A little thought for the day from The School of Life, Why Design Matters. A mini vid about how good design is essential to society so we can be the best version of ourselves. It certainly makes me feel better! Let's shake off those January blues this week and be inspired.
above: why design matters mini video from the school of life
Monday, 23 January 2017
Monday, 16 January 2017
2017 New Year Stationery Edit
Start 2017 feeling more organised with some beautiful stationery. Here are my top picks for journals, diaries, calendars and more.
top left: personalised agenzio large pink hard cover 2017 diary from paperchase £26.00, top right: free minimal printable calendar 2017 by foreign rooftops, middle left: gilded parisienne pencil case from anthropologie £20.00, bottom left: midori brass number clips from urban outfitters £15, bottom right: batik diary by katie leamon £28.00-30.00
Some important dates for your new calendar:
top left: assorted pencil set by katie leamon £10.00, top middle: tools to live by gold & black large scissors from trouva £25, top right: free printable moon 2017 calendar by sodapop design, middle left: ohh deer green marble daily journal £16 & pink palm daily journal £16 from urban outfitters bottom left: kraft bee writing set from paperchase £8.00, get organised large notepad from paperchase £6.00, bottom right: cork tech ipad case from anthropologie £44.00,
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| STATIONERY 2017 TOP PICKS - IMAGES FROM PAPERCHASE ANTHROPOLOGIE URBAN OUTFITTERS KATIE LEAMON FOREIGN ROOFTOPS |
Some important dates for your new calendar:
Valentine's Day: February 14th
Mother's Day (UK): March 26th
Easter: April 14th - 17th
Father's Day: 18th June
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| STATIONERY 2017 TOP PICKS - IMAGES FROM PAPERCHASE ANTHROPOLOGIE URBAN OUTFITTERS KATIE LEAMON SODAPOP DESIGN TROUVA |
Monday, 9 January 2017
Creator Spot - Katie Phythian Design
So excited to see the launch of Katie Phythian Design this month! A truly fabulous fun collection of cards and stationery featuring Katie's classic, colourful, painterly style.
above: katie's new ranges paintbox & jewelled, stationery, new company logo & the lovely fluffy ramirez
I am naturally a bit biased as I have been lucky enough to have worked with Katie for the best part of 10 years in greetings & stationery design. Katie's work over those years has featured on many a shop shelf including the likes of Paperchase, Clintons, Selfridges & John Lewis. Katie is now launching her own much anticipated collection of designs this January, soon to be seen on show at this year's Spring Fair. A wonderful way to wish the new year in, something truly fresh for 2017!
above: cards are now winging their way across the country, soon to be in a shop nearby
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| KATIE PHYTHIAN DESIGN - IMAGES FROM KATIE PHYTHIAN INSTAGRAM |
I am naturally a bit biased as I have been lucky enough to have worked with Katie for the best part of 10 years in greetings & stationery design. Katie's work over those years has featured on many a shop shelf including the likes of Paperchase, Clintons, Selfridges & John Lewis. Katie is now launching her own much anticipated collection of designs this January, soon to be seen on show at this year's Spring Fair. A wonderful way to wish the new year in, something truly fresh for 2017!
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| KATIE PHYTHIAN DESIGN - IMAGES FROM KATIE PHYTHIAN INSTAGRAM |
Monday, 2 January 2017
New Year, New Baby, New Journal
After the recent arrival of baby Hauck number two I picked up a new Pleased to Meet baby journal for her. I previously bought one for her brother so I knew it would be a great buy.
above: fold out family tree page from the pleased to meet baby journal (german edition)
I first discovered the German company Pleased to Meet at one of the UK trade shows. I was instantly drawn to their modern illustrations and innovative design style.
The playful nature of their design work makes a fun baby journal, full of inspiring ways to document those early days of parenthood. From notes of baby's first words to a lovely fold out family tree, image places for photos, pages for inky hand & footprints - there is plenty to enjoy.
above: inner pages from the pleased to meet baby journal (german edition)
I like the gender neutral (very on trend) approach to the colour scheme and artwork. They also have cleverly avoided sugaring it up with cute-'isms' & baby stereotypes. It is a lovely fresh take on welcoming new people to the family.
above: the english edition of the pleased to meet baby journal that I bought previously
For baby girl, I wanted a different look journal so I have bought the German edition (quite fitting for our Austrian heritage). I have found copies of the English edition both on the Pleased to Meet site and the uk shop Debbie Bliss Home.
