Good looking books seem to be my newest obsession. It’s just something about how beautiful they are, with their pretty covers, pictures and pretty insides. I’m in love with the Domino book, I received it for Christmas and it’s a real reading delight! I love Domino magazine it’s so fresh and full of energy, I recently subscribed but it takes so long to get to me in the UK it makes me a little sad. Also occupying my coffee table is the Chanel book and The Kitchen Revolution. Both books I’m yet to totally get to grips with, but both  are really beautiful and The Kitchen Revolution  promises to change the way you cook forever, so I’m looking forward to that.  If anyone has any other recommendations for inspiring, pretty books please let me know….. I’m buying new book shelf in a couple of weeks so I hope to fill it with plenty more lovelies. 

I turn 24 on Wednesday, scary but true…….  

I went to grand Designs Live 2008 recently and it was pretty amazing, I’m only sorry that I have not posted this soon. I have had it half written in drafts for nearly two weeks – that is shocking! I’m a bad busy blogger with no time to blog!  Enough of that. There was so much to get inspiration from at Grand Designs I was in my element.  There was three glorious halls filled with home, garden and design related things and I got to see Kevin McCloud film a  scene for the live show.    

The design hall was my favorite  destination of the day – this was the place filled with soft furnishings and all the pretty trimmings that make a home. This was the True Love Always stand they had some lovely inspired bedding. They really have taken the concept of soft, relaxing bedding and turned it around in a really fun way that works. 

 I love this pattern, the horses are really cute and the rabbits were flocked and looked really luxurious. They were designed by Anorak, a cute design company. However they were pretty frosty at the expo and this really put me off. I got a stern telling off for taking a photo, almost like I had stolen something? 

Now this stall was filled with so many lovely things the problem was that I can’t remember it’s name – urrhh, there were just too many to remember. However I do know that the plates in the bottom corner are  by a designer I saw over on Design Sponge but I just can’t seem to locate the name – if anyone knows please put me out of my misery.  All in all it was a great day out I got a few things for the flat but was very restrained – I will photograph and post them up soon.   

Apologies for my  delay in blogging , time is a premium of late. I have updated about me page to include some of the other ways you can keep up with me including my Twitter feed etc. It would be good to know if any other crafty design bloggers are on Twitter. 

 These are my new Orla Kiely mugs they were a kind of moving in present type thing from my now flat-mate. They are just so pretty I rarely drink from them due to not wanting to damage them in any way.  Things have been pretty crazy of late and I am really lacking time in which to blog. I am also having a bit of bloggers block, I have moved away from my inspiration (my home town) and now I am a little stuck! I am not going to let this or London beat me, I am going to get out there with my camera very soon and hunt down some shabby inspiration.

Wow! So, I really have to say a great big thank you to Yvonne over at Yvestown who wrote the most lovely and heartwarming post about me and my little blog the other day. I was so excited when I saw the post, I phoned my Mum, boyfriend and rushed round my flat like a mad woman. The excitement that finally knowing someone likes my blog and, that person is Yvonne! Iam very proud to me a member and reviewer in Yvonnes book club.  My recommendation was Independent London a great little book all about the most exciting and unique independent shops that London has to offer.  I wrote a full review over on the welovelocal blog. So life is changing and I am slowly learning to adapt, I have a major lack of free time, coupled with too much to do. I am off now to go and book my tickets to the London Country Living Christmas fair (I hope their are tickets left), maybe this will provide some much needed inspiration!?

So just wanted to share some of the amazing books I have found over the last couple of months. They just keep popping up and I can’t resist a good book. I am not a huge fan of fiction and tend to read more factual, artistic or biographical books. I know I am quite strange.

So the book that has really excited me lately is this delightful paper back by Black Dog publishing. It is Called ‘The Cutting Edge of Wallpaper’ by Cath Kidston, Jane Gordon Clark, Jocelyn Warner, and Neisha Crossland. It is so simple and totally focused around showcasing the designs and how wallpaper has evolved artistically throughout history. This book is actually Miles’ due to the fact together we have become obsessed with wallpaper. The is available from www.amazon.co.uk

I couldn’t resist but scan in my favorite page and design in the book, it is a hand printed design by Cole & Son It is called ‘FlyTip’ and is designed around the foliage of an urban jungle. The images is a little small, but it is based on bric-a-bac found on stalls in Deptford market in London. It has a kitch appeal with the pale blue background and floating cabbage rose heads and vintage style dolls.
This is a great interior design book not just for referencing but also for the fact that it provides real inspiration.Many of the featured artist all do more commercial lines which you can purchase.

This image is of Deborah Bowness wallpaper, she is also featured in the book. This original image was from www.fototiller.com/blog This is so lovely and unique. I just want it in my new home.