one of her latest vintage-inspired cushion designs.
Lovely vintage finds from The OK Corral
Jane Cumberbatch of Pure Style fame with her new cook book. (Loving her pure style linen tea towels!)
Going down stairs….
Oh look, some upcycled tea towel cushions!
Mot Du Jour’s vintage goodies, loving the little yellow lampshades on the top shelf.
These boots are Jo’s definition of “Vintage”.
Lovely Nel from Nel’s Cakes – as you can see she is nearly sold out. Speaks for itself!
Out in the garden now, the rain held off for us.

Yesterday the shop run by the kids from the garden shed was open for business and doing a roaring trade but sadly today, according to the sign, it is “Closd”.

Next outing for H&S will be the official Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in Battersea Park, London where we will have a stall in the Etsy Marketplace on the 3rd June. Hope to see you there! x

Upcycled Exhibition @ The Old Cinema, London.

 

The Upcycled Exhibition at The Old Cinema, Chiswick is in full swing now until the 25th March 2012. I popped down to take some photos of the event which I wanted to share with you and give some love to the other exhibitors. There’s some really amazing upcycling going on!

Lucy Turner upcycled vintage furniture.
http://www.lucyturner.co

I love the surface design here with the layers of Graffiti just peeking through the paint.

Fabulous patchwork chairs by Kelly Swallow below.
http://kellyswallow.co.uk

Tube Map cushions upcycled from vintage Tea Towels by Hunted and Stuffed.
www.huntedandstuffed.com

I love the style of Ines Cole, here using vintage apple crates as a side table and wooden bobbins as lamp bases.
http://inescole.co.uk/

And here’s a repurposed tub used as a side table.

Bottle cap light and Vintage Ad Chest by Woodpop.
http://www.woodpop.co.uk

Upcycled Union Jack cushions by Revampt.
http://www.revampit.co.uk/

Old vinyl records cut into interesting new shapes for decoration.
The Queen’s Head must have been hard to cut out!

Coronation china turned into candles.

A beautiful table inlaid with American Yardsticks.

Old tennis racquets upcycled into wall mirrors.

Feather covered lampshade, this has a rifle as the lamp stand.

If you can, pop down and have a look!

The Old Cinema
160 Chiswick High Street
London
W4 1PR
http://www.theoldcinema.co.uk/

Hunted and Stuffed opens virtual stall on MAKERHOOD Brixton – a local shop for local people!

 
MAKERHOOD is an amazing new website which connects local makers in Brixton and environs in SW London with local buyers.
It’s like an anti-Tesco conceived and made by volunteers.
A Hyper-local Etsy where you can meet your buyer to hand deliver your product and maybe have a coffee too.
In Beta, it’s growing day by day and creating new communities as it goes. Rolling out to your town soon?
Have a look here.
I was lucky enough to be selected for a “Meet The Makers” interview on the site so click here if you want to know a bit more about Hunted and Stuffed or where to find the friendliest coffee in Brixton.
Makerhood
x