XXL Famille Summerbelle Paris map print

Dutch magazine Ariadne at Home featured the gorgeous Paris map print by Famille Summerbelle in their latest issue and asked Julie, the designer if they could enlarge it into a wall sticker for the photoshoot....

And it looks FA-BU-LOUS! I hope it will encourage Julie to make them into wall stickers or even wallpapers now. I think they would go down a storm!
By the way, if you are looking for the the Paris map print in hot pink...sorry guys it is no longer available. Julie makes each colour available for a limited time to keep the collection fresh and the hot pink has been replaced by this lovely coral pink which you will agree is looking very very nice!

The World is yours by Famille Summerbelle

The World map by Famille Summerbelle is out and as usual, like anything Famille Summerbelle has done so far, it is beautiful, vibrant and stunning.

Like the London, Paris and NYC city maps, the World map is based on an original cut out and this one comes in a bigger format which will fit perfectly in the 50 x 70cm RIBBA frame from Ikea...

Click here to see how Julie, the designer did this beautiful piece of artwork....More than 20 hours of meticulous paper-cutting squashed into a 2 min film....Amazing!

Simply GOR-GEOUS! London map print now in slate grey

So I'm back from France and look what I've brought back from home....yes! The gorgeous London map print now available in slate grey. Isn't this gorgeous?! I love it!
Although the London map turquoise will be sadly missed (each colour is available for a limited time to keep each print a bit special....), I think this one is just going to be a fabulous gift for Father's Day!

I'm not gonna bored you how successful all these prints are. You only have to read some of our reviews or search this blog for past posts.. .but I still think that to this date, these prints based on original hand paper cut are the most beautiful maps we ever seen and the most affordable paper cut inspired.
Elodie and I are huge fans of Rob Ryan's paper cuts but we also appreciate that not everyone can spend £300 on a print which is why we love and support the work of Julie, the designer behind Famille Summerbelle who made her talent and skills available to a lot more people with her artworks based on paper cuts.
Just watching her working on the NYC print and see the amount of patience and precision required is insane!
Now...rather than a boring pair of socks, don't you think your Dad would love something like this for Father's Day to put in his home office.....

Famille Summerbelle at work...mind-blowing!

When we added the London map prints and Paris maps prints by Famille Summerbelle to BODIE and FOU last June, they sold out on pre-orders alone in a couple of hours! It was mental and it hasn't stopped since then! We also got some fabulous press coverage in featured in The Times, You magazine, Easy Living which is great and a testimony to Julie's talent, the adorable French designer behind them.
So I really wanted to share with you how Julie created these beautiful cutout maps from London, Paris and NYC in this video....
It's amazing and almost seriously insane to watch but at the same time, it's fascinating to see how these gorgeous map prints are made....there is some serious talent here!
The NYC map print took 20 hours to make but don’t worry, the video lasts only 2 minutes...
Hope you enjoy it!

Click here to find out more about Famille Summerbelle

Love in the air for our prints

Two weeks ago, the Sunday Times kindly featured not just one but two of our best-selling prints: the Paris map in pink by Famille Summerbelle and the Type map print by Bold & Noble.
It felt like Christmas all over again as many customers ordered 3 to 4 prints at once
However last Sunday, we got lucky again when You magazine featured this gorgeous shot of the London map in red (a big thank you to Clare Nolan who featured the print)

Nice, isn't it?!
Update:
Well of course now we've ran out of stock of the London map in red but panic not!
We're getting more stock, hopefully before the end of the week, if not early next week but if you were thinking of buying one of these beautiful prints for Valentine's Day, I suggest you get one of the other colours which are still in stock and ready for dispatch straight away or go for the beautiful LOVE art print that burst out of joy or the more grown-up Endless Love print

New-York City paper cut map in stock next week!

