Advent calendar by Noix de coc'

This is one of the cutest advent calendar I've seen and it's by French company Noix de Coc'

It comes from France flat-packed and all you have to do is put these 24 little cubes together with little wooden sticks which are enclosed and there is also 2 faces per cube where you can draw, write whatever you like to make it even more personal!
This would be a fantastic craft project for the children




Update: Due to the volume of emails we've received, the Advent Calendar by Noix de Coc's is now available from BODIE and FOU.

Next Generation - children casting

Next - which had some very sexy TV and press campaigns recently for their women range and have a gorgeous sequin vest in their Winter collection - has announced they are seeking four to seven year-old models to showcase their Spring/Summer 2010 collection in Next Directory.

As well as starring in a fashion photo shoot, winners will also receive representation from children's modelling agency Urban Angels and a shopping spree at Next...that's a lot of good things to win!!

The casting called Next Generation launches on Facebook November 4 - to enter, just go here
and from this date, you will be able to upload photos of your children and family and friends can vote...which is great if you have an extended family!

Voting closes on November 25 and the top 100 entrants in the modelling competition will be invited to the grand final party in the Deer Park at Woburn Abbey Safari Park on December 21.
The party will include dance workshops hosted by Britain's Got Talent finalists Flawless, while Urban Angels will be on hand to provide modelling advice and contestants will also receive professional photographs to take home.
I know I will definitively posting a photo of Mila next week but not this one where her face is covered with chocolate!

Good luck!

One girl, one farm....

There is nothing better than to be stuck in bed with food poisoning to feel on fire two days later. I'm back to my normal self and I have bags of positive energy (plus my car passed the M.O.T which really made my day!) so I wanted to share with you this gem of an eco farm in the south of France which I saw in the August issue of the French Marie-Claire.
Are you gumboots ready? OK let's go....

Graine et Ficelle is an eco farm near Nice (South of France) set up by Isabelle, an ex-Parisian who left the capitale to follow her dream. As you know by now, I'm a sucker of these 'dream come true' stories because I think it's hugely inspiring to see so many women following their dreams but I also really like the relax, carefree, contemporary look of Isabelle's farm which is also a B&B and a cooking school for children.
Although her farm is now a little gem for families and children who want to learn about nature, getting there wasn't a piece of cake. Isabelle was not a farmer and had no real experience about eco-farming but she had grown tired of the city, wanted a change of lifestyle and be closer to nature so although she had no farming credentials until then, she had a huge amount of determination and vision!
As Isabelle didn't find the farm of her dream, she decided to build it - a massive job that only took 4 months in the end but which was nothing in comparison to three years of putting the project together, trying to convince the bank,the French agriculture body, etc... Once the farm was built, pigs, cows, chickens and donkeys moved in....

I really like how inviting Isabelle's open-plan kitchen is and you can easily imagine children getting excited and trying to get one of her homemade cakes or glass of homemade lemonade.... Between space, natural light, yummy smells from fresh food and this very long communal table (which I love!)....I just want to go there during the Summer and just be...you know, not doing anything in particular but just appreciate nature and its surroundings and have a chat with Isabelle while she is cooking fantastic, fresh meals with goods from her garden.

Do you want to get the look? OK so here are a few suggestions....

KITCHEN: Isabelle sourced vintage glass jars to display cereals from local flea markets but you can find some beautiful, vintage ones from Holland in Columbia Road or get new jam jars by Le Parfait from Labour & Wait (John Lewis sell them too). Ikea does similar jars but not as pretty and being French, I've a soft spot for the original Le Parfait preserving jars which look so much better. You can also display fresh basil in this herb stand. Kathleeen Hills designed some gorgeous ceramic pendant lights. The Kitchen units are the Varde range from Ikea.
BEDROOM: the white ball chair is available from here and you can get a similar lamp from Roche-Bobois. Skin Flint Design (one of my favourite websites) sells fabulous, reclaimed lights and vintage, distressed mirrors can be found at Cox Interiors in Islington but they will be expensive so if you really want to source great vintage French accessories at great price, go to Lille for 'La Grande Braderie' the first weekend of September (pure heaven!!)
LOUNGE: For a country/close to nature look, you can get sublime stools from Bleu Nature. Habitat also sells nice bamboo salad bowls to leave fresh fruits available to kids anytime and nice eco linen shopping bags are available from here.

For more information, go Graine & Ficelle
Photos: (c) Michel Figuet and I do apologize for the poor quality of mine that dont do justice to his beautiful shots.

Glove Factory Studios

I guess I received this today from Glove Factory Studios because we used to be in Bristol but this may be of interest to anyone looking for office spaces around Bristol, Bath, Chippenham etc...
Glove Factory Studios is a sister site to the Great Western Studios in West London

Alice Tait hand drawn illustrations

I got food poisoning for the first time yesterday and I was so weak I had to spend the whole day in bed wondering what on earth was happening to me. Steve was like...'check the swine flu symptoms!'...errm no thanks! Well I checked but it wasn't that and given I had gone for my early run at 6.20am before it hit me, I thought it was some kind of virus...So after fever going up and down, not being able to eat all the nice chocolate deserts Steve had brought me in the evening to cheer me up and then passing out on the bathroom floor in the middle of the night, I eventually woke up this morning feeling like I was back from the living dead.
So basically my energy level is very close to peanuts and before heading back to the sofa for the evening, I just wanted to mention the work of Alice Tait which I discovered via the Glove Factory Studios.
Alice Tait had been working as a professional illustrator for 5 years. Her style comprises of hand drawn illustration and type. She has produced a series of wonderful book covers for Chef Nigel Slater at Penguin and is currently doing regular work for Vogue and the Financial Times amongst others.

I'm loving her pigeons and her Paris and London maps are very nice but a bit too classic looking for my tastes and I still prefer the ones from Famille Summerbelle but if you love Alice's versions you can contact her directly.

Glittering hands...isn't this magical

(C) and beautiful photos by Sophie takes pictures

Helena Christensen at home in NY....

The beautiful and inspiring Helena Christensen at home in NYC photographed by the French Vogue....I'm speechless...

Read about Helena's modelling for Habitat in Regent Street, London here

Vogue article found via Ruby Gatta who had found it at The Selby which I both warmly thank for sharing this such gorgeous and inspiring article.

French fashion label: Swildens

I've just discovered this French fashion label on DesignersBlock and I love it!
Swildens is the baby of French stylist Juliette Swildens who had already launched French maternity label 1 et 1 font 3, a few years ago. And well, Juliette is not anyone...I mean she didn't come to fashion by chance. She is the daughter of one of Bonpoint co-Founders (Bonpoint's backstage event mentioned here) so with such a legacy, she was bound to do something wonderful.

The Swildens collection is very cool...think gorgeous casual pieces made in cotton, linen and natural hues with a touch of rock'n roll.
My favourites are their Woolen beanies, the great little black dress with a rock'n roll attitude, harem trousers which I'm dying to get to Steve's despair (but then harem trousers are super comfy), cool long sweat-shirt to hang out at weekends and their vintage t-shirts revisited with iconic images of the Rolling Stones, Blondie and AC/DC...

Charlotte gainsbourg.....un autre petit canon

Sometimes I scare myself...I was just checking my personal facebook page to see how my family was doing when I saw a post from Charlotte Gainsbourg....for a split second, I thought we were friends then suddenly I remembered I joined her Facebook page as a fan.....sigh...
Frankly I really wonder what's wrong with me....

Anyway, the lovely Charlotte, is offering the first track of her album free to download here
More about my Charlotte here

Working at BODIE and FOU

We are looking for Students/Christmas helpers from November to the beginning of January 2010 to help us out with the volume of order over the busy Christmas period.
The job includes:
- Picking, packing, wrapping and dispatching orders
- Taking phone orders
- Dealing with customer enquiries

You should have:
- Excellent written and spoken English
- A good phone manner
- Good computer skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office
- The ability to work accurately under pressure
- An interest in interiors (desirable, but not essential)

We will provide:
- Basic rates
- Generous staff discount
- A fun and friendly work environment
- Hours are currently 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday but will be subject to change during this very busy period.

Please email us a short CV with covering letter, outlining your experience and suitability for the job at contact@bodieandfou.com. You must be legally entitled to work in the UK.

