An Indian Summer

With the new collection of ilovegorgeous Spring Summer 2014 we take a trip to the colourful spice markets of Rajasthan with the Indian Summer inspired collection. Imagine the swish of sari, the tinkle of silver bracelets, a pile of golden marigold flowers and an image of Ganesh - the God of new beginnings - with a pile of brightly coloured sweets, his favourite treat, offered up in tribute.

Bringing together the vibrancy and beauty, with a fairytale nod to the grandeur of the land of maharajas. We see beaded sleeve detail, eclectic displays of colour, swishing soft fabrics, delicate lace and shimmering silvers and golds. A wardrobe full of the zest and fun every girl dreams of.

show me the collection

Make A Little Love

Free kids valentines printable   Fringed love cake topper tutorial,   

Paper straws and washi tape arrows tutorial,     pretty flowers for the table picture inspiration,  

You're dynamite valentines tutorial,    Love and hugs painted wrapping paper idea,  

 date idea arrows tutorial,  Secret message puzzle tutorial, 

Glitter heart cake toppers tutorial,   free WILD about you printables 

OK so the fringed LOVE letters don't have to be sticking out from the top of a giant homemade cake... out of a fresh croissant brought along with the morning newspaper says it just as well  better.  Fill the stick of dynamite with messages of memories we've shared along the way, and fill every jar, every jug with fresh flowers until there's no room to eat at the table, lets get the children to make little love puzzles for each other without the other knowing, lets wrap up secret gifts, things we've been hinting for for a long time and just because we love them.... but wrap them in painted X O 's paper. Because I love you everyday but today I want you you to know that THAT is the most important thing.

However you celebrate Valentines have a lovely one

xx

Give A Little Love

Three little words; I love you. Though traditionally valentines day is reserved for romantic love I think its a great excuse to remind all those that we love how we feel.  Of course we like to go completely overboard, shouting it from the rooftops having valentines breakfasts, blowing up balloons and turning it a celebration. 

Give that someone, be it your partner, son, daughter, friend, mother father, sister (you get my drift) something to make them feel loved, be it balloons blown up to fill a room or sent ready to fly out of a box, a message in a bottle (the modern version with a selection of favourite photos or video saved to a memory card), favourite homemade goodies always say i love you, and flowers, be it paper, freshly cut or a potted something that can grow can never be wrong.

If you're looking for a card that holds the right sentiment for children perhaps rather than an 'I love you' card which might not necessarily mark the day as any different, write an invitation for something you love to do together. Filling the day with memories of all those things you love to do.

Give children a personalised packet of seeds wrapped up with pretty paper and a big bow. Something to plant that can be nurtured, that will grow, blossom and just like love grow bigger every day. 

Make something together there's lots of ideas to be found here and here and take a look at a few more ideas here. 

Here's a few of our favourites

PICS left to right : DIY message balloons, pink balloons, balloon heart idea, amazing DIY message in a bottle tutorial,  Love Light card , tinted marshmallows .... yum yum simply dip marshmallows into a water with food dye, LOVE necklace , love you long time neon lights, shooting star headband, pink clouds,  Hugs and Kisses garland, paper fans and paper honeycomb balls,    Just A little Note card, flowers and strawberry drinks  

No matter how you say it, make sure you do.

Geometric Love

With a love of geometric shapes we've been collecting our favourite finds of inspiration and printables so whether you're looking for party inspiration or perhaps, room decor, mobiles, gifts boxes or maybe to give someone a coloured diamond here's a host of ideas for your home, your friends and that special someone.

1. geometric heart love letters    2. geometric gift boxes    3. diamond gems    4 free printable geometric crown    5. free printable paper diamonds  6. luckyboysunday blanket 7. geometric wall heart   8 & 9  . geometric haert printables for bunting, cake toppers and cards    10. geometric garland inspiration

Geometric Walls

Evoking a sense of fun for kids and adults alike we've gone colour crazy for this magnetic wallpaper with a bold geometrical print.  Creating a feature in any room of the home, adding colour through shape and pattern bringing a jolt of life to any space with its colourful diamonds and triangles.  

Here's the science bit : the magnetic wallpaper is comprised of iron particles on a vinyl basis making it receptive to magnets. Simple yet genius.

Ideal for hanging drawings, notes and photographs the new designs of magnetic wallpaper are a stylish way to create your very own mood board at home; a daily keepsake of memories and treasured moments as well as favourite pictures and inspiring ideas. Not to mention the fun the kids would have creating their very own space for their treasures too.

