We have just returned - filled with inspiration from our travels around france.

Lots of lovely food and some interesting brocanting!

I thought i would share with you some pictures of Ile de Re, one of my favourite places -we go back most years, it has similar light quality to st ives. Big skies, billowing drifts of wild fennel, and wonderful chalky coloured shutters on all of the buildings, which always inspire me for colours in our designs!

the Island is a spit of land off the coast of La Rochelle, famed for its salt, oysters and little buttery yellow potatoes. Everyone cycles everywhere which is lovely and makes it blissfully quiet.

the beautiful soft chalky paint colours of the shutters always a source of inspiration!

above majolica stripe

its been a ridiculously busy week here , making jams for the school fete.

finishing new designs for decorex

and sorting out bits and pieces for our summer travels in the camper van - do say hello if you happen upon us in france (more of where we are going in a later post)

we joined instagram and you can find us here

this week i discovered Meera Sodha via instagram and then her gorgeous website here, and i can't wait to cook these coconut prawns her new cookbook will definitely feature on my xmas list.

I also found my chum Holly on instagram (Holly was my beautiful assistant for Decorex last year and i am hoping she will join us again this year.) She is finishing her textile degree and writes a fab lifestyle blog at the same time .