Winter shorts

I've always been more of an interior buff than a fashion one but recently I have started feeling slightly addicted to my copies of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. I started buying them again because I love how cool and sexy the layout of their pages look but now I can feel the love of fashion coming to me...yeah mama, bring it on....
A couple of weeks ago, Elodie and I were hanging out in a pub with some friends and I couldn't help admiring how cool one of the girls there, looked in her winter shorts and then today I just spotted this gorgeous pair by Steven Alan on A cup of Jo

Now the girl I saw at the pub had fab legs...think Alexa Chung's legs or Clare whose legs always look great whenever she posts a picture of her bags or outfits ....which is not exactly my case since I'm 1.55m height but they are fairly fit so I just think that I might away with this cute pair of shorts from Anthropologie which has just opened in the centre of London....bliss

Update:
Forget Anthropologie...I found a gorgeous black pair at Zara for £19.99!! Talking of which...have you seen the Zara website recently?? It's looking damn good!

Time to catch up on things

Holly posted a great topic on Decor8 yesterday...Is your life about blog content?
I love these soul searching topics... Reactions are always great, open and it's interesting to see that no matter where we live, us women/bloggers are pretty much in the same boat, even if we are moving at a different pace (just realising as I'm writing that I hardly read blogs by men).

A Blog is a bit like a child... It's something that grows, changes, and often it makes you happy and at other times, a bit stressed out.
It takes a little while to find your style and I think the best way to find it, is to be yourself and to enjoy it. It's a bit like having a vision for your business and believing in it (if you've started one).
I know that not everybody is going to love the things we have in our online shop, but I do believe that if we stay true to ourselves and keep adding things that we genuinely love, then the people that are already fans of bodie and fou and the collection, will love it even more and share it with like-minded people and blogging is the same. You won't please everyone so you may as well ensure that at least you're having fun doing it.
I remember writing a lot more about boutique hotels when I started but at the time, Steve and I were still regularly escaping to gorgeous, inspiring places for the weekend. Then we started our family, got a family house in France and then our lives became more about quality time with friends and family so now I'm more into relaxed living spaces that have a soul rather than amazing hotels where people come and go.
I initially started blogging to raise the profile of our business, but I caught the bug quickly and really enjoyed writing about things that inspired me, places I would love to go, amazing photographers who I admired, fab designs, brands I admire, little boutique hotels I would love to stay etc...Then one day I looked at my google analytics and freaked out when I realised that a lot of people were actually reading my blog so then I felt the need (well.... more like the pressure) to write something every day, searching for something cool and interesting to say because let's face it when you start blogging, you always feel that what you're writing is crap compared to those fabulous (and professional!) blogs like Decor8, Cup of Jo, Sfgirlbybay.
But by then our company was growing nicely so I bought another one and well..... eventually running two businesses, while being 'une maman' and trying to be a 'decent' partner caught up with me...
These days, my approach to blogging is a bit more balanced....I use the B&F blog as my little black book/mood board to jot down all the things that inspire me so when I need the info, I know exactly where to find it! And I don't know about you but unlike Steve who will happily pile all his bank statements, mail, bills in one corner of our bedroom (sigh...), I like everything to have its place and I have a daily fight with paper and clutter...I recycle like crazy and if anything can be jotted down to the blog rather than me keeping paper clips and adding to our clutter then it will go live.


All of this to say that recently I came across a lot of interesting blogs and people via Twitter and although I don't always have time to read, respond or comment on everyone's blog, I see them so here are a few that I've came under my radar recently.

Cherrypatter: is a blog about all cool things to do, eat (lots of yummy pics), see and buy in Brooklyn. Since Brooklyn and Manhattan are two places in the world I feel at home, I truly enjoy these little walks around Brooklyn's neighbourhood. Follow Cherrypatter on Twitter here.

The Beat that my heart skipped: a very nice UK blog written by Rohini Wahi(on twitter here). Rohini is an interiors Stylist and design writer who previously freelanced for Elle Deco, Harper's Bazaar, esquire etc and I love her blog. She started it in August 2007 but recently re-launched it. The new version has feel-good vibes... a mix of boho, cosy, relax places and designs...something you want to take time to read

Simply Grove: A very nice blog from Idaho written by Kirsten Grove who regularly featured great decoration ideas from her family home. Her posts are also about local, creative businesses. I'm loving her family pictures in black & white here

Kickcan & Conkers: Written by Deborah, a English girl who lives in the South of France with her French husband and three children. I love all the vintage treasures and illustrations Debs features and she is very nice!