Already in love with the chalkboard and animal print versions by the same Belgium label this new design has thrown my interior into a quandary. 

The wallpaper measures 25 inch (63 cm) by 104 inch (264 cm) and can be hung vertically or horizontally to suit your room. Comes complete with hanging instructions and 8 geometric magnets.

Take a look here

Once Upon a Mattress

And so the story is told, and retold again and again a story cherished for almost 180 years.  The tale of a prince in search of love. A real princess who appears at the gates of the palace one stormy night, tested by the queen who places a pea in the bed she is offered for the night. A pea hidden under 20 mattresses which only a true princess could possibly feel..... and does she feel it?
A story in which even the pea lives happily ever after. For the pea was placed in a museum and this is a true story.

Retelling the story of the princess and pea written by Hans Christian Andersen Maileg Dk have created a magnificent play set for a bunny princess and her prince and of course the most famous pea in the world. With a four poster bed piled high with the softest of mattresses in beautiful fabrics and a crochet pea to hide amongst them, children can rediscover this classic tale through play. The prettily detailed box opens to become the palace bedroom with its ornate chandelier, furnishings and flowers. Around the outside and hidden underneath you'll discover the tale told through images and words. Each little detail is utterly enchanting.
We have fallen head over heals with this imaginative narrative and judging by our own children's response we're not the only ones utterly enchanted.  

Discover the Bunny and Pea here

Andrea Letterie

Every so often something magical happens, something unique and wonderful we almost burst with excitement. The collaboration between Rice DK and Dutch artist Andrea Letterie creates this very magic and has us cartwheeling into Spring with its blossoms of colour and enough quirky charm to please. Taking the wonderful work of Andrea Letterie and translating it into beautiful pieces for the home Rice DK make practical pretty and the pretty practical in a riotous fun and colourful way.

a note from Andrea Letterie (above) reads :

Everyday Life - That's the main theme in my work.  Whether it's a collection of teacups, built as a messy tower, my dog Bear or a large bunch of flowers picked from the garden....

Filled with colour and patterns.

I love to play with colour.

A painting should give you a happy feeling.

To me RICE is so full of colour and happiness, it's an honour that my designs are being used in their collection.

Andrea Letterie

We've fallen completely head over heals in love with this colourful collection created by Andrea Letterie and Rice DK. With illustrations of dahlias and dogs, rabbits and roses, vintage teacups and vases you'll discover pieces for your table, your picnics, your favourite spot on the sofa, your afternoon tea with friends and your walls.

See the collection here

I Want More

The Sale has moved to our Archive and in celebration of seasons we've enjoyed we're giving everyone an extra 10% off the sale price! With clothing and decor already up to 80% OFF grab yourself some beautiful pieces whilst stock lasts.
Take a look here and discover bobo choses, ilovegorgeous, hucklebones, Rice Dk, Little Duckling, Dandy Star, Waddler and more.

use code 10MORE at checkout to claim your further 10% OFF

offer ends midnight tomorrow (Tues. 28th Jan 2014)

TAKE ME THERE

Pen to Paper

a note to say it all

So much of life is about communication and there's so many ways to send a message.  
Yet with all the technology within our grasp maybe we don't express nearly enough all those thoughts, wishes and stories. And where do they go once they are sent?

I still have an old trunk full of notes and letters, postcards and scribbles in journals. It physically shows a history. These letters are the treasures that will be dusted off and read in the future.  Yet, I haven't added to that trunk of written memories for many years and I haven't written a long letter to a friend for a decade.....and that makes me feel a bit sad.

On New Years Eve one of the wishes I made was to connect with friends more.  And to that I am now adding - connect with friends via the handwritten word. 

2014 can be a year of sharing a few words on paper that can make someones day. 

Don't do it by text or email.......instead, WRITE (yes, with a pen!) a note, a card and give someone something that can actually be felt and opened (without the need for a press of a button or swipe of a thumb.) 

I have been hunting for some cards to get me started with the return to letter writing. Firstly, some new letterpress notecards to send a note and tell someone how lovely they are.

This is the start of a whole new obesession.  
Stationery-aholics - please let me know where you find your fix!

And (in a whisper) who used to be a stamp collector?  I am revisiting my stamp collection and it really does still get me excited! Oh those images and patterns in miniature, the textures, the paper....

Bx

A New Year

A new year. A new beginning. A new wish. 

