Etsy pretty prints

Laura Amiss Beautiful Prints

Hello

I have bright purple dwarf iris's and snowdrops coming through in my garden and the daffodils buds are poised ready to burst out in the next few days, so spring is here, as far as I'm concerned. 
If you want some ideas for spring colour, have a look at the lovely illustrations from Laura Amiss, available on Etsy. Her colour combo's are nice and fresh and her use of pattern is very clean. At the moment she only produces prints as far as I can see, but I really think her city pictures in particular, would work really well on fabric?

Bel x

unexpected colour combinations.........

Pinterest - Abstract Photography - Lynne Prestebak

Hello

I've been away for a few weeks, as I had to have keyhole surgery to take my Gallbladder out and all did not go smoothly, but I am on the road to recovery now, stuck at home, signed off for the next 2 weeks to recoup.
Having spent the last few days recovering from the anaesthetic (it really drains doesn't it!) an I am now feeling a bit more like myself again and although I still feel like I have gone several rounds in the boxing ring, I am itching to start making again.
Pinterest was my first stop, I always turn to it when I need to be inspired as it's so quick.
I came across Lynne Prestebak's Abstract Photography site, which I find really beautiful.
I would love to have any of the photo's above blown up as images for my home. 
It's making me want to pick up a camera and start snapping, which is something I can do whilst on the mend.

Bel x 

my perfect valentine.....a liberty silk scarf

Liberty Spring 2013

Hello
I know that most women would love or may even expect the traditional card, maybe even some flowers or if your lucky a bottle of nice perfume, but if I had my way then the one thing that would rock my world this Valentines Day would be a beautiful Liberty silk scarf!
It's is such a luxury, I would never buy it for myself, which is why it's so nice when one is bought for you. Much like a nice pair of gloves. I was lucky enough to have a boss who bought all of the ladies in the office (including myself) lovely Liberty gloves, leather with a cashmere lining. I would never have bought them for myself so it was such a treat to be given them. I cherish them and am methodical about making sure they go back in a zipped pocket in my bag, when ever I take them off. 
It's definitely one of these beauties for me this valentines, fingers crossed.

Bel x

pastel, pastel, pastel......

Hi 
Please forgive me for my obsession with spring pastels. They are screaming Californian sun to me at the moment and that is exactly what I am craving. Sunshine!
My snow drops are coming through, so spring isn't too fer away and until then then I am getting my fix from 25 minutes a day in front of my day light lamp, which makes me full of beans and ready to face the world.
If you are feeling gloomy or always feel down at this time of year, I can't recommend buying a Lumi Lamp enough. It's absolutely brilliant, like a daily dose of Californian sunshine.

Bel x

monster cute.....

Hi 
I've been craving bright colours for the last few months and my monster necklace has been a perfect pick me up. When ever I wear it out, at least one person will ask me where I bought it and last summer some Japanese tourists asked me if they could take a picture of me wearing it. Maybe I should add the design to my website, but I can't see many brides wanting to wear a monster on their big day!

Bel x

hues of beautiful blue.....

Hi
I have fallen in love with the beautiful pottery made by Elephant Ceramics. The ceramic artist is Michelle Michael, who's based in a studio in Brooklyn, NY.
Michelle's pieces are made from porcelain and stoneware and are very simple in design and colour, but extremely beautiful.
I've never really wanted to make anything from clay, but these are so inspiring, they make me want to take up a class and get my hands dirty!
They make me smile.....
Bel x

pretty pretty pastel....

                                 a creative mint                   Haute A Shello by Essie 

Mulberry 2013

Hello, hello
After a bit of a break from writing this blog, I am back feeling renewed and inspired!
The snow really perks me up and makes everything feel fresh and clean. I even have Snowdrops and the first shoots
of my giant deep purple Crocus's peeking through the soil, all over my garden.
Everything is poised to spring into life and I love it!
I'm also loving all the pastel shades, that seem to be everywhere at the moment, 
although I am still clinging on to my neon obsession, but more of that another time.
I'm still trying to work out how to fit these colours into my wardrobe with my normal
bright red lipstick (Mac Ruby Woo), but I think it might be a good time to swing for neon pink?

Get some colour in your lives....it will make you feel great.

Belx

forgotten beauty.....

