Card Couture

Back in April I was asked to share my thoughts on the link between greeting cards and couture for the magazine 'Progressive Greetings'. I had to answer some questions and submit a photo of my favorite fashion item which is my hand beaded Noa Noa silk velvet coat.





I found this stunning coat about four years ago now hidden in the corner of a Noa Noa store and it was the last one left and a lot less then half price. I loved the colour and sparkles instantly and just knew I had to own it. I had a great excuse to purchase it as the following week I had treated Faye to tickets for red carpet opening night of The Lion Witch and the Wardrobe which was a royal premier at the Royal Albert Hall.

Also in the same magazine we were nominated for Card sweep stake..............!

Attention to Detail

Like the double bracket detail on these shelf supports.

Photo from Skornahem

Photo from Air Space


Image from Brook and Steve Giannetti

Inspirational Stores & Display Ideas

I came across this lovely store 'Petit Beguin' on emagdeco and thought you might like to see its very clever use of props and furniture to enhance its displays and stock. I particularly like the vintage bed head that has been turned into coat and hat rack.




Petit Béguin, Quartier des arts, 30 rue du Docteur Blanchard, 30700 UZES
tél : 00 33 (0)6 33 71 46 38 (Annie) / 00 33 (0)6 76 14 56 78 (Martine)
Adresses mail d'Annie : annie.aillet@free.fr et de Martine : martinepech@petitbeguin.fr

Time to get inspired

Well my bags are nearly packed and the boxes are full and now waiting for the baggage excess company to collect. Monday is leaving day and I am very nervous about the adventure ahead. With the rented house a blank canvas to dress I have been looking for inspiration and ideas and found this house in Uruguay via here.


I like the old fashioned oven with the utensils hanging above, not to keen on the floor terracotta quary tiles would have more me.


What I like about this house are the white walls and all the colours from the objects and nic nacks. The homely touches that look like they have all been home hand makes.

Tracey, the lady we are renting the house from, has agreed for us to paint the walls and decorate to add our own touch, so painting all the walls white will be our first step. The only things in the whole house is an oven and a dishwasher so it should be entraining and a challenge to decorate on a teany tiny budget. From the pictures I have seen of the house the main floors are dark wood so white painted furniture will look fabulous. I will be posting our 'Make do and Mend' house adventure and home made craft projects regularly, I am going to have to be very strict with myself and make sure I spend plenty of time on designing for Cavania and not just decorating.

Dance

image by Sofi

Photographed by Serge Guerand for Amica Germany 2008.


Photographed Alexi Lubomirski by Vogue Germany Dec 2008



Beautiful photos by norwegian photographer sølve sundsbø

Inspirational Stores & Display Ideas

Store - Free People
Location - Soho, New York
Products - Clothing
Display - Colourful displays of paper flower garlands and wool wrapped old bikes.





A very clever use of old bikes to decorate the store walls with vibrant colours to co ordinate with the clothing collections. The window display with the bike as the backdrop made the link through to the rest of the store, a green statement with a twist.

Loving Lilac

Hitchcockblonde

Corrie Bond

Photo by Kristi Schiffman

Photo by Lisa Warninger

Hitchcockblonde

Today I want to be here

I have a bit of an adventure coming up...... I am off to Australia for 5 months, although I will be returning for 15 days in November to exhibit at 'Spirit of Christmas' and the 'Christmas Country Living' fairs. We have rented a house on the beach in Gerraldton, Western Australia from a friend of my Sister in Law Wendy and I will be looking for old second hand furniture and making a home on a budget. So lots of posts with the theme of Make do and Mend! I will be working every day, well nearly every day, designing and painting so I wonder if my work will be influenced by the ocean?


I want to be standing on the sand and feeling the warm wind on my face.


I want to be setting the table for lunch and sit for the rest of the day talking with friends and watching the sun set on a perfect day.
images, Lucyina