What to wear: My favourite wellies!

<pre style="text-align: center;" wrap=""><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Welcome to another Modern Country Style fashion post</span></pre><pre style="text-align: center;" wrap=""><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">....with a very practical twist!</span></pre><pre style="text-align: center;" wrap=""></pre><pre style="text-align: center;" wrap=""><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbXCB-Gdcvy_SRZzg_CYvJB2Mr7YnXQqhXwAYFhHErz80a3ruwo0cZt0FQWjE02ITpgddzAzDqiqpg-eWRDdkW-1rIlxyYEmrcOtA-hGR8Ea5NV7GD2JF35_GKTSDEmYIG8mxJzk9voFI/s1600/EB+BOOTS+010a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbXCB-Gdcvy_SRZzg_CYvJB2Mr7YnXQqhXwAYFhHErz80a3ruwo0cZt0FQWjE02ITpgddzAzDqiqpg-eWRDdkW-1rIlxyYEmrcOtA-hGR8Ea5NV7GD2JF35_GKTSDEmYIG8mxJzk9voFI/s640/EB+BOOTS+010a.JPG" width="430" /></span></a></pre><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">These <a href="http://www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/search?q=wellies+hearts&searchsubmit.x=-1220&searchsubmit.y=-59" target="_blank">Pink Heart wellies by Emma Bridgewater</a> are exactly what I've been after for our trips out, where we often need to cross fields. Never an easy task in stilletos!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiol5UNyN9xmr2WuX8yKhyphenhyphenRLMDQnCh22XpFm7mwzSbWnyx2HAVCEVyRdwMrwg-CbinsMYQIk_uuuZ4DswRQdHUgdGkVZgxlVcIOXFA7YKFg0G5LzZ5cHiuw9QZVfhsUdSF5UH7zuETZIur4/s640/EB+BOOTS+135a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="430" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top: Next; Hat: Monsoon; Short: H and M; Belt: Debenhams; Boots: Emma Bridgewater; Sunglasses: Beach Shop</td></tr></tbody></table><pre style="text-align: center;" wrap=""><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: normal;">I've been on the look out for pretty wellington boots </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: normal;">(still necessary even in this hotter weather to protect ankles and shins from brambles</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: normal;">) that can be worn with flirty summer skirts or, somewhat more practical to sit on the grass and make daisy chains, these denim shorts. </span></pre><pre style="text-align: center;" wrap=""><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIzT4L2aNiXynibSsN90NmPIbzwzyoLNc-YaC-ruadf1bUK-pdnPygaYqUfg-XJox7YFPAi3MK3P-pnoi6UvfqeCuihp0fIm-J5Ij3GrzpekNH1hDgFOV8mpc5j5w6rL3U9Vcpgeejs-Z/s1600/EB+BOOTS+109a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIzT4L2aNiXynibSsN90NmPIbzwzyoLNc-YaC-ruadf1bUK-pdnPygaYqUfg-XJox7YFPAi3MK3P-pnoi6UvfqeCuihp0fIm-J5Ij3GrzpekNH1hDgFOV8mpc5j5w6rL3U9Vcpgeejs-Z/s640/EB+BOOTS+109a.JPG" width="430" /></a></span></pre><pre style="text-align: center;" wrap=""></pre><pre style="text-align: center;" wrap=""></pre><pre style="text-align: center;" wrap=""><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's one of the things I adore about the summer holidays, spending masses of time outdoors, particularly with this unfathomably warm weather we've been having.</span></pre><pre style="text-align: center;" wrap=""><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-x6lIRdgPexVwZiXFu_XBotRxtB8aEw-KRdWSlGX-gw0R0X2SxKn554TunJK6Plui-OI_stu_4ZeC-f7gc5pXaSoOq1WnqiZC-wh8Hbiw6uQvEScOryJm1g_tzG-ctuA4QsIGPbn-52ah/s1600/EB+BOOTS+036a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-x6lIRdgPexVwZiXFu_XBotRxtB8aEw-KRdWSlGX-gw0R0X2SxKn554TunJK6Plui-OI_stu_4ZeC-f7gc5pXaSoOq1WnqiZC-wh8Hbiw6uQvEScOryJm1g_tzG-ctuA4QsIGPbn-52ah/s640/EB+BOOTS+036a.JPG" width="430" /></span></a></pre><pre style="text-align: center;" wrap=""></pre><pre style="text-align: center;" wrap=""><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">My <a href="http://www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/search?q=wellies&searchsubmit.x=-1220&searchsubmit.y=-59" target="_blank">Emma Bridgewater Pink Hearts welly boots</a> will be accompanying me on a regular basis. </span></pre><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtv2OsaB1469WtwAZ6veuwPMUc4jKFu8ZAlu2iFLUWIsYJx5OEyQ1pZAHwq8e076cepJ-4oCCJwd5dAIpiHu-7yPBRUdnDISFCKfRt9ePzthZcDM_t3mpz3QZau_0m9oaN6lb7vJA5YIwE/s1600/EB+BOOTS+020a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtv2OsaB1469WtwAZ6veuwPMUc4jKFu8ZAlu2iFLUWIsYJx5OEyQ1pZAHwq8e076cepJ-4oCCJwd5dAIpiHu-7yPBRUdnDISFCKfRt9ePzthZcDM_t3mpz3QZau_0m9oaN6lb7vJA5YIwE/s640/EB+BOOTS+020a.JPG" width="340" /></a></div><pre style="text-align: center;" wrap=""><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm absolutely crazy about them....</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Perfectly Modern Country!</span></pre><pre style="text-align: center;" wrap=""></pre><pre style="text-align: center;" wrap=""></pre><pre style="text-align: center;" wrap=""><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4JFrX3krRbi6guh2rlxEzQMAVqwURmP_QsTjEaHLhJCkup8I7zlujJ7eAkJUBxW821rGoYYoe3o4H1ksGNxTQdsjbCWTDtgZtAKk1zrV1VK_TBmNVAVMEbkD-Hhf7lDiq5CT-pPrhBk/s1600/911BDF1E66C2C8003D62774447FCC1C0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img /></span></a></pre><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xfi351MsyndAYUmxHRkGj61sLDTTHthxjmqP_EqC0iadkaUpjrQDkUditdqsJUO44UYzJMr2L30-6QhSw3rOMyvnZOXIIuWdzCpbKvYZuRqn1fyarc_9lLE6E5bIUsmzFpoY5i9Ie40/s1600/2052BBEDE343AF4A73F6A61C3820B007.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div></div>

