Urbanscapes illustrations by Borja Bonaque
Ohhhhhh these are very lovely. These fabulous ‘Urbanscapes’ are by Spanish illustrator Borja Bonaque. I first spotted them decorating a series of skateboards but to see them as pictures is far more pleasing and suitable for a lady who likes both feet on the floor rather than on wheels.
Geometric and linear with satisfyingly subtle muted and bright hues, it’s ticking all of my boxes. Hurrah.
I love my local library as the oasis of calm that is usually is during week-days and as a freelancer I often choose to frequent my library as and when pleases me which is exactly then. I popped in last week just in time to snaffle up a book that had only just been put out on display. I carried it off like a prized possession and a prized possession is just what it ought to be.
I had found ‘Quiet London’ by Siobhan Wall. Life in London is hectic and busy, once you step outside the tranquility of your own home, you’re expected to move quickly without hesitation and not stop until you reach home again. The hustle and bustle is noisy and tiresome and overwhelming at the best of times. I love it, it’s got to be said but sometimes it’s also glorious to enjoy it quietly. I love finding those precious spaces in London that are off the beaten track where you can go and read or just sit quietly away from the crowds. Here’s the perfect book that has done all the finding of those places for you.
“This is a guide to over 140 quiet places in the big smoke to meet, drink, eat, sleep, read, or browse.”
There are 13 categories including museums, parks, shops, places of worship and restaurants all accompanied by beautiful photography. So there truly is something for everyone, anywhere and everywhere in London. This has to be the must-have book, along with an A to Z, for all Londoners.
You can currently buy it from the guardian online bookshop at the discounted price of £7.99, rrp: £9.99
Publication Details:
Binding: Paperback, 144 pages
ISBN: 9780711231900
Format: 162mm x 162mm
120 photographs in colour and b/w
BIC Code: WTH
BISAC Code: TRV009070
Imprint: Frances Lincoln
to see out the end of National Bike Week, I thought I would compile a selection of images that capture the more romantic side of cycling. The dreamy and leisurely element that transforms it into an enjoyable past-time rather than a just mode of transportation. I’ve almost persuaded myself into getting a bike!
All images via We Heart It
Last Sunday I made my way south to visit Deptford Cockpit Arts for the first time. It was Cockpit Arts’ 25th birthday so it wasn’t to be missed. I used to work (yikes, ten years + ago!) on the doors at the ‘open studio’ weekends of the original Cockpit Arts up in Holborn so I was in no way new to the organisation or the studio set up. I was not disappointed. There is still an impressive array of crafts on show featuring all areas from jewellery, textiles, ceramics, glass, and even guitar making and all that lies in between. Cockpit plays a very important part in the launching of new designer makers- they are incredibly supportive of creative businesses, acting like an incubator to help creative talent launch and progress their businesses without compromising the design and creative processes. They offer one-to-one business development coaching, workshops and events. Lunch was super too! Local business Hand Made Food was on site offering organic, home-made food in their pop up cafe. Creative and interesting meals with fresh, British-sourced produce.
It was great to meet all the designer makers based down there in rainy Deptford and very exciting to see all the beautiful things being made. For this week’s shopping page, I have compiled my top nine products from the designers at Cockpit Arts. Here they are…
1.) make your own Character Bear by Sian Zeng 2.) rainbow stripe throw, £180, Row Pinto 3.) Acacia Square hand-printed cushions, £52.50 each, Jen Rowland 4.) recycled paper ring by Clara Breen 5.) Poison Pen by Katharine Morling 6.) London lampshade in cream and black,£48, Lush Designs 7.) Blue-Tit, £182, Abigail Brown 8.) pods and vases, £120-160, Sophie Cook 9.) ‘Festival of Britain at Southbank’ wallpaper by Lizzie Allen
Having momentarily (two weeks) lost my ‘to-do’ notebook, I’ve been sent into a frenzy of wasted time and missed meetings. I was very almost tempted into buying myself a new one just to get myself back on track and what better a notebook than one of these? Poketo’s Tomorrow planners make organisation not only attractive but affordable too. At $28, who’s gonna say no? That yellow one is just asking to be bought, however, I have since uncovered my notebook, lying hidden under masses of press releases and product information (yes, it’s one of the things on my list to do), and am busy reacquainting myself with it as we speak. So tomorrow, I love ya but you’ll have to wait, even if you are just a day away…
images taken from Poketo’s website
There is an absolutely super event starting this Friday in central London. There are three very exciting components to this event and to sum it up in one sentence (if that’s possible): it’s a grown-up’s sleep-over, with cocoa, beds and entertainment provided and no hanky-panky involved.
