But chilly, chilly is the evening time Waterloo sunsets fine

Stay cosy this Christmas!

 

New WINTER BEA sweaters now available. 

(In Sailor Navy, Hunter Green, Cranberry and Ink)

x

I FEEL SMUG

I can't quite believe it, but tomorrow is my last day at SMUG. I've worked in the independent shop in Angel for the last year and a half and I'm so very sad to be leaving. It's been wonderful working with such a lovely, small team of people and I'm going to miss them greatly. I've had the great pleasure of being involved with the development and launch of the new website, the Pop Up Print Shop, going to trade fairs, birthday arrangements and more. 

As an small ode to Smug, to mark my impending departure, I felt it was time I shared some of my favourite products with you - my ultimate wish list, if you will.

1. Bora Da Willow Cushions

The square Bora Da Willow cushion is without a doubt my most coveted Smug product. The cushions are designed by Donna Wilson and produced by SCP. They always make me think of old train seat patterns, but in attractive colour combinations.

2. Crochet Animals

They're wonderful, need I say more? They're all made by hand and not only make me want to give them all new homes, but to learn how to crochet. I think I missed my calling as a toy maker. (Look at the fox's tail!!) After studying all the toys in great detail (I spent a lot of time with them...we had so many varieties, but they sold so quickly we now only have one lone bear), I concluded that the above two are my favourite. And I will be straight back to Smug as soon as more are available!

3. Made by Me Me Me - Little Birdie Necklace

Beautiful small porcelain bird on a gold filled chain. Perfect.

4. Alex Monroe - Juicy Pear Necklace

Swooon. Though my favourite Alex Monroe piece has to this foxy number, which I'm sure will soon be available at Smug. I'm going to have to save up!

5. Is That Plastic Butter Dish - Mint

Such a lovely colour - it would look so pretty in my kitchen. Though surely you would need both the mint and yellow dish... for salted and unsalted butter - no?

6. Thornback and Peel Guinea Pig Tea Towel - EXCLUSIVE

The infamous Smug Guinea Pig - this tea towel was designed for us by Thornback & Peel for Smug's second birthday - it was an adapted version of a drawing by Smug's own Danny. It has since had a navy partner in crime created and also adorns an apron and our exclusive hankie's for Smug's third birthday.

7. Alas - Mint Tee

Beautiful sleep/ lounge wear by Australian ALAS. I would wear this just as a top - no sleeping required.

8. Donna Wilson Log Cabin Cushion

Super soft lambswool cushion.

9. Wooden Desk

Vintage dark wooden desk with green metal frame and ink well. I'd love this as a sewing desk.

10. James Brown Viking Print

King of the screen print. Sits perfectly next to Beaufort.

11. Vintage Jumper Polar Bears

When asked at my interview which one item I would most like to own, a vintage jumper polar bear was my answer! They're just wonderful. I own one of the large rabbits (Dylan), but I still very much yearn for a polar bear.

And that's my Smug round up! We also have some beautiful vintage Eiderdowns and blankets, but you'll need to come in store to see them!

If you do happen to be near Angel tomorrow, you should definitely pop in, say hi and celebrate my last day with me! And as if you need any more encouragement, there's a little vintage market opposite Smug that runs all the way along Camden Passage - so you can make an afternoon of it. (Not to mention a whole host of amazing places for breakfast!)

And finally? A massive thank you to Lizzie, who makes Smug everything it is. It's been a blast working for you. x

Newness

New in store today and coming soon! x

Hiatus

(Collar Brooches - coming soon!)

Well, it's been a rather large hiatus hasn't it? I really didn't mean for it to seem like I've been hiding under a rock, but looking at my somewhat pitiful blog, it would definitely appear so!

To give you a quick synopsis of the last few months, back in January (the day after I returned from Paris in fact) I started a second part time job, which resulted in me working 21 days straight, my boyfriend went to South Africa for a family wedding, while I baby sat a cat who hates humans, the cat broke our full length mirror at stupid o'clock in the morning and I had my laptop stolen from work. I then worked 6 -7 day weeks until the beginning of May, my phone broke after a nasty 'phone-meets-toilet incident', I hit the job hunt hard, had a series of interviews, three job offers, I handed in my notice and now I'm flat hunting! During which time I managed to sneak in a quick jaunt to Plymouth, saw Emma Watson at work, practically had a heart attack from all the stress and ate an awful lot of chocolate. 

Someone take me on holiday??