Finally the wait is over.....the NYC map by Famille Summerbelle is now ready! Whether you are a die-hard Sex And The City fan or have already got a few NYC marathons under your belt (or your boyfriend has…that counts too), the NYC map print is one of these designs that are going to make a great Christmas’ must-have for everybody in search of cool designs for the home, great wedding present or birthday gift.
The NYC map is available in two beautiful colours: Plum (just saying the word sounds gorgeous) and night blue and BODIE and FOU will receive the prints next week but you can pre-order yours now.
We will also get more stock of the Paris in hot pink and London map in turquoise - which keeps selling faster than we have time to eat a chocolate muffin and god knows when it comes to chocolate eating, we're fast!
I'm so excited for Julie, the French Designer of Famille Summerbelle (read interview here) and us of course, because it's a great success for our little company to find beautiful designs that so many people love. Julie did a lot of research on NYC before starting to draw the different areas and decided to focus on the lower part of Manhattan where you find most of the tourist attractions and the Brooklyn border.

I have to say I really loved the London and Paris maps and the latter is now in our house in France but now my favourite is definitively the NYC print....I have such wonderful and happy memories of trips to NYC...the last one in 2004 was before having Mila....I escaped there for a week of fun with my best friend Manu and we had the time of our lives. Then I came back to London and things in my life started to change quicker than I ever expected. Steve moved in, 5 months later I was pregnant and 9 months later Elodie and I launched BODIE and FOU, the rest is history as they say...Well it was more like a mad adventure that kept me very busy for the past four years but I'm dying to go back to New-York, spend some time with my friend Charlotte and live again the whole SATC again even if I have moved onto House and Gossip Girl.
So tell me..which print are you? The London map in turquoise or red here or the Paris map in hot pink or sage green here?

Interview with.....Famille Summerbelle

Last week, we added two gorgeous maps of Paris and London by Famille Summerbelle to the site but what was most amazing and took us by surprise is how quickly they sold out on pre-orders alone....In just 2 days, we received heaps of orders (see update) from New-York, San Francisco, LA, Canada, Australia, London and the rest of the UK so we can safely assume that London and Paris are still a big hit around the world :-)
The prints are due to arrive in the new few days and we had to email Julie, the French Designer behind Famille Summerbelle, twice to top up our stock order. Given the huge success of these prints, you'll be pleased to know that Julie is also planning to work on a New-York map for a potential September launch so stay tuned...
In the meantime, enjoy this lovely interview with Julie, who kindly took the time to answer our usual B&F interview about inspiration, family/life balance, dreams with beautiful photos of her studio and family home just outside Paris....

This is a paper cut Julie did for Xmas and New year greetings in San Francisco, the last place, she, her husband Simon and their daughter Ophelia visited during their World Tour last year.

bodie and fou: When did you decide you wanted to be a designer?

Julie: Very early on. I went to a Steiner School when I was little and it was very creative. I think from the age of 6-7 I wanted to draw and make things all the time. After my A Levels I went straight to study in Art school in Paris (Ecole d'Art Appliques, Plasticen de l'Environnement) and then in London at the Saint Martin School of Art. I've never looked back!

bodie and fou: Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Julie: Everywhere: blogs, magazines, everyday life. My daughter inspires me a lot as well.

Julie's studio (with a little desk for Ophelia to join in and starts being as creative as her mum) is located at the top of the house under the roof. It's a very light room and she gets the sun all day long...mmm doesn't this sound like the perfect place to work from

bodie and fou: Describe your studio/workplace?

Julie: I work from home. My studio is located at the top of the house. It's very light and spacious. I have on one side my desk with my computer/scanner/printer and on the other side a long desk where I do all my paper cuts and drawings.

bodie and fou: Which aspect of your work gives you the most pleasure?

Julie: I love the research and design aspect. When I'm making things. I also love when I see that my products makes other people happy. Blogging is great for that, you get direct feedback from people all over the World.

bodie and fou: Launching your design studio/company was.....?

Julie: Pretty straight forward. It was a slow process. We're been learning along the way and we're still learning...

bodie and fou: Best piece of advice you were given?

