Another happy customer...

I can't resist sharing this adorable picture of Leonard. He looks very happy to be modeling the Happy Hedgehog bib that his proud godfather Tom bought him as a christening gift.

Summer Slacking

Can it really be July already? Apologies for neglecting the blog for a while but things have been pretty hectic with me leaving my old job, decorating, going on holiday to France and starting a brand new job. Usual service will be resumed shortly with updates on new products and sunny summer inspiration.
In the meantime, here's some French macaroons (or macarons) to keep you sweet!

Shop Talk

Exciting news this week as my bibs are going to be stocked in a real life shop! Kirstin from Rocket and Fairydust is setting up her very own shop in Merstham, Surrey. Alongside the hand-painted furniture that she produces, she'll be stocking lots of lovely gifts and homeware for children including my Stars and Buttons bibs. I've been building up my stocks so I can send a load down to Surrey for the shop opening. Will try to post some photos of my stuff in the shop when I make it down there.

 

 Rocket and Fairydust opens from midday on 11th June.

38 Nutfield Road, Merstham, Surrey, RH1 3EW

 

Collecting Vintage Children's Books

With bookshelves already bulging, the last thing I need is more books. But how could I resist these classic covers?

I love the fact that Jo's Boys still has the original inscription inside: "With love from Cousin Jill, 11th August 1954 xxxxxxxx". That's the great thing about pre-loved books, you can't help imagining who owned them and what sort of life they led.

Styling it up at Petersham Nursery

I have a bit of an obsession with interior design magazines and blogs. If I spent as much time tidying and decorating my own flat as I do looking enviably at other people's pristine homes, I'd be much closer to living the stylish dream. But a glass of wine and oggling a bit of someone else's styling invariably wins out after a day in the office.

Recently I felt like I'd walked straight into the pages of a magazine during a visit to the beautiful Petersham Nurseries in South West London, a short walk along the river from Richmond.

The lovely Teahouse is filled with shabby chic French style garden furniture and the shop is styled amazingly well while still managing to look relaxed and casual. A very difficult thing to achieve.

Now I'm not only lusting after a gray linen cabinet, yellow vases and giant pots of tulips but a massive house and a garden that look like Petersham wouldn't hurt either. Oh well, back to Hackney.

Hope you had a cracking Easter

Although I ate more chocolate than I should have this weekend, I did manage to fit in some more traditional eggy treats too. I wanted to share the story of how I acquired this cute Boiled Egg & Soldiers plate as it represents everything that is wonderful about Etsy.

(Photo from The Village Pottery)

Those of you that use Etsy to shop online will already know that it is a treasure trove of unique and lovingly-made things. However, the ability to create your own circle or 'favourite' other people's items or shops can lead to all manner of new and exciting conversations and interactions. It truly is a social community in ways that loads of other online sites only claim to be.

After reading about The Village Pottery in one of Etsy's brilliant regular emails (which never fail to introduce me to a new designer that I like) I favourited this spotty plate. I have a thing about all things polka dot as well as being a massive fan of a boiled egg and buttery soldiers brekkie. Seeing that I'd favourited her plate, the lovely Jen at The Village Pottery got in touch to say she loved my bibs and that they would make a perfect gift for her young niece - could we do a swap? What an ace idea! One of my Happy hedgehog bibs was dispatched and I think it's a great swap-a-roony for this lovely egg plate.

Now I'm looking forward to a whole new world of Etsy swap-a-rama!

Jen's studio is based in Bristol where you can drop by and even sample homemade cheesecake in the on-site cafe or you can check out her great hand-thrown ceramics at The Village Pottery store on Etsy.

Marvellous new material - a birthday bonanza

It was my birthday this week and I was lucky enough to get lots of great presents. Included in my pressie stash were lots of new fabrics from my generous friends and family.

This beautiful selection is part of the limited edition collection of printed fabric from the Victoria & Albert Museum. They're available from the Victoria & Albert Museum shop online.They were given to me by my lovely friend, fashion blogger and V&A expert Amber Jane. (Read her insightful fashion history blog at Theatre of Fashion.)

My thoughtful sister brought these two pieces all the way from Singapore for me. I think they're perfect for all the bright, colourful kids clothes that I make.

And this is some hand-printed batik fabric that my mum bought from a little batik workshop in the East Coast of Malaysia. Perfect for something summery...now I just need to start planning some new things.