In the days when I was art-directing, my working days were busy and full of noise and laughter.
I spent 15 years in a location or studio environment and the teams I surrounded myself with — made up of photographers and stylists — soon became friends off set as well as on. There was always plenty of catching up and gossiping and always lots of merriment.
Those days were some of the happiest I’ve ever had at work. It was stressful but fun in equal measures. I absolutely loved it.
When I left, to set up my own business, work became a much more solitary affair.
It was really strange to begin with; if I’d ever had an IT problem before I had someone to ask. Or if I felt grumpy — or was having a bad day — there was always someone to chat to, who would throw a positive spin on things.
And it was so quiet.
That was the oddest thing to begin with. The silence was deafening.
Until I discovered a new friend. In the form of radio.
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The Emma Bridgewater Mini Radio
Emma Bridgewater Retro Radio
Radio has been the soundtrack to my life over the last 7 years.
My boy switches it on first thing in the morning — and I get cross about the fact that he immediately tunes into Radio 5 Live — then I have to faff about when he’s gone, trying to retune it to a channel that plays music.
So imagine my excitement when I learned that the lovely folk at View Quest were going to send me a brand spanking new radio, as part of a style challenge, to mark the expansion of their Emma Bridgewater range.
When it arrived I was just a *little* bit excited!! This is no ordinary radio.
The VQ Retro Mini
Not only does it look pretty (my little beauty is covered in polkadots to match our biscuit tin) but the VQ Retro Mini also houses state of the art digital technology.
It features DAB, DAB+ and FM radio reception which means we can access the full range of digital and analogue services across the UK — and Europe — and if we’re adventuring in Dolly the caravan we can also use batteries — rather than the mains — to power it.
PLUS we can play our own music library, simply by connecting it to the iPad or phones via Bluetooth or with the inbuilt aux-in connection.
Such a cool feature.
The Emma Bridgewater Radio by VQ
It also serves as an alarm clock and — best of all — there will be no more early morning spats about talk radio V music radio, as we can change the channel with the flick of a switch.
No more fiddly, twiddly, dials — or white noise — to contend with.
Winner.
Needless to say, my new little ‘friend’ now takes pride of place on my desk and keeps me company as I’m working. So as well as providing the soundtrack to my day, my VQ Retro Mini radio now cheers up my workspace too.
If you’re searching for a quirky Christmas present, look no further. Starting at just £59.99 for the plain and £79.99 for the patterned variety. VQ have a radio to suit every taste.
As well as 11 standard colours — the yellow one has stolen my heart, unsurprisingly. They also now sport 7 of Emma Bridgewater’s most popular prints.
I was asked to join in with the VQ Retro Mini styling challenge and was kindly sent an Emma Bridgewater polkadot radio, to complete my task. You can buy these — plus lots of other fabulous designs, colours and patterns — from View Quest’s website.
Pop along and have a look www.myvq.co.uk
All photos, thoughts and words, as ever, are my own.
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
Well, that’s a posh radio. You’ve actually been listening to radio all your life – and performing on it – although perhaps you should keep that little nugget under your hat! Love you x
Haha! Yes — I’ve never mentioned that on my blog though!! ;) Love you too!
Gorgeous, Caro!! I love the polka dots. Fab photos, too. I think that this might be one of my favourite things that I’ve ever featured on my blog xx
Thanks lovely!! I have SO enjoyed this project. I listen the radio all day — every day — so to have something that sounds as good as it looks is such a joy!! Was panicking about the lack of light, so your comment about the photos is very much appreciated! :) xxxx
Gorgeous and so beautiful :) I agree with Rachel – I think this was one of my favourite items that I have ever featured on my blog! Love styling it! Yours looks amazing and definitely cheering up your home working :) Great post xx
Thanks lovely! I can wax lyrical about radio all day — I love it! So to be able to listed to it on something that looks as fab as this — and matches my lovely tins — is a bonus!! :)
This looks fab. I’m a big Emma Bridgewater fan. I just love your photography too – the styling is on point x
Thanks so much Rebecca! I struggled with the light, when taking these photos, so that’s a lovely comment to receive! xx
Oh my gosh that’s just adorable.
