Lovely Things

Cute camper van tea-towels from Kitty & Polly

Regular readers will know that I do have a bit of a thing for nice tea-towels (blame my mother, she's more obsessed than I and clearly passed on the gene). They're an inexpensive way to brighten up your kitchen, and make, let's face it, a rather boring chore that little bit more interesting. This summery duo from newly-opened online gifts and accessories store Kitty & Polly combines the iconic, charmingly hippy VW Kombi van with a traditional beach scene of beach huts (that very sought-after summer commodity, now out of the price range of mere mortals). Available in baby blue and pink, the towels are 100% cotton, designed and produced right here in Blighty and cost just £4.50 each. As opening specials, Kitty & Polly is offering free shipping on orders over £40, and 10% off your next order when you register for their newsletter.

Pretty printed tea-towels

In my new flat I have a brand new kitchen, and so I don't want to spoil it with old tea-towels that, frankly, have seen better days. So I'm on a tea-towel mission at the moment and want something pretty but a bit different to the usual range of kitchen-themed motifs. The three towels above all have lovely subdued colouring and interesting patterns (and lots of green, which, as you know, is my colour of the moment), and look lovely and fresh for summer. Read on to find out more... 

Green and white cup and saucer from Mit Hus

Oh dear, I think I'm in love. I'm sure you're thinking that this is no bad thing, but the problem is, it's tableware I'm in love with, and I just don't know if I have the room for any more. The current object of my affection is this beautiful chartreuse green and white cup and saucer. I love cups with the decoration on the inside, and this subtle green crackle glaze is the perfect foil to the creamy matt white on the outside. It's just £4.50 from fab Scandanavian-stocked UK store Mit Hus.

Craigslist roundup: table, wicker chairs, vintage metal drawer unit

We've had eBay roundups on Lovely Things before, and when I was noodling around on Craigslist today, I saw a few items worth mentioning in the furniture listings. I actually rather want all these items myself, but as I've recently moved, I'm trying to shed furniture, instead of buying new pieces, so best I share these finds with you!

I'm a big fan of chunky rustic tables, and this French country-style wooden table is a great price at just £150. The honey colour and the big wide planks are very attractive, and it would make a lovely kitchen table if you have the room. Collect from Notting Hill, London.

Five wedding gifts for £30 and under

Ah yes, the wedding season is upon us. While many brides and grooms opt for a wedding registry or gift list, some rather you give them a gift chosen by you. It can be really tricky finding something appropriate, without breaking the bank, so here's a quick look at five great glassware and tableware gifts for £30 and under.

Cupcake/Fairy Cake Kitchen & Dining

I thought it was appropriate to start the new year with something sweet (did you overindulge during the festive season? I did). If you're going for the shabby chic look, or want a girly touch in the kitchen (hmm, that sounds ruder than it was meant to), these fairy cake/cupcake decorated items would be just the thing. The hook comes in four different designs and is made of metal (£2.95), the cute 'tea & cakes' placemats are laminated for easy cleaning and cork-backed to protect your table (£8.95 a set of four), and if you want to go all out, how about using these paper napkins as well (£1.95 for a set of 20).

Matalan Orchid Jug

This pretty jug looks like it's wearing a corsage. It has a lovely country feel, but the addition of the orchid - not such a traditional country-style flower - gives it a fresher feel. It's £8 from Matalan, but there's not much info on the website, so you'll need to trek down to a store for more details.

Related: Minimalist Black Vase from Tesco | Gift Guide: £10 and under | Matalan Christmas Gift Wrap

Retro Toaster - I Love Toast

When I first saw this fabulously retro toaster, all I noticed was the great colours and styling. It wasn't until I had a proper look at all the details that I realised it also toasts 'I love you' on all your slices. Very kitsch! While I'm not too sure how I feel about sentimental breakfast foods, I do love the toaster itself. It would go very nicely with your vintage style colander and 50s-inspired appliances. It's available in turquoise as shown and is £20.

Related: Fabulous chairs by Aiveen Daly | Pink kitchen appliances | Ceramic hanging tealight holder

Pink Kitchen Colanders

Our feature on pink appliances for your kitchen is one of our most popular posts - people just love that colour! And of course, as I am here only to serve our lovely readers, I just had to show you a few fabulous pink colanders that have caught my eye...

Clockwise from bottom left: Maxwell & Williams light pink colander (£11.95), shocking pink colander from Typhoon (large £10), Typhoon pale pink colander (£10), fuchsia pink colander from Matalan (£5).

Related: Lovely Things: Vintage Style | Pink kitchen appliances | Ingenious chopping board

Ikea 'Tripp' Kitchen Tins

Want a little whimsy in the kitchen? Check out these cute storage tins from Ikea with hand-drawn style designs. They come as a set of three for just £1.99 and can be nested inside one another when not in use to save space. I must say, I'm quite intrigued as to what the smallest is depicting - a teabag down a drainpipe? Anyone?