Kay Rasmus Nielsen (March 12, 1886 – June 21, 1957

Hello

I have been so busy over the past few weeks with commissions that I have not had time to post anything, but one of my Christmas gift, was so beautiful that I have to tell you about it.
I was bought a copy of 'The Twelve Dancing Princesses', a lovely book that I distinctly remember taking out of the library when I was 5 or 6. I had completely forgotten about it, but the moment I saw the wonderful pictures I remembered sitting in the library, wishing I had a beautiful dress like Princesses.

The artist is a Danish Art Nouveau illustrator called Kay Nielson and his work is truly amazing.
I find his images totally captivating, like all great illustrators, his work looks so simple, but also extremely complicated and the colour washes/combinations he uses are very pretty.

His prints are available on line and I am going to buy several to inspire me. Now I know about him, I will not forget his art again.

Bel x  

beautiful hues....

Macaw Feathers

Hello

I have spent some time this week trying to source interesting colours to use on my website fluidsilverbridal and I came across so many lovely images of Macaw feathers, that I had to share some of them. The colours are so brilliant and multi-tonal, simply looking at the them cheers me up.

Bel x

my sunshine is coral.....

Hello
This week for me has been trying desperately to keep my spirits up, as I've been feeling under my own little grey cloud. So I turned to colour to lift me out of the dumps and the colour that shined through was coral. 
Very much a spring colour I know, but I've been wearing it on my nails all week and every time I felt low, I looked down and my zingy nails made me smile. 
I know that at some point soon  the thought of Christmas will start to perk me up and I'll be full of the joys of sparkle and twinkly lights, but until that kicks in I'm relying on coral to pick me up.

Bel x

perfect, crisp, fresh.... why I love Autumn

Hello

The last few days have been absolutely beautiful, perfect autumn weather in my little patch of London. The air has been crisp and the sun blinding. I went for a nice long walk this lunch time and took my camera. Everything seemed to sparkle and shimmer in the bright winter light.

I also had the added treat of meeting Percy, the amazing Bengal cat that lives on the route I always walk. He is so beautiful and very very talkative. So I stopped and had a chat with him and took his picture, although he was much more interested in watching the wood pigeon, who was teasing him several yards away.

I love days like today, they really inspire me and although it was dark by the time I got home this evening my mind was buzzing with ideas for things to make this weekend.

Bel x 

my decor8 eclass moodboard......

Hello

So for the last few weeks I have been trying (mostly in vain), to participate in a really cool e-course run by Holy Becker of Decor8.

For the last 3 weeks we have been set various tasks as homework, by my actual work has been totally manic, so I was determined this weekend to complete the task for this week...a mood board.
Apologies, for the lighting in my pictures, I was battling with drizzly rain today, but I think I actually like the way some of the colours have turned out.

I  loved gathering all the bits together and I think there are more combinations in my head. It's not quite what I wanted to achieve, a bit cluttered, but as I was chasing the light, it's what I got.

Hopefully there will be a another bright day soon and I will have another crack at it, but for now I am happy with what I have created.

Bel x

Underground colour.....

Hi

With the weather now becoming slightly gloomy, my morning train arrives in semi darkness. I've been landing at work still half asleep, carried along with the crowd, often with no real memory of my journey!

But this week I had to get into town exceptionally early (7am!) and fuelled by espresso, I was a lot more alert than usual. 

I notice that the underground at Charring Cross has the beautiful transport poster above, Nature's Paradise. The design is so so classic, with bold use of line and colour blocks, that with a little modification I think it would make a great mosaic (I might ditch the dolphin & some of the daisies).

Another project on my list for next summer.

All these wonderful transport posters can be bought on-line at London Transport Museum shop as well as loads of other cool gifts, that you wouldn't expect, so take a look if you are after unusual, but stylish Christmas presents.

The Puffins definitely brighten up my journey to work now.

Bel x

Esty Super Star......

Kangaroo Care

Hi

I was browsing the wonder that is Esty today, trying not to think about all the work I was MEANT to be doing, when I found these lovely necklaces by Kangeroo Care. I  instantly thought that they were really sweet and beautiful.
As a Jewellery who works predominantly with precious metal and gem stones (which sometimes can feel quite hard and cold), I think there is a real softness to jewellery made from wood and these pieces are combined with crochet in lovely refreshing colours.

