Inspiration - Scarlet and Violet

There's a wonderful interview over at Blink London with Victoria Brotherson, the creative force behind London floral designers Scarlet and Violet. Their work is wonderful and the interview is fascinating. So to inspire you to create something pretty this weekend, here are some beautiful images from their website . . . . . .

Check out this last image - the horse with the serpent's tail - fabulous!

Found - Raspberry Jam

I think these are very fun - Raspberry Jam cosmetic bags - that look suspiciously like old fashioned bathing caps. What a fun idea! Via Cobi Style.

Inspiration - painted stainless steel

I can't get enough of these painted stainless steel pieces. You used to be able to buy pieces like this - but enameled - in Chinatown - do you remember that? They were very inexpensive and pretty - but I prefer these painted ones. From here.

Found - Mapkins

These are too cute and I wish that I had a better picture for you - Mapkins from, I think, Grain de Couleur. This is such a great idea and I wish I had some of these - what wonderful conversation pieces over dinner. They have NY, Paris and London.

Found - The Doily Rug

The Doily Rug from Anthropologie. Nice.

Artists - Zoe Ingram

I was hoping we could have more of Zoe Ingram's work here at The Cafe - and here it is. What an amazing sense of colour saturation she has. I'm going to purchase a couple of pieces to frame and hang on our new white walls(well they're still beige right now but soon, really!) I think they will look great hanging together as a group. Wonderful work.

Cartolina fall trade show schedule

It's show season again. If you are a retailer you are probably getting ready to visit the seasonal trade shows - (I'd love to know which ones you prefer.) We have our pretty Cartolina paper products at a couple of big shows this month, and then more in September. So here's the schedule:

- CANADA - CGTA Show in Toronto, Ontario - August 8th - 12th Booth 11257

- AUSTRALIA - Reed Gift Fair(Australia's biggest gift show) - Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Aug. 7th - 11th Booth 5516

- UK - Top Drawer, Earl's Court, London, England September 12th - 14th - Booth F111

I'm excited about our big debut in Australia - if you happen to be going to the show(I know we have lots of readers from Australia) I'd love to hear from you!

Found - Chloe and Maddie

These pretty shoe clips caught my eye - from Chloe and Maddie. They reminded me of one of our Cartolina french ladies shoes(below). Then I checked out their site and discovered all sorts of pretty things to show you!!

Inspiration

These screenprinted prints are limited editions available from Alice's shop. They are just fabulous!

Inspiration

I'm so smitten with Alice Melvin's work. I featured some of her pieces months ago but I rediscovered her work yesterday. I love this crafty horse. When I was a kid this was exactly the kind of thing I loved to get.

Found - one of a kind

One of a kind necklace from Free People. I'm really drawn to these large flowery pieces that are so popular right now. Probably because I like to wear simple classic clothes(I have a million plain white t shirts) so a great statement piece of jewelry always catches my eye.

Inspiration - Alice Melvin

I love this crafty paper mobile from Alice Melvin. It comes in book form and you cut out and fold the pretty illustrated birds. Fabulous, mid century styling - a sophisticated addition to a child's room perhaps?

Inspiration - Marisol Spoon

Pretty little lockets from Marisol Spoon. These are her own illustrations inside these sweet lockets. I like them. I like gold tones these days and to combine them with pretty imagery, how perfect.

Happy weekend!

After a VERY long day yesterday, receiving all the boxes of new Cartolina product, I was completely out of time to prepare a post for today - that doesn't happen very often, does it? Sorry about that! Anyway, the good news is that we have wonderful new card designs - hot off the press! Very exciting. Do you have some fun plans for the weekend?

Doug and I are going to pick out some new art for our living room makeover - which is where you come in . . . . we are looking for interesting, bold, graphic 'poster' art to frame for our walls. If you are a regular reader you will be familiar with the style of art we love. So if you have any tips for us - your own art, an online poster shop, vintage posters etc - let me know in the comments below - I'd love that! Thanks! - see you Monday!

Found - fabulous spec cases!

I just got new glasses. I got 'big' ones. I'm so tired of tiny little narrow glasses. I have a huge computer monitor and I need to have big glasses or I have to move my head to much - know what I mean? So when I saw these glass cases I was all over them. I love how they come in 3 sizes so, not only can I get my glasses in there, I can get my bank card and a lipstick in there too - and what more does a gal need - right?

Fabulous spec cases and clutches from Studio Cherie.

Mystery shoes

It's really bugging me that I don't have any information on these flowery shoes - perhaps they are hand painted? I found them here - so if you know anything about them, let me know ;-)

Aha! Update They're by Jeffrey Campbell! http://needsupply.com/womens/shoes/meow-floral-lace-up.html

Found- vintage map notebooks

These notebook are made by hand by Mr Yen. They are made with vintage maps and have a hand cut Notebook logo cut into the fab covers. They remind me of the map clip boards that I bought at Fabriano in Rome a couple of years ago - maps never go out of style and are endlessly fascinating don't you think?

I'm obsessed with this vintage soap packaging - it's so inspiring on so many levels. I hope you love it too. The colour combination on the 2nd one is incredible.