Hi there!
Its a new day but I want to pick up on a previous blog, where I talked about how I'm influenced by things around me , things I see or how one project can lead to another , entirely different one.

The images above are the result with one of my biggest influences; weaves. Wherever I go, I see them, either in natural form or manmade and have a compulsion to either create and design; paint or sculp. The paintings below are a typical example of this. Whether using paint, paper for collage or weave or even metal, it's amazing how one subject can create such diverse and individual pieces!

When I'm inspired to paint, I usually go for vibrant colour, as can be seen in these examples of acrylic on canvsas. No matter what mood you are in, you cannot help feeling lifted by bright  colour and it isn't always necesssary to use complimentary colours. I have used some blue in the painting below and it highlights the different oranges and yellows without detracting from them.

The painting below is my interpretation of a big, gold, shabby-chic mirror. I was inspired to paint it because I couldn't find  a mirror big enough!

I am also very influenced by any sort of weave or cross-hatching and the paintng above is one of a set of 5 different red weaves. Hope these inspire you to get the paints and brushes out!

So, as I've mentioned already, my textiles and ceramic designs are dear to me, although it is impractical for me to continue as a designer-maker in ceramics with no studio and kiln access!
My textiles , though, are far more practical and achievable and I continue to be inspired to create these, using the sights and everyday goings on around me.

These sort of images of wood and the forest floor have been a huge inspiration to me, leading to hand stitched samples in recycled and found fabrics:-These samples, in turn, have lead to cushions and throws, using hand-stiching; hand-dyeing  and applique. Denim is a big pull for me in creating my pieces and I nearly always incorporate some recycled or found denim in some way.
Look forward to chatting next time, in the meantime, here are some of my textiles designs!

Hello again!
Thought I'd talk about the strange painting/collage on my first blog page. This is a piece I designed for my daughter's bedroom. I used the current trend for skulls and combined some strong colours to work with the chosen decor. There is texture in the form of collage and also a metallic element for understated glamour. I used acrylic paints and some sample flock wallpapers. I have also incorporated stitch, although the design is largely hand painted.
The idea was to create a glamorous piece of original art that was slightly edgy and not too 'boudoir'
Please feel free to ask me about any element. The frame originally housed an older oil painting and I bought it in ' Bygone Times' For £20.00.

The other shots give a flavour of the room. ttfn. x

'Upcycling ' is a buzz word in interiors at the moment and is something I love to do. Everyone knows how easy it is to find old pieces of furniture in charity/junk shops or even lying around the house , just waiting for an injection of design TLC, so there isn't really any excuse; a bit of inspiration is all you need. I bought this chest of drawers locally and used a range of acrylic paints to update it and use it as a focal point in my daughter's bedroom. The tassles on the handles are a nod to traditionalism. Be brave!

What does my daughter's school shirt and a cushion have in common? Well, not much! Today, though I'm inspired by said shirt, to create a new cushion because of the cute little owl I designed, made and stitched onto the shirt. I can explain. It's effectively last day of term for my daughter; from Monday, she will be on exam leave and GCSE'S ensue. As the tradition round here is to have your shirt signed by pupils and teachers alike, I was asked to stitch a design in sequins and add a little owl(!)....a nickname my daughter's friends have for her. Here's the result above.....

Hope your day went well. So what do you think of these kitsch little futuristic figures in my kitchen window? We found these in a SoHo store in New York-'Kid Robot'. I'm sure they do mail order! They are called 'Mini Munny's' and come in 3 sizes. The 'Mega Munny', the largest, featured in Elle Decoration, which is where my attention was drawn. These are only 3/4 ins high and really brighten that window ledge! I'll feature the mega size later. 

Short blog today. Kisses. 

It's nearly the weekend and may well be warm and dry enough for some gardening. My garden is small and I'm no Alan Titchmarsh but whether you have a window box or acres of lawn, make a statement and reflect your personal style in the space you have.

If you like colour and don't have many flowering plants, or you're too impatient to wait for budding flowers to appear , use bright pots and pieces of coloured glass to add vibrancy.

Plastic containers, tins or iconic labelled vesssels, like Coca Cola bottles, look contemporary and more tongue-in-cheek. Galvanised metal weathers really well and can look both contemporary and classic.

Rotund, ceramics add a traditional feel, but need frost protection. I'm rubbish with plants and none of these need them - they can exist in the garden as ornamentation in their own right.

The use of white is a good contrast against a stark, green backgroud like grass and can accentuate colour in plants. In the picture above, I have treated this border as an oversized, outdoor, mantle piece and have used planters as architectural ornaments, along with the Magis puppies to add colour to a flower-barren space.

The planters are available in Habitat at £60 and £70. The puppies can be found in Utility Design , Liverpool.
By forming squares around trees, with large white pebbles, new and interesting textures are a quick creation for lazy garden design!

Have a good weekend!

Hello. I want to share a really quick and easy recipe for summer.It's just a twist on Nicoise Salad - using all the same ingredients , with a couple of little extras.
For 2 people you will need:-


2 fresh tuna steaks or 4 small
10 new potatoes
2 shallots
4 cloves of garlic
a couple of handfuls of fine, green beans
2 fresh eggs
olive oil - extra virgin and light
chopped olives
good balsamic vinegar




Toss the new potatoes in a tablespoon of light olive oil and season. Place in a preheated oven at 200deg for approx 30 minutes or until golden brown. 10 minutes before they are cooked, throw in quartered shallots and chopped garlic.
Boil the eggs to your desired time and set aside.
Cook the green beans in boiling water for 4 minutes and toss in some extra virgin olive oil and season.

Char grill the tuna steaks to your liking.
Assemble by placing the potatoes on a large plate or dish, with the garlic and shallot shards; place the tossed green beans on top; on goes the tuna , next the quartered eggs.
Finally, garnish with some chopped olives, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic.

Try it and let me know what you think.
This dish is perfect for the summer and by roasting the potatoes, it's a bit more indulgent and infinitely more tasty!

TRADMODGLAM interiors and lifestyle

Welcome to my blog! In these diary entries you will find my interior design ideas, lifestyle chat, recipes, shopping finds and general feelgood images and information. I will share some of my own textiles and ceramic designs; what inspires me; what I'm making; my ideas; what I'm buying and what I would like to buy!

I have such a strong passion for making my surroundings reflect myself and my family that I feel I want to share my ideas and inspire you to reflect yourself in your home, dress and general lifestyle. I live and breathe interiors and art; design and architecture. I have been an artist for many years and I am a graduate in 3D design. I am currently working in fashion, which keeps the creative juices flowing!

I'm going to introduce you to a few corners of my world and I'll talk you through the images in this entry in my future blogs. More to follow! I hope you're moved to comment on my ensuing thoughts, snapshots and nuggets of my life.