Little Princess

As you may or may not know Happy House created Little Princess many years ago, she came about via a product I was designing for some gift ware and just by chance she became a shining star. Over the years we have recreated her to feature in many different outfits, in various locations, with friends and pets, traveling the world to holiday destinations and . She tends to be the girl in all of us, sometimes she is playful and young, at others she is meaningful and responsible but she is always fun and unique. What I especially love about LP is that she can reflect any situation, be able to create a feel or drive a statement that has ethical meaning and or is just inspired for no other reason than evoking happiness. LP features in retro inspired sets, from the 60's, 70's or more recently the 80's! She sometimes just reflects our simple daily pleasures like picnics, shopping, hanging at school or with friends. She is also not age specific so you will notice how she shrinks and grows, shrinks and grows, she definitely keeps me on my toes. If you have any great suggestions for where and how you would love to see LP featured let us know by leaving a comment here. I would love to have a go at recreating your ideas and then post them for your pleasure and just maybe she will feature like this on an upcoming product!

hanging out at trade fairs

Just last week I was doing something I used to do a few times a year when I first started the business. Trade fairs are weird things, kind of cool because you get to meet lost of new people and interesting shop owners and potential new customers that want to carry your brand. Its always a toughy though as a designer its a struggle selling your own designs and being confronted face to face by very critical eyes, but hey just teh nature of it. Standing still for 5 days in a 3mx 3m space with a very big happy smile can be exhausting when your mostly used to being safe behind a desk in my studio, sitting in comfy chairs and looking out over the tree tops. The contrast is great though and it was a buzz being back in the company of some fab people and hanging out in Sydney with a very fav friend made the evenings super fun. I hope you find some of these new products in a store near you soon. Check out a very exciting new range of jewellery in the top left photo, its tricky to see but I don't want to give away to much too early!

new bags for Australia

Its been a while since Happy House has sold in Australia, I guess that is what happens when you are distracted by other parts of your business and overseas opportunities. Its an awakening when I realised just how sad it was that we had not been taking care of our own brand in our very own country, so it was time to have product available again back on familar shores. It was fun using a favorite spot of mine to use as a back drop for the new shoot and show just how fabulous Australian beaches really are. Typically though just when you need the day to be perfect, the sun kept hiding behind the clouds but after 3 attempts to score the perfect day, it was well 'what the heck, lets just go for it' get in the car and try to beat the band of clouds that where fast approaching. The girls Mimi, Belle, Macy and Indigo where all lots of fun and they bared the chilly wind at times and loved the sun when it was there and really just made the most of the patchy day. Warm or not it was still beautiful.

These new bags will be coming to Australian shores soon so beg your local retailer to give us a call at head office so they may make these bags available in your favorite store near you!

'little princess' whimsical world

illustrating 'little princess' sometimes can be a bit agonising, even though I love her she has been around for many many years so when it comes to reinventing her for a new range I often wonder what will be her new lease of life!  once i start fiddling around eventually she finds a new light, a new feel, a new theme, a new colour palette and before I know it she is part of a whole range of product and really it becomes a joy and not the pain that I was perhaps anticipating. long live 'little princess'!

sewing day

fab old favorites from my retro materials came together in this oversized tote bag. so much inspiration in all these prints, i love them hanging out together what a great clash of the 70's.

city heat

very excited to have our new online store approaching for launch date. this cool shot is part of the new happy house  home page for the site and also ad campaign for Hong Kong and fresh launch into Australian market in 2010. Wend Lear gorgeous friend, amazing photographer took the shots for us and the cute guy in the pic just happens to be Jack my adorable nephew and Issy is his girlfriend in real life. thank you guys I could have never got anyone looking so sweet and sincere with just any old models.

there is an owl outside my window

Since moving to the hills of Adelaide there has been this very strange loud humming sound which friends and family have debated over as to what it was, the humm kind of fades in and out and I was convinced it was something to do with a very large telecom tower not too far away from here! But no after closer inspection with very close ears the humm is no humm but a hoooot from an owl. So this is in dedication to you beautiful owls that kept me guessing for so long....... plus owls are so in....... or out I am not sure, hoo hoo cares anyway? They sure look beautiful.