INSPIRATION

I was going to tell everyone to buy GoodHomes Pattern & Print magazine, June 2014. Packed full of exactly what the title says 'pattern & print'. Featuring monochrome buys, blue and white schemes and an interview with Caroline Gardner. However when I was googling images of this magazine this photo caught my eye and I found it much more inspiring and interesting than what I was going to say.

Modern folk is the title for this collection of images, a fantastic opportunity to showcase tile patterns, Moroccan prints and earthy colours all in one photo!! After years of art school teaching me tonal scales and the effective use of shading it seems a shame that I am drawn to block colours and patterns that involve no shading what soever. I feel my talent is slightly wasted. But I couldn't be more drawn to this mood board of basic colours and complex patterns. 

HEARTS AND HANDLES

My little sister brought this lovely, sparkly heart for me a few christmas's ago and I still love it as much as I did the day I first saw it, if not more! It's huge, about 80cm tall and it really is a statement piece, the kind of thing that would dominate anything else you were to put on the same wall it was hanging on. It was brought from a pop up christmas shop in Norwich-rather tacky shop full of tinsel and singing christmas dogs. I hadn't seen anything like it until very recently I saw a tiny red version in Next Home.

When you look up close you notice the glittery tops sitting on wood shavings moulded into rose flower shapes. The centre of the flower is a little piece of wood doweling. Looks very effect however very delicate! 

Just as I was uploading the photos of my glittery rose heart these little chest handles my mum recently brought caught my eye. She spent ages looking in various stores and online shops for the 'perfect collection' of handles to add to a new Ercol chest. They look lovely all sitting in a line-or in a small cluster in a pot as I had originally found them. 

NATURAL DYES

I have been researching natural dyes like crazy the last few weeks, ordered several books and visited countless websites/blogs to find out as much information as possible. It's half term next week so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to have pots of dye bubbling continuously!

These are a list of ingredients to buy-that can be found in your back garden or nearest supermarket:

• Brown and red onion-skins
• Strawberries, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries
• Roses-petals
• Lavender 
• Red Cabbage
• Beets (beetroot)
• Turmeric
• Avocado-skins and stone
• Cowparsely 
• Pomegranate
• Birch bark
• Foxglove-flowers
• Bay leaves
• Celery leaves
• Paprika

To fix the dye to the fabrics several methods can be used. Through research I have found these fixatives:

• For Berries use 1/2 cup of salt to 8 cups of cold water
• For plant dyes use 4 parts cold water to 1 part vinegar
• Roses and lavender it is best to activate alkaloids by using a bit of mint and lemon juice
• You can also use Alum or Cream of tartar which can be brought in the cooking ingredients isle

I will be posting my results very soon!

DECORATING LEAVES-SCARF DESIGN

This is from a fairly old project at university. The brief was to design a scarf based on Norfolk. I knew everyone was going to go with the obvious cobbles and the markets, so I wanted to assure I had something completely different. I went down the route of Norfolk outdoors. So I developed drawings of architectural details and markings and moved these onto leaves I collected from woods in norwich. 

From the drawings on the leaves, I scanned them into my computer and played around with layouts and composition on photoshop. I came up with lots and lots of final scarf ideas but for me, two stood out. 

This photo below is my final scarf, I can assure you it looks far better in person and the quality has come out really bad in this picture. However you get the idea. I got this digitally printed and then frayed the edges (after sewing of corse).

HOMES AND GARDENS-THIS SEASON'S BEDLINEN

I came across this double paged spread in Homes and Gardens and I found it so inspiring. A range of vibrant florals amongst plain prints definitely caught anyones eye whilst reading this! As I have an upcoming project I want to prepare for I was a little stuck on direction, however seeing this variety of pattern simply hung on a peg line has given me new hope! I want my final exhibition for university to look like this, I want vibrant, colourful and patterned all captured in such a small space.

HONG KONG

I have dug out a few photographs taken from my recent holiday to Hong Kong that I find inspiring. I went in August 2013 and it was an amazing experience and so far from the day to day life I lead here in England. It was an eye opener to exist in their culture, country and everyday living for three weeks. 

The Terrapins are found in every park often sunbathing on rocks rather than swimming in the water, so it was fascinating to view them up close. The markings on their shell and skin are amazing and so detailed I wonder why there isn't a Terrapin print amongst the zebra and leopard print trend!

