Back in the early 1980′s Laura Ashley bought the rights to some of the Charleston House archived prints (Queen Mary and Charleston Grapes), which exploded on to the interiors scene in the form of our famous Bloomsbury home collection. Marking Laura Ashley’s 60th anniversary this year, we have once again re‑launched the Bloomsbury room set to it’s former glory.

Laura Ashley Bloomsbury Collection

This week Charleston House hosts their annual Charleston Festival so we invite you to enjoy some beautiful pictures from our bygone era trip to Sussex on Friday to enjoy the house, grounds and kick start their series of guest literary speakers…

The stunning Charleston House gardens

If you are planning a trip to the Charleston Festival make a day of it and enjoy a guided tour of the house itself before relishing in a talk by a rare line up of visionaries including Julian Fellowes (creator and writer of Downton Abbey) who kick started the week on Friday. The tour of the house takes you through each of the rooms, whereby ever inch of the house is covered floor to ceiling in awe‑inspiring art. The house itself was treated as one big canvas for their creations, explaining the pull it had over the art world of its time. We especially enjoyed listening to the stories about the relationships between the Bloomsbury Group, which blurred the conventional lines between married partners, friends and lovers. Vanessa Bell for example was married to Charles Bell but had a long standing relationship with lothario, and kindred spirit, Duncan Grant (whom she spent most of her time at Charleston House with). A tour of the house is also a great chance to spot the original Charleston Grapes print (now updated for Laura Ashley SS13 today) which can be seen on upholstered chairs and on curtains in some of the wildly inspiring rooms.

The Charleston Festival is running until Sunday 26th May. Take a look here for the full festival line up. Leave plenty of time before a talk to meander through the preened gardens, enjoy the views, chill out in their temporary wooden yurt and devour some delightful quiches or cake in the tea tent, complete with summer friendly outdoor picnic benches and fresh flowers. Perfection!

The temporary tea tent cafe – open for the duration of the Charleston Festival

Doorway to the pretty Charleston House gardens

Spot our Bloomsbury fabric Queen Mary adorning the tables in the festival’s marquee

Visit the Charleston House website and full Festival programme here.

The Art of Tudor and Stuart Fashion exhibition explores the fine style of the British monarchy and famed elite of that period. Delving into the style and fashions displayed through the Tudor and Stuart portraiture, luxury costumes were central to court life. With personal appearance being highest importance, the way the Tudors and Stuarts dressed deemed how they were perceived.

With garments being spun from luxury fabrics, intricately embroidered with golden thread and embellished with dainty bobbin lace, the attention to detail was crucial in conveying a number of messages. From declaring your Royal position to displaying your social standing, the Tudor elite were dedicated fashion followers, for one simply had to have the finest sought-after garments!

Following the various style changes throughout this period, the exhibition brings together over sixty portraits with an array of rare surviving items on display such as beautiful items of clothing, eye-catching jewellery, dainty accessories and impressive war armor.

Curator Anna Reynolds explains that the portraiture on display takes extraordinary care in recording the precise details of the clothing and textures of the fabric. Whether that be telling a story or communicating a message, the importance of clothing and accessories reveals the attitudes and social values of that time.

Breakfast fit for a King, catching up on Tudor Fashion glossy magazine Robe.

Having lost her dear mother Anne Boleyn, thirteen year old Princess Elizabeth ups the style stakes to quash any hushed talk of illegitimacy. Sporting a crimson gown made from the costly dye of crushed insects (exotic!) with a golden tissue forefront, Elizabeth made sure to reclaim her hold on the throne.

With an eye for delicate lace detailing, Anne of Denmark had a penchant for expensive jewels. Resting on her rather exposed bust lays a large pearl pendent, not forgetting the diamond studded ‘S’ hanging from her collar in remembrance of her mother, Sophia.

Keeping up to date with the latest Tudor fashions was no easy feat, but Mary Queen of Orange was onto a winner, writing her very own fashion journal. This particular entry details her purchase of hair powder and goes on to list her next silk glove purchases – we need to take a note out of Mary’s book!

