Happy birthday brother G!

Happy Birthday brother G! G is a great Tea for Joy supporter, so here's a G-inspired post, even though the below aren't quite his personal style...

G's interests include Lego, random bands you'd never have heard of, composing music, and science fiction. Here's a previous G tribute post.

From top left: Lego print ($47), Cubes necklace ($45), Record Player ($20), Lego Iphone app (free!), Robot Coasters ($8).

New items at Papermash + a summer discount

A few new items at Papermash: Bird gift tag stamps (£12), and handmade ceramic magnets (£7.50 for 3). The peg in the gift tag photo is a normal wooden peg customised with this Japanese masking tape.

A summer offer - 15% off all items before the end of July with code teaforjoy.

Design Democracy

Well, exciting news. I've been nominated for My Deco's Design Democracy Blog Awards, and I've been asked to sum up what 'Design Democracy' means to me...

I'm not sure I understand the concept, but I'm defining it as having the choice to decorate our homes in any way we like, whether they conform to notions of style or not. I'm challenging myself to become less of a design snob. I can't quite bring myself to paper my flat with Cole and Sons Woods wallpaper, even if it's aesthetically one of my favourite designs, just because it's everywhere, and everyone already has it. Yet I've never come across the Woods wallpaper in a friend's house so far, nor would the majority recognise it if they saw it in mine (not everyone reads blogs and reads Living Etc, you know.) And every time I go to Ikea I have to concede that the Poang (especially with the sheepskin cover, and in the rocking chair version) is actually the most comfortable chair I have ever sat in, but I just can't bring myself to have something so generic in my flat. I'm working on my attitude, and I need to respect the choices of friends who buy cheaper copies of expensive design classics (something I dislike), when their salary would never justify the original. It doesn't really matter...

We can all become overwhelmed with the inspiring images we see online, but not all of us can aspire to or afford a magazine-shoot worthy home. I'd love to hear your thoughts - what are your choices? Do you enjoy looking at inspiring interiors, but are content to live with old tatty furniture? Do you stick to your principles of only buying secondhand, or are you happy to have a house full of Ikea? Have you made any design decisions which you know a magazine editor would disapprove of, but you don't care...for me, I like to buy vintage furniture and support small designers (the main theme of this blog) but it will be a long time before I get rid of my cheap beach-coloured Argos bed (the most comfortable bed ever.) So, those are my choices.

Voting will begin on 1st August - you can vote here.

Photo via Desire to Inspire.

Thief! (part two)

This time, blatantly from my downstairs neighbours' front garden. The lavender is so overgrown it's blocking my path and the tenants aren't maintaining the garden.

In the background is Amsterdam: Made By Hand (review coming soon) by stylist Pia Jane Bijkerk whose blog you must visit if you haven't been - it's one of my favourites.

A grey(ish) day

I do so love beach styling - the murkier the sky, the better. A hint of grey clouds makes these images of the latest home range from Day Birger et Mikkelsen just that little bit more interesting.

Jonny Hannah prints

Summery linocuts from Jonny Hannah, available at St. Judes (left £70, right £95.)

Papermash press

Who can identify where Papermash has made an appearance in the photo above, in August's Ideal Home? I'll give you a clue, it's not the deck chair (from Thornback and Peel)...

Thanks to these blogs for recently featuring Papermash: The Natural Wedding Company, Urban Mums, Nest Goodies and Bambino Goodies, Love made me do it, Craft Lovely, Country Days and Easy Living.

Folksy Four

From top left; Street Party (£12) by Tim Irving, Ahoy necklace (£20) by Joanna Rutter, Owl pattern scarf (£15) and Forever Print (£8.50), both by Bonbi Forest.

Interior inspiration: bare plaster

I love the faded grandeur of rooms with distressed or bare plaster, especially if there's sunshine streaming in...

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Tea of the week: A Nice Cup of Tea

A long time ago, I did an MA in Museum Studies. My friend Charlotte, from my course, has just curated an exhibition, A Nice Cup of Tea, at The Museum of Hartlepool, which starts this Saturday (24th) and runs until 17th October. Charlotte doesn't think I have many readers in the North, so if you're based in the North East, please leave a comment, as I recently met Julie from The Crafty Currant, and she doesn't think there's much of a blogging community there either. I'd love to prove them wrong...

British blogs

Hannah of Han Picked has a knack of picking out lovely classic design finds. If Frolic is your style, you'll love this. Photos above are from pop-up shop Its Loveliness Increases and Welsh online shop Damson and Slate.

Another blog which makes me feel ancient, stylish student Hannah shares her thrifted finds and charity shop outfits at Hello Mr Fox.

Gypsy Rose Writes is authored by a florist and stylist who lives on a London houseboat. Need I say more? (Thanks, Jane for the tip.)

As before, see my British blogroll in the right column for more lovely British blogs. If you have any new suggestions, please let me know in the comments. My previous recommendations are here and here.

Jigsaw Home

You won't find too many pastels around my home, but I love Jigsaw's recently-launched homeware range, Jigsaw Home. I haven't wanted a pink bedroom since c. 1982, but I love the fresh, clean look of their simple candy-striped designs.

Five Thursday Faves

An early round-up for me, as I'm off to a wedding tomorrow. Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

*Love this silent night.
*A DIY doily pinata.
*Brilliantly vibrant wedding flowers.

*A sweet telegram.

*These purchases are totally my style.

Photo from Dragonfly on Flickr.

Alfresco dining

At the weekend I enjoyed a coffee and the paper at the top of the steps down to my garden (I'll take a photo another day) which is not quite the same as having a lovely balcony you can step straight out onto. Even having the tiniest balcony, with space for a pot of lavender, would bring me so much joy...(although I am grateful for my outdoor space.)

{please let me know if you know the source}

Chelsea, on Flickr.

{again, please let me know if you know the source - sorry!}

Drinks parasols

Another lovely craft project for Papermash by Livy from A Field Journal. Livy used these mini pink doilies, skewers and wooden button plugs (optional) to make these lacy drinks parasols, but you could experiment with pretty origami paper and a lace craft punch. If the good weather lasts, I might even feel tempted to source my very own large pink parasol... Instructions for the project are here.

Ships ahoy

1. First edition of Swallows and Amazons, one of my favourite books (£78). 2. Anchor brooch (£24), 3. Salad boat (£39), 4. Picnic rug (£40), 5. Citrus sea salt (£3.50), 6. Limited edition ship screen print (£38), 7. Stitched Schooner Dishtowel (£20), 8. Thomas Paul cushion (£55).

Tea of the week: summer lounging

Photo by Perpetual Bliss on Flickr.

Herb bouquet

Wouldn't a herb bouquet make a sweet and beautifully scented gift for a host?

Holly's Houses

Love these customised house stamps from Holly's Houses.