This month’s Styling the Seasons is a little different to previous months as lovely Laura Ashley got in touch and very kindly offered some of the bloggers who regularly take part in our monthly styling challenge a few pieces from the new SS15 collection to use in February’s posts. On the 10th and 11th of February you will be able to see the twelve blog posts on the Laura Ashley blog and you can vote for your favourite one (as an extra incentive to vote you will enter the hat to win a £50 Laura Ashley voucher).
So, what did I choose from the new collection for my styling this month? When I think about what February means to me the one thing that instantly comes to mind is love. I’m not a massive fan of Valentine’s Day from a romantic point of view but since Jules proposed to me on that day last year, it has become special to me. However, it has always been a day to show everyone around me that I love them, not exclusively my partner. I think this stems from my mum because she would always give us a Valentines Day card and present so I began doing the same for my friends and my sisters over the years. Therefore, my styling had to include my Valentine makes that I will be gifting this month so I chose some fabric and wallpaper to get crafty with.
I chose to style the antique bureau that I was given by my parents for my seventh birthday because this is where I keep all my sentimental bits and bobs and the things that my loved ones have given me like old letters, photographs and mementoes…
Valentine’s Day macarons for friends and family.
I chose to style the antique bureau that I was given for my seventh birthday because it is where I keep sentimental mementoes and February always makes me think of love. The mirror belonged to my grandmother.
I made some fabric envelopes for letters that I will send to friends and my sisters. I used Laura Ashley’s Clarissa print, pink gingham, scarlet gingham, and Geranium print.
Precious letters that were sent to me when I was a small child by my great aunty Vera and my grandparents who lived in Ireland. I made some glittery tags for Valentine’s presents that are covered in Laura Ashley Geranium wallpaper and glitter.
I have a little bundle of mementoes that I have collected since Jules and I have been together, including postcards from places we have visited, menus from special meals we’ve had, hotels we’ve stayed in, cards we’ve given each other. The nostalgia from looking through this bundle is so much stronger than photographs of those events.
I covered little gift boxes in Laura Ashley’s Geranium wallpaper for Valentines gifts of chocolates and macarons.
My little drawer of special things including the cork of the bottle of wine that I gave to Jules the month after we met. I bought the wine in France after a wine tasting holiday and I was told not to drink it for at least three years. Jules and I drank it last year on Valentine’s Day after he proposed.
I will post a tutorial to show you how to make the fabric envelopes as they are very simple but so sweet. You could even get fancy and embroider the name of the recipient on the front of the envelope.
So, what does February mean to you? I can’t wait to see your Styling the Seasons shots – just post them on any social media platform and use the #stylingtheseasons hashtag and don’t forget to tag me and Charlotte of Lotts and Lots.
Hope to see you over on the Laura Ashley blog on the 10th and 11th of February and don’t forget to vote for your favourite styling (mine, right?!).
Katy x
P.S. See my Styling the Seasons posts for: September, October, November, December and January. Also, you can see all of the Styling the Seasons blog posts (nearly 200 of them now!) on my Pinterest board.
Beautiful styling, as always 🙂
Particularly love the fabric envelopes. Really simple idea but with an embroidered name could look stunning! Looking forward to having a play with that this week!!
Ax
Thank you, Annabel! Tutorial for the envelopes will be posted on Wednesday – I wish I’d had time to embroider the names, it would look so pretty xx
Beautiful Katy…such soft pretty styling & very much looking forward to a tutorial on the fabric envelopes, what a great idea! Adore your trinkets and the stories you share about your props, it makes for a lovely read. Look forward to sharing my Feb mantle soon x
Really glad you enjoyed reading it, Jessica. So look forward to seeing your post! X
The fabric envelopes are lovely. Happy February! I got married in February last year (not on Valentine’s Day!) so this month is really special to me x
Ah! Your first wedding anniversary this month? How exciting xx
Oooo so feminine! I love the fabric envelopes! x
It is quite girly, isn’t it? Not really my usual style – think I got carried away with all the love 😉 x
I’m new to your blog, thanks to Laura Ashley who tweeted this post. I’m having a wonderful time browsing your past posts. I love your ideas – not the usual tired looks.
Ali x
Welcome, Ali, and thank you so much for your wonderful comment. I hope you continue to enjoy my blog x
Gorgeous styling! I absolutely love those hydrangeas — such a delicate color.
Can I tell you a secret? The Hydrangea is made of silk but it is very pretty, isn’t it? 😉 xx
How lovely and sentimental. All your little bits and the stories behind them are so real but beautiful at the same time.x
Thank you, Lennie! I try not to have too much ‘stuff’ so what I do have is very sentimental xx
I love these – so gorgeous! I’m still soooo jealous of your light. Love the fabric you used too. X
Ha! It has been a struggle the last few weeks, believe me! I’m just lucky that my living room has windows on both sides of the room – the rest of the flat is very dark at the mo. Roll on spring, I say! x
Love your bureau and the subtle pinks and reds here x
Thank you, lovely x
Gorgeous photos. Those hydrangeas are so beautiful! I’m looking forward to joining in this week after finding your blog through the Lovely Drawer x
Yay! I’m so pleased you want to join in – very much looking forward to seeing your styled surface xx
This is beautiful Katy! I loved reading the stories behind your mementoes. I said it before on Insta but I really love that mirror!The flower frame is gorgeous.
Thank you so much, Ruth x
Such pretty styling, I really love the simple photo with the hydrangea on top of your gorgeous bureau. I’ve taken my photos today, yay, which means I’ll actually get them posted without hours to go this month, well that’s the plan at least xx
Thank you, Emma. I always look forward to your posts xx
Katy, this is so lovely! I love your photos & all the little stories & memories around it all x
Thank you, lovely x
love the dresser, i have one similar coming to our new house soon from the 70’s 🙂 love your blog! xx