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Posts from the ‘INSPIRATIONS’ Category

Apr 3

Celebrations: Big Bespoke Bling Balloons

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We have been creating our BIG BLING Balloons for a few years now – helping celebrations go off with an extra large bang with our 1m giant BIG BALLOONS …  with a selection of our off the shelf paper and metallic fringed tails.

Behind the scenes, we have also made lots of  bespoke tails for our commercial clients and some special events – but until now have not been able to offer this service online…

This weekend, I worked with the award winning local photographer Lisa Devlin on styling her latest wedding couple – the lovely Steph and Russell (see below).  My brief was “vintagey pink” and I created this pastel pink balloon with a paper flower and tassled tail – all hand made…. and we thought it would make a nice start as an online offering of what we can do.. YOU CAN FIND IT HERE  (in addition to the BLOOM BROLLY)

If you have a special project or event, then let us know – meanwhile we will continue to develop our collection of ‘ready to float’ Bling Balloons.

x

BlingBalloon-BRIDE

Wedding photography courtesy of Lisa Devlin Photography – all rights reserved

Apr 3

Celebrations: Introducing the Paper Flower Bloom Brolly

BloomBrolly2-logo

BloomBrolly5-logoWe undertake a lot of bespoke decoration and styling projects for clients.  From visual merchandising displays to film sets..  and a lot of them I cannot blog about, simply due to client secrecy.  But we have been working hard behind the scenes finding ways of adding a bespoke element to our paper decoration collection that we could share!

So first up is our collection of simple DIY Paper Blooms – Paper Flowers which are hand cut in house ready for  you to frou frou for your own celebration.  To showcase them we created our PAPER BLOOM BROLLY, filled with over 100 paper blooms.  We first did a version of this for the 2009 Arundel Festival parade (winning first prize no less) but our latest version has a LOT more flowers than the first incarnation.. and is a little more refined.

The Edwardian style parasol umbrella’s are actually from our own (very wet) wedding.. and it took a full day of flower making and design to get a finish that I was confident would work at a real “do”

So on Saturday we took our Bloom Brolly for a spin at the wedding of Steph and Russell ..  which the talented award winning local photographer Lisa Devlin was shooting.  We think the Bloom Brolly added a lovely backdrop to the vintage pink wedding style adopted by the Bride… and of course Lisa’s shots are magnificent.  We have collaborated on a few things and I am thrilled that she is working with me on a new project (hush hush for now but watch this space).

We also made a matching BLING BALLOON for the event … more later.

The first collection of Paper Flowers will be fully live over the next week or so, and our bloom brolly is a project which we take on a commission only basis, simply due to the time involved.  If you are being shot by Lisa at your wedding, we do work with her on prop selections by request.

Made us feel like Spring was (finally) in the air!

BloomBrolly-bride

Wedding photography courtesy of Lisa Devlin Photography – all rights reserved.  Other photography J Pearce – all rights reserved.

Jan 28

Party: Popcorn Bags and Sweet Treats

Our customers sometimes send us pictures of our Pearl and Earl celebration pieces in action – and we never tire of seeing the inspirational ways in which our products are used.  Take these Quick & Easy Christmas Sweet Treats sent to us by Olive and Fawn using our Pop Corn Bags.  Not just for Christmas, we think they are a delicious and delightful way to gift …

We will continue to share our inspirations, so please keep sending them in!

Nov 8

Decorations: New Paper Lanterns

New into Pearl and Earl this week is the start of our new Spring collection preview, with the launch of our Paper Lanterns.  We are going all out for new Wedding style – and are totally in love with our Giant Paper Lanterns in Mint Green and White.

But lets not get too ahead of ourselves as we also have a fab collection of Christmas colours too …  not enough? Well later this month we will be adding on our full palette of over 19 colours for you to choose from, in 6 sizes.  We think they look fabulous as a central ceiling display mixed with our paper pom poms.. 

What do you think?

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Nov 6

Press: Living Etc goes Paper Bling for Christmas

Back in at the beginning of the Summer we had a large press request from the fabulous team at Living Etc – one of our favourite home style magazines.  Amongst other things they needed 120 blue and mini fans!.. and we wondered just what on earth they were going to do with them all.  But seeing the multi page results in this months Christmas edition, we are absolutely thrilled with firstly how amazing it looks… (Loving the blues and purples as an alternative theme)..  and secondly just how much coverage they gave Pearl and Earl and our paper decorations!

