Preview: Oeuf A/W13

Oeuf06

Oeuf05

oeuf02

Oeuf04

I’m totally digging the fantastical woodland theme of the new Oeuf autumn/winter clothing collection. Full of knitted crowns, Ewok ears, medieval-style dresses and bear suits, it is perfect for your little forest folk.
All Oeuf’s clothes are Fair Trade and very beautifully crafted from 100% baby alpaca. I like the fact that when you buy these special knits, you’re not only purchasing an heirloom piece but also helping to transform the lives of women and children in Bolivia. Oeuf pays its makers a living wage and they work in small self-managing groups, making decisions as a democracy. This allows their children to go to school and greatly improves the quality of the artisans’ lives. So happily, each piece is created for the benefit of everyone – you and them.

You might also like:

New Book: The Set Table

8

TheSetTable01

TheSetTable03

TheSetTable6

I love beautifully set tables. By that I don’t mean anything too fancy; just some nice plates and cutlery (it’s fine if they are mismatched) with napkins and a few sprigs of flowers. Setting a table makes even the most simple meal feel special and having just read The Set Table: The Art of Small Gatherings by Hannah Shuckburgh, it’s something I am going to make a bit more effort to do well. The book strikes just the right balance between inspirational and achievable and shows you how to set a beautiful table with modest resources. There are tips on choosing crockery and cutlery, suggestions for flowers and lighting, and advice on how to make all mealtimes that little bit more memorable. As well as Hannah’s useful tips, the book also features lots of inspiring photographs, which make you want to grab some napkins, bake some bread and invite a few friends round. It’s a good book and one that I’ll be dipping into time and time again.

The Set Table: The Art of Small Gatherings is published by Cicada.

You might also like:

House Inspiration: Gingerbread House

gingerbread house 03

gingerbread house 01

gingerbread house 07

gingerbread house 06

gingerbread house 02

gingerbread house 04

gingerbread house 05

This building was winner of the AJ Small Projects Awards 2013 and looks like an industrial gingerbread house! It has pretty rounded shingles and sits behind the reconstructed wall of a former Victorian box factory with mismatched brickwork. Architect Laura Dewe Mathews designed the house for herself and was keen to show that contemporary architecture can be friendly instead of severe and alienating. I love the contrast of the curved cedar scales, thick galvanised steel window surrounds and patched brick wall. Inside the house is just as delightful, with a double-height kitchen and dining room, timber-clad walls and a beautiful resin floor, it really is the stuff of modern-day fairytales.

You might also like:

A Few Photos…

birthday

birthday04

partyfred

birthday 03

DSC_0713

This week was all about Wren’s birthday. She turned two on Tuesday and we celebrated with a little party at home over the weekend. It was very simple, just a couple of friends and we got the kids making pizzas. Wren was very lucky and got lots of nice presents; a Clothkits dolly and xylophone from her grandparents, some new crayons and books from friends and real, child-sized cooking equipment from us. It rained all day on her actual birthday, so we spent the day inside baking cakes and biscuits with her new tools.

1. Sprinkles. 2. Playing with new toys. 3. Party Fred. 4. Cloth Kitty. 5. Wren’s biscuits.

I bought our great party plates, cups and hats from Molly-Meg.

You might also like: