Maison et Objet, January 2012

Rumour is going continental…as last week we made our first trip to one of the smartest interiors trade shows -Maison et Objet. Our glamorous trip started with a not so glam 6am start in St Pancras when we boarded the Eurostar clutching revitalising cups of tea, Maison floorplans and the obligatory first croissant of the trip!

Our (very good) excuse for the visit was to check out the stands and latest launches from two of our lot Natural History and Voyage Decoration. But we also took a few turns around the inspiring Maison halls, took some snaps, found out about lots of lovely new brands and put together an overview of our Maison trends…

Starting with a trend that we already know and love that we were happy to see continuing throughout the show – industrial chic. Madam Stoltz’s industrial, wire and wood products were a great example of this…

More wire from Borgo Delle Tovaglie and another trend that spread its wings across the show – birds! Although this trend seemed to mainly be garden birds I’m sure this fella is a bird in someone’s garden somewhere…

Our friends at Voyage Decoration launched the second Voyage Country fabric range that was packed full of prints of birds and other country critters.

Along with a Scottish themed fabric collection of colourful tartans and thistles aplenty, oh and new cushions and furniture ranges too – they’ve been keeping busy!

But the birds don’t stop there…in fact they got even more exotic with Natural History’s Flamingo prints stalking through the stand out trend along with their products using antique illustrations of a parade of monkeys too.

Another trend we were pleased to see sticking around (but now with an added punch)…was the 50s style but this time with more colour, more brightness and even more fun 50s shapes.

We call it Mid-Century Pop and like very much indeed. The pics seen here are of the Sentou stand who know how to do this style with super colours perfectly.

And also seen in our totally on trend hotel Palm Opera where we spotted furniture from another fave from the show Red Edition.

Oh and Sentou have it spot on with one more trend – paper lights - a great, eco idea with a soft look that we saw throughout the show too…

These paper lamps stacked on cool vintage books (another mini trend!) were lookig fab at the Borgo Della Tovaglie stand too.

Paper featured heavily in other products too - these paper storage boxes from the Paper Storage Company were some of top paper picks…

But the colours kept coming…grey and yellow were still standing out to us all through the show. Wonderful British brand MissPrint showed us how its done with their new fabric and wallpaper ranges. 

Here’s a moment in picture of about halfway through day one of our Parisian adventure when Mel finally navigated us out of Hall 5A (honestly it was like a black-hole – we just couldn’t leave!)

And here’s why we got lost…the fantastic antique circus themed Andrew Martin stand. Fabulous, oversized, distracting vintage style homeware. Not to be looked at when you should be scrutinising a map!

We were also happily distracting looking at and longing for Donna Wilson’s tactile Bora Da range on the SCP stand.

Dupenny’s sweetly saucy showgirl prints on wallpaper and new cushions were show stoppers in the British European Design Group‘s eclectic stand of young British brands.

Here I am having a break and indulging in something French and chocolatey…

Following two of our favourite threads throughout the show (garden birds and canary yellow) and charming us just a little…we fell for these 70s retro stylish display lamps from Le Jacquard Francais.

This colourway of the show also led through to these great colour combinations seen on Niki Jones’ hand-crafted lovelies. This skilled homespun feel was reflected in a few further (particularly British) brands like Charlene Mullen and Wallace Sewell.

We also loved the classic British craft story behind Flux. A Stoke on Trent based brand that are rejuvenating the traditional ceramics factories Stoke is famous for with new designs from the latest crop of students. Keep to the classic blue, white and gold though, of course.

Although our treks around the vast halls of Maison may have meant the end for some of our shoes…

We loved the show and everyone loves an excuse to buy new shoes in Paris - although the pom-pom boots may not have been the imagined purchase! 

It inspired us, taught us about some upcoming trends but perhaps more importantly that some of the trends that we know and love won’t be going far. Can’t get better than that.

Except that (cheesy photo alert) we also got to see the Eiffel Tower, eat fabulous French food and even try out a bit of our high school French (mais oui, c’est vrai!)

