Gorgeous generic wraps

Ahh what a gorgeous week it's been here in the south Lakes :) I heard a whisper that there were day old chocolate coloured lambs at the farm down the road, so I headed there with Benjamin to take a look. What cuties! We got to see a pair of shetland ponies have their shoes replaced by the farrier too. Really took me back to my horse riding years. I took the chance to catch some rays on some hay bales, toddlers can wear you down ; )

I couldn't resist these totally fab wraps from soul.uk for my wrapping paper drawer on the same day. I love the textured paper scans and hand-cut and drawn feel of them. Paper salad have a great sweet jar wrap too. It's prob a trend theme to watch, all under the nostalgia thought path. Lovely-jubbley.

 Paper Salads sweet jar wrap (image form blog)

Old sandals, old jeans, bales of straw....loving it..

project ercol

 Money Penny Linen Fabric

 Selected fabrics form John Lewis

 Furniture from Mustard Vintage

 From e17 craft blogspot

I'm at my happiest when I have a good few projects on the go, and a personal one I'm getting in a design flutter about is the new fabric for my mum's treasured original ercol furniture. She's stayed true to her design tastes and kept it throughout the 80's and beyond and now it's back in vogue. I've even got a treasured kaftan of hers in my wardrobe from the  70's :). Here's some vintage style furniture and fabrics I've come across.

spring bicycles

 Bicycle Print Cosmetic Knit Bag from Daisy Shoppe

 Bicycle print book-style Kindle cover form Folksy

 Bicycle Card by Ferouche

 Original source unknown

Ref: http://joannagoddard.blogspot.co.uk

Isn't the way that when you're busy your blog slows down. We're now in the full throws of renovation in the house, with a new roof being put on and the walls about to be re-plastered. I've a couple of projects on and I'm also caught up in a Pinterest addiction :) On my trend travels, amongst other things, I've noticed quite a lot of bicycle imagery popping up. Lovely it is too. Here are some of my favourites for you to have a look at.

Next

I was in Next the other day and spotted these cards and this lovely navy striped bag. It was so fresh to see a gift bag that wasn't sugar pink. I'm not a fan of Next clothes, but their cards and bags are bob on commercial. It's interesting to see how trends are translated to commercial and beautiful cards for the mass market. Clever stuff :)

I'm loving Pinterest

Ok so nothing beats having designs and inspiration in your hand. The feel of the paper, embossments and the effects of glitter, or glazes and textures if you're looking at ceramics. I've got to say though I've totally fallen for the huge inspirational hub that is Pinterest. It's great for older designers like myself to keep up with things like this (I'm 35, wit woo) Creating a mood board in the beginning of my career could take an age - sifting through magazines and the like. I still believe in the value of this technique, but there's so much to hand on Pinterest at such speed you'd be daft to ignore it. Here's a snip at the beginnings of some of my boards.

As cute as a button

Ugh where has the week gone? Can't believe my last post was nearly a week ago. I've been working on some 'unblogable' mugs this week and I've also been potty training my little boy, so it's gone by in a bit of a whirl. A good job we've left the old carpets down is all I can say : O
Anyway this sat I came across some ceramic hand painted buttons, which I had to buy. I've placed them in the card design I've done above. It got me thinking about how many button designs I've been seeing over the last few months or so. I've done a little collection of some lovely button designs I've come across. I love the graphic flower and button card from http://thelittlecardboutique.bigcartel.com
For top end button inspired cards though, the best has to be http://buttonboxcards.blogspot.com

My perfect greetings: thinkofmedesigns.com

After the epic scrapbook-a-thon I've been out and about sniffing around card designs, and came across what I'd have to say is my favourite greetings company thinkofmedesigns.com. I love the simplicity of the designs - so simple and gorgeous :) Less is more as they say, and they do it so, so well.

I bought these Mothers Day Cards of theirs from lovely Lancaster card shop PaperGallery - a bijoux card shop that stocks the créme de la créme of the card world. There's a cracking little pub on this road too, called "The Robert Gillow'. Great for a swift vino after a shop or pre theatre, if that's what tickles your fancy ; )

www.thinkofmedesigns.com
www.papergallery.co.uk

 

(Image courtesy of website)

Kids Characters

Print & Pattern blogger Marie Perkins aka Bowie Style is creating a 3rd Print and Pattern book, based around designs for children. I thought I'd blog a couple of the characters I've entered. Nothing ventured nothing gained as they say. The standard will no doubt be incredibly high so I won't be getting my hopes up too much!