I’m Anne-Marie Smith – my passion is recycling, upcycling, design and craft. I have a studio (garage) full of vintage (or junk as my husband likes to call it). I’m a whizz at organising events (bossy). Oh and I love food whether that’s cooking, bottling, baking or eating it!

tea & toast & tapas is a lifestyle blog and online shop stuffed full of ideas, inspirations and handmade loveliness.

No 14 is the biggest upcycling and design project I’ve undertaken here. An original wooden chalet restored and updated but still retaining that seaside chalet feel with lots of vintage touches. Available to rent from Easter 2021 subject to campsite opening dates and Covid 19 restrictions (Contact for Details on Bookings)

The Pop-Up Artisan Market is a whole new venture. An online space for creative businesses based here in the Costa Brava to promote and sell their work to a wider audience. Particularly during these difficult times when the usual places like Arts and Crafts Markets and Events are cancelled and people who would normally buy their unique and original pieces for themselves, their friends and their families from independent traders have few means of seeking them out. Its been running since November last year and we are gradually building a following and adding to our traders all the time. Do get in touch if you think this is for you!

tea & toast & tapas is a lifestyle blog and online shop stuffed full of ideas, inspirations and handmade loveliness.

Chalkboards and Chalk Paint

July 15, 2017 /

A big, big fan of chalk paint. It goes on pretty much any surface in one coat, it looks good smooth and sleek, chippy or distressed. Basically it is quick and easy to use to transform and upcycle or recycle a whole heap of stuff.

Take these frames. I bought them from a Brocanters market, 10 for 10 euros, cheap as chips. Gave them a range of shades of chalk paint and voila they look right on trend.