Wednesday, 2 May 2012

More Tea Vicar?...(Cosy English Country Style with Susie Watson Designs).

When I fall in love, I fall fast and hard, and for a while it's all consuming...but do I remain faithful? No siree, I'm about as faithful as Jane Austen's Mr Willoughby to poor Marianne in Sense and Sensibility. I'm speaking about interiors of course, and having shown you one of my favourite style crushes (Kate Forman) earlier this week, I'm now going to let you in on another English designer from my 'not so secret' lust list. Those of you who are not 'into' colour - turn away now - for this next reveal veers into pure English Mad Hatter territory!
Susie Watson Designs epitomise all that is quaint and mildly eccentric about English country design. Think strawberries and cream, 'high tea' with crumpets and scones and jam, the Women's Institute and phrases such as "More tea vicar?"! Well chances are that the cups that were handed to the 'Bishop by the Actress' (wink wink) were probably not too dissimilar to the ones now made by Susie Watson. Her designs are pure English fantasy. A combination of Alice in Wonderland meets Miss Marple. No Scandinavian paired down subtlety here, - this is pure Mary Poppins psychedelia - it's spots, tassels and pom poms all the way - with a few stripes thrown in - often all at the same time!
Her designs appeal to my Enid Blyton influenced childhood views of the English countryside. It's all about picnics, midnight feasts scones and cream and lashings of ginger beer - followed by a jolly good romp with the dog through the woods (perhaps we'll discover smugglers and find ourselves in the middle of a 'toppo' adventure!)
It's high tea followed by cricket on the lawn.
Real lemonade after a rough and tumble game of lacrosse (I played 3rd Home at my all girls school - did any ones else ever play?) I could go on (and I frequently do...) but suffice to say that she's one of my 'go to' designers for informal crockery and soft furnishings that involve the family room and the girls bedroom.
I have a lot of her pink and white spotted pottery which I use for breakfasts, picnics and informal tea parties. I also have her jauntily striped red and white linen table cloths and napkins - such fun! Now you take another look while I butter some crumpets and then afterwards - ANYONE FOR TENNIS???
All images courtesy of Susie Watson Designs. www.susiewatsondesigns.com
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47 comments

  1. Color I like, pink not so much but still nice choices if in a different color...lol.

    XX
    Debra~

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  2. I love her designs, she's always at the Country Living Christmas Fair and I have a couple of pieces of her china :)

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  3. Hello dear Mrs Sutton,
    Thank you so much for your sweet and kind words on my blogpost! I so appreciate it!

    Lovely post of you here today! Thank you for the link! I am off to Susie's website!!
    xx
    Greet

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  4. Paula girl, your taste is good! I'm sitting here, tea in hand (and biscuits) reading the last 3 posts I've missed and it was so good to read them back to back! I never heard of susie or kate as designers but love their decorating taste.
    Reading your blog is a true eye candy moment, thanks for the inspiration!
    And if we would meet in real life, girl, we would need pots of tea to keep us company! Leaving you with a big smile,
    Maureen x

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  5. It looks perfect for afternoon tea in the garden, and I think the vicar would definitely be persuaded to have another cup!
    Oh how I too loved the Enid Blyton adventures, and at the end of the day they always managed to find some nice springy heather to make a 'bed' on!

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  6. OMG, I love the attic bedroom with all the beds! the crib! the toile! the banner across the ceiling. A girl's dream room. Sleep overs galore. Love it all Paula, thanks.
    XO

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  7. Hello sweet Paula! I enjoyed every gorgeous photo and your fabulous, descriptive writings! Oh, you do make me smile sweetie! Susie Watson is quite a gifted designer and I love all of her offerings. Your pink and white spotted pottery sounds so sweet, as does the red and white striped table linens! Perfect for a garden tea party! By the way, have you received the Queen of Sweden you ordered? I do hope so! Have fun playing tennis! ;) Love, Paula xoxo

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  8. Hi Paula, Lovely pics as usual! I have always loved Susie Watson, have particularly got my eye on that duck-egg picnic blanket, that's right up my alley. Hope you're having a good week.
    Hugs, B x

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  9. Hello Paula how lovely of you to visit my blog. I have popped over for a visit, and will stay around if you don't mind. Is Hill House yours? what an utterly gorgeous home. To think I had never even heard of Susie Watson until now, I know where HAVE I been.

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  10. Hey Paula, Susie Watson's designs are gorgeous! they are sooooo pretty and you've summed up the whole feel of her pieces in your lovely post! Cream teas and Enid Blyton - oh you bring me back. Did you read 'The Secret of Spiggy Holes'?? love Enid Blyton - sweet memories!! I didn't know she had moved into textiles though - thanks for the info! Would love those cushions and a picnic blanket . . .

    Sharon
    xxxx

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  11. Dear Paula,

    It was so nice to see a new face this morning on my blog comments! HOW DID YOU FIND ME? I am always curious when I see a new friend!

    YOUR POST IS FABULOUS. I live in the suburbs, but since we are surrounded by so much greenery, I feel like I am in the country. With wild rabbits and other creatures in our yard, the feeling is quite real. Your interiors on your sidebar are just gorgeous; I see you have a chandy in your kitchen as I do! THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVELY COMMENTS and I too am a sucker for French country and English designs. Do you know the blog, BELGIAN PEARLS? Oh you must see her work.

