Miss Print at John Lewis

Very happy to find MissPrint at John Lewis - this is their wallpaper, they also make fabrics which are *handprinted* and utterly lovely. (last blogged about here)

Mrs Osborn goes on a spree: more Autumn Selvedge Fair

More goodies from the Autumn Selvedge Fair in St Augustine Church hall, off the Archway Road, N6.

Handmade wallpaper by Dunford Wood printed by hand from an original lino block designed by Hugh Dunford Wood in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Matilda Rose based in Whitstable, Kent embroiders blankets by hand and machine with squawking parrots and nautical themed motifs such as ships anchors and mermaids. Her pieces can be bought from her Etsy shop Matilda Rose Emporium

Tamara Fogle's frame purses

and handbags using antique fabrics such as....

...German flour sacks

 ...and Indian quilts

(Tamara will also be at London Fashion Weekend

more on that soon)

The Man Who Took The Indoors Out

*There was an old man
Who was named Bellwood Bouse
He loved all the things
In his very large house...

In his white wicker rocker.
Outdoors in the air,
Bellwood said to himself,
"Now it does not seem fair.
While I sit out here
In the clear morning light,
My wonderful things
Are inside and shut tight.
It does not seem good
And it does not seem kind,
But I have an astounding idea
In my mind."

Bellwood went to the door
And he opened it wide
He shouted, "Now, Indoors -
Please come outside!"

If, like Bellwood Bouse, you take the indoors out (and Spring is in the air, so you might), you might want some of Susan Bradley's outdoor wallpaper designed and made in the UK by small manufacturers. It's made of metal, so it can stay outside all year round (unlike Bellwood Bouse's Indoors which eventually returned home somewhat the worse for wear). 

Susan also designs metal wall art, furniture, interior and exterior accessories, products and lighting - Creep Table below:

* With thanks to my aunt and uncle who gave me Arnold Lobel's classic children's book when I was little. It remains a favourite - shame it's out of print.

Edward Bawden wallpaper

Wallpaper designed by Edward Bawden in the 1920s.  Swoon.

Trees and cows (1927)

Waves and fishes (lagoon) (1929)

More delicious modern (vintage) graphics, ceramics and textiles dating from the period from WW1 until Festival of Britain (1951) can be found at Rennies 'Seaside Modern' shop in Folkestone (also on-line).

Rennies, 47 The Old High Street, Folkestone, Kent
(01303) 24 24 27
info@rennart.co.uk

great wallpaper

Some of my favourite wallpaper:

Miss Print's wallpaper features spindly, spiky (but not unfriendly) graphics inspired by mid-century and Scandinavian designs.   Their wallpaper is PEFC certified - the paper is derived from sustainable sources - and organic, non-toxic pigment inks are used which are free of heavy metals and classed as non-carcinogenic.  All v important if you are going to be breathing in wallpaper fumes all day, as it is (to quote that well known mag - but do they use that strap line anymore?) the stuff that surrounds you.

Miss Print are based in East London; their wallpapers are printed in the UK.

Dandelion Mobile in mist green and white

Saplings Wallpaper: Sunflower Yellow with White

I also have a great fondness for Mibo, designed by Madeleine Rogers in Hove and made in the UK - Clacket Lane (great name, and reason alone to cover your walls with it) has a clean modern design of leaves and birds.

Mibo's Clacket Lane cream wallpaper

What to choose from Neisha Crosland, who is surely queen of wallpaper? Anemone is a favourite:

Neisha Crosland's Anemone wallpaper - surely a classic?

Neisha Crosland Sea Thistle wallpaper