And of course, there is everyone that mentions a gorgeous design from BODIE and FOU or linked to us...I'm not always aware of all the mentions so feel free to send me a nudge and I will aim to make this thank you bit a regular thing providing my Fridays working from home, get finally the 'creative Fridays' I've been hoping for...

So thanks to Peacock Feathers for mentioning our beautiful Gingko print in her wishlist and Nathalie from Design Undercover to mention our Birds A-Z print. The witty Domestic Sluttery for featuring the Ray Charles wallpaper by Camilla Diedrich and the fabulous Nest Goodies for mentioning our beloved Japanese books by Paumes
Now I need to rush to see my daughter's school show so more posts later...

Vanessa Paradis latest video clip 'Il y a'

Comme toujours elle est canon....

We wrote here and put it here .....We love Vanessa Paradis
Her latest video clip 'Il y a' is a real gem...and part of her next album Best Of, out on 23rd November and produced by her Johnny Depp, father of her two children.
Enjoy!

Bugatti blender

Our wonderful sister site just received stock of the Bugatti Vela blender in black and red and they look fairly impressive!

Made from 18/10 stainless steel, the Casa Bugatti Vela blender stands apart from other blenders in its appearance, functionality and design. The unique conical shape of the mixing jar makes food move about easily for perfect blending while allowing you to introduce ingredients through the lid from the filter cup. The jar can be stored on the blender power base in many ways without the need to lock it on the base. Vela can also blend up to 1.5 litres at a time and with its solid blending blades designed from the highest quality steel, it will crush ice in no time.
Once used, the stainless-steel blades of the Vela blender, can be removed for easy cleaning.

And as Uncrate put it: "No kitchen is complete without a blender to crush ice, make smoothies, milkshakes, and prepare mixed drinks. While most blenders look like relics from a bygone era, the Bugatti Vela Blender is so stylish you'll want to show it off."
£160 incl free UK delivery
Available in 9 colours from www.wheredidyoubuythat.com

You may also be interested in the Bugatti Volo toasters, the Bugatti Vera kettles and the Bugatti Uma kitchen scales

Introducing Studio Violet

Studio Violet is like one of these little surprising little boutiques you found by chance while wandering around the streets except it's online. It takes you by surprise in a nice way, like someone being nice to you when you least expect it, or something really good happening to use when you need cheering up. I was reading some lovely French blogs (i.e. Made in Sud-Ouest to feel at home) and suddenly I ended up on the homepage of this pretty Swedish site and as the leaves start falling in the streets of London and I'm enjoying a cosy, relaxing Sunday afternoon at home, I thought it was sweet to be welcomed by these golden Autumn leaves and little acorns.

Studio Violet is a creative studio which was set up in Sweden in 2008 by Camilla Engman and Elisabeth Dunker, two creative girls who have heaps of creative experience under their belts. Illustrator and graphic designer Camilla Engman graduated from HDK, School for Design and Crafts, Gothenburg and was the chosen poster artist for the Gothenburg International Film Festival, 2009. Elisabeth Dunker, too, began with an education at HDK but now has added design, illustration, styling and photography to her creative skills.
Their illustrations are pretty and delicate. Enjoy....

Bonpoint's Backstage Event

To celebrate their backstage event, gorgeous French children brand Bonpoint is offering you the chance to get your child being photographed by a professional photographer.

Where: 6 Rue de Tournon, Paris VI
When: 21 October from 2pm to 6pm

London Vintage by Paumes

A big thank you to Modculture and Retro to Go for featuring us and our gorgeous books by Paumes.

"BODIE and FOU Fou digs up some leftfield gems when it comes to art and design. But this time, the retailer has a rather interesting book - London Vintage by Editions Paumes.
Described as 'the ultimate guide to the capital’s most sought after antique, vintage and second-hand addresses', it claims to offer some 'best-kept secret' vintage shops, everything from antiques, architectural salvage and homeware through to fashion and accessories over 128 boldly-coloured pages.
Downside? Well, Editions Paumes is a Japanese publisher, so the key details are in English, the images are universal, but the detail is in the Japanese language. If you can live with that, you can bag this gem for £20."

Simple crosses

I have a fascination for crosses. I think I have always loved the simplicity of a wooden cross. I remember reading years ago, about the flat of a fashion designer in Elle Decoration. She had this wonderful, large mahagony wooden cross sitting on a chest of drawers and with this simple object, wooden floors and white linen, her pare-down bedroom looked incredibly calming and relaxing.

