Wednesday 29 May 2013

pin it forward uk

I was really thrilled to be invited to be part of the "pin it forward Uk" campaign which is running throughout may, as part of its UK launch.
For any of you who haven't come across pinterest it is the most marvellous tool for collating all of those visual treats you find whilst meandering through life online and off.

I use it everyday to organise all of my visual inspiration via different boards on pinterest. I do most of my clients moodboards on it, as they can then easily see how i am trying to bring their room together. here is an image from   a board  for a client who wanted a contemporary take on toile 

image originally from poppytalk 

i have also taken to storing all of my recipes on a food board - and a wholefood board for when i am feeling virtuous!

image from alexandracooks 

I thought it would be fun to do a board that was all about an introduction to pinterest, so every image i came across that i wanted to pin in a week, went on my board 'inspired'


- it was an interesting exercise in looking at the types of things i continually pin - which seem to be food, fabric, art and interiors! - not really that surprising.

come and join the fun, pinterest have prepared a special little registration link for you here, where you can join in the fun.
While i am here i would like to take the opportunity to introduce fellow pinner and fashionista Caroline Burke   caroline is a Uk based style expert and pins all manner of fashion loveliness - i wonder if she could give me a gok style makeover?  i don somehow think Caroline would be very inspired by what i wore today - mainly wellies and pyjamas.........



Saturday 25 May 2013

the secret of the cinnamon roll

many of you will know - an possibly share my addiction to pinterest. i also have an addiction to cinnamon buns ever since a trip to san francisco let us to the gorgeous little store called molly stones in sausalito.  i am always on the lookout for a cinnamon bun that replicates that molly stones taste. i have tried many but i think i have found it ...........and ahem.....its not a made from scratch (she says slightly red faced!)
 it starts with a pack of jus rol croissant dough - to be found in the chiller cabinet next to pastry!
roll it out flat (dont separate it into triangles) and spread it with butter and sprinkle liberally with soft brown sugar mixed with a teaspoon or 2 of cinnamon.
 roll it up like a sausage and chop into rings.
put a ring in each hole of a mini muffin tin - i am especially fond of  this one with 24 holes

bake them in a hot oven, and take them out of the tin as soon as they are done - or they weld themselves to it! (top tip, don't ice them in the tin or you"ll have to eat them out of the tin with a spoon!)


put them on a plate and dribble with icing made with icing sugar, a teaspoon or 2 of maple syrup and a teaspoon or two of milk and a little pinch of cinnamon.


eat while still warm and enjoy!!!

Sunday 19 May 2013

talent for textiles

If you are in and around bradford on avon this weekend Jo and I will be at the Talent for Textiles 'rag market'  9am - 3 pm at Mason's Hall and the Wine Vaults, Church Street, Bradford on Avon.
We will be selling lots of odds and ends of fabrics, along with cushions, lampshades and some bargain sarah hardaker fabrics  .
As usual we got very distracted making our bundles of 'rags' look beautiful!!!




if you are in Bradford on Avon pop in and say hello, there are lots of fabulous dealers who are selling wares at bargain prices.


Thursday 9 May 2013

howdy

its been busy busy busy here, with jo racing around doing 2 jobs - and still managing to come and sort out my muddles on a weekly basis, and me being the woman of a hundred hats for months on end, - i feel like that faulty towers sketch where manuel changes his outfit depending on whether he is the waiter, the doorman, the bell boy etc!!
we have had alot of exciting projects on the go, our pattern books arrived! (and i was like a proud mummy!)

all of our new designs were launched....... and selling!



we have done some really exciting interiors projects, at home via  our website  room service (using my embroidery training - judy barry - i am still doing you proud!!)



and abroad.......

 i was brave and had some professional pics taken by the wonderful paul, at lemon house (who performed photo-surgical no chins miracles!!) so this is me ...in real life!!!


we have had some amazing magazine coverage.. (thank you wonderful team at country homes and interiors and fab stylist lisa brown)




and i have indulged my guilty pinterest addiction - usually at 5am!!!





anyway, we are back, and in fine fettle, so heres to a creative summer!