Cadbury's Dairy Milk meets Posada's Day of the Dead!

For her 10th birthday this Saturday, my neighbour Kitty unwrapped a 'Posada' Day of the Dead chocolate mould. And today I was visited with the results and as you can see for yourself, they've turned out pretty well considering all was required was a big bar of Cadbury's Dairy Milk, a watchful eye over the melting process and an hour and a half of tortuous waiting while they chilled in the fridge. Here's a few pics of birthday girl, Kitty (on the right in the first photo) with her friend, Mia, enjoying the fruits of their chocolatey labour.

Spiritual Insurance

This is one of my favourite original folk art pieces from the quirky Cielito Lindo Studio. Based in San Michel de Allende, Mexico, the studio creates highly collectible pieces using oxidised tin nichos painted in electric colours with humourous, cultural and religious motifs. I had a really nice range in-store earlier this year which have now sold out but for one or two. Second order now in and should be in-store by end of September.

I hope to visit the studio myself in the New Year when I am travelling in Mexico, I can't wait to explore the cobbled streets of this beautiful colonial town, I'm sure I will find all sorts of goodies to bring home to my store.

The Mode after party at Ugly Betty's

I knew papel picado would eventually turn up on Ugly Betty, although I was getting a tad impatient, but what an entrance! And not only that, there was a hint of a Day of the Dead theme in there too! I particularly loved the larger panels created out of the traditional papel picado designs, fantastic! In case you didn't see the episode last week then here you go, these gorgeous fluttering works of art in all their glory and in no particular order!

Invoking Frida

Better late than never, as a passing nod to Frida Kahlo's birthday last month (6 July), I thought I would share this wonderful tribute blog titled Invoking Frida, created by Sharanya Manivannan in 2007 to celebrate the centenary of Kahlo's birth. This is truly one of the most wonderful collections of Frida photographs I have found and I hope you enjoy them as much as I continue to. Thanks Sharanya!

My favourite prints from Alexander Henry's Autumn 09 Folkloric Range - Coming Soon!

Azucar, pretty sugar skulls with glittery bits!


Cute Piñatas, I really love this one, it would make a great fabric to brighten up kid's rooms.

And finally, what's not to love about Señor Burrito?

Hoping to have these prints in my eBay shop as soon as they are available, they currently have a vague ship date of June - August, so hopefully not too much longer to wait.

Based in Burbank, California Alexander Henry Fabrics lead the industry with its cutting- edge, conversational print designs. They introduce new collections twice a year and although their collection is vast, I stick with just the Folkloric range as this fits nicely into my Mexicana collection.

I totally love this and wish someone would design one for me

I really, really need someone to design a logo for my shop, Between The Trees. I love the vintage tattoo imagery but with day of the dead sugar skulls, pretty milagro hearts and maybe a cute cameo appearance by Frida Kahlo. Oh and get rid of Neptune and his female sidekick, this is where I want my trees please. Any offers?

Rain stops hammock play, meanwhile elsewhere

As the rain continues to lash the UK, I thought I would share a couple of photographs emailed by happy hammock buyers who seem to be having better luck with the weather in Europe.

From Spain, the perfect hammock location has been found amidst a pretty Orange orchard. Siesta paradise!



Meanwhile, an Italian customer goes one better by creating what is quite simply hammock heaven with a scrumptious seaview. Oops there goes some more pangs of jealousy from my poor rainsodden heart.



Will these rain clouds above please move along, us UK dwellers would like our annual dose of sunshine please!