I like how Elodie wore her wooden cross by Cote Bastide on a white linen tunique above. Like this charm bracelet, crosses have a timeless appeal and a little boho feel to them but I really think that you need to wear at least two to turn them into a fashion accessory rather than a religious statement.

Nicole Houques who created Cote Bastide and French Interior Designer Jacqueline Morabito integrate often crosses in their designs, getting inspiration from life in villages from the South of France, Toscany and sometimes North Africa. This stoup (above) for instance, is a reproduction of an original font for Holy Water from the XVIII Century and has a captivating appeal that will give a unique feel to a bare wall.
Two years ago, I purchased a bunch of little white crosses (see below) from the wonderful Bamford Barn in the Cotswolds. They were sold as Christmas tree decorations but I hung them as a cluster in our home. Steve also bought me this gorgeous big cross in New-Zealand (hung above the Paulistano chair) but it's probably the last one I'm allowed to hang in our home :-) ....

What about you? Do you love crosses? Do you love something not for what they are meant for but rather because you see beauty in them?

Things I like by India Knight

We're really chuffed! The Times Columnist and Author India Knight kindly mentioned our beautiful London, Paris and New-York prints in her blog this morning.

India has been incredibly good to us and wrote very nice things about us in the past about our little company and 'brilliant customer service'.
She is also a customer and have two of our gorgeous lamps by Flavia del Pra in her home, which by the way is a visual feast of colour and if you haven't seen it yet, you can do so here.

Here are some of India's books available on Amazon:
Neris and India's Idiot-proof diet (ordered already!)
Neris and India's Proof-Diet Cookbook
The Dirty Bits: for girls
The Thrift book: Live well and Spend less
Happy, fun reading!

Mibo sample sale

I just received an email from Madeleine, the designer behind Mibo, telling me about their online sample sale.

They are have having a good old clear out of the studio to make way for new stock and have found some wonderful pieces which haven't (until now) made it onto the website. With prices starting at £5.00 it's definively worth taking a peek. Enjoy!

Selina Rose's beautiful eco-friendly rugs

I have been a fan of Selina Rose's designs for a while so I'm very excited to have some of her designs such as the beautiful Botanica rug, Bloom rug and Bloom table runner (fab if you are looking for something unique to style your Christmas table) on BODIE and FOU.

For those who don't know Selina yet, she is a British designer-maker who creates intricately cut and printed home accessories, using cutting edge technology. She is well-known for this gorgeous, hot pink Botanica rug which was the one that really caught my eye last year but she does amazing and bespoke sliding curtain panels and room dividers to commission for residential and commercial clients, architects and interior designers.
Like Designer Michelle Mason, Selina Rose designs beautiful, contemporary rugs that add instant style to a home.

While Michele Mason's Stella rug (featured below, available in cream here) is a contemporary take on lacemaking where cotton yarns were traditionally worked into decorative shapes to create lace for clothes and home linens, Selina Rose's designs are inspired by nature and visits to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew (a must-see if you're coming to London).

There is a lot more to say about these two talented girls but I really like the fact that both design eco-friendly interior products that are not only good for the environment but also look amazingly beautiful. Both Michele Mason and Selina Rose make their rugs in the UK (hence reducing footprint), using 100% wool felt - a material known for its eco credentials. They also use environmentally friendly dyes so you not only get a beautiful piece of design for your home but you do something good for the planet.

I'm also quite taken by the Cotton Bud wallpaper that Selina hand-drawn after a visit to Kew Garden’s Millenium Seed Bank which houses rare and essential seeds in an underground bunker as an insurance policy against the extinction of plants in the future.

She said about her Cotton Bud wallpaper “I loved the unusual form of the cotton buds with their candy floss flowerheads. The plants at the Seed Bank are grown in glass cases which heightens the sense of fragility. My wallpaper celebrates nature and its importance to us and our environment.”
The Cotton Bud Wallpaper (also available in turquoise/pink) is an eco friendly digitally printed product, made in the UK using environmentally friendly inks on paper from sustainable sources.

Cotton Bud Wallpaper is available in two colour ways Brights or Grey
£78.99 per roll. Dimensions 52cm x 10m (66cm repeat).

You may be interested in B&F's eco designs here.