Meditating for 2013

I found this rather inspirational excerpt in the Sunday Times magazine today, which is taken from 'Finding your way in a wild new world' by Martha Beck.

Due to my newly broken toe and being on crutches I am spending the day reading the newspaper

Bedlinen

I'm in the market for some new bedlinen this summer, something light and preferably organic. Here's what I've found so far.

An old favourite of mine, available in John Lewis

Anthropologie's Lush Landscape, Wildfield, Red Rivulets, Georgina, Gila, Arrosa and Isleta bedding.

 

This is what I would like in my future dining room; a huge long table, with enough chairs and benches for plenty of guests. In the centre, a stunning chandelier and at one end, an original Chris Ofili (from the Tate Exhibition from Tate Britain's Upper Room.

Hermes Exhibition

The Hermes 'Leather Forever' exhibition, at 6 Burlington Gardens (behind the Royal Academy), is open throughout May and I will be visiting it next weekend. Christies will be auctioning four specially made Royal Academy handbags for the exhibition.

There will be some live work there too, showing the craftsmen making things, which I am quite interested in seeing.

Adam Johnson

We went down to Brighton today to go to the first weekend of the Brighton Artists Open Houses 2012. It's on throughout May and I will try and go a few weekends as there is so much to see! Adam Johnson's house is part of the Independent Houses Trail. His gorgeous ceramics are reasonably priced and can be made to commission. Here's a pick of my favourites from his website.

Bodie & Fou Binge

I thought I'd have another nosey around Bodie and Fou's website. It's all a bit mismatched but I can't help but flick between all of the categories and all of the lovely things. So let's start with a Cote Bastide scented candle

A camping daybed by Normann Copenhagen.

Rob Ryan's "Believe in People" mug.

And a wooden desk by House Doctor DK

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Baileys

Whilst wandering through Liberty's this afternoon I discovered a new wonderful thing - Baileys (no, not the liqour) candles. I looked them up online and found a lovely website full of recycled, natural and homely things that are incredibly well priced. Their loft sofa's are to die for!

This mown grass candle, at £12 (£15 in Liberty) is so exactly that gorgeous smell of freshly cut grass that I was tempted to buy a bundle of the candles there and then. But then realised that I admire that smell almost weekly in my parents garden over the spring and summer so may be a slight waste of money. I will save the purchase for my next escapade overseas or if I ever leave the countryside.

I also found this nice rattan pouffe, available in small and large. The large one would act as a great extra seat for guests. Also, potentially, a cat/dog bed? 

Lovely pendant cloche light for £90 or £110.

Brighton and Hove AOH

Brighton and Hove open artist houses, starting on May 5th until May 27th. I'll be heading down a few weekends throughout May to do the seperate trails. These are the trails my mum and me usually do, and have done for the past few years;
Hove Trail

Five Ways Trail

Beyond the Level Trail

Independent Houses (Not part of a trail)

I haven't visited the West hove Trail before but may do this year.

The Art in Ditchling Trail is my personal favourite, in particular the Handmade House which we spend the majority of our time in each year! They have a wonderful sculpture trail through the woods and a really gorgeous and well-maintained kitchen garden. They have a little cafe where you can buy their homemade lunches and drinks.

Moroccan

http://www.maroque.co.uk/default.aspx

Rug Cheats

I've been having a look through Ikea's 2011 catalogue and found a lovely huge rug (250x350cm) which is an almost identical match to the Ralph Lauren rugs I posted about earlier.

My Future in rug design!

I can now see it. I am obsessed with rugs. Every house I walk into, I see first the floor, then the colours on the walls and then the decoration and furnishings. Rugs are so vital in the seperation of living 'zones'. They also create a different style if you don't have many statement pieces in the room. Rugs can change the atmosphere in an entire room (and they feel fantastic for people like me who don't like to wear shoes or socks in the house). So there we have it, my future, in rug design!

The Cameron Stripe Indigo Chambray rug by Ralph Lauren. Featured in a couple of 2012's interiors magazines and really in with this seasons Aztec/Ikat/Oriental style. This rug comes in five other gorgeous colour ways.

The Kenya Night/Cream hemp rug by Ralph Lauren. Just such a bold rug with hints of Asian and again Aztec patterns. Also available in a complete opposite cream/chocolate colour way.

Another hemp rug by Ralph Lauren. This time it's the Rhodes cream/chocolate rug. Only available in this colour, but beautifully unique all the same. It's probably seven hundred dollars well spent if I had that kind of money to spend on a rug!

A natural coloured wool and cotton mix rug by Ralph Lauren called Plains Creek in Mesa Natural. Also available in desert cream which is a more beige version and would suit a darker room with maybe not much natural light. 

A funky way to display a classic cow hide rug, cut into patchwork pieces. This is the Ralph Lauren Douglas in Denver Brown. Also available in a black and white 'Mountain Black' or a really beautiful silver tone 'Bleecker Steel'. 

Here are a few rugs from French Connection's new home collection. They are exceptionally good value, but will probably rise in price as much of their fashion range does. Firstly, there are the Jute and Leather rugs in natural and grey and natural and blue.

Also, look at this gorgeous ceramic crackle pot. Also in French Connection's new home range. Anyway, off to do some much needed filing before the coming busy busy week.