Five Friday Faves

The multi-talented Rachel's launched her shop, selling lovely ruffley headbands - and I can see she has had lots of sales already. I'm going to commission a belt in the style above.

I'm sad to say goodbye to Mostly Mod - but wish Aimee all the best in her ventures (creative and otherwise.)

A giveaway of some sweet bird cards.

Love these personalised shirt labels for a guy who really loves checked shirts...

I'm feeling like the old spinster of blogland - but congratulations to the newly-engaged; Nina, Erin, Jen and Zoe (I totally saw hers coming, I mean he organised a mystery trip, with clues and everything.)

That's all folks - I'm going camping in an hour and a half (to Greenbelt), I have to go the post office, and haven't started packing (and my clothes are still in the washing machine) - have a great Bank Holiday Weekend!

Jamie's jars

Can a simple jar bring happiness? I've just bought some of these kilner jars from Jamie Oliver. I loved their ceramic lids, which come in green, blue and cream (or 'pea', 'duck egg' or 'almond' as they call them - brilliant marketing.) They come in 4 sizes, and weren't too expensive - the largest one was £5. The teeny kilner jar would be perfect for storing spices.

And doesn't this marmalade jar from Lucky Little Dot's Etsy shop make a very stylish pen pot?

London love: Shepherd's Bookbinding

A few months ago, I was out for an evening in Mayfair. On the way home, I stumbled upon a traditional bookbinding shop, with the windows lit, and was transfixed. I had to find out more.

The shop was Shepherd's Bookbinding. As I peered through the windows, I could see rows and rows of pretty paper.

The shop uses traditional binding techniques and also restores books, and I would love to take one of their workshops.

It was these delicate Japanese Chiyogami papers in the window display which drew me in - the one with the birds just spoke to me, and has stayed in my mind ever since.

Paper photos via Shepherd's. All other photos via Flickr.

Cath Deeson

Linocut print cards by Cath Deeson (including one of Giant's Causeway, in my homeland.)

Dyed linens

These aren't available online, but I couldn't resist this picture of pretty dyed antique linens from Loran and Co in Bath.

Day Birger et Mikkelson

Even though I am in denial that summer is almost over (although I have been trying on winter coats) there is definitely something appealing about the wintry tones of this home range by Day Birger et Mikkelson.

Such beautiful styling, with bare branches and a tiny autumn leaf in the bottom photograph. And although my interiors style has changed over time (I'm very into reading Homes and Antiques, and Country Living at the minute) I've always loved concrete, zinc and uneven walls.

Cloud Bay wallpaper

Although I have just about finalised my wallpaper choices for my flat, every once in a while I spot another one I like, which throws me into a state of confusion. I really love this Cloud Bay wallpaper from Rapture and Wright.

And if you look carefully at the photo above, you'll spot the cloud fabric which I've been looking for all my life. Last year I developed design fatigue while trying to pick a fabric to reupholster a charity shop chair purchase in. In the end, I went off the chair and sold it on eBay, but isn't it just as well, when there wasn't even the slightest hint of this fabric on my radar?

Tea of the week: vintage teapot

Sweet vintage teapot with orange tin 'cosy' from Etsy seller Modish Vintage.

Tea and Make

So, website fixed, a few days in Southern Italy, an afternoon tour of Chelsea Physic Garden, and I am as happy as can be.

Tomorrow I am going to the Tea and Make fete in Forest Hill, South East London. There will be stalls from lots of lovely designers, including Hannah Waldron, Polly George, Laura Laura, Pingo Art (vending machine art!) as well as Tea for Joy fete favourite Choc Star, and lots of fun workshops including mini kite making. I can't wait!

Lots more information and a full stallholder list here.

Saturday 22nd August 2009
11am-5pm
£1 entry

St Saviour’s,
Brockley Rise,
Forest Hill,
London SE23 1JN.

Papermash winners

So, dear readers, I cut up all the comments into little squares, tossed them together in my Nina Invorm bowl and voila, I have some winners! It took AGES - and then I could not find my camera to document. Grrr (#1). Anyway, you will just have to take my word for it that I pulled the names out fairly.

Thank you for all the lovely comments about Papermash. I am enquiring about new products already, so I hope to expand my range soon.

So, without further ado, the winner of the year's free stationery is Ali. Congratulations! I will be in touch and will get that first parcel in the post. Winner of the one-off parcel is Rhianne.

I am still offering 10% off Papermash purchases for Tea for Joy readers until the end of August with the discount code teaforjoy1. I'm having some website problems - grrr (#2) - as long as you have a paypal account you can order, but if you don't have one then there are issues. I am hoping that will all be fixed on Monday (although they said Friday.) I am in a very bad mood.

Anyway, hope you are enjoying your weekend!

UPDATE: All fixed!

Fash mob part 2

Well, I just couldn't resist posting these photos of these winners of the Liberty fash mob floral style competition. Top photo is Natalie, the overall winner. I love her flowery top. I've realised I don't own one single patterned top, never mind floral. In fact, after one month in my new job, a colleague remarked to me how a) I always wear block colours and b) usually it's blue or green. Funny how people can be scrutinising your signature style without you noticing.

More flowery photos here. Photos by Liberty.

Liberty fash mob

I keep missing out on events I would have loved - last night's Philip Glass prom, this Dreams of Violence play, the meteor showers last night (due to cloud cover) - and now London's first 'fash mob.' While I was stuck at work with an uncooperative spreadsheet, floral-clad fashionistas descended upon Liberty for an event organised in conjunction with their current Prints Charming exhibition. Celebrating their iconic print, the store has gone print crazy both in and out, with Squint furniture upholstered with Liberty fabric, a Wendy house papered with hand-printed paper, and Swedish Skeppshult bicycles in Liberty's Caesar print.

