Famille Summerbelle News

Simon completed the Etape du Tour on Sunday. We are all so proud of him as it was a hell of a race: more than 10 hours on the saddle, climbing a total of 5000 metres over 150km. Over 7000 people started, only 4500 finished. Bravo à notre champion!

We're in the Alps near Chamonix for few days as Simon is taking part in L'Etape du Tour this Sunday (one stage of the Tour de France) cycling 150km including 5 peaks, some as high as 2000 meters. It will be one of his biggest sport challenge to date (after London and NYC marathons) but he has been training on...

Finally some decent weather. And just as well because today we had a little birthday party for Ophelia and a few of her friends. Her birthday isn't actually for a few weeks but it's never a good idea to have your birthday party once the school holidays have started! Ophelia very much took on the role of creative director (!)...a...

We found Copenhagen to have a very positive outlook and with everyone seemingly cycling or running around the place it just feels really really healthy! The Danish are very committed to living sustainably and, while visiting the stunning Danish Architectural Centre, we discovered just how progressive and environmentally aware this society is - particularly the sensitivity in terms of developing...

We're spending a few days in Copenhagen. Partly for work and entirely for pleasure! I'll do a couple of posts over the next few days to share a little of what we have seen. This is my first trip to Denmark (Simon has been for work a few times). My first impressions are really very positive, despite the slightly gloomy...

We are spending the week with our relatives from New Zealand on l'Ile de Ré. So far we have managed a little cycling while the sun was out and avoid the heavy rain showers...You can read a bit more about what we like to do on the island on the interview I did for Bozaround blog.

When Ophelia comes back from school she often comes to my studio and ask to do stuff with me (like drawing and making things). I had a dozen of Posca (water based paint markers. They are very easy to clean with window cleaner product) on my desk in front of me, and don't ask me why but I thought it...

Oh yes! and it has been a pretty good one last week as well. I am very much enjoying working with a couple of creative people who are doing a project on Famille Summerbelle. Can't say much for now, but I will keep you informed before the Summer. This is a photo of the mood board in my studio. I...

Chatou is a place to the west of Paris where the Impressionists used to come and paint on the charming banks of the river Seine. Twice a year (March and September) a huge flea market La Foire à La Brocante et aux Jambons is set on the Ile des Impressionnistes. I recommend to have lunch at the nearby Maison Fournaise...

So it has taken a while, but we've finally started producing our maps as paper cut originals. Hurrah! The problem to date has been replaceing somebody that can recreate the maps to their finest details...a laser that can cut out the fingers on a hand or the wisps of hair on a head. Well we found those people...quietly working away...

Happy New Year to all of you. 2011 was a pretty great vintage for us. We enjoyed a great deal of change: moving office early in the year (Finsbury Park in London) and launching many new products including our new wallpaper Un Dimanche a Paris, a new map of San Francisco plus a brand new range of tea towels. We...

We're tucked away in the heart of the French Alps with the precise cover of snow to make the most festive atmosphere. We just returned from the centre of town where we enjoyed a little vin chaud in front of the church. Perfect! Christmas here in France is already under way as the main celebration is on the 24th December....

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Aahhh the City by the Bay! It was just three years ago (almost to the day!) that we finished our three month voyage in this beautiful city. We really fell in love with the place and if we had to choose another place to live it would surely be here. My brother and his family live just outside of the...

Our little boy turned 2 today and learnt a new word "deux!". His vocabulary list doesn't exceed 10 words so we were pleased to add a new one to it! He was so happy to receive so many cars (oh! he loves cars and wheels so much), a bike and a garage. We bought this vintage garage during the Braderie...

Cointreau, cranberry juice and Prosecco was the drink of the night; the opening night of our month long residence at The Collection boutique in Le Marais, Paris. This is the first time that we have had the opportunity to feature our entire collection in a single shop, and this is not just any shop! The Collection is a reference in...

The famous boutique The Collection in Le Marais is inviting us for the month of November to present our collection and our new wallpaper and laser cut City maps. If you're in Paris come tonight from 6pm for the opening show - Vernissage - A drink will be waiting for you! The Collection, 33 rue de Poitou, Paris 3ème.

I'm very excited to show you images of our new wallpaper Un Dimanche à Paris. The illustrations were hand paper cut to create a little Parisian scene. I was inspired by our weekly Sunday visit to Paris with the children. We like to go to the Jardin du Luxembourg (the Luco as the Parisian would call it!) in the 6th...