What to wear: My favourite wellies!

Welcome to another Modern Country Style fashion post ....with a very practical twist! These Pink Heart wellies by Emma Bridgewater are exac...

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Wow! Upholstered Pieces Using Andrew Martin's Concourse Fabric

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Andrew Martin's Concourse fabric is currently making me drool. A gorgeous fusion of industrial bus-blind chic melded with Belgian Style's muted colours, it's one of my favourites! It's not always easy to imagine the upholstered end product when faced with rolls of fabric in a shop, or, even worse, online sooooooo I had the very great pleasure rounding up some of the very best projects featuring this lush fabric.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Andrew Martin Vintage Settee: Sold" src="http://www.vintagekids.co.nz/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5df4ab7ce16361132807e672456ee1e7/m/y/my410_1.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vintage Kids</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.alexanderinteriorsltd.co.uk/user/products/large/contemporary_image8_lg.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Alexander Interiors</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="http://florrieandbill.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/g-plan-swivel-wing-chair-model-6250-12.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Florrie and Bill</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="http://florrieandbill.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/404172_337387066289285_235968466431146_1293827_82966106_n.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Elle Deco</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.vintagekids.co.nz/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5df4ab7ce16361132807e672456ee1e7/m/y/my402.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vintage Kids</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.uniquefabrics.com/blog/2011/coco-licious/Essex_concourse.jpg/image_full-width-blog" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Unique Fabrics</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.antique2chic.co.uk/cms-assets/zoom-cropped-images/129422_13_e9cb134abd9a.jpg?rand=0.41712685264134164" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Antique2Chic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Aren't they awesome? Are you joining with with drooling over this gorgeous Concourse fabric by Andrew Martin? If you're feeling a fresh wave of upholstery-related inspiration, then come back on Friday, when I'll be reviewing the book of your dreams!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4JFrX3krRbi6guh2rlxEzQMAVqwURmP_QsTjEaHLhJCkup8I7zlujJ7eAkJUBxW821rGoYYoe3o4H1ksGNxTQdsjbCWTDtgZtAKk1zrV1VK_TBmNVAVMEbkD-Hhf7lDiq5CT-pPrhBk/s1600/911BDF1E66C2C8003D62774447FCC1C0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xfi351MsyndAYUmxHRkGj61sLDTTHthxjmqP_EqC0iadkaUpjrQDkUditdqsJUO44UYzJMr2L30-6QhSw3rOMyvnZOXIIuWdzCpbKvYZuRqn1fyarc_9lLE6E5bIUsmzFpoY5i9Ie40/s1600/2052BBEDE343AF4A73F6A61C3820B007.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>

Wow! Upholstered Pieces Using Andrew Martin's Concourse Fabric

Andrew Martin's Concourse fabric is currently making me drool. A gorgeous fusion of industrial bus-blind chic melded with Belgian Style...

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China Jack Mosaics: Interview

<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgvmOJ3VCc-4GmpD5EKka6eZphVZMkFp0hGjyLu-4Uyu0JHC7o73q4hvVgSOJSVPG5meyoDTlhtH5vZl4Bg-APUKWxCRSwAuIvhyphenhyphenxqz9s6A4gum7DRiy64rqaqPascI1g5ht5Ng9TMUme/s1600/JUMPINGJACK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Guess what? I've managed to wangle an interview with the very lovely Emily Lawlor who makes the gorgeous <a href="http://www.chinajackmosaics.com/">China Jack Mosaics</a> I showed you <a href="http://moderncountrystyle.blogspot.com/2010/11/modern-country-crafts-china-jack.html">here</a>. I couldn't be more excited to have the chance to quiz a real, live artist at Modern Country Style.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, here goes...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Emily, your pieces obviously have a common theme, highlighted by your company name, China Jack Mosaics. Where did the inspiration come from for the concept as a whole?</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I did a design degree at Chelsea Art College which involved training in mosaic and ceramic. A fascination with the written word and a love of surface patterns form the basis of my concept for China Jack.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">From my childhood, I remember beautiful Irish hand painted china from my great grandmother – it always came out for special occasions – and is tied up with many family memories of eating and drinking together. Much of the china got accidentally smashed one Christmas – and I kept all the fragments – thinking that one day I would make a special mosaic. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Last year, I decided to make something from the broken china – I started thinking about what it represented - memories of cups of tea consumed around the kitchen table with family and friends. Laughter and language (my parents ran a language school). I came across a wonderful quote by Bernard Paul Heroux ‘There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot by much diminished by a nice cup of tea’. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I wanted to combine my love of tea, words and language with colour and pattern. As I laid out the shards of china, I thought it would be interesting to combine wood and ceramic together in a mosaic. I have been collecting wooden printing blocks for many years – they are beautiful objects in themselves. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The union jack is an iconic design – I wanted to interpret it in different ways through use of colours and patterns – and explore the symbolism of ‘having a cuppa’. I then fused all these ideas together into China Jack mosaics.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWECyiqRuyuK0MrxT1VeoMO4Dl-EAAVuwr6QR4pOp6931cE_sdtcTFCJPwmVZYw-Eu7NEQ3WSHUXwv6-4Ayvs8oFTYlOgWvTxhHbR4pEbTwvfsTexuPZ7wYSSvLKlFfSy1mWd_5qf5Nu9s/s1600/meissen_shards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWECyiqRuyuK0MrxT1VeoMO4Dl-EAAVuwr6QR4pOp6931cE_sdtcTFCJPwmVZYw-Eu7NEQ3WSHUXwv6-4Ayvs8oFTYlOgWvTxhHbR4pEbTwvfsTexuPZ7wYSSvLKlFfSy1mWd_5qf5Nu9s/s400/meissen_shards.jpg" width="348" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>What inspires you when you design an individual piece? </strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">China Jack mosaics evolve in different ways – I am always looking for new ways to combine pattern and word . Inspiration can come either from a beautiful piece of china that I have sourced - large plates are best - and this will then become the main colour theme for a piece and will often inspire a word or phrase. Or – the mosaic might start with a word – at the moment I am working on ‘BLIMEY’ – which is a word I love. The word BLIMEY is picked out in metal lettering – and the piece is monochrome – I was looking for an opportunity to use some beautiful brown and white ironstone plates which I had. I love Cockney Rhyming Slang and use some of this language as starting points for new designs.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMx0On28KrusqRXMJrTA3J5qIYyVHlSQwslGus6bvoXmxnB7f5XUQ8YD9Sqnbt1nGj8vdSAfM8315WPYEuCPRZrDTxtkicIUq07Si1WOwUCGpwd2sR_qZnzTsUScXbHRxxBjrpAMNGJ06/s1600/blimey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMx0On28KrusqRXMJrTA3J5qIYyVHlSQwslGus6bvoXmxnB7f5XUQ8YD9Sqnbt1nGj8vdSAfM8315WPYEuCPRZrDTxtkicIUq07Si1WOwUCGpwd2sR_qZnzTsUScXbHRxxBjrpAMNGJ06/s400/blimey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>What or who have been your major influences?</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have long been inspired by the Spanish architect Antonio Gaudi and his fantastical mosaics in Barcelona. He uses mosaics in an exciting way – riots of colour and texture following organic shapes. I also remember being influenced by the artist Jasper Johns when I was at art college – his textured and collaged paintings explored the iconic theme of flags again and again. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj62ORgBPNBdJ_pp4Ki8S0XMj8My8hnMYKca37zOtasQog-CL0mKWWYbe42VcEmN7ifKrbanyPyBmo9Xz9tUk8Z4RhpOAIYc0KCwZxl6Cc2mBldyzsbMcEraLolBW5kpJBAZxSd6U11fOJ/s1600/IMG_3809_EditC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj62ORgBPNBdJ_pp4Ki8S0XMj8My8hnMYKca37zOtasQog-CL0mKWWYbe42VcEmN7ifKrbanyPyBmo9Xz9tUk8Z4RhpOAIYc0KCwZxl6Cc2mBldyzsbMcEraLolBW5kpJBAZxSd6U11fOJ/s400/IMG_3809_EditC.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong></strong><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>What brought you to the place where you wanted to launch your own business?</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nearly two years ago I had a log cabin studio built in the garden – which meant I had a dedicated working space after 5 years of not having a studio – finally all my materials and books together in one place – a big workspace where I could make larger scale pieces and leave them in progress – not have to tidy them away. This led to a huge amount of creativity – I was making large hand-felted flowers for a National Trust touring exhibition – and began to turn my mind to developing artworks for selling. This coincided with my developing and teaching a course in Cheltenham called ‘Artisans’ – a low level business start up course for arts and crafts practitioners – and as I was teaching students to write business plans and marketing plans – I starting to develop my own business ideas at the same time. I had made a TEA mosaic for our new kitchen and had a lot of positive feedback from visitors – so I started to think that maybe I could develop this idea to sell.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4oS0cvzlO0c2SyZ6hyw4qHPsTcI9vDrBipI50bOC7reFAu7DJERWjMuXxY6sUbPvyWIUgyFcbu876wJi6XU_ATEQ3txDW46lLfrD4EuKW-iCBPjY5XY2BVLDzXoNqTIckeW2xMSEd4im/s1600/Em_studio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4oS0cvzlO0c2SyZ6hyw4qHPsTcI9vDrBipI50bOC7reFAu7DJERWjMuXxY6sUbPvyWIUgyFcbu876wJi6XU_ATEQ3txDW46lLfrD4EuKW-iCBPjY5XY2BVLDzXoNqTIckeW2xMSEd4im/s400/Em_studio.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Do you prefer designing your own pieces or working to commissions? </strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I enjoy both. I was trained to work to commission – over the past fifteen years since I graduated from Chelsea I have worked on site specific commissions – where I worked to a specific brief related to a place – and I enjoy the rigours of this. But I am now also enjoying exploring my own ideas and developing these in a sketchbook. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFu0ST9MiemwDy4XCKX2bL1dSIolNt74R_advitSItZpTAtqfatt897Kj5_P6IV0ahTThNAU9mCc1BYhuTY5WZazdhJAHwL6UvAWDA8xkC4hAoIiq5tKNaCE5FdcWd1kHC8kr2yr0C1nOL/s1600/IMG_3848C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFu0ST9MiemwDy4XCKX2bL1dSIolNt74R_advitSItZpTAtqfatt897Kj5_P6IV0ahTThNAU9mCc1BYhuTY5WZazdhJAHwL6UvAWDA8xkC4hAoIiq5tKNaCE5FdcWd1kHC8kr2yr0C1nOL/s400/IMG_3848C.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Where do you source all your beautiful materials?</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I scour car boot sales, flea markets and local antique auction rooms for china. I won a lot of boxes of random china recently at our local auction room and, before I took the hammer to it, my husband checked the contents through and found a pristine Minton tea pot – which was worth much more than all the lots put together – saved from the hammer! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The wooden letter blocks I have been collecting for years from antique shops and markets – they are increasingly hard to source as they have become fashionable – they are valuable objects in themselves. I am currently exploring hand-carved wooden letter blocks made by carpenters in Rajasthan. I also source metal letters from a company in Birmingham – these mosaics have a more modern and crisp feel and the letters give much more flexibility in which words I can use as they are all the right way around!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjST4-bev1LHhuJkO5vVwUHktSsxt39bnupbblanfzQ2ZBRAefxsKvJHH8zHOVAQMhFA8WwnVQknYKkoeH58FljP1Q_fP20d-VIBV-9eFNn3sbSw78iFSDLETPP6Pz7H2jtCX3gTROWMec8/s1600/beans_cisc_315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjST4-bev1LHhuJkO5vVwUHktSsxt39bnupbblanfzQ2ZBRAefxsKvJHH8zHOVAQMhFA8WwnVQknYKkoeH58FljP1Q_fP20d-VIBV-9eFNn3sbSw78iFSDLETPP6Pz7H2jtCX3gTROWMec8/s320/beans_cisc_315.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>What are your plans for the future of China Jack Mosaics?</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am currently looking at exhibition spaces and galleries and making a body of work for an exhibition in 2011.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Thank you so much, Emily, for taking the time to chat with me. I'm SO in love with your work. It's been such a privilege to see 'behind-the-scenes' of what you do day-to-day.</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47T0ynDGNpQBFweub7TZBj1-b34Bqym5X7VTrBTFruZ4wupr-AGI7itNe8jpzEvxHwFXAoy7FQLn5GYax_afr1Kos573FhL2lJ9lup2cjCaa0JDyjSq1eawIweFbXXtz1Fkl8eCH20Apw/s1600/IMG_3799C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47T0ynDGNpQBFweub7TZBj1-b34Bqym5X7VTrBTFruZ4wupr-AGI7itNe8jpzEvxHwFXAoy7FQLn5GYax_afr1Kos573FhL2lJ9lup2cjCaa0JDyjSq1eawIweFbXXtz1Fkl8eCH20Apw/s320/IMG_3799C.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now, onto other news....I had such a fantastic time at my wreath-making course. Thank you so much for all your gorgeous comments. I think I shall declare next week 'Wreath Week' at Modern Country Style so I can show you all that I've learned. Does that sound a good idea? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/352/911BDF1E66C2C8003D62774447FCC1C0.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/352/2052BBEDE343AF4A73F6A61C3820B007.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div></div><div align="center" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>

