Children's party ideas

 Décor 

Blow balloons up in various sizes and tape them to the wall (use masking tape so not to leave marks). A complementary colour palette makes for an eye-catching display, too. We love the idea of swapping bunting for ribbon streamers - group strands together into a bunches then slip each bunch over a length of string before fixing them in place.

Snacks 

Tasty macaroons in sugary hues complement the requisite jelly and ice cream perfectly. Try squeezing a straw into them to serve with quirk.

Entertainment

Swap board games for mini canvases and paint palettes to bring out little one's artistic sides. They can take their masterpieces home, too.

Goody bags

A party isn't complete without a take-home treat -  tie left-over balloons to bags or boxes to ensure guests leave with a smile!

Capturing Clouds

Up above us drift masterpieces to marvel over - wisps of candy floss-like puffs that are actually thousands of tiny droplets of water. 

Clouds have long been studied - there's even an official society dedicated to their appreciation. However, Dutch artist Berndnaut Smilde brings fresh perspective to these floating anoamlies; by removing them from their natural environment and confining them within a series of unlikely places.

To see more of his awe-inspiring captured clouds, take a peek at the prints he's created over the last three years, right here.

The Secret Society - Sculptural Banquet by Kathy Dalwood

Kathy Dalwood's sculptures are reminiscent of a bygone era, mixed in with a bit of fantasy and with a dash of surrealism.  And in her latest exhibition, The Soane Suite at Pulzhanger Manor in Ealing is being transformed into a most unusual banquet - a banquet made entirely out of plaster.  

Here's a bit more about the Kathy Dalwood's upcoming exhibition:

This curious group is wearing extraordinary costumes that range from the stylish to the surreal, adorned with outrageous hats and unexpected accessories or unusual collars and cloaks. Their lavish dinner party has everything one could wish for – bowls of exotic fruit, magnificent multi-tiered cakes, decanters of wine and candelabra – only as with the guests all is immortalised in bright white plaster.
The Secret Society is the first solo exhibition of acclaimed London-based artist and designer Kathy Dalwood, and is the first time that her celebrated Plaster Bust collection has been shown in its entirety.

Following Sir John Soane's own liking for staging 'Gothic Banquets', Dalwood’s sculptural portrait busts reference sources ranging from Miss Havisham’s house to the Mad Hatter’s tea party, Marie Antoinette’s infamous soirées to classical bacchanalia, masked balls and Venetian carnivals. The mysterious associations are not stuck in the distant past however and also display the influence of the modernist avant garde and the world of extreme sculptural fashion.

Casting directly from real objects as diverse as model buildings, haberdashery and electrical components, these eclectic materials are sourced from  flea markets, model shops, fabric shops, hardware stores, charity shops and tourist souvenir stalls. Inventively combining and adapting these resources, Dalwood creates costumes, accessories, hairstyles and headgear that bring the tradition of the plaster bust into the 21st Century.

Speaking about the exhibition, Dalwood comments: “Pitzhanger Manor was designed for busts! There are niches, plinths and mantelpieces everywhere. But given that I perceive the busts as a group of strange, detached characters occupying their own world, I thought it would be interesting to stage an event for them, so I’m creating a bizarre banquet. […] I hope that visitors will be seduced by the expressive beauty of plaster as a material and that perhaps the busts will steer people’s interest towards figurative sculpture in general, of which there are so many – at times overlooked – diverse and captivating examples in the cities, parks, palaces, cathedrals and museums of the world.”

The Secret Society is curated by PM Gallery & House in association with Matt Price. The installation has been styled in collaboration with Karina Garrick. To celebrate the exhibition, a new plaster bust has been created,  inspired by the architecture of Sir John Soane and will be for sale along with other pieces from the collection.

From 19 April - 9 June
Pitzhanger Manor & PM Gallery
Walpole Park
Mattock Lane
Ealing
London W5 SEQ
www.kathydalwood.com

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A Blue Moment

This week, we’re all about blues; thanks to this beautiful shot we found on Gather Journal. Isn't it lovely?

Our new mood also has something to do with the arrival of illustrator Fanny Shorter’s kaleidoscopic prints at Roost which, with their cool hues, adorn notebooks and accessories that will take pride-of-place upon desktops or dotted around the home.

You can see Fanny's full collection here, or for more inspiration, take a peek at our favourite blue-hued Roost Living pieces below.

Coronal Notebooks by Fanny Shorter, £18 each

Coronal Pouches by Fanny Shorter, £18

Vintage Blue Butterfly Print by Roo Abrook, £9

Wobbly Bowls by Mizuyo Yamashita, from £12

Reflect Cups and Saucers by Richard Brendon

Ruth Cross - The Knitted Home Book

Here at Roost Living HQ we do love a good craft book, especially when it's beautifully photographed and full of amazing projects for the home.  And we love it even more when it's by one of our own.  And this one is by the wonderful Ruth Bridgeman of knitwear brand Ruth Cross.  So if you're passionate about interiors and knitting, this is a must have. 

And if you're not already familiar with her work, we teamed up with her to create an exclusive range of cushions, tea cosies and hot water bottle covers...

Cable Hottie, hot water bottle cover by Ruth Cross

Knitted Tea Cosy for Candy Tea Pot by Ruth Cross

Cable Cushion by Ruth Cross for Roost Living