Last year I participated in Sofia's Autumn Swap and this year, I'm really excited to do the same. The idea is that you make a parcel for your swap partner filled with comforting treats, and I had such fun putting it all together!
I am not a green-thumbed lass by nature: my kitchen window sill herbs occasionally keel over in despair of my skills. But I have a feeling I'd be amazing at growing herbs if they were in this delightful planter by Design Night. Amazing, I tell you!
Australia! Please stock these! Especially the yellow one!
When the going has been tough with my thesis of late, I have had small little projects sitting by, waiting for me to spend ten minutes or so with them to give my brain a break.
This home of Whimsy and Spice featured in the ever-amazing Design*Sponge has given me lots of food for thought.
I especially love the mix of Ikea, vintage, and eBay bits of pieces - it all looks effortless, clean and very organised: exactly the feel I love.
These homes are always so good at putting together little corners of mini-installations: chair + mini table + print + vase/interesting piece = perfection.
And these garlands below are made from coffee filters! This is a home after my own heart!
This is another sneak peek of a quilt I'm working on for a friend's birthday. I've so enjoyed working on this one - the fabrics are (to me) the perfect mix of whimsy and fun, with the lace adding some texture and depth. I used this most excellent tutorial, but substituted interfacing for freezer paper, which I can rip off. This has been a bit of a revelation - so even and neat for me!
I've been doing a little bit of research for excellent desk layouts recently. There's probably nothing too wrong with mine, and I'm sure it's just a side-effect of sitting at it so much (!) but it's nice to dream of new workspaces.
As always, Kim never lets me down with amazing finds, and I deeply admire the lack of clutter in all of these pictures. (You know, piles of bills, power cords, paper-to-be-recycled).
I look forward to de-cluttering when my thesis is done, and starting from scratch!
This is a sneak peek of something I made - but I can't reveal the whole until after Christmas (!!) as it'll be a gift. But I wanted to highlight (apart from the CUTE fabric) the fact that I have learned to make my own binding.
French artist Guillaumit has such a distinctive style - I adore this print above - the colours and whimsy are fantastic!
He also makes t shirts such as the one above and below, which I love for its Mondrian + Monsters aesthetic.
Guillaumit has also recently released a book called 'ABC des Verbes', a nice spin on the current Alphabet books and posters that seem to be making the web rounds.
I have written before about my friend's label Das Monk - the most excellent t-shirt (and now singlet and hoody) one stop shop you could ask for.
Inspired by this picture of snakes and the logo of a now-defunct Kuwaiti Bank, (I love the disparate inspiration sources!) this amazing t-shirt was born. Have a look at the blog for some amazing music tips and lots more inspiration.
I am so blown away by this installation: yet another reason to live in Berlin! In order to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, a French theatre group put on a show entitled "The Berlin Reunion" which lasted for over four days and featured larger-than-life marionettes.
The marionettes, the Big Giant and his niece, the little Giantess, walked the streets of Berlin. The storyline of the performance has the two separated by a wall, thrown up by "land and sea monsters". 
The website says, "The Big Giant has just returned from a long and difficult - but successful - expedition to destroy the wall, and now the two are walking the streets of Berlin, seeking each other after many years apart."
You have to see these pictures - just awe-inspiring.
Last week I had a bulged disc in my neck which was incredibly painful. The whole time I was lying on my back, I craved a warm pack that was long enough to drape around my neck, keeping it warm.
Last week I was lucky enough to win a giveaway on Kylie's blog. In fact, I won it on the very same day of my own giveaway - that's quick acting karma, for you!
It arrived this morning wrapped in red and aqua pretties. I'm so excited to sit down with this beautiful book Handmade Hellos and its presence alone is hugely inspiring. Thanks so much, Kylie! (You can have a peek in Kylie's shop, too, for some deliciously cute brooches. Also, I confess the soundtrack to Kylie's blog is so good you might just keep it open in your browser a little bit longer!).
I have updated the map notebooks I'm selling in my shop. I was thinking late at night while trying to get to sleep, that I'd love a notebook which I could add and subtract pages to when I felt like it.
I know, I know, maps on textiles may have you all a bit exhausted, but I am only hitting my stride! These rugs by Liz Eeuwes are inspired by different landscapes. The one above is called Strathmore and inspired by the Scottish countryside.
This one's inspired by brightly coloured tulip fields and the one below is inspired by rice paddy terraces in Bali. I think it's my favourite.
Butterflies getting ready to fly away to new owners.
LPC who said: "Congratulations Kate. You know I think your stuff is super-cute. I agree, especially the map work."
Claire Scully's portfolio is full of intricate and lovely designs. These animals invite your eyes to switch between looking at the whole image and scrutinising the myriad small parts.
They remind me a little bit of 70s macrame designs with the woven motif, yet the stare of the wolf and the lion are much more confronting! Have a look at her portfolio for more goodies - she is an exceptionally talented illustrator.
Yes, I know I've been keeping news from you! My copy of Vogue Spain Kids arrived yesterday, and sure enough my pretty butterflies made it onto page 83 on a page about blogs and sustainable consumption. Super exciting stuff!
Please excuse the slightly fuzzy photograph - I still don't have a scanner... (I just refuse to believe that they're necessary!!)
