This week we have a treat for you, not one but two Londoners – well it is nearly Christmas! Plum and Sarah co-run Pinned it! Made it! Pinterest Parties, that’s right Pinterest parties – how very 2012. We catch a few words with the partners in crime below.
US: Hello lovely ladies! Tell us a little more about what it is you do in London…
Plum: I’m Victoria Bell but known to all of my friends and family as Plum. I work freelance in events and PR as well as running Plumdiddlyumcious.com – my visual diary and a lifestyle blog with a definite skew towards my three loves in life; food, fashion and fun! As a self-confessed eating obsessive and food enthusiast, you can expect to see plenty of restaurant and bar reviews as well as a lot of chatter about the Dalston Darlings, which I’m the Vice President of. I’m also the co-owner and creator of Pinned it! Made it! Pinterest Parties that I run with my Pinterest addicted partner in crime and fellow lover of upcycled bric-a-brac, Sarah …. known to her friends as Keith.
Sarah: I am the owner of HUNK hunkhome.com and blog at havingareallynicetime.com. I recently left a 10 year career in Events working at Channel 4 to set up my homewares business, Hunk. I upcycle vintage and second hand furniture and textiles into bright, colourful and punky homewares. I also co-run Pinned it! Made it!
US: Pinterest parties, imagine explaining that to our nanas! Can you tell us more about them..
Plum: Pinned it! Made it! Pinterest Parties were born out of a mutual frustration that there was never enough time in our busy schedules to actually create any of the projects that we were forever pinning on Pinterest. Our solution was to hold Pinterest Parties, a dedicated time in our diary each and every month where we’d get together at each other’s houses and craft the projects, and cook the recipes that we’d been pinning. Pretty soon our friends started asking if they could come, and our lounges became too small to cater for everyone! We realised we were onto a good thing so we decided to open it up to all and sundry, and that’s how Pinned it! Made it! began. We want everyone, no matter whether they’re a total craft newbie or a lifelong craftoholic to be able to come to our events and say, “Pinned It! Made It”!
US: That’s pretty impressive and if you think so too then hit up the next party which is taking place on Monday. And when you aren’t partying where can we find you?
Plum: Originally a country girl from Somerset I made the move to The Big Smoke 7 1/2 years ago and home is Hackney Downs where I live with my boyfriend, Mister Ruffles and my cat, Minou. There’s so much I love about Hackney including, in no particular order; Hackney Downs Studio – home to Street Feast (I’m a street-food junkie) and A-Side/B-Side Gallery where we hold our Pinned it! Made it! events, I love the vibrancy and authenticity of Ridley Road market, in fact all the local markets especially Netil and Chatsworth Road and the farmers market in Stoke Newington, my local Costcutter cornershop where the owners even know my name (its like Cheers but with more Rubicon and less Ted Danson) and finally, the fact that the other day I found a pair of teak dining table chairs ON THE STREET, no lie. It’s a running joke between Keith and I that the street-treasures in East London are second to none!
Sarah: I have lived in Stoke Newington for over 4 years since I moved to London (I’m a Yorkshire lass!), I knew straight away it would suit me – it’s a really vibrant, foodie, creative area and very much has that urban village feel, but at the same time it’s close enough to Dalston and Shoreditch so you have both underground parties and farmers markets on your doorstep! I’m very much a mixture of party girl and what we call ‘early nana’! A bit of house music, followed by some crafts, perfect! Other things I love about my area: early morning runs in Clissold park (as well as boozy picnics in the summer!), all the interior / gift shops on Church street, Ridley Road Market for my fruit and veg bargains and Columbia Road market for flowers and general loveliness.
US: Ooo we are neighbours, our HQ is in Stokey. Do you have any top tips for our readers? Places they should be visiting?
Plum: We’re both big fans of New Trimmings on Winsley Street, hands down the best haberdashers in London and where we’ve both been known to squeal at extreme high volumes over sew-on jewels, giant studs and lace trim! We also love Dalston Market fabrics on Ridley Road, run by a really friendly team. Another mutual favourite is the newly-opened and local-to-us boozer, The Clapton Hart in Clapton. I want to live there, the decor and theming is over-the-top fantastic, they serve an awesome roast and have a cracking real ale selection. For cocktails No.69 Colebrooke Row in Islington is superb, plus they use Somerset Cider Brandy which is made about 2 miles from my parents house scoring them top marks. I’m a big fan of the cocktail hour and go to Soho Wine Supply on Percy Street for all the ingredients I need to keep my vintage cocktail cabinet well-stocked and then scour the local charity shops for vintage cut glassware and decanters which I collect.
Sarah: On my doorstep – Testi Turkish in Stoke Newington, The Duke of Wellington in Dalston, the Scolt’s Head in de Beauvoir, the Worship St Whistling Shop and Lounge Bohemia in Shoreditch for amazing underground cocktails. Further afield – Bob Bob Ricard, Hawksmoor and The Wolesley for treats, as well as all the Sam Smiths old pubs around Fleet Sreet and Soho for cheap ale and a proper Victorian London pub experience. I also love Exmouth market for lunch, all the food stalls there are incredible. I always find some amazing bits of bric-a-brac, buttons and broken vintage jewellery to work into projects at Portobello Rd on a Sunday and I also love Ray Stitch on Essex Road for fabric and ribbons and I have got some amazing vintage crockery and fabric from Past Caring also on Essex Road.
US: Wow that’s a whole load of tips right there. One last question, tell us what your perfect day in London would be…
Plum: If I was given free reign to play dress-up and go rummaging through the vintage archives at Angels The Costumiers I’d die a happy gal. Failing that just leave me locked up in Neal’s Yard for the night with a bottle of port and some good company, I’d have the time of my life.
Sarah: I’m a simple girl, I don’t want much. I’d just like to live in Claridges for a week and have afternoon tea every day and have cocktail parties in my suite. It’s the most opulent place I’ve ever eaten at, and as a 1920’s obsessive the art deco architecture and interiors make me salivate! It’s just so old money and glamorous I honestly think I could while away a week just swanning around in there! I would have to bring some crafts with me though, just in case I got bored…
Claridges sounds pretty good to us. If you fancy getting involved with Plum and Keith then the next Pinned it! Made it! Pinterest Party is on December 18th at A-Side B-Side Gallery in Hackney Downs Studios at 7pm – 9:30pm. For £10 you get all the materials and help you’ll need to make your own Christmas crackers, plus a homemade jam-jar cocktail and some post-work nibbles to enjoy whilst you get your craft on. So at the end of the evening you can say “Pinned it! Made it!”. Tickets available here.