Ivo

I know the post I did earlier was about fabric/wallpaper design so really I shouldn't do another one about it...but I just couldn't resist! I found Ivo so so long ago, I had forgotten about them, until I came across an old bookmark, and once again got sadly excited about it. In particular, I am completely insane about their scarab beetle fabric. Not only does it come in lengths of fabric but totes and cushions too! What more could you want fit fabrics and their all hand printed! Check them out here! 
Sophie xo

Jocelyn Warner

I always keep my eye out for anything in my area, simply because I get sadly excited when I read someone's Bio and it says 'based in East London'. I think 'Oooo maybe I have bumped into them and I didn't even know' or 'Maybe they shop at the Sainbury's I do' etc etc. I love too see small design studios and practises, getting the credit they deserve and really making themselves into something big! Jocelyn Warner started up in 1999, in East London, they are a small family business who create beautiful fabrics, wallpaper and lights. 

I first saw this wisteria wallpaper a few months ago, and completely feel in love. Personally, I wouldn't have it in my home, I'm not into the whole floral wallpaper thing, but I love the detail, and wisterias are rarely used in design so I loved that too! I then found this amazing kaleidoscope lamp, it's so insanely 60's I just love it, it's fun, a bit different and comes in multiple colour ways...score. There are some really wonderful individual looking pieces, I can't wait till they get a bit bigger and bring out more products! Check out their stuff here.

Sophie xo

Chevron Walls

I want to dedicate this post to something I think will be huge (And already is!) What I would call designing your walls with paint. Most people when wanting a pattern on their walls tend to go for wallpaper, it's the easiest option and I don't blame them! However a new craze is taking hold, designing your wall and painting them in a pattern. When done properly it can look insanely effective, beautiful and you will feel pretty smug no doubt! 

In particular I love chevron patterns, like the wall above in a off white with a slightly darker grey it looks effective and subtle. If you spend the time, and really take care when laying out the masking take etc, it can be a cheap and easy way to spruce up any room. I especially love it in a bathroom, a often forgotten about room we only use for necessity, but the bold pattern brings it to life. 
Sophie xo

All credit goes to the blogs I pinched these photos from!

http://www.refurnishedliving.com/2011/05/11/powder-power/

http://oliviagraysoninteriors.blogspot.com/

http://littlerockstreetstyle.blogspot.com/2010_03_01_archive.html

Urban Outfitters Home ware

Morning morning everyone (actually afternoon...for me it feels like morning) Monday mornings tend to be the worst of them, so I aim to cheer everyone up a little with some fun and quirky products from Urban Outfitters. Now, they aren't exactly well known for their home products, for them it's all about Hipster fashion, but they actually have some pretty cute stuff! A lot of their home ware is online exclusive, there is a good mix of artsy, modern and what I can only call folk. 

I loveee this little book lamp, it's a cute simple idea that doesn't need a book ontop to look effective, And if I'm honest I had a little excitable fit when I saw this clock.....just words cannot describe how amazing this is. Like I said before some of their stuff is really modern, some of their stuff is folky hippie sort of stuff, and I like both! I think they can work really well together in moderation, the bright colours of the folk bedding and tapestrys work well with the minimalist lamps and kitchen accessories, and it's all pretty cheap! So have a browse here, I guarantee you will find something for you.
Sophie xo

Silken Favours

It's late on a Sunday night and once again I am sitting in my bed browsing wierd, wonderful and mainly pretty fabulous things. Although the inevitable has happened, and I have been graced with the appearance of a cold, my flat mates cheered me up with a massive hummingbird bakery red velvet cupcake earlier in the evening, so I'm feeling pretty chipper! So I wanted to share with you one of my favourite designers, she crosses the boundaries between design, fashion and print and for this I love her! Meet Victoria Murdoch, designer and creator of Silken Favours.

