Colour crush...

It's that time again...a lovely colour crush post.

I've gone for a beautiful muted palette; some soft peachy pink tones with duck eggs and ocre.

A simple and understated combination but still gorgeous... get ready for spring!

Some really lovely artwork featured on this one too, 'There's no place like' art print (bottom left) by Studio Meez, and 'Forest poster' by Studio Morran (Camilla Engman), (bottom right).

(image credits - clockwise from top left)

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

x x x

Snow day, fun day...

Well, we've had quite a bit of snow here in the UK now haven't we!?

We had a lovely weekend last week, trekking through the snow to get brunch out (yum) and then afterwards it was snowman building time (little and large varieties), hot chocolate and playing in the snow with Alfie. 

All in all, a very nice day!

Here are a few pics...

x x x

My Christmas bake off...

Before Christmas, I said that I'd be spending Christmas Eve doing a spot of baking, so I thought I'd post a few little pics of the results of my labour.

I was quite pleased with how the yule log turned out, (it being my first attempt) but the mince pies leave a little to be desired... 

They tasted lovely but looked a little messy as they struggled to come out of the deep filled muffin tin (silicone muffin tin next time me thinks).

Although, it all added to the rustic, homemade appearance I was clearly going for...

(photos taken by me)

x x x

Sketch.inc etsy shop

I discovered this lovely etsy shop a while back and after receiving one of the brooches from the boy at Christmas I thought Id do a little post on it.

Skecth.inc, owned by Becky from Colchester is an artist and crafter who creates paintings, dioramas, brooches and wooden figures inspired by geometric design and Japanese illustration.

It was hard to pick which design to go for as there are a variety to choose from.

So... it was a case of conveniently placing the ipad on the coffee table, subtly left on the page showing the little harlequin bear brooch in all its glory for the boy to spot...

and...voila!

(above photos by me)

Below are some of her other brooch designs; geometric deer/ stag, green apple, harlequin bunny, origami bird and diamond.

Definitely worth having a little pop over to her shop.

(above photos taken from sketch.incs etsy shop)

x x x

Colour crush...

What better way to start the New Years colour crush posts with a gorgeous, brights palette, yum!

I'm loving these combinations at the moment and using them in geometrics and that lovely tile print design, just beautiful...

(image credits - clockwise from top left)

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

x x x

Paper and Cloth at Printsource...

The Paper and Cloth team are currently in New York at the Printsource show which is being held at Penn Plaza Pavilion.

Heres a little sneaky peek at the eflyer for our Spring Summer 14 collection...

x x x

Happy New Year...

Apologies for being a little belated in popping by to say 'Happy New Year', but believe me, this time last week, (and indeed the week before) I was in no fit state to do anything other than sit and watch endless back to back episodes of the Big Bang Theory and general Christmas/New Year entertainment, surrounded by tissues, lemsip, various cold and flu medicines and paracetamol. 

(urgh)

I was doing so well up until Boxing Day and then it hit me,

(and the entire family, before and throughout Christmas...) 

the dreaded norovirus... 

that soon put a stop to any merriment and enjoyment we were planning to have, big booooo!

I did however, enjoy the few days before that kicked in and managed to have a lovely day of baking on Christmas Eve and knocked up a lemon drizzle cake, some mince pies and my very first yule log. 

I was so proud of myself, first attempt at fancy icing too, and it turned out really well, 

(messy, but it was worth it) 

happy days...

I'll post a few photos soon.

Anyway, hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year?

Already so much to look forward to this year...

And thanks once again to all my lovely followers and I hope we continue meeting like this throughout 2013, Happy New Year!

So, now I'm feeling pretty much back to full health, I can now say...

(image credit)

x x x

Christmas colour crush...

Well, I didn't think it would be right to not do a colour crush post with a Christmas theme... 

After all, there are so many gorgeous colour schemes out there to choose from.

For this one I've gone a little nostalgic and opted for a crush on colours we used to decorate our tree/ home with many years ago when I was a little girl, and I still love them now. 

Hope you do too...

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

(image credits - clockwise from top left)

So, Merry Christmas to all my lovely followers and I hope you have a wonderful time over the festive period, eat, drink and eat some more!
See you back here very soon...

x x x

Christmas bake off...

Next up... a spot of good old Christmas baking.

Christmas Eve will be the day for me and the boy (the glamorous assistant) to bake bake bake, mmmm and then eat eat eat, more mmmmm's over the festive few days with the folks. 

And up on the menu this year, Buche de Noel (also known as yule log, but it looks very fancy so felt I should use the proper name, ha ha!), some lovely deep filled mince pies Paul Hollywood style, and finally a lemon drizzle cake (I know, I know, its not christmassy but its been requested and it always goes down well)

Is that too much? 

I also want to try the white chocolate rocky road... 

ooh and the gingerbread letters...

and maybe the chocolate salami recipe...

Anyway, here are a few favourites...

typo gingerbread

lemon rosemary shortbread cookies

molten orange chocolate lava cake in a jar

chocolate 'salami'

buche de noel

paul hollywood's mince pies

white chocolate rocky road

portuguese custard tarts

x x x

Christmas craftiness...

A few Christmas related posts coming up...
A little bit of crafting, a little bit of baking and a little bit of colour crushing, ooooooooh lovely!

So, first up...as I mentioned in a previous post, I've spotted quite a few interesting crafty bits and bobby projects floating around recently, so as it got me in the mood for a bit of make and do, I thought I'd do a little round up of a few favourites...

creative gift tags

mini garlands for gift wrapping 

paper heart garland

 

decorated tea lights casing

diy crayons

edible ornaments

felt ornaments

cinnamon ornaments

5 minute gift tag diy

x x x

Inspired by...Petra Boase

Its been a while since I did a little 'Love Print... Love... ?' post, so here goes, a special one for you now.

Petra Boase...

A top British talent with a passion for collage.

I've long been an admirer of Petra's work, loving the mix and match approach and eclectic style.

Amongst her creations being stocked in some of the most reputable boutiques and big name stores are collaged canvases, hand made greeting cards, home and babywear.

Here are some of her beautiful designs and to check out more, visit here.

And theres also a blog to follow here.

(all images from Petra Boase's website)

x x x