The idea is so great, a necklace for mother and baby, something bright to catch your babies attention when breastfeeding.

How cool and clever is that!

The moment you take a baby in your arms, nothing is off limits, especially jewellery and necklaces in particular will be reached for. 
So it's great to be able to wear a piece that can be grabbed and even chewed. There are also some very sweet pieces for children, which I know would be loved and treasured.

I don't have a baby, but I think these necklaces are so fresh, that I want to buy one anyway and this site will be a must for any of my friends or relations, when they give birth. What a cool present to buy. and give.

Bel x

September colour.......

I woke up this morning, post holiday and decided to give my little work room a tidy up and found a box of beautiful shell buttons I bought in the summer from John Lewis and www.clothhouse.com in Soho.
If you don't know the Cloth House website or it's 2 Soho shops, they are well worth a visit. They stock loads of unusual ribbons, buttons and lace as well as a wonderful range of linen's and hand printed fabric. 
In the light the colours in each tiny button are so brilliant and they look great with the heart shaped stone I found when I was beach combing this time last week. 
I'm definitely going to keep the tones in mind for my winter pieces, I think antique rose gold will work very well with these lovely subtle shades of shell.

Bel x

Autumn Colour........

Uuuummmmmm Autumn is on the way.........

Isle of Wight Botanic Garden

I've been away on holiday for the last few weeks and whilst away Summer is slowly slipping towards Autumn......my favourite time of year!
Whilst away I visited a beautiful Botanic Garden, with a very mysterious Hydrangea Walk. The colours are subtle, but completely inspiring and the texture of the petals is just like velvet. The way the light catches the flowers is lovely, especially at this time of year when they are perfect.
There is definitely a sense of calm in the air at the moment, not Summer, but not quite Autumn enough to wrap up warm in winter woollies. I absolutely love this time of year, from now until Christmas everything sparkles and I have an excuse to buy myself a lovely new winter coat!

Bel x

Get making.......

Clothkits

Hello

Sorry I've been away a while, I've been working hard making a mosaic for The Flowerpot Gang BBC1 and it's been tough going, but I think the end result will look amazing in the garden. The episode will be on the TV in a few weeks, so I will keep you all posted.
In the meantime, for those of you who don't know about Clothkits or who spent their childhood like me, dressed from head to toe in Clothkits, but thought that the company were no more. They are back, with beautiful patterns/kits and lovely material, including the Rob Ryan prints above.
Well worth a look!

Belx

Rainbow colours....

Wendy Marsh - Etsy

Hello....
So I have found these wonderfully colourful glass cake stands made by  Wendy Marsh. She sells them out of the US and can be found on Etsy and I think they are fabulous. I don't bake much, but I am going to buy a stand to put in my bathroom to put all of my cosmetic's and face creams on.
I am definitely going to let the colour in!

Bel x

Create your own little bit of Summer.....

From left to right ---- Clambake, Movers&Shakers, True Love, Swept Off My Feet.

Hello


I have been attempting ignore the fact that summer has not YET arrived and that Elle and Vogue are showing winter fashion in their Aug issue.
Summer will come and in the meantime my nails will give me some brightness.
I absolutely love ESSIE nail varnishes, for their colour range, their consistency and the brush shape. I used to buy mine in Liberty's (£9.95), treating myself every time I was in London.
Recently however, they are being stocked in Boots (£7.95) and I have also started to find them in packs of 3 matching colours in my local TK Maxx (£9.95 for 3!).
If you haven't tried the brand, then I would definitely recommend it. 
I also keep all my nail varnishes in the bottom holder in the door of my fridge and this way they don't get warm and gloopy!


Bel x 

I have recently found a really beautiful website for a US stationary chain call Paper Source - www.paper-source.com. They have a great blog and some really lovely and clever idea on their site for anyone who loves colour , or like me finds new stationary strangely attractive!

There colourscope is particularly lovely, with just the right tones to be modern/chic rather than children's bedroom.

I particularly love these blush colours, they make me want to raid John Lewis or VV Rouleaux and buy ribbon in every shade!

I am going to try to order some of their custom pads, paper and handmade paper, so I will keep you posted as to how easy and of course, how expensive it is.

If anyone buys from them in the UK, it would be great to know any pitfalls to ordering from them?

courtesy of Paper Source