A NEW LINE

 

Whilst it feels like the rest of the world are on vacation, here at Clementine & Bloom we've been busy at work. Here's a snapshot during our photo shoot for our new range of cards, already a popular seller at markets and events we've decided to add them to our online shop! 

HOT STUFF

With the temperatures teetering on zero degrees and snow floating in the air we can't seem to make enough of these hot water bottle covers!

They are being snapped up at Greenwich Market, ordered online and sent out to Sweden and the USA and 'favourited' regularly over on Etsy.

They make excellent Christmas presents and are available in different colour ways combining new, vintage, Liberty prints and our very own Clementine & Bloom fabrics. 

But be warned, that final postal deadline is fast approaching!

PRECIS...

My holiday feels like a distant memory now as it has been a busy week putting the finishing touches to a wedding order which is now safely on its way to New York. Having made the last silk rosette and hand stamped the last name it seems a real shame that this order is completed. It has been so nice to make something special like this, a keepsake, that you know is going to be a small part of making someone's wedding day special. But then that is the joy of handmade, it's that personal touch...

As it was a certain someone's birthday this week we made time to whip up a cake; the whole family is enjoying the sponge-icing-strawberries combo that came about from our jubilee-esque cake creation. On the plus side, the strawberries don't last long so you really do have to eat the cake in one sitting (without guilt, as it is far worse to waste food!).

Now the cake is finished and the wedding order posted it leaves today to finish off the last bits and pieces for tomorrows Designers / Makers market in Old Spitalfields where we have been informed a camera crew have been invited to film the stall holders...cue hysteria...

So with crimson faces and our Sunday best attire we hope to see you there!

DIAMOND JUBILEE FESTIVAL

After much anticipation and organisation the big day for the Diamond Jubilee Festival at Battersea Park arrived. So did the rain! But true to the Great British character we all Kept Calm and Carried On.

Here is our stall resplendent in all its patterny glory 

We were placed in a great position in the Vintage Village area. There were tents here ranging from pop up shops selling vintage clothes and accessories and a fabulous marquee where The Powder Puff Girls were working hard on beauty makeovers in glamourous styles from the 1950's. 

We were kept entertained throughout the day by a variety of amazing musical artists, like these lovely ladies singing songs from the 1940's and 50's

On the other side of the arena where we were pitched was the music stage. Performing here the bands and groups kept up a steady flow of tunes which ranged from the Acid Brass Band (who knew this was out there?) to the Noisettes and The Selecter - fabulous entertainment, we even managed to have a dance at the end of the day.

Keeping up the vintage theme there were traditional fairground attractions and steam fair, and of course it was a prime location to stand along the River Thames to watch the Queen and the stunning flotilla of boats as they sailed down stream.

Despite the awful weather it was wonderful to see so many people join together to celebrate this once in a lifetime event. Everyone embraced the day and the variety of red, white and blue outfits and hats was incredible, we particularly loved the men wearing the Union Jack suits.

For us, it was a truly memorable day.

NEWS FLASH

We interupt your day with a very important news announcement - Clementine & Bloom have been cordially invited to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee (well sort of)!

We are off to Battersea Park on Sunday 3rd June as part of the Diamond Jubilee Festival, ourselves and other lovely Etsy sellers will have stalls selling all things British. The day itself sounds like it will be great fun, the theme is a celebration of the past and present, with live bands, cakes baked by the WI, vintage clothes stalls and even a vintage car boot sale. Battersea Park will also be a prime location to watch the flotilla of boats scheduled to sail down the Thames as part of the celebrations.

We are super excited about this event and hope you can join us to mark this very special day.

HUNGRY WORKERS

Now that our fabric has arrived, and we have secured a spot at the Designers / Makers market in Spitalfields, we have been beavering away day (and night) in our studio to make lots of lovely new homewares.

We can now add this lovely London Skyline cushion to our shop with more in the other fabrics to follow shortly.

All this hard work makes us hungry, and never one to miss an opportunity we got creative in the kitchen with home-made pizza yesterday as suggested by Stephene Reynaud for 2nd May.

Here's one of our fabulous creations featuring salami, chorizo, portobello mushroom, red onion and finished with chunks of mozzarella. 

If you haven't made your own pizzas before then you should definitely give this a go, simple to make (the hardest part is making a round base!) and you can indulge in your favourite topping combinations. Delicious! What would your's be...?   

SCINTILLATION

According to the Oxford English Dictionary the definition of scintillate is sparkle, twinkle; emit sparks. We would love to create a spark and light up your home so here are our first lampshades for your perusal. 

Available in two sizes; 20cm table lamp and 30cm diameter ceiling pendant they feature our new London prints. 

In stock now in our shop!

            

LONDON'S CALLING

Having produced our cushion collection earlier in the year we have since been concentrating our efforts on creating a print collection. London will always be in our hearts at Clementine & Bloom and with it being such a great British year it seemed natural to progress into designing London themed fabrics.

After many a trip to draw, photograph and absorb the vibrancy of the city we knuckled down to produce our first full collection. As with all good things, this takes time but now we can finally reveal the finished results...

There is the eclectic medley of architecture encompassing all that we love about London - a mish mash of ancient and modern, from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre to the faceted glass 'Gherkin' tower - in red and blue colourways.

Also featured is a pattern of Ravens inspired by the legend that warns that if these majestic birds were to leave the Tower of London, the kingdom and the Tower would fall.

Taking the wonderful curves of the dome at St Paul's Cathedral we produced a repeat lozenge design.

And finally in a larger scale design is a half-drop repeat pattern in a light blue colour. They are all printed onto 100% cotton and are now waiting to be made into items for our shop.

MUM'S THE WORD

Now that March is here and we have seen the return of the sunshine, we have been looking forward to upcoming events on the calendar. With Mothering Sunday only 16 days away, why not give the gift of something hand-made. All these and much more are available now in our shop.

KEEP WARM & CARRY ON

In the words of the great William Morris 'Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.'

With that in mind Clementine & Bloom bring you useful and beautiful hot water bottle covers to keep you and your loved ones warm through these chilly winter nights.

FOR QUEEN AND COUNTRY

Clementine & Bloom have produced their first cushion collection!

Having felt loved up for weeks about the prospect of Valentine's Day we released the Heart Cushion in our etsy shop ahead of finishing the collection. And now, having been happily snowed in all week, we can unveil the Union Jack Cushion, the Stars and Stripes Cushion, the Crown Cushion and the Heart Cushion.

In a truly Great British year of the Diamond Jubilee and Olympics what better way to show your love for your country than with our fabulously patriotic designs (and we even added the American flag for our friends across the pond).

As always, you can find all of these and many more delightful designs in our shop.

HEART'S CONTENT

With Valentine's Day just around the corner we thought now was the perfect time to make the Heart Quilt.

The plan was only hatched a few weeks ago during our escape to France meaning the clock was ticking to have it made before 14th February. As this was our first foray into quilted icons it was an exciting opportunity to draft our own pattern and with two heads being better than one, the design was created. We set to work with both sewing machines going at full speed and can now reveal the finished quilt.

Available now in our shop; the perfect gift for the one you love.

FANCY FOOTWORK

In the studio today...

With these essential materials (and the pattern from the Quilt Yourself Gorgeous book) we have made a fabulous new pair of slippers.

To see the finished pair and our other items visit us in our shop!

OPEN ALL HOURS

Clementine & Bloom has opened the doors (metaphorically speaking) to our first shop. Come and browse our delightful designs at CLEMENTINEandBLOOM on etsy!

Here's a sneak peak at the first listing, but keep popping back because exciting Valentine's gifts our still to come...