lines

Also from the charity shop, 1960 Arts Council Picasso exhibition catalogue. Black and blue - fantastic!

day job

January has found me in front of my computer screen, a years worth of accounts have been put in order and I now have to put on my day job hat as I have two packaging projects to do.  I will be up to my ears in yoghurt and apple crumble for the next couple of weeks. After that I may get out and see what 2012 looks like!

Over the years I have done my fair share of own brand packaging for Sainsbury's and Marks and Spencer, so this book was a must for my Christmas stocking, Own Label compiled by Jonny Trunk, a nostalgic look at the basic but beautiful, graphic output of Sainsbury's design studio from the 60's and 70's. Those happy days before barcodes, nutrition panels, GDA's, recycling guidelines, five a day, freefrom, EU, organic logos, use by, sell by, best before........

passion for scarves

I spotted this beautiful book about silk scarves in our local bookshop and it is now on my wish list. It has just been published by Thames and Hudson and tells the story of the silk scarf with stunning images. There's not much that makes me happier than seeing a battered old suitcase stuffed with silk scarves three for a fiver at a bootsale or fleamarket. Most of my scarves end up stuffed back into a box back home but a few are transformed into cushions or curtains for my daughters bedroom (a real labour of love I won't be making many of those!) I love the bold patterns and colours of vintage scarves which is why this print dress jumped off the rails at me (half price in the sale at good old Dorothy Perkins - bargain!!)

casual living

Look who's hiding under the cover! Our house was photographed last year to be included this lovely new book - Casual Living by Judith Wilson published by Ryland, Peters and Small. Believe me, we usually look a lot more 'casual' than this, they have made it look so uncluttered and serene - I want to live there! I have to say the endpapers are my favourites!
This weeks cushion giveaway is going splendidly and thank-you for all your lovely comments. Roddy seems to be winning over Pomegranate tree at the moment but there is still time to enter with your choice just leave your comment here .

scandinavian inspiration

I am having trouble keeping up with my amazingly creative sister's craft books, this one came out earlier this year and is a lovely selection of Scandinavian inspired sewing ideas. It's called Scandinavian Needlecraft by Clare Youngs published by Cico Books. All 35 beautiful, original projects are perfect to be stitched in front of a cosy log fire on a gloomy wet day like today. However, I remember Clare making the thick felted wool slippers and mittens under the fig tree in 40º heat of a Spanish summer.
Clare and her family are leaving London today and moving to the Kent coast - so I want to wish them all lots of luck and I am looking forward to some seaside inspired books!

roddy&ginger in print

Our house was photographed recently to be included this cute Japanese book, A Girly Interior in London styled by Emma Cassi and published by Editions de Paris. Emma photographed my studio and some of the more girly corners of our house, notably my daughters bedroom which is quite full on girly (I wish I had removed that mattress from under the bed!). It's all in Japanese so I have no idea what it says but it looks lovely.

inspirational book

I have to admit I didn't know much about American print maker David Weidman. I had seen some of his work in a print gallery in Colombia Road and loved it so I ordered this book. It arrived this week and I am smitten. A glorious catalogue of his colour saturated screen prints and pop posters from the fifties and sixties. I am now saving to buy a print of my own.

book love

I picked up this huge book about the life and work of Arne Jacobsen in the charity shop. Makes me wonder why someone wanted to get rid of such a fantastic book. Anyway, lucky me, it's full of all the things I love - Scandinavian design, mid-century architecture, chairs and these lovely designs for fabrics and wallpapers that he created in the 50s.