smalltown progress

I'm taking a break for a couple of weeks and while I am away production will be going ahead on my new Smalltown wallpaper. I will be coming back to colour samples and then rolls should be ready for mid September, can't wait!

These are some of the images from my shoot with Heather Hobhouse earlier this year, we had a lot of fun propping these, my collection of house shaped shelves is growing!

boot sale sunday

I spent the weekend by the coast in Broadstairs and made it to two boot sales on Sunday, out of town boot sales are the best. I tried to be discerning in my purchases but for prices as little as 10p I came away with quite a haul. Classic English utility homewares - Denby pottery, New Hall stainless steel and Falcon enamel ware, folksy Vileroy and Boch platter, studio pottery vase, glass pear and marble candlesticks.

Meanwhile, I am turning part of my garage into a prop store for location shoots. A big garage clear out first, then ultra cheap shelving from Ikea and I can empty my cupboards and sort into categories, I cant wait. And of course a great excuse to keep spending my 10p's.

All this and more random pictures on if you follow on instagram

open studio day 1

First day of open studio over and it was a hot one, but all cool here and I had a good day!

The lovely watercolour sketch of my messy sink is by Liz Watkins who is making a sketchbook diary of the open studio venues.

Open studio - 6th-7th July as part of the Sydenham Arts Festival. If you can find my details on their website you are cleverer than me but you can download the venue broadsheet here or contact me for details. Open from 11am to 5pm and there will be buckets of bargains!

smalltown is here

I have just put my new Smalltown and Townplanning cushions into my shop. Both designs are handprinted onto smooth white linen with a charcoal grey reverse. Smalltown available in trendy black, pink, yellow and mint. Townplanning in black/pink, black/yellow and black/mint.

And here's a chance to win one of the first cushions off the production line, check out littlegreenshed where Lou has hosted a little interview and celebratory giveaway with me on her lovely blog!

This weekend 6th-7th July I will be having an open studio event here as part of the Sydenham Arts Festival. If you can find my details on their website you are cleverer than me but you can download the venue broadsheet here or contact me for details. Open from 11am to 5pm and there will be bargains!

job done

It has taken a while but I have finally finished re-upholstering a couple of sofas, a job I started months ago, the fabric was a £5.00 per metre bargain from Brixton market so not much lost if it all went wrong. New sofas prompted me to make a few other changes, new shelves above the sideboard - these are vintage dutch Tomado shelves - hours of fun arranging things, and a new colour in the kitchen. The books just because I love them!

charity shop round-up

I have steered clear of charity shops lately as I keep having the feeling that I have too much stuff. But every now and then I spot something and weaken, here are a few of my latest finds - copper plant holder and marble mortar and pestle (top trend for materials here!) more Pengiun poets, enamel tea pot, ship in a bottle (essential I would say) and yet another birdie. Cue massive clear out!

wild west

I have always thought that the Logpile wallpaper in woodsmoke would make a great feature in a boys bedroom so with this in mind I gave it a bit of cowboy style. Here's the result, starring my vintage rocking horse - I knew it would be a useful prop one day. Great photography by Heather Hobhouse who as usual reigned me in from my eagerness to over prop. I was ready with the log hooks, cowboy hats and wigwam which she gently managed to avoid using!

We also shot the new Smalltown wallpaper and cushions ready for a launch late summer - exciting!