China Jack Mosaics: Interview

  Guess what? I've managed to wangle an interview with the very lovely Emily Lawlor who makes the gorgeous China Jack Mosaics I showed ...

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Modern Country Crafts: China Jack Mosaics

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you heard of <a href="http://www.chinajackmosaics.com/">China Jack Mosaics</a>? They make hand-crafted gorgeous Union Jack mosaics from vintage china and printing blocks.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">{I realise the clue is in the name. See, I'm clever like that...}</span>  </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rbfcCNmLTmdUhv0iSRP42nxwe1gvc8Ih5rR1jRhx4eidvsf-20jhw77VswYT3FzbQY4NPqnJWmHbXXWtUVqr68a3MLZvC_ejopioDGYDxlrEd2fMCIZoJKD0rVQOhyL9FgQ6SQYgMjcB/s1600/TEA02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="377" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rbfcCNmLTmdUhv0iSRP42nxwe1gvc8Ih5rR1jRhx4eidvsf-20jhw77VswYT3FzbQY4NPqnJWmHbXXWtUVqr68a3MLZvC_ejopioDGYDxlrEd2fMCIZoJKD0rVQOhyL9FgQ6SQYgMjcB/s640/TEA02.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Did someone say Union Jacks AND printing blocks in the same sentence? I want one...I want one.....</span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Look at all the scrumptious details in the china....Seriously, they are completely lush. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And, for the more eagle-eyes among you, don't think I didn't spot Nigella's new Kitchen book on the table in the photo below.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;">{Any friend of Nigella is a friend of mine.}</div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajVBTvLIx_PvPEU_mpjjizbnRYp2b_9ES86IXuTsKhrcJKzu-83QGyZ1h4aiWjuXhll4KKscXv3ggYVJgSHt_s82QeoxHdqie1n8htqgdd_9DR59XhbytoqK07SOmGz9VefdrNdPrG1cj/s1600/IMG_3794C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajVBTvLIx_PvPEU_mpjjizbnRYp2b_9ES86IXuTsKhrcJKzu-83QGyZ1h4aiWjuXhll4KKscXv3ggYVJgSHt_s82QeoxHdqie1n8htqgdd_9DR59XhbytoqK07SOmGz9VefdrNdPrG1cj/s1600/IMG_3794C.jpg" /></span></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">  </div><div style="text-align: center;">{Okay, I should tell you, if you don't know already, I have a thing about Nigella...did you not see my <a href="http://and,%20for%20the%20more%20eagle-eyes%20among%20you,%20don't%20think%20i%20didn't%20spot%20nigella's%20new%20kitchen%20book%20on%20the%20table%20in%20the%20photo%20above./">Nigella shrine</a>?!}</div><span style="font-size: large;"></span>  <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMdBK68xZzgAv8Xp3PvWDFifTuBmciPk_hg-_hvL9IqWhpJbK_vbZNM2GM7Rmvoo3iGVyyeVFD3d2gGF8GlZknubmyweCCMO8gGK4S4KuPRaCEkfoDPwYf96YyRw8i9YNI6SHkwjCyxSQ/s1600/IMG_3829C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMdBK68xZzgAv8Xp3PvWDFifTuBmciPk_hg-_hvL9IqWhpJbK_vbZNM2GM7Rmvoo3iGVyyeVFD3d2gGF8GlZknubmyweCCMO8gGK4S4KuPRaCEkfoDPwYf96YyRw8i9YNI6SHkwjCyxSQ/s1600/IMG_3829C.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And I'm completely liking the way the mosaics have been styled. I want that red radio too.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">{I can always hear my teacher's voice at this point saying, "I want doesn't get....."}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, let me think for a second....do I love Union Jacks? Errr, yes!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWGr4lWM72_ph6c8vxiEk5fHXCYi_b4kpYTFg8uVfi5CHiopoWxhtFzE1j08oNu8paGPcXKMLheJZEMmiK3jP7zOsuw3GDz0MvSCMI1Xu5nFas-rTIkaoOEn89fCKwM5dPDPbAQdCDhml/s1600/JUMPINGJACK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="390" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWGr4lWM72_ph6c8vxiEk5fHXCYi_b4kpYTFg8uVfi5CHiopoWxhtFzE1j08oNu8paGPcXKMLheJZEMmiK3jP7zOsuw3GDz0MvSCMI1Xu5nFas-rTIkaoOEn89fCKwM5dPDPbAQdCDhml/s640/JUMPINGJACK.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do I love gorgeous crafts....Errr, yes!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKY9sAIocBkIuqDWLf5U-FbMhwZ4bf7ZXd1JBuBoAs8B3uMVJSVOprNHkM6y34908PS0zlu8h8RKpwl7pL5USzpGApQgrLZwgh4JxJ-V6qsl_vvGhMkjdRNXBceeJ3alSEpK-4xSGdncR/s1600/IMG_3860C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKY9sAIocBkIuqDWLf5U-FbMhwZ4bf7ZXd1JBuBoAs8B3uMVJSVOprNHkM6y34908PS0zlu8h8RKpwl7pL5USzpGApQgrLZwgh4JxJ-V6qsl_vvGhMkjdRNXBceeJ3alSEpK-4xSGdncR/s1600/IMG_3860C.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do I love repurposed vintage loveliness? Errrr....yes!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's a no-brainer....these are right up my street.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOimvqJQGZVYrGgZSC6oSjGQYS17OS-7-1Z-ThW6PI9y7f-doQIhVRphNwRz2ct12isZEupNCez1uLXC8XN63huQw8I9TBtTIYjpbN0j-14J3KyAuPfyD-uGEY_MGtk_HbQexdTAW3PlS/s1600/YOUANDME.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOimvqJQGZVYrGgZSC6oSjGQYS17OS-7-1Z-ThW6PI9y7f-doQIhVRphNwRz2ct12isZEupNCez1uLXC8XN63huQw8I9TBtTIYjpbN0j-14J3KyAuPfyD-uGEY_MGtk_HbQexdTAW3PlS/s640/YOUANDME.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">It's official: I love <a href="http://www.chinajackmosaics.com/">China Jack</a>!</span> <span style="font-size: large;">The only question is...which mosaic to pick?! What do you think?</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Voting starts......now!</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/352/911BDF1E66C2C8003D62774447FCC1C0.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/352/2052BBEDE343AF4A73F6A61C3820B007.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></span></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Modern Country Crafts: China Jack Mosaics

