Freckles & Frolics: Alternative Valentines gifts -Upcycling Emporium

Flowers are over-rated and most women treat themselves to a chocolate or two every night (omg, no we don't) so why not treat your girlfriend/wife/girl yo crushin' on to something a little different. Show you pay an interest to their interests and hobbies. Buy them something that will make them feel as special as they make you feel (pass the sickbag!) In this series, the first of my new blog, I will be bringing you struggling Casanovas a few ideas starting off with this beauty.

Upcycling Emporium

Vintage and up-cycled items have become a must-have trend in the past few years, not only for it's quirkiness in the fashion industry but during the recession it is what most of us could afford. Birmingham based Upcycling Emporium have taken this trend on board and breathe new life into what most would consider old crap, creating new and unique pieces, ranging from chairs to desks to shelves to tables.

I find the items are beautifully redesigned with an added touch of colour and a dash of va-va-voom, ideal for bedrooms, living rooms and offices. Kooky one-off pieces ideal for that kooky woman in your life.

Speaking to it's founder, Ryan Howell, I got a little background on this wonderment.

"The Upcycling Emporium started after an impulse purchase of ten coffee sacks. I loved the way the designs looked on the sacks and was confident I could re-purpose them in some way.

I made most of them into new covers for chairs and seats and they looked great.

I then got the bug. I then realised that there was so many things to be done to old and tired pieces of furniture and that it, on the whole, promoted environmentally friendly practices."

They don't just limit their selves to furniture, some of their most popular items are their framed destination blinds. Typically from old buses and trains and look much better than cheap reproductions. Most buses and trains now operate LED destination signs, so these items are also a piece of history. We have hundreds of destinations from all over the country. We frame each destination individually. They've been sold for use in pubs, hotels and the home. They look great anywhere. The benefit of these is that time goes on, we believe they'll become more and more sought after.

Such an item would be ideal for Valentines. A city/place you have visited together, maybe where you met? Somewhere you went on your honeymoon or simply a place you'd both like to visit together.