Map quilts.

I did a family photoshoot at the weekend with the sweetest family (charming, hilarious three year old, delicious smiley 7 month old twins (TWO BABIES), beautiful international parents. More soon.) and when they whipped out a beautiful snowy white quilt embroidered with a map of London for the twinnies to roll around on I was completely entranced. I'd never heard of these map quilts by NYC based Haptic Lab and they are so so gorgeous. They come in a variety of cities and are huge and intricate and wonderful. I want London, New York and Paris. My Sunday family had had a little red heart embroidered onto the spot in London where their eldest was born, which was a really sweet touch. 

Haptic Lab also do DIY kits to embroider your own quilts and wall hangings. Which means that something else has just been added to my list of crafty shit to do with all that free time I have. 

Buy them here. 

all images by Haptic Lab http://www.hapticlab.com/

Magnolia Bugs no. 6672

A quick glimpse at the list of blogs that these have appeared on makes me wonder that I hadn't seen them already and suspect that you probably have. But whatever, they're beautiful and if like me they're new to you, enjoy. (If anyone is looking to gift me, Magnolia Bugs no. 6672.)

By Kari Herer, via etsy.

All images copyright of Kari Herer. 

Let there be colour.

It's February! Joy!

In celebration of it being no longer January I thought we should probably revel in some colour. A little brightness and vibrancy to bring relief to our poor, mouldering eyeballs.

Here are some of the things that I would like in my life right now.

this gorgeous top is by my friend Myf who is absurdly talented. She makes clothes and accessories with silk/hemp blend fabric and hand dyes them with natural dyes. Her shop is here and if you happen to be in Northcote Melbourne, she is running a workshop in natural dying using plants from your garden on March 16th, which I really wish I could go to. 

colour. Sweet sweet colour, by Emily Green. 

More experiments in vegetable dying, by Raw Colour. 

Sunshine in a cup. 

I wish I'd bought this when it was for sale on Achica, to go with my growing collection of brilliant yellow prints. 

This kitchen from David Mikhail Architects is my dream. I really want a bright pink dining table, at the moment we're using a cheap ikea kitchen worktop on some very cheap ikea table legs. I can not for the life of me find one though. And I can just see Nye's face when I suggest it now. Although he was accommodating enough to let me get the pink table legs. 

And this skirt. I'm almost certain if I lived in Melbourne and went to Myf's workshop (and had her teach me to sew), I could make this skirt and be effortlessly stylish for ever and ever and ever, the end. As it is I'm just going to make do with this picture by Jasmine Star. 

how a bunny sounds

N's brother has this excellent print by Kim Krans of The Wild Unknown. Apparently it's funnier if you actually know what the musical terms mean but it made me laugh anyway. 

shop for me.

Where can I find really simple black wedges? High ones. With a platform. These ones were perfect but after letting me order them, get really excited about them and plan outfits around them, Aldo emailed me to tell me that they don't have my size any more. Bastards.

I can't start looking again, I just can't. Please do it for me. Thanks.

my pretties.

I don't wear a lot of jewellery, more than I used to but not a lot. For a long time I just couldn't be bothered,  which evolved into 'babies, everywhere, pulling at my face' and now has finally settled into the wearing of a couple of small, really simple things which I love but which mostly (but not all) cost 20 pence and so are now disintegrating. The handful of things that I wear are as follows:

• my wedding ring
-$10, etsy. 

• conical stud earrings in gold (the kind of gold that chips off) and in pewter - £6 for three, topshop

• studs that look like pearls from afar but are actually brushed silver (a present, about £25. Pricy.)

• gold triangle earrings 
 - $30 etsy

• a black friendship bracelet with silver beads which was a gift from a bestie. I'm terrified that the string is going to wear through like the one I gave her in return did so I only wear it when I need to channel her badassery to get through the day. It's my equivalent of strapping on a pair. It was about $30 from Catbird.  

There's a theme; simple and Not Expensive. While the thought of wearing jewellery that is Expensive thrills me (I've been known to drag Nye down Bond Street, looking at £500,000 rings with my nose pressed up against the windows while he glares around with contempt muttering 'this is revolting, I can't believe you made me come here. Hey, that's Chris Eubank.) actually wearing anything that cost more than 30 quid would probably make me nauseus. So I should probably stop looking at these beauties from Mociun, for although they are (perfectly) simple they are Not Cheap and therefore Not For Me. But how I would love to replace my crappy, flaking gold studs with Mociun's exact copy (times $100) in gold which I'm pretty sure wouldn't peel off. 

all images from Modicun. 

birds on a wire....

I love this jewellery by Figs and Ginger, a husband a wife silver smithing team (I also love husband and wife teams), so whimsical and cute, without being saccharine in the least.
Their sterling silver jewellery is made with 50% recycled silver and they refuse to work with diamonds that aren't family heirlooms. Which I like.

It also makes me smile that they describe their bird jewellery as a 'treat for your tweatheart.' It doesn't just make me smile, if I'm honest, it makes me giggle like the silly girly that I am.

These 'nesting' birdy necklaces are so cute, I can almost hear them chirping. Figs and Ginger will add a new birdy to your branch when your family grows. Can I get an 'awwww' ?

Bunnies.... need I say more? Except maybe, yes please.




All images courtesy of Figs and Ginger

Swedish glaze...

I have adored Karin Eriksson's work since I first found it in a local boutique. Mostly white, delicate ceramics with tiny splashes of colour manifesting themselves in Granny print, her pieces are heavenly and some of the most gorgeous objects I have ever coveted. Delicate ceramics in white call out to me, tempting me, entrancing me. And then The Boy reminds me of all the non-delicate ceramics I have broken over the years we have lived together and I put down the cup I am gently caressing and move on with a frown and a pout. The Boy takes one of two tacks when I covet delicate, fragile or Granny-ish items - either 'we don't need more knick knacks/teacups/useless crap' or 'you'll break it within a week.' The former employed when it's something I can actually afford and the latter when it's something I want to 'invest' in.

He's fighting a losing battle though. One day I will posess these beautiful, fragile, translucent, enchanting delights and he can't stop me....

All images courtesy of Karen Eriksson and by Lars Jonsson and for sale at Manos.

Also check out Karin's blog for more inspiration and beauty.

Champagne light....

All images from backstage at Three as Four's Fall/Winter 08 show.