Getting out the dusty passport

I am happily heading off to Europe to visit a couple of kids trade fairs and to be inspired by the general goings-on in retail and museums, so there wont be much happening around these parts for a while.
I hope to have many wonderful bits and pieces to report in a few weeks, so until then, keep well!

Painting nature - Jacqui's botanical art

These beautiful paintings are by one of the newest members of the Linen House design studio - Jacqui Baxter .  Alongside her talent (and speed!) for designing textiles,  Jacqui is also an accomplished botanic artist and part time lecturer at RMIT Textile Design, specifically teaching painting techniques to students.  I look forward to seeing Jacqui's painterly designs featured in the Linen House bed linen collection soon!

I love this Japonica study.

And this delicate rose....

Take a look at Jacqui's inspiring textile and botanical work here: http://jaxart.squarespace.com/
Thanks Jacqui for sharing your work!

Pick of the bunch

Lovely spring blooms styled by Hester Page from the pages of Country Living magazine.

Painting Piscean style

My desk is looking very blue and green this week (and so are my hands.... I'm a very messy left-hander).

French chic for kids

Three beautifully decorated children's bedrooms from the French interiors magazine Art & Decoration  . I love the collection of patterned textiles and the Nathalie Lete rug in the last image. Super stylish!
Photographed by Patrice Binet.

Girly Interiors

A Girly Interior in London is yet another gem in the catalogue of lovely interior titles from the Japanese publisher Editions de Paris .

This little book features the inspiring homes of twelve creative Londoners: Virginia Armstrong - the creator of Roddy and Ginger textiles and homewares, textile designer and fabric artist Abigail Brown,  Nathalie Ducard - creator of Mimimouse,  graphic designer Clare Youngs, Laetitia Wajnapel  - creator of mademoisellerobot.com, clothing designer  Minna Hepburn,  Jeska Hearne - creator of the lovely Lobster and Swan blog, stylist and accessories designer Emma Cassi, Claire Oldman - creator of lolaisbeauty.blogspot.com , Ashlyn Gibson, owner of treasure filled kids shop Olive Loves Alfie,

Christina Strutt - designer of Cabbages and Roses fabrics and homewares, and Happy Harris from the popular blog and on-line shop Happy Loves Rosie .

Minimalism is nowhere to be found within the pages of this book - its all about vintage finds, car boot sales, cheery colour palettes and carefully curated family heirlooms.

The last few pages include a very handy list of London shops catering to the 'girly vintage style'.

A Girly interior in London is published by editions de paris 2010. Photography by Bertand Bosredon, styling by Emma Cassi.

Hiccups in the Bambini Directory

The latest issue of the always lovely Bambini Directory has just arrived at the newsagents. Here are some of the Hiccups ads and products featured within!

This wintry weather is making me hungry!

A hot jam donut would be lovely right now. Here is a little peek at a design I'm working on at the moment.

Turquoise and cobalt blues

Beautiful decorating ideas in a favourite colour palette of cool blues from the Dutch magazine Ariadne at Home Kinderen 2010 edition.

Objects to put a smile on your face

Another dose of wonderful colour from the Cool & Cozy Autumn / Winter collection from Rice . 

Love it!

Beautiful Garden Florals from the V&A

Last night at a local bookshop I came across the new box of V&A Pattern books, and have to say that Garden Florals has gone straight to the top of my favourite design book list. All of my favourite Arts & Crafts textile designers make an appearance - Lindsay P. Butterfield, C.F.A Voysey, William Morris, The Silver Studio etc., and there are plenty of previously unpublished floral textile and wallpaper designs dating from the late 19th century through to the 1950's.

Almond Blossom and Swallow wallpaper frieze designed by Walter Crane for Jeffrey & Co, 1878

Design for a cretonne by Lindsay P. Butterfield, late 19th century

The Iolanthe wallpaper design by C.F.A. Voysey, c.1897

The Cestrefeld wallpaper design by C.F.A. Voysey, 1895

Haelderne wallpaper design by Bent Karlby for Dahls Tapetfabrik, 1951

Roller printed cotton by F. Steiner & Co, 1902

So lovely!

Garden Florals is published by V&A Publishing, 2010.
www.vandabooks.com

A pattern a day

Here are a couple of images of some little pattern repeats which I hope to incorporate into the next Hiccups girl's collection. Still quite a few more layers of paint to go before these designs are finished!

Restful blues and verdant greens

A lovely collection of interiors from the portfolio of London based photographer Rachel Whiting .