A bientôt, Amy and Mel x

Thornback & Peel Pop Up Shop

We took a trip to Thornback & Peel’s Pop Up shop yesterday. This one off sale is running all this week (up to Saturday) at Craft Central on Clerkenwell Green. Don’t miss the discounted and seconds of their creative collection of hand-printed linen and cottons. Discounts include…

Wallpapers, aprons…

Tea towels…

Kids T’s, Bags…

And more. Go, buy, enjoy!

Amy x

Rumour goes Home

Today we took a trip to the first Home London show, the new interiors extension to the established Top Drawer trade show. We loved the show. A perfect addition to put a stylish spotlight on homewares brands. The trends we can see a’coming after Home London: colour and by gum lots of it, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (thanks ma’am) and innovations – we even saw a wooden radio!

Here’s a lowdown of our highlights, including a few of our lot who exhibited – Anorak, Natural History and Thornback & Peel.

Anorak introduced new lovely ranges of towels and bedding (bagsy a Kissing Robins duvet cover)…

And introduced some nifty new prints on their ramblers style stand…

We loved the colours and knits on the SCP stand…

Natural History got exotic with the monkey and flamingo prints in their new range…

And a tile range with some fabulous unusual designs…

We loved the graphic style (and plenty of colour!) over at the Room39 stand…

People Will Always Need Plates had a fab stand busy offering design commissions…

Thornback & Peel’s hot of the press hand-prints were getting regal…

And seeing their most covetable deckchairs made us remember spring is on the way (well we’re optimists aren’t we?!)…

We discovered Lindsey Lang, whose beautiful bright retro prints kept with the colourful spring palette…

While our final stop at Jonathan Adler’s stand reminded us that we never get bored of pattern.

Amy and Mel x

Happy New Year

It’s New Year’s resolution time again and we’re all excited about what 2012 has in store for Rumour PR. It wouldn’t be January without a few new resolutions to stick to. We’ve all got at least one each in the Rumour office so here they are…

Amy – wants to learn to use her sewing machine and for it not to be just an ornament in her living room.

Sophie – wants to not spend more than £25 per month on clothes. Look out charity shops, here Soph comes!

Mel – wants to master making Crème brûlée using her new butane torch she bought for her husband (yes, it was one of those gifts…this is for you but really for me, let’s share!) as well as do more exercise so she doesn’t become the size of a house.

Susan -wants to read more books and get to grips with her SLR camera (and not just use the automatic mode all the time)

Ruth – is not in the office but hers would probably be something like successfully wean baby Ellen and get her sleeping through the night.

Our clients have a few great products to help with new year resolutions from learning a new skill like knitting or icing a cake to remembering to pack your lunch to keeping a daily journal.

And of course, we love the mottos in the Work together poster from Nixey and Godfrey which we all aspire to.

Have a happy and healthy 2012 from all of us at Rumour.

It’s Chriiiiiiiistmas at Rumour PR

With holidays just around the corner – Father Christmas is preparing the reindeer, the cold weather is setting in, the goose is (as always) getting fat, we are all stocking up our fridges with festive essentials (cranberry sauce, buck’s fizz, mince pies) and at Rumour we have been putting together a definitive guide to help out with Christmas gifts for just about anyone…

 

New client alert: Buttonbag

We have lots of exciting news today as Ruth had her baby girl (smack bang on her due date) and we have a new member of the Rumour team, Sophie,  but more about all that another time.

Today, we are pleased to announce Buttonbag as our newest client!  We’ve launched with their fab Christmas collection which includes kits for making Christmas stockings, Advent calendars, Christmas tree baubles and robins, and a Nativity peg doll set. Mel has already been busy making 4 Advent calendars for her 2 little ones and her 2 nieces visiting from Australia for Christmas – Only 19 days to go until they need to be finished! Ah, panic – Mel’s evenings have suddenly become very crafty indeed.

Here’s a bit about Buttonbag and what they do…

Buttonbag is a young innovative company breathing new life into old crafts by updating them in a fresh, contemporary way. Since founding the company in 2005, Sara Duchars and Sarah Marks have graduated from a stall at London’s Greenwich market to a network of more than 200 stockists across the country. In 2008 they moved production from their kitchen tables to a design and manufacturing studio in the heart of London’s old traditional textile district in the East End.

