Vegan Shoes round-up

I'm always on the lookout for great vegan shoes. I don't wear leather as wearing a dead animal on my feet repulses me just as much as the thought of eating one. I have a bit of a dilemma as well-fitting, pretty and affordable vegan shoes are not easy to find in England, as I mentioned here before. As much as I enjoy studying Interior & Spatial Design, why, oh why didn't I choose to study fashion design and specialise in footwear?! There is such a gap in the market for reasonably priced, attractive vegan footwear! Mark my words: this niche will take off in the next few years.

Anyway, this is a round-up of some of my favourite non-leather shoes. Most are out of my budget, but they're pretty. I've convinced myself that I need the navy Crocs slip-ons for the spring. Crocs = walking on air, and these ones are cute, right?

1 Cri de Coeur "Kate" sandals, £42.50 (originally £95)
2 Beyond Skin "Gloria" heels, £112 (originally £160)
3 Green Shoes "Willow" shoe, £106
4 Green Shoes "Lovage" sandal, £60
5 Crocs "Lady" slip on, £24.95
6 Beyond Skin "Sole", exclusively for Anthropologie, £35 (originally £65)

My latest obsession...

...Graphic Textiles

Habitat double duvet £55
Habitat table runner £18
Heal's double duvet set £115
Urban Outfitters rug $34

There's something so fresh and playful about these textiles. I really need that rug.. but I should be thankful that they don't stock a home range in Urban Outfitters in England, as I'm sure I'd spend dangerous amounts of time and money in there!

Everyone needs more sunshine in their life

Perhaps it's due to the unusually cold winter, but lately I've been craving all things yellow and feel tempted to paint some blocks of colour on my walls to bring some sunshine in.

1 h4ndz's Flickr
2 Pleated canvas bag - Tippy Thai Etsy
3 Vintage Bakelite pendant - Petit Oiseau Etsy
4 Horse print tunic - Uniqlo
5 Jielde Signal Floor Lamp
6 Grey and yellow workspace - Apartment Therapy
7 Home of Jean-Christophe Aumas via Elle Decoration January 2010

There was once a little brass mouse...

...who was looking for a little friend. I discovered him in a charity shop a few years ago. I'd hoped he was unique, but his brothers are scattered across Etsy. Nevermind, I still love him. I'd like to get him a vintage brass kitten to keep him company: the baby one in the third picture is my favourite.


[Cats from Etsy: Old Baltimore Vintage, The Pink Room, Olive Vintage, Old Baltimore Vintage]

New Year, New Diary

I'm really tempted to buy one of these Paperchase diaries. I particularly like the first one, but I don't know if I'd use a whole page per day. It would look so pretty on my desk.. is that enough of a reason to buy it?

I saw these beautiful pages on Reading my tea leaves this week. Pages in a diary have been pasted with tickets and mementos, so it's a cross between a scrapbook and a diary. I honestly think I might try something like this in 2010. I'd planned to make a scrapbook of my wedding (three years ago) but sadly never got round to sticking everything in a book. But I'm sure I'd manage to stick little bits into a diary. It might also be a nice idea to include one special photo per week/month. And then I'd have a reason to buy that lovely grey triangle covered diary :)

Happy New Year!

Post-Christmas wishlist

Some of the things that have caught my eye this week...

Plaid shirtdress - M&S Autograph Weekend

Bird tray - Ikea

Bicycle print bag - The Bold Banana (Etsy)

Soft cotton dress - Thaimodish (Etsy)

Dear Santa...

"Bobby" desk lamp: £19 Habitat
"Brattle" cushion: £34 John Lewis
Marimekko porcelain plate: £21 Twenty Twenty One
Les Oiseaux vase: £71 Ligne Roset

A few of the things that I've been dreaming about lately. Sadly I need to save my money for more "useful" things, but maybe Santa will pay me a little visit this Christmas... I've loved the vase since I set eyes on it a couple of years ago. Isn't it beautiful?!

Paint box colours

Maybe I was influenced by the primary colours I saw at Quay House, but I'm craving clothes in bold, pure shades. Here are some of my favourites.

1. Yellow skirt from Anthropologie

2. Handmade denim skirt from Et Al Etc
3. Vintage red dress from Clever Nettle
4. LBD from Gap

5. Tunic dress from Toast

6. Red Dress from Church & State