Jikana Damaru

Rockstar Candy Table

Purple, silver and white were the colours used for this candy table I put together for one lucky 7 year old last Friday. With a Rockstar theme and the birthday girls favourite colour being purple the candy table tied in beautifully with the festivities of the day.

Disco balls hung from the ceiling.

Gumballs, marshmallows dipped in chocolate and mini merringues

Thank you Charlotte for asking me to be part of your celebration.

Kitch or Cool... the collector teaspoon!

Welcome to Monday... did you have a nice weekend? Mine was happily filled with sunshine, and any weekend where the sun is shining has to be a good one!

Carrying over from my tea theme last week, I thought I'd share with you a little purchase I made recently and get your thoughts... I was poking through an op shop hoping to find some vintage pillowslips to make more little dresses like this one when something else caught my eye. Buried amongst the plastic turner-upperers, rusty egg-beaters and mismatching cutlery... I found a little box of collector teaspoons.

The little box was more a big box, really, and was filled to the brim with collector teaspoons (most still in their plastic velvet-lined cases). Pawing through the box, I was immediately intrigued. Who had owned these spoons, and what was their story? I mean, this was somebody's life represented in teaspoons! There were tens of them. I could see where they had travelled, what events they had lived through.... and, sadly, I was to witness the ultimate resting place of the spoons on a dusty shelf in an op shop, unwanted and unloved.

But you know me better than that. Do you think I could leave these spoons on the shelf? I think not! Let it be said, I am not a collector of teaspoons myself but something about these spoons was calling me to adopt and bring them home with me. I decided to restrain myself to four spoons. The last thing I want is a house full of (more) junk, and I wagered that if nothing else, they would be cute for Fern's little tea parties in the cubby.

And it took me ages to decide. Way too long, really. I fiffed and I faffed until finally I reminded myself that at 0.50c each, I could hardly go wrong and could always come back for more! So, this is what I came up with:

I chose two spoons with pretty flowers, and a commemorative spoon of Halley's Comet from 1984 which seemed fun and hey - could be worth something one day! These, I have passed on to Fern.

But my piece de resistance, and the only one to make it into my own cutlery drawer and the one guaranteed to have pride of place at any high-tea I decide to hold in the future:

Do you love it? It's got 'England' engraved on the front, and a crown with little red stone held inside. The spoon is about 20 years old and they are not in circulation anymore. I know, because I spent a happy hour on google looking it up. It is so deliciously kitch and I.love.it. Here it is with the vintage china teacup and saucer I brought home in my backpack from an op shop in Brighton Beach 4 years ago. In England, beautiful and vintage teaware is literally everywhere, and I kick myself to this day that I only brought home one piece!

So tell me. Cool..... or kitch?

Scavenger Hunt Sunday: Jan 29

Texture- All sorts of texture in this photo!

Fog- (Closest photo to fog I had!)

Button- needs to be sewn back on my coat!

Beverage- My New Year's resolution- drink more water. Bottoms up!

Seventies- Using PW's Seventies action of course!

And the pile of leaves we still have under our carport. Can we say lazy?

Amelia's Compendium of Fashion Illustration launch party

Lily Vanilli pearlescent pink white chocolate cake

On Friday I joined uber-stylish fashion blogger Holly Springett at the launch party for Amelia's Compendium of Fashion Illustration book at 123 Bethnal Green. From the website:

Amelia’s Magazine has become a must see website for upcoming independent and ethical fashion designers, all illustrated in wonderful technicolour by our talented team of illustrators.

Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration book brings together the best illustration from Amelia’s Magazine alongside the best new ethical fashion designers, all in a gorgeous coffee table book with a stunning pearlised cover designed by the Arizona based artist Andrea Peterson.

The book offers inspiration to aspiring fashion designers, illustrators, art directors and anyone who is interested in ethical fashion design.

The following up and coming fashion illustrators feature in Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration: Abigail Daker, Abby Wright, Amy Martino, Andrea Peterson, Aniela Murphy, Antonia Parker, Bex Glover, Emma Block, Erica Sharp, Faye West, Gemma Milly, Jennifer Costello, Jenny Robins, Jo Cheung, Joana Faria, June Chanpoomidole, Katherine Tromans, Katie Harnett, Kellie Black, Krister Selin, Lesley Barnes, Lisa Stannard, Michelle Urvall Nyren, Naomi Law, Natasha Thompson, Natsuki Otani, Rachel de Ste Croix, Yelena Bryksenkova, Zarina Liew & Gareth A Hopkins. Click the links above to browse their beautiful personal websites, blogs and more.

