My Cool Shed

 books, fun things, gardening, inspirational, interiors, nice things  No Responses »
May 312012
 

Albarn 083 My Cool Shed

Ninas 016 My Cool Shed

Texier 152 My Cool Shed

I am positively consumed with envy with the arrival of this little book of treasures in my letterbox. Never before have I wanted a shed so much, but boy, I want one now. And if it’s not being too cheeky, I’d like to cherry-pick the very best of all of them and construct my own one so it’s just how I want it. I want lots of nice little bits and pieces to fill the shelves, I want a nice cosy armchair to curl up in, I want big windows and a large desk on which to spread out my work. I’d like a log burner and lots of greenery to look out on. Most importantly, I like my shed to not be too appealing to big (or little) spiders which would just have me running around screaming like a girl for hours on end. So, I would also need a big, brave man near by to help save me from the 8-legged beasties. That’s not too much to ask, right? Indulge your inner shed-dwelling geek with a lovely selection of sheds around the world; from the forest dwelling to the coastal beach hut, to the down right arty to the neat and organised. Perfect viewing whilst sunbathing in this glorious weather.

My Cool Shed My Cool Shed

My Cool Shed by Jane Field-Lewis (photographs by Tina Hillier)

  • Hardcover: 106 pages
  • Publisher: Pavilion Books (16 May 2012)
  • Language English
  • ISBN: 9781862059337
  • Price: GBP 14.99
  • Product Dimensions: 22.8 x 19.4 x 2 cm

Images with thanks to Anova Books

Aristocratic Sitting

 colour, Designer-Maker, furniture, inspirational, interiors, London, product design  No Responses »
May 302012
 

James Aristocratic Sitting

I missed Clerkenwell Design Show this year due to the beginning of shooting Christmas 2012. Really disappointing but I got to enjoy it precariously through websites and from the comfort of my inbox. And lo and behold, one of my favourite independent furniture makers popped his cheery little email-newsletter-face up to say hello. Awwwww, the wave of CDW jealousy and longing washed over me on the sighting of this latest collection from James UK. London-based James Harrison always pulls out the stops and each range is as equally good looking as the last and this one is no exception. Proudly and in a rather stately manner, this collection is called ‘Norton’ and is a range with such sophistication that you can well imagine Bond settling down for a quiet evening in front of the fire in one of these. Truly seats of aristocratic upholstery, if ever I saw. Aristocratic but with the all important contemporary twist. And the colours, I must mention the colours. Not that they need your attention pulled to them. Such pleasure is to be had in the glamourous dimpling, the use of an odd-humble furnishing fabric in amongst the leather, the Britishness of the straight back and the head-held-high-pride of the shape.

From top to bottom, left to right: Norton Wing Chair in green with black; Norton Wing Chair in black; Norton Double Armchair; Norton Side Chair in purple; Norton Double Wing Chair; sizes/colours/ fabrics/ type of wood open to specification, all available from James UK

images with thanks to James UK

Pinning It All On Thread

 Art, decorative, Designer-Maker, fun things, illustrators, inspirational, nice things, textiles  1 Response »
May 292012
 

Debbie Smyth Pinning It All On Thread

This is precisely reason why I love Origin, the yearly craft design exhibition by the Crafts Council, so much and why I shall sorely miss it this year. To be fair, it wasn’t the first time that I’d come across textile artist Debbie Smyth’s work but nonetheless a welcome reminder and good to see it up close and in action. It’s such a simple idea and yet exquisitely effective and clever. This is textile art at its finest. Debbie has taken the art of the pencil and line drawing and turned it into a softer and more playful finished creative product that is not defined by either its context or subject. The world has embraced her talents with open arms and she now has a wealth of experience and commissions under her belt from gallery installations to smaller domestic artworks and has worked for a number of well-known companies, inc. Sony, Ellesse, New York Times, Not On The High Street, amongst others. There is a wealth of pictures of her work on her website so go and indulge yourselves with the simplicity and power of dress-making pins and thread. Bet you didn’t know they could look so good, eh?

Images with thanks to Debbie Smyth

Dr Tom La Liberte En Cavale

 animation, Art, collaborations, colour, illustrators, nice things  No Responses »
May 282012
 

With a excellent colour palette (including both vibrant hues and muted tones), nice drawings and a nice loose, free style of animation this small story is very simple and without any fuss. I really like one of the closing scenes which features Dr Tom’s room; the colours of his blankets, his nose, the plants- the vibrancy and the fluidity of movement that is suggested by the lines and relaxed style of drawing. I also find the limited movement grabs my imagination; the wind that blows Dr Tom’s hair and collar as he leans out of his window is powerful whilst the background remains still. Whilst my French is limited my understanding of the title to be something a long the lines of ‘Freedom on the Run’ but either which way, the gist of the story isn’t cheery with Dr Tom’s fellow menfolk’s smiles being sucked off their faces rendering them grey and personality-less. Is it just a dream or is it a premonition of what’s to come? We shall never know.

