MORE TWEED LOVE...

I guess I should be thinking of Spring and florals today, but instead I am still on Tweed! Katie Mosa creates "Tweed With A Twist", accessories and gifts for you and your home. It was these Tweed cushions with suede applique animals that first caught my eye and inspired me to delve deeper into her collection.

Suede Applique Cushions

In Katie's own words "'Tweed with a Twist™ is a way of making tweed accessible to everyone. You don't need to shoot or have a pile in the country in order to have a little tweed in your life! Our homeware and accessories look just as good in a flat in London as they do in a house in the country.' Read more of her story and philosophy here." 90% of the Tweed used is sourced from Scottish mills and the pieces are handmade in the UK. Can there really be any other way?

Well, as you will know by now, I am a huge fan of Tweed and love the fact that so many contemporary designers are using it in such a fresh and up to date fashion. Here are some more of my favourites from Katie Mosa's collection.

Tweed Applique Cushions

Small Tote Bag

Jewellery/Make-up Pouch

I just love the simplicity of her work, not to mention the gorgeous Tweed she has chosen to work with.

Her website tells us that Katie will be launching a clothing line under this label too...so keep your eyes pealed for that. Browse her full line here.

CAST YOUR VOTES!

The first Tuesday of each March, every town and city in New England (and some other states) has it's annual Town Meeting. The first town meeting in Vermont was held in 1762, in Bennington, 15 years before Vermont actually became a state. This year, it was my turn to attend my first town meeting in my home town of Peru, and I loved it. Slightly daunted by the fact that I had to get up in front of the gathered townsfolk and introduce myself (as the newest member of our 400 strong population!), I soothed my nerves with the strong coffee and insanely sugary doughnuts on offer.

"Town Meeting" by Norman Rockwell, as a study for his "Freedom of Speech" painting, produced 1943 as part of his "Four Freedoms" project.

I won't go into the minutiae of what goes on, but lets just say everyone who attends gets very vocally involved over town budget, social and amenity issues. It all follows a very strict form of "Yay" or "Nay" verbal voting, seconding motions etc. For a detailed and fascinating explanation of the history and the process of these historical meetings, visit the Secretary of State for Vermont's website, here.

I am all fired up to serve my Town!

I am thrilled to say that I was successful in being given the chance to take on the joint organisation and execution of our monthly Mountain Community Dinners programme, which feeds the elderly and less fortunate in our community, each month. In addition I was voted on to our town School Board and can't wait to get stuck in to the challenge.

So no cute products, pink picks or design thoughts for this entry. Just a little slice of the Apothecary Fox real life to share with you all.

DESIGN THERAPY: liBErty FREEdom

If you thought Tweed jackets, waistcoats and the like were firmly the domain of the English upper crust, then think again. British designers liBErty FREEdom, based in Bolton, England have taken the concept of traditional British tailoring and fabrics and cranked up the volume. By incorporating the traditional with more contemporary details, and flashes of vibrant colour, liBErty FREEdom confidently creates sassy, flattering tweed pieces for the modern woman. In addition, all fabric, materials and labour are UK sourced making them justifiably proud of their home grown product.

"Designed for nobles, outcasts, rebels, individuals with intelligent style who can stand out and look fantastic; Sublime tailoring mixed with punk ideals, luxurious tweeds clash with durable brocades, stately home meets urban terrace... Duchess – Punk" - liBErty FREEdom

There is a little bit about their philosphy on their own website, but for an extensive range of their collection visit Country Attire, and online British shop that ships for FREE worldwide.

Some of my favourites...


Top Row (L to R): Victoria Waistcoat, back and front, in Hulme Tweed. Tabitha Tab Collar Jacket, in Mosside Tweed. Katie Mini Skirt, in Hulme Tweed
Bottom Row (L to R): Milly Jacket, in Hulme Tweed. Jessica Pencil Skirt, in Hulme Tweed. Tabitha Tab Collar Jacket (as before), in Mosside Tweed.

BUNNY LOVE

It is the 1st of March already...did you remember to say "Rabbits" this morning? I actually had no idea where that custom came from until I took the time to look it up this morning. It appears that it is an English tradition that relates to Rabbits being seen as a symbol of luck, therefore by saying "Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit" on the first of a month you are securing good luck for that month. There are some crazy variations of this and it seems unlikely that there is a comprehensive history of this tradition, but I love it anyway. Take a moment to read the Wiki entry about this. Classic.

LOVE this Pink Easter Bunny by Paperchase

Anyway, it got me thinking of cute, fluffy bunnies and how much I relate the image of a rabbit to Easter (coming right up), so I put together a little Bunny Love for you.

Porcelain Bunny, print by Awakes

Milkshake Built for Two, print by Paper Moth

Peter Rabbit Locket Necklace by Tryst by Kerry

Brown Bunny Tags by Side of the Road

Baby Bunny No. 3, print by Sharon Montrose

Ah so cute! Makes you Hoppy doesn't it! O.K....stop now. x

DESIGN THERAPY: Designers Guild

Established in 1970, Designers Guild is the British home furnishings company headed by Tricia Guild, the creative mastermind behind this hugely successful firm. Guild is famous for her bold approach to combinations of colours and patterns in creating opulent and vibrant fabrics, wall coverings, soft furnishings and bedlinen.

Bedding ranges available from the Designers Guild on-line store for the USA and UK

Designers Guild focuses on providing creativity and innovation whilst always delivering the highest quality. That comes at a price and their products are not exactly inexpensive and therefore not accessible to all of us. Until now...

French catalogue company La Redoute has teamed up with Designers Guild to produce an affordable yet equally fabulous range of bedlinen and bath towels. These are not available to the US market unfortunately, but worth a peak. 100% cotton percale sheets and pillowcases in a vibrant pink and orange design, complimented by simple plush terry towels with a simple embroidery detail to compliment the bedding.
This range is retailing at approximately 1/2 of the price of the Designers Guild bedding, and looks just as beautiful to me! I LOVE it when designers create these lines for larger audiences to take advantage of.

OK, all this is great but we can't get this range over in the States, so lets drool over some more gorgeous fabrics in the form of some of her delicious cushions and room sets (aren't her images just insanely well styled?).

I know the last two cushions are meant for little girls, but I love them too! These cushions are firmly on the Wishlist. Browse through her full range of cushions here.