Designer Desire: Alice Fox

Montage of Alice Fox artworks

Alice Fox is a West Yorkshire-based artist who is hugely influenced by the natural world; the land, the coast and man’s impact on it.

She weaves, sews, twists and plaits organic and found materials; from leaves, to nettle fibre, to wild dandelion stems, to flax that she grows on her allotment. She uses limpet shells, old garden tools, beach-combed plastic, found metal objects. She has even woven the ubiquitous plastic bag, repurposing it into string.

Her work is incredibly beautiful and inspiring – delicate, strong and tactile. Have a browse of her Instagram feed – it’s fabulous!

My process-led practice is based on personal engagement with landscape and has sustainability at its heart. I am fascinated by the detail of organic things and my work celebrates and carries an essence of what I experience in the natural world.

Alice recently published a book, entitled Wild Textiles: Grown, Foraged, Found which is available on her website, Amazon, Batsford Books and WH Smith.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Alice Fox (@alicefoxartist)

 
 
 
 
 

Get their look: Boho décor

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by 🌿Sari🌾 (@interiorsari)

Boho décor is one of my favourite interior styles. This living room really appeals to me. The neutral hues, the natural materials; I’m a sucker for macramé, woven rattan, knitted textiles and teddy fabric.

There’s a lot going on with lots of layers and accessories filling the space. However, because of the calm, monochrome colour scheme, it doesn’t look at all cluttered or overcrowded. The only colour injection comes courtesy of the various houseplants; a fiddle leaf fig, Swiss cheese plant and miniature conifer amongst others.

Sari sourced many of the items from DEPOT, a shop I’d not previously known. Unfortunately, I don’t think they ship to the UK. Or perhaps it’s a good thing that they don’t – I’d find lots to buy!

Get their look

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Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Woollen cube pouffe
Woollen cube pouffe
Teddy stool
Teddy stool
Rattan side table
Rattan side table
Zonza mug
Zonza mug
Macramé curtain
Macramé curtain
TORARED pendant lamp shade
TORARED pendant lamp shade
Woollen cube pouffe
Woollen cube pouffe
Teddy stool
Teddy stool
Rattan side table
Rattan side table
Zonza mug
Zonza mug
Macramé curtain
Macramé curtain
TORARED pendant lamp shade
TORARED pendant lamp shade
Woollen cube pouffe
Woollen cube pouffe
Teddy stool
Teddy stool
Rattan side table
Rattan side table
Zonza mug
Zonza mug
Macramé curtain
Macramé curtain
TORARED pendant lamp shade
TORARED pendant lamp shade

Win a £50 voucher to spend at The Clean Market

Win a £50 voucher to spend at The Clean Market

November was my birthday month; another year older. Where is the time going? Soon, it will be Christmas – and just a week after that, we’re into 2022!

A new month also means that we have a brand new competition for you to enter. This December, we’ve linked up with The Clean Market to offer one UK-based reader a £50 voucher to spend in their web shop.

Selection of sandwich boxes made from recycled plastic

The Clean Market is an eco-friendly online store that offers sustainable product to your daily life. It’s their mission to:

…find alternative sustainable products and reduce daily waste to zero…

Aluminium food and drink vacuum flasks

They have a terrific array of goods that are attractive, practical and gentle on the planet; from natural toiletries and cosmetics to pet paraphernalia, baby supplies to gift ideas.

For instance, we’re really taken with their aluminium food and drink vacuum flasks (shown above). We do a lot of walking in the great outdoors, and these filled with ice water or hot coffee and perhaps some hearty soup are ideal for a pit stop.

Speaking of walking and hiking, The Clean Market also stock a range of backpacks for men & women in all sorts of colours, suitable for city or countryside pursuits. The best bit is that they’re made from recycled materials – up to 36 PET plastic bottles in each of the large-sized ones!