Julie: Do what you like in your life and enjoy yourself. The rest will follow.

bodie and fou: When did you get your 'lucky break' ?

Julie: I've been quite fortunate. I had lots of 'lucky breaks' along the way

bodie and fou: How often do you end up with a finished product that you don’t want your name attached to?

Julie: Never. If I am not happy with a product, an illustration then I work harder to make it good. Or I bin it, and try again. I can't do a job half done, I am a bit of a perfectionist in that sense.

bodie and fou: Who is your favourite designer?

Julie: I admire a lot of designers/artists/architects. Just to name a few: Georges Rousse, Mies Van Der Rohe, Robert Wilson, Charles and Ray Eames, Hella Jongerius, Tord Boontje, Thomas Heatherwick, Saul Bass, Marcel Breuer, Alexander McQueen...

bodie and fou: What is your favourite piece of design?

Julie: Difficult to name just one. I like simple and practical designs. It could be an Eames classic rocking chair or the Imac.

bodie and fou: What advice would you give to aspiring designers?

Julie: Believe in yourselves, work hard and don't be afraid to make mistakes.

bodie and fou: What would your dream project be?

Julie: Design and build our own house.

bodie and fou: How do you achieve a good work/life balance?

Julie: Working from home is great as I can spend more time with my daughter and I don't have to commute every day. The downside, it's hard to switch off from work! Running a small business and having a toddler around means working evenings and sometimes weekends. Working also freelance means there are time when it's a bit hectic and then more quiet. Family life is also very important for me so I make sure that I'm not working when i am not supposed to.

The pink Family Tree (available to buy here) was inspired by Ophelia's enthusiasm for family pictures. As Julie had too many pictures to hang into Ophelia's bedroom (in addition to Ophelia's little masterpieces), the Family Tree was a fun way to resolve that problem....I think it's such a cool and original gift idea for a new mother or for a baptism.

bodie and fou: Your most precious belongings at home?

Julie: My photo albums, or I guess my computer that stores all of my photos...I haven't really had the time to do photo albums yet!

bodie and fou: How would you describe your style at home?

Julie: A mix of modern and vintage furniture and lots of personal things.

Julie loves displaying her collection of glass candle holders on the mantelpiece (get the look here). She bought the table cloth from an antique market in Paris and the chairs from Ebay (they were from a church). The big green jar (top photo) was purchased in the south of France and the black & white photo is one of Julie & Simon's wedding day.

bodie and fou: If your studio wasn't, describe your ultimate dream workspace?

Julie: A ground floor space with white walls, lots of storage behind doors, a big desk and a massive window with direct access to a lush garden. A view of the mountain would be great too.
bodie and fou: Can you cook and what's your signature dish?

Julie: I can cook but my husband cooks really nice things so I let him do it. I like baking cakes. Rhubarb cake with meringue on top.
bodie and fou: Name something you can't resist...

Julie: My bed.
bodie and fou: What is next on your design journey?

Julie: I have lots of things I'd like to do, so I am going to explore a bit.
bodie and fou: And the mantra that keeps you going.......?

Julie: Keep on making things and have fun. Everyday.
(C) BODIE and FOU www.bodieandfou.com
Photos credits: Famille Summerbelle

London map is winning...

Do you know how great it feels when Elodie and I fell totally in love with a new design, add it to our chic online boutique and within a couple of hours, it solds out ....it feels FA-BU-LOUS and that what is happening with the new beautiful London and Paris maps by Famille Summerbelle.
So far the London map is winning as we have now sold out on pre-orders alone but the Paris one is not far behind..

Don’t panic, although the first batch is now allocated, we’re getting more stock in a week time and will process all the back orders as soon as we’ve received all the posters.
To answer design fans from the US and Canada who read Holly's post on Decor8, the London and Paris maps fit in Ikea’s picture frames and they look best in the Ikea’s white RIBBA frame.
The map + int’l shipping to US is £48.80/$80 and to Canada £53.30/$93
Thanks for your support!