artatheart

Dachshund Notepad

How cool is this? Stretch your thoughts with this cute 44.5cm x .6.3cm Dachshund 150 page notepad! Available online from Anthropologie priced £10.

Image © Anthropologie all rights reserved

Memi the Rainbow Stamps

Turn a magazine ad into your very own work of art with French designer Memi the Rainbow's hand carved stamp set. Hours of fun for adults and children alike!

Images © MemiTheRainbow all rights reserved

Out to Play

I've got my eye on this fun kids 'Out to Play' t-shirt by The Green Apple available to purchase online priced £14.00

Image © The Green Apple  all rights reserved

Ice Cream Cups

Oh why oh why is all the cool party packaging in America? The supercute Nephew is two this week and I would have loved to take along these ice cream van cups for his party! Available from Shop Sweet Lulu's Big Cartel shop - you get a van that contains 12 matching cups and wooden spoons for $13...cute! 

Images © Shop Sweet Lulu all rights reserved

Identical Twins by Judy Kaufmann

Judy Kaufmann's 'Identical Twins' print is dedicated to her twin sister. Now I'm not a twin but I sure would love this print! You can see more of Judy's lovely work on her web site here.

Image © Judy Kaufmann all rights reserved

POP Bakery

UK based POP bakery is the brainchild of mother and daughter team Clare & Judith. Based in North west London, POP create unique hand made cupcakes on sticks featuring Russian dolls, animals, people and novelty POPS. Perfect for parties and priced at £2 a POP you can order from this vast collection of tasty treats online. Or if you'd like to try bake your own, Claire O'Connell's new book POP Bakery is just about to hit the high street.

Images © POP bakery all rights reserved

The Holidays Are Over!

So the holidays are finally over...11 glorious days of meandering now in the past. Reflecting on this decadent period of relaxation the highlight for me has to be time spent with the super cute nephew. So cute I could eat him!

Talking of eating that’s something I have spent plenty of time doing - indulging. Apart from the usual festive fayre I particularly enjoyed trying a couple of ‘new to me’ foods - I would highly recommend Unearthed Foods Pork Rillettes, tender slow cooked shredded pork produced in Le Mans France, tasted rather exceptional served on Betty’s crusty bread like a pate. 

A sucker for hand made and hand wrapped wax packaging I couldnt resist sampling Spanish biscuits Tortas De Aceite, an orange flavoured flat bread great with freshly brewed black coffee. 

I’ve enjoyed re-stocking at Betty’s and trips out for good old Fish ‘n Chips. Evidence of the excess - our wine rack is empty, and when will I learn that you shouldn’t judge a wine by its label. This beauty set me back an arm and a leg and was somewhat ‘forgettable’. Described by Oddbins as ‘Frankly Brilliant’ it was the last bottle and I can’t help but wonder if someone swapped the description ticket from another wine! 

Snow has been the predominant focus here in the UK and on the mornings that I awoke early I was rewarded with spectacular sunrises and frosty full moons. Brrr!

I have enjoyed watching this amaryllis slowly blossom and am patiently waiting for the Hyacinths to follow suit..

My days have been peppered with afternoon naps followed by back-to-back movies in front of cosy log fires. I’ve watched re-runs of boxed sets of my favourite shows like The Good Wife, Nurse Jackie and The Middle. 

Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy has to be our most played and Quincy Jones Soul Bossa Nostra featuring artists John legend, Mary J, Snoop, LL Cool J, Robin Thicke to name but a few is superb. On Boxing Day I was saddened to hear of Teena Marie passing away, a true legend ‘Lady T’ proved that soul has no colour and was a very rare talent in todays half clothed, half talent music industry. R.I.P Teena you will be missed.

Finally,  I never completed any of the holiday projects that I set myself (no surprise there). No, instead I started planning some new ones and bought a whole load of colour tester pots in anticipation - interestingly the colour Blackened no. 2011 nicely leads me to wrap up this post by wishing you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. Max x

Miniature Macarons by PetitPlat

I don't own a dolls house but I sure would like to get my hands on a box of these tasty miniature dolls house macarons made by the super talented architect Stephanie Kilgast of PetitPlat. mmm!

Images © PetitPlat all rights reserved

Snug Attack by TwelveZeroSeven

Double trouble dressing twins? Not anymore! Designers, and parents of twins; TwelveZeroSeven have created a superb capsule of design led baby clothes featuring playful art and typography. Made from 100% organic cotton this super cute collection is available from the Snug Attack online shop.

Images © Snug Attack all rights reserved

Kayiwa's Alphabet Bookshelf

Available in 7 colourways, Kayiwa's  stunning Aakkoset alphabet bookshelf also doubles up as a stylish room divider. Made from MDF, the Aakkoset is available to purchase online from the Kayiwa online shop for €15,092. LOVE!

Images © Kayiwa all rights reserved