It wasn’t just the ladies who were hot on the style stakes, Charles the First definitely had expensive taste in bobbin lace. Daintily hand-crafted and constructed entirely by needle and thread, could the real lace collar Charles is wearing be housed in the cabinet next to the portrait?

A closer look at a delicate lace embellishment.

Princess Henrietta Maria rocking a statement necklace, the first time around.

Getting a feel for the luxury fabrics used to create the garments.

Pop along to The Millar Learning room with little ones to get into the true Tudor style, try your hand at the fun board games from that era or strike a pose with the costumes on display to create your very own portrait!

Who knew the Tudors were so stylish? Make a date in your diary to visit the In Fine Style exhibition and get stylishly up to date with 16^th &17^th century fashion – you may find one or two style tips yourself!

Fine Style: The Art of Tudor and Stuart Fashion

Queens’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace

10^th May – 6^th October 2013

Will you be planning a visit to this special exhibition?

Set in the glamorous settings of the 1920’s, designer Catherine Martin worked around the clock to re-create the art deco inspired interiors, with dazzling and lavish settings that represented this sophisticated decade. Ornate crystal chandeliers, marquetry flooring and gold-filigree ceiling were used to decorate the vast ballroom, home to Gatsby’s legendary parties.

If you’re feeling inspired by the 20’s luxe glamour and your home can’t quite fit a grand staircase or cocktail bar, you can certainly add subtle hints of art deco glamour to your living space with a nod to the Great Gatsby style…

Arielle Two Drawer Chest / Arielle Dressing Table / Arielle Side Table

Add an injection of jazz-era glamour to your bedroom with the fabulous Arielle mirrored furniture range. The rich stained wood with subtle smoky mirrored effect plays true to Gatsby style.

Capri Mirror / Rubie Chest of Drawers / Alberton Upholstered Chair

Keeping it feminine and fresh, the light ivory shades work well against the dove-grey elegant wallpaper. Add mirrored accessories to reflect the light and create a bright setting.

Belverdere Chaise / Ashling Cushion 

Go larger than life grandeur with this mink chaise, straight out of the swinging 20’s boudoir – add instant glamour to your room.

Lila Floral Mirror / Hertford Sofa / Darcy Footstool 

Choose one statement piece as the focal point of the room, this rich golden Lila Floral Mirror is the definition of opulence.

Allegra Chandelier /  Cushions / Kingston Chaise End Sofa

Add a decadent touch to any room by investing in a vintage-inspired glass chandelier.

If you fancy adding a hint of Gatsby to your home space, stick to simple key pieces with dramatic flair.  The following items add the 20’s glamour, without being overpowering but still in keeping with sleek, opulent art deco design…

Ashling Cushion / Decorative Beaded Edged Mirror Tray / Charlston Side Table / Provencale Carver Chair / Aldwych Lamp Base / Fenn Silk Shade / Champagne Starburst Photo Frame

Are you coming over all 20’s inspired like us? We cannot wait to see the film, we’ll certainly be noting more interior tips!

We love a stool cover or two here at Crafty and this one, with its geometric shapes and curly typography, is one we’ll be making over and over again. We’re hooked!

We’ve got stars in our eyes over this happy springtime stool cover made using the most divinely soft 100% wool from Erika Knight. If you’re a beginner crocheter, this would be a good place to practise your hooking, not least because it’s so easy to adapt to fit any size stool. We picked ours up for next to nothing and so can you if you have a good look around charity shops to see what you can find. The pattern is written using UK crochet terminology, and for the triangles we used colour A and colour B to show which stitches need to be worked in which colour.