However as of the 2nd July, I will have gained my weekends back! I don't think I've really had real, unadulterated weekends for the last two years, so it's all very exciting.

I know it's been all quiet on the western front for some time, but I really appreciate that you've stuck around.

Jolly Jubilee Weekend Discount

Easter Egg Hunt

I hope you're all having a wonderful Bank Holiday weekend! x

...

 

And

The winners of the pocket mirrors were Vicky, Phara and Dayner!

A massive thank you to ever one who took the time to enter. There will of course be more giveaways in the coming year, so keep an eye out! x

La Belle Juliette

I thought you guys might like to see a few photos from our whirlwind trip to Paris! We made the rookie mistake of not photographing the hotel room before we threw our stuff all over it, but it was utterly incredible. I had such a good birthday, I cannot tell you!

To quickly sum up, Charlie, Sam and I went to the Breakfast Club for an epic breakfast, then after madly packing we traveled to St. Pancras. Sam went home to Birmingham and Charlie and I boarded the Euro Star. We arrived about 7.30ish in the evening and headed straight to our hotel, La Belle Juliette - which for the record is the fanciest place I have ever been! In the next 24 hours we dined on souffles, pastries and bread (we had a particularly good pistachio swirl type thing) we visited Merci (sadly it doesn't have it's own website), Le Bon Mache, the Pompidou, the Musee d'art et metier, with a lot of exploring and walking in-between.

It was a little drizzle-y, but still beautiful. Though I'm still mildly terrified of a) getting trapped in the Metro door and/or b) being run over, their road rules make no sense to me! I'm afraid the photos don't do it justice (most are of the phone variety) but you can see a few images from my last trip here. It really was the most insanely generous birthday gift, I still can't really believe that we went.

You can also still enter my birthday giveaway, it ends on Tuesday.

T w e n t y S i x - GIVEAWAY

It's that time of year again when I feel terribly old. Mainly because my best friend and man-friend make jokes about it being my 89th birthday, rather than celebrating my twenty-sixth year on the planet. Still, before I become senile and entirely decrepit, I wanted to run a little giveaway to say a massive thank you to all of you for being such lovely readers. Up for grabs are a Zooey collar and a Violet Baudelaire necklace, the choice is yours! Additionally three people will be chosen to win a button mirror of their choice. (See below)

I actually wrote the majority of this post yesterday and have since been given a present - a surprise trip to PARIS!! We're leaving at 4pm today and are back tomorrow evening - I can't tell you how excited I am. I have such a wonderful, if somewhat sneaky boyfriend! As a little Birthday extra, you can also get 15% off all orders today, using the discount code TWENTYSIX - it ends at midnight, tonight.

TO ENTER:

- Follow Wallpaper Rose via GFC.
- Leave a comment with your name, a contact email address and whether you would like to be entered to win the Zooey Collar or the Violet Baudelaire telescope necklace.
- A further three people will be picked at random to win a button mirror of their choice! (See above)
- The Giveaway closes at Midnight on Tuesday 31st January 2012.
- It is open worldwide, so get entering!

In other news, did anyone else see the gorgeous Gem on Super Scrimpers on Channel 4 last night? I literally squealed with excitement to see her wearing one of my original Jen Tees. So much so I was crouching in front of the television trying to take bad photos on my phone. And then I called my Mum. I know, it required a 'Mum be proud of me' phone call! T-shirts aside, Gem was brilliant at presenting, I'm not really one for nail art, but I might try her leopard print tips later today. For anyone interested, I am working on  new Jen Tees - I have new collars! (Ooooh) They'll be available in Burgundy Marl, Grey Marl, Navy and Black. The next few weeks are going to be pretty full on with work, but I will be sewing at every available free moment and will of course let you know when they're back in stock.

I'm sure they won't ever read this, but Happy Birthday Tom and Ed - It's lucky we talk, rather than communicate via blogs xx

Rather Lovely Things

1. Enamel Pear 2. Tiny Acorn Necklace 3. Vintage Tiny Scissors 4. Spitfire Necklace 5. Miniature Spitfire 6. Triangle Earrings 7. Hex Earrings 8. Hex Necklace 9. Vega Cuff

I'm currently dying (slight over reaction) of a stomach bug that has had me confined to my bed and the sofa for the last few days. I've been painfully unproductive. Other than feeling awful and quite sorry for myself, I've filled the rest of the time aimlessly cruised the internet searching for attractive things.

