> Pantone perfection

Pantone have really cornered the market for elevating the styling of everyday items from storage tins, mugs and cups (which we have in most of their colour range), folding chairs... the list goes on and on.

We are going to order one of these beauties - a must for every office, kitchen or older child's room. The Pantone wall mounted magazine holder will stylishly store away magazines and newspapers. It is also magnetic, coming with 6 magnets, so you can keep business cards, bits of paper, children's sketches and keys all at hand.

I'm torn between the Cool Grey version (super cool) and this glorious sunny yellow one... think the glorious sunny yellow might just be the winner...

Approx £49.00.

> Winter wonderland...

I think winter is wonderful and count myself ever fortunate to live in Oxfordshire, where I can open my front door and walk out onto fields and woodlands. When we have those glorious mornings with thick white frost, or better still, fresh and pure snow with endless cloudless pale blue skies, it doesn't get any better for me. Seeing the structure of de-foliated vegetation and the beauty of traditional village architecture takes my breath away. And it makes me supremely happy.

These images by Sarah Howard are in the current Cotswold Life magazine. The lovely Arlington Row cottages in Bibury (William Morris described it as "the most beautiful village in England") with a light dusting of snow. A field with solitary sheep on the Blenheim Estate (through which I go running... sometimes!) and the entrance to a softly sunlit meadow with a crisp frost.

Happy days.

> Happy 2014

I love the start of a new year with it's fresh beginnings and renewed hope for all the plans we make. This year, I want to be super organised and I will continue to push myself, tackling new and often scary design projects even when I think they are too daunting and I can't do them. That's how we grow and succeed, by overcoming what we think are adversities. And that's the best feeling in the world!

Here's a fantastic quote I found...

“Be fearless. Have the courage to take risks. Go where there are no guarantees. Get out of your comfort zone even if it means being uncomfortable. The road less travelled is sometimes fraught with barricades, bumps, and uncharted terrain. But it is on that road where your character is truly tested.  Have the courage to accept that you’re not perfect, nothing is and no one is — and that’s OK.” 

Katie Couric

Wishing you all the very best for a super successful and prosperous 2014.