MATERIALS

/ Erika Knight British Blue Wool (25g): 2 balls Gift (A), 2 balls Milk (B), 1 ball Mouse (C)

/ 4.5mm crochet hook

/ 1 button

/ round-seated stool

ABBREVIATIONS

/ Ch = chain

/ Dec = decrease

/ Dc = double crochet

/ Trc = treble crochet

/ Sl st = slip stitch

/ Yo = yarn over

/ St(s)= stitch/es

How to

With A, ch4. Join to form a ring.

Round 1: Ch3. Work 10 trc into ring. Sl st into third ch of initial ch3 to join the round.

Round 2: Ch3. Work 1 trc into same st, *2 trc into next st. Repeat from * nine more times. Sl st into third ch of initial ch3.

Round 3: Ch3. Work 1 trc into same st, 1 trc in next st, *2 trc in next st, 1 trc in next st. Repeat from * to end of round. Sl st into third ch of initial ch3.

Round 4: Ch3. Work 1 trc into same st, 1 trc in next 2 sts, *2 trc in next st, 1 trc in next 2 sts. Repeat from * to end of round. Sl st into third ch of initial ch3.

Round 5: Ch3. Work 1 trc into same st, 1 trc in next 3 sts, *2 trc in next st, 1 trc in next 3 sts. Repeat from * to end of round. Sl st into third ch of initial ch3.

Round 6: Ch3. Work 1 trc into same st, 1 trc in next 4 sts, *2 trc in next st, 1 trc in next 4 sts. Repeat from * to end of round. Sl st into third ch of initial ch3.

Round 7: Ch3. Work 1 trc into same st, 1 trc in next 5 sts, *2 trc in next st, 1 trc in next 5 sts. Repeat from * to end of round. Sl st into third ch of initial ch3.

Round 8: Ch3. Join colour B, work 1 trc into same st, 1 trc in next 6 sts, *1 trc in next st, 1 trc in same st, 1 trc in next 6 sts. Repeat from * to end of round. Sl st into third ch of initial ch3.

Round 9: Ch3. Work 1 trc into same st, 1 trc in next st, 1 trc in next 6 sts, *2 trc in next st, 1 trc in next st, 1 trc in next 6 sts. Repeat from * to end of round. Sl st into third ch of initial ch3.

Round 10: Ch3. Work 1 trc into same st, 1 trc in next 3 sts, 1 trc in next 5 sts, *2 trc in next st, 1 trc in next 3 sts, 1 trc in next 5 sts. Repeat from * to end of round. Sl st into third ch of initial ch3.

Round 11: Ch3. Work 1 trc into same st, 1 trc in next 5 sts, 1 trc in next 4 sts, *2 trc in next st, 1 trc in next 5 sts, 1 trc in next 4 sts. Repeat from * to end of round. Sl st into third ch of initial ch3.

Round 12: Ch3. Work 1 trc into same st, 1 trc in next 7 sts, 1 trc in next 3 sts, *2 trc in next st, 1 trc in next 7 sts, 1 trc in next 3 sts. Repeat from * to end of round. Sl st into third ch of initial ch3.

Round 13: Ch3. Work 1 trc into same st, 1 trc in next 9 sts, 1 trc in next 2 sts, *2 trc in next st, 1 trc in next 9 sts, 1 trc in next 2 sts. Repeat from * to end of round. Sl st into third ch of initial ch3.

Round 14: Ch3. Work 1 trc into same st, 1 trc in next 11 sts, 1 trc in next st, *2 trc in next st, 1 trc in next 11 sts, 1 trc in next st. Repeat from * to end of round. Sl st into third ch of initial ch3. Fasten off A.

Round 15: Using B only, ch3, work 1 trc into same st, 1 trc in next 13 sts, *2 trc in next st, 1 trc in next 13 sts. Repeat from * to end of round. Sl st into third ch of initial ch3.

Round 16: Work 1 trc in each st around. l st into third ch of initial ch3.

Round 17: Repeat round 16. Fasten off B.

Round 18: Join C. Ch1. Work 1 dc in each st around. Sl st in initial ch1.

