Pattern Party

If you know that I love packaging and pretty patterns, it goes without saying that I would be completely amazed by these brilliant take-out cups. Graphic artist Sarah Walsh designed these beauties as part of an image overhaul for Mallard Tearooms, a specialist tea company. According to Sarah, "the mix and match branding is inspired by the eclectic feel of the establishment, which is quirky, eccentric and unmistakably English." Check out more from this project on her portfolio site.

Obviously a bit excited about these cute designs, I took her cue in putting together a quirky, eccentric and unmistakably English tea party that incorporates both the patterns and palettes from the Mallard project. From tabletop to dessert buffet, the details we might normally overlook are an amazing opportunity to incorporate more of your theme--just check out the cookies with stunning houndstooth-print icing!

Clockwise from top left:
Red ranunculus arranged in a teacup from Domino's, "Unexpected Vases" (via Duet Weddings )
DIY aqua mason jar project via Apartment Therapy
Houndstooth print cookies designed by pastry artist Amber Spiegel
Classic red teapot from Whittard of Chelsea (£17.50)
Dotti red cup and saucer on Living and Giving ($10.99)

Fabric potted plant in black houndstooth by janejoss on Etsy ($28)

Shabby chic English rose napkins on Shabby Chic Rose Interiors (£1.95 for 20)

Picket fences floral plates from Home A La Mode ($24.99)

Sabre red gingham charger plate, found on French Habits
Teal bamboo lattice letterpress note cards from the Garden Aviary collection by Elum Design
Turquoise M&Ms in a candy buffet inspiration photo from Details Event Rental
Strawberry cupcake recipe by Bumbleberry Cakes
Red gingham muffin cups from Fancy Flours  ($4 for 40 wrappers)

Cakes inspired by calico-print fabric on Martha Stewart Weddings
Houndstooth table runner from CoCoMalé (£21.00)

Recycled glass votive holders from Target ($49.99 for set of 6)

Redddddd This!

Lisbeth Zwerger is my favorite illustrator. She. Is. Amazing. Please buy all her books so she never stops. One of my favorites is her Wizard of Oz. There's a full spread of the characters in a field of red poppies that is so beautiful and whimsical and strange. It makes me want to live in her books.



Clockwise from top left
Dress from Alberta Ferretti's Spring 2010 show
Embroidery from Neville Trickett's Flickr
Red Hunter Wellies from Shelba's Flickr
Old Red Hat letterpress pieces
Hoboken Pie Store
Thank You card from Pop + Shorty
Martha Stewart butterfly straw toppers
Living room from stylist/textile designer Marieke van Proosdij
RedruM photo frames
Ulrika May pillows

A Very Brady Potluck

This print titled "Red Plastic Plates" by Ann Toebbe is an ode to her parent's midwestern dining room, recreated from memory. The original artwork was made from small pieces of paper, hand-painted, cut and glued together in a collage-like fashion. Aside from the quirky décor and mismatched furniture, the different perspectives make this quite an interesting image.

I came across this print on 20x200, one of my favorite sites for affordable art prints. Best summed up by their own equation: "(limited editions x low prices) + the internet = art for everyone," 20 x 200 introduces two new pieces to their collection each week starting at just $20.

Anyhow, the 70's retro/country (read: Brady Bunch) feel of this room struck my fancy.  I can totally imagine throwing a dinner party with this theme. The long table with the yellow cloth and red place settings are easy to replicate. Pear placemats tie in the green and complement arrangements of wildflowers punctuated by candles under various-sized hurricane vases.  A buffet table with a macrame lace runner and neatly arranged ceramic pears serves as the perfect staging area for a friendly potluck. Printed chocolates with retro patterns are an easy takeaway gift for your guests.

Clockwise from top-left:

Ceramic pears by ElementClayStudio on Etsy

Black-eyed Susans in a handmade pottery vase, photo by Penny Sanford

White lisianthus, photo from Better Homes and Gardens

Glass hurricane vases in assorted sizes at CandleSquare.com 

Red dinnerware from the Pier 1 Holiday collection

Pear print placemats by Orla Kiely for Target

Vintage star quilting patches from bonblu's Etsy shop

Macrame lace table runner in "Catherine," from Authentic-Macrame.com 

Swatch of Canary Kona cotton fabric from Hart's Fabric

Chocolates by Choxie in Target stores everywhere

FK 150 Sideboard, designed in 1973, still produced and sold by Lange Production

Fall Fruits

This wooden block set from notNeutral may be listed as a kids toy, but I could definitely imagine it having a place on my desk. Each side of the 12 blocks is printed with something to love: letters and numbers in classic and contemporary fonts, two-tone flora and fauna graphics (think leaves, bird, flowers, butterfly, etc.), a tree puzzle and the apple puzzle featured above.


When I saw this photo in If it's Hip it's Here's feature on designer blocks, my mind drifted to apples and Fall. One of my favorite parts of Fall is being able to (comfortably) bake again in my small kitchen. Another would definitely have to be the delicious fruits that come into season as the Summer comes to an end. What better way to combine these two things than to bake some wonderfully fruity desserts? I'm drawing a blank. If you are too, why not try some of the recipes below?

Clockwise from top left:
Baked apples with walnut raisin filling by Meghan Telpner
Fried apple pies on The Prepared Pantry
Vanilla pomegranate pot-de-creme from Sass & Veracity
Anise-scented fig and date swirls from Gourmet.com's favorite cookies list
Clementine cake adapted from Nigella Lawson by Smitten Kitchen
Upside-down pear tartlets on Country Living
Honey rosemary ice cream recipe from Pastry Studio
Pumpkin cranberry oatmeal cookies on Sugarcrafter
Ginger and pink grapefruit cheesecake from Bon Appetit on Epicurious
Oven-baked apple cider donuts by Diana's Desserts

Potted Plants

Loving the palette on this pillow! This herb garden pattern from swedish textile company Almedahls, and is a reproduction of a classic 1955 design by Astrid Sampe. Chartreuse has a special place in my heart, and although it may sometimes be hard to place with other bold colors, the red and navy complement it very well.  I love the idea of having fresh herbs in a home, and planting them in these modern stoneware apothecary jars is a great way to tie them in with your décor. 

I got to thinking about how this theme could be carried out in other ways, and I came up with the items below. For small spaces or studios, this palette can easily flow from one area or room to the next. Highlighting one color in each room and incorporating plants or leaf-like patterns throughout your space is a great way to balance your need for a home that is simple and clean, yet interesting and cheerful.

Clockwise from top-left:

Chartreuse kitchen cabinets featured on KitchenBathIdeas

Navy blue retro-style refrigerator by Smeg featured on Alkemie

Kiwi dinnerware set by Waechtersbach from CSN (sale: $21.99 for 4-pc set or these and other items sold separately)

Sky Planter inverted hanging pots for indoor plants on Rockett St. George (from £19.99 up)

Fern wall graphic in cut vinyl in ellynelly's Etsy store (5 ferns for $32, available in other colors)

Vintage apothecary jar terrariums on ethanollie's Flickr (plus a how-to video from Design*Sponge)

Branches with hand-sewn fabric leaves in janejoss's Etsy store ($21.50 for 3, available in other colors/patterns)

Le Creuset stoneware kitchen jars in Cherry and Cobalt from CSN ($17.95 for 8 oz - $59.95 for 5 qt)

Red Eames molded plywood lounge chair from Design Within Reach ($679-1,229)

Black Rider table lamp from CB2's 2008 collection (originally $39.50)