Despite being from the country, a little shiver goes up my spine when I hear the words ‘country’ and ‘style’ in the same sentence. I have nightmares about knotty pine kitchens with pictures of pepperpots and geese on the tiles and I think a ‘this kitchen seasoned with love’ cross-stitch might actually make me cry. And yet, Country Living online has terribly cute upcycling ideas for old oars and tennis raquets. Love – all.

www.countryliving.com

These sweet spotty ceramics are the handy-work of Dutch artist Nina van de Goor. Created from new and vintage finds, each piece is screenprinted and fired at high temperatures – becoming fit for daily use. I’m sure my tea would taste much better in one of these.

Ninainvorm’s Etsy shop

If you, like me, have not only kept your girlish figure but added to it, you will be besotted by Melbourne’s Peta Pledger. She makes garments to gasp over and accessories to boot, in sizes 6 to 20 (oh yay). And if you ask very very nicely, she might even make you a custom dress.

www.petapledger.com

In the most glorious vintage-inspired swimmers by My Sister Pat in Ballarat. Fully lined cotton cossies with non-perishable rubber shirring in sizes small to extra large. Almost too divine to take a dip in.

www.mysisterpat.com.au

Kev lives in West Yorkshire and digs the earth. No, he’s not a farmer (boom tish) but he makes these most wonderful notecards under the moniker Dig the Earth. As green as they can be, with 100% recycled paper stocks and environmentally responsible printing techniques, even the clear bag they are packaged in is made from corn starch and is completely biodegradable and compostable. Dig it?

Dig the Earth on Etsy

At the end of a day where things just didn’t go to plan or any sort of timetable I had in mind at 8am, Blanca Gómez‘s cheery happy lala illustrations are almost as uplifting as a wee G&T. After all, it is the cosas mínimas that count.

www.cosasminimas.com