DR TOM – LA LIBERTE EN CAVALE, by ONE MORE PRODUCTION
Directed by Stephen Vuillemin and Emmanuelle Walker.
Music and lyrics: Norman Langolff, Gaby Concato and Sylvie Arditi
Designs: Aurélien Prédal and Yoann Lemoine
Animation: Lucie Arnissolle, Olivier Lescot, Manuel Tanon-Tchi, Stephen Vuillemin and Emmanuelle Walker.
Matte paintings: Anne-Laure To
Production assistant: Martin Casalis.

Hitting The Bottle

 ceramics, collaborations, colour, decorative, Designer-Maker, homewares, inspirational, interiors, nice things, product design  No Responses »
May 242012
 

Lucy Burley Hitting The Bottle

Oh, hello there, my lovelies. Hmmmm, handmade (tick), lovely colours (tick), affordable (tick), British made (tick), nice shapes (tick), useful (tick), supporting both a new-ish small business AND a designer maker (tick tick), where’s the catch? What no catch? No, Siree, all of the above is true and valid. Lucy Burley is one of the many designers being featured on Seek and Adore which is an online retailer bringing you the best in hand-made, hand-crafted, British designer-makers’s goodies to you in the comfort of your own sofa. Bottles in citrus fresh or muted hues, there’s a bottle here to suit all rooms and all decor and she doesn’t stop at bottles. *whispers* she does jugs too (so to speak) and vases. It’s a win win. And whilst you’re looking, check out some other favourites on Seek and Adore, such as; Kate Schuricht, Timea Sido, Richard Shock, Sally Weatherall and Deryn Relph to name but a few. Happy craft-inspired shopping!

1.) Pistachio Bottle, 17.5cm, 2.) Primrose Yellow Bottle, 18.5cm, 3.) Small Duck Egg Bottle, 17.5cm, all £28, 4.) Small Ivory Bottle Vase and 5.) Small Violet Blue Bottle, both £25, 6.) Medium Leaf Green Bottle Vase, £32, all handmade by Lucy Burley, available to buy on Seek and Adore.

Lip-Lickingly Lush Lilac

 colour, flowers, food, fun things, inspirational, nice things, photography  No Responses »
May 232012
 

Lilac Lip Lickingly Lush Lilac

I’ve become a little transfixed with lilac since brain-storming a test shoot with photographer Iwan Essery. We’re doing a shoot playing with colour in time for a certain small event coming up in the next few weeks. I’m going to be trying girly on for fit. I’m thinking of ribbons, doilies, cake, sugar and all things sweet in dirty muted pastels. It’ll be fun and a nice change from my usual clean cut graphic approach. The pictures I will be sure to share with you in time. I thought that if I do a whole post dedicated to the colour that it might help free me of my obsession. It might. I’ve very much looking forward to this shoot and have been preparing for it during the last few weekends. Any of you following me on twitter may well be able to put together the clues of included products but it shouldn’t spoil it too much. It’ll be an exploration of colour and texture whilst trying to push the boundaries of expected and normal themes. A little turned-about and spruced-up patriotic games and celebrations. Of which I am keen. I’m almost tempted to dye my hair too…

Images taken with thanks, from We Heart It

Pretty Pattern and Print

 books, colour, decorative, Designer-Maker, inspirational, nice things, pattern, textiles, texture  No Responses »
May 222012
 

Pattern Orla Kiely Pretty Pattern and Print

This hard-backed book is an absolute must for all Orla Kiely fans. Her work is now instantly recognisable and practically a house-hold brand. She was at the forefront of the resurgence of 70′s style patterns, colours and designs in both fashion and interiors which has taken the country by storm infiltrating even the most unexpected corners. Pattern is rammed full of information, tales of childhood, her university days, the learning of her trade and with plenty of colour photos of her patterns (from the well-known to the lesser-known), catalogue photo-shoot imagery, product shots and even childhood photos. This is the perfect book for anyone not initiated with much colour theory or knowledge of textiles. As a textiles graduate I’m always pleased when someone becomes celebrated for their textile design rather than a product (Cath Kidston/ Lisa Stickley/ Margo Selby) bringing the art of fabric to the forefront. We are surrounded by textiles whether we realise it or not, most of which is taken for granted (seat belts, bus seat fabric, astronaut suits) and overlooked. This gives you a very good grounding in all things textile designing-related; colour, pattern (obviously), fabric, fabric construction and fashion. A good ‘dip in and enjoy’ whilst drinking your coffee on a Sunday morning, informative without being too demanding, pretty without being too surface-based. Ideal coffee table tome.

