Tab Collective spreading the word...

Launched just this year, the Tab Collective is a fabulous online portal representing a range of exciting home-ware designers (ahem, including myself!).  Laura Baldry, one of the founders of the site, is driving a very successful PR campaign on our behalf, as you can see the in the 'In The Press', section of the website.  This week I was thrilled to see my Heron silk cushion in a lovely photoshoot in Kitchens, Bedrooms and Bathrooms magazine, Sept issue!  Thank you Laura!

Libertad

I'm bang in the middle of preparing for my 3 minute stint at the Liberty (Libertad in Spanish if you're wondering) London open call for designers 2014 this Saturday, thinking about what to take, what to say, what to wear, what will the weather be doing...ad infinitum!  So of course, my mind wanders to what inspires me, what keeps my creative buzz going and of course I just love nature!  So here are some more images of my recent trip to Andalucia. No doubt I'll be up 'til the small hours pondering the rest!

Don't know what this tree was but I loved the flowers!

The awe-inspiring gorge at Ronda.

Roof garden

My son's first Spanish artichoke - yum!

In Japan...

Just before my holiday in mid-July I had some great news.  My wallpapers are going to be on sale in Japan!!!  WALPA are a very cool wallpaper distributer with four lovely stores (2 more opening soon) in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka.  I'm hoping they like my organic designs and buy lots and lots!

I'm almost ready to send off my lovely new sample books...

A little taste of Spain...

I really cannot believe I haven't blogged for a whole month!!!!  It must be the holidays - oh yes it is! We started the holidays with a trip to Andalucia in Southern Spain, staying in Gaucin, a beautiful mountain village with white walls and terracotta rooftops.

Amazing view of Gibraltar and Africa from the apartment.

I have to say, we had an amazing place to stay.  Such is my interest in interiors, that I stumbled upon Sylvia Felix's gorgeous and extremely comfortable apartment using a load of keywords on google - can't remember them now but they were probably 'holiday', 'apartment', 'luxury', 'interior design', 'artists'...you get the picture I'm sure.  Anyway, Gaucin is full of international residents, artists, photographers etc, and the most friendly local population you can imagine.

Genalguacil sculpture trail.

Imagine who has been though these doors over the years...

I'm always on the lookout for beautiful flowers!

Our favourite beach near Tarifa - kite-surf central!

And relax...

An amazingly empty beach near Sotogrande, a nature reserve allowing migratory birds fly safely to Africa

The apartment was on the upper floor of a two storey house and had THE most incredible views over the half hour drive up the mountain, the Rock of Gibraltar and clear views of a very close Africa beyond, with the twinkling lights of Tangier at night.  Magical.  If that wasn't enough, dozens of booted and long toed eagles drifted on the thermals over the house every day, and we watched shooting stars from the balcony at night.

It was lovely to relax but I can't travel anywhere without checking out an exhibition or two, and loved the permanent collection of Joaquin Peinado's work in Ronda, which had a great little exhibition of Picasso prints on display.  I love to buy a little bit of art too, and picked up an etching by Grabados Somera which is intensely detailed and beautifully printed.  Just what I needed to reboot my energy and come back with loads of new inspiration!

Etching by Grabados Somera

Champagne and canapes at Emma Kay & Co Launch Party

Just a little blog post on my day today (last week's amazing Tour de France post will just have to wait!).  I was kindly invited to attend the launch/relaunch of one of my stockists, Emma Kay & Co Interiors in Ripponden, West Yorkshire, and was bowled over by their beautiful new showroom.

Emma and her partner Lucy have created an elegant, understated and contemporary showroom, showcasing products from Little Greene paints, Designers Guild, Sanderson, Harlequin, Clark & Clark, Cole & Son, Jane Churchill, and many more, including Claire Murray Designs wallpapers, cushions and lampshades!  Good luck with the new showroom ladies - it all looks gorgeous!

Emma and Lucy had done a fab display of my products!

Lovely bag of freebies, including a gorgeous scented candle.

A happy customer...

I got a little message via Twitter this weekend, telling me that this lady 'loves her new wallpaper'! Woop!  I think it looks great with the oversized spotlight too - great styling.

Room at the top...

I've finally got the photos of a job I've recently finished, accessorising an office space for a self-employed client.  The blinds have been beautifully made by Robin Wood Curtains and Blinds in Todmorden, and they have done a perfect job in matching the pattern!  I loved the silk lampshades so much I made two for myself!

Lights, camera, action...

I had a great time recently doing a photo-shoot at Andy Thornton's, at the vast Victoria Mills in Greetland, West Yorkshire, which is crammed to the rafters with all sorts of fabulous, unusual and interesting things for any interiors or salvage fanatic (like me!).  In reality, their main business is furnishing restaurants, bars and hotels, but you'll find nothing corporate there, just really interesting and inspiring stuff!

The staff at the mill were extremely helpful, accommodating and friendly, and were more than happy to have me pottering with my camera, lights, cushions and lampshades.  I can't begin to list all the wonderful things they stock - I hope my photos do the place justice!  Take a look...