A new address

Lobster and Swan has moved and can now be found at www.lobsterandswan.com This blogspot will remain but will not have any new content added. So to see all the new frills and sparkle as they unfold, just click the image above or follow the link to say hi and visit me in my new home now.

Ps. If you used google friend connect to follow me here, please join my facebook page and twitter feed (both right) instead. You can also update your RSS feed using the subscribe button at the top of the new page.

Farewell for now, Jeska x

Cabbages and Roses Giveaway

Hi there, today to celebrate the launch of Cabbages and roses newest ranges Hobury and Gilbert I am one of four blogs hosting an amazing giveaway. Along with Maria, Tracey and Melaine I will be giving away a metre of each of the fabrics shown here. Be sure to go and check out the alternative designs that they are giving away for four times the chance of winning.

Being a long time devotee of Cabbages and Roses and their dreamy, vintage aesthetic, I really am passionate about these fabrics that are screen and roller printed in the UK and designed in London. All in delicate colours that suit all seasons and will effortlessly add a vintage layer to your interior. Living on the East Sussex coast the Ships passing fabric would look so perfect as cushions in our house. I can't wait to make some. I am also counting the days until I can visit their new Avery Row store too. My husband will have to drag me out by my ears.

So, I will be giving one lucky winner a metre of each fabric swatch pictured here from the beautiful Gilbert Range, 'Ships passing' 'Metro' and 'Scoopy'. To enter all you need to do is leave a comment here telling me what you would make with the fabric if you were to win. The winners will be announced on Monday the 29th of November. If you are the lucky winner I would love to see what you create at a later date.

You can also get an extra entry if you post or tweet about the giveaway and comment back with a link to the post here. Good luck and don't forget the other prints available at Dreamy Whites, French Larkspur and My Sweet Savannah.

Have a happy Thursday, I hope the sun is shining wherever you are today.

Swoon

Swoon towards the festive season with a copy of the latest Sweet Paul Magazine. I love every page, from the sugar jewels to the bloody Mathilda cocktail. Packed from cover to cover with beautiful photography, styling ideas and DIY projects, could this be the best issue ever?

All images Sweet Paul Magazine.

Supplies and notions

If you were thinking of handmade presents this year maybe you should treat yourself first with these lovely utilitarian supplies and notions from Merchant and Mills to get started? I love the traditional branding and boxes. Of course if you are not a stitcher yourself they make superb gifts in themselves.

Great ships and flocks of gulls

Winter is closing in on our house today, swirling winds whipping leaves from their branches and throwing them up into the air. The sky is as dark as dusk and it is only just after 10am.

The winter in my imagination however, has been captured perfectly in these top images by local Hastings artist Claire Fletcher. Where is my knowing reindeer to guide me through the snow? (will add to December wishlist)
Many of Claire's illustrations and paintings are inspired by a magically nostalgic view of local attractions, surroundings and traditional British past times. How lucky to see the world in this playful way. Great ships and flocks of seagulls, mermaids and sailboats, favourite pets and toys, dress ups and exploring games.

I see life in a similar way in my head, I just can't draw or paint for toffee.

If you are falling for claire's work as I have, be sure to catch her at the Selvedge Christmas fair.

All images Claire Fletcher.

Beret wearing lovers

New Winter collection from Cabbages and Roses and this dress rocks my world, and the tiny beret wearing peanut lovers necklace is super sweet too.

Saturday places

I love to spend my weekends discovering the delights of a town I have never visited before, unfortunately I work nearly every Saturday and on sundays a lot of the smaller shops are closed. But I was lucky enough to have the entire of last weekend off. So we woke early and shipped out to Deal in Kent, and it did not disappoint. A lovely main street of organic cafes, vintage shops, an amazing cheese shop with a wonderful owner who with his great knowledge helped us with our choices.

We left Deal with a vintage fur coat and a bag of beautiful fresh baked meringues for her, and cheese, meats and unrefined sea salt for him.

I will no longer be working Saturdays after this week so heres to many more explorations.

Weekend things

This weekend I made a new little friend, ate freshly toasted bread with lashings of lemon curd in amongst my paper scraps, walked the beach, trudged the woods and visited the sad remains of our pier. Fresh air and much needed sunshine.

Fallen leaves

Happy Sunday. I am off to collect pine cones and fallen leaves.

A week of pretty

Fondant creams, favourite books for inspiration, frilly layers, lavender and rose, cushions and colour charts. I love making things and this week off has really been great. Sad to go back to the day job next week.

Little things and shoes that sparkle

Adorable little dog cards from Rifle Paper Co and a shoe thats definitely not suitable for puppy walking.

Natures treasure

I adore Autumn and all the colours it yields (as you well know, bla bla bla, do I ever shut up about it?) and that is why I love Plumo. This seasons collection makes me want to pull on snuggly socks and winter boots, wrap up in a blanket tied with a jute belt, and go collect natures treasure in a leafy woodland somewhere.

All images Plumo.

All my favourite colours.

A hearty cup of spiced chicken and bean soup was the helping hand I needed to start an Autumn pom pom garland and embroidering some new cushions last week.

Six of the best . . . Cushions

There's no quicker, easier way to update or re direct the design of any room than with new soft furnishings and cushions in my opinion are the best place to start. I love using found and repurposed fabric from favourite dresses and skirts that no longer fit or vintage curtains, to make quick decorative cushion covers. Who knew the old embellished Jigsaw cardigan that I shrunk would look so great on my sofa?

If you neither have the time or inclination to craft your own these six shops sell great collections of cushions and pillows. Here are my favourites. Top row, Odessa folk cushions - Plumo, Cottage Garden Cushions - RE-Found Objects, and Mulberry pink striped - Papa Stour.
Bottom row, Orangerie floral cushion - Designers Guild, Silk velvet - Toast, and Roses Vintage Retro - Plonka Home.

something for the weekend

Inside the parcel was the perfect clutch bag, that completes my outfit for tonight on the tiles, I ordered it from Liz of lovely shop Seven Poppies, you can catch up with her and all the shop goings ons over at the Seven Poppies blog too.

All images Seven Poppies.

Happy Wednesday

Pretty in pink, things for a sweet tooth and new craft projects. I'm going to London for the day with my sister to meet a friend and see a show. Happy Wednesday.