Trip to Leeds

A train journey to Leeds to see friends this weekend - a day at Salt's Mill full of David Hockney doodles on the walls, menu and napkins and a christening for gorgeous Rose with pink bunting, balloons and bonbons!

Roof terrace ideas #1

Searching for some images from Milan Furniture Fair and came across some great ideas for my roof terrace when we finally move. Oil-burning wine bottles and stacked beeswax candles on a rusty tray, some glowing chunks of rock (not sure how I would make these?!), African beaded coil vases, mix and match glass containers with an iridescent lustre, the most fantastic invention - fish bowl and bird cage in one, although I would never keep them as pets, and a steel table that organically morphs into chimney-style plant pots.

Chelsea blooms

A couple of quick shots out of the bus window on Sloane Street this morning where the shop windows are being covered in foliage, flora and fauna for Chelsea flower show. I love the oversized flower at Cartier that breaks through the window to reach the sun.

Sunny days

Sitting on the balcony enjoying the sunshine....lazy, sleepy and thoughful.

Keep off the grass!

A very bizarre sight when I was in Paris recently and stumbled into Luxembourg gardens on a hot sunny day hoping to relax in the shade on the grass, and everyone was sitting on chairs around the grass rather than on it.

My friend and I kept walking in the hope of a small patch of grass hidden somewhere discreet, but then came across a patch where you were allowed to sit, and had to squeeze onto a postage-size section of greenery. The contrast between lush empty lawns and mounds of sweaty bodies was enough to put anyone off their ice-cream!

Skandi vessels

I love these beautiful ceramic vessels from Norwegian designer Tor Alex Erichsen, that I photographed at the COLLECT air fair at the Saatchi gallery yesterday. The richly decorative patterns remind me of cosy Alpine knits, and I especially love the magical twilight fir tree design with a full moon and twinkling diamante stars.

Embroidered place settings

Some partly-embroidered place mats on crisp cotton that I sourced from Vanves flea market in Paris for my friend myvintagevows. The question is, do you finish embroidering the pattern or leave them?! I like the idea of getting guests to write on white tablecloths in pen and then embroider over all the markings after as a wedding keepsake (not sure where I saw this, maybe Elle Deco magazine?)

See the other textiles I bought for her on my last visit here.....I'm looking forward to seeing all these pieces at her wedding in July!

Springtime at Merci

Some photos from a recent trip to my favourite shop in Paris - Merci. A summery vibe, weathered neutrals, graphic flat-pack vases, a hot chocolate pick-me-up (and free taster of yummy carrot cake!), the library wall in the cafe, beautiful paintings of fabric details, coral and turquoise painted wood high-chairs and two-tone cot with gorgeous Liberty fabric blankets.....not sure why I was so excited by these ; )

Wallpaper Dress on TED

The Wallpaper Dress project has been featured on TED (Textiles Environment Design) - a research collaboration between staff and students at Chelsea College of Art that aims to look at the role of the designer and how to reduce the impact of textiles on the environment.

Full of hot air

Not quite what I expected to find on the South Bank today....Nick, Gordon and David blowing around in the wind!