The lovely craft kits are designed and made in the UK using a range of beautiful fabrics, wools and trimmings. They endeavour to source everything as close to home as possible and the vast majority of the kit components, including all the packaging, comes from the UK.

Importantly, each craft kit contains everything needed to make the finished item. Sewing kits have needles, sticking kits have glue and toys that need stuffing have stuffing.

They also have a great haberdashery section for beautiful ribbons, braids, extra pins, needle kits, inexpensive scissors and lots more. Great for sewing projects, party bags and stocking fillers!

Bidding adieu to Nixey and Godfrey

We’ve been working with the lovely Nixey and Godfrey for the last three months, helping them to launch their website and beautiful homewares and gift shop on the North Norfolk coast.  Our project work with them is now sadly finished, but we have had a great time working together and wish them all the best!  You’ll be able to spot Nixey and Godfrey popping up all over the press over the next few months, so keep an eye out.  In the meantime, here’s a taster of their eclectic mix of original, vintage and upcycled homewares, furniture and gifts.

Jeepers Creepers

It’s that spooky time of year when all the creepy crawlies come out and the nights are drawing in. Have you noticed more 8 legged creatures around the house? Apparently, they are more visible to us during autumn as the females fatten up to attract a courting male. So while you curl up on the sofa and the spiders prepare to hibernate, here is our selection of spooky products and gifts to celebrate the season.

Don’t forget clocks go back on Saturday night and remember to be nice to any  “Trick or Treaters” – the Hope and Greenwood Trick or Treat sweet box should help.

Also, while you’re in the mood, why not enter the “Pimp your pumpkin” competiton on Anorak’s facebook page and “Scary pictures” competition on Hope and Greenwood’s facebook page. If nothing else, have a look at the entries for a good laugh.

Have a safe and happy hallowe’en.

Baking Week, 17th – 23rd October

Don’t forget to get your hands floury to celebrate National Baking Week, 17th -23rd October. I’m going to give jam tarts a go and Mel has promised to bring home baked biscuits into the office…can’t wait.

To help you make the most of it, here are some Baking Week ideas from Tala and Roost Living:

Jam plan

This year I made my first attempt to grow crops on my inner city roof terrace. And I’m pleased to say it worked! I loved coming home to find dainty tomatoes and buckets full of beans ready and waiting for me. But now the summer of veg growing has come to an end this taste of creating at home has left me itching for more…

I’m always up for a challenge…so what could be a better idea than to take my new found interest in all things crafty creativeness and run with it? So I’ve decided to set myself some challenges to push my crafty interests to the limit…oh and provide myself with a bit of fun and hopefully some yummy/pretty things to enjoy. Roll on Challenge Amy!

So I’m starting my challenge season with jam. And why not – it’s delicious, indulgent, a perfect smug gift and apparently easy to make when you have the right kit.

However my attempt at growing strawberries this year was a failure, so my challenge started with a reluctant trip to the supermarket for the supplies (next year, eh?)

As a jam novice the next thing I did was get my hands on a Tala Jam Making Kit that included all I needed and some handy instructions too. Hurrah. So I’ve got me a special jam thermometer (with a marking that just says JAM), a perfect fitting funnel and all the bits and bobs that you’d never think of yourself (cellophane disks, labels, pretty covers – even elastic bands! Genius).

Take a look at Tala’s Jam Kit for the full instructions – but here is a brief history of my jam making afternoon…

Here’s everything you needSterilise jars in the oven

Wash all the strawberries

Admire

Hull them (ie pull out stalks)

Add sugar (lots of it!)

And lemon

Then get cooking with your trusty Tala thermometer

Get the temperature right

Add butter

Then boil until the thermometer says JAM!

Not *too* much washing up

Leave to settle

Time to get the rest of the kit out

Get funnelling

Pop in the wax lids
Then you have jam!

And a happy jam maker

Spread on bread…
Gone!

Amy x