I barely listen to the radio but NEED this
It’s sweet isn’t it? Lovely to see a radio that looks as good as it sounds! :)
This is such a cute little radio – I don’t have one in the house, but should do. I work from home and it would be so much better than the TV! Kaz x
Aah Kaz, if you work from home, this is a must-have!! I love listening to the radio throughout the day — keeps me company if the twins are at nursery! If you share the post on Twitter and add the hashtag #StyleMyVQ, you’ll be in with a chance of winning one!! :)
Oh now I love this one too – how does anyone ever choose which print to have! It does sound like a very clever bit of tech too!
I KNOW!! I thought just the same!! I was originally going to choose the Marmalade version but I have tins with the Polkadot print… they’re all so lovely!! And they really do sound amazing too!
Omg, that’s so pretty! I’ve totally fallen in love with this radio and the fact that you can play iphone music too makes it perfect. It just looks so cute, I’d really love this as a present, might have to drop some hints at home :)
I highly recommend them Cliona! Not only do they sound fabulous but they look absolutely gorgeous plus I think they’re such a good price. I’ve been checking out the other designs — so lovely — really hard to choose between them! If you retweet the post with the hashtag #StyleMyVQ you can possibly win one yourself! :)
That’s a really good-looking radio! I love that it’s a little bit retro but so much more attractive than grey boxy radios of yore. Sounds like it has brilliant functionality as well. I normally work in silence, but I think I could stand to listen to a little tune on that!
It’s sweet isn’t it? I have a white Roberts one which is lovely to look at but it doesn’t have the modern functionality of this VQ one. PLUS it’s not covered in an Emma Bridgwater print! I absolutely love this little radio — am totally sold on them! :)
ah it’s beautiful! I love Emma Bridgewater things, this is really special x
Me too Fritha! I love Emma Bridgewater prints — am delighted to have a radio that matches all my other bots and pieces! :)
Oh Caro I just love this it is so vintage looking, just what I need for working from home, it is just perfect and so stylish x
It’s lovely isn’t it? The perfect size to cart from room to room as well! Mine’s in the kitchen this morning and with me at my desk this afternoon! LOVE the fact that it’s so portable! :)
This is such a lovley radio, I am in love with all these little VQ radios! I would love one, might have to ask Father Christmas to sort it out :) xx PS love your photos and styling xxx
They’re really fab aren’t they? I’ve always had a Roberts Revival radio but it’s analogue and tuning it in is a nightmare sometimes! I love that this is just as easy as pressing a button :)
I just love, love, love these little radios! I have been swooning over them in all the blog posts, and will be dropping major hints to the husband :) So handy that they have batteries so you can take them on your adventures xx
I think the fact it can be battery operated is a major draw for me! I love the thought that we can take it in Dolly with us! xx
That’s such a beautiful radio: I love it! I’m really into polka dots. I always listen to the radio in the car, but I rarely listen to it at home.
It’s so lovely isn’t it? They’ve got some gorgeous designs:) It’s funny — I never used to listen to the radio either but since I’ve worked from home I love it!! Keeps me company during the day! :)
I rarely get jealous but wow! That is one fab radio! I love how small it is too…
Aah it’s fab isn’t it Kellie! It’s pretty tiny but the sound that comes out is fabulous! Would highly recommend!
This is ace, I’ll defo be entering to win one! I love a bit of Radio 2 these days so listening to it on this would take away the feeling of getting old before my time, haha! x
Good luck chick!! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!! xx
This is absolutely the best one I have seen. Adore it!!
I so very nearly chose the marmalade one!!! I LOVED the yellows and oranges — but I already have cake tins in this design so it made sense to have the polkadot!! Such a sweet little radio :)
I’m going to have to get myself one of these! I have EB bedding and I love her designs. I need a new DAB radio! New year shopping wish list, on it goes! X
It’s a lovely little radio Kat — a nice size to be able to drag round the house, from room to room, too!