Have you heard of China Jack Mosaics ? They make hand-crafted gorgeous Union Jack mosaics from vintage china and printing blocks. {I realise...

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25% off at Cox and Cox....

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Have you checked out <a href="http://www.coxandcox.co.uk/" target="blank">Cox and Cox</a> yet? You have? And you love them but you don't like the prices? Well, my friend, I have some news to bring a smile to your sad face....so wipe away those tears and look at what I have here!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.coxandcox.co.uk/images-db/product/328/page.0r5b7v0h2l2a1j27.jpg?1284567534" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://www.coxandcox.co.uk/images-db/product/328/page.0r5b7v0h2l2a1j27.jpg?1284567534" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A 25% off media code for<a href="http://www.coxandcox.co.uk/"> Cox and Cox</a>! Yes, you heard me: 25% off. See, I knew that would cheer you up. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the interests of your retail safety, I checked it out for you first by buying a few bits and bobs from them myself. Too kind? Me?!! Oh, you've made me blush....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.coxandcox.co.uk/images-db/product/424/page.0q4u4l1w7t0k7d2e.jpg?1235749676" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://www.coxandcox.co.uk/images-db/product/424/page.0q4u4l1w7t0k7d2e.jpg?1235749676" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Just quote: BCW101 when asked for your Media Code at the checkout. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh, and I have decreed that you can only use the code if you've Followed me at Modern Country Style....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">AND left lots of comments.....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'M JOKING!! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Honestly!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.coxandcox.co.uk/images-db/product/14/page.0q414s0p4h9y148e.jpg?1231919801" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://www.coxandcox.co.uk/images-db/product/14/page.0q414s0p4h9y148e.jpg?1231919801" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But can I take this moment to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who helps to make this blog what it is, whether that's by Following or commenting or just loitering by the door. I'm really grateful.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">By the way, I'm not on commission from Cox and Cox. But you're so right, they owe me big time! You hear that Mr and Mrs Cox? </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy!</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">Hugs,</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">Sarahx</div>

25% off at Cox and Cox....

Have you checked out Cox and Cox yet? You have? And you love them but you don't like the prices? Well, my friend, I have some news to b...

Read more »

