April Giveaway

We're giving away 4 of our summery Scandi cotton cushions!

One each to 4 of our lucky followers.

All you have to do is tell us you favourite summer holiday location and why. 

Winners will be picked at random on Tuesday 30th April.

Either post your answers on the blog or email grace@donnawilson.com

Our Nursery for Somerset House- Wool House

 A few more pictures for you of our wool nursery that we created last month for wool house. Everything in here is made of wool- even the beautiful bed by Vi-Spring had a wool mattress. The walls were covered in felt supplied by Wernekink in Holland. It was a fantastic project to be involved in, and as you probably know we love using wool as it's such a versatile, natural and cosy material . We even got to meet the Prince of Wales, who is also  very passionate about wool.

And the winner is...

And the winner of the Rococo chocolate Easter EGGstravaganza competition is...

RUBY

Easter EGGstravaganza Competition

Its competition time again and as it's Easter the lucky winner will get to indulge in some of our very special hand painted Rococo chocolate eggs.

We're giving away one of each on the designs;  a White Rabbit Egg, filled with 3 chocolate ganaches, a set of Owl and Pussycat eggs, and one Chocolate egg in its very own egg cup.

We want you to get creative and design a decorative egg. You can paint, colour or even make your own wig for your egg! Just send us a drawing or a photo of your design.
Email them to grace@donnawilson.com and we will add them to a Facebook and Pinterest album.

We will pick the most EGGceptional design and winners will be announced this Thursday... so get CRACKING!

EGGciting  or what?? 

Wool House at Somerset house until 24th March

I was very lucky to be asked to design a room in the 'Wool House' this year- which is on right now in Somerset house on the Strand. Organized by the campaign for wool, a whole wing of the house has been transformed into a wool house, with every room an exquisite example of how you can decorate and use wool.  As you all know I have always loved using wool in my work, and am really fond of this warm, versatile natural material. I love the fact that it takes due so well, so you can get an amazing array of colour. I love the fact that you can felt it and it changes form, and I love being able to create a piece of fabric from a single strand of it. 
The room I was asked to design was the nursery which was very appropriate. We got our fantastic felt supplier Wernekinck- from Holland to supply the beautiful felt walls, which are so cosy and tactile. We applied the trees and leaves. Wool is naturally flame resistant, and a great insulator so I think a very good idea for a wall covering.
The bed was covered in Bute fabric and made by Vi-spring, The quality was divine!
I just wish I had a nursery like this!

It's only on for a short time, so if you get a change and are interested in wool, go and have a look!

Squirrel rug for Node at Design museum

I was delighted to be asked by the fantastic Chris Haughton to contribute a design to his Rug project Node.

Node was set up as a non-profit social business. They make high quality hand-made hand knotted, fair trade carpets and will be for sale in the Design museum as part of Fair Trade Fortnight. You might recognize Chris Haughton, as he is an illustrator and author of wonderful collection of children's books... I Love them. - Oh no George, and A bit lost. see more here ttp://vegetablefriedrice.com/

here's a few pics of my rug being made.

 It's amazing how they make these images, I love this picture of the squirrels eyes emerging.  To see the final rug, they will be on show at the design museum as I have mentioned. see more events below.

NODE launch at the DESIGN MUSEUM

come to the public opening in the DESIGN MUSEUM all day on saturday or the kids workshop on sundayfor the launch party5th March 6-9.30pm in the Design Museum, London
Please come along to see the collection. There are a limited edition of 10 rugs by each of these amazing  artists.Beatrice Alemagna | Sanna Annukka | Lesley Barnes | Petra Borner | Chamo | Benji Davies | Chris Haughton | Clayton Junior | Jon Klassen | Micah Lidberg | Joe Magee | Geoff McFetridge | Neasden Control Centre | Patternity | Craig Robinson | Serge Seidlitz | Marcroy Smith | Kevin Waldron | Donna Wilson

In addition to the launch night, the collection is open to the public at the events below:

Fri 1st March
Design Overtime evening event in the gallery where the rugs are installed.Drinks and music in designmuseum after hoursChris Haughton will do a short talk (15-20min) about how the project happened

Sat 2nd March 
Gallery open all day 10-17.45Sun 3rd March Chris Haughton book launch and workshop for kids in the gallery alongside the rugs Come down for a reading of A Bit Lost, Oh No George and see the new fair trade puppets and toys.2.00-3.30pmFree with museum entrance. Booking not required.
designmuseum.org/families/workshops

Mon 4th March 
Pecha Kucha Night: Fair Trade theme -Where I will be talking about my work.

Talk is from 19.30 to 20.45. Drink afterwards until 21.30PAID EVENT Buy tickets here:designmuseum.org/talksTUESDAY 5th March 

Here's a vimeo of the making of the project http://vimeo.com/chrishaughton/node 

Beautiful shop- Alastair Hendy Homestore- Hastings

 A couple of weekends ago we visited Hastings, unfortunately it was too cold and wet to go to the sea side, but we did manage to visit this beautiful shop. I'd heard about it and wanted to visit for a while, and it didn't dissapoint.

 As we walked in from the cold, there was the smokey smell of burning coal, and it was like we'd just gone back in time.

 The whole shop was styled so well, full of hardware goods in neat lines and piles.

 As you wind your way through, past the glass jars, feather dusters and wooden brushes you get to a large stove at the back.This turns into a small 8 seater restaurant, where you literally sit in the kitchen.

 big block of bread and jam just in case you need a nibble.

 even the lovely staff's uniform looks like it is from the 1930's .

 I left with a metal sieve and a few bars of pure milt white soap- I loved it !

1. AG Hendy & Co Home Store Kitchen
36 High Street,
Hastings
2. TN34 3ER
3. 01424 447171
4. http://www.homestore-hastings.co.uk

Creative creatures Donna Wison's kids activity book

Yes, my kids activity book is out! I'm very excited. Published by Macmillan. It's a book full of different activities to do with your kids ( or on your own!) 

you can buy it from our web site here:

http://www.donnawilson.com/360-creative-creatures-book.html

 but please support your local book store!

It is full of step by step activities for boys and girls aged 8 + 

some of the activities involve cutting and sticking paper, and some are a little more technical and use a needle and thread.

 This is one of our favourites- making a 'tidy up ' robot with house hold waste!

and a kite!
Each page has easy to follow steps, and lovely little colourful scenes- I really enjoyed making them! ...for a couple more behind the scenes have a look at  my other blog : http://birdieandbear.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/creative-creatures-kids-activity-book.html

ISBN 978-0-7534-3541-0

Everything looks good in the sunshine

 The winter sun was so bright on saturday morning, I took some pictures of my day. above Eli on his changing mat! with darling clementine tea towels on the wall for him to look at.

a vegetable shop on Bethnal green road the colours are glowing!

 a wall eith odd paint combination

 and a house that likes green! yum!

Doors and Shores

 Over the Christmas holidays I took a trip to one of my favourite places in the North east- a little fishing village called Pennan. Pennan is completely enclosed by the cliffs so can't grow- it has one pub, and that's all- no shops at all! It was the place they filmed the Local Hero. My grandma used to take us there when we were little, so it's a special place for me. as soon as I could drive I used to get in the car and find myself on the windy steep roads to this place to comb the beach for treasures! Even on a stark cold winters day I love going there.