Art in nature... just beautiful

Hertex recently launched a BEAUTIFUL new range of florals.  Inspired by watercolour artworks, it makes use of soft pastels and sludgy, natural tones. 

Things to love about this range: 

Oversized florals 
I know it's groundhog day with me getting excited about scale, but truly, it's a deal maker and is the difference between a twee floral and an awesome floral.

The base cloth
Most of the designs are printed on a blend of Linen and Viscose so they have THE. MOST. delicious handle - soft and heavy and drapey. 

The palette
Feminine and warm without being cutesy.

Design aesthetics
The designs could work for retro, as well as country, as well as classical interiors. The bold scale makes it a winner for BIG spaces and accent pieces.

Versatility
Most designs can be used for both curtaining and domestic upholstery. Boom!

Take a look at the designs...

Camelia (below) is probably my favourite. Love the wide use of colour and slightly tropical mood.

Woodland (below) totally reminds me of a Turner painting. Love the gentle use of colour how they softly blend into one another.

Night Garden (below) is their anchor fabric and it makes ALL the difference that it's BIG. 

Nottingham (below)  looks to be sweet and cute at first but again, it's the scale that gives it punch.

I LOVE Forestry (below). It reminds me of negative wax scratch-out art and I think it's so clever that they've inverted the application of colours.

Newstead (below) is a fabulous filler fabric. This would look totally bangin' on a big fat upholstered headboard.

Last but not least, Thicket (below) is just a gorgeous, feminine, floral. I love the indistinct lines and painterly mood and it reminds me of the artwork in a vintage Book of Nursery Rhymes we owned when I was a kid. Very romantic and almost mystical.

Till next time nerds :)

x

adieu Saltwater...

Yesterday I was mooching around Simon's Town trying to find military rank insignia (which by the way, is tricky to get your hands on), I popped into Saltwater, one of my favourite shops in Cape Town.

(Left image via DIY with Vintage linens on Pintrest, right images bloggers own)

Sadly, I learned that they're closing down (Sniff. They're making way for a Bottle Store and as much as I like Whiskey, it really doesn't compare to fabric). Happily, however, I had a poke around the shop and found  THE. MOST. DIVINE antique linen (amongst other things, of course.) 

(Left image via eithanollie on etsy via Pintrest, right images bloggers own)

If you're a vintage linen fan you'll know that they generally cost a pretty penny - if you're lucky enough to find them at all. Saltwater have loads: from napkins to table runners to BIG table cloths - and they are all exceptionally well priced.

(left image via Anthropologie, right images bloggers own)

In case you're wondering what you can do with vintage linen, the answer is .... anything! Use it as it is. Upcycle it into a curtain, or a dress, or pillow cases (runners are great for this!). I've made some up into duvet covers (backed with Hemporium's double width hemp) - divine. It's just so lovely to make use of something that has a history.

If vintage linen isn't your thing but fabric is, they have boxes and boxes of fabric pieces that are looking for a new home. Many fabrics (like the Jay Smith floral I found) aren't being printed anymore, which makes them a bit limited-editionish.

P.S. Everything must go, including the furniture, and you will pick up some absolute beauties (see the pics of the server and the rattan ball and claw couch below) if you head on over there. Like now!

Oh, and other P.S. They have lots of gorgeous vintage clothes that are on sale. Who can resist?

Till next time nerds :)
x