Hummingbird wallpaper

Inspired by the movie Benjamin Button, here is one of my favourite wallpaper designs - 'Hummingbird' by Cole & Son, dating from 1755.

Antique Dollhouses

Antique dollhouses often offer a detailed insight into the domestic lifestyles of their era. These wonderful examples are from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.


An English wooden doll's house dated from 1783, later restored by the artist and writer Denton Welch in the 1940's.


A modest shop-bought doll's house from the late 1700's


A Tudor style dollhouse manufactured by English firm Lines Bros Ltd in 1932


A painted wooden dollhouse from the early 1800's



May Foster's House was built c. 1800 and is furnished in the style of the period. It is believed that this is a copy of May Foster's family home in Liverpool, designed for her by her famous architect father, John Foster (1786-1846).



The Drew House was made in the early 1860's, said to be manufactured from orange boxes, yet beautifully furnished with items from an important German doll's house furniture maker - Schneegas of Waltershausen.



The Tate Baby House c. 1760, was made in Dorset and is said to be modelled on an 18th century Dorset house, owned and well looked after by a lady. Children would have only been able to play with the house occasionally under strict supervision. What a sumptuous interior!



The Nuremburg House was crafted in Germany in 1673, and is the oldest house in the V&A collection.


Not exactly a dollhouse but a child's wardrobe made by Edmund Joy in 1712, in the form of a house resembling the Kew Palace in West London.


A doll house designed by Jessie M. King in 1912 as part of a nursery collection, influenced by the Glasgow style of decorative art. Fairytale magic for a little girl!

Lady of the Manor

I am not sure why but lately I have become a little obsessed with wallpaper designs. Here is another lovely design from Anthropologie - Lady of the Manor. Also a little toile de jouy-esque, always a good thing in my book!

New wallpaper inspired by times past

I love this wallpaper design 'Girl on a See Saw' from Anna French - a kid friendly version of toile de jouy!

Birds on the wall

A freshly coloured wallpaper design from Catherine Martin's new collection for Porter's Paints. I love this pale blue colourway - I can picture teaming crisp white bedlinen with a couple of red and white gingham cushions to create an elegant space for an older (but not quite teen) girl.

Great bedrooms for kids from Living etc

Inspiring decorating ideas for children's bedrooms from Living etc magazine.

Vintage holiday house chic


Retro style sailboat wallpaper from Cath Kidston


Create your own art gallery


Boho princess

Strawberry Summer

A delicious plate of summer strawberries made me think of strawberry designs...


Strawberry printed oil cloth from ReproDepot


Marrimekko strawberry fabric from Finn style (on sale now!)


50's style strawberries from Japan


Falling Strawberries from Superbuzzy


Strawberry Clover from SuperBuzzy Japanese fabrics
Is anyone hungry?

Back to work

Back to work and time to start painting the next collection!

Danish colour for kids

Clear, bright and cheerful colours for a little girl's bedroom from the excellent Danish home Magazine BOLIG. An interior as lovely as this is bound to inspire wonderful dreams!

Persephone Books - a textile designer's treat

I'm not one to ever follow the saying 'you can't judge a book by its cover' , (or a horse by its name, or a wine by its label etc.) and these titles by Persephone Books are a case in point. Displayed on a stand together they are a wonderful sight for a textile designer's eyes; it was a difficult decision to choose just one.

Persephone Books (according to their website) contain mainly neglected fiction and non fiction by women, for women. The range includes novels, short stories, diaries and cookery books. They are all carefully designed with a clear type-face, a dove-grey jacket, and most strikingly the beautiful fabric end-paper and bookmark.

Here are a few of the end-paper designs:

Treetops' fabric designed by Marianne Mahler in 1939, from 'There Were No Windows' written by Norah Hoult in 1944.


Printed cotton designed by Margaret Simeon for John Lewis in 1946, from 'The Village' written by Marghanita Laski in 1952.


Printed dress fabric design by Madeleine Lawrence 1932, from 'Cheerful Weather for the Wedding' written by Julia Strachey in 1932.

Available from Readings in Melbourne, or mail order from Persephone Books here.