Orla Kiely snaps Pretty Pattern and Print

Pattern by Orla Kiely

  • Hardcover: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Conran Octopus Ltd (6th September 2010)
  • Language English
  • ISBN: 9781840915532
  • Price: GBP 25
  • Product Dimensions: 279 x 240 x 38 mm

#16. Østersøen (Ödland, Sankta Lucia)

 animation, Art, collaborations, fun things, inspirational, nice things, random  No Responses »
May 212012
 

This is the sort of clever, meticulous crafting that I like. Predominantly out of paper and time. Lots of it. Created by French artists le Petit Echo Malade for French band, Ödland, this video is not only marvellous but it truly is a rather charming song too. There’s something of the ‘Amelie’ about this little number in style, an ‘aged’ sound that I’m really rather liking along with the crackled film effect. I love that gently-lazy repetitive jazz drum brush sound that forms the mood and helps create the dream-like nature which is finished off beautifully with the sweet girly voice. I have no idea what the song is about but for me, it conjures perfectly the idea of meandering along the Seine in a hazy sunshine Spring Parisian day, eating ice-cream and drinking coffee. The construction of the train, train tracks, icebergs (especially nice with pin-stripes) and the boat is awe-inspiring and the fluffy cotton wall planets a touch of the inspired-genius. Very nicely done.

Ödland, album Sankta Lucia (october 2011).
Directed by Vincent Pianina & Lorenzo Papace (may 2012), le Petit Echo Malade

Music written, composed and recorded by Lorenzo Papace.
Alizée Bingöllü : chant
Lorenzo Papace : pianet
Léa Bingöllü : scie et chant
Isabelle Royet-Journoud : balais

I’ve just been told by Lorenzo Papace that the song translates as:
I had a dream on the Baltic Sea.
I was traveling in a bed.
This bed was floating in a room.
This room was sliding in a train.
This train was whirling in a very great boat.
This boat was billowing on the youngest sea in the World.
Isostasy made emerge like fast swords
dangerous islands on the water’s surface.
For the boat it was a menace.
Death we were avoiding.
I hold a nice memory of that evening.

How nice is that?

Chalky Pictorial

 colour, fun things, inspirational, nice things, photography, random  No Responses »
May 182012
 

Chalks Chalky Pictorial

It’s been a busy week and so I felt like a little light relief in the form of a pictorial post might be in order. We’ve had more than our fair share of grey skies and rainy downpours in the last few weeks and whilst it’s rather nice from a visual point of view (the zing of fresh new leaves against the grey sky with the flurry of pink and white blossom flying through the air on the Spring breeze), everything is a little soggy and we’re beginning to fear a development of webbed feet. They look great on ducks but not so much on us. Chalky pastels is a popular colour theme in both interiors and fashion at the moment and a collection of smokey hues is a pleasure beyond belief. I’ve been wearing a variation on this theme for a while and can’t get enough of it. And so having spent the last few days shooting AW12 press lookbook for a high street retailer, I was pleased as punch to be doing a dps (double page spread) in subtle and hazy pinks, creams, beiges and blues. Before you all shout ‘but there’s barely a chalky pastel featured in that collection of photos’, I’d like to point out I know. There wasn’t a lot available on We Heart It in the more delicate hues but nonetheless, rather sweet pictures. Happy Friday to you all.

Images with thanks from We Heart It

The Big Yellow Shop

 coffee, collaborations, colour, events, fun things, London, nice things, shopping, shops  1 Response »
May 172012
 

The Big Yellow Shop The Big Yellow Shop

I was pleased as punch the other day when propping for a job, I was stopped in my tracks by the cheeriest hue on the streets. London may not be paved in gold but the Pantone colour 109 is no bad close second. YELLOW. EVERYTHING YELLOW. Selfridges is all about The Big British Bang and isn’t it loud? The ladies were head to toe in black and didn’t they cut a fine figure against that yellow? The Big Yellow Shop was originally launched back in 2009 and is back but this time bigger, better and dare I say it, bolder. I’m glad Selfridges are celebrating their signature colour and what a marvellous collection of yellow things, to be sure. All fine examples of nice design and great brands to boot. I love the display and that it’s over looked by yellow birds perched high on the lighting cable, alternating with the dangling naked bulbs. Splendidly done and with humour. My favourite combination. Whilst the nation (and Selfridges too) go wild with red, white and blue, get your fix of an alternative patriotically-coloured initiative with sunshine bright on the floor of the world’s favourite famous high street store. Here are my top picks. Lots on line, more in store.

The Big Yellow Shop1 The Big Yellow Shop
1.) Pantone 109 mug, £14.95, 2.) Undercover London A-Z address book, £24.95, 3.) Sigg water bottle, £18.50, 4.) Espresso coffee, £4.99, 5.) Hunter wellies, £120, 6.) travel card holder, £8.95 and finally, the one you’ve all been waiting for, 7.) Illamasqua Pantone 109 nail duo, £21. All exclusives to The Big Yellow Shop.

pixel The Big Yellow Shop
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