The Home-Journal

With The Block: Fans v Faves in full speed, I've started writing my tips about main trends inspired by each weeks rooms. Over at The Home Journal this week I've written about window dressings and in particular curtains...

Beach Towel Giveaway

The Home Journal has a gorgeous giveaway this week... and since I'm a contributor and not allowed to enter the competition myself, I thought I should share so one of you could possibly win it!

Up for grabs is a Beach Candy cotton turkish towel in mandarin. It's so lovely!

The competition is open until midnight on Friday (24.1.14), so hop across here to enter.

Goo Collection

Sisters Sally Davies, Lisa Nicol and their mum are the owners and makers of the gorgeous bedlinen, and baby wears company Goo Collection. The range of products features designs that are great for design-conscious mums. No longer fairytale characters and superheroes, this bedlinen features simple and stylish designs in soft colour palettes. Aren't they great!!

Haptic Lab

Brooklyn based multidisciplinary design studio Haptic Lab was founded in 2009 by architect Emily Fischer. It began as a project after Emily's mum was diagnosed with glaucoma to be wayfinding tools for the visually impaired. Emily started by making quilted maps and now has extended to kites and furniture that combine traditional craft techniques with new technologies. If there is a map of somewhere you particularly would like, Haptic Lab offers custom made orders also. 

Janelle Pietrzak

Los Angeles based textiles designer Janelle Pietrzak of creative workshop All Roads, creates the most beautiful woven wall hangings and macrame works. Oh how I would love one of these...

Lyn Devon

New York Fashion Week is still ongoing, and the amount of incredible designs on show are gorgeous! These designs are by New York designer Lyn Devon who was recently married. Her Spring 2014 collection is inspired by her pre-wedding honeymoon in the Sahara Desert and Marrakech. I love the lines, colours and classic look it invokes...

Kvadrat installation by Raw Edges

London based designers Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay of Raw Edges Studio created this installation known as 'The Picnic' for the Danish textiles manufacturer Kvadrat. The Picnic served as Kvadrat's stall for the 2013 Stockholm Furniture Fair and aimed to create a space with a surreal yet relaxing and warm welcoming. The installation is made up of a massive Douglas Fir wooden construction and 1,500 straps of 20 different Kvadrat textiles.

Nina Ricci Resort 2014

Nina Ricci's Resort 2014 just makes me long for Spring to come. It's so close and we are getting a bit of that summery blue skies and sun but the cold air is such a put-off. Anyway, this collection says it all...

(ps - that third image of the beautiful yellow dress just makes me scream 'posture!!' Classic models...)

Photos found here

Fictional Objects

Fictional Objects is a textiles design business creating useful, beautiful and thoughtfully constructed bed linen. Launched at the end of 2012, the business designs bedding to fit all sizes; cot to king. Design and production of products is inspired by contemporary art, sustainable design, traditional craft practice and a connection to the space we inhabit.

The Home-Journal

Today on The Home-Journal I discuss different window treatments; their importance, their style and how to pick what is right for your windows at home... Jump over here to read what i've got to say.

Mr & Mrs White

I've been sick this week, hence the lack of posts... Between hiding under a blanket on the couch and sleeping in my bed, sitting in front of the computer screen seemed the last thing on my mind. However, once I received the responses to my interview with Nathan and Sasha White of Mr & Mrs White, a Sydney based furniture and homewares store, I couldn't resist sharing it with you.

I particularly feel excited for this hardworking couple as they seem to be so similar to Jorge and I. Marrying young and studying in a similar way (apprenticeship and correspondence) it almost makes me dream to be in a position like this in a few years time...

If you want to check out there store in person the address is 3/81 Darley Street, Mona Vale, NSW.

Q. What are your design backgrounds?

A. I studied graphic design and Nathan did his apprenticeship as a shipwright. Nathan loved the timber side of boat building and disliked the fibre glass side. He moved into cabinetry and as he started making things for our house he fell in love with the design and skill of creating furniture. After studying I started to crave a creative outlet that didn't involve a computer screen - and so I started playing around with my second-hand sewing machine. I instantly loved the feeling of creating with my two hands and seeing a bunch of fabric become something functional... something beautiful.

Q. Your site story says you got married super young... How young were you and how was it being married and studying?

A. I was 21 and Nathan was 23 when we got married. In this day and age I guess its pretty young but we had met when I was 14 and had been dating since I was 17 and so it felt natural to make that next step when you know your meant to be together. The first year was definitely challenging but looking back I wouldn't of had it any other way. I was studying via correspondence so that I could work 3-4 days a week and get an income and Nathan was doing his shipwright apprenticeship. I was never the 'embrace the uni life' kind of girl - so I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything. 

Q. How did Mr & Mrs White start?

A. When we were both doing our respective hobbies - sewing and making furniture - we realised one day that we could do this together. So we started out slow - making bits and pieces...things for us and family and friends (they are good to practice on ha). I started building our branding, website and online store and all of a sudden we were 'Mr & Mrs White'. It has been a gradual process. A process of working out our style, designs and the type of business we wanted to be. It's been a fun and challenging journey.

Q. How is it working everyday with each other, as husband and wife?

A. We love it! It definitely has hard moments but mostly it is really enjoyable. Because we both have our own areas of expertise it works quite well. We are not in each others hair too much. I stay upstairs in my studio and Nathan stays downstairs in his workshop. 

Q. How do you manage keeping up with the business with a daughter?

A. It is definitely challenging but very rewarding being able to do both. I have Selah most of the week and then on Fridays and Saturdays a good friend of mine looks after her. This enables me to get work done in the studio and be there when the showroom is open. This means that during the week most of my work gets done in the night or during her short nap in the day. Sometimes I'm productive and other times I'm not at all. But it all seems to work out. It's a busy season of life that won't last forever so you just gotta roll with it I guess. Also, Nathan is such a great dad - the positive of running your business is that you set your own hours - and so if I have a lot of work on - Nathan takes Selah - and we just manage our schedule week by week depending on whats on.

Q. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

A. Thats a great question and very hard to answer. We have big dreams for the future but we are taking it day by day. You never know what doors or opportunities will open up to you. We definitely will still be making and creating and expanding the business. Along, with our business hopefully our family has grown and many more new friendships are made!