And the winner is...................

Tonight we drew the lucky winner of Katryoshka's first monthly give-away to win a fabulous one-off maxi dress. We will be filming each event and the lucky winner was Eden Daphne Frangos-Ellis! Congrats and we will be reveal the next fantastic prize in two weeks time. Also, a new rule was invented, family followers who win get a 'second' prize, [sorry Winnie Stubbs, you can have another dress of your choice. I have a green leopard print number that's perfect for you], Kat x

Margaret Stubbs Part 1 - Wallpapers

This is the first in several installments dedicated to Margaret Stubbs - sadly departed resident of White House West. Alongside raising five children, the youngest being Emma, and helping to run a large farm, she dedicated a lot of her time to her interest in both fashion and interiors. Her 'eastern eccentricity meets country chic' personal and home style was renound throughout the county during a time when people were only beginning to explore the possibilities of creating their own fashion statement.This lead to many of those around her, including later myself, being heavily influenced by her astetics. Below are a selection of some of the wallpapers, mostly William Morris, that adorned every wall during Margarets time at White House, a taster for future posts about the woman who so many people in this family look to for inspiration, Kat x

This is my favourite wallpaper - an original Liberty print that was also found adorning other soft furnishings including a beautiful chair.

This is a William Morris print, 'Strawberry Thief'.

Acoustic weekend

Just returned from a fabulous weekend at The Acoustic festival, a small, friendly gathering for music loving families. The mini-me's, Alpha male and I had some much needed quality time in a fabulous fantasy setting and stay in our newly refurbished Carlight Caravan for the first time. Made in the 1960's it a legend and really deserves a blog post all of its own as its come such a long way since we bought it as a wreck off local gypsies. Unfortunately this morning I managed to end the weekend on a sour note by setting off on the school run with a rather hazy head, the result of which meant I didn't realise our lovely new van was still attached to the car and twenty meters later I took rather a sharp corner and threw the van against a large gate post, ooops. Alpha male was VERY cross and who can blame him, another classic Kat style drama resulting from my tendancy to speed through life at a million miles per hour with little time to stop and spot a caravan attached to my rear, Kat x

How much is that puppy in the window?

Just updating you all on Shirley's puppy that was unexpectedly born almost four weeks ago. Pudding as we have appropriately named her is, to be frank, FAT. She has had no siblings to compete with so plenty of Mummy's milk. She is adorable though and I have suggested the possibility of keeping her to Alpha Male. Luckily he thinks more with his head than his heart and reminds me that's six dogs are enough at White House Farm, Kat x

Chopping Boards preview

3 vintage chopping boards of varying sizes hand painted in a mis-match of folk art styles; referencing Mexico, Russia & the English Garden. Sold as a set they will make a colourful & highly original adornment to a kitchen wall. The larger of these rustic boards was purchased in Spain in the 1970's & has not only been authentically distressed by years of use in the kitchen prior to health and safety rendering it as obsolete but, I note with interest that it was used latterly as a target for my son's air rifle as it appears to be peppered with lead shot...all contributing to an authentic patina of battle worn history.
The medium sized board came from Habitat in the 1970s & was part of a set if 6. I recall there was a period where rustic living was all the rage and a tough slab of steak & baked potato would be served to horrified guests on these wooden boards. Still, it is a pretty shape but not good for gravy.
The third & smallest of the 3 came from The Best Shop In The World (this is according to mine & Kat's spectrum of retail therapy awards). In the tiny village of Dwight, Ontario , 'Treasures'is the original Cornucopia of AMAZING retro- crap that Kat & I seek out on a full time basis. We want to buy it all but are limited by luggage restrictions (sort of). Anyway, the little chopping board is rustic & no doubt has a history all it's own that we can only imagine. 
Each one has been hand-painted with pleasure in my kitchen & if not purchased soon a space will be made for them on my wall!
PS. I am going to get the Habitat steak boards reproduced as I really want to have a retro steak board dinner party....
 From Emma. x

The tree house project

When alpha male returned from his recent trip to New Zealand he declared he was going to take up a new hobby - DIY! Imagine my sheer delight and lists of chores literally writing themselves before my eyes. He has just completed his first project which has been a tree house for the kids, excellent..........next! Kat x

Katryoshka's first monthly give-away!!

After some very excellent advice from one of our treasured followers we decided to launch Katryoshka's monthly give-away. Then the question, what to give? Of course it has to be a piece of Katryoshka so each month we will be giving away something made by our own fair hands, sorry no painted caravans in the near future but you never know.........! This months give-away is a floor length bespoke Maxi dress, billowing and VERY 1970's so bang on-trend. Que impromptu photo shoot in the croft featuring Camille, Emma's daughter followed by Anya, my daughter, gate crashing and exhibiting some major limelight stealing behaviour, you go girl! Alas, it wasn't a particularly warm evening but there was a delightful north wind which I was certainly excited about knowing the dress would develop a mind of its own. The size is up to a UK size 14, it it loose fitting and has  ties so you can draw it in below the bust to create an empire line shape. The sleeves also have ties so you can make them the right length for you. I will adjust the hemline for the lucky winner to whatever length they would like. We will wait two weeks from this post and pick a name from our followers, lucky dip style. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning goodies every month is like us on Facebook and follow our blog. Good luck everyone! :) Kat x 

Tres Blog!