Book review: At Home with Country by Christian Strutt

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGC-HQ6H1Pj-AeIAaKb-VnfPEAwoTlLrz9EMagI2mvAMLVB_t57U0T6ISuDCac_u4e0-7bt5M5_nfMZP4ULnon4Tj0Joh-OOV0PFgdhCZ1sylpGJ1EJXY7NPknDjkAgukm7MvivJPZTrb/s1600/15aug10+031.jpg"></a><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Yes, another post on Cabbages and Roses! I was so inspired by my own blog that I popped over to Amazon, my second home, and got all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">spendy</span>! </div><div><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506366005924335730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQAUGCLEqt4aTWvmFPX4RaE57h4OdpJkoHWucOh22PZzDs3JuuAEOl0WjevcQqalgGsWrBpD9iL0zyTZGUD-Q4WP0wc0HEuRhkWknykSD8CvnZNdrlFv7O_-sTzruMQ7cAQ6ZPlwsxXo9b/s400/15aug10+023.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506369736538714962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQWmIM7yjqIOAmMPOJ-36Tr3cUrtY7XWFP-x2L8Du_wNXsv2zE6onlzT3c2F8UCJBQbJfJUSYb1arjyXDGejl_KbfaLRydPVic3vnOZcCifXtV4pUfRohgMSYXlDgYSlkpcKtEqPgkClv/s400/15aug10+033.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br />Christina <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Strutt</span>, founder of Cabbages and Rose, was, once upon a time, assistant Vogue Living editor. She certainly knows what's what when it comes to styling.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div>Her fifth book, At Home With Country: Bringing the Comforts of Country Home arrived this morning and I am simply bursting to share it with you! <div><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506366018032273138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-ZfvOlQ3-8m6_swj1ahLkH0RO3rDlwx1AVy7LsvS4_LUeoQG0ENnr8cbx-FTQ5LuFdOPhjMzoJwCDBte-gRPJN-YCc2auPaAc6swiBmwk-_H7zIYU5VR5Glum8HLqd3puSOuVR31mFu2/s400/15aug10+025.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div><br />Something that really made me smile (and hop around and tell Mr Modern Country, who was most bemused!) is that the photo that I called 'genius' in my last <a href="http://moderncountrystyle.blogspot.com/2010/08/cabbages-and-roses.html"><span style="color:#990000;">Cabbages and Roses post</span></a>, is the title picture for the chapter called 'Modern Country'! Isn't that the coolest coincidence?! Don't you love it when that happens?</div><div></div><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506366024378883794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35wWZNx_uxp8_PqyoX7OhmIeU4lhD4sqLBnxDZFFJXnvuWujOQ5X65PfrzC-8n_cBYcEvZrmAX7-yHOv4TShs67nr77W4lEd0JcsX-5qpDw980WA7FGb0Qia4HNofgR4QsQ7t142fmffD/s400/15aug10+027.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> <div><br /></div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506366032371639458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3KNySmQBrPPtNsLEK9nbjAOnqhav4JAv1U7gHSAOpLnBGwt6dLJlYJWV1yIs2cSD-WliyVWjotgOJe8ZoAyA2A_qrT-t2Bm4J9AD2ldUBZdgwEwqfoYTQ4OU2la0rn2EJ9ihzhtmZogC0/s400/15aug10+028.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div><br />One of the aims of the book is to show that the Cabbages and Roses style needn't be reserved for the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">classic</span> traditional country home but can be applied, with thought, to enhance almost any look. However, it's the Modern Country Style pictures that most draw me in (this is a Modern Country Style blog, after all!).</div><div><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506369701922942610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopYjiVRWwi8apUbHIyslTXPJRCDJ7Sw6H67cCE_RuGXsOip0oLf32lxWeeIKIZLQN6dBFd-W__S3nDFOFS0lnl8b27V48T4-GvOgfHre6r70o24-4kiURkf0AlCW5l5rK87RYSYUShgNE/s400/15aug10+029.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506366012703306674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkdPql3UbG7qw17Iq-kms_KnPyREKYibhVMGgeW1nQvLH9MGqwl9Cog_tiMZUInHeqS24doyv0kmCIOoaEp9HUGpkN79BPzl1lcsB_uw166rwCBpQjzq2LzR9FBnyvUs00jSz9__BjUEc/s400/15aug10+024.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div><br />Each chapter (Classic Country,Modern Country, Island Country and outdoor Country) contains homes that Christina has styled using her Cabbages and Roses magic. Totally gorgeous without exception. <div></div><div><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506369707373139938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6-nVc5F2zPH0DIRg6M33InMtfx4dzjd3nFcWxOXBOikfQv_TrBlYXk1uWxsj9jIx2SvpUTK9CcSKhMHB6us7J_qRFVLgAUZGqhKilRNwSoi29G6ib5pOq1T7tHl4ppM7oxtkIGpPRrVA/s400/15aug10+030.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> <div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506369721644557970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSK7e8GmtvmCyMDGDF6p83r3ciiV2hAaHcgKP-S7JJ1Z0MRYXME80t4PahsOa4IOYaOhnfbOe0Z4Uca7TzJJMJJSY5fQ-hvzSxZ6Z-nomwBkePTfYCwSw9-WHgxIyi8Y_G09qNMcghXmb/s400/15aug10+032.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div></div><div><br />The Modern Country chapter is, of course, especially totally gorgeous but all the sections contain stunning styling that gets you into Christina's mindset: these are fabrics that can add beauty to any setting.</div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Book review: At Home with Country by Christian Strutt

Yes, another post on Cabbages and Roses! I was so inspired by my own blog that I popped over to Amazon, my second home, and got all spendy !...

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Beverley Hewitt mug....