Round 19: Dc dec around – *insert hook into st, yo, draw yarn through st, yo, draw yarn though st, yo, draw yarn through all 3 sts on hook. Repeat from * to end of round. Sl st in first st of round. Fasten off.

With C, ch130, or however many you need to get it to the right length.

Lay out the chain on top of the stool cover and pin in the position you’d like it. Sew into place and attach a pretty button.

Pop the cover onto the stool, stand back and admire your handiwork!

I like mixing new with old and it’s a look that can work really well in a child’s room too. Over the years my love of second-hand and re-cycling has meant I’ve accumulated lots of thrifted bits, family hand-me-downs and car boot finds, many of which have come together in Bea’s nursery. Some of my most treasured pieces include an antique chair that used to belong to my granny and is the perfect height for nursing or reading a story. I also love the fact that Bea now sits and plays on a beautiful crochet blanket made by my husband’s grandma over thirty years ago.

I also love mixing and matching patterns and fabrics. The thrifted curtains and lampshade don’t match but they still go together. They also complement the pink Lloyd Loom cabinet I found at a car boot and the dolls house, which was a great charity shop find. Now that Bea is growing fast, she’s ready for a new sleeping bag and this pretty Laura Ashley Sleeping Pod suits her room nicely. The matching floral edged hooded towel from the Bella Butterfly range will fit her as a toddler too.

Girls Bella Butterfly Set of 2 Scented Hearts / Bella Butterfly Sleeping Pod

I’ve tried to add lots of colour and personality to Bea’s room; things that make me smile but will hopefully inspire her too as she grows.  You can never have too many garlands as far as I’m concerned; bunting makes any room instantly cheerful. So I’ve left up a cute paper chain from Christmas-time and added a garland simply made by tying together my collection of vintage hankies. Added to these, the gorgeous heart-shaped cotton bunting and scented pomanders from Laura Ashley means Bea will have lots to look at and enjoy over the years (and so will I).

Girls Pink / Multi Heart Shaped Cotton Bunting / Laura Ashley dollies  / Bella Butterfly Sleeping Pod 

Hopefully she’ll also learn to love a bit of vintage style and a second-hand bargain too!

Looking to do up your little one’s nursery? Take a look at our full nursery range here!

Kathyrn from Kat Got The Cream

Flaunt your style credentials with our very own Laura Ashley on-trend printed offerings, from butterfly fancies to bold florals – become a techno-trendsetter.  A simple way to rise your fashion standing, extend your stylish personality and change cases to suit your go-to trend of the moment!

To treat our stylish readers, we are running an exciting competition on Twitter where you will have the chance to win one of four iPhone cases and USB’s we are giving away!

Simply pop over to our Twitter page and tweet:

GADGET GIRL BLOG Give-Away! RT+FOLLOW @LauraAshleyUK to #WIN 1 of these Phone cases+memory stick: 4 for grabs! http://bit.ly/10DPQTt

Get tweeting, fingers crossed and good luck!

Winners will be announced on Wednesday the 15^th May, follow @LauraAshleyUK to find out if you’re a winner!

As well as easy-to-follow recipes (with jaw-dropping photos) you’ll also find the history and meaning of flowers, tips and tricks to seeking them out, growing your own and preparing your edible blooms. From the savoury Daylily Petal Salad and Calendula Ravioli to the sweetly sublime Passionfruit Orchid Tartlets and Tulip Ice Cream Bowls, we can’t wait to get acquainted with our delectable petals.

Tulip Ice Cream Bowls

To kick start your first foray into the world of edible flowers, why not give their Pansy Petal Pancake recipe a whirl?

PANSY PETAL PANCAKE RECIPE

1¹/₂ cups milk

¹/₂ cup water

1 tablespoon sugar

¹/₄ teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted,* plus more for cooking

¹/₂ cup buckwheat flour

³/₄ cup all-purpose flour

3 eggs

12 pansy flowers (about 1 cup)

Pansy simple syrup or flower syrup of any kind, for topping if desired

*You can substitute vegetable oil, if you like.

