Inspirational pins - Vintage Kitchen

Today in my series of posts "Inspirational Pins", I bring you gorgeous kitchens with a touch of pink inspired by my Kitchen Ideas inspirational board.

• Kitchen Buffet by Country Living
• Aurora's Home by Ye Rin Mok
• Muster and Motive by Janne Peters
• Playful and Pink by Country Living

Have a sweet day!

Amelia's Compendium of Fashion Illustration launch party

On Friday I joined uber-stylish fashion blogger Holly Springett at the launch party for Amelia's Compendium of Fashion Illustration book at 123 Bethnal Green. From the website:

Amelia’s Magazine has become a must see website for upcoming independent and ethical fashion designers, all illustrated in wonderful technicolour by our talented team of illustrators.

Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration book brings together the best illustration from Amelia’s Magazine alongside the best new ethical fashion designers, all in a gorgeous coffee table book with a stunning pearlised cover designed by the Arizona based artist Andrea Peterson.

The book offers inspiration to aspiring fashion designers, illustrators, art directors and anyone who is interested in ethical fashion design.

The following up and coming fashion illustrators feature in Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration: Abigail Daker, Abby Wright, Amy Martino, Andrea Peterson, Aniela Murphy, Antonia Parker, Bex Glover, Emma Block, Erica Sharp, Faye West, Gemma Milly, Jennifer Costello, Jenny Robins, Jo Cheung, Joana Faria, June Chanpoomidole, Katherine Tromans, Katie Harnett, Kellie Black, Krister Selin, Lesley Barnes, Lisa Stannard, Michelle Urvall Nyren, Naomi Law, Natasha Thompson, Natsuki Otani, Rachel de Ste Croix, Yelena Bryksenkova, Zarina Liew & Gareth A Hopkins. Click the links above to browse their beautiful personal websites, blogs and more.

We had so much fun meeting the talented illustrators, and the beautifully inspirational Amelia Gregory in the wonderful basement bar. The sparkly mini scones and pearlescent pink white chocolate cake by the fabulous Lily Vanilli, whose previous clients have included Vogue, Lulu Guinness, Sunday Times Style and Hello Kitty to name a few. Tea was served in array of gorgeous vintage tea cups and upon leaving we were given an adorable goody bag full of treats from Dr Haushka, Tatty Devine and Moleskine. Check out my Flickr set for pics.

You can purchase this wonderfully inspiring book from Amelia's magazine. A must for designers, illustrators and anyone who appreciates art!

Have a sweet day!

Simply Scandinavian by Sara Norrman

This month I'm reviewing Simply Scandinavian by Sara Norrman from illustrated lifestyle publishers, Ryland Peters & Small and CICO Books. Sara Norrman grew up in Stockholm, Sweden, and since moving to London, Sara has written for several publications, such as Wallpaper, Tatler, The Times and The Financial Times. Now managing editor at Living etc, she continues to spread the message about Scandinavian style. I chose to review this book as you know how much I love Scandinavian interiors!

In my opinion this is a wonderful hardbound book full of admirable, inspirational interiors. It combines beautifully styled photography with a great insight into each home, describing its design, planning and evolution - a refreshing look at eclectic Scandinavian Homes.

Simply Scandinavian contains twenty stylish homes from Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark. Featuring renowned Finnish chef Aki Wahlman and Swedish glass and ceramics designer Ingegard Råma,n alongside fashion designers, craftsman and antique dealers. It covers a range of light, airy gorgeous Scandinavian homes from elegant minimalist and vintage-inspired feminine to contemporary rustic.

The introduction covers what makes a home unmistakably Scandinavian, where you learn that the Scandinavians have strived for lighter, brighter homes as early as the mid 1950's when they did away with dark furniture and heavy textiles. Of course, this is due in part to the fact that many of the Scandinavian countries are in near total darkness over the winter months, and means a love of pale and muted colours can be seen in most homes.

The book chapters cover Elegant Simplicity, Pared-down Modern, Contemporary Rustic and Eclectic. Each home is presented as a case study with a short dialogue on the owner

At a recommended price of £19.99, I think it is good value for money as it offers inspiring ideas for how to find and put together furniture and accessories to create a similar look in your home. Some of the delightful homes that really caught me eye are:

The beautiful Moroccan wedding blanket on the floor and the framed snake skin shed in fashion shop owner Lars Wiberg's home.

The vintage horse on wheels, and beautiful Danish poem on the wall in stylist Nina Hartmann's House.

The whiteness of the dining room in antique dealer Anja Alfieri's home.

The heavenly deep day beds in fashion shop owner, Lars Wiberg's garden.

To summarize, Simply Scandinavian is a wonderful book full of gorgeous inspirational ideas for your home with practical ways of implementing them!

