I'm really loving the simplicity and clean lines of the current Geo trend, so was happy to see my new 'Bea' Clutch featured in this cool treasury:

'Modern Geo' by akinamina

Geometeric Ring EclecticHaven $14.00	Black White Pleat Long Sleev... BadJamesVintag... $38.00	Neon Geometric Square Ring cyclicalind $18.00	Original painting Abstract A... LouisestArt $85.00
Modern Geometric Embroidery ... IslaysTerrace $20.00	iphone 4 case - grey color b... BlissfulCASE $14.99	Neon yellow pyrography geome... ravynka $12.00	Geometric Triangle Earrings-... YOLUNI $15.00
Concrete Geodesic Planter Da... atstuart $78.00	Geo Design Brooch - Colorful... kokubancity $24.00	Wooden Triangles Geometric P... TimberGreenWoo... $22.95	Geo triangle black Geometric... corejewellery $22.00
triangle necklace niceniceniceDE $19.90	Gold Geometric Earrings - Da... knobbly $24.00	The 'Bea' Clutch Pur... RoseandRina $30.00	White Geometric Earrings amillioncityli... $12.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

Vintage Summer

Source: ms-bella.polyvore.com via Rose & Rina on Pinterest

One of my favourite necklaces, the vintage turquoise pendant has been featured in this summery collection on Polyvore:

Olympic Flame Fever

In around 24 hours the most greatly anticipated event of 2012 will officially begin in Stratford, East London, and it is safe to say that Olympic fever has swept across the city of London like wildfire.

I must confess that I was initially one of the doubting cynics who thought of the Olympics and thought - congestion, transport chaos, tourists standing on the wrong side of the escalator, four weeks walking 2 hours to and from work in the rain... To be honest, I still think all of the above, but the cynicism has been replaced with a sense of excitement and a silent swelling of pride at the fact that my home town will be hosting the event of the year. If you're a Londoner and still not convinced, check out this excellent article.

It was perfect then, that the Olympic Torch would be travelling on its penultimate day towards the Olympic stadium past my work down Regents Street, Piccadilly Circus and Shaftsbury Avenue. So we joined the crowds and though the flame came and went in the flash of an eye, it was well worth being there to join in with the excitement of this once in a lifetime event.

The anticipation builds as the crowds line the streets ▼
Official Sponsor floats hype up the crowds moments before the torch arrives ▼
Finally the torch bearer arrives - and is gone in a flash! ▼

A weekend in Amsterdam

Last weekend I visited Amsterdam for the first time and completely fell in love with the city - the beautiful canals, houseboats, bicycles and the laid back atmosphere... honestly, it hasn't topped NYC as my dream city, but it came pretty close!

 I haven't got around to uploading my proper camera pics, but thought I'd share a few phone-toes in the meantime...

Delft & Tulips at the Rijks Museum ▼ A photo can't do the beauty of the canals justice ▼An Alladin's cave of fabrics on Albert Cuyp Market ▼ Westerkerk ▼ The best Apple Pie in Amsterdam from Winkle Cafe ▼ Amsterdammers know how to chill with the best of them! ▼ Stroll through the Red Light district and stop for this divine chocolate tart at the bottom of Oudezijds Achterburgwal ▼ Vermeer at the Rijks Museum

Plumo

So this week I stumbled across online store Plumo, and can safely say that I am now hooked. The team travel around the world to source products that are original in design, beautifully crafted and a little different from what you usually see. Working with artisans, co-operatives from Africa to Asia, designers that have just come out of college and other creatives. The result is an ethical and original collection of clothes, accessories and home furnishings. Do you ever log onto an online store or walk into a shop and want to buy EVERYTHING on sale? That's the kind of Plumo obsession I'm developing. Just check out my Pinterest, it's getting so clogged with pictures from the site, people will think I'm beimg sponsered by them! - oh how I wish... My timing's pretty good though, as their summer sale is now on

R & R on Polyvore

Check out the looks that the Flo Cutch has been featured in on Polyvore . Both very different but both very good!

Date Night by baller9139 featuring flat shoes

Don't Go With The Flow by pamelaelle featuring clutch handbags

Happy Birthday to US!

On this auspicious day, one year ago, Rose & Rina opened it 'virtual' doors to Etsy customers the world over. Some things have changed a lot since then - the teacup candles and vintage cake stands did a roaring trade and the shop sold out of them before the year was through. This was a great chance to focus on another of my passions - accessories, thus came the African printed fabric shopper bags and more recently clutch purses lined on the interior/exteriors with specially sourced wax printed fabrics.

During the year I've also been able to sell at several vintage and craft fairs around London - looking back this has been an amazing experience. Setting uo a stall organising displays and interacting with other designer makers and sellers has been a great experience and though often hit and miss, and very stressful - I'm so glad I did them.

Now I'm looking to the future and will keep learning and evolving and creating new items that I'm passionate about. Roll on Rose & Rina year 2!

Oh and as a celebration of our first birthday, all the cushion covers on the Rose and Rina Etsy store are 50% off! Use the discount code on the shop homepage when checking out with your cushions.

**excludes other items on sale on RoseandRina.etsy.com

It's a Jungle out There

Check out these cool street style 'mash ups' by Miss Moss using paintings by artists such as Roussau and Cezanne.

 

Burberry Prorsum: Out of Africa

Christopher Bailey's SS12 range for Burberry Prorsum looks like it's come straight out of Africa. The bold colours and abstract prints totally reminiscent of West African wax printed fabrics. I had to share some pictures of the range including my style crushes Solange Knowles and Florence Welch who prove anyone can rock an African print!

 

New Treasury: The Line of Beauty

'The Line of Beauty' by RoseandRina

Watercolor Fashion Illustrat... silverridgestu... $100.00	Black ecocotton jersey cape ... Vietto $105.00	Linen And Lace 16 x 20 belafontesbuns... $140.00
Arrow necklace, this way, sl... LemonSweetJewe... $23.00	Braided wrap bracelet - blac... SolDelSur $28.00	Vintage 1950s Grey Marble Lu... honeysuckleand... $95.00
Greek Geometric Bronze Horse GreekMythos $72.00	Sterling silver necklace, He... FirstImpressio... $32.00	Edwardian marie antoinette c... miadressshop $26.00
Vintage Black and Cream Prin... gracearchives $8.00	Coin Pearl Earrings Sterling... aubepine $23.00	Vintage Acme Adjustable Gray... jerseyicecream... $85.00
Crochet okapi necklace okapiknits $65.00	Ceramic Vase in Blue and Cre... RossLab $42.00	Black and white butterfly mu... zzaga $43.00
Fine Art Photography Print- ... kcassidyphotog... $25.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio