Neon Ring Of Fire

 Art, colour, decorative, exhibitions, fun things, inspirational, interiors, lighting, London, nice things, product design, things to do  No Responses »
Apr 182013
 

Chris Bracey Neon Ring Of Fire

Having discovered Chris Bracey’s neon lights (with thanks to Conran Shop) and gone on to use one in a shoot last year, I was rather excited to see a gallery of bright colours emitting glow over the hard concrete streets in the west end of London. I have to say, I do like a bit of neon lighting, especially done with a nod to many aspects of iconic American popular culture which will always retain a element of cool; 1950s, rock’n'roll