Magical Mushrooms and Enchanted Gardens

Here are a few of my favourite items from the 'Fairy Village' collection, new for 2009!

'Flower Patch' velvet cushion in a gorgeous shade of turquoise.

'Magic Toadstool' cushion and 'Flower Patch' velvet cushion.

A magical mushroom velvet cushion to inspire sweet dreams!

'Fairy Village' - new for 2009

A new release from the Hiccups brand is 'Fairy Village'. Childhood drawings of fairies and houses were the inspiration for this colourful and finely detailed printed bed linen - designed to encourage girls to create their very own magical fairytale adventures!
A colourful range of magical accessories add to the fairytale charm.

Marimekko for kids

More bold and brightly coloured designs from Marimekko's new Spring / Summer 2009 collection, designed by Maija Louekari.

'Little Bubble and Tree' at the Sister's Market

If you are in Melbourne this weekend and need to escape the heat for a few hours, take a look at the Sister's Market. The Market takes place on Saturday the 7th of February at the Brunswick Town Hall, 233 Sydney Road Brunswick, from 10am - 4pm. Hopefully the air-con is fully operational!

The very talented Kelly from new children's wear label Little Bubble and Tree will be showing off her colourful wares, including these gorgeous 'Bird Dance' necklaces and summery 'Pango Pants'. Take a look at Kelly's blog to see more of the great products in her range. Perfect for the beach!

New designs - coming soon!

Here is a snippet from the new Hiccups range for girls - a hand-drawn meadow flower design using a combination of pencil and gouache. More coming soon!

Fresh fabric finds from Sweden

Spira fabrics always brighten up my day! The fresh colourations and bold graphic motifs are a feature of their textile collections, and are available by the metre here in Australia from online retailer Nordic Fusion.

A beautiful rug from Nathalie Lete

A beautiful new rug design from one of my favourite French artists/designers Nathalie Lete. Gorgeous colours!

Visit Nathalie's website here.

Voysey's Birds

Englishman Charles Francis Annesley Voysey (phew, that's a name and a half) is one of my favourite textile designers and was possibly the finest designer and architect working in the Arts and Crafts realm. Voysey retained his eye for simplicity and purity of line throughout his career, and his wallpaper and textile designs enjoyed considerable international influence.

Alongside Voysey's wonderful use of colour, what attracts me most to his surface design output is his continuous use of bird motifs. Whether the design was for a textile or wallpaper, children's nursery, lounge room or kitchen, the ubiquitous bird announces his presence. Here are a few of my favourite Voysey bird designs:

'Squirrel and Vine' design for wallpaper from 1930, a design reminiscent of hand painted Chinese wallpapers.

'The Fairyland Design' wallpaper by Voysey c.1900. I would love to see this design in situ, I'm sure its effect in a nursery or young child's bedroom would be quite beautiful.

A watercolour and pencil design from 1918.

'Apothecary's Garden' was designed by Voysey c. 1926 in the later years of his career, yet still evokes the freshness of his earlier design work. 

'Seagulls', a design originally produced as a woven textile and wallpaper in 1891.

Design for wallpaper, 1891. V&A collection.

'In my Orchard' design for a nursery textile or wallpaper from 1929. I love the muted effect that the pale green ground provides.

'Purple Bird', a classic Voysey design for wallpaper and textiles from the turn of the 20th century.

'Bird and Rose' furnishing fabric design from 1897 - a quiet, undulating design in a soft colour palette.

 'Seagull and Pomegranate', designed by Voysey in 1891 for use as a woven furnishing fabric.

For more on C.F.A Voysey's textile and wallpaper patterns, take a look at these wonderful and informative websites:

The Arts and Crafts Home

Burrows Studio - C.F.A Voysey Designs

Trustworth Studios

Historic Style

Great new prints from Kokka fabrics

These gorgeous new fabric designs from Japanese textile manufacturer Kokka are now available from the JCaroline Creative website. I love the vintage folk theme - great for kid's rooms!

Pictured fabrics: Wooden Horses on red, Blue Maidens, and Green Partridges.

Toile de Jouy Wallpaper

More beautiful toile wallpaper designs, this time from the pages of the wonderful Domino magazine. Check out the inspiring galleries on-line before they (sadly) disappear forever.


A vintage wallpaper design photographed by Melanie Acevedo.


A Marie Antoinette inspired toile design is a nod to a bygone era. Photography by Coliena Rentmeester

A vibrant coloured toile from Decorators Walk


Manuel Canovas 'Bengale' toile wallpaper in an electric orange and fuschia colourway - great colour combo!