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Eventually I opted for DREAMWALL,well it suited perfect,a dream invention made from a dream vision,I created my own DREAMWALL,so March 2003 DREAMWALL was born and set up.I sorted out an accountant,a bank,copyright,the name.The next thing to get sorted was the manufacturing.A start up biz grant was permitted but I had to prove receipts to the council,then they gave me my money back.Olivia's dad found a fantastic factory for Rustic Brick to be manufactured from, and I can proudly say that the same factory still manufactures rustic brick for DREAMWALL nearly 6yrs on.I still had my first customer very keen to purchase for his bathroom project,lucky he was very understanding with the wait.It took over two weeks to decide what material to manufacture the sections from,as there was building regulations and British standards on materials so lots of research was needed,I used thegarage and make shift office to sample the sections with adhesives and paints and did all my product testing more »

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In Feb 2003,my first customer wanted to place an order for Rustic Brick for a bathroom project.I only had the mould for the prototype wall I had done in the living room,I had no business account set up nothing only the valid advice from the business in focus centre!HELP!Okay first thing is first can this prototype wall be manufactured and what kind of material can I use, and will it work!I guess I was lucky that Olivias father had a building background and was quick to help,in all fairness he travelled all over the place going to different factorys to see if the product could be manufactured,taking the master mould along,he went to Birmingham first but they could only manufacture in bulk quantites I didn't have much capital to start with to fiance the stock.While Liv's dad got on with finding a company to  manufacture. I got on with opening a business account,sorting out the copyright documents for rustic brick.I had a name crisis too as the first name I chose for the biz was more »

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My resolutions this year are to:

1. Buy a house (or a flat) - somewhere to decorate!
2. Get thrifty with second hand and rescued furnitur and accessories that I can re-paint and rescue.
3. Stop buying cheap rubbish that falls apart after 3 months.

here's to 2009!

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Leto & Ariadne is the label of handweaver Nick Ozanne.

Trained at the Winchester School of Art, Ozanne creates woven fabrics with detailed attention to drape, weight and, above all, how they feel against the skin.

His inspiration is drawn from the books of Evelyn Waugh, the shapes of seedpods and the tradition of the English afternoon tea.

From 2 to 17 January 2009, Leto & Ariadne's handwoven scarves will be on show at 72 Wigmore Street, London

More information
www.vitsoe.com/news_exhibition_2009.php?id=1007
www.letoariadne.com

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After seeking advice with Buisness in Focus in early 2003,I felt very positive that I could make a business out of my new wall design.But before I started researching ways of how to manufacture the wall in mass I needed to do some market research as I had no idea what market I was aiming for.All these little things are important when writing a business plan.A webpage was set up on the internet with pictures of the rustic brick prototype wall along with information what the wall could be used for, i.e feature wall,loft conversion look,country look.It was amazing that in just one week I had sourced my first customer via the webpage.NOW it starts to get exciting and also very STRESSFUL!Brilliant I had found my first customer,but bearing in mind I had only set up the webpage to generate intrest at this early stage I had not got my grant monies yet and  had not even set up a bank account, but most important I had not even done my research on how to manufacture the wall! LET THE more »

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As Sir Terence Conran predicted, pink walls and chandeliers don't feel right for 2009. 'I think we've had enough of frivolity for a while,' said the designer. Instead of funky hues, the colour grey traditionally linked to war and turmoil, has been crowned the colour of the season.

Contrary to popular belief, grey isn't boring. It can actually be super glamorous and it's subtlety is a welcome relief to fleeting fashions. Think silver cushions like those at John Lewis,  instead of the colour of ashes and school uniforms. While Gwyneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham were last month spotted wearing grey nail varnish, interior decorators are treating grey as the new neutral perfect for painting walls.

Roberts more »

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Congratulations to GARDEN4ME_42 who has won a £1000 Fornum and Mason hamper and Jessica, another Community member who has won the runners up prize of a £300 hamper in our Fortnum and Mason competition!

The other runners up who each won £300 hampers are;

Sue Baldry, Belinda Tati, Ruth Hayter, Claire King, Lesley Riden, Pamela Cook, Samantha Henriques, Karen Khan and Anna Stanford.

Well done you lot and enjoy your marvellous prizes, I am very jealous!

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We love ikea!!

Hung ikea curtains yesterday at both the living room and bedroom windows.  They look fab.  Of course its all in the hanging (and ironing and hemming...) and of course mum did it.

See Adams Apple room for idea of how the living room will look.

Already have the sofa, the armchair (lazyboy - another donation), the union jack cushion, the scarface poster (both gifts from mum) and a sort of similar dining table.  (Still trying to persuade him about the panton lookalike dining chairs.)  He has seen similar cityscape posters in ikea and has his eye on a giant wall clock for the kitchen end of the room.   Not bad taste for a twenty year old.

Out of funds for now....................but mum is thinking about what to do with his old room at home ........................