So I can’t work out whether this living moss bathmat is really, really cool or would really, really freak me out when getting out of a nice, hot shower with nice, clean feet.
Please advise. {Designed by Nguyen La Chanh. ViaYankodesign}
Moss Mat
Muji at MOMA
In more good news for US peeps, I’ve recently discovered that New York’s MOMA store (which is a great online shop anyway) sells a range of Muji merchandise online, so all is getting righter in my world. (Hope they get some of the fab Christmas merchandise next year).
Orla Kiely for Target
Well, I'm very behind on this one, but for the one reader who might not have seen this on another blog, iconic Irish designer Orla Kiely is coming to Target in the US, with a range of retro-styled kitchen and homewares.
I can't help thinking that the US has got a bit of a bum rap on this one. I do like one or two of the pieces – the square melamine platters and the vintage-Pyrex style bowls – but I'm not entirely keen on the colours or the very retro-looking cross hatching.
I much preferred the collection she did for Heal's – the colours seemed fresher and more contemporary and I love her stem and leaf pattern way above all the others. And I'm still waiting for her to bring her stores to the US. What do you guys think?
All pictures from AT:NY
mirrormirror SALE now online
I’ve finally got beyond flu and birthdays (note to parents-to-be, try to organise it so your little one is not born directly after Christmas) and got the ‘mirrormirror’ sale up and running.
Lots of great bargains to be had – remember we only have one or two left of most sale items, so once they’re gone, they’re gone.
We’re offering FREE shipping on orders over £50 in the UK and would also like to offer FREE international shipping anywhere in the world on orders over £50 to blog readers. Just write ‘mirrormirror blog’ in the ‘where did you hear about us’ box in the shopping basket. choose ‘International Shipping £0.00’ and we’ll take it from there.
Cake plate £25 (was £29)
Opera lady cushion £75 (was £95)
Karin Eriksson Rose Garland Vase £35 (from £42)
Swarovski Crystal Hoop Earrings £65 (from £85)
Hand-printed Silk Cushion by Jyoti Sigouin £85 (down from £105)
Floral Weekender Toilet Bag £32 (down from £36)
Colour Therapy
I just wanted to point you guys in the direction of this fabulous giveaway on Shelteriffic. This nifty Color Helper machine lets you scan colours in from walls, fabrics or magazines and then either tells you the closest match from its inbuilt palette of manufacturers’ paint colours or suggests complementary colours for you to use.
All you have to do is prove to Shelterrific how much you need one by sending them a photo of a room that needs help and the worst will win the prize.
Fortunately for you guys, I’m not going to be sending in this photo of our famously horrendous kitchen – yep, after living here nearly two years we still haven’t painted the house and the kitchen still looks like this, though considerably more cluttered. Luckily for me, Mary T from Shelterrific is going to lend me her one of these machines, so I’ll do an indepth review when I can. And yes, doing up the house is VERY high on the list of resolutions this year.
![412_thumb[8]](/images/old/6a00d8341c7dce53ef010536bff5c3970b-pi.jpg)
Golden Globes
I know the Golden Globes are a famously drunken affair, but that’s still no excuse for Drew Barrymore and Renee Zellwegger to turn up looking like a couple of crazy alcoholic bagladies.
You know times are tough when even Hollywood legends can’t afford hairbrushes.
Felted Knitting Basket
Pic and make from the wonderful Kathryn Ivy
Isn’t this just awesome? In the spirit of a New Year’s organising frenzy I’m on the lookout for a knitting basket – my yarn is currently artfully arranged in a large plastic carrier bag tucked by the side of the sofa and looks a right mess.
I really, really love the above, made by Kathryn Ivy from an old felted Aran sweater, using Martha Stewart’s recipe. Am I honestly going to be able to make this though, given that I still haven’t plucked up the courage to felt my little bowls?
Ines de la Fressange Does Pink
It’s a little bit cluttered for my taste and I don’t like the rug, but the most glamorous woman in the world and Karl Lagerfeld’s erstwhile muse Ines de la Fressange gives us all (and Betsey Johnson) a lesson in how to do pink walls – choose a great shade of pink, keep the rest neutral and add lots of dark brown accents.
How does one become a ‘muse’? It sounds like nice relaxing job. I wonder what job she’s got in her passport?
Picasa for Mac
The Husband only offers tech support for PCs so there’s no way I could ever get a Mac, however much I might crave the ethereal beauty of their designs.
And I have been able to keep my jealousy under control because, to date, only PC users have been able to use Picasa – Google’s utterly, fantastically, amazing and FREE photo editing software, which I use for pretty much all my photo post-production and to make clever collages like the one above.
Now though, not only do all you Mac users get to taunt me with the slimness and whiteness of your laptops, but you can also sign up for the Picasa for Mac beta. I hate you all.
Pretty Buildings
We are back. UK was fab. I have flu. Off to bed. 
Here are a few pics of lovely OLD buildings….and one or two new ones.