Rather belatedly Happy new Year to everyone, but with the snow and all things have been somewhat chaotic at Clarissa Hulse HQ!

I had a fabulous break and actually managed to tidy my house (yes that’s about as exciting as it gets for me with 2 small children) so am starting the new year with things vaguely under control… (famous last words!) Over the hols I went with a few friends to a gastro pub in Primrose Hill called the Engineer, and imagine my delight/surprise to find our Morning Glory wallpaper used on the walls of the dining room.
http://www.the-engineer.com/gallery.html

OK, I know the glasses are more of feature in this photo than the wallpaper!

Apologies to all my loyal fans out there who are reading this (!) and noticing the lack of blog updates… I am afraid I am technically rather slow off the mark and have had to be re shown about 6 times how to do it. However I think i have grasped it now so you can expect more regular rantings from me!

We had our studio sale a couple of weeks ago & Leo (my 20 month old son) has a fabulous time picking cushions for everyone. I absolutely swear his first words are “that one!” which he now says pointing at everything.

I am super excited about my new bedlinen range that will be launched in February and will be packaged in a re-usable printed tote bag. We have just done the photo shoot for it and here is a sneak preview of two of the designs, “Burnet” which, is a woven jacquard in rich reds, pinks & oranges and “Cow Parsley” a slate blue ombre with a bright silver print.

I am really excited about our new website, and among other things writing a blog (slightly reminiscent of being 14 and keeping a diary!)
In it I’ll be talking about what’s inspiring me at the moment and a few other things I hope you’ll find interesting. I will be attempting to steer clear of other topics such as how much sleep I have had (my main obsession due to my insomniac 19 month old son) and the roller coaster of trying to buy a new house…. But sometimes I just might not be able to help myself.

Autumn is now upon us but I have to say it’s one of my favourite seasons… I am definitely a reds and golds person so all the falling leaves in their Autumnal hues are my idea of heaven. And I just love tucking into delicious stews with roasted root vegetables…yum yum (yes food is my other obsession in life)

I have just come back from an amazing trip in Scotland; Bramaer, an hour from Inverness (just next to Balmoral don’t you know) staying with my fabulous friends the Comptons whose hospitality knows no bounds. Tania, who used to be the gardening editor of House & Garden magazine, is my main source of flora & fauna for my designs and one of the few people who really understands which plants will work. She patiently walks around with me while I squawk and exclaim about a fabulous leaf, or an intricate seed head, and holds up pieces of blank paper (that I use to isolate the plant so it has a plain background, her fingers have been photoshopped out of almost every design) for hours with her arms quaking with exertion. Thank you SO much Tania!

I was blown away by the colours in The Highlands. The pink and purple heathers were spectacular, contrasting with the chartreuse mosses and sliver lichens. I immediately want to do a Scottish inspired range. The larches particularly inspired me…see pics below.

Anyway…I shall definitely be updating this blog as regularly as possible, but from home as I can’t concentrate in the office…shush everyone! x