Pieces and bits

Well yes, I'm still working on my own pots and seeking inspiration absolutely everywhere.My talent is not yet worthy of public display so instead i'll share these beautiful pieces I came across at Manos . They are made by the Swedish ceramist Karin Eriksson whose own web site has an exquisite range of porcelain mobiles, pot and bowls that extends the range on offer at Manos. Enjoy!


I absolutely love these mosaic pieces with sections of different floral designs placed alongside one another. Little fragments of delicacy!



Manos also sell cards and printed works with funky and bright designs created by the Norwegian Darling Clementine team. Their goods are also sold via Etsy so easy to get hold of!



Manos also offer various types of textiles including my pick - these wool bags created by the Dutch designer Tineke Beunders. They are made from wool blankets (from the designer's own collection) and each one is totally unique. The interior fabric is totally different to the exterior adding that extra flash of originality!

Customize those decals!

Anyone who checks out the Poppy Club regularly will know that wallpapers and stickers are my weakness. So you can imagine my excitement when I came across this fantastic Brazilian site, Gecko who offer a very cool range of wall decals, most of which you can customise yourself. There are cartoon style monsters, minimalist tree skeletons, Russian dolls and 70's style swirls - have fun playing with the colours and create that unique piece!

The birds and the bees - Canadian tiles

I have been hunting for ages for tiles for my kitchen, and whilst looking around came across the work of Xenia Taler . Her designs include insects, animals, trees and all manner of themes from the natural world. I just love the slightly naive simplicity and natural colours of the pieces and think that as coasters or wall decoration they are simply adorable.

Twist and mix - floral furniture with Oriental and South American airs

My fave new site so far in 2010 is the London based Plümo . Stocking clothing, furniture, jewellery and accessories, I am smitten in particular with their floral lanterns and crochet covered stools. The designs are bright, innovative and play with twists on "ethnic" (oriental, South American) traditional themes. I'm loving the results!

In the clouds with "daydream" wallpaper.

Yes, it's really called "Daydream!

And I would happily let myself be carried away by one of these wallpaper designs by Julia Rothman of Brooklyn, NY. I came across the papers first, but browsing through her site she designs book covers, quilts, gift wraps etc and they are all so exciting and up-beat you almost want to get the yellow wellies just to do it properly!

Papers ....

Paintings....

Bold cushion designs from Germany

A friend recently asked me about suggestions for a bright cushion cover and although there are lots of gorgeous designs out there, finding something striking or a little bit daring is not always easy. Hunting around I came across the German company Taj Wood & Scherer and have picked out a few favourites from the vast range. Enjoy!

In the mood for Interiors

Just come back from a Christmas break at my sister's in Taiwan. One of the highlights was a fabulous traditional restaurant in the town of Tainan. I was quite smitten with the beautiful old wallpapers and painted decoration. Old-fashioned and charming in true oriental style.

Going glassy-eyed: recycling jars and bottles

Ever wondered how best to use the empty jars and glass bottles that either get sent to recycling or stay stored in the back of a cupboard for a rainy day? Tomas Kral has come up with an elegant way of re-styling them to make attractive and more versatile household objects. He adds splashes of gold paint and etches patterns on the surfaces turning bottles in carafes and jars into vases. We might not all be able to do this at home but the results are great!

Dishing up in style - foil containers preserved in bright ceramics

I'm quite a collector of little dishes and bowls for nibbles and snacks and think these the designs of Brooklyn ceramicist Lorena Barrezueta are really funky options. The shapes are those of disposable foil containers but they are painted in bright colours with a smooth finish and manage to be both functional and sylish. What more could you ask for?