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| PLEASED TO MEET BABY JOURNAL - IMAGE FROM PLEASED TO MEET |
above: fold out family tree page from the pleased to meet baby journal (german edition)
I first discovered the German company Pleased to Meet at one of the UK trade shows. I was instantly drawn to their modern illustrations and innovative design style.
The playful nature of their design work makes a fun baby journal, full of inspiring ways to document those early days of parenthood. From notes of baby's first words to a lovely fold out family tree, image places for photos, pages for inky hand & footprints - there is plenty to enjoy.
 |
| PLEASED TO MEET BABY JOURNAL - IMAGES FROM PLEASED TO MEET |
above: inner pages from the pleased to meet baby journal (german edition)
I like the gender neutral (very on trend) approach to the colour scheme and artwork. They also have cleverly avoided sugaring it up with cute-'isms' & baby stereotypes. It is a lovely fresh take on welcoming new people to the family.
 |
| PLEASED TO MEET BABY JOURNAL - IMAGES FROM PLEASED TO MEET |
above: the english edition of the pleased to meet baby journal that I bought previously
For baby girl, I wanted a different look journal so I have bought the German edition (quite fitting for our Austrian heritage). I have found copies of the English edition both on the Pleased to Meet site and the uk shop Debbie Bliss Home.
Monday, 19 December 2016
Tis the Season ...
... to make an advent calendar! We had a huge amount of fun creating our own advent calendar last year so have decided to make it into a tradition. I picked up the fab polaroid zip printer for an event last autumn and have found it quite addictive (there'll be a review in an upcoming post)! I had planned to send out some festive prints with our Christmas post when the idea came that I could use it to create a calendar.
top: pegged up prints, middle: a string of all last years photographs, below: the polaroid zip printer in action
We happily snapped away and chose an image for an event each day. I then pegged them up with some twine. It's a lovely way to capture this time of year, those special moments with family and friends who also enjoy spotting themselves in the calendar. A great excuse to take some selfies too!
Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas, enjoy the mince pies! x
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| ADVENT CALENDAR 2015 - IMAGES EMILY HAUCK KARIKA NOVA |
We happily snapped away and chose an image for an event each day. I then pegged them up with some twine. It's a lovely way to capture this time of year, those special moments with family and friends who also enjoy spotting themselves in the calendar. A great excuse to take some selfies too!
Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas, enjoy the mince pies! x
Monday, 12 December 2016
A Return to the Pink
This week as Pantone have announced their new colour for 2017 'Greenery', I thought I'd take a look back at one of this years Pantone choices, the pink 'Rose Quartz'. In a big change from previous years, Pantone selected not one but two colours for 2016, both are pastel hues. The 'Serenity' blue has been popular but 'Rose Quartz' is the one that has really captivated the imagination of designers everywhere.
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| PINK STATIONERY TOP PICKS - EMILY HAUCK KARIKA NOVA |
The colour pink has been in the doldrums for some time. It was perhaps overused some years ago in a hot pink fashion. From Towie to Barbie, kitsch phone covers to glittery nail varnish, girly razors to laptops, we could buy anything and everything in full on pink. It has now returned in a more sedate manner, a soft pastel hue, something which is lovely to see. With this choice of colour, Pantone have highlighted our need for a break from consumerism, a colour to escape that brash power selling that can be so overwhelming.
"As consumers seek mindfulness and well-being as an antidote to modern day stresses, welcoming colors that psychologically fulfill our yearning for reassurance and security are becoming more prominent. Joined together, Rose Quartz and Serenity demonstrate an inherent balance between a warmer embracing rose tone and the cooler tranquil blue, reflecting connection and wellness as well as a soothing sense of order and peace."
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| PINK HOME TOP PICKS - EMILY HAUCK KARIKA NOVA |
The return of this soft pink has also led to women reclaiming this fab colour for themselves. A lovely thought.
"The popularity of muted, dusty shades of pink can also be attributed to a climate where women feel empowered by acts that are often deemed by men to be frivolous or infantile, like selfies or ‘too much’ make-up, in this way pink can feel rebellious and delightfully self-serving."
Isabelle O'Carroll - The Pool - the Rise of Power Pink.
With the arrival of our baby girl this seems a particularly apt time to enjoy this new hue. Let's hope it stays on well into 2017.
Friday, 9 December 2016
New Arrival
Well it's been radio silence on here of late as I have been quite busy!! Our little baby girl has arrived. Much joy and cuddles to be had and exciting times ahead! Thank you for all the lovely messages and beautiful cards.
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| BABY GIRL'S ARRIVAL - IMAGES EMILY HAUCK KARIKA NOVA |
Normal service to resume soon with some lovely creative baby thoughts, projects and posts!
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