From Africa with love

I couldn't find the share to facebook or twitter icon on the styles files blog so thought I'd do a quick cut and paste (hey, it's what I do best after all) into mine. From Africa with love is a new showroom/gallery located in Amsterdam selling contemporary interior design by some of our most talented designers. I feel all proud and homesick just looking at these – and I live here. Thank goodness for that.

Happy New Year!

Oliver made this at school this week – they were being taught about the Jewish New Year and of course apples and honey featured quite prominently. I love it… and thought I must share and take the opportunity to wish all my Jewish friends a very happy New Year. May your year be filled with blessings!

Crochet happiness

Look at what my unbelievably talented sister-in-law Salome made for me! I share a house with 3 British passport holders and this crochet cushion has more than one set of eyes checking it out. Thankfully, my men have no interest in pink so the bag is all mine. Salome: your talent, skill and perfectionism in everything you leaves me gobsmacked. The only thing left for me to say: guys if you want to order one… send me mail.

New from Deep Dark Africa

These arrived in my inbox recently… gorgeous new products from Deep Dark Africa. How about those little baby booties!

Happy Spring Day

Ok… so winter has finally arrived today but I don't care and am celebrating spring anyway! So excited to find these heart brooches and pendants by Skermunkil for sale on Beatnik Bazaar's new online shop. I have a plain red and green heart necklace which I love and wear all the time but think a little floral one will be just springtastic.

My first crush

I'm in the midst of a huge (gargantuan!) deadline so my poor (much loved by me) blog is really taking a back seat (never mind the crochet… that's practically on the 2012 list). But a good friend and fellow designer sent me this You Tube animated film called My first crush and it's just what the doctor ordered (along with tea and chocolate). I couldn't help but find a few more of Julia Pott's illustrations to share… hope they make you smile too!

Boer & Brit

A few weeks ago Paul (aka my husband) and I had the best ever, romantic weekend away in Stellenbosch. The first thing we did when we arrived was to head off to De Oude Bank Bakkerij for a lazy tapas lunch. Along with all of this, of course, was a bottle of Boer & Brit Suiker Bossie Red (a Rhone inspired blend of Shiraz and Viognier – so says the bit on their website.) So I got to sit, relax, and enjoy a really awesome wine and at the same time admire this gorgeous label (not often I can say that!). Mmmmm… quite fancy the look of their Cap Classique and Bob's Your Uncle too. Think a glass or two are just what's needed for some mid-week inspiration!

Ok, and because this is meant to be a design blog (and because I just had to find out who the genius behind all this is) here are some more images from the Boer & Brit Wine packaging… designed and illustrated by South African design agency Fanakalo. Mooi!