There always seems to be another step to be done with the renovations we've been doing for over a year. The latest is curtains for our bedroom and the living room. I ordered a few samples from Tinsmith last week, none of which were fitting for the bedroom, but a couple which are in the running for the living room.

Tinsmith stock a fab range of furnishing fabrics, including the range of stunning St Jude fabrics, one of which I am desperate to make work.

I ordered a couple from the Treehouse Grey range, including the Faded Red which was so obviously not going to work anywhere, but I just had to have a sample of that. I'm still thinking the Grey may work in our bedroom but not quite convinced of the busy-ness with the Orla Striped Petal - or Fried Egg as we like to call it - wall paper.

I am leaning towards this for the living room. Again, there's a lot of pattern going on here. It definitely tones in and the fabric is a much smaller design than the wallpaper, so I think it may work. What do you reckon?

I dragged everyone over to Cheadle today to our nearest John Lewis, to look for more options. I found a couple of heavy cottons in differing shades of grey, which may work. You can order samples from John Lewis, so we'll wait for them to arrive and see how they match up.

It seems like we take forever to get a room finalised, by the time all the finishing touches are sourced and done. Are you the same?

I've been trying out a new idea this week. Actually, to be pedantic, I've been trying out an idea that has been mulling around in the far corners of my brain for, ooh, about 4 years, ever since I first started designing these.

I can't blame not being able to find the time. It's been more a case of stalemate and knowing where I was starting from and sort of knowing where I was going to end up, but not sure of the journey I was going to take to get there.

A lightbulb moment occurred last night, some time between finishing tutoring, dropping Noah off at Scouts and coming back to get Ruby to bed. You know how it works. And it was plainly obvious that I wasn't going to be going to bed until I'd at least got somewhere along to trying it out.

I have got somewhere along and I'm quite pleased with where it's at and hopefully they'll be ready for a bit more show and tell early next week...

Are you swayed by packaging?

I'm fickle enough to tell you that I am. Bold, simple packaging gets me every time.

You know there must be something very healthy and good for you inside a package like this.

And one little glimpse told me that it looked tasty too.

My healthy eating habits have gone somewhat to pot recently, with longing for comfort snacks being more a quick purchase of Cadbury's Cream Eggs at the checkout (is it me, or have they got smaller?)

So, when I saw this at Sainsbury's today, a stern talking to told me I needed it more than the afore-mentioned chocolate snacks I've been resorting to of late.

And I don't know about you, but when I rediscover delicious healthy treats, I remember how much more preferable they really are.

Just until someone comes round with a non-healthy alternative that is...

Here's how the conversation went with Ruby this morning, after she took a look at the Drawstring Linen Laundry Bag I designed yesterday...

Ruby: "It's nice, but...(uh oh)...I'd prefer it if it had handles...like the ones on my blue bag. Just long enough to go over my shoulder...but not too long so the bag drags on the floor"

Me: "But you like it, right? You think it works?"

Ruby: "yeeeeees...I like the lining... (phew)... but I'd still prefer longer handles...

"and the front is a bit plain. I think I'd like a bird on it...

"...or maybe a flower...

"or maybe both...

"Do you think you can do that by the time I'm home from school?"

That'll teach me to ask Madam's opinion (I'm still not actually sure I did ask, however), because somehow Ruby has managed to wangle a new bag.

I know we are a long way off thinking of summer vacations here, but you never quite know when you may be packing to go to distant climes. Maybe a skiing trip planned, or a winter break here in the UK, or maybe even lucky enough to be heading to sunny distant climes.

All the above have influenced my latest product...the Linen Laundry Bag.

I love pretty things and I love travelling with pretty things. Yes, there's nothing wrong with having a few extra plastic bags in your case for separating clean and dirty washing. But what could be nicer than having pretty bags to pull out?

My linen laundry bag is lined with crisp cotton shirting and finished off with a vintage braid tie threaded through a strip of Bright It's a Hoot Monster Stripe.

It's also roomy enough to store a pair of shoes in.

And if like me, you aren't planning any trips at the moment, you can still use it to store your underwear all nicely organised in your wardrobe.

Now available in my Etsy store...

Ooh, I wonder what this could be...

Only my, I mean our, belated Anniversary present from my Mum and Dad. Mum knows my love for Orla, along with my love for a red and blue combo, so was lovely enough to give them to me, I mean us.

Are they not the most beautiful tableware that you have ever seen? I adore the usual simplistic design we know and love from Orla. And the retro design of the pieces themselves are oozing with charm.

I love the teapot and I know I, sorry, sorry, WE will use it and get pleasure from it every day, but it's the butter dish that I am truly in love with. The retro shape is just delightful and the chunkiness of the lid is such a joy to hold (Karen, for goodness sake it's a butter dish).

All that's missing now is a couple of these to complete the look...

wordless Wednesday

relaxing, unwinding and taking it easy...

...well almost wordless...