TOAST Christmas

Inspirational Stylist and Art Director Lesley Dilcock, leads the way with Toast's Christmas lookbook.


The rustic simplicity and intriguing beauty of this Christmas lookbook was the clever work of Lesley Dilcock and Jonathan West, and, their latest collaboration for Toast. They have clearly nailed the brand with their successful little team, which is why Toast haven't strayed in a year. The look they so magically create is relaxed, informal, achievable, attainable AND aspirational. The key ingredient to a successful lifestyle brand.
















I watch in earnest for their next collaboration...

L x

Fluorescence

Mega Knit throw

I love looking at colour bright accessories and interiors in the grey months of our English winter. It not only lifts my mood but brings a sense of anticipatory excitement for the release of new Spring product in the months ahead.

Hay, by Scholten & Baijings, do contemporary brights, just right. Here's a selection from Hay's lookbook this year - most of the below selected products are available from UK stockist, SCP East in Shoreditch.

The graphic edge of these designs are commercially sweetened by the soft pastel shades. Although, for those more daring, there's super bright options too. I think my favourites would be the Colour block bedlinen in red and the Mega Knit throw.

S&B Box tea towel

Colour block bedlinen PINK

Colour block bedlinen RED


S&B bedlinen


S&B Minimal Syrup bedlinen

Fold Un-fold tablecloth

The above collection, was a collaboration with the dutch pair Scholten & Baijings and Hay. A collection composed of carpets, bed linens and tea towels and revealed at maison et objet 2011. I can't wait to see what they showcase next year... this reminds me, I need to book my trains/badge if I'm going to fit in a non-stop day trip on 21st Jan!

Having seen the forecasted colour trends for Spring/Summer 2012 in Mix magazine this year, I can safely predict the Fluorescent products will be a hot pick.

L x

Christmas lanterns

£12 each from thechiccountryhome.co.uk

These simple tin houses make for beautiful wintery lanterns. Add a scatter of faux snow to your tabletop and you have yourself a little Christmas village display for your festive drinks parties.

L x

Star of wonder

I absolutely love this homemade star photographed by Line Klein in Tine K's Danish home. Such a simple approach to decorating yet absolutely effective.


All you will need:

6 x stripped branches of equal length
Butcher's string or garden twine
Scissors
Spray paint of your choice (the natural look is equally gorgeous)

Best in Show: Christmas Cards

Hello friends.

It seems to be taking much longer than anticipated to show you my gorgeously transformed pumpkins, promised earlier this month! They are coming soon, in the form of beautiful animated Gifs. Myself and co-worker, Malcolm Menzies have been trialling new ways to style/shoot animated images for the evolving technological world we live in! Apple apps is the place to be apparently. As soon as they are complete I shall post them up for you to see :)

In the meantime I wanted to share a few of the best in festive stationery currently hitting our concrete, and abstract (online) high streets.

Papermash is always a favourite of mine (although I did get a job-lot of charity ones this year from paperchase!) - especially this clever and truly stand-out stunning card with 3D pop out winter wonderland!


I love these nostalgic ones too....






Urban Outfitters has a few winners: The limited edition Rob Ryan number is positively electric...
And it would just be cruel of me not to tell you about Christmas at the The Original Pop-up Shop, what with their cuter than cute paper bags with doilies and handmade crochet decorations... Historically the shop is a family run ice-cream parlour, but for 6 weeks of the year it opens as a Christmas Pop-Up Shop. If you're unable to visit (unfortunately I fall into this category) I recommend you visit online! Enjoy x

Love at first sight...

Discovering a new designer, product, magazine, artwork that you just fall in love with immediately can't simply be a coincidence. I was quite obviously meant to stumble upon Anthology. A fall I did. I couldn't be more smitten with my just-this-minute-purchased UK subscription, due to arrive safely on my doorstep in two long weeks.

Here is a snippet of the current issue and a little sample of my new love... organically grown from a little cafe in San Francisco by two clearly talented creatives ~ Anh-Minh & Meg. I thank you.




Another goal for the life-list, I must design, launch and edit my very own lifestyle title before I'm 50.

L x

Painted pumpkins

Just a quick one to share the inspiration for a shoot I'm doing next Tuesday. I love the idea of painting gorgeously shaped objects, and why not make use of the seasonal pumpkin!

US blog Perfectly Imperfect featured these images last month...

Lifestyle shoot for BRIDES

2 months ago I was commissioned to style a lifestyle promotion for BRIDES magazine, showcasing a new Canon product and the gorgeous DIY wedding stationary/accessories it allows you to make!

I'm particularly pleased with the shots featuring By Appointment Only Design's floral creations and Paul Antonio's calligraphy...

ALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATO WELTON

And here's the magazine feature...

London Design Festival 2011

[LOVE] Ceila Birtwell's new book

So this year's London Design Festival has been and gone again, and my promise to visit more events and installations this year goes with it. They really need to post listings months before to ensure I get diary space to visit them all - I blame the organisers.... because it's easier. My difficultly is that I get immersed in projects and can't then see the value of taking time out to absorb yet more inspiration. Sometimes I feel as though I'm full to the brim and couldn't possibly take in any more, but maybe I just need to learn to be a better multi-tasker. I hear myself calling...'Muuuuum!'.

Here are a handful of my favourite exhibitors/stands/designs showcased at this year's Decorex...


Ceila Birtwell's New Fabric Collection

Playful and colourful - that's what we like!

Volga Linen

I love Volga's new Herringbone Oatmeal Upholstery fabric - unfortunately I don't have an image to share, only a cutting in my press pack :(


Margo Selby


I was thrilled to meet Margo after featuring her hot-off-the-press and gorgeously graphic Iceni silk cushion (above) in a shoot last month. Hosted by Crafted, a mentoring programme passionate about connecting the skills of those who have built successful businesses with those who have the potential to do so, a seminar slot at Decorex introduced 12 carefully selected candidates who have since reached personal success. Margo is one of these extremely talented and entrepreneurial creatives.

I loved listening to the journey she and her crafty team undertook to develop a stronger, yet equally intricate, weave especially for her new upholstering fabric collection.




Not forgetting Nicky Haslam's incredible under the sea themed installation at the main entrance of Decorex - here are some photos borrowed from his blog...



P.S. Thanks mum for a lovely tea and cake pit stop before I begrudgingly left you to indulge further, while I rushed off to a client appointment Xx