I think sometimes people assume that I won't like other jewellery because I make my own (though it is true that I rarely let myself buy it because of that fact), but I make jewellery because I love it and I have a huge appreciation for other jewellery! How could anyone not desire the pieces above?! (On a side note, how beautifully shot is the Rust jewellery?! I'm very envious.)

My staple pieces of jewellery always used to be earrings, I didn't leave the house without a pair, but I haven't worn any for months, I just haven't been inspired by any that I own. I am, however, completely drawn to the simplicity of the Hex earrings and the triangles. They're subtly statemented and it would appear, exactly what I'm craving in a pair of earrings. I'm debating whether to treat myself to the Hex's for my birthday towards the end of the month, but then I'd probably have quite a hard time not purchasing the matching necklace (I don't think I actually own any matching jewellery?!) and the Vega cuff as well and that would be bad...

1. Roberts Radio 2. Hilary Grant Circle Scarf 3. Frankie Diary 4. Wander Print 5. Luva Huva Cami
6. Menagerie 7. Etienne Bag 8&9 Boot

These are a few of my current wants, if you follow me on pinterest, you'll know there are an alarming number of them. (And that I rarely buy any of them) I really love the large geometric scarves around at the moment. The colour and design of this circle scarf is just perfect. (Any suggestions of where to find others?) I'm still in hibernation mode and would really like a large over-size scarf to cosy up in. I'm one of those awful people who wears a scarf all the time rather than just outside like a normal person. Alas I've missed out on the Frankie diary again (I've entered so many giveaways to try and win one) so I think I'm going to have to get myself a moleskine soon - I'm rubbish as diary management on my phone calendar. I saw this Mischa Barton bag featured as part of a WishWishWish giveaway, and have been a little obsessed with it ever since. I love it's small boxy shape and that's it's called a camera bag - I'm pretty sure my Bronica or digital wouldn't fit, but it would be perfect for carrying around my Holga.

 1. Dress 2. Cardigan 3. Boots

These are a few of my most recent pins - I'm a little obsessed with the cardigan, it's so sweet - though very much out of my price range! Also a friend of mine has just got it in nude - I have such cardigan envy, she also owns this one too. Best cardigan in the world? Most probably.

 1. Scallop Blouse 2. Knit 3. Brooch
 

I'm very lucky to have a wonderful boyfriend who bought me this amazing brooch for Christmas. If you haven't seen The Gently Unfurling Sneak's website, you definitely should, the brooches are amazing. I'll just have to work on getting the blouse and sweater to wear with it!

Do any of you have pinterest? If you do, please send me links, I'd love to see the exciting treasures you're hording there - plus it will give me something to do while I'm wallowing in self pity and looking a bit gross.

Fortune Favours the Brave

(Or so my fortune cookie said. Maybe I should have put the numbers below on the lottery...)

ahem.... HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope you've all had a wonderfully festive holiday. It was really lovely to be able to go home and see my family and hang out with my cats for a few days. I think I rather shamefully spent most of my time in my pajamas watching Christmas films but it would be rude to say no to Jingle All The Way and Scrooged...

Above is essentially my day, but compacted into a small space on my living room floor. Perhaps not the most productive use of my time, but there you have it. For Christmas, my Mum handmade my brother a hot water bottle cover made out of Super Mario Bros fabric, which I highly coveted. Consequently I began my day attempting, perhaps in vain, to make a pair for myself and Charlie. It has, however, finally provided the much wanted opportunity to purchase the Tom's Jets fabric from Liberty; I will keep you posted on their progress. Another project for 2012, set as a vague new year's resolution, is to start reading through the BBC's list of top 100 books, I am starting with Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Sadly I didn't quite manage to capture the bizarre apocalyptic weather we seem to be having. On my way to lunch I narrowly missed being hit by the acrylic signage of a kebab shop falling off a shop front on the Essex Road. I was then greeted at home by my neighbour's window box and its content on the steps. The poor plants didn't stand a chance. True to form, my boyfriend is now mentally designing something unnecessarily elaborate (much like a cartoon evil genius) to secure our box to the window. I just feel a little cheated of snow. It's as if we've carelessly bypassed it and skipped straight to it's irritating younger cousin, heavy rain. It's saddening to think we might actually have to wait an entire year for the mild possibility of snow. (Take me somewhere cold?)

Highlights of today included an amazing noodle bowl and green tea, seeing Sara Cox at lunch with a million children, escaping the rain (and kebab shop sign death) on the walk home, celebrating Char's birthday while simultaneously spying (quite unsuccessfully) on Chris Moyles scowling in a pub.

Winter Sale