HOW TO MAKE FLAG CAKE TOPPERS

Yesterday was my dear friend Kelly's (from wedding blog Festival Brides) brilliantly dubbed 'Pre Push Party' aka baby shower, held at her gorgeous rural home in Kent. As part of the day, we were asked to bake something Mary Berry style, in what can only be described as a 'big bump bake off'. Sadly my raspberry + white chocolate cupcakes didn't win (not that I'm competitive -whatever ha!), that went to some epic rocky road whipped together by friend Amy- totally scrummy and 'dead easy to make' she says. As well as relishing the sugar rush (I ate some 8 cakes- fat yes) I also enjoyed some washi tape fun, making my flag cake toppers before hand. Introducing my first make + do post (easing myself in gently people) here is my 'flag cake toppers' how-to...

How to make flag cake toppers

You will need: A pair of scissors, washi tape (in choice of colour), 

sharpie black pen and cocktail sticks.

1. Cut a 5-6cm strip of washi tape.

2. Place the cocktail stick in the centre of the washi tape. Have the point of the cocktail stick sitting above the washi tape.

3. Fold the washi tape over so it sticks together as evenly as possible (don't worry if not perfect).

4. Cut the washi tape into a V to create a flag shape to the ends.

 Using your sharpie pen, write a word or decorate appropriate to your occasion. (in my case a 'pre push party' so I went for the word BABY but you could decorate with stars / snowflakes for Christmas or the word LOVE for Valentines for instance).

Hope you enjoyed my baby cakes x

WISHFUL WEDNESDAY: NEW YORK NEW YORK

Next Wednesday I am flying out to NYC to join my bro who is big Apple bound for 6 weeks setting up part of his business. I'm beyond excited! My 'NYC Here I Come' Pinterest board is coming along swimmingly in the run up and whilst pinning an abundance of hipster hangouts (not every day I'm in NYC so might as well try to channel some inner cool), I have also come across some slick monochrome bits for the home. Typically I find city inspired prints / photos a bit vanilla (most people have one right?) but I think these might fall in the safe / tasteful camp. For anyone who shares my NY enthusiasm, here is this week's New York inspired 'Wishful Wednesday'...

1. 2013 Monumental guide of New York $109.48 from Herr Judit

2. New York Pillow Black & White £35.11 by BrightJuly on Etsy

3. New York Print $50 by Sugar Paper

If you have any recommendations of places to eat (that I haven't included on my pinterest board), galleries, bars or most importantly interior shops I'd LOVE to hear them below!

TENT LONDON TOP 7

I've just got back from Tent London (in Shoreditch) armed with lots of new and inspirational design discoveries (my bag is now a minefield of business cards). Of all the London Design Festival events I'd have to rate Tent as my absolute favourite, in terms of reflecting my own personal taste and affordability (the prices aren't cheap but definitely accessible). Housed within Brick Lane's Old Truman Brewery the plethora of design stands was my idea of interior hedonism! I'm pretty sure I shot close to a 100 pictures this morning so I've made a small pact to myself to edit out the absolute cream of the crop. So here goes, here are my top 7 finds, along with handy links back to their websites if any of them catch your eye. Feast your eyes on this...

1. Elemental coloured ceramics by Jack Doherty (made in porcelain)

2. Handmade ceramic vases by Tortus Copenhagen. Each are entirely 'unika' (Danish term to define craft objects that are entirely unique). Available from Flow Gallery in London.

3. Pendant lights in spalted beech and copper by Tamasine Osher 

(love the knots and lines of the carved wood!)

4. I have seen prints of American artist Kai Samuels Davis online before but it was amazing to see a couple of his small original portraits close up at Tent. 

I find his work very emotive and somewhat spell binding.

5. The Brink area of Tent (showcasing graduate design talent) was top of my list of must-sees. Katie from blog Confessions of a Design Geek has curated her pick of the best, including these unusual copper and marbled boxes by Brazillian designer Carolina Peraca (from Central St Martins). How I'd love one of these to house my earrings and chains. Luxe don't you think?

6. A cluster of handmade lights by aditi studios spoke out to me. His lights are each hand sculpted with a whole host of materials, including glass, paper, mud, steel, brass and iron.

7. 3D wallpaper is such an interesting concept to me, especially when it is done with the refinement of Sara from Seascape Curiosities, using pretty delicate layers of screen printed fabric. 

Today marks the end of the London Design festival. I have to say it's been explosive. All hail #LDF13

Did you go to Tent London? What were your favourite bits? Let's compare notes...