Here's to a year in which all your wishes come true.

May you have a childlike trust in the benevolence of the universe.

“For to have faith, is to have wings" Peter Pan” 

― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

pic source: here

Calendars for 2014 - Print & Make...& Plan!

The 'My Owl Barn' free customisable calendar is back for 2014.  A wonderful set of illustrations of that big wide-eyed wise feathered creature - a favourite of mine! Choose your owl for each month here

And Mr Printables never lets us down when we are seeking stylish and simple ways to play, to decorate, to learn and count through the months to come.  Take a look here

Wishing you warmth & wonder for 2014...

In the meantime, enjoy the December hols.

xx

Advents 24th Door - Chocolate Bark

Today we make the final preparations for tomorrows big day. With a few simple ingredients we're making this yummy chocolate bark. Bejewelled shards of deliciousness with different flavours for all.

We'll be filling cookie tins and gift boxes with these yummy edibles as well as coming up with our own version for own stash with dried fruit and pistachios. They're endlessly adaptable and so fun to make especially when needing to keep the kids occupied with the immense excitement of the day. 

Pop along to Rue Rococo  for the how to as well as three recipes to inspire the first bites.

Happy Making

xx

Advents 23rd Door - Printable Festive Gift Boxes

With the final gifts still to wrap and a few edible treats ready to be made as gifts for friends and family I stumbled across these fun and pretty printable gift boxes which are perfect for wrapping gift tokens, a sprinkle of yummies and a whole lot of love inside.

Head over to we love to illustrate  and choose your favourite festive house to print and create.

Happy Printing

xx

Advents 22nd Door - Angels at The Table

Create pretty paper angels to sit at the table with these beautiful free printables here. Each comes with her own welcome ribbon to print or write each guests name onto. What a beautiful way to add the final touches to the Christmas table.

Thank you Jenny

Head over to allsorts for your free printable place setting here

Advents 21st Door - Thank you Thank you Thank you Envelopes

Already feeling full of thanks for people around me who help make Christmas so very special I know there's a long list of notes to be written saying just this. With a stash printed off ready for the kids to send their thank you's for the flurry of gifts and more for those who live far and near for adding their own touch of magic into the seasons festivities, these free printables are perfect for making the joyous feeling last long past Christmas.  These happy and fun envelopes with either a jolly reindeer, snowman or Father Christmas can be filled with notes of thanks, photos taken together at Christmas or whatever messages you like to give. I know these playful sets will make the idea of writing thanks so much more fun for the kids and so maybe this year we'll manage to get every name on our list ticked before February! Thank you Amy

Send festive fun and joyous thanks with these brilliant printables here

Advents 20th Door - A Wonderful Wintry Herd of Cup Cozies

With only a few days before Christmas we're beginning to think about the dinners and lunches and parties that will soon bring all our friends and families together. We quite often set up a kids area for nibbles and drinks where all the children can help themselves throughout the afternoon like their very own private tea party. Having discovered these paper cup handles ready to print and attach to paper cups I'm already imaging the winter scene of deliciousness that will be their feast of fancies. Though I'll certainly be putting these out for the grown ups too. Mulled wine with a polar bear ... yes please!

Who knew paper cups could be so fun. And far less washing up for me too! Thank you A Subtle Revelry.

Get your free printable here 

Advents 19th Door - Be A Famous Artist!

Become a famous painter for the day and colour a masterpiece. With lots of free printable colouring pages to choose from will you Jan Vermeer and paint the girl with  a pearl earring? Vincent van Gogh and the most famous sunflowers in the world? Claude Monet and his study of a figure outdoors: woman with a parasol. Will you search for the original artwork and and find inspiration through the original colours or just let your own imagination lead the way. 

Discover 16 of the worlds most famous paintings to recolour and finish for yourself here

Happy Painting

xx

Mama, Sister, Soulmate, Friend not seen for an age.....

For a sister who brings so much wonder to the world...

For the mama in the kitchen mixing some magic...

For the one always creating something, who knows what it will be?

For a friend you moved away from, someone far overseas, a first home-maker, a well-travelled wise soul-mate who you'd love to see...

And for YOU to remember to find a little something for yourself, as you catch your reflection and put on a necklace, a song, a smile, and slink onto the sofa for a daydream....

For giving...to a Mama, Sister, Soulmate, a friend you don't see enough.

We've gathered all sorts of loveliness here

Make it magic, and don't forget YOU

xx