littletree loves...debenhams / ben de lisi A/W 13/14

main image via Debenhams

Phew! What a busy week...I don't feel like I have sat down much, apart from when my new Living Etc mag turned up of course. That requires a cup of tea and no disturbing for at least an hour...as usual there is always plenty of gorgeous things to swoon over but inside there was a little promotional section all about Debenhams designer ranges for the new season and this image above in particular caught my design eye...all taken from the Ben de Lisi collection. So I hopped on over to their website to check out more...

For starters there is a great range of cushions (1) in particular I like the one with the tape measure pattern and the cute felt house (4) with it's little red roof! The fun paperclip hooks (3) would be great in a kids bedroom (or a big kids hallway!) For the kitchen I love these teatowels (5) with recipe printed on them in a quirky handwritten scrawl. Finally are these two amazing side tables (2) I just ADORE them! Now according the magazine they are part of the collection and are a set of two for £95...but they have yet to appear online so I cannot link to them! Don't you just love their candy colours and skinny little legs!? 

If you want to see more of what is in the new Debenhams home collection you can view their brochure online HERE...hope you all have a nice weekend and I'll see you next week. x

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sunflower sunshine...

from my instagram feed

A little extra sunshine in our garden today...such a happy flower and look at that yellow! The leaves look a little sad though, for some reason the sparrows in our garden like to peck at them? Hope you're all having a happy, sunny week so far...x

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pinterest pick of the week...

pin from my board Food stuff...

Happy Friday to you all and for those in the uk it's a long bank holiday weekend! So I'm sure many of you will be out and about, in the garden, just generally enjoying the last few weeks of the summer holidays...if you have a little time on your hands and an abundance of rhubarb growing in your garden (or from your local supermarket...) then I highly recommend making this delicious Rhubarb Vanilla Jam. 

I made this Wednesday night with our bumper crop of rhubarb, it went mad this year! And it was so easy...4 ingredients, a bit of chopping and stirring...done! The recipe calls for 1kg of rhubarb and although we had a lot we didn't have quite that much, about 500gms, so I just halved the recipe...it made around 2 and a half average jars in the end which is plenty for us and it means we have some jam sugar left over for another batch! 

Apart from when I was making it I haven't tasted the jam yet but I think it's pretty good as this was the message left by my mum yesterday morning...

Hope you all have a nice weekend whether you're making jam or not!x

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Etsy...Clare Shrouder Illustration

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I haven't done an Etsy post in ages yet I am often there pinning images and favouriting new designers I like...one of which is my favourite illustrator of the moment Clare Shrouder. I love her fun, whimsical designs and patterns...a flamingo in a hat? Love it! Clare's shop is full of great products, cards, prints, badges, notebooks and more... so why not pop by for a little browse? I'm sure you'll love her work as much as I do!x

All images from the Clare Shrouder Illustrations Etsy Shop

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littletree's things to make and do...

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Another day, another week and we are almost out of August...the summer is whizzing by! Today I am starting a new regular post feature, Things to Make and Do. These are usually going to be bits and bobs that I have pinned from around the web that I (and you) might like to do!

1// We often have wooden pallets stacked up at work and I just love this idea for making a vertical planter out of one! I can see all sorts of herbs and tomato vines trailing out of mine...plus how gorgeous is that colour on the wall in the photo?

2// This super simple Gelato recipe from the Chiappa sisters blog...I saw the recipe on More 4's Top 10 Italian and it seemed so ridiculously easy I am definitely giving it a go!

3// Next time I'm in London I am going here...the Mighty Fine Chocolate and Fudge Kitchen...need I say more? Oh and I love the pretty colour of their door too...that may also play some small part in my decision! 

I hope you all have a good week!xx

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P&P kids book and a new one on the way!

photo by littletree designs // follow me on instagram here

Hello my blogging lovlies! What a nice start to the week, the new Print & Pattern Kids book I ordered came, thanks to my friend Gem for the Amazon voucher for my birthday! A cup of tea and maybe a twix...perfect! 

Bowie Style of P&P is already calling for entries for the next book...Geometrics! I'm seriously thinking of entering some of my Atomic collection patterns...what do you think? 

Have a good week everyone!x

copyright littletree designs

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flora and fauna...

all photos copyright littletree designs

Hello lovely blog friends, I know I have been neglecting you again...I honestly just don't know where the week has gone! We've had a busy time at the house, new skirting being fitted, loft insulation, staircase consultations...and of course the never ending sanding and painting in the hall. But hopefully we will be getting a break in the works for the rest of the month before the major kitchen refit begins...

...the garden on the other hand is flourishing! We were determined to have a small space for growing more of our own fruit and veg in the new garden and we have not been disappointed so far...2 crops of beans already and plenty more on the way. We have so much rhubarb I have been researching chutney and jam recipes! And still to come later in the year will be the squashes in all shapes and sizes, and hopefully some sweet peppers. Plus possibly our own sunflower seeds...the plants are 6ft plus at least!

We are also really lucky to have an abundance of wildlife around us, a large family of sparrows live in the enormous honeysuckle bushes, which the bees also happen to love. The dog does not and is always snapping at them, shes been stung so many times but never learns! We have also adopted a young collared dove who is often perched on the fence. 

I hope you have enjoyed reading about our adventures in the garden today, I won't promise I will be back to regular blogging soon (as I can't seem to stick to it!) but I will pop in from time to time when I can! Hope you're all having a lovely summer...xx 

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