Very excited about the first of our monthly give-aways, see the post below for more details. I have just finished 2 lightweight melamine trays meticulously painted in my contemporary folk art style. Will function well as tea trays but we would be happy to add a simple 'hanger' on the back which means it can double as a decorative wall adornment. £30 each or £55 if you wish to purchase as a pair, will be in our etsy shop v. soon, from Emma. x

A woman's work

After a quiet launch (I think that the 'technical' term is Soft), Katryoshka sales are suddenly snowballing! We are so, so pleased & especially grateful to our new followers but also VERY grateful to loyal fans of my work from my 'former life' at Stubbs Hunk Designs. I am feeling thoroughly motivated & inspired by the recent flurry of sales & all leisure time is being devoted to painting new items for Katryoshka! One BIG challenge is the half painted caravan in my garden which MUST get finished & on to e bay before the festival season is truly upon us. It is quite a daunting task which I might well have made inroads on during the relentless Bank Holidays. However, I think I got drunk in the lovely sunshine instead. Have learned my lesson & every sunny moment will be spent embellishing The Lattitude 'Van! Thanks again to our followers. Please keep checking the Shop for fresh wares, the pieces below are being added today! From Emma x

http://www.etsy.com/shop/katryoshka 

A tribute to the aesthetic of 1970's interiors

Just had a fun couple of days visiting the old home town, Southport. Stayed at my Dads flat and this blog post was born there. He bought it about 15 years ago and included in the sale was lots of furniture and all the carpets. Apart from adding his own collection of eclectic bits and bobs he hasn't changed any of the styling. As a fan of retro and texture, here is a homage to late 1970's, early 1980's lux interior featuring ultra textured fresco wallpapers galore and some major coloured shag pile carpets. The whole flat should be in a museum exhibition entitled 'fancy a shag.....pile? Kat x

  Wallpapers that you can't help running your fingers over! I recommend clicking on the image to enlarge it so you can really see how 3D the wallpaper is.

 A rainbow of super thick shag pile strangely resembling cloud formations

The sofa and kitchen floor, as there wasn't already enough texture. I did say I was a fan and I can feel myself becoming twitchy just looking at all this rich texture, must go any eat something in order to distract myself, works everytime!

Having a super duper efficient day as Quin is at Nursery and Anya is at school. As we sold several of Emma's pieces this week i have been busy updating the Katryoshka etsy shop with some new and exciting items. Here is a little preview of the eclectic mish mash I added today, Kat x

http://www.etsy.com/shop/katryoshka

Bye Bye Sunshine Van :(

Due to peer pressure (from Alpha Male) I am selling my beloved Sunshine Van as agreed, after My Big Fat Gypsy Christening. Will make room for another Van though but I won't be shouting that from the rooftops :) Kat x

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300554354219

We really value your feedback!

Here at the Katryoshka head quarters Emma and I live in a happy bubble at White House Farm. However, this very existence was the reason we chose to start a blog documenting our lives and various creative efforts. We wanted to communicate with the outside world and speak to real people who share an interest in the unusual and unconventional. If you would like to make a comment its really easy. You don't need to be a follower or have a google account. Simply choose the anonymous option when you are asked fro an identity but please leave your name below your comment as we would like to get to know you and your opinions, Kat x

Getto Hen has a chick

Allow me to introduce Getto Hen. When the last resident of White House West sadly departed, she left behind many things including a small group of chickens. With no-one feeding them they quickly spread out across the farmyard and became 'wild' chickens, roosting in clever places and managing to survive without any outside help. I met Getto Hen shortly after I'd moved in as I rescued her from the jaws of Tyskie and Purple (White House East's canine residents). She survived and began to hang around outside our house probably due to me taking pity on her and throwing her feed. She really blossomed and acually began looking quite fat! Recently she proved how tough she is again by dominating our new flock of much larger black chickens with her sheer bravado and determination. Until recently she roosted in the tin shed at the back of our house but now she has a new focus, a single chick. How sweet they are together but how we fear for their safely as there are foxes a plenty in this neighbourhood. You couldn't cage her though as she is a free spirit in both mind and body, I salute you Getto Hen on behalf of all brave and plucky females, Kat x

Bank holiday project

The whole music project thing has lead to me wanting to make a music video. I chose to use 'Emma's song', a track I wrote at the the beginning of the week as I hadn't burned everyones head out with it yet, (I have to play each song a million times over to get the timings right so the burning of heads will commence shortly I'm sure). Ja, Emma's 10 year old son, filmed me in the croft and this is what came of the experience. Once again I downloaded some free software to edit it, VideoPad Video Editor, Kat x