Design!

With the end of wedding season looming, I'm all set for a bit of me time!

It's been my first full wedding season since opening the shop, after having caught the tail end when we opened last year I couldn't even have imagined how busy it was going to be! It's been hard work, with massive ups and downs but now it's finally calming down I couldn't feel more inspired to be cracking on with some design work!

I'm currently in major need of some good sleep, a hair overhaul, a bath and maybe a little holiday! However, today I have been drafting up my pattern blocks ready to get cracking on some brand new designs both for weddings and beautiful recycled dresses.

Amazing studio!
(http://statigr.am/p/476067668838198123_2062441)

Throughout Uni, the design and pattern cutting aspect is always what I enjoyed most. I've always been a bit of math geek and enjoy solving problems (mathematical ones, not such an agony aunt!). Having never quite gotten the hang of draping, pattern cutting really is down to mathematics, working out how to create a shape by manipulating the fabric then recreating it on paper.

I'd love to eventually do some workshops on pattern cutting, getting the basics of dart manipulation for all you lovely sewers to create your own patterns!

I'll post some photos from design to patterns to final pieces soon!

xoxo

♥

Shine on you crazy diamond

The new store is officially launched and it looks great. Last weekend Cardiff's Castle Arcade welcomed Hubbard's Cupboard with a big smile, and in return we introduced our brilliant suppliers, seasoned the party with tasty macaroons from Marmalade Cookery School, and invited everyone to have a go at making beautiful pom-poms with Helen!

As was to be expected, the new store features loads of up-cycling and re-purposing decorative ideas, and today I am going to share one of them with you guys!

How to make a collection of miscellaneous lampshades.

Hubbard's Cupboard hat lampshades.

A web of quirky lampshades is currently shining over our store. Looking up to our ceiling you'll find not only up-cycled vintage lampshades, but also hats and plant pots!

To make your own quirky lampshade you'll need:

- a light bulb fitting cord with ceiling cup;

- a hat or a cute plant pot to serve as lampshade;

- A drill and the correct drill bit for the your lampshade of choice (masonry drill bit is needed for china!);

Instructions:

Drill a hole on your hat/plant pot. The opening should be the size of the opening of the fixture you have bought. Unscrew your fixture, place the lampshade in between and screw is back together. If you are using a hat, make sure that the bulb won't touch any part of the fabric (the high temperature of the electric bulb might set the fabric on fire). We recommend using an upside down ceiling place inside the hat!

Finally you just have to secure the ceiling cup using a drill! Easy :)

Back to the future

Shell and I went back in time - sadly not driving a DeLorean - to those hectic days that preceded our store's grand opening. Remember? Painting, decorating, testing, assembling... Well, we are happy to announce that we're doing it all over again, because it is time to move forward and dream bigger!

In a matter of weeks Hubbard's Cupboard will be living under the emblematic roof of the Castle Arcade! We will be sharing yet another awesome space with Shell, who is going to be in charge of our mega wedding emporium.

Hubbard's Cupboard will remain faithful to its ethos and will welcome a much wider selection of must-haves that you must check out! I am very happy to invite all of you guys to our grand opening, which will be taking place on the 29th.

Believe me, it will be hard to miss us, and impossible to resist us. There will be flashy Lindy Hop dance shows, delicious sweet treats and crafty workshops. You know the place. See you there?

Recycling, upcycling, repurposing.

By now I trust you've already noticed our overwhelming passion for upcycling and repurposing all kinds of "waste" and unwanted objects. This way of doing things has quickly evolved into a lifestyle, and now we find ourselves applying it to nearly everything that we do and produce. So, for those that aren't very familiar with these relatively new eco terms I'm going to try to explain them very quickly.

Let's take, for example, a shabby old chair. If you want to recycle it, you'd have to shred it down to it's raw material - wood - and then use that material to make something else. Yes, recycling helps us to reduce the amount of raw materials that we extract from nature, but it is not an entirely ecological activity, because it involves (in most cases) complex industrial processes.

Let's say you are happy with the overall design of the chair, and just want to upgrade its look - in that case upcycling is the thing to do! Strip down the old paint, cover the seat with a funky new material, add embellishments and give it a new soul while keeping its basic structure!

If, however, you are not interested in changing how the chair looks but what the chair does, repurposing¹ is the word! Who says that you can only use a chair to sit on? Who says that a box can never become a bookcase? Yes sir, a VHS case can indeed become a shelve! A cheese grater makes a great lamp shade, and a wine rack makes a great display for accessories! You just have to use your imagination.

I hope these definitions inspire you to look at wasted objects from a new perspective, but if you'd rather have some "hands on" inspiration just pop into our shop and have a look around. At Hubbard's Cupboard you'll find not only stacks of awesome eco-minded products, but also fresh upclycling and repursosing decoration ideas! You're more than welcome to pop in :)

¹ A lot of people might argue that upcycling and repurposing are the same thing, but I disagree. The first one involves transformation and the second only requires imagination.

And now for something... kinda cute!

I think it is about time we had a little Hubbard’s Cupboard spot here on our blog!

As you well know by now, Hubbard’s Cupboard is not just a store. It is a meeting place, a movie theater, a mini concert venue and a workshop for all things vintage and quirky. Inside this creative hub live together all sorts of suppliers and artisans, who we will be introducing here, one by one, every week!