At the Spring Country Living Fair earlier this year, I spotted this gorgeous mug from British ceramic designer, Beverley Hewitt. It's a biiiiig mug, perfect for large cups of sweet, milky tea, or to take lots of cream squirted on top of a steaming hot chocolate.<br /><br /><div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495535904859491010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HT3espkkGobgYZTkchByzXm4rQxvIY83L957k6_JKyCb3pp7Dx9TYeiH7YtF7FeVEMDGizQI2amRknh1Fi7fv3s_ow-IJvGZvl_3A1nonyjeLnsGnlxnf3q5dMNhLmuix8aRgzJXFOc_/s400/1july10+164.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div> </div><div><br />The shape of the mug, whilst being classic, feels original, rather than a rip-off of one of the better-known ceramicists.</div><div> </div><div><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495535916524675858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8YurqiVbFlYMdQ3iJEu90acptnShq7Klz1BFKa_cx-KOKw9DIlJSIZ9zqvJZiDi-4IxTnRcjYq-BUzWt4TCfxtFh-rceK6C197EIWsGfEPIhotFFZsvB_G36YiH4yrNfDqf8Mzcri2fI/s400/1july10+166.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div> </div><div><br />The lettering is bold and clear (and, perhaps more importantly, hasn't faded in the dishwasher!). I especially like the 'LOVE' down the handle.</div><div> </div><div><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495535911488366866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7qLuvXtSlM4jZPinBMzTy9hSJp8tCRq9nchJw-1JguiHpUGiidy8I4y_N3h9QN5LgMSOFOBXB3V4HkrxPjlG8Kxmpt22WdeQT7Z9OFu-QnZpqnOOOYa5lE1HO6hoYEXKKwUccbv0Gidv/s400/1july10+165.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div> </div><div><br />I'm really pleased with it! More of Beverley Hewitt's gorgeous designs can be found <a href="http://www.beverleyhewittdesigns.co.uk/">here</a>.</div></div>

Beverley Hewitt mug....

At the Spring Country Living Fair earlier this year, I spotted this gorgeous mug from British ceramic designer, Beverley Hewitt. It's a...

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Modern Country Style shops: i gigi

I've decided to blog from time to time about my favourite shops. I do masses of my shopping online so locality shouldn't be a problem in most cases (although extortionate p and p abroad can be prohibitive. Come and visit!!).<br /><br />Going into <a href="http://www.igigigeneralstore.com/">i gigi </a>, in Hove, East Sussex, is like stepping into an alternate, incredibly chic reality. The owners have got an amazing gift for arranging and displaying their wares. <br /><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493670079003426914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3u8I9mUavur0HuWTvRlK9Hc1jqfUGtER2lsd8i-Y7A7UaUQIqh1LPuRYlGCqcTu-1V7kyPTG893NW6JiMOy9ehvexzWObQbRsI31XcqSA-WgOLAb2tKinNuV0dGBlL3YvrSqpJYHYBbS/s400/184b7cb84d7b456c96a0bdfbbeaa5f14_L.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br />They sells men's and women's clothes, furniture and accessories for the home but it's the homely bits that really sells this shop to me.</p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493670082698708226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWoAxuT4lPOWaEw83wTOchps-ODCrws9uR1QX7c4x9MqtLVeyf2lsVoQQty9xbp3qKzignBPkMcl20_1S46vT05LSLFIblQFYhyphenhyphenGizc3o8frc8FjavLQ4PsNaG0AvBeWUzYbvo1_r8JpE/s400/generalG4.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br />The ranges all fall into a delicious earthy palette of muted greys and browns, which could sound drab, but in their capable hands becomes modern, elegant and exquisite.<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493670089444082370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_ZTp2jkKhAiuIdKM-5SAmhhnba7LOooq94RPujs7dx9os_kuB7jv-g4o-oN94P4VTYReWttiNcJo_ilTBK83nV3qAjAGJoltq2o0BNeg0wn-4bKTQBEqA5jlHGpz2j2wVQKUadUWzsTA/s400/generalG5.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><p>They've also recently opened a website <a href="http://www.igigigeneralstore.com/">http://www.igigigeneralstore.com</a> from which you can browse and buy until your heart is content (which will only be when you've bought the contents of the entire shop, believe me!).</p><p><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493670100902795202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnlyL_B5e9wXUNzlwUxzo8DZjHrs_q8OyYQOXyyL1R8UPFKg6R1Dwc89hd00d0qn1VQDrWBf7mlNra65SDrLSuvwO0A_fGIzyh8RHg5YSujhWDjaUqaotOiB60i3XBI_iYcZSSJ9NW1Fn/s400/gallery4.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></p><p>i gigi has an amazing mix of vintage pieces (when I was there they had an elm table fashioned out of a hundred-year old door...nice) and carefully chosen new pieces.</p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493670089906763266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdnVgATxM0pg8H7o0lzaVlvgTRH0giSkdTtvHdwbaqyxB60HHKFqaSvQGO64R7lYAsV1S3HztHHIsNsJxMZotKuNofDgeZdsD8wHlnFAwTYvuKh4v51XdPITUkut8sEcVBwWXC9hxREu2/s400/generalG2.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></p><p>A huge amount of careful thought has gone into designing the shop (which you can peek at virtually on their site), including importing a staircase from France - when did you last do that?!!</p><p>All photos are the property of i gigi (yes, photography is another thing they can do well. Grrr!!).</p><p> </p>

Modern Country Style shops: i gigi

I've decided to blog from time to time about my favourite shops. I do masses of my shopping online so locality shouldn't be a proble...

Read more »