Designer Desire: Natasha Newton

Montage of Natasha Newton artworks

I love these paintings by Natasha Newton; the fields of fluffy sheep, flock of birds above and little white-washed house with its smoking chimney sitting in the landscape on its own reminds me of our home.

Her mixed media artworks are a little bit folk art and are very, very charming. She sells original paintings, prints, greeting cards and postcards. Sign up to her mailing list to be among the first to hear of new works available.

The lightness of texture and touch in her acrylic and gouache paintings makes them look like they’re textile pieces.

She demonstrates her process and methods in the short film below…

Pay a visit to her Instagram stream to see lots more of her work!

All images © Natasha Newton

Price Points: Sentry sheds

Sentry sheds

Since moving into our cottage almost 3 years ago, we already bought a new garden shed to store all the DIY tools, paint and other materials that we use for the renovation and decoration. But I’ve said before, give us a space, and we’ll fill it. That’s what’s happened with that outdoor storage.

We’ve long felt that we need a separate space to store our gardening gear; the tools, the seed trays, the compost and the plant food. One of these small sentry sheds is the answer!

Sheds don’t come cheap, the cheapest one is £150. However, at that price you get a sentry shed that’s too small to store a broom or a leaf rake; it’s only 63cm at its widest point.

The mid-range model is 93cm wide – so it can fit broom, rake, fork and shovel with ease. And, like the cheap version, it has a trio of corner shelves to put small things we’d need readily to hand such as secateurs, plant labels and ball of garden string.

The top-end example is really lovely – and I like the choice of shingle or corrugated tin roof and the proper door handle. However, if I’m spending that much money on outdoor storage, I’d rather invest in a greenhouse. But – more on that subject next week!

  1. Airwave Bideford tool shed – natural: £150.00, Wilko

    Made from highly durable Chinese fir wood obtained from managed sources offers weather resistance. It has a heavy grade mineral roofing felt and a wooden drop latch, so you can rest assured that your garden tools and equipment will be kept secure from rain, wind, and snow. Self-assembly required. Supplied flat packed. Colour: Natural. Dimensions: Internal: H125 x W63 x D43cm, Large Door: H123 x W51cm, Small Door: H25 x W35cm.

  2. BillyOh tall sentry box outdoor store 3×2: £219.00, eBay
  3. Traditional sentry store: from £2,373.00, the Garden Trellis Co.

    The Sentry Store comes complete with your choice of an extremely realistic faux lead GRP roof, traditional WRC shingles or a corrugated tin roof. A part glazed front door is also available as an option. There is a locking system for added security as standard. The Thermowood* can be left natural or a painted option is available using one of our 8 paint colours

shop sentry sheds

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Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Traditional sentry store
Traditional sentry store
from £2,373.00
BillyOh tall sentry box outdoor store 3×2
BillyOh tall sentry box outdoor store 3×2
£219.00
Airwave Bideford tool shed – natural
Airwave Bideford tool shed – natural
£150.00
Traditional sentry store
Traditional sentry store
from £2,373.00
BillyOh tall sentry box outdoor store 3×2
BillyOh tall sentry box outdoor store 3×2
£219.00
Airwave Bideford tool shed – natural
Airwave Bideford tool shed – natural
£150.00
Traditional sentry store
Traditional sentry store
from £2,373.00
BillyOh tall sentry box outdoor store 3×2
BillyOh tall sentry box outdoor store 3×2
£219.00
Airwave Bideford tool shed – natural
Airwave Bideford tool shed – natural
£150.00
Traditional sentry store
Traditional sentry store
from £2,373.00
BillyOh tall sentry box outdoor store 3×2
BillyOh tall sentry box outdoor store 3×2
£219.00
Airwave Bideford tool shed – natural
Airwave Bideford tool shed – natural
£150.00
Traditional sentry store
Traditional sentry store
from £2,373.00
BillyOh tall sentry box outdoor store 3×2
BillyOh tall sentry box outdoor store 3×2
£219.00
Airwave Bideford tool shed – natural
Airwave Bideford tool shed – natural
£150.00

Why employees demand a robust environmental policy and what companies can do about it

Why employees demand a robust environmental policy and what companies can do about it

A recent survey carried out by Unily found that 83% of workers thought their employers weren’t doing enough to make sure that the workplace was eco-friendly. 65% of employees said that they’d rather work for a company that had a robust environmental policy. If offices and workplaces were more sustainable they’d only cut down on their energy consumption, but also make choices that were better for the planet. If you run your own business, there are many changes that you can make within the workplace that are more green and sustainable. This will ultimately make it a better environment in which to work.