Variety of handmade soaps in an aluminium tin

To be in with the chance of winning the £50 voucher, simply comment saying what you’re looking forward to in 2022. Good luck folks… and Merry Christmas! xx

£50 voucher to spend at The Clean Market

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7 ways to make your garden more wildlife friendly

7 ways to make your garden more wildlife friendly

The amount of wildlife we share our world with is outstanding, but unfortunately, the number of plants and animals on our doorsteps is declining at a rapid rate. Urbanisation and a growing human population are reducing the amount of space and food available for our native wildlife, which is making it harder for them to survive and grow. It’s said that almost 87% of UK households own a garden and these outdoor spaces will cover a larger area than all of our wildlife trusts combined.

Making good use of your garden will give wildlife that helping hand they need and will improve your garden’s appearance. Here are 7 ways you can make your garden more wildlife friendly.

Bee on a pink and orange flower

Grow specific plants

Growing plants that support a range of insects will maximise the chances of them entering your garden and surviving. Bees, butterflies, moths and other pollinators will feed on the nectar of many plants, so you should add a variety to your collection to draw them in and make your garden look great. However, if you want to support reproduction, then you should look into planting particular plants that attract butterflies to lay their eggs on them and encourage the growth and survival of caterpillars.

Gold finch on a bird feeder

Feed the birds

Feeding the birds using bird feeders is a quick and easy way to make your garden a better place for our feathered friends. If you have a squirrel problem in your area, look into buying a squirrel-proof feeder. The food you put out will determine the birds you attract. Niger seeds will attract different finches and siskins and peanuts are loved by nuthatches, tits and woodpeckers. If you want to purchase garden bird supplies, then you should check out Little Peckers. This online bird food store has everything you need to keep birds happy in one place, plus they have a fantastic range of wildlife products that may suit you.

Bug hotel located on a tree trunk

Make a home

In order to make the indigenous animals truly happy and comfortable, you should do what you can to create a welcoming home for them. This includes building and supplying warmth and shelter for them to rest and raise their young. For birds, this will include putting up bird boxes and providing materials for them to nest. For bugs, insect hotels and wood piles work great. For ground dwelling animals, planting hedges for them to move through and burrow under provides safe places for mammals to live.

Wooden compost bin

Build a compost heap

Creating a compost heap is a great way to put your food waste to good use and increase the health and biodiversity of your garden. When you make and maintain a compost heap, you’ll create a home for mini-beasts, also known as small invertebrates. These are a brilliant source of food for a variety of different creatures. The compost you make can also be used to feed the trees, plants and grass in your garden as it’s packed with essential nutrients and worms that stabilise and improve the soil.

Night time moth

Support nocturnal wildlife

As well as taking care of the wildlife you see during the day, you should do what you can to help the creatures of the night. Plenty of wildlife will use your garden when you are tucked up in bed, and these nocturnal animals are usually the ones for whom people forget to cater. Planting night-blooming flowers will attract pollinating insects such as moths, which will create a great food source for bats and other insectivores. Removing artificial light from the outside of your property is another effective way to help bats.

Garden pond for wildlife

Add a water source

Watering your garden will support your plants and make your garden stronger, and adding a water source will provide an environment that will support a variety of amphibians; including frogs, common toads and newts. These creatures will provide a natural and highly effective method of pest control, as they feed on a variety of invertebrates. Adding a small pond will look great and make your garden more wildlife friendly. It may also attract dragonflies during the summer, which is when they are active.

Garden bench in overgrown lawn

Let things grow

Many UK home-owners tend to install fake grass and lay concrete and brick patios and keep their gardens overly tidy. Although this looks neat, it will not support the environment very well. Sometimes, longer grass and messy hedges is exactly what the local wildlife needs. However, you should not let it overwhelm you and make you feel uncomfortable and messy. Instead, you should leave some of your lawn un-mown and allow some wild plants (also known as weeds!), to take over areas of your garden.

Taking care of wildlife may not feel like your responsibility, but your home will most likely be built on top of theirs and taking up valuable space that they need. Attempting to make your garden more wildlife friendly doesn’t cost a fortune, but it will make life a little better for the creatures with whom we share our world.

Do you do anything to encourage wildlife into your outside space?

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