THRIFTY THURSDAY: ANTHROPOLOGIE SOAP DISH

OK this thrifty thursday arguably isn't that thrifty but just how utterly divine is this pearlescent soap dish from Anthropologie. In my opinion worth every penny (£10); avoids manky soap residue on the side of the sink (I hate that) as well as being a little of piece of heaven to balance your bar of soap upon... sold.

Sweet Pea Soap Dish £10 from Anthropologie

IMPRINT: CRAFT CENTRAL

Yesterday's rubbish UK rain wasn't going to stop me in my tracks; destination Craft Central for the press launch of Imprint yesterday. The exhibition (part of the LDF) features over 30 UK designers challenging print in the traditional sense, with lots of unusual techniques from printing textures on to ceramics and imprinting fingerprints on to wedding bands (Andrew English) to digitally printed furniture (note cactus inspired desk). There are of course some striking framed prints too, including an original London Underground poster from 1930 to fun poppy fruit inspired prints by Kate Clarke London.

I loved these ceramics by Jane Cairns

Fyrbox desk- digitally printed silk, laminated in Optiwhite glass, on powder coated metal frame.

Karen Lowes plates

Janet Stahelin Edmondson Lace Cylinders

Janet Stahelin Edmondson's lace printing technique

Kate Clarke London

loan from the London Transport Museum: 'Speed of Underground' by Alan Rogers, 1930

Exhibition highlight? Design K's pint sized Tea For One Tables (£165). This has to be my 'Wishful Wednesday' pick - small, urban flat friendly. I love how neat and space saving they are- who needs a chunky cumbersome coffee table when all you really use if for is your evening cuppa? Those who eat in front of the telly maybe not...

All the items at Imprint (apart from the London Transport print) are for sale but some items are one-offs or in limited quantities so get down there pronto people. 17-21 September 10.30am - 6.30pm.

TOP DRAWER A/W13

House Doctor at Top Drawer
On Sunday I had my first trade show experience at Top Drawer AW13. Top Drawer is the 'UK's leading event for design-led gifts, lifestyle and fashion accessories'. I have to say this was a slightly surreal experience for me. I'm obviously used to browsing interior shops with the intention to buy for me, but there I was finding myself imagining what it might be like for an interiors / lifestyle buyer and buying with a nose for what sells (the mind boggling world of margins and numbers). Being there as a blogger rather than a buyer was far more liberating as I was simply on the hunt for items / up and coming brands and products I quite simply adored. Letting my own taste lead the way,
here are my new discoveries...

OK so I know they are toilet brushes and it's worrying I'm excited by toilet brushes but aren't they the most beautiful toilet brushes you've seen? I was like honey to the bee in the iris hantverk stand, from Sweden. The products are mostly wooden and concrete, impressively

handmade mostly by visually impaired people.

According the Angela Lundblad, the lovely lady I chatted to, they stock in Selfridges and John Lewis (apparently the toilet brushes are selling like hot cakes). I also clocked that some of their products are sold on Caroline McGrath's website too. Take a look here

Iris Hantverk also do dish cloths with pegs on! It was meant to be.

Adorable wrapping paper and illustrative cards by Pen On Paper, founded by Lucy Kirk and Millie Popovic in 2013 (proper little start-up) because of their 'mutual love of illustrated lidos, partially dressed swimmers and hay barns'. I was telling the duo how much I'd love their chevron wrapping paper (top) as a wallpaper.

Clock by Liquid Design made with corrugated cardboard + scrap wood. 

Resourceful design at its best.

I wanted one of these to house shoes in our hallway. 

Monochrome woven baskets by The Braided Rug Company.

Sewing machine, bicycle and camper van inspired tea towels, all illustrated by the 

super friendly Poppy Treffry from Cornwall. She stitches the illustrations by hand originally and then scans them for tea towels and prints.

Nkuku was top of my list at Top Drawer. My friends are from Devon (where Nkuku are now based) so recommended their website well over a year ago now. Inspired by the traditional skills of artisans in Africa and India, I adore their worn / well travelled aesthetic so was excited to see their products close up. I wasn't disappointed. From reclaimed trestle stools to mango wood bowls and reclaimed glass domes, they have eco-design nailed for autumn / winter. I have my eye on their zinc and brass hanging mirrors for the bedroom.

Nkuku ceramics

Nkuku Sula reclaimed stool

House Doctor light
The largest part of the post has to be dedicated to House Doctor (supplier from Denmark). Arguably the largest stand at Top Drawer (I think I was in their dedicated area for over half an hour crushing over everything). I am almost thankful it was a trade show as I could have bought the lot. I'll let the photos speak for themself...

