{ The Times Magazine }

Prop Styling by Laura Sawyer

This was a lovely shoot to work on.  The brief was to recreate this iconic image from the film A Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.  

The first job was to find a bed just like the one that Elizabeth Taylor famously reclines on in the film...  Easier said than done!  That is an American bed and CANNOT be found in Europe, as I quite quickly learnt.

After a lot of calling around I finally managed to find a wonderful and very helpful man called Jonathan at A Barn Full Of Brass Beds, who, quite literally has a Barn Full of Brass Beds!  Out of all the hundreds of beds he had, we chose this one, however it was Black... and it really had to be Gold!  So the wonderful Jonathan, who also restores antique beds for the likes of Emma Thompson and Ralph Lauren, painted it gold for us!

The photographer had some very similar lamps, so I just had to find shades, bedside tables and bedding.  This all came together quite easily.  The shades are from Laura Ashley, the bedside tables from Brissi and the bedding came from a sister company to A Barn Full Of Brass Beds called The Vintage Linen Barn which sells beautiful old bedlinen.

Behind The Scenes

 

So here is the beautiful bed in a couple of stages of dressing.  I decided not to go for a traditional duvet in the end as it looked a little too twee for what we were going for.

Here I am being the light model so the photographer could get the light just right.  I'm not sure why it looks like my head is stuck onto my body like that!

The photographer and her dog.

Hair and Make Up Artists.

...and the shoes... only Louboutin will do!

{ Mora Approved }

Styling for new online interiors retailer Mora Approved.

http://www.moraapproved.com/

Here is their Christmas ad...

{ Nativity Scene }

I really have to remember to take a 'Before' photo when I do things like this!  I tend to get stuck right in before I stop to think that it might be interesting to see what it looked like before!  

This nativity set was bought in a charity shop for a few pence.  It was a dark brown wooden stable with plastic coloured nativity.

So, first of all I painted the wooden stable white (of course), and also added a bit of Cole & Son wallpaper to the interior wall...

I painted all of the nativity characters white (of course), but wanted to add a bit of sparkle to Baby Jesus and to the gold items in the scene.  So I painted him gold, as well as the Kings' crowns, gifts, angels wings and gave Mary some gold studs and wedding ring, because, quite frankly, she deserves a treat!

Lastly, I added a bit of blue glittered bunting to mark the birthday celebration of Baby Jesus.

This should look cute in the porch for our Christmas Party in two week's time!

{ The Anthologist Christmas window }

The inspiration for this Christmas window installation came from the beautiful pop up book 

A Night Before Christmas illustrated by Robert Sabuda 

In particular it was this stunning page where the reindeer jump right out at you.  I read this story from this book to my neice and nephews every Christmas Eve.

I wanted to tell a story of a magical land.  A magical land were things weren't quite always what they seemed...

I found these beautiful gold wings, perfect for young white fawns.  I also created flying stockings and added tiny people dotted around a snow white forest of white trees and fairy lights.

An anthology, as we know, is a collection of books.  So what better Christmas decoration than a Christmas tree made out of beautiful old books.  In amongst the branches of these magical book trees live wise white owls with jauntily placed gold crowns and antlered doves.  I set these amongst some beautiful white bird cages with caged books inside.

The build of this project was also a lot of fun.  I needed a little engineering advice from my father, sewing help from my mother and even a little styling advice from my 10 year old niece.

The book trees were particularly fun.  I got to drill holes in the old books and thread them onto a wire rod to ensure they could keep their own balance.

The snowy ground in the woodland scene was made from reclaimed polystyrene cut to size on a band saw, given a wavy edge with a hacksaw and made to look fluffy with a wire brush on the surface.

All in all I am really pleased with this magical wonderland.

Here is my original moodboard...

pop down to The Anthologist for a drink and a look at the magical land...

{ The Anthologist } a magical Christmas

Final stages of prep work before installation.

For those that don't believe in unicorns... How about antlered doves, crowned owls and winged fawns...?

I have loved this project so much. Immensely good fun and creative beyond imagination.

{ Swarovski, Crystals & Lobsters }

Swarovski wanted to launch their fabulous new Christmas jewellery collection in style.  So they invited 20 key members of the fashion press to the 2 Michelin starred restaurant, L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, for a delicious 8 course meal.

The concept was to present each jewellery collection with its own course.  The presentation of which would tie in to the food being served.  A genius concept by the wonderful Hannah Simmons.  I was the lucky one that got to style the jewellery!

