We now have a new puppy in the family. Not mine - a sort of grandpuppy, belonging to my son and daughter-in-law. Needless to say, superpuppy Lychee is adorable; a furry bundle of happiness. For whom we now have to buy lots of irrisitable toys, raincoats, bowls, beds, and on and on. 

Spotted at the New York Gift Fair, the perfect pet food/water bowls. Unfortunately, we mislaid the name of the maker - can anyone tell us???

My first visit to John Derian's shop at 6 & 10 East Second Street in New York was several years ago. Do I need to say that I was completely blown away?  Suffice to say that I fell in love. Instantly. And completely.

And now all these years later his beautiful, vintage inspired decoupage can be found in the best stores in Europe as well as in the US. Because everyone loves what he does. Not to mention his imitators. But as Chanel famously said: "to be copied is the highest compliment." Or something like that. 

More importantly, Derian was a major influence in the modernization of vintage - that is, taking something old and making it look completely new. For this we must be more than grateful. His stand at the New York Gift Fair in August was packed all the time. And no wonder. 

www.johnderian.com

(For more on the New York Gift Fair you must be a subscriber to TrendPulse. Sorry)

Now this just might be THE item of the autumn season! Spotted yesterday at both Heals and Paperchase, a pretty printed cardboard 3-tiered cake stand - flat packed for easy carrying, easy storage.

And if your shelves are as crowded as mine are (I have a weakness for pretty plates), this is an item you could not resist. Especially as matching flower printed paper napkins and cupcake cases are there, too.

www.Heals.co.uk

www.paperchase.co.uk

The one absolute rule of fashion is that whatever is most out (of fashion) will come in as a key new trend.

So now we have wall art again. Now this may not be a bad thing. But then again it may be, as when I was growing up some of the ugliest creations you ever saw came under the label "wall art."  But here we go again.

In Habitat's new autumn 2010 collection - and also new in at Next Home - are openwork metal decorative pieces to put on a wall. One is purely abstract, the other a leaf pattern displayed in a set of three. So far, so good. We'll see how this developes.

www.habitat.com

www.next.co.uk/shopping/homeware

and (below) metal leaf wall or table art at Lombok, London 

Is this vintage 50's yellow & green chest at Designers Guild not perfect for a child's room? Spotted at the new(ish) Designers Guild shop on Marylebone High Street here in London, piled with toys and games with clothing spilling out of the drawers, it's a mid-century modern dream!

www.designersguild.com

As a relief from the relentless pursuit of the new, a trip to the 13th-15th century fortress cathedral of Sainte Cecile in Albi in south west France is perfect!

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site as of this past July, the interior is paradise for any pattern lover, covered with dazzling blue and gold geometric patterns created by Italian artists in the 15th century. In elegant contrast, a fantasia of intricately carved white limestone surrounds the altar.

http://www.francetoday.com/articles/2010/05/10/astonishing-albi.html

As I spend most of my waking life looking for the newest, the latest, it is wonderful to stop and look at anything old. Very old. Like maybe 12th century?  Earlier? So off to the Lot Valley in France for its enchanting medieval villages and churches (and blistering hot sun). 

Not quite medieval, but certainly vintage, is this wonderful metal dog holding a waterbowl - placed at the door of the waterside restaurant where we stopped for a quick pizza. 

And this is where we found it (and ate our delicious pizzas)

And here is the beautiful river view

Ceramic tableware made to look as if it is chipped enamel. In both Lafayette Maison and Conran, Paris, I spotted exactly that. In Conran they were mugs in fresh green or yellow; at Lafayette Maison both serving pieces and tableware in a classic French country design. It wasn't until you picked them up that you realized what they really were.

Is this a new trend? Fool the eye?

With my 2 techie sons, any child that appears will have this bib as an absolute must!!!! Spotted in Paris at Sam Concept Store in the chic Upper Marais - quiet and sleepy in the August vacance heat.

Loved, too, for kids/babies or grownups, this sweet cartoon baby face plastic dish.

www.samconceptstore.com

And while we're talking ice cream cones, how about this simplest of cutout paper displays?  Just paper stuck to the wall in delicately coloured shapes! 

This was spotted yesterday at the always inspirational Bon Ton shop for kids at 5 Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire in Paris.

www.bonton.fr