I typically don't like patterned boxes but these printed pretties are an exception.

House Doctor speckled ceramics.

House Doctor light

House Doctor woodland inspired cushion

Sadly House Doctor don't sell directly to consumer but there are a number of great suppliers in the UK including Rockett St George, Cox and Cox, Idyll Home and Bodie and Fou

LDF: MAISON TROIS GARCONS

Despite waking up with a sore head (post Friday wedding) on Saturday I dragged my sorry self down to Shoreditch; my first London Design Festival exploration zone. Bit of cold air and dose of amazing design was just the pick me up apparently. I'm also more than a little bit thankful to Elle Deco for their London Design Festival app, with an edit of all best LDF happenings to visit per area, complete with google map plug ins. The LDF line up took me over an hour to browse so they've essentially done the hard work for you (yup lazy cow app)...

First stop; Maison Trois Garcons. The latest venture from trio Hassan, Michel and Stefan (owners of Les Trois Garcons and Lounge Lovers) marries their love of interiors, antiques and fine food (café style), so now you can enjoy their delicacies in a casual lunch format, whilst not only admiring the décor but also having the option of purchasing it all too. According to the hipster American girl behind the till you can pretty much buy everything you see, including the table you are sitting at. Products for sale include luxury mini dog beds (which resemble throwns for pooches), gold robots, bone china, a large pink neon heart, kitsch animal ornaments (Hassan, Michel + Stefan clearly animal lovers), crystal glassware and Cleopatra-esque gold statement jewellery.

Front area of of café- wooden clad walls, illuminated balloons + neon heart for sale.

Exposed brick walls against Mediterranean style café tables

Doggie day beds aka throwns for your pooch. We toyed with the idea of getting one 

for our friend's tortoise George Darwin.

Food porn: carrot cake.

Wooden clad counter and industrial hanging bulbs.

Munchies from owner's travels? Cream crackers were speaking to me. Anyone tried these?

I particularly liked the food/ gift offering, which seemed like a personal mish mash of the owners' favourite worldly nibbles, including a personal favourite of mine dill flavoured crisps 

(god they are amazing). Also available from Ocado but obviously way cooler to get them from here ha.

Chinese meets European bone china plates.

posh pooch and pussy cushions.

  Thinks to oneself: how do I bag up a tiled table, get it home + fit in lounge? 

Love the Missoni-esque pattern.

Click here to visit Maison Trois Garcons website. No reservation needed, its way more cavernous than I imagined so getting a table in the café is pretty easy.

WEEKEND WONDERS: LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL

Quick weekend check in. Doing some well deserved couch surfing after running around town for the start of the London Design Festival. I now have a potential avalanche of blog content but not sure where to start? I'd really like to give each of my weekend wonders justice so look out for more in depth reviews on the LDF highlights this week. For now, here is a snapshot of where I've been stomping around for the best part of the weekend. You can also follow my whereabouts on instagram here. Hope you enjoy the link sinkers below...

1. Kicking off LDF in Shoreditch. Lunch at new Maison Trois Garcons Café- got lost in a treasure trove of antiques, whilst munching on frittata. Whole separate blog post on this later. You HAVE to go.

2. The London Design Festival Trail begins; grabbed a handy guide in Labour & Wait (Shoreditch)

3. Watching fresh pasta being made in pasta café Burro e Salvia (Shoreditch), whilst looking starry eyed at their cluster of recycled cardboard lights. Which Folklore sell here btw. 

4. Knocked on a somewhat covert door to be welcomed in to the Milk Concept Boutique (near Old Street) - the smell of their scented candles is intoxicating. I fell for Flora in a ceramic vase, decorated in one of the famous Fornasetti (Milanese painter / sculptor) faces. For the London Design Festival Milk have unveiled their striking Adam + Eve inspired Enchanted Garden wallpaper (as shown).

5. I walked past the window of a jaw-droppingly beautiful shop called Story. Sadly it was closed but their clever idea of plonking a fresh pizza in the window to drive people in to their pizzeria (1 door down) must have worked cause we are now planning our return. 

Pizza at Story Deli on Bethnal Green Road now on my bucket list.

6. A trip to Shoreditch High Street wouldn't be complete without dropping in to House of Hackney. Hypnotic prints sent me in a spin. Spent a good 5 minutes exploring their crazy Hackney Empire Wallpaper, featuring their animalistic debauchery. My favourite was the badgers sipping tequila. I just need to grow some interiors balls before I have the courage to plaster it on to my walls!