We had so much fun meeting the talented illustrators, and the beautifully inspirational Amelia Gregory in the wonderful basement bar. The sparkly mini scones and pearlescent pink white chocolate cake by the fabulous Lily Vanilli, whose previous clients have included Vogue, Lulu Guinness, Sunday Times Style and Hello Kitty to name a few. Tea was served in array of gorgeous vintage tea cups and upon leaving we were given an adorable goody bag full of treats from Dr Haushka, Tatty Devine and Moleskine. Check out my Flickr set for pics.

You can purchase this wonderfully inspiring book from Amelia's magazine. A must for designers, illustrators and anyone who appreciates art!

Have a sweet day!

Boy, oh boy

About a month after he started school Maxi-Taxi came home and announced that he had a 'brother from another mother'. Hmmm... I thought, where did he learn that experession? That bro from another ho is certainly the more sophisticated brother.

I have watched their friendship bloom into mutual adoration. They simply cannot get enough of each other and it's a beautiful thing to see. Their conversations (shamelessly spied on by this ho) are simple and direct.

"Do you think Ben 10 is the best fighter ever?"

"Yes. He's the best."

"Do you think there will ever be a better fighter?"

"Maybe when we're bigger we could be better than him."

I cherish these sweet little boy moments because over the course of a year I have also watched their friendship move into 'mandom'. The longer they were at school, the less they held hands, hugged goodbye, leaned into each other and just enjoyed being together. Within a single year they have morphed from sweethearts to wrestling maniacs, who punch each other to express a joyous greeting and lifting up and throwing each other to affectionately say goodbye.

What happens to our boys? Maxi and Jamie have obviously learned how boys handle friendship from the older boys at school, who learned it from the older boys at school, who learned it from the older boys at school. Like a school yard chant that's been doing the rounds since the seventies, there they are: the role models for our boys. Relics from a bygone era, teaching them that feelings are for 'sissies' and you're 'gay' if you show affection.

Little boys are quite possibly the most affectionate and loving creatures in the world. And then they go to school. Of course they are still those loving little boys, but how can we teach them that it's okay to show that love to each other? That true friends are vulnerable and affectionate with each other? That learning how to open up to each other may well be the thing that saves them one day?

Where do we start with that?

the breadcrumbs...

(From T - B: Katie, Hannah and Aran with one of their beautifully styled and snapped creations pictured right)

Katie Quinn Davies (What Katie Ate), Hannah (Honey & Jam) and Aran Goyoaga (Cannelle Et Vanille). Each gal is a multi-talented foodie, photographer and writer. Came across these three beautifully styled, mouth-watering blogs last night - one led me to the next. Don't you just love following the breadcrumbs in blogland?

Simply Scandinavian by Sara Norrman

This month I'm reviewing Simply Scandinavian by Sara Norrman from illustrated lifestyle publishers, Ryland Peters & Small and CICO Books. Sara Norrman grew up in Stockholm, Sweden, and since moving to London, Sara has written for several publications, such as Wallpaper, Tatler, The Times and The Financial Times. Now managing editor at Living etc, she continues to spread the message about Scandinavian style. I chose to review this book as you know how much I love Scandinavian interiors!

In my opinion this is a wonderful hardbound book full of admirable, inspirational interiors. It combines beautifully styled photography with a great insight into each home, describing its design, planning and evolution - a refreshing look at eclectic Scandinavian Homes.

Simply Scandinavian contains twenty stylish homes from Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark. Featuring renowned Finnish chef Aki Wahlman and Swedish glass and ceramics designer Ingegard Råma,n alongside fashion designers, craftsman and antique dealers. It covers a range of light, airy gorgeous Scandinavian homes from elegant minimalist and vintage-inspired feminine to contemporary rustic.

The introduction covers what makes a home unmistakably Scandinavian, where you learn that the Scandinavians have strived for lighter, brighter homes as early as the mid 1950's when they did away with dark furniture and heavy textiles. Of course, this is due in part to the fact that many of the Scandinavian countries are in near total darkness over the winter months, and means a love of pale and muted colours can be seen in most homes.

The book chapters cover Elegant Simplicity, Pared-down Modern, Contemporary Rustic and Eclectic. Each home is presented as a case study with a short dialogue on the owner

At a recommended price of £19.99, I think it is good value for money as it offers inspiring ideas for how to find and put together furniture and accessories to create a similar look in your home. Some of the delightful homes that really caught me eye are:

The beautiful Moroccan wedding blanket on the floor and the framed snake skin shed in fashion shop owner Lars Wiberg's home.

The vintage horse on wheels, and beautiful Danish poem on the wall in stylist Nina Hartmann's House.

The whiteness of the dining room in antique dealer Anja Alfieri's home.

The heavenly deep day beds in fashion shop owner, Lars Wiberg's garden.

To summarize, Simply Scandinavian is a wonderful book full of gorgeous inspirational ideas for your home with practical ways of implementing them!

Please note that my opinions are my own and I am not paid for these reviews (apart from receiving a free book, of course!).

Have a sweet day!