Art Nouveau beauties

The Art Nouveau style of design and decoration has always appealed to me, so I was very pleased to come across this little bevy of beautiful tiles whilst scouting around some antique shops this weekend. My plan is to one day have enough tiles to form a border above the splash back in my kitchen. (That could be in many years time at my current rate of one or two tiles a year!) Meanwhile, a few of these fellows will be displayed on my bookshelf, adding a striking dose of colour.

Vintage babies

A great baby fashion spread from Junior Magazine. I love the vintage textiles in the background, and those bubs look pretty groovy in their retro inspired outfits too!
Photography by David Handley.

A beautiful tree mural from US Elle Decor

I love this tree motif metallic wallpaper designed by Cynthia Rowley and produced by Flavor Papers, as seen in the October 08 edition of US Elle Decor. What a magical interior for both kids and grown-ups to be inspired by.

New prints from Oliver Jeffers

Oliver Jeffers has been a favourite illustrator of mine ever since coming across his best selling children's book 'The Incredible Book Eating Boy'. I love his thoughtful watercolour illustrations, subtle colourations and clever use of collage, and am looking forward to viewing his latest book: 'The Great Paper Caper'. I'm sure it will be appearing on my bookshelf pretty soon!
Alongside this new title, Oliver has also released a limited edition of high quality prints from his previous picture book titles. You can visit his webshop here.

A little bird told me...

....that the new painted wall canvases are ready to be hung on your wall. This new canvas co-ordinates with the 'Melody' bed linen range.

Tool Box cushion

Here is a cushion with a variety of tools that can be found in almost all back yard sheds. In my Dad's case, that is alongside the broken fishing rods, old eskies and rusty paint tins from the 1970's. He has never been a fan of spring cleaning!

Sweet Danish dreams

I love the fresh white walls combined with bright fabrics and accessories in these images. So restful to the eye yet vibrant at the same time. No-one does this look better than the Scandinavians!

Images from Pure Public Denmark.
By Bjarni B. Jacobsen & Anette Eckmann

Each peach pear plum

Ever since coming across Beatrix Potter's watercolour paintings of botanical subjects at the Victorian Arts Centre sometime in the late 1980's I have been a fan of botanical art. I loved the soft sepia tones of Beatrix's paintings, the scientific compositions, and her ability to paint in detail a variety of subject matter - from the little bits of nature found outside her front door, through to her more detailed and scientifically accurate commissioned subjects. The apple painting shown here was painted by Beatrix when she was just 14 years old.


Botanical painting is something I have dabbled in here and there since finishing Uni, but for the last year I have attended classes at the Royal Melbourne Botanical Gardens, and have loved every minute of it. It is a slow learning curve, but a very relaxing one - I find it as satisfying as a yoga class! Here is a not quite finished study of a Beurre Bosc pear. I don't seem to be able to finish anything in class - one day Mum will receive her promised painting....one day.....



And on the left hand side is a corner of one of my all time favourite textile designs by Manuel Canovas: in-keeping with the green / botanical theme of this post!

Pretty accessories for girls

Here is an assortment of new Hiccups cushions and throws designed to create a 'Vintage Country' atmosphere in a little girl's bedroom.

Wallpaper for kids

Sweden has always been a design powerhouse, and since visiting the country in July I feel more and more drawn to their distinct design aesthetic, especially in the world of wallpaper decoration. Here are a few images of Swedish wallpaper designs for kids.


Sandberg tapeter

Deco Maison


Ferm Living


Decor Maison


Ferm Living

Nathalie Lete Serigraphies

New from artist Nathalie Lete and available from French web-shop Mes habits cheris are these wonderful limited edition prints full of whimsical fairy tale details. Now, which to choose?......

Hiccups in Australian House and Garden Magazine

Here is the Hiccups bed linen design 'Air Show' and 'Polka Dot' floor mat, as seen in a Sydney home in the December edition of Australian House and Garden.

These designs can be seen on the Hiccups website here!

Amy Butler in Melbourne

Amy Butler recently hit Melbourne town and gave a terrific insight into what inspires her wonderful range of textile prints and craft patterns. Amy's business has developed from a starting point of styling interiors for Country Living magazine with her husband, through to running the ever expanding 'Amy Butler' brand which now encompasses fabric prints, ceramics, scrapbooking papers, handbags, books and stationery products. Many of her products are designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible, and her next product line will be an organic range of bedlinen - sounds pretty good to me!
Amy's garden (as photographed in the book 'Midwest Modern') looks amazing, and is ever changing with the seasons. Amy listed her garden as her number one inspiration, and I can now certainly see why.
The Amy Butler night was organized by the 'Living Creatively' team - check out the website here for an abundance of design inspiration and creative goings-on around Australia.

Fabrics from Amy's latest collection - Midwest Modern 2

Dahlias - Amy's favourite flowers, from the Amy Butler website

More fabric designs from the Midwest Modern 2 collection, all designs have been handpainted by Amy!

Milk Deco No.2

A lovely little package arrived in the mail from France yesterday - the new edition of Milk Deco. This edition features homes from New York, Amsterdam, Paris, Dubai, London and Tokyo, as well as profiles of designers working on children's products. Very inspiring!

A lovely web shop in Holland

Altijd Leuk is a lovely web shop (or kinderwebwinkel) based in Holland with a great range of home ware products for kids, including Hiccups. Take a look here.
What a fantastic range of wall stickers (Muurstickers) - so many excellent designs!

Chasing butterflies!

'Chasing Butterflies' is an applique bed linen design in a soft palette reminiscent of the colours found in a country flower patch. Each butterfly features delicate hand finished embroidery - these butterflies look ready to fly away into the summer breeze!


'Chasing Butterflies' quilt cover, pillowcase and 30cm x 60cm cushion, styled with Hiccups plain-dye sheet set in 'Cheeky Pink', and 'Ada' quilted coverlet and sham.

Botanical art in Melbourne

One day I hope to get to this kind of standard, but for now I will keep plodding on with my botanical fruit and vegies before I move onto flowers!

The 2008 Botanical art exhibition is on now until the 23rd of November at Domain House, Dallas Brooks Drive, South Yarra, opposite the Herbarium. Entry is free.