Silken Favours specialise in beautiful and delicate silk scarves with a modern twist. The humorous illustration and subject matter blend perfectly to create these little pieces of art. They are sold in Liberty's and I dragged my boyfriend there to see them in person, they are as wonderful as they look online! My favourite is 'Precious pussies' simply because it is covered in cats...it's my kind of scarf! You can see all her Heart collection here! 
Sophie xo

Areaware animal cushions

It's official, I think we can all agree I have a serious obsession with animals cushions. I just can't resist, any kind of animal, any shape, size or colour if it has an animal on it I just go a bit weird and crazy! So these bad boys are no different. 
Animals: Check
Making my house look awesome: Check
Pugs option: Check

Areaware's collection of little critters on cushions have me very excited indeed. They are all photos printed onto a cotton fabric, each cushion varies in size depending on the animal, but average is around 10 x 7 x 3. Luckily my birthday is in a few months, so these will most definitely be going on the list. Check out other animal options, and the rest of their products here!
Sophie xo

Skinny laMinx

Yesterday in my Brothers Grimm post, I felt the need to share a few more of Skinny laMinx's amazing range, so here it is! Otherwise known as Heather Moore, a specialist in illustration, design and all round awesomeness who resides in Cape Town. Sadly her shop is in cape town, and unless i'm passing through checking out some hippo I won't be visiting any time soon. However there is hope on the horizon, she keeps a thorough blog, and has an online shop, so you can get her beautiful work easily (plus in on Etsy...yay!)

One of my favourite pieces from her has to be this cute little mushroom apron, a similar pattern appears on the tea towel I shared earlier, I love the bold two way colours she sticks too with most of her designs, and the simple but effective illustration style. She sells an array of things, from cushions to children's dress', all of which are beautifully crafted, check out her website and Etsy shop for more.

Sophie xo

Yours is the earth

Today has been overall, a pretty rubbish slow day, the weather went from baking hot one second to freezing the next and I was feeling plain lazy. So as I sit surrounded by comfy cushions and a hefty nutella sandwich I felt the need to hunt down one of my favourite things, prints. I love all methods of print whether it's computer based, screen or letter press, I feel like they are so versatile and personal and can be a really beautiful way to show your personality in the home. Yours is the earth, is and adorable studio that specialise in prints, bags, posters and general good stuff all about food!

As someone who loves food (who doesn't?!) I love their work, it's charming, quirky and the illustrations have a lot of character to them. I am especially a fan of their prints, I would love a series of these in my kitchen, or even to frame some of the tea towels! I'm also pretty tempted by their totes, I'm always on the look out for an individual tote or two! All in all their work is beautiful, it has character and is pretty reasonably priced, the limited edition screen print, shown above is $58 which is about £38, not too shabby for some individual art! Check out their full range on Etsy or their website. 
Sophie xo

Inspired by... Brothers Grimm

So for this weeks Inspired by, I decided to go for something history and literature based, the Brothers Grimm. For everyone these Brothers have had a massive hold over their childhood, whether they have read the originals, the adapted - child friendly - version or have been enchanted by Disney's happy ever after version. To this day their stories have been in my opinion one of the most powerful pieces of literature of our age, they have taught children morals, entertained and delighted for hundreds of year. 


However, trying to find products that reflect this is actually pretty tricky, I started out thinking 'Forest! Yeah most of their stories take place in a forest!' But exhausted that pretty fast. I then started to play with the notion of colour, and the darker side of the Brothers, the wall sconce from Voila! is a prime example of the evil witches lair, but don't worry because there is also a cute apple trivet for her to serve her evil apples on! My favourite piece out of this bunch is the Skinny LaMinx tea towel, I love love love her work - I sense a dedicated post to her coming on - and this cute little mushroom towel just had to make an appearance somewhere. Enjoy!

Sophie xo

1. Norwegian Birch forest shade, £450. 2. Forest Canopy bed, £3698. 3. Kolini apple Trivet, £18.50. 4. LED Traditional Lantern, £25. 5. Hand Wall Sconce, $825. 6. 'Slate Shadow' Murobond, $Approx 41. 7. Menagerie Glass, £10. 8. Mushroom Tea towel, $17.70.

Murobond

Once again, I come to you from a very wet and windy day in London, I just refuse to believe it's March...It can't be it should be sunny and I should be wearing flip flops by now! But never mind, because  I have made a wonderful painty discovery. Most of the time when browsing, I tend to look at wallpaper, or wall decals to beautify my walls, I rarely look at paint. But today I discovered Murobond.

Murobond is a online hub for all of your painting needs (they also sell Abigail Edwards wallpaper) they have a range of colours and some brilliant creative collection headings. These include, 'Greyscale Garden',  'Travellers and Magicians' and my personal favourite 'Tales of a sea Gypsy'. I love all of their different collections - even the ones without epic names. They bring together contrasting pallettes, elegance and a bit of quirky fun. 
Sophie xo