7. Sunday I had my first trade show experience at Top Drawer at Kensington Olympia. Full round up of design discoveries on the blog this week. The pastel ceramic candlesticks you see before you are from House Doctor. They are trade only but there are heaps of House Doctor stockists across the UK 

including Rockett St George.

Check back here for more London Design Festival reviews v.soon!

Have you been to any of the LDF events? Tell me more below...

THRIFTY THURSDAY: HOUSE BY JOHN LEWIS TABLE

I have to admit, this week's thrifty thursday was a complete no brainer. I've actually been meaning to write a whole feature on the challenge of finding compact dining tables that don't swamp a small urban flat (there is definitely a huge market for them if anyone is looking for a business venture idea) but all hail House by John lewis for being one of the few retailers to come up with goods! This solid oak and MDF table has the scandinavian appeal down and only 120cm wide (just big enough to sit 6 people but still space saving). Best of all the price tag. Yup just £199...

House by John Lewis Lily Rectangular 6 Seater Dining Table £199

WISHFUL WEDNESDAY: IN THE WOODS

Ever since watching the BBC’s Top Of The Lake with it’s sprawling New Zealand scenery and woodland, I’ve had this romantic notion of one day having a little log cabin in the wilderness.

A small flat in North London is my own patch of escapism (I love it cause it’s ours) but without a garden it’s nice to bring a touch of the outside in to your home. I wouldn’t recommend slathering your flat in fur rugs and animal heads but a subtle nod to the wild (woody textures and animalistic prints) will serve as a gentle reminder of the great outdoors…

1. Woods Print by Dianna Heroine from $14 Society6

2. Large Wooden Cube £110 French Connection Home

3. Woodlands English Romantic Cushion £50 Chocolate Creative

4. Decorative Deer Antlers £55 Cox & Cox (available mid September)

5. Moose Print from $17 Society6

Note to self: just one or two of these items not all of them together!

MINUTE WITH THE MAKER: WANDERLUST LIFE JEWELLERY

I'm psyched to reveal my first 'Minute with the maker' post as Georgie Roberts, the lady behind Etsy store Wanderlust Life. Here on peg, I've only ever bleated on about items for the home but every now and then I poke my head out of the interiors cloud when I come across a nugget of beauty for little old moi. Recently this has been in the form of maker Georgie's free sprited jewellery. For me the lure of her pieces lies in the simplicity of the designs, typically with just one semi precious stone on a delicate thread with a gold plated fastening. There is an enchanting quality to Wanderlust Life jewels that draws out my 'inner nomad' (or should I saw wanderer)...

Georgie lives in North Devon but is a wanderer at heart, often fleeing seaside life during the harsher winter months for far-flung destinations. She kindly took some time out to answer peg's 'Minute with the maker' Q&A...

Talk us through the inspiration behind Wanderlust Life jewellery? 

Wanderlust means ‘a strong desire to travel’ – I’ve always been lucky enough to travel most winters, so the name of the brand is close to my heart. Gemstones have always fascinated me...

My Mum always had a crystal bible and collected semi precious gemstones and jewellery, I loved combing through her collections that had come from far away places. Faceted gemstones were always my favourite – I love the way they catch the light and sparkle. I like the idea of carrying a little jewel around your neck from a far away place – how magical is that.

 

What is your favourite thing about being a designer / maker?

Exploring new ideas, constantly creating! And that lovely buzz you get when you see someone walk past you on the street wearing one of your pieces. So nice!

 

Tell us about the materials that the Wanderlust Life jewellery is made from?

I use semi precious faceted stones, including rubies, amethyst, chalcedony, labradorite. Each stone is very different, and they all have their own meanings and properties.

 

Do you have a preferred time of day to make your creations?

I am working full time in a gallery at present, so any free moment really! I do need good daylight when I’m making though, it can be a fiddly process!

 

When you aren't making what are your 3 favourite things to do?

I’m lucky enough to live right my the sea... When I can, I love taking a walk down to the beach. I have some lovely buddies that own a shop (that stock Wanderlust Life) and a tea room right by the shore, so a chinwag and a good coffee is normally involved! And Peg blog – my new favourite place for ideas and inspiration. Being by the coast is lovely, but the shops are far and few between, so it’s great to find inspiration online.

You can purchase Georgie's beautiful creations from her Wanderlust Life Etsy shop here or contact her directly at georgie.roberts@live.co.uk