World's Smallest Postal Service

Is this not the cutest way to send a message?
It's the World's Smallest Postal Service and it appeals to so much of the childhood excitment I had in toys. A perfectly practicle, useful and funcional idea but executed in a totally cute and more interesting way. I did actually own a teeny tiny (think it was Hello Kitty) letter writing kit with tiny stick-on stamps. Check out their site for pictures of the amazing tiny postal desk too.


I know the perfect person to receive one of these letters too. The same person who gave me a message in another gorgeous fashion several years ago. A tiny carved carrier pigeon carrying a birthday wish for me. When I was doing my silversmithing course I did a lost wax casting of it...

'geek mums'

There's an interesting article on the BBC site about some of the discussions at this years SXSW...

A growing number of mothers are forming social communities online. What is behind their drive to the internet?
At the recent SXSW Festival in the American city of Austin, Texas, one of the discussions centred on the surge in growth in "geek moms" - mothers who spend a large amount of time online.

The one thing that sticks out about this to me is the word 'geek'! I'm finding it a bit misplaced. I can imagine that a few years ago it might have been considered geeky to be using computers - having completed a computer arts degree 10 years ago I can tell you there were very few of us ladies doing it then - but surely these days it's just common place?

I used to build websites which I guess could be considered very slightly geeky, but coding and programming? now THAT would be geeky. These days I just design for the web. And blog. And have a flickr account. And an Etsy account. And have a static website. Surely that's not geeky is it?

Whilst I'm on the matter, my maternity leave actually comes to a close in 4 weeks and I'll be back at my web design job. I can't believe life is actually moving on! I'm so enjoying hanging out with our little guy who is now 8 months old. I'm lucky to be able to say that I'm also looking forward to going back to work though. A 3 day working week should hopefully make us all happy and if I ever get a free slither of time I WILL DO SOME SILVERSMITHING and post the pictures here.

Google's logo

Check out Google's logo today...



Very clever. And very topical for us these days too, what with revisiting The Very Hungry Caterpillar with Oli. It's also the books 40th anniversary this year. Last week I bought Oli this great little library collection...

Jewellery stands

Back in August I wrote how I've always got my eye out for decent jewellery stands. Here are a couple more that I found on Plumo.

I love that fact that the base of this design in also a useful little dish

Gorgeous bags

There's loads of gorgeous stuff on this website but here are just a couple of the lovely bags from there...


Design: Tineke Beunders / Ontwerpduo, The Neatherlands.


Visit manos >

Vivienne Strauss - Etsy shop

Vivienne Strauss's painting have a really charming appeal. The fantastic titles that accompany them are like a final breath of life that make them and their great characters come alive. These paintings have charisma.

Lily Was Almost Positive that Her Cats, Edward and Franklin Talked About Her When She Wasn't in the Room

Everybody's Talking About Mabel, She's the Talk of the Town

It Wasn't that Stanley was all that Dreadful, It was Just that this was Exactly What Helen and the Girls Came to Biarritz to Escape

Visit Vivienne's Etsy shop >

7 random things about me

I've been tagged by the lovely Jaimee of Modern Classics so here are some random bit and bobs about me...

1. I bite my nails, but occasionally get it under control.
2. I'm organised and tidy (some close to me may say bordering on obsessive).
3. I loved school until it got serious at A-level time. Once I realised I wasn't an academic it got fun again.
4. Four is my lucky number.
5. I can play the piano and saxophone.
6. I love laughing.
7. I played a girl called Mandy in a TV programme for school kids when I was about 13.