Never Forget

Today I pray for peace to wash over mankind like a fresh morning breeze.
Today I wish for every man, woman & child to see with new eyes.
Today we should remember all those who have laid their lives down for the good of others.
Today, tomorrow and always, we will not forget you nor will we ever truly be able to thank you.
Together we can each start to make this world a better place.

Remembrance Day 2009

Image by Foundling

Spirit of Christmas

Thank you to all that came along and said hello it was lovely to meet you. This is a photo of my little stand or should I say tardis! I cant beleive how much we managed to squeeze into it. I was trapped on my stand for 5 days and completely forgot to ask Christian to take my camera and snap away at all the other lovely stands and displays around the venue.

My Union Jack bags and pictures went down a storm and I shall finish the final 50 and pop them on my store this weekend. The store went live on Wednesday and we are still adding bits and bobs but most exciting is the store locater which is being added today. All you have to do is pop your postcode in and your nearest Cavania stockist will be displayed.

Christian and I gave out nearly 1500 leaflets at the show with the store locater details so hopefully our stockist should be getting some visits from new customers very soon.

Click here to find your nearest store www.cavania.co.uk

Sewing Marathon

I have been back from China for three days now and still very jet lagged, getting up at 2am, 5am and finally this morning at 8.30am. Now my mission is to finish the union jack bags I started for the Spirit of Christmas retail show which starts on Wednesday.
I have made only 50 and these will also be available to buy through my on line store which will be launched in the next couple of days.

I have been wanting my own store for some time now and after many an email requesting to purchase an original of one of my cards it will finally be open this week. This will be a very exciting week!



Many photos to post about our 10 day trip to China, but this will have to wait till after Spirit of Christmas at Olympia, London. If you are visiting the show do stop by and say hello, stand B35.

Cosy Home Crafting

Below are some inspirational crafts that would look great around the home. I do especially love the simplicity of adding edge details on plain tea towels to make a lovely decorative feature for hanging in the kitchen.

Country Living

Photo credit Charlier Colmer

Photo by Andrew McCaul

Photo credit Sang An
Image from Ideal Home Magazine June 2008

Loving the Orient

I am off to Hong Kong for 10 days for work, it's been a year since I was last there. But it is one of those places that it doesn't matter how many times you go, as it's always exciting. I am also visiting Canton for the first time and going by train from Hong Kong so I am really looking forward to see more of the landscape through the train window.

Chrisian is coming too and although it will be work every day for the full time we are there and some very long days, we get to spend time together which is always fun. No cooking or housework for me for 10 days, yippie.

I will of course be eating chinese nearly every night, and a visit to Yoshinoya noodle bar is a must. Fortunately the hotel we stay in for most of our visit has a gym on the top floor with windows that are over looking the HK harbor. So peddling away my calories and watching cruse ships and little junk's bobbing along will make the torture of exercise more bearable for me.

I love this jacket from Smithsonia Store and I feel many visits to the ladies markets on Tung Choi Street coming on, I might be lucky to find such a treasure.

I will try and post and keep you updated with all our adventures, if any of you just happen to be popping by HK drop me a line we could meet for yummy noodles. xxx
Images
1. Carlos Mota
2.Image from Marie Claire Maison
3.Embroidered Peonies Jacket at SmithsoniaStore
4.Ralph Lauren

Lace Doilies

Photo credit Frances Janisch
Hand-stitch a doily or two, to the front of a cushion cover. Or try customising curtains by stitching doilies of varying sizes along the hemline.

Photo credit Frances Janisch
To make a doily basket, soak a doily in liquid starch, squeeze out excess, and place doily over an inverted bowl covered in waxed paper. Leave to dry may take one to three days.

Photo Livingetc

Photograph Con Poulos at Donna Hay
A great idea for old doilies try sewing them all together to make a runner

Sweet as..... Grandmother's

I seem to have been very busy lately , more than usual that is. Meetings here and there and so many appointments, time is flying by and I am trying to get all my artwork ready for the January launches. I am off on a road trip to see some suppliers about some exciting new gift lines next week but I will keep you in the loop about that another day.

English Rose my latest greeting card collection has been a bit of a smash since it's launch in September. It has now been licensed and will be featuring on many gift lines such as a recipe book, shopping list, memo pad, note books and ceramics. I am the most excited to see the cookie jar and mugs. Talking of mugs is it time for tea and biscuits?

I wonder what the mugs are going to look like, this was one suggestion, as soon as I see them I will take some photos.
At the top of this post is a photo of my maternal grandparents on their wedding day, Marjorie and Frank Hawtin. Not to sure which year it was maybe 1940/41. The embroidered flowers that feature in all the English Rose greeting cards were actually stitched by my Grandmother. I recently found a sheet that she had embroidered just after she was married to my grandfather, it was tucked in a draw in what was her sewing room. It wouldn't have seen the light since 1992 which is when she left us, so what better then to scan it and make it part of the collection.





and my favorite, Coconut Ice, my Grandmother would make this for me and I so loved it. We spent hours together either baking or sewing, she was defiantly a major source of inspiration in my life. I love you Nan and miss you xxx
Images
4. Vogue Girl Korea
5/6. Ops can't remeber
7.Crown & Crumpet This is my store of the moment see a whole post on just click on their name.
8.Retro Tuck Shop

Retro Treats

Day 5 - Retro Love
My last post for this week and all have been dedicated to Retro, so what better to finish the week off then sweets and treats. Have a lovely weekend all, Christian Faye and I are off to the Natural History Museum in London. xxx
No kitchen is fully equiped without a cute apron and what better then a Jessie Steele apron
Cake tin set from Shabby Chic Gifts
Retro signs from Meggy Moos

Image of sweets from Bah Humbugs My favorite were the chocolate tools and white chocolate mice, what was your favorite?
Loving Kitchenaid, I am very lucky to have a cream one just like this one. Making cakes is so much fun with this mixer.
How cute is this retro styled wooden play set for children, I am just trying to work out how I could justify buying this for myself! Available from Peanut Gallery