The style team also used plenty of our metallic curtains which added a lovely backdrop in the lounge and dining schemes.  Our decs were also called in to decorate one of the homes, and finally were used in the ‘ask the designer’ section of the magazine – when advising a reader what was hot to update their Christmas decor, the answer was Pearl and Earl!

Hope you feel as inspired as we do by their vision… and how fab to be recognised for our hard work in the press.

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Oct 17

Party Style: Halloween Decs in full effect at HQ

HALLOWEEN has arrived in full effect at HQ this week.. and we have a super chic selection of paper decorations to add a little paper bling chic to your celebrations.

Our Paper Honeycomb Balls come in our own dyed shades of retro orange and midnight black.. then we have matching garlands, fringe festooning, paper striped straws and crepe streamers.. and best of all the cutest paper pumpkins.  Last year I launched a SPOOKY FACES PDF (including a moustached pumpkin) which you can still download here.

More DIY ideas and invites to follow…

Oct 2

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Baking: Geometric Cakes and Cookies

I LOVE these modern geometric cake and cookie designs from LA based MODERN BITES.  Not only are their cakes and cookies delicious but so is their gift packaging.  If Pearl and Earl was a cake, it would probably look something like this.  With patterns ideas lifted from the 70′s and a clever use of printed, flooded and fondant techniques we think they rock.

Seeing as it is Baking Week this week – why not experiment with something a little geometric, colourful and chic?

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Sep 17

Style: Blackboard Big Balloons

Using a chalk pen on black balloons is the genius idea of CONCEPT2012. This Dutch stylist asked some students to close their eyes and think of a word that was in their hearts (deep) and then she used them to style the big balloons..

This would translate well for a wedding or birthday party – using words about the couple, place names… or simply the sentiment LOVE

Sep 14

Do: London Design Festival

The London Design Festival starts today .. and is celebrating its 10th year in the capital.

We are heading up to the V&A (any excuse to visit is good by me) and am browsing the site and new app to plan some other adventures..

Aug 8

Cross Stitcher 256: Trends Zig a Zig Ahh

Cross Stitcher 256 sees the first design for the magazine being published after a years absense busy doing my book… and it will be the first of 5 projects over the next five issues.

For my trend column for issue 256 I have focussed on the most graphic of stripes to grace just about everything…  ZIG A ZIG AHH

Chevron love is all around as these dominant stripes are having a moment – as they have just about infiltrated every designers product and look book.  So perhaps you too may fancy a little zig-zag chic in your life!

>> 
Urban Outfitters (part of the Anthropology family) make the maddest shower curtains – so of course they have a chevron version for your bathroom
>> Why not make a statement with your own crafted chevron quilt using scraps or ready cut jelly rolls from Moda


>> Why not stitch up a little wall art by following a zig zag pattern and hanging in a hoop like Wallwork on Etsy… Or you can stitch my Zig Zag Groovy Glasses case from my book due out in September Supersize Stitches
PLUS >> Next month they have an exclusive extract and project from my new book, so it is definately worth reserving your copy of the magazine (well in my eyes anyway!)

Happy Stitching x

Aug 1

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STYLE

Pearl and Earl Loves .. STYLE! Home is where the heart is .. and Pearl and Earl love creating stylish things for your home.  We also while away many hours finding inspirational things to share which we love that we think you will love too..  from Geek to Granny Chic if it is Nostalgic, Colourful and Stylish we love it!  Like these fabulous caravan bird houses

Jun 22

Cross Stitcher 254 – Trends Jungle

In Cross Stitcher this month – my column is was entitled WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE, as not content with owls and cute folksy fowls, designers are looking to the Jungle Greats for their latest inspirations

WHO
I love Markus Lupfers animal sequinned jumpers this season, whilst Stella Macartney has also added a bit of roar with her tiger prints

Stella Macartney Tiger Jumper £575 Liberty

WHAT
The influence of mid century needlepoint is all around.. like this vintage lion cushion chart found on Etsy,by illkniterate, which you could use as a counted cross stitch pattern.

