Trends, inspiration & beautiful things for the home.
One of the designers that caught my eye at Top Drawer was Zoe Attwell. She started her career in editorial design and then changed to pursue her passion of pattern . I’m very glad she did! I love her use of bright cheerful colour and her mid-century influenced designs. Not to mention the beautiful styling on her website. I really want that bedside cabinet! What home could resist one of those gorgeous tea towels or luxury linen cushions! Grab them on Zoe’s NOTHS Shop.
So last Sunday I met up with a friend for a bit of a wander down Redchurch Street near Brick Lane. I hadn’t been for a while but there was a couple of new places that had opened up including an amazing new teashop. It was so beautifully put together from the tea leaves in little copper pots to the modern and bright packaging to the perfectly formed tea cups and other paraphernalia. I couldn’t stop looking at everything.
Everything was just so bright and bold. I liked that everything was pared back with black which was actually a refreshing change to the white you usually see in retail spaces. Surprisingly this didn’t make it feel serious or imposing just made the colours pop even more. I did fall in love though with Barry (never thought I’d say that!) the most perfectly formed mug. The shape just made you want to hug it with two hands and fill it with comforting soup or hot chocolate. Will definitely have to buy some when I get my new place!
So a little bit later than planned but here are a few of my highlights from the Top Drawer/Home show in January. It was a very large show with lots of inspiring exhibitors with amazing products on display.
So starting with Temerity Jones, a new homeware and lifestyle brand that has a decidedly mid century leaning. Probably why I was attracted to it from so far away (or maybe that was to do with the pegboard on the stand)! It feels like its doing something abit different compared to alot of brands. I loved the gold pineapples and wire-framed lighting. Both I’m starting to see more and more of. Temerity Jones seemed to pull it all together in very visually cool way and less minimalistic. Their website is mainly for trade but I have started seeing some items being stocked in Oliver Bonas, Joy and similar stores. Think I am definetely going to have to have one of those light fittings!
So 2014 I finally got round to deciding on a blog name and actually setting it up. I blogged a few times but just didn’t make it a priority. 2015 is going to be different.
So 2015 I’m making a promise to myself and anyone reading that I am going to blog everyweek. Whether it be short and sweet or intense and in depth. This is the year that I am focusing on the things that are important to me and that I love. So first post this year will be about Top Drawer. I’m attending tomorrow with my good friend and children’s illustrator Elissa Elwick. (go check her out!) I am sure I will find lots of interesting and inspiring items to tell you all about!
A few weekends ago I went along to the East London Comic and Arts festival in Hackney. I heard about it from a couple of different friends. Not a particularly big fan of comics but I do love anything that is creative especially graphic arts. It was very busy with a large queue so my expectations and excitement levels were very high.
I was interested in looking for some new and exciting prints for my flat. I was not disappointed! Here are a few of my favourites….
Planeta Tangerina are a European children’s publishers with a lovely list of writers and illustrators.
They had a selection of books but what really stood out was this bright swimming print from Madalena Matoso. It reminded me of my sunday morning swims in London Fields Lido. Her work has a bold graphic handwriting. I would recommend you check her books and illustrations out.
Philippa Rice is an illustrator and comic book author that I also want to highlight. Particularly her new comic Soppy which is due to be published by Square Peg imminently.
I really love her simple use of and black, red and negative space. It has a strong visual aesthetic whilst cleverly subtly expressing emotion and lots of character.
I ended up buying the last one of her prints for my flat. I couldn’t resist! It is now hanging above my desk.
Let me know if you attended ELCAF and your thoughts?
So my friend is having a baby boy and I had been looking for ideas of some gifts I could make. When I remembered a post I had saved from the purl bee website. It was for a lovely shaped teddy that used vintage liberty fabric. See post here I had never made a stuffed toy before so I was abit apprehensive plus my sewing skills aren’t the neatest at times! I had some double sided soft fluffy material that I had kept hold of but never had a clue what to use it for. This was the perfect project! Plus if my sewing wasn’t 100% then it should be quite forgiving.
I needed to look for some contrast fabric for the paws, feet, nose and ears. I already had in mind that I wanted to use up some scraps of silk that I had. So settled on some light blue polka dot. Ideal for a baby boy. The instructions and clear pictures made the actual process of making the bear fairly simple. You make all the head and limbs first. Then the last section is the body where it all comes together and your bear is born! Although I did misread one part which meant that I made two right arms by mistake. Woops!
For my first attempt I was really impressed with myself! It did take me about 7 hours in total including the arm mishap but he’s a lovely size and shape. Would thoroughly recommend the pattern from Purlbee and am now hooked. Mmm what other animals can I make! Any suggestions?
I thought I would start off with my first post about all the things that I love in my own home. Just so you could understand my own domestic aesthetic. Personally I’m not sure how I would describe it. Eclectic, maybe. Vintage, abit. Practical, definitely! I’ll let you judge!
Starting with my bedroom. I’ve always had a love of red and white. Think it’s because the contrast is quite stark and has a Scandinavian aesthetic to it. Hence the curtains and duvet being from ikea. The blanket was a gift. It’s made from British wool, manufactured up in leeds and I absolutely love it. It’s white with red hearts as you can see below and has red with white hearts on the reverse. Bronte do absolutely beautiful homeware items. Definitely check them out. The lamp is from M&S and is a really affordable alternative to the iconic arco floor lamp. Plus it’s smaller so is perfect for a bedroom! The print is one of my sisters of a bird sitting on a coconut. Abit of a strange juxtaposition but I think that’s why I like it. And last but not least some cushions that I designed as part of my degree project. They are watercolour and pen drawings of some colourful Chinese scenes. I also have the originals framed in the front room.
Domestic Aesthetic 
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