Lullaby is what happens when three powerhouses come together. The divine Toast, the sublime Duckie and the glorious Barbican have put together this year’s number one event. The Barbican’s Pit is going to be transformed into one giant (pit- ‘arf ‘arf) bedroom filled with beds (single, doubles and triples for the more daring) all made up in Toast’s beautiful and cosy bedlinen. The audience will be invited to change into their pyjamas before settling down in bed surrounded with luxurious cushions and quilts along with a nightcap or a mug of cocoa to watch the relaxing ‘gentle slumber’ evening show which has been designed by Duckie to literally put the audience to sleep (I recommend watching their movie- Very funny, completely nuts. Click here). Duckie are an award-winning south London performance company, co-founded by producer Simon Casson and the exquisite Amy Lamé, that unite genres to produce an hybrid fusion of creativity, exuberance, wild-imaginings, in amongst dance, art, theatre and performance. Then before you know it, after the best night’s sleep in history, you’re being woken up in the morning with the prospect of showering using mini Toast soaps before being served breakfast on Toast’s crockery! Hotel Toast…(Ohhhh, now there’s a thought)
I’m so excited I don’t think I’ll sleep tonight!
Lullaby with H Plewis, Tim Spooner, Harriet Plewis, & Matthew Robins. Photo: Pau Ros
Some of the Toast bedlinen being used in Lullaby
Following on from my cycling-themed shopping page last Friday, here is another biking gem. It was almost included but I decided it deserved its own post. Script and Seal are a New York-based multi-disiplinary design studio who are making some very nice screen-printed bicycle posters.
images take from the Script and Seal website
1.) Different Spokes for Different Folks 2.) Mountain Trails and 3.) Bike Inspiration. All three prints are $25 each (not including shipping) and can be found on the Script and Seal website.
To celebrate the start of Team Green Britain Bike Week tomorrow, I thought it would compile a shopping list of 9 appropriate items to get you in the mood. Dust off the helmet, oil your chain (so to speak), put your lycras on and get out there (before it starts raining again!).
On your marks, get set…..GO!
1.) Velo Cushion, £78, Ferm Living 2.) 1936 LT Poster, £9.95, London Transport Museum Shop 3.) Bella Bicycle in pink, £675, Beg Bicycles 4.) Red French Saddle Cover, £10, Bobbin Bicycles 5.) The Future Mapping Co.’s London Cycle Wall Map, £36, Not On The High Street 6.) set of 6 ‘Ciclista’ Notes, £5, Archivist Gallery 7.) Old Fashioned Bike Horn, £5, Roullier White 8.) Design House Stockholm’s Carrie Bike Basket, £41, Skandium 9.) La Cerise sur le Gateau’s tea towel, £14, Little Paris
1.) National Trust Earls Grey, £32.50, Fired Earth 2.) Colours by B&Q Grey Hints, £12.98, B&Q 3.) New England Pebble Grey, £17.98, B&Q 4.) Kevin McCloud’s Nordic Light, £29.50, Fired Earth 5.) Pebble, £29, Designers Guild 6.) Snow, £29, Designers Guild 7.) Crown Petit Palais Eglise Grey, £17.98, B&Q 8.) Plummett No.272, £32.50, Farrow & Ball
*All prices for 2.5litres of emulsion paint
images taken from the Fornasetti website
Now this may be old hat to everyone else but I’ve only just come across these beautiful plates. Every year Fornasetti create a limited edition calendar plate and have been doing so since 1968. The best way to mark a new year, I say.