Today we'll begin with Something Kinda Cute, a design business created by Shell, our friend and partner in crime – you know Shell, right? SKC specializes in quirky and creative wedding stationery. When they are not designing personalized invites, they are planning events, showcasing at fairs, building new ideas, and even wining awards!

With such hyper-active talent driving the business, no wonder SKC grew into an established and well-regarded brand, with clients spread all over the UK. Shell is also in charge of the Little Wedding Emporium at Hubbard's Cupboard! So, if you'd like to check out SKC's latest designs and browse for unique wedding items just pop in for a visit!

xo xo

Love is in the air

Hubbard's Cupboard has gone into Valentines mode with Something Kinda Cute's irresistible kissing booth! So grab your other half and pop in for a smooch and a pic!

Advent Art

We’re loving the Christmassy feel around Cardiff and with the temperatures dropping it’s time everyone else started feeling the Christmas spirit too! Alongside our Handmade Christmas Campaign, we’ve obviously made our Christmas a very Handmade one indeed. We’ve been busy making lots of little bits for the shop and we decided every shop needs an advent calendar!

Rolling with our very ‘natural’ Christmas theme, we’ve stuck to hessian, lace, cinnamon and flowers. The natural brown and cream colors aren’t necessarily associated with Christmas, but I think that’s what makes it look so special!

We covered a board with hessian, popped it in a vintage frame and strung some lovely vintage lace across. Each tag has been pegged onto the lace, individually done with numbers on the back ready to turn around each day!

Hope you like it! Would love to see your advent calendars this Christmas, who opts for something a little different (and less sugary!)?

Christmas at the Cupboard

In our little store, we can’t do anything but go all out and I’ve been SUPER excited about getting it all ready for the holiday season!

We have been running our ‘Handmade Christmas Campaign’ for about 2 weeks now, getting everyone involved and supporting the handmade scene in Cardiff as well as the wonderful charity Ty Hafan! So we decided to handmake our windows and pretty much all of our amazing decorations (except the lights - not sure I’d trust myself making the fairy lights!)

So here it is, our beautiful little store in all it’s Christmas glory!

Our windows are full of handmade snowflake decorations cut from your standard A4 white paper and some music paper mixed in! Also our pinwheels decoration add an amazing background to the display, I will be submitting my tutorial for them to the handmade Christmas campaign very soon! We have also made some super cute mini ones for the tree to sell in aid of Ty Hafan.

As well as these, we’ve adorned some re-cycled glass jars (anything from the fridge will do!) with hessian and lace to put in the front of the window with flickering (not real) tea lights!

I’m also in love with our vintage doily bunting and twig decoration over the counter! It looks amazing suspended with some beautiful decorations hanging from it.

I can’t wait for Amy Davies of ‘The Cardiff Arcade’s project’ to come back in and take some amazing photo’s.. Mine don’t quite do it justice!

What more could you ask for? Honestly!!

Get what you really want this Christmas… Purchase here or in store :)  

It’s been a while…

Its been a very long time since we’ve posted much at all on our E&W front!

We’ve had a very busy few weeks and a few busier ones coming up but not to worry we are still on the ball with our making and picking our lovely stock, tomorrow we will be swapping all of our stock over to our handpicked winter goodies!

We are mid wedding dress, mid bouquets and button holes, mid bridesmaid dresses and mid veil! It’s all coming together very nicely :)

Take a look at our most recent bouquet for Corrine - made from heirloom brooches complete with matching button holes for her beautiful wedding last month!

We will be getting our act together soon enough, it’s been a bit hectic since moving in and we’re playing catch up!

We’ve also organised a vintage movie night, super excited! Check HC’s facebook for more details and to book tickets!

These lovely girls were at Hubbard’s Cupboard today, handing out leaflets and sweeties to everyone - dressed in the very best of E&W handmade!

Making-of

Our hanging sign for outside our store has been made from 100% re-cycled floorboards! We white washed the boards and painted our little HC logo on both sides ♥

Recent News…

Still awaiting on our new little store Hubbard’s Cupboard, we have been trying to create and sort everything in time. Our items are in storage, pictures and almost ready to go onto our spanking new website coming soon.

We’ve also recently had the very talented Sarah join us on our eco mission, helping to up-cycle and will be helping us in store with up-coming collections. Check out what she’s been up to, we think its fab! She will be sending us updates of what she is up to so we can show everyone her creations!

We will have lots more amazing bit being posted up soon when we get down to business!

E&W ♥ 

It’s a day of W’s

Website, Weddings & Work

After a few major mishaps with the shop opening, a lot has had to be re-configured so here’s the new news, a vintage wedding fair!

We will be hosting a month long vintage wedding fair in the new shop, for wonderfully quirky traders to have the chance of a temporary location in the heart of Cardiff. Here’s the deets

Get in touch if you would like to attend/sell! We will be having lots of events over the 5 full weekends with lots to see, do and get involved with. DIY bride!

Also, here’s a sneak peek at the preliminary unedited home page of the website!!

We are opening a shop!! And we’re looking for wonderful talented artists and makers to show and sell with us in store. If you’re interested (or know anyone that will be) get in touch with us via e-mail

Sophie@hubbardscupboardonline.co.uk

Emma@hubbardscupboardonline.co.uk