Spring, summer, and fall, pansies decorate my pancake plates. These pancakes are really crepes, so the batter can be made the night before—give it a gentle shake in the morning, and it’s ready to go. It’s fun to see a little flower peeking up at you from the plate. Served with a floral syrup, it is a great way to wake up in the morning. Makes 12 crepes.

1. Place all ingredients except pansy flowers in a blender. Blend until smooth. Refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to overnight.

2. Let batter come to room temperature before frying. Shake well. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat until a bit of butter melts quickly when added to it.

3. Lift skillet from heat and pour 1/4 cup of the batter in the middle, tilting and swirling the pan to distribute it quickly and evenly. Return to heat. After about 1 minute, sprinkle with pansies. Use a spatula to loosen the edges of the crepe from the sides of the skillet. Flip crepe and cook for another 30 seconds. Turn or slide it onto a serving plate. Repeat with remaining batter.

These get easier to make as you go. Consider the first crepe a sacrificial one—not so pretty, but tasty enough for the cook!

You won’t believe the color of syrup made with dark purple or black pansies. The resulting liquid is a blueish hue so beautiful and unusual, you’ll have a hard time convincing friends that you didn’t use food coloring to achieve it.

Excerpted from Cooking with Flowers by Miche Bacher (Quirk Books; April 2, 2013)

Watch out for the ‘pansy pop’ recipe up on the blog in the next few weeks!

Here’s the lowdown…

Introducing our fabulous Lace Front Blouse, a delicate lace in soft cream with faint intricate gold detailing, this blouse is a fabulously feminine, versatile piece. We asked Hannah, Paula and Natasha to style the blouse anyway they wanted, whatever the style or occasion…

Ready, set… style!

Harriet, blogger at Where is Harriet?

Effortless Casual Chic

To celebrate the beginning of Summer (finally!) I styled the cream lace blouse for a casual sunny Saturday in my hometown. Strolling around my local park, ice cream in hand, I enjoyed the perfect day in the sunshine. To beat the late afternoon chill, I paired with the Colour Block Cardigan – the colour pop of coral is very in keeping with the summer theme!

Paula, blogger at Pink Bow

Monochrome Day-Time Cool

Catching up with friends over afternoon tea, I paired the cream lace blouse with these printed monochrome trousers and black Milano cardigan (in-store). The perfect ensemble, the outfit was dressy without being overdressed. With this style of trousers so on-trend for S/S13, I found these to be a very comfortable and a flattering fit. Pairing with simple accessories, these tortoiseshell sunglasses and a couple of simple ethnic silver rings finish the outfit off perfectly!

Natasha, blogger at Girl In The Lens

Preppy Summer Mash-up

A true mash up of styles, sometimes you just got to forget the trends or what fashion dictates and just go with your instincts! This beautiful blazer has been one of my most-worn pieces over the past few weeks. I love the subtle polka dot print, and the silky feel is so light and perfect for summer. I’m also loving the cream blouse – nothing screams summer more than white crotchet lace, so with this outfit I’m practically bellowing!

Wow – there’s really no denying these girls have serious style. Each outfit delivers a personal stylish stamp on our fabulous cream lace blouse. Long gone are the days of being in a style rut, taking inspiration from these fashionable ladies we are truly set for summer!

Which blogger’s style caught your eye? We love them all!

COASTAL STYLED BOOKCASE

Set of 3 Tenby Storage Boxes / White Shell Bookends / Coastal Rope Photo Frame / Serena Blue Bone China Mug / Croyde Stripe Cushion / Set of 2 Striped Seagrass Baskets

You could imagine this bookcase basking gloriously in a seafront apartment but you don’t have to live by the sea to give a nod to the nautical. Here Stuart has mixed seaside accessories and props with books…

Stuart’s top tips…

- Combine decorative accessories and books for a more interesting aesthetic.