The highlight of my evening (other than tasting the delicious food), was styling a lobster in a heavily encrusted necklace, cuff and dusting it in Swarovski crystals.  At one point I even had to decide whether or not I wanted it cooked!  I had a close look at it, after being promised that it was not alive, and its eye moved!  

Photography by Philip Panting

{ Christmas Designer }

Interior Designer - Marcel Wanders

...has designed a product range for M&S.  These two are my favourites in the collection.

I think I am going to treat myself to a crown on top of my tree this year!

{ dreaming of dancing in a Dior dress }

{ Breast Cancer Campaign - The Faier Sisters }

I think this photo looks great, I have just spotted it on OK! Magazine online.

I worked on creating a cosy night in feel for Sam & Billie.  The idea was that the girls were enjoying a pink girls night in.  I found some great pink home accessories, including a throw, alarm clock and cushions.  I also sourced some pink pyjama items for the sisters.  I particularly like the chunky socks that Sam is wearing, I think they will go on my Christmas list, and the spotty PJ set that Billie is wearing was so super soft I wanted to keep it for myself!

Set & Fashion Sylist - Laura Sawyer

{ Breast Cancer Campaign - Launch Party }

I had a lovely evening last night at the Breast Cancer Campaign party.  I had painted my 'pinkie pink' especially and headed up to the 42nd floor of Tower 42.  The views from Vertigo are amazing, but even more special last night.  Under the light of a full moon, and to launch the start of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Breast Cancer Campaign had arranged for many London landmarks to be lit up in pink.  Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London, Number 10 were all among the buildings basking in a pink glow last night!

I chatted to lots of interesting people, including a Trustee for Breast Cancer Campaign, the Nails Inc girls, Heidi Range (who I styled for the Pinkie Pink Nails Inc campaign) and DJ KRYSTALROXX.

We sipped delicious Pink Champagne and chilled Pink Wine.  My favourite canapé was the pork dipped in raspberry yogurt and the beetroot gazpacho!

{ Patterned Floor Coverings } Shopping Guide

This afternoon I received an email asking me to give some advice on rugs.  The brief was for a cosy family rug; something suitable for the children to play on, as well as being stylish and warm for the coming winter months.  I hadn't had a look at rugs for a while, but after falling in love with The Rug Company's Vivienne Westwood rug 'Magnolia' at Decorex last week, I was inspired to do a little research.  Here are some of my favourites that I came across.

{ The Ghost Swift - by Kirsty Mitchell }

The making of The Ghost Swift by Kirsty Mitchell

This is a stunning piece of art that I have been privileged enough to have been a part of.

In this video you can see the make up artist Elbie Bayley at work, the finished costumes as made by Kirsty herself, and also the building of the set and finally Kirsty taking the images.

It was a beautifully calm day in the depths of a Surrey wood, the sun stayed hidden until the final moment when the whole set and model were ready, and then the sun started to break through the leaves and create this magical image.

A selection of Kirsty Mitchell's work is available to view and purchase at Quaglino's in Mayfair until November.

Read the full behind the scenes diary entry with more behind the scenes images on Kirsty's blog.

http://www.kirstymitchellphotography.com/diary/

I even got to sit in the set as a model double (only a few inches shorter...!!!) whilst Kirsty started building the set.

{ The Detail sale tomorrow }

Tomorrow I, along with a very lovely assistant, will be selling some of my vintage props at the Before 1980 vintage interiors fair.

Please do come down.

Saturday 22nd September 2012

@ Central Library Islington

2 Fieldway Crescent, London, N5 1PF

11am - 5pm

Entry £2

See you there!

Lx

{ Before 1980 - New Vintage Fair }

A new interiors fair, from ancient to 1970s.

Before1980 Trader Profile - The Detail

We are thrilled to have The Detail on board for the first Before1980 Interiors Fair this Saturday, bringing their collection of beautiful vintage homewares, all carefully selected by interiors and fashion stylist, Laura Sawyer.

Laura's experience includes interior styling, set dressing and prop sourcing for advertising, editorial, television and events, with clients such as LK Bennett, Swarovski and The Times Luxx.

It is clear that Laura's 'strong attention to detail and passion for all things style' influences her stock style  for The Detail; we love the wonderful soft colour palette of these vintage books and this pretty desk space, in contract with the more masculine, dark retro sideboard set up pictured below.

We cannot wait to see what pieces Laura brings to Before1980at the weekend. Visit The Detail's website and blog for a sneak preview, and make sure to be at the fair at 11am to catch the first glimpse.

What a lovely write up from Before 1980...
The Detail at Before 1980