Confetti Eggs

By Jackie Beale from chi.qui.ti.tos, you can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, & Pinterest.

Dying Easter eggs has been a long standing tradition for me growing up in America so I thought I'd share it with my British family.

Only one little problem... brown eggs don't dye as easily and there were no white eggs to be found anywhere! After many attempts and many fails, I have discovered the perfect solution for dying brown eggs. 

Children of England, you can now celebrate with dyed eggs too! You are welcome! I decided to take things a little further with these by turning them into confetti eggs (inspired by Oh Happy Day)... perfect for hiding in the garden and then having the little ones (or big ones) find them.

The result, a bunch confetti filled eggs and a whole lot of fun! I'll be sharing pictures on my blog of our own confetti filled Easter hunt so make sure to check them out!

Confetti Eggs, make 6

Supplies

• 6 eggs
• 6 plastic cups
• red, blue, yellow, green, purple, and orange gel food coloring
• 1/2 cup boiling water per plastic cup
• 2 tsp. vinegar per plastic cup
• pins
• scissors
• glue
• colored tissue paper
• confetti

Directions

• Use the pin to pierce the top of the egg to create a small hole.
• Repeat to the bottom of the egg, but this time create a slightly larger hole.
• Let the egg drain into a bowl, blowing the residue out through the small hole if needed.
• Rinse the egg shell out and set aside to dry.
• Pour 1/2 cup of boiling water into each plastic cup, followed by the gel food coloring. I used the whole tube per plastic cup to ensure better saturation.
• Stir in 2 tsp. of vinegar per plastic cup and let sit for 3 minutes.
• Slowly lower a shell into each plastic cup, filling it with water to keep it submerged. Top up with warm water as needed to fully cover eggs.
• Check the shells every 10 minutes and take them out to dry once they have achieved your desired color. Some colors will take longer than others.
• Once dry, fill the shells about halfway up with your choice of confetti. I mixed it up by having 3 types!
• Cut circles large enough to cover the holes out of the colored tissue paper. Cut a slit for easy applying.
• Squeeze a thin line of glue around the the edge of the holes and press down on the egg, covering the hole. Some overlapping will occur.
• Let eggs dry upside down so that the confetti doesn't stick to the bottom.. and enjoy!

Bubble and Speak is taking a little Easter break - we'll be back on 2nd April. 

Looking Gorgeous

For spring/summer 13, Ilovegorgeous have collaborated with iconic tennis shoe brand Bensimon and created these little beauties.

Choose between hot pink or vivid turquoise laces and trim.

Wool House

Curated and styled by Arabella McNie, Wool House is a free exhibition celebrating the versatility of wool at Somerset House. 

Textile Queen Donna Wilson has been invited to create a fantastical nursery that would feed a child's imagination. 

Her wonderland scheme of trees and sky, clouds and raindrops comes alive with the three dimensional leaves on the walls. 

The felt walling is warm to touch, and the dotty rug makes a great play area.

Wool House runs until 24 March at Somerset House. 

Go Wild For Milk and Rock!

Designed and manufactured in Portugal, Milk and Rock offers soft and well-cut shirts for boys and girls.

For its first collection, the Portuguese brand has taken inspiration from Edward Sheriff Curtis and its work on Native American tribes. 

Milk and Rock will make its Bubble debut on 16 & 17 June 2013 at The Business Design Centre.

Tie & Dye

Already a big trend in both the fashion and beauty worlds, tie-dye is about to move into your house!

Designed by Stéphane Parmentier, these statement stools and low tables feature a blur fading or intensifying colour with oak.

Woolly Week

In the world’s largest showcase of wool, the recently renovated West Wing of Somerset House will be transformed into a home made primarily from wool from tomorrow. 

Seven individual rooms, from the bedroom to the study, created by leading designers, such as Kit Kemp and Donna Wilson, will be exhibited to show how the design community uses wool extensively in their work.

Three additional rooms will be dedicated to fashion displays, celebrating the importance of the fibre in today’s fashion industry.

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Shauna Richardson's Brown Bear

The organisers have also scheduled a series of workshops and talks until Sunday 24 March.
For more information, click here. 

Mothering Sunday

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, we asked the mothers and daughters in the Bubble London team to share how they’re planning to spend Sunday. 

‘I would like to be able to stay in bed beyond 8am on Sunday morning, and for someone else to clean out the hamster.’

Lindsay Hoyes, event director 

‘I would love a lie-in with a big cuddle sandwiched between my 2 sons.’

Stephanie Parker, marketing director

‘We celebrate Mother’s Day or La Fete Des Meres in May in France, so I do have a bit more time to sort something out for my mum.’

Tabara N’Diaye, event manager

‘I’m taking my mother on a spa day, a win-win situation.’

Caroline Watson, senior marketing manager  

‘I’ve paid for my mum and I to stay in a suite in a top notch hotel for the weekend and then taking her to Betty’s Tea Rooms in Harrogate for Afternoon Tea.’

Raquel Monroy, marketing & pr manager

‘We’re taking my mum out for a meal as she prefers a get-together with her kids over flowers or gifts.’

Rachael Toft, visitor relations manager

We'll be having cucumber sandwiches, cream cakes and champagne in vintage teacups at the Midland Hotel in Manchester.' 

Caroline Mackinnon, Bubble & Speak contributor

photo credits: 1, 2, 3, 4 

Happy Mother's Day! 

Taking Liberty

 

With sunny days upon us and the spring season approaching, No Added Sugar unveils its Liberty print collection using classic prints from the Liberty Art Fabrics archive.

Timeless and eye-popping floral prints adorned dresses, shirts and playsuits.

To complement the range, the British brand is also launching a swimwear range made from the highest quality fabric.

Boys + Girls = Fairtrade

As Fairtrade Fortnight kicked off on Monday, we thought we’d share with you one of our favourite Fairtrade certified brands.
Catering for kids from 1-10 years old, Boys&Girls is a bright and brilliant combination of stylish, practical and affordable kids clothes made from fairly traded and organic cotton and designed with playing in mind.

Each garment is created with care and the company strives to reduce the impact of their manufacturing on the environment.

Click here to discover the Boys&Girls Fairtrade t-shirts.