The first picture of the 'fash mob' from a new exciting discovery - did you know Liberty has a blog? More pictures on their site tomorrow - I can't wait.

PS Papermash competition winner being announced tomorrow.

photos via Wee Birdy and Liberty.

Bird mania

Well, I've made an assessment that textile designer Clare Nicolson loves birds...avian friends adorn everything from cards, tea towels, cushions to lavender sachets (my favourite, and made from vintage fabrics.) And although I can't see them lining up on my sofa, I love the set of bird cushions inspired by Russian matryoshka dolls. I'm trying not to be an interfering aunt, but I think they would be lovely in my baby niece's room.

London Cycle Chic

Have you seen this blog London Cycle Chic, dedicated to stylish cycling? There's a brilliant shop, too, offering everything from bamboo vests to this supercool pannier - the cyclists' equivalent of the oversized handbag.

Wednesday workspace

Wow - vibrant, and definitely a statement wall - but would I be able to avoid adding pins to show where I've visited?

via Homes and Gardens.

TokyoMilk

Pretty, pretty packaging, dusted with glitter - soaps by TokyoMilk, available from The Renovation Store.

Lisa Jones Studio

There's no shortage of tea towels to write about, but isn't this cute design by Lisa Jones adorable? Also available as a print.

Advertiser post: Bright New Things

Welcome to new advertiser, Bright New Things. Lynelle's photography has such a dreamy, ethereal quality - I can't tell you how much I love the steam and sky photo above (steam rising over lava flows). The Bright New Things Etsy shop also sells a small range of vintage items, and some of her images are also available as greetings cards.

Tea of the Week: Kathryn Boyle

A slightly unusual tea of the week this week - this illustration is by my cousin, Kathryn Boyle. Tonight is the opening of her art exhibition at the John Hewitt bar in Belfast - very exciting. The exhibition is on until 30th August 2009.

Kathryn also illustrated this free downloadable for Papermash which is available for you to print at home.

Five Friday Faves

Oh my goodness, I have just signed up to the Benevolent Postcard Society and I am so so excited!

A lovely roundup of packaging.

Melanie's list of fun things to send in the mail (the envelope above makes the cut.)

Love this handmade laptop case.

A DIY art project using your passport stamps.

Hope you all have a great weekend. The sun has come out here just in time. I'm hoping to go and see Coco before Chanel. Have any of you seen it? I also have to go to a meeting where I need to report back about a volunteers' picnic I am organising for two hundred people in a month's time. Except I haven't started doing anything yet - anyone have any bright (and quick) ideas so I can sound like I have made some progress - I would love some ideas for fun activities or games. I've been thinking about the styling - bunting, vintage tablecloths and fabric flowers if I can figure out how to make them - but I'm not sure that should be my first priority.

Papermash: win a year's worth of stationery!

So, finally I have got my little shop together and here is the big launch! My shop, Papermash, is selling paper goods sourced from my favourite independent designers. Avid blog readers will recognise some of them, and I would still encourage you to buy from them directly if you know who they are - but in the UK I am confident that not too many people are reading design blogs as religiously as I do...

I have had lots of fun so far being a stylist, a company director and an accountant - and have learned so much before I have even made a sale. I'm a bit nervous but also very excited - I am already working on lots of strategies for expansion!

So here is the big launch competition; you can win a year's worth of stationery - one package each month for twelve months, with a minimum retail value of £10 per month, worth £120 or approx $200 USD in total. A prize worth having, don't you think?

There is a catch: to qualify you need to link to this competition, or Papermash in a blog post. Please let me know you have done so in the comments. International entrants are welcome.

I know that not everyone has their own blog - so I'm not leaving you out of the fun! There will be a one-off surprise parcel for another lucky reader. Just leave a comment stating what your favourite item in the shop is. Please make sure you leave your email address in the comments if your blogger profile is not public.

I am also offering a 10% discount to Tea for Joy readers until 21st August if you enter the code teaforjoy1 at the checkout.

If you find any glitches on the website please let me know - I've been tweaking and tweaking, testing and testing - but you never know what might be lurking.

The competition will close at midnight next Wednesday, 12th August.

Wednesday workspace: a chalkboard calendar

My tin of blackboard paint is still languishing in a cupboard somewhere, but this photograph has inspired me to make some blackboard progress. Brilliant, right? Lots of things to love in this scene - the Orla Kiely cushion, the classic black telephone - and I'm always a fan of the small additional side table in an office.

Photo from Ideal Home, via Home Shopping Spy (instructions here too.)

Kate Wilson for Marc Jacobs

Well, these adorable illustrations by Kate Wilson were a big hit last time I wrote about them, so imagine how I excited I was when I discovered her talents extended even further - to Marc Jacobs no less! Wilson designed the heart on this t-shirt for Marc by Marc Jacobs. Available at Net-a-Porter.

By the way, my shop is almost ready to go. It is 95% complete - I just have a few questions after putting through a test order. I hope to have it live tomorrow evening.

New advertiser: Catskill Kiwi

Welcome to new advertiser, Catskill Kiwi. Catskill Kiwi is a chronicle of New Zealander Toni's relocation from New York City to upstate New York. Her blog documents a mix of country and urban life with brilliant photography and lots of delicious recipes made with produce from her vegetable patch - it's definitely worth a visit.

Catskill Kiwi's Airstream office.

Pick your own blueberries, and homegrown carrots and radishes.

A return to the City - New York Polaroids.

All photos by Catskill Kiwi.

Tea of the week: Tina Tsang

Tina Tsang's quirky but dainty designs have quite a following in the UK press - but on the off chance you haven't seen them I am sharing them here. I love the pretty gold script on the milk jug and sugar bath.

Available online at Undergrowth Design.