Have you met...

Jules:

It’s been over a year now that I’ve worked for Ribbon and Roses, how time flies!

What a year 2012 has been, it started with an engagement and will end with a wedding! There has been lots of amazing bits in between but it's funny how wedding chat seems to take over your life.

I've loved wedmin all the way through. I had thought it might be a tricky to plan a wedding from abroad but I think it has actually just made me more organised and decisive. Trips back to England are jam packed with meetings and deadlines. Evenings in Singapore are spent cruising Pinterest and Google for inspiration.

My best finds for the wedding are:

Poppy

www.poppychildren.co.uk

Gorgeous children’s dresses, a great alternative to the traditional bridesmaid dress. All dresses come with a book to tell the story of the illustration at the bottom of the dress. Hannah and her team have been brilliant at accommodating my requirements.

Morrow's Outfitters

www.morrowsoutfitters.com

Wonderful men's socks in all colours and stripes. Just like the Hackett ones but more reasonably priced. I’ve opted to get them initialed for all of our ushers. Philip runs the show is extremely helpful and efficient.

Diaso

www.daisojapan.com

The $2 Japense store in Singapore. I find it hard to go in that place and spend less than $50. Anyone who knows me will know I can’t resist a bargain! So this has been a great place for clear umbrellas, baskets for confetti and decorations for the venue.

Right, count down to big day on 15^th December, wish me luck!

Lots of love

Jules

3 Best Things:

A good cheese burger
Sleep
Romance

 

Have you met….

Marina:

 

So Ribbon and Roses launched 3 years ago…. All seems a bit of a blur but it’s been great fun and I’ve learnt so much, to a large degree through mistakes and luck.

Everyone thinks it’s pretty amazing, mostly my family that it’s still going, considering I didn’t really scrape together any GCSE’s, A Levels let alone a degree so all a bit of a risk setting something up but so thrilled I went for it. I really just make it up as I go alone as 90% of the time I have no idea what I’m doing!

With a huge challenge of time management and the constant guilt of working rather than running around the garden with Archie will never change I guess, but at least I can work from home and hear him laughing or screaming!

 

My favourite designer still continues to be Ellie Saab, so so pretty….Along with the magical world of Alexander McQueen who I have loved since doing my dissertation on him.

 

When on a night out there is nothing better than a lychee martini, especially out here in Singapore where you can sit outside in the evenings and enjoy the heat. Not everyone loves this 30 + degree climate, but I can’t get enough of it!

 

My biggest luxury is buying magazines… I know something so simple but it’s a huge treat out here as you basically have to re mortgage your house to buy just a few issues. An early night after a yummy supper and in bed with a few editions of UK In Style, Red and Home Décor I would take any day over the latest craze of “50 Shades of Grey”!

 

So in a nut shell, that’s me.... who is next from the Ribbon and Roses team to tell their secrets.....

 

Lots of love

Maz xx

Maz's Profile
3 favourite things:

Archie laughing

Dolly Parton

Amaretto

3rd Birthday!

We had a great afternoon celebrating our 3 year anniversary last week with Korla home, Tinkerbell and Starblu.

Thank you for lots of you popping in and we had a great response from all our new jewellery and clothes. Amazing that some of you arrived armed with a Christmas shopping list!!

 

Here are a couple of snaps from the afternoon and you can see more on facebook:

Anyone who missed the sale, hope to see you at W Boutique fair, Singapore on 11^th October and please email marina@ribbonandroses.com if you can’t wait till then!

Lots of Love

Ribbon and Roses xx

 

Dress your walls

So I must be getting a bit bored of these white walls as all I can think about is wallpapers, prints and paintings. Maybe it’s time I left my computer and got out for a bit but before I do that how cool are these lino prints by Millie McCallum….

YES please to the giraffe with headdress and fab “super power penguins”. A winner for any kids bedroom wall.

I have also totally fallen in love with all the work that Jess Arthur does… I just wish she wasn’t so far away and she could come and transform the again rather boring white walls in Archie’s room. 

I would also do anything for beautiful painted birds around where our dining table is… so, so pretty and unique. Might have to sadly wait for the move back to the UK for this one….

Lots of love

Maz xx

Maz's Profile 
3 favourite things:

Archie (18 month old son) laughing

Dolly Parton

Amaretto

What's going on with the Ribbon and Roses team....

Here's a little insight into the Ribbon and Roses office.

We are listening to:

On Spotify - Matchbox 20 – She’s So Mean. These guys remind us of school, bring on their come back!

Loving:

Grand Prix fever! We can't wait for the Singapore streets to be changed into a race track and the amazing atmosphere the whole weekend. Also with Maroon 5 and Katy Perry playing, what more could you ask for?

Eating:

Cafe Melba at 90 Goodman Road next to Goodman Arts Centre, Singapore. Amazing food and great atmosphere. They don't take reservations so worth getting there in good time!

Drinking:

Bubble Tea!  We like milk tea or lychee red tea - both with pearls, of course!

Doing:

Country Fair and Horse Show- If you are missing the typical English country fair, head on down to this on 9 September.

Watching:

Suits - great new US TV series based in a law firm. Some serious eye candy in this too!

Reading:

House and Garden on my ipad - best feature as its about 3 times the price out here.

Daily Mail online - A morning must with a cup of tea!

Lusting and wishing for:

Celine Hangbag - Come to mumma pretty one...

Waiting for:

Downton Abbey Series 3 starting in September on ITV!

Blogs we like:

Chamgmoh - full of secret tips of what to do and where to go in Singapore. Lucky she posts regularly so my 'to do' list just gets longer and longer.

Websites were into:

Honeycombers - can't get enough of this, a fountain of information about Singapore!

What do you do when you are bored:

Pinterest - this keeps us awake at night, too much to fun!

Lots of Love

Ribbon and Roses xx

Bespoke Interiors

A large part of moving to a new country is making your new house feel like home. I had visited all the usual expat haunts - Taylor B, Expat Auctions and John Erdos, but I wanted something a bit different to every other Brit.

I came across a few places where you can make your items completely bespoke so that they fit seamlessly in with your current décor…

Korla

Korla is new super cool online retailer where you can buy distinctive printed fabrics by the metre or bespoke soft furnishings. Choose from curtains, blinds, cushions and lampshades or contact them for other services – such as re-upholstering bedheads, old pieces of furniture or covering your own lampshades. Have a look at www.korlahome.com.

Ruby Slipper 
You can have beautiful hand woven Dhurrie rugs from India to your doorstep in just 6 weeks. Have your rug made to your exact specifications by choosing the colours and size you’d like form any one of the 10 available designs. They are 100% cotton which is perfect for the heat  here in Singapore. I love these simple designs which are right on trend right now. Visit www.rubyslipper.com.sg for more information.

Ikea 
With so many new curtains and blinds to add to your home it can get expensive, especially when most of us are renting. How about using Ikea’s sewing services? At the Alexandra Road branch the sewing booth is just past the payment area by the escalators. Arrive armed with your window measurements and an idea about the Ikea fabric you like to get your quote. Our secret source says ask for staff member 'Candy' for good service!

One of my friends has combined all three - Korla cushions, Ruby Slipper rug and Ikea blind...I think it looks great!

Lots of love

Jules

3 Best Things:

A good cheese burger
Sleep
Romance