Office cleaning

Many of the cleaning products used in offices and workspaces contain chemicals and toxins that are harmful to the environment. Bleach, ammonia, air fresheners, antibacterial products and any cleaning spray with an artificial fragrance are generally toxic. Research done by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that 53% of air fresheners also damage your lungs if they are inhaled. Common ingredients include sodium laureth sulfate, triethanolamine and PEG compounds – all known carcinogens. If you have a large workspace, using a professional company that specialises in green cleaning is a good idea. This will minimise the impact that cleaning has on the environment. If you’re responsible for cleaning, swap harmful cleaning agents for natural alternatives. Use only recyclable paper products and reusable mops, dusters and micro-fibre cloths for cleaning.

Water consumption

Many offices and workplaces have large water bottle coolers for staff to use. Once they’ve been used, the majority of the plastic bottles will end up in landfill – plastic takes 450 years to biodegrade, and in the meantime the Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) seeps into the soil and the water, ultimately ending up in rivers and oceans. An easy alternative is good old fashioned tap water. You could also invest in a filter jug for staff to use, so that the water tastes better. The filters need replacing every 6 months, but this creates far less waste than using water coolers.

A paperless office

For the vast majority of communication between staff, clients and customers, there’s no need for paper. In your workplace environmental policy, set targets for reducing the amount of paper and set up limitations for office supplies, printing, packaging and marketing materials. Delegate someone in the workplace to be a “paperless champion”, helping to motivate others. Within the workplace, make full use of emails, digital signature software and PDFs to share information and communications. You can also move to digital financial statements with all your clients and suppliers. Where you do absolutely have to use paper, make sure that recycling is promoted.

Making the workplace a more sustainable and eco-friendly place is everyone’s responsibility. Limiting the use of paper and plastic and using green cleaning supplies can help to protect the environment for the future.

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Auction alert: Horse drawn implements, barn machinery

Leyland Sherpa pick-up

This week’s Auction Alert is a mouthful – Horse Drawn Implements, Barn Machinery, Tractors, Lorries, Seats, Plates, Dairy Equipment, Bottles and Tools.

The sale is being held by H J Pugh & Co on the 27th April 2022 from 10am and there will be 407 lots coming under the hammer. Although the auctioneers are based in Herefordshire, the venue is located in Alnwick, Northumbria.

There are dozens of lots of antique horse-drawn implements and machinery such as turnip cutters, cake breakers, potato riddlers and furrow bouters.

It’s not our usual fare, agricultural sundries, but there are a few gems that would look great in a country house, garden or man cave setting.

Room and absentee bids incur a 6% inc. VAT buyer’s fee. Bidding live (or leaving an autobid) on the H J Pugh & Co website incurs the same 6% inc. VAT buyer’s fee. You can also bid via EasyLiveAuction where there’ll be a further pre-payable fee of £3.00 or 3% buyer’s premium.

There isn’t much in the way of lot descriptions and there are no condition reports or estimates, so have a good look at the photos provided and set yourself a budget for each item that you’re interested in.

Pair of wooden cart wheels

Lot 171: Pair of wooden cart wheels

Leyland Sherpa pick-up

Lot 195: Leyland Sherpa pick-up
1978. 4046 miles showing. Starts, runs, restored, barn stored, 1800cc diesel. Reg. FUS 190S. V5

Esso and Shell oil jugs

Lot 226: Esso and Shell oil jugs

5 Gallon Gamages motor oil can

Lot 232: 5 Gallon Gamages motor oil can

Enamel sign - Wakefield Castrol

Lot 328: Enamel sign – Wakefield Castrol 18×19″

Tin sign - Bentall Farm and Barn Machinery

Lot 332: Tin sign – Bentall Farm and Barn Machinery 36×24″