I want to ride my bicycle

Nick Dewar

I've gone a bit bike crazy today, I guess my boyfriend's admiration of bikes must be rubbing off. I don't think I'll ever get to his obsessed heights though. At the moment I'm liking the pictures I find rather than taking it that step further and actually buying everything. I hadn't owned a bike in ages until Dave built me one for my birthday last year and although I need to learn how to cycle on the roads properly without being scared of traffic, I am really enjoying it. Once I build up my confidence a bit I'd like to use it to go into town and avoid public transport wherever possible. Like the poster above by Scottish artist Nick Dewar says, it really would makes things simpler. It's good for your health, the environment and your wallet. Here are some nice bike photos for you to have a gander at. Have you got a bike? What do you like most about cycling?

Pashley

Gary Fisher

LeMond

Downtown from behind

Howie the biking gear

Riverside Museum, Glasgow

Carla

Teatime

Dr Stuarts is a British brand of teas - something that could seem boring to some. However, the packaging is so nice that we wanted to share it with you here. It has a very detailed design, with beautiful illustrations that say "you want me" from the supermarket shelves. Plus the combinations of herbs packed with flavour are very original and there are remedies for all types of ailments :)

They've also recently launched a line of sweets in tin boxes that are equally delightful.

The illustrations are the work of British artist Brett Ryder.

Fancy a triple ginseng iced tea to gather strength until the weekend? Maybe we would end up doing pirouettes on top of a horse like the dancer on the box ;)

Olga

Same, same but different: hotels for Tarzan

Not long to go until holiday time and I’m really looking forward to a nice break and some sunshine. Speaking of holidays and places to stay when you’re abroad, I thought I’d make this month’s ‘same, same but different’ all about these amazing treehouse hotels in Sweden, India and France. How much fun would it be to stay in one of these? I might just have to pencil them in for next summer. All of them. I love them.

The last picture really reminds me of an imaginary world my friend Stephanie and I conjured up when we were in primary school with lots of little huts sitting in treetops. Granted, it was a world for aliens but I could happily see myself living in one of these treehouses. 

Would you like to spend your holidays somewhere different like this or would it give you a bit of vertigo? If you fancy staying in amongst the trees, click on the links below to find out more.

The Mirrorcube, Sweden

Kerala treehouse, India

Keycamp treehouse in the Loire, France

Carla

H&M Home: new collection

Despite the high temperatures we've been experiencing lately, H&M, a place I like to visit religiously, has already brought out its H&M Home autumn-winter collection. In Spain, unlike in the UK, we're still patiently awaiting our chance to get our hands on their products for the home (let's pray those Swedish Gods bring the collection to Spanish shores soon).

We'll leave you with a peek of the collection which is full of warm and autumnal tones and has a slight vintage edge to it. We liked it a lot, especially the lovely animal print cushions that my house is screaming out for. What about you? Do you like it?

Via: H&M Home

Olga

Music for the weekend

Since we've not really posted any music clips on here yet, I thought it was about time we got you all dancing and put you in a weekend frame of mind. These are some golden oldies that I've been listening to lately, mainly because of remixes that I found while searching for music to go out running to - I can recommend Dizzee Rascal's version of Dirty Cash if you're looking for motivational exercise music. I like good remixes but the original versions are usually the best. Listen out for The Boss' multiple whoo's at the end of his song (they really make it for me) and well, you can't beat a bit of Roxy Music, can you? 

What about you? What have you been listening to lately?

Carla

Pick 'n' Mix: Fruit cocktail

Summer is (finally) here. Warm, sunny days, the scent of holidays, terraces, beaches and swimming pools and plenty, I mean plenty, of fruit. Because this season's fruit is the tastiest, isn't it? On that note, we bring you June's Pick 'n' Mix - colourful, refreshing and packed with vitamins.

1. Banana-shaped doorstop from Momastore    

2.     Watermelon-shaped bowl for a sweet fruit salad from Pier1

3.     Chopping board complete with Vitamin C from UO

4.     Earrings from UO and The Tiny Fig

5.     Watermelon knife from Momastore

6.     Pineapple candle-holder from Habitat

7.     Notepads shaped like pears or apples from D-Bross

8.     Kiwi pin cushion from SeaPinks

And as a side portion, how about a virtual fruit salad wallpaper from the fantastic selection on offer at Simple Desktops:

Which fruit will you go for?

Olga

Fabrications

Last week I went to see the degree show at Derby University and there were a lot of nice things on display, particularly from the Textiles Department. I will do my best to write a proper post about some of the work I saw but in the mean time I'd like to share these photos with you. True, they have nothing to do with the show but are fine examples of how textiles can be used in art and they amused me when I saw them.

These are from the ‘Nid de Poule‘ (pothole) project by Juliana Santacruz Herrera. Using colourful pieces of wool, she brightened up the streets of Paris giving cracks and holes in pavements a new lease of life and offering passers-by something to smile at.

Trendland

Artist Inge Jacobsen is about to graduate with a degree in Photography from Kingston University in London. She takes high fashion images and likes to explore unconventional perceptions of photography by embroidering, cutting, and collaging. See her website for fully embroidered covers of Vogue. It must have taken her ages.

Inge Jacobsen

Lastly, I loved this when I saw it and I'm sure you'll appreciate it too if you ever watched The Cosby Show when you were little. Whoever started this Tumblr had a brilliant idea.

The Cosby Sweater Project

On the subject of art...and crafts in general, and for those of you still looking for something to do this weekend, why not attend one of the worldwide Etsy craft parties being held near you today. Find out more and get an Etsy Craft Party Kit here. It looks like fun. Enjoy your weekends!

Carla