Revamp of my Studio

September often feels like the perfect time for a new start.  After a wonderful two weeks holiday in Ibiza enjoying a fantastic escape on this beautiful island, the return home made me look at my studio with fresh eyes.  Once again it prompted me to get painting!  Here's my new tranquil white look.

I painted the table and chair and cleared away much of my millinery equipment from a previous enterprise.  There is new order with my white filing boxes and hopefully I will be able to find everything!

Its such a great space now and really inspiring.  I'm sure this has helped with the designs for my new card range which is about to launch in a couple of weeks time.  It certainly feels much more peaceful....that it until my two small children come to check on my work!

Paper Cutting Workshops in Association with Country Homes & The Darling Collective, 21st & 23rd May

 

Next week I will be leading a couple of courses at Clifton Nurseries in London  on Tuesday 21st May and also at the The Parsonage Country House Hotel, in Escrick near York on Thursday 23rd May.  I have all the materials waiting in my studio, lots of chiyogami paper, pens and paper ready to go.  I think we're going to have a great couple of days with these workshops and I'm looking forward to meeting everyone!

Oriental Express - The East's Influence on Fashion This Spring

 

Its not just Eloise Hall who is influenced by Asia!  In Spring 2013 Asia's influence has hit the fashion runways.  Prada's collection (see above) had a strong Geisha influence combined with a sixties feel and the oriental trend carried through with floral blossom prints featuring in the Mulberry Collection (below) and also Etro and Jean-Paul Gaultier.

 

Etro Spring 2013

 

Jean-Paul Gaultier

For a more affordable take on this trend, why not try the Orchid Print Shift Dress from Whistles?

 

Christmas is Coming......see Eloise Hall at Christmas Fairs

Eloise Hall will be at the following Christmas Fairs, do come and say hello.  Its a great opportunity to view new works including Orchids with Butterflies, Blossom and One Bird and Butterfly in the Blossom.  Here's the details for the fairs:

Friday 23 November
Myrtle's Courtyard Christmas Fair

10am - 2pm

Hampton Estate
Seale
Surrey
GU10 1JH

Saturday 1st December
We Make Christmas Fair

10am - 5pm

Battersea Arts Centre
Lavender Hill
London
SW11 5TN

Saturday 8th December
The Park Club Christmas Market

10am - 4pm

The Park Club
East Acton Lane
London
W3 7HB

Breathing New Life into Our Kitchen Table

So I cracked!  We were given our kitchen table and chairs by a friend who was clearing out his garage and somehow seven years later we were still living with furniture that we would not have owned by choice.  Though the shapes of the table and chairs were good, the dark colouring of the wood made our kitchen feel rather gloomy so I found my sander and set about the table and chairs.  It turns out that sanding furniture is very hard work and also time consuming!  After the second chair I was beginning to doubt my plan.  However a few weeks later I can see the fruits of my labour, and I am completely thrilled with the result. It has made the room seem so much brighter and more welcoming.  When all the chairs and table were finally sanded down I lime waxed the chairs and both lime-washed and varnished the table top to withstand the daily arsenal of family life.

Here's an image of the table before:

As luck would have it, I also found two more chairs to match the six we owned and so we now have a complete set.  With this new chic look, I feel like we are eating in the calm of Daylesford Organic which is a real treat. 

Majorca Escape

We have recently returned from a holiday in Majorca.  I am still dreaming of this view from the house we rented in the hills near Pollenca, it was so peaceful with only the sound of light tinkle from the bells belonging to local goats.  My husband and I loved having an sundowner drink watching the sunset and enjoying a moment's peace once our children were in bed (well on some nights anyway)!

 

This is the view from the restaurant the local beach, a perfect horse-shoe cove with gorgeous white sand, heaven!  

 

There was an amazing bright pink Bougainvillea plant growing in the garden.  It was planted next to a huge jasmine bush that smelt incredible.

Ceramics Passion

I have been collecting ceramics over the years, and have recently discovered a maker called Charlotte Jones.  Charlotte is based in Cornwall and is inspired by the dramatic land and seascapes of the area.  These are the three pieces that I recently bought from a gallery in Penzance. I fell in love with the entire collection displayed in the gallery and finally narrowed it down to these ones! Do take a look at Charlotte Jones Ceramics.

One of my favourite makers is Clare Conrad and the influence of weathered architecture and landscapes is very apparent in her work.  She often works with blue colours, however I love the earth tones of the piece that I own. For more example of her work, see Clare Conrad.