These coils are found in every temple and are smelt from streets away! You would buy one of these in the hope of attracting the attention of the gods, often brought for friends or family members as a way of gaining good luck for exams.

And of corse it wouldn't be a trip to Hong Kong if I didn't post one of many temple photos I have taken. It felt like every street you walked, and every corner you turned there was a temple almost the mass of the tall concrete jungle. Although they are so detailed and colourful they strangely fitted in almost the buildings. 

DUSKY BERRY TREND

I was browsing on pinterest for upcoming trends and came across this really inspiring photo put together by Gudy Herder. Such a lovely way of presenting her trend in a really minimalist way. When I finally come up with a new project I want to experiment with natural dyes and colours, making them into a paste/dye and let it run up the paper, like in the top photo. I usually find it too overwhelming trying to get everything that inspires me onto my mood board, so overlaying three key topics and a selection of words would really benefit me.

I have included a link because she has lovely ideas, very useful for anyone in designing. 

http://eclectictrends.com/my-color-trend-presentation-201516-for-global-color-research-dusky-berry-part-i/

THE APPLE ORCHARD

The Apple Orchard is a lovely interiors and home wares boutique shop in West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. My little sister goes to university in High Wycombe so it is just far too tempting to pay this little shop a visit when ever we go to see her. Every possible place to hang a heart or surface to stand a candle on has been filled-a mans hell, a woman's heaven!!

The shop is divided in to two 17th century buildings and many of its features have been kept, including the low ceilings and classic beams. In total there are 13 showrooms full of fine furniture and almost this are lots of little gifts. In fact most of the hearts on my 'Heart Wall' post are from this shop. 

http://theappleorchard.com

COUNTRY GARDEN

It's that time of year when everything is reviving itself after the winter. Here are a few photos of my garden. Lots of little arrangements of pots and flowers in every corner of the garden. The photo on the left is my favourite area of the garden, with the little bay tree and rhubarb planting pots.

EASTER STRING BASKET/NEST

The process is so simple, just a little time consuming because it takes ages to dry. But don't let that put you off! My first attempt went horribly wrong as I used a sugar and water solution which was supposedly the 'best way for hard string' according to a DIY blog. My balloon popped before it was even dry so I ended up with a ball of soggy, pink wool.

Here is my process:

1. I dyed my wool in a fabric dye with salt mixed in to prevent the dye from running. 

2. I mixed up a 1 part water 1 part PVA glue solution with some glitter in and soaked my wool in this for a good 5-10 minutes.

3. I found the end of the wool and using two fingers pinched together I ran the wool through to get rid of excess glue. Then I wound around my ballon. There isn't a set way of wrapping, just make sure as many gaps are covered in wool as possible.

4. Leave to dry-at least overnight. You will find that the balloon would of shrunk to around half its size, so pop this and pull it out.

I brought these little sets of rabbits and sheep in Tesco as part of their Easter range. They're so fun and ever so cute in life. To line my Easter basket I shredded gold paper and filled this in with a few feathers. Then all I had to do was fill it with chocolate eggs, a rabbit and my animals! Looks really effective and the basket can be used to play with once the choccies are gone.

SWANK INTERIORS

Wow! What a lovely place. I visited Swank Interiors just before christmas as inspiration for my Textile University course, and what a pleasant surprise I got. Tucked neatly away in the countryside halfway between Norwich and Ipswich in a small town called Diss is this converted barn style building with hundreds of wallpaper samples, paint charts, paints and home accessories. Greeted by very friendly staff we were then led into a large room packed full of gifts and little home accessories anyone would be happy receiving!
Everywhere you looked your eyes feasted on elaborate arrangements. I found it hard to keep my hands to myself when a variety of tempting and vibrant flowers greet you in the centre of the room and alongside the walls are stacks of photo frames and unusual bottles-A bit like a boutique Next store.
Upstairs led you into two show bedrooms and a bathroom. I couldn't help but notice where the slopping ceiling met the floor was any interior designers paradise! A large bookshelf absolutely full of interior design and styling books. I wanted to just sit in the corner and get lost in not a few, but all of the books! I honestly could of stayed for hours!