- Here we have purposely picked out just blue, green and pale books. Like-coloured book spines grouped together are a clever way of creating a more ‘styled’ look.

- Avoid over cluttering your shelves- leave room for the shelves to breathe slightly. It is tempting to cram all your belongings in but simplicity can often be key!

- Sadly our books aren’t always the prettiest. Hide unattractive book spines by turning the spine of the book to the back and have the pages front facing instead. This will also add a different texture / element to the display.

TRADITIONALLY STYLED BOOKCASE

The ‘trad’ look is timeless. If you are running low on old books, you can order them from book suppliers in bulk. Mix with gentrified clocks, antique inspired mirrors and nostalgic family photographs or keepsakes…

Pewter Large Decorative Classic Photo Frame / Champagne Edged Mirror Photo Frame / Gold Starburst Rectangular Photo Frame / Denbigh Upholstered Wing Chair / Cherry Blossom Cushion

Stuart’s top tips…

- When composing your bookcase consider scale. Regularly stand back from your bookcase to ensure it looks balanced.

- Create a statement by grouping lots of frames and family photographs together.

- Your books don’t all need to be displayed vertically. Mix horizontal stacked books with upright books for a unique eclectic look.

MODERN STYLED BOOKCASE

If Carrie Bradshaw had a bookcase we like to think it would be styled not too dissimilarly to this…

Queen Mary Bone China Mug / Queen Mary Print Jug / Large Paint Pot Storage Jar / Medium Paint Pot Storage Jar / Covent Garden Small Alarm Clock / Noah Curved Complete Table Lamp

Stuart’s top tips…

- Make a feature of your favourite fashion / interiors magazines for a very cosmopolitan feel. Group same titles together for a clean linear look. If you are extra organised you could even arrange them into chronological order!

- Explore layering in your shelves- layering objects / frames in front of each other will create depth to your bookcase. Use varying heights so smaller items are still visible at the front. For example, a larger framed photograph / piece of art at the back of a shelf will create a makeshift backdrop to smaller foreground objects.

- Have fun with unexpected items. Make your favourite every day things into a feature. Here we’ve layered in some retro diet coke bottles and a cluster of red pencils.

Our Laura Ashley range of bookcases can be viewed here

Vienna Easy-Fit Pendant Light / Three Lit Shells / Coco Duck Egg Jacquard Towels / Wooden Bathe Sign /  Fresh Linen & Jasmine Hand Lotion / Biscuit Paint / Fresh Linen & Jasmine Soap Roses  / Kubu Waste Bin / Capri Mirror

Colour Palette

When it comes to choosing a colour scheme for your bathroom, opt for a palette of neutral shades, including pastel and soft warm tones. This will enhance the feeling of space, opening up the area to look brighter and fresher. Add pops of colour through accessories, such as towels or smaller furnishings.

Reflect the Light

Experiment and play around with the use of mirrors in your bathroom space. Placing a large mirror above the sink or taking centre stage on a focus wall will ultimately give the illusion of space. Reflecting light around the room will not only add extra brightness but also open up dark areas in the room. Splash out and invest in an elegant feature mirror, adding a touch of luxury to your bathroom!

Sculptured Alcove

Why not pull out all the stops and create an alcove with a mirrored back? This will not only add a sculptured touch to your room but will help give the impression the space is much larger.

Light up, Light up

Adding light to your space will instantly change the feel of the room, adding a skylight where possible or dotting ceiling lights will open up the space and create a brighter bathroom. If you have a window, maximise natural light with roll blinds that compliment the colour scheme of the room.

Clutter Free

Keeping your space tidy and de-cluttered will instinctively enhance your space. Choose savvy storage that will keep your space looking sleek and minimal but hide every day essentials that are quick to look untidy. Focus on smaller standout accessories to add that personal touch!

Do you have any top tips for designing a small bathroom? Any must-share advice we need to know – then leave us a comment below.

If you fancy speaking to one of our designers, read more about the Laura Ashley Design Service here.