In the spirit of trying to blog more I thought I’d try to start a regular spot to talk about other things – not just my cakes, my travels and life. So, here goes ‘Inspiring Finds’ and the first person I wanted to mention was this great artist I stumbled across the other day, Joel Penkman. I’ve seen his work around before, but quick spy over on Oh Joy  the other day jogged my memory and now I’m totally smitten and want everything. How fun are these paintings? They look so real, so vibrant and I love the fact that they celebrate some real British institutions like Fabs, stick o rock and jam tarts!

Joel Pankman is based in the UK (making it all the more exciting) and really captures our food favourites. These pictures really do take me back to my childhood birthday gatherings, with party ring biscuits and jam tarts that everyone used to scrape the jam out of and discard the pastry case! You can shop the prints on Etsy, they are so reasonably priced too. I just wish I had my own kitchen wall to hang them all on in a collage of frames!

As I write this I’m huddled in a blanket, with a hoody on, waiting for the heating to kick in – it’s late July, it should be warm! I’m also glued to the news following the latest news on Norway – my heart goes out to them at this terrible time (I’m still in sock).

I know I am really late to the  party on this one but I had to give a little mention to Anthology Magazine. The last time Miles travelled to San Francisco I put in a special request for a copy Anthology, hence why I am so late on discovery. There seem to be no stockists in the UK and even the US stockists are quite sparse. Anyway, logistics aside, I have to say that this is probably one of the very best print magazines I have ever read. It’s stunning and the content is so interesting and on target. I was so drawn to this issue as the cover was illustrated by one of my favourite designers, Kris Atomic. If anyone gets a chance to read Anthology I assure you won’t be disappointed, it’s like a beautiful book you won’t want to put down.

I was also lucky enough to grab a set of the lovely Ban.do toe clips that have been popping up everywhere. They make you’re shoes feel very special and went down a treat at my work Christmas party (well with me anyway). Ban.do are such a fun and inspiring company, I love their ethos, products and styling – so much fun! Anyway there’s my little shout out to the things that I am loving right now. Have a great week everyone!

Now this was one thing I spotted today that I couldn’t resist sharing. I know it’s made the round on many a design blog but I just spotted it over on Present and Correct’s Facebook page and it made me squeal with glee. It’s a concept design called Horsey, designed by Eungi Kim. It for the Seoul cycle design competition. I love my bike, but this accessory would just make cycling so fun – it’s awesome! It’s so cute it would be great for kids and big kids, like me.

Images from Design Boom

I spotted these stunning paper wreathes over on Duet Letterpress, they are from Paper Source in the USA. They come in mum kits that you construct yourself and I think they are beautiful. It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of paper wreathes as I made my own Christmas one here, nut this really is something different. The colours are so seasonal and that thick pink ribbon is so cute – I’m sold!

I’m am totally in awe of all the brilliant blogs I keep stumbling across lately. I have added some new faves to my blog roll, my daily reads now include Blushing Ambition, Mustard and Sage, You are my Fave, Duet Letterpress, Ruffled and Whisk kid. Thank goodness for blogs, they provide so much inspiration and visual happiness – thanks bloggers! Has anyone else found any amazing blogs lately?

I’ve been a slacker lately when it comes to my blog – sorry! Holiday preparations and work seem to suck up all of my time – yawn. Anyway, I wanted to wish everyone a lovely Easter. 4 days away from work and hopefully my computer to bake, make and spend time with the family! Bliss. The little rabbit egg cup above is the very cute Easter gift that Miles got me from Liberty – I love it! The little spoon is Greengate and a gift from the lovely Holly. I think tomorrow morning I will replace the chocolate eggs for one boiled real one – yum!

It’s now only days before my big trip to America and I am just a little bit excited. I have mostly been distracting myself with Sophie Dahl’s new cooking show, the latest copy of Delicious magazine (the one with macarons on the front cover) and whoopie pies (I am going to attempt these tomorrow).

Have a great Easter everyone!

Last night I went to a cupcake decorating course at The Make Lounge in Islington and here are the fruits of my labour. It was a lot of fun and I learnt a fair amount about cakes and the different ways you can decorate them. I learned about the joys of marzipan and how best use it, the best way to color ripple butter cream and how to fall in love with cake glitter.

I went for an Ice blue and lemon lime colour-way to be different I managed to resist the pink for once. I think they came out quite nicely, however I would love to practice more so I improve my piping and come up with new ideas. Please note my new milk glass urn in the picture, I snapped up this beauty for a mere £4 at a Hoxton street market – joy!

Enough about the cake and more about The Make Lounge. Anyone near London or visiting you should certainly book yourself on a course, it’s so much fun and there’s such a good atmosphere. The course options are endless with sewing, cushion making, candle making, rubber stamp carving and so much more the list goes no and on. It’s a been a crafty hectic week so far….. I’ve really enjoyed it!

Sanderson rugs are pretty special. These round ‘Etchings and Roses’ collection in the various colours is so striking. A little bit of visual home candy. They would look great paired with an ultra modern interior, or thrown  down on some  wooden floorboards. Beautiful!  

Hope everyone had a lovely Easter and feels really refreshed from the break, ready for the 4 day week ahead. The weekend before Easter I had an inspiration day, it was much needed after weeks of doing nothing creative. It all started with this little blue birdie that I received that week. It was part of a good bag from Laura Ashley I received from work. It was filled with lovely bits and pieces, all for free! This was very exciting as I’m a massive Laura Ashley  fan. So I decided that I would get a move on a create something slightly festive for Easter and given my limited I opted to make my own Easter cards.

I managed to get my hands on a copy of Martha Stewart Living, something I’ve never read before, and I was so inspired. Recipes, crafts and lovely things fill every page. Now I know I’m probably late to cotton on to this but Martha doesn’t have the same presence in the UK as she does in the US, but anyway I’m hooked…I just need to find out how frequently the magazine is published so I can keep my eyes peeled. My work also announced that we are heading off to sunny Athens for our work annual holiday, so I’m busy researching cool hang-outs and shops.  Last year we terrorized Barcelona, so it will be great to get a bit more sun this year! 

I made all my Easter cards on my day of inspiration, however I wrote them and sealed before I remembered to take a snap of them (doh). However it was a great day re-connecting with all the things I love, doing crafting, buying fresh flowers, taking photos and eating my fave lunch. Inspiring food for an inspiring day! There’s nothing better than a day alone to rattle around indulging in all things girly.   Have a great week! 

I love the fact that the Chanel Spring/Summer 2009 Haute Couture collection  is themed around white, it’s so stunning. Paper is the main theme and fabric used, as Karl Lagerfeld says,’ it’s the fabric that I prefer most… I love paper! Everything begins on paper. Without paper I would be lost.’ Very true and as a big lover of both white and paper I am slightly smitten with this collection. All the beautiful paper flowers styled around the idea of a pop up book (the best kind of book). The white theme is running here in reality, London is still covered in powdery white snow…. outside my window all is white. 

All images are from Chanel.com 

If only….. this is such a distant dream (a real pipe dream)! I’m madly in love with the idea of getting a good looking bike: one that is pretty plus a joy to ride. The baby pink, or baby blue Brompton folder would be the dream. However they are very expensive, at around  £600 – £700 and thus not realistic. I spent today strolling around the Spitalfields area in London, followed by Brink Lane and all the cool shops/boutiques that surround. It reminded me how much I want a bike to get out and about on. The idea of  hopping on a bike to see the sights as opposed the crowded buses, or the hot tube trains sounds like heaven. 

I have been ogling London Cycle Chic Blog for months now wanting to have my own beautiful bike, hoping to live close enough to ride to work most days. London Cycle Chic has some amazing accessories on sale, plus loads of ideas. My choice, if I owned the bike of my dreams would certainly be this gorgeous cycle basket from The Design House Stockholm which doubles up as a super cool shopping basket, combined with this amazing Bern cycle helmet. Oh a girl can dream….. or she could save?