This is their website which has everything from contact details to opening times:
http://www.swankinteriors.co.uk

WALL OF HEARTS

I have a rather unhealthy growing collection of hanging hearts that I have hoarded from birthdays, presents, impulse buys etc for years! After having recently moved back home this became apparent and I decided to make a eclectic arrangement of hearts on one of my very plain walls. The inspiration was taken from clusters of photo frames on walls-a recent interior craze which has taken off. 

Originally all of my walls were white with just one feature wall being a floral in soft purples. Laura Ashley-Mauve Kimono to be exact. For a few weeks I pottered about with every possible colour sample of purple trying to match the shade of wall paper at the same time as standing out enough without being to dominating. Eventually I settled with a Dulux pot of purple. 

Making Mother's Day cards

Yesterday I was busy with my god daughter covering the kitchen in painted hands and feet prints. I laid out a huge piece of lining paper and lots of colours with glitter and let her run free. Eventually after lots of cleaning up and once the prints had dried I cut the prints out.

The first is a butterfly card using feet and a paper body. 

And the second is a hand printed caterpillar which was originally going to be card but she wanted it to run around the house. 

Fairy tree with little fairy lights

Here is the fairy tree with little battery powered fairy lights on, very magical and looks fun at night!!

Fairy garden

As a present for a special 3 year old I made this fairy garden. Using things I found in my garden I compiled a collection to then cover in spray paint, coat in glitter or paint.

I made it so it can go outside-the butterflies on the tree are cut out of photo paper which is the only waterproof thing I could find that my stamp would cut into.

To create interest I tried to make various sections and levels such as pebble stones with drawings on. These houses are just branches with a plastic cone covered in deconstructed pinecones.

I then brushed the tips with a gold enamel paint and the other with pva glue and glitter. 

To draw on these pebbles I tried using a  white pen but it didnt't work too well. So I used a fine paint brush with watered down white paint.

Strings of butterflies to be dangled around the fairy tree (which I coated in a silver/gold spray paint and touches of glitter) 

This butterfly stamp is a Martha Stewart one I brought for £22, there are cheaper ones about but I don't think they look as good. 

Valentines hearts

I found this really cool idea off Pinterest but they were in the form of pancakes. I wanted to make mine out of white chocolate.

I looked everywhere for a piping syringe but I had no luck, so I brought some little icing tubes and piping bags. I used the lid of the icing tubes and I cut off the end, I dropped the lid into the piping bag and filled with white chocolate. Very easy to control! 

White chocolate lace hearts-valentine gifts!!!

Making my Georgian Dolls House

To start:
I ordered some plain, untreated wooden shelves from Homebase costing around £20 and I measured the height and width of these. Then I worked out how much MDF wood I would need making sure I had extra on the top for the roof. Using a Jigsaw I cut out the windows, doors and the roof shapes ready to begin painting. The MDF wood was £7.50 from Homebase.

Here is a working drawing of the shapes to go around the windows-to be kept simple!

Next step was the exciting part where I selected the colours I wanted to use. I knew that pink was a definite so I found about 20 sample pots of shades of pink and then painted them onto some lining paper. Once dried I could see which ones went best together…This is the outcome.

The main colour on the outside of the dolls house was painted in this Crown Easy Rider. I originally brought 2 pots of Farrow and Ball paint thinking it was on special offer and got home to realise it was £7.00 for sample pots. So I took those back and noticed Crown paint samples were on sale for 93p each.

I wanted to test what colours would work best and how they would come out, so I stamped straight onto the lining paper sample paints I did earlier. I found the glittery ones looked magical-I picked this up from The Works for £1.49 and it does go a long way.

I have a selection of woodblock stamps which aren't the easiest to print with onto wood, but they do look very effective as a collection. You could try using foam stamps but the design wouldn't be as intricate.

This is what the final background looked like before I glued it to the shelves. I left a small space in-between each section so the glue stuck better to the wood (wood to wood sticks best). To glue it together I used Evo-Stik which is a wood adhesive and I left over night to set with loads of books on top to weigh it down. I also banged in small wood nails/pins to hold it firmly in place.

Finally I brought some decorative wood from Homebase, cut it down to size and also two little door knobs and using some metallic spray I coated them in a silvery/gold. 

Nearly finished-To add the finishing touches to my dolls house I used a metallic silver Sharpie pen and drew around the windows and added some little trees on the steps by the front door. Then I printed two stamps-one on the top of the house and the other above the door.

And this is the final outcome: