I've long been an admirer of Ork's City Posters.  Brilliant execution of a really simple idea, but, alas, totally US centric.  Which, for us Europeans means you have to be really deeply familiar with a particular city they offer for it to have any personal meaning.

Step up, Bold and Noble, another of my favourite screenprint artists, who have just launched the absolutely lovely Type Map.  I think this one will eventually find a home on a picture shelf in the living room.  It is also available in a rather fetching duck egg blue - which would work well in the bedroom.  Hmm, decisions, decisions...

A very kind friend visited Moscow recently and brought me back my very own Russian Dolls. I was expecting the traditional red and yellow ones but I love these so much more. I can't stop looking at them, picking them up and stacking them.

Nestled In posted pictures of their new living room today and referenced Ink and Spindle as a fabric source.

Wow.

I had been looking for unique fabrics to turn into scatter cushions for the new sofa and these absolutely hit the mark. Limited edition, hand screen printed fabrics using environmentally friendly inks.

After much deliberation (and checking the import tax limits) I have chosen the following:

In Amsterdam, more than any other city I have lived in, getting to Ikea is a breeze. There are several in the Netherlands and two easily accessible by public transport from Amsterdam.

Yesterday I headed out there with the intention of picking up some fabric for bag making and also to have a better look at some of the furniture pieces we are considering without the weekend crowds or the reluctant husband.

The fabric section was an absolute goldmine. The off cuts bin was overflowing with useful pieces, most of them quite large and nearly all for under one euro, including a three metre long piece of hemmed fabric for 70 cents which will be our new table runner. I have been wanting to try out lining bags with plain canvas instead of fusible interfacing for a while and in Ikea you can cut as much as you want for E4.50 a metre.

My best bargain, however, came from the "as is" section right before the cash desks. When we first moved into our current rental we needed a spare bed but due to space constraints we knew a sofa bed would suit us better. We chose the Beddinge in Sandvik Green and put on the best mattress primarily for the comfort of our guests but also incase we ever had to use it as a bed or sofa for a period of time ourselves.

When we move to No.75 it will remain a spare bed but it is going to be in a room with a wall of windows and will also be nice to slump on for reading when the weather is not quite nice enough to sit outside. While scouring the bargain bin yesterday I saw a cover for the square arm cushions (which we had eschewed previously due to them being 26 Euros each). Hmmm, I thought, if I can find another one I'll get them. And, lo, after a bit of digging another one was unearthed. Having tracked down the cushion fillers (vacuum packed foam, how practical) I thought I better check how much they were discounting the covers for (the fillers are 7 Euros and the covers are normally 19 Euros). The tag in the first one said 15 Euros, not great but a saving is a saving. The other one, however, said 2.50 Euros, which happily Ikea matched.

Yes! *Happy Dance*

So two arm cushions for 18 Euros, less than the cost of one cover.

And here they are, assembled and looking pretty in the spare room.

I also got to get a look at the new garden furniture (as featured on Apartment Therapy here).

I couldn't get up close and personal with anything as it was all still in construction phase and roped off but what was out was very good looking.

I really think that the low lounge furniture

 

Image courtesy of Apartment Therapy

 

could work on the roof terrace. The cushions were extremely thick and the colour of the furniture is more of a milky caramel than it seems in the photo. With a few brightly patterned cushions and a couple of throws I think it could have potential.

 

Ikea, Love.

How have I not come across House Doctor before. This year's catalogue is 63 glorious pages of so many beautiful things I want to buy them all and stuff our home full of them.

This tea set comes in purple as well and is part of a much bigger range including serving dishes, trays and other kitchen goodies.

Vases, holders and candlesticks

I want all these ribbons on their beautiful spools. I don't know what I would do with them, but I want them anyway!

All images courtesy of House Doctor