Please note that my opinions are my own and I am not paid for these reviews (apart from receiving a free book, of course!).

Have a sweet day!

Heart Home

1. Building block words - "Love"
2. Small glass heart trinket pot
3. Amore heart cake stand, silver plated
4. Cream vintage wire heart photo holder
5. Love pillow cases, blue
6. Mikasa Valentine covered heart box

This week in my series of posts, "Friday Finds", I bring you a selection of decorative Valentine's gifts for your home.

Have a sweet day!

It's about Romi

This week for my 'shops i love' page, I bring you another brand I discovered at Top Drawer. It's about Romi is a Dutch interior accessory company founded in 1993. Started on a roof attic in Amsterdam it has developed into an enthusiastic and professional business. All products are designed and developed in-house with two collections a year comprising over 100 original pieces.

On my wish list is the white bunny candle for Easter and beyond.

Have a sweet day!

Catherine Tough

This week for my 'shops i love' page, I bring you Catherine Tough. Catherine Tough is a gift and interior accessories company started by Catherine over ten years ago, specialising in the design and manufacture of high quality knitted and handcrafted products for the home.

With a strong colour palette and modern edge, Catherine's hand made pieces are coveted by magazines and stylists worldwide. She has written or contributed to more than five books, including Easy Knits for Little Kids.

On my wish list is her aqua and white dot bed socks.

Have a sweet day!

Rice DK @ Top Drawer

I have featured Rice DK many times here on Torie Jayne so I was delighted to visit their stand at Top Drawer. They were showing their new The Peace, Kiss and Glamourama Spring/Summer Collection. It was full of bright poppy colours, fun florals, toadstools, gnomes and peacocks. I also saw intricate, brightly coloured bird candle holders, kitchen towel holders and hooks. I loved the quirky crochet flowered cushions and funky jewel coloured melamine accessories for the kitchen.

Have a sweet day!

Inspirational Pins - Pretty Tea & Cakes

• Baby Shower - Petit Fours
• Elodie and Rambaud
• Cake and Pie table
• Recipe Monday

Today in my series of posts "Inspirational Pins", I bring you a sweet faded colour palette of pretty tea and cakes inspired by my Tea Party inspirational board.

Have a sweet day!

Miss Etoile @ Top Drawer

This week for my 'shops i love' page, I bring you Miss Etoile, a Danish brand started in November 2008 by ex-Lisbeth Dahl designer, Anne Lassen, with backing from Bahne Sørensen A/S.

"Miss Étoile is a fictive person, created by Anne Lassen, who lives in a glamorous universe, surrounded by beauty and femininity in her boudoir home in Paris. She is the centre of every collection. Everything is designed to fit into her universe. Miss Étoile has everything a woman can dream of from home accessories to furniture and textiles. Her name, Étoile, means star in French and she loves all that shines and sparkles."

I discovered the brand last week at Top Drawer and am in love with the ceramic lid jars, bird paperweights and the pretty embellished China. I am also delighted to tell you that charming lifestyle boutique Bohemia, one of my sweet sponsors, will be stocking this adorable brand soon...

Have a sweet day!

Marc by Marc Jacobs bird love & $100 Shopbop giveaway

Clockwise from top left:
Save the Birds Snow Bunting Donna Necklace from Marc by Marc Jacobs
Save The Birds Grosbeak Fauna Studs from Marc by Marc Jacobs
Love Dove Bobby pins from Marc by Marc Jacobs in the Shopbop on sale
Save the Birds Confetti Inlay Bangle from Marc by Marc Jacobs
Love Dove Safety Necklace from Marc by Marc Jacobs

I'm so pleased to announce a giveaway of $100 worth of store credit for Shopbop, which you can spend on anything, and it's open to readers worldwide!

Shopbop is a premier online shopping boutique for the fashion-savvy female. Carrying everything a woman needs for her wardrobe from dresses to denim; swimwear to shoes -- Shopbop has over 200 different designer labels such as Marc Jacobs, Superfine, Catherine Malandrino and Antik Batik. Shopbop has become recognized by consumers and the media as an excellent one-stop fashion resource. Unique site features, such as styling tips, Look Books and Season Trend Previews are highlights on this easy to navigate site.

I am loving their totally on-trend powdery pink finds from an array of designers.


Clockwise from top left:
Marc by Marc Jacobs Utilisexy Max Messenger Bag in the Shopbop on sale
Rose gold ring watch from La Mer Collections, in the Designer women's watches section
See by Chloe scalloped suede flats
Original Shashi bracelet

To enter, please visit Shopbop and then leave a comment below this post letting me know what you would spend your store credit on. The giveaway ends on Wednesday, February 2nd 2011 at 10pm (GMT) and I will randomly select and announce a winner on Thursday, February 3rd.

