Cavania Dream Collages

Longing for Spring and a trip to Paris for lunch.

Spring Fair 2010

Just 8 days to go before the big show of the year the........ Spring Fair at the NEC in Birmingham.
It is a show for the trade only and buyers from all over the world come to the show as it is the must visit of the year. Probebly the size of 14 sports stadiums and comfortable shoes are defiantly required.

Click here to see us and register for Spring Fair 2010.

I'm so excited

I am so excited as today I received a set of the solid storage boxes that were designed for TKMax. They look fabulous and you can purchase them at your nearest TKMax store. I love seeing new gift lines and it still gives me butterflies in the tummy to see my artwork on the most random of things.





Also today I have just returned from a meeting to see for the first time all the new Cavania products which have been licensed by Lesser & Pavey. They have done an absolutely brilliant job of adapting the artwork to suit the many different shapes and multitude of products.

One of Cavania's union jack patterns from our English Rose collection has been made into many stationery products and aptly named "Blighty". These we will have on our stand for ordering at the NEC Spring Fair and will be available for delivery into stores from March onwards.

English Rose card ER08 part of a collection of 8 cards all available now.

All this excitement and I need a cup of tea and a few chocolate biscuits to settle the butterflies.
Have a lovely weekend xxx

Tulle Pearls and Ribbons

Loving the designs of Ida Sjöstedt from Stockholm, Sweden. With plenty of tulle lace netting and frills, I couldn't want anything more, simply perfect. Feeling very inspired to have a go at making something.... maybe a skirt to start with that might be a little easier then a ball gown?



I think a visit to a fabric store might be needed I have an urge to make my own clothes at the moment. Christian gave me an over locker for my Christmas present which hasn't been out of it's box because of the lack of time in my world at the moment, what with all the trade shows.



A stack of patterns just waiting for me to have a go! I ordered these at the end of last year and they have been staring at me in my work room. Need to just pick one and find some scrumptious fabric......decisions decisions!

Sewing Time

I want to do some sewing but first things first I needed to organise my sewing cottons into colours, this should make it a little easier to pick the shade I want. It did take me a while winding all the loose cottons back onto the bobbins and trying to undo the knots, with help from a pair of scissors.
A little while back whilst visiting my 97 year Grandad (who is soon to be 98) he gave me all my Nanny's old sewing cottons, so now they are all neat and tidy and ready for action.


I do love all the different shades of colours in their trays. To keep them organised and visible I used old Ferrero Rocher chocolate box trays. These boxes have clear perspex lids that will keep them from falling out and getting in a mess again.
There are some really old cottons in amongst them that are on wooden bobbins with vintage labels too.

Hot & In the Press

"Hot and in the Press"
This months copy of Greetings Today

Valentine's Day Greeting Cards

................be my Valentine xxx
Cavania has 18 scrumptious Valentine's greeting cards, check our website for your nearest stockist or buy on line here.

Roses are.......... vintage styled and finished with a feather.

James Merrell

A burlesque inspired illustration with a feature embroidered word and diamonte. Cover me in Kisses 6 burlesque cards in the collection.

Photos from 666Photography

Stunning foiled Valentine's day greeting card range called 'Smitten' 6 checky captions on luxury boards all hand finished with glass heart and diamontes.

Top Drawer Spring 2010

It's the last day of the show today and it has been fabulous to see it was so many Cavania Stockists, and the reaction to the new Cavania launches was so lovely. We also now have lots of new gift stores, boutiques and garden centres wanting to become stockists so hopefully a store in a postcode nearer to you will soon full of Cavania goodies.

The silver plated wedding horseshoe, bird, heart and butterfly were an absolute hit and so many stores wanted to know how to make the flower tree for their display. The new Audrey Hepburn and Union Jack range of greeting cards and keepsake boxes were loved by all.



Thank you to all the stores that popped by and for those of you who couldn't make it I will hopefully see you at Birmingham for the Spring Fair in a couple of weeks.
xxx

What Fairy Tales are made of

Today I am off to paint and dress the Top Drawer trade show stand with all my new cards and gifts. So this picture of a pretty girlie room is where I am going to imagine myself when it gets a little stressful today, which it will. My camera batteries are charge and I will show some photos later. Bye bye for now. xxx

I love everything about this room from the furniture to the colours and the styling is delightful, my dayream for today.
Photo by Miki Duisterhof

Photographer Alex Covo Stylist Evren Catlin

And to have a room like the one above one has to have a dress to float around in and what better then this one, It won't work for me today I don't think health and safety will allow me in the building with it on.
Photo by Carl Bengtsson

Flower Tree

Another busy day making props for the Top Drawer Spring show this coming Sunday. I needed a way to display our new silver plated wall decoration so a painted branch and some pretty paper flowers later, Voilà.

To cover the wires I used velvet ribbon but to hold them in place whilst the glue dries use elastic bands.


Old gold ornate frames from a boot fair last year have been painted and distressed, or is that just me!

Still a pile of new products waiting to be finished in my studio.

In Love with Lanvin

I have always loved Lanvin, the romance of the couture and history are irresistible. The scrumptious illustrations by Jeanne Lanvin and the attention to detail in the gowns are divine.


The French couture house Lanvin was founded in 1889 by Jeanne Lanvin, since its establishment the headquarters are situated at 15-22 Faubourg Saint-Honroe, Paris.


Campaign archive



Spring 2009 Ready to wear collection. Style.com








Spring Summer 2009 Ad Campaign
Lanvin S/S 09 : Iselin Steiro by Steven Meisel – the Fashion Spot

Inspirational Stores & Display Ideas

I often stop and look at window displays and love the creativity and effort that some stores put into their window displays. When I used to dress the windows for mine and my Mums gift stores I really enjoyed making props and theming the products. Its surprising what a difference changing the window made to catching the attention of passers by and the over all shop sales.

A window display at the Neiman Marcus in Dallas of a dress made out of christmas greeting cards. image by Blog.nbc

Window Display at Smythson


A dress form decorated with broaches.
The Seedchild store Australia.

Gorgeous ribbons hanging from the ceiling make a lovely detail to a window display. Platinum Blonde Life
Photo from Skonahem
A Swedish Store