HOW
I love the alternative work of Susan from Red Gate Stitchery – and this cute PDF patchwork elephant is the perfect mix of pattern and silhouette.
Happy stitching x

Jun 18

Inspiration: A little bit of bling

We have already shared our lust for the new Great Gatsby bling styling vibe, and our passion for the XO balloon.  So this week we have launched more metallic products with a bit of bling – which we think add a little something to your day.  Whether stitching in gold thread, or adding a glamourous tail to one of our big balloons we nod our head to the trend that is metallic style…  just in time to go for gold for the Olympics!

We even hear that pearlised and metallic cakes are making a wedding comeback.  But remember folks – a little bit of bling goes a long way!

May 30

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Crafty Strawberries

Well it is that time of year in Sussex and we are off to pick Strawberries tomorrow ready for the big Jubilee weekend..  so I thought I would share a crafty strawberry find I found by thecozyproject…

Loving the Aqua / Strawberry combination on their coffee cosy, which is almost good enough to eat!…

May 21

Supersize Felting

I am a bit of a fan of artist Lucy Sparrow.. and have already shared with you her SUPERSIZE BOURBON..  but if you like a bit of chic alternative crafting, and supersize things like me – and are near London – why not pop and see her latest exhibition?

May 21

Pinterest and the Crochet Mermaid

PInterest is one of my new obsessions.. and yes I know I am late to the table, but there is a good reason for this….  I knew that when I joined, I would be sucked up into a world of pretty pictures for hours upon end!

.. well I was right!  But a new work project meant that due to ‘joint pin boards’ I had to sign up for this sweet shop of prettiness…  and on the front page was this madly gorgeous – or too much?  Mermaid crochet pattern for babies…  in a Products I Love / mermaid.

Sadly the pinterest gal did not fully credit the source *tut* and so I had a little look on Etsy and came up with this pattern …  too much on a new born in my eyes – but for a tot delightful – if a little ‘legs tied up’..

hey ho – sacrificing for craft and all that

 

May 17

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Cross Stitcher 253 – Supersize Trends

Cross Stitcher issue 253 is out this week.. and my column this month is all about SUPERSIZE TREATS… (with a little nod to my new SUPERSIZE STITCHING BOOK)

There is something quintessentially British about a cup of tea and a biscuit.  I have a lot of love for nostalgic munchies.. and it appears that lots of designers seem to feel the same, making supersize versions of our favourite teatime treats.

Lucy Sparrow is an artist who creates supersize felt stitched pieces – which she calls “feltism” she has created all sorts of things but I especially love her Bourbon Biscuit.

One of my very favourite nibbles are Tunnocks Teacakes and I adore this oversized screen printed cushion by Nikki Williams, who has also done a Caramel Bar… yum!
You can create your own sweet stitching using one of the cute mini biscuit patterns from The Making Spot .. or you could stitch up one of my Giant British Biscuit Collection, like this Custard Cream Kit.


Also in this issue is an interview with the delectable Mr X Stitch Jamie Chalmers … with his blokes view on stitching crafts.

Happy Stitching JP x

>>SUBSCRIBE HERE AND SAVE UP TO 45%

May 14

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Unique Bride Magazine | Your day, your way!

I discovered this new bridal magazine over the weekend…Unique Bride Magazine | Your day, your way!.  and LOVE its alternative style. Twitter @uniquebridemag

The first cover is all about Steam Punk – which is totally ahead of the curve in wedding style – so a brave first choice.  Steam Punk is one of my latest obsessions (Jules Verne meets Victoriana meets modern) and my publishers are just going to press with a new book on the subject STEAM PUNK GAZETTE

Meanwhile ..  have a read of this magazine if you want your day to be something a little different …

May 4

Supersize Paper Flower Couture

I was running through my ‘must blog about’ file tonight – and found this little gem I thought I would share.  The couture collection from Alexis Mabille this Spring featured these supersized paper flowers on the models heads.

My latest obsession is oversized paper flowers and I am experimenting a lot (see recent blog) .. and it is great to see these big bad boys in action..

Any daring brides out there?

 

May 4

Star Wars Crafts – “May the Fourth Be With You”

 

Today is international Star Wars Day (yes it exists) .. and their slogan is “May the 4th Be With You” – geddit?

Anyways – I love something a little bonkers, plus I am a total geek… and it seems I am not the only one – so I thought I would share this PINTEREST Star Wars Crafts page with you too…

Some total random items for sure – but the Princess Leia Hair Hat and Star Wars Blanket (blogged about my love of this ages ago) stand out for me…

Feel the crafty force x

 

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