    THANK YOU FOR VISITING! Anita

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  12. Paula, You are introducing me to such wonderful designers with whom I am not familiar. These pictures are wonderful. I think I have a favorite then I scroll down and fall in love all over again. Bonnie

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  13. Another lovely postPaula, a joy to visit :o)
    Rose H

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  14. Alice in Wonderland meets Miss Marple??? How wonderful!

    Oh yes, please, another cup of tea thank you in one of these delightful cups. Very pretty.

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  15. Over my decades of life, I have loved sampling all sorts of design influences, always keeping in mind what it was that I grew up with.

    Nowadays, my little apartment is a very eclectic place. I can trace all the sources, even if it might baffle others.

    It's great fun to visit here.

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  16. Thanks Paula for your visit to my blog.
    Your blog is very very nice!
    See you
    Desi of Creattivando

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  17. Thank you for your sweet comments. You have a lovely blog too. I am your newest follower.

    Wishing you a lovely day.
    xoxo Rozmeen

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  18. I just love your writing Paula ... and this post is so quintessentially English.
    Hope you're having a great week.
    xx

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  19. How lovely. I particularly admire those beautiful striped cushions, and I envy you the red and white striped linen: lucky you.

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  20. Paula, you are so nice to me, I love reading your comments !! It boost my confidence, thank you !

    Well, you are not alone, I've let myself influence and changeg decor and interior style several times in recent years too. But I always come back to the simple rural style. But who's not fond of flowers and a nice tea party? Very girly and romantic.

    ~ Aina ~

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  21. Oh so sweet - I love love love ... The pink and white pottery, the pillows, and most importantly, your imaginative writing. I am up for an afternoon of tea and tennis...

    Vie

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  22. Hi Paula,
    The title of your delightful post makes me chuckle, as it's such an old fashioned expression.
    Have always loved Susie Watsons designs, often seeing them at the House and Garden fair. A really friendly company.
    Lizx
    Ps , We have been here 6 years. Farrow and Balls 'elephants breath and skimming stone' have been my saviour!! We can't do it all so we just do the bits that 'need' doing, and other bits that make us happy.

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  23. So many pretties! thanks for sharing!

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  24. If this is being a Mad Hatter, then call me a Mad Hatter - love it.
    Di
    X

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  25. PS: have added you to my blogroll as I keep missing your posts and don't want to miss any more :-)
    Di
    X

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  26. Dear Mrs Sutton,

    I never heard of Susie Watson before, but it's the sort of romantic style that I love too. When I look at your photo's I realise it's the sort of style I try to create in my little garden house.

    Thank you for introducing her.

    Have a lovely evening!

    Madelief x

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  27. Oh, there's lots of pretty, dainty English inspiration here!
    x
    Melissah from Country Style Chic

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  28. Hi Paula - I have never heard of Susie Watson. So delighted to discover yet another designer through your blog.

    I do love English country style, and always buy Country Living magazine whenever I am across the pond. They are too pricey here in the States :-(

    Oh, and I learned something else: spotted pottery....we call those polka dots ;-)

    Ta-Ta-4-Now!
    Loi
    Tone on Tone

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  29. I read that as 'breakfast picnics' at first....sounds like an excellent idea though...weather permitting!!

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  30. I will definitely pop over to visit her website!
    And I'm adding your blog to my blogroll - so happy to "meet" you. :)
    ~ Zuzu

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  31. Her designs are really pretty and joyful Paula - love the cushions in the top photo. Perfect designs for a summerhouse - as in my coveted summerhouse post a few posts back *sigh*.

    Will hop back now as I think I missed your last post ...

    Happy weekend.

    Jeanne
    x

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  32. Hello Paula

    I love your blog. I just found you through a comment you made on Jeanne, Collage for Life.

    As your new follower, I look forward to your visit and comments

    Helen xx

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  33. I think we have very similar tastes, like you I have some of her china and love her stripe fabric which I use quite alot, and her spotty candles just add quirkiness to the table! Lovely post as always. Enjoy the week
    Jillx

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  34. Hello Mrs Sutton...how many tennis balls are you prepared to forsake in the interest of friendship? I only ask as I am uniquely talented at firing them outside the confines of the court...excellent at hitting ponds/swimming pools/innocent bystanders...interested in a game of doubles? We could just skip that and make for the picnic lunch, what do you think? tee hee! Have a lovely week,

    Sarah -x-

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  35. Thank you for your comment today! I'm so happy to be a new follower :)
    Stacy

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  36. beautiful photos!

    Love from Italy
    Silvia

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  37. What a wonderful blog and I absolutely love this post! I've been wanting chickens forever :) and I've even been looking at the large variety of coops available. Fresh eggs are THE BEST!

    I'm your newest follower!

    leslie

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  38. Hello - just popping in - thank you for your kind words I will set some quality time aside to read through your lovely blog too

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  39. Stunning - I have collected Susie Watson's Fairy set for my two girls with some polka dots thrown in too & they love their bowls, cups, jugs, plates etc
    There is something very special about having the plainest thing on a special plate ...
    Regards
    Dee at the Carlton

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  40. Hallo meine liebe,danke für deine Besuch bei mir.Dein Blog ist traumhaft schöön.So Geschmackvoll.Ich komme wieder.Schönes Wochenende.Bussi.Luciene.

    ReplyDelete

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