Well I don't know about you but I love the start of a new year, yes I'm one of those weird ones! Reason 1. after the deed of taking down the Christmas decs, rooms looks new and clean, without even picking up a paint brush! 2. my birthday is in February so the next party will be here before you know it. 3. you can start to actually plan your next holiday for real. 4. However the main reason is..... I begin the new spring/summer edit on the Cup + Cloth wares, lots of fresh exciting goods coming your way. StayGoldMaryRose will be joining the store with her wonderful jewellery collection using reclaimed china. A new ceramicist will also join the group, the gorgeous glazed spoons are to die for. So watch this space as spring is just around the corner!

a Porto pic from last years holiday... gorgeous paper lanterns in a Ribeira alleyway. Start planning your next trip for 2017

What a wonderful city Porto is, our chosen destination for this years time out, we arrived and immediately fell in love with it. This charming city combines the best of old and new, you will find stunning 18th century architecture set amongst a laid back vibe. The city is very walkable with different areas of cobbled streets, ancient squares, scroll work balconies adorned with flowers. Tiled front building were wonderful and varied, as was the excellent food and wine. Porto is THE perfect city, with its ancient history, uber cool shops and galleries, you won't want to leave. We did manage to drag ourselves away for a few trips out, taking trains to Coimbra a beautiful ancient University city, a smaller city to explore in a day. The Peneda Geres is a national Park that's wild and beautiful and offers a respite to city living, a train to the ancient city of Braga ( also worth a visit ) and then a bus into the park was easy and accessible, amazing walking and rural landscapes to die for, definitely worth the trip. www.independent.co.uk/travel/paris-shopping-portugal-hotels-fashion-restuarants-a7329056.html www.localporto.com

A creatives dream...Porto is Tile heaven

Crochet installations in Coimbra, a one hour train trip south of Porto.

I love how this perfect green doors pop of colour draws your eye down this ancient granite corridor. World renowned and Pritzkter award winning Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura designed the transformation of this beautiful Pousada at Sant… — I love how this perfect green doors pop of colour draws your eye down this ancient granite corridor. World renowned and Pritzkter award winning Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura designed the transformation of this beautiful Pousada at Santa Maria do Bouro Amares in the Peneda Geres national park, just 2 hours out of Porto. A wonderful reason to leave the city for a day trip.

Tiles I purchased on my trip, one very old and one not so old, sitting well next to the mid-century pottery and smokey vase.