philosophy book cover

My 'Scrittura' design has been selected as a book cover for a new philosophy book by Wolf Dietrich, DE-38640 Goslar. He is 67 years old and studied philosophy in Paris. As the book is written in French, Dietrich will use the pseudonym Louis Pierremon. The design is also a best-selling gift-wrap design for Stewo, Switzerland.

Studio Eleven

new studio space

textile printing studio @ studio eleven

beaconsfield studios & workshops

Lauren Courtney's Blackbird

Sophie Saunders

Lee Baker - painter & printmaker

I've moved into my new studio @ Studio Eleven, Beaconsfield Workshops & Studios. With a great range of artists there are 13 of us in total including Holly Murray (costume designer), Sophie Saunders (designer), Lee Baker (painter & printmaker), Lauren Courtney (interior designer), Victoria Green (fashion & product designer and ex-fellow Winchester art student!), Melissa Goddard (illustration), Marie Rendina (fashion designer), and I'm still to meet..... Jenny, Ali, Sean, Jane, & Suzie. There's even in-house textile printing facilities...

Mrs Chicago

Jane Muir - Mrs Chicago - stoneware lady

Jane's cloud-shaped thank you note

Jane Muir - Tree people - stoneware

This beautiful stoneware lady (shown top) arrived from Jane Muir this morning. I fell in love with her at our recent Open House - I love the delicate detail on her dress and slight tilt of her body which makes her look like she is blowing in the wind, I have named her 'Mrs Chicago'.  A thank you note came with her in classic Jane style, cut-out in the shape of a cloud. The cloud-shape reminds me of her postcard with 'Tree People '- Thank you Jane!

@melanieporter @orlakiely

made for each other

Thanks to Orla Kiely's summer sale, I am the new owner of gorgeous and hugely practical lap-top bag with the car design that I've admired for years. To house new machine which is larger than the  stem-design sleeve which comes inside Orla bag,  I chose Melanie Porter's knitted cover in moss green, matching the green handles of Orla Kiely bag perfectly. The perfect match and all because of a tweet!

who says you can't enjoy art @ breakfast time?

Ken Eardley - tall round jug in chocolate - leaf design

Ken Eardley - selection of round jugs - my jug in the line up!

Caught in action, here is my first Ken Eardley jug standing in the line up and shown with flowers on my kitchen table. Can't go wrong with a Cath Kidston spot. The rather lovely patterned jug with birdie is a much-loved gift from a friend, handmade by EPC design...also used every day at breakfast!

jug-spotting on the train

Ken Eardley - wide oval jug in leaf design, green

Leafing through 'BBC Homes & Antiques' on the train to London yesterday,  I spotted one of our best-selling Yellow House artists' work - Ken Eardley's gorgeous ceramic wide oval jugs in the 'Leaf' design. The shot shows the jug used as a vase, over-flowing with flowers in the kitchen of Helen Pinnington who makes & sells beautiful quilts. I use my very own Ken Eardley leaf jug every morning for my breakfast - mine is a tall round jug in the chocolate colourway!

tate modern

Lunch at Tate Modern today, a delicious plate of stripes intertwined with ever-decreasing circles.

wallace collection plates

Wallace collection - decorative tin plates

Hannah Cawthorne - work in progress at Larch Rose

Clarissa Hulse - 'Larch' cushion

Have you ever seen more stylish picnic/camping plates? These beautiful decorative tin plates show designs taken from Sevres porcelain saucers dated 1760, probably acquired by the 3rd Marquess of Hertford (1777 - 1842) - produced for 'The Wallace Collection'. Simply luxurious around the camp-site and look great with home-made raspberry cake - thanks to designer Larch for lending us the best picnic plates we've ever seen....as well as your splendid bell tent! While we're on the subject, check out this beautiful 'larch design' cushion by Clarissa Hulse.

art in situ @ aldeburgh

Yellow House artists - Jane Muir's 'Mr Pea-pod' & Karin Eriksson 'Signe' vase

We had a fabulous time visiting Michaela & Alistair's holiday home in Aldeburgh, Suffolk - renovated and decorated with a uncluttered mix of modern & classic pieces, proving that 'less' really is 'more'. Vanessa Arbuthnott's beautiful hand-block printed cottons were a great discovery as were the atmospheric oil paintings of Suffolk & Norfolk scenes by Martin Kinnear. Details like Val Heslin's delicate hand-made hearts on french-style antique beds all work together to create a relaxing and welcoming space.  Michaela's excellent choice of frames by Fineline Frames set off their art collection at its' best. Big collectors of Yellow House artists work, it was really lovely to see the pieces in situ - over a dozen in total & too many to feature them all! Yellow House artists Ruth Green's gorgeous 'Sea Critters' & Janet Bell's prints add colour & strength to Henry's bedroom with Jane Muir's 'Mr Pea-pod' taking pride of place in the sitting room. Bang up to trend!

Vanessa Arbuthnott - Fabrics & more

Martin Kinnear - 'Thornham' painting

French-Antique style beds

Val Heslin 'Heart' - Sarah Hardaker fabric

H is for Henry

Yellow House artist Ruth Green - Sea Critters print

Yellow House artist - Janet Bell - A Line of Huts print

Yellow House artist - Hannah Cole - 'Waiting' print

Yellow House artist - Karin Eriksson - ceramics

Yellow House artist - Janet Bell 'Regatta' print

Yellow House artists - Karin Eriksson & Ken Eardley ceramics

Yellow House artist - Jane Muir - Mr Pea-pod

photo shoot @ the yellow house

Woke up to a bright sunny day, perfect for today's photoshoot with Caroline Piasecki (Hair & Make-up) and Gareth Iwan-Jones (Photography) for SHE Magazine. Focusing on people who use their houses as part of their business, I was featured to represent the ART branch with other businesses including Kerstin Rogers who runs supper clubs & food festivals from her garden. Gareth & Caroline did a great job before dashing off to Kilburn for the next part of the shoot. Out in August for the September issue!

behind the scenes

Jehane @ The Yellow House

Caroline & Gareth (great hairspray!)

impressions of aldeburgh

I hear those voices that will not be drowned

boats at aldeburgh

Maggi Hambling - The Scallop

story of the sea

Benjamin Britten - local star

popular culture - Seahorse Cottage

beach flora

inspiring natural views

humour abounds

boats on the beach

Without a doubt our best weekend of 2011! We visited friends Michaela, Alistair & Henry at their now infamous holiday house in Aldeburgh - home to Jane Muir's Mrs Downtown & the much loved Mr Pea-pod (in situ shots coming soon). Hot sunny weather combined with wonderful hospitality & the odd glass of Pimms :) The town of Aldeburgh is full of character, history, and art galleries - we'd love to open one! We admired the controversial beach sculture 'The Scallop' by Maggi Hambling, created in memory of local composer Benjamin Britten, the pierced words are taken from Britten's opera 'Peter Grimes'. Reactions to the piece are mixed, some consider it a shame to have such a huge piece dominating the natural landscape. It creates a memorable statement on a vast expanse of beach, is an imaginative focal point for children to play, a visual document of the strength and beauty of the sea. Popular culture includes Lukas' favourite house 'Seahorse Cottage' a.k.a. 'Grandpa in My Pocket'. Lukas asked if we could go there and....shrink!

bespoke birthday cards

65th birthday card

This bespoke birthday card was commissioned by a long-standing client for her friend Alison's 65th birthday. It's a large-format signed A4 hand-made card created as a one-off piece ideal for framing. Doreen asked me to include elements which Alison is interested in; Robert Burns, Shakespeare, and classical music. The central harp & musical notes are screen-printed with metallic inks on hand-made papers elements, the areas of collage brought together with free-hand machine embroidery. My favourite quote is the 'wee timorous beasties'!