Winkworth Arboretum + some leaf products

A gloomy and rainy day yesterday, but a friend and I set off regardless for Winkworth Arboretum in Goldalming, in search of the best autumn leaves. It seemed like everyone else had the same idea as it was packed! A trip to a National Trust property, and a picnic in the car, reminds me of so many family excursions.


Quite a few leaves have made it into my shop as I'm particularly fond of them; autumn post-its and maple leaves, too.

Leaf tape and flowers + leaf tape...

Leaf notebooks and index tabs.

I've been fast-forwarding to Christmas a little, feeling apprehensive about the upcoming dark days, but I have resolved to savour the rest of autumn, with pomegranate molasses-cooked lamb, porridge with maple syrup and roasted apples, and a late afternoon stroll to catch what's left of the light. I'm collecting leaves for a mood board, which may or may not materialise... How are you enjoying autumn?

Tea of the week: an autumn tea

An autumn tea by Loretta {lots more beautiful autumn photos on her blog.}

Happy weekend + links

Some scenes of recent London weekends and the variety around us; spotting fawn in Bushy Park {hundreds of them, and I didn't have a zoom lens, so apologies for the photo}, and a detail from Greenwich's stunning Painted Hall. I'm off to spot autumn leaves this weekend, before the gloom of the clocks going back...


*Quick: A competition to win a place next week on a Spanish cookery course at Food at 52, which I've heard great things about. {Also, a foodie internship.}
*Have you seen 91 magazine?
*Love this gentleman's outfitters.
*Oh deer.
*I love the tiniest art show.
*10 ways to make a garland {via Mathilde Heart Manech, and thanks for the Papermash mention}

Have a lovely weekend!

Illustrator: Rob Hodgson

I came across illustrator Rob Hodgson via Clare Owen, whose work I love {and who I commissioned for my shop.} These are from his Etsy shop, and I'm not sure which is my favourite, although I love the life drawing in the top print!

Papered Parlour Open Studios

Yesterday I popped into the Papered Parlour's Open Studios {I took an excellent photography class there, with Sam Roberts and Louise, who runs the Parlour.} There were stalls from lots of the designers who have a studio space there, as well as a few other visitors.

Illustrations from Catalina Echeverri, a children's book illustrator {blog.}

Prints from All Cats Are Grey, {blog.}

Cushions and other lovely textiles from Maria Hatling {such a cute picture on her homepage, you must look. Shop, here.}

There was a stall run by the Letter Lounge, a fun project whereby you are provided with everything to sit and write a letter, and it is even posted for you! They have more events coming up soon.

Cakes, yum.

I love the sentiment in the top picture as I love wind and rain. When I was a child I used to sit outside on our back step in a sleeping bag when there were gale force winds. That sounds rather odd when I write it, and where on earth was my mother...? Anyway, these lovely napkins {love the robins} are from Devon-based Made with Love.

I only intended to pop in for 5 minutes, but ended up browsing for quite a while. It was a fun afternoon! If you've taken a class there, I would love to hear how it was.

Reach for the stars

I love looking at the sky, dreamy quotes, and almost everything I own is navy, so it won't be difficult to work out why the above items all appeal to me...

1. 'I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream' print by Seb Lester {£90}, 2. Pyjama bottoms {£38}, 3. Cosmic top {£139}, 4. Trace the stars blouse {£98} and 5. 'These same stars' scarf {£120 - you can see the text here}; a collaboration between Rob Ryan and NV London, an ethical accessories company working with craftspeople in Calcutta. {I just bought this card holder from them.}

{A previous stargazing post here.}

Deal of the month: pastel washi tape

This is only the second of my monthly Papermash deals {am often behind schedule} but today I'm offering this deal for pastel masking tape, for £20 including shipping {normally £30.70}. There can't be anyone out there who doesn't know about washi tape, but I'm finding more uses for it every day - decorating vases, creating moodboards, and of course some special wrapping ideas. I have another photo shoot tomorrow and am a little out of inspiration, so if you have any suggestions please share!

The deal is available on 10 sets only, only to customers in the UK, and can be purchased using the paypal button below.

Shop tour: Lush

Some photos from the Lush shop in Greenwich, from a trip there on Saturday. Such quirky designs, from designers Marie Rodgers and Maria Livings, who also have a studio at Cockpit Arts. I also popped into the Painted Hall, which was stunning.

Mermaid lampshade, of course.

This fox made me think of Zoe.

Shop counter

Love pillowcases, and a wild pig sneaking in.

Hope your week has started well; I've just restrained myself from going out on an urgent search for cake. Maybe later...

Happy weekend + links

*I hate driving; but I want one of these cars {say hi to my cousin Linda and her new blog}

*Tea or coffee?

*Always the most beautiful cakes

*Cosying up for winter, with this sheepskin chair cover

*Love this hen party {and more straw styling}

Have a lovely weekend! I wanted to see Page One, the behind-the-scenes documentary about The New York Times documentary, but now it doesn't seem to be on anywhere. Sigh. Still, I've just started a week's holiday, so I'm excited about that! Then, I'm going back to work part-time {so I can work more on Papermash until Christmas}, and I just can't wait to have more time to spend on it.

Illustration by Jessica Durrant.

Shop tour: Falkiners

For years I studied in the street next to Falkiners/Shepherds Bookbinders on Southampton Row and often popped in at lunch to revel in its traditional surroundings, and look at its pretty Japanese chiyogami papers. I can never resist a nostalgic peek when I'm in the neighbourhood. Someday I would love to take one of their bookbinding courses, where I'm pretty sure my paper of choice would be one of their stunning autumn-hued leaf papers.

I treated myself to one of their 2012 diaries {this is unusual for me; it will probably remain half-empty for the first months of the year, as happened with my Persephone books diary.} I will take a photo soon, as it's covered with another of my favourites; flying swallows...

{No photos of the whole shop as my camera skills didn't pull them off; but it's such a lovely place to visit; large with lots of old wooden shelving and racks and just so much paper of every description. Their shop in Mayfair is smaller, but its an unexpected treat to come across it in the midst of the surrounding restaurants and bars.}

Tea of the week: seed biscuits

Cute! A tea biscuit garden {£8.50} with wildflower seeds. A friend had an amazing garden this summer with Riverford seedlings - I'm definitely trying those next year.

At the end of this week I go down to part-time working hours, in preparation for the Christmas rush {fingers crossed}; I hope to blog a bit more regularly too!