To increase your chances of winning this fabulous prize, you can gain one additional entry for doing each of the following:

• tweeting about this giveaway
• blogging about it
• following/subscribing to the Torie Jayne blog/twitter

For the first two, please leave a comment below with the link to your tweet or blog post.

This giveaway is open to readers worldwide.

Good luck and have a sweet day!

Decorative bird cages

1. Set/2 White Metal Hexagon Parakeet Birds Cages
2. Boutique Bird Cage Jewellery Organiser
3. Metal Bird Cage Ornament
4. Metal Ornamental Bird Cage Plant Holder
5. Romantic Shabby chic bird cage
6. A Pair of Antique White Square Birdcages

This week in my series of posts, "Fridays Finds", I bring you a selection of decorative bird cages to decorate your home.

Have a sweet day!

Top Drawer part two

Yesterday I shared with you my wonderful trip to Top Drawer and one of the two Spring/Summer trends at the show in the forum put together in partnership with leading trend forecasters, Trend Bible. Today I am sharing with you the second big trend for this Spring/Summer.

Spectacle S/S 2011
A theatrical story inspired by aged curiosity shops and old apothecaries. An antiqued glamorous and sinister atmospheric story with decadent folklore and fairy tales at its heart. Dark, shadowy colours with heavily embellished sequin surfaces and high-shine metallics. Motifs of magpies, crows and insects. Glass cloche's, antique frames and glossy black furniture. A new mood for appreciating the bizarre, unique and wondrous!

I would love to get some of the insect embroidered napkins made from vintage damask tablecloths for my Halloween. I am also coveting the textile taxidermy magpies from Donya Coward.

Have a sweet day!

Top Drawer

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to Rice DK's Kiss and Glam up presentation day on the 18th January at Top Drawer, a UK based interior trade show. Unfortunately, due to my day job I wasn't able to make it, but as the show opened on Sunday I went then.

I had visited the Top Drawer website the night before and had a look at the brands I most wanted to visit, including old favourites Lisbeth Dahl, Rice DK and Belle & Boo.

Top of my list was the pretty vintage-looking brand Miss Etoile, who didn't disappoint! More on that later...

Upon entering Top Drawer there was a trend forum highlighting two big trends for this Spring/Summer and two future trends for Autumn/Winter 2011 put together in partnership with leading trend forecasters, Trend Bible.






Vintage Vacation S/S 2011
Vintage Vacation featured a pretty ice cream van adorned with delightful bunting - a nostalgic story based on the familiar comfort of happy childhood holidays in Britain. Think pretty deckchair stripes, fifties florals, rik-rak and hand crafted knits and embroideries. It encompasses the growing trend of home baking and includes whimsical cake stands reminding you of the tea rooms found in most seaside resorts up and down the country. All in a colour palette of faded brights and pretty ice cream colours.

I had a fabulous time with Holly and was totally inspired by all the lovely treasures I saw and the sweet people I met. I will, of course, be sharing more about the other trends at the show as well as other show highlights over the next couple of weeks so stay tuned...

A big thanks to Shermine at Rice DK for the invite, beautifully bright eye candy and goody bag!

The gorgeous candy wallpaper is by Kate Usher and is called "Oh Sweetie" it is available from My Deco.

Have a sweet day!

Linda Bloomfield

As many of you know, I love cake stands! From the gorgeous coloured bird and flower ones from Whitney Smith to the adorable "Decor Bon Bon" range from Rosanna. So, today I want to introduce you to British potter, Linda Bloomfield, who makes hand thrown, porcelain, subtly coloured cake pottery in simple shapes with tactile satin matt glazes.

Linda first took up pottery in 1973 in a potter's studio in Bristol, England and since then she has been a visiting scholar to MIT in Boston in the US, opened her first pottery studio in California, and exhibited and demonstrated at Art in Action. Linda currently resides in West London and her tableware is stocked in Liberty, amongst other retailers, as well as being shown in international galleries. Her book, entitled "Advanced Pottery" comes out later this month.

I, of course, love her ice cream coloured three cake stands piled high and filled with pretty cup cakes!

Cake stands by Linda Bloomfield from Notonthehighstreet.

Have a sweet day!

Inspirational Pins - Vintage Camping

• Snail Trail
• Happy Loves Rosie
• Snail Trail
• Happy Loves Rosie

Today in my series of posts "Inspirational Pins", I bring you a pretty 50's colour palette inspired by my Vintage Camping inspirational board.

Yesterday I attended the Top Drawer 2011 interior trade show at Earl's Court in London. One of their top trends for Spring/Summer is Vintage Vacation, so today's inspirational pins is perfect!



More to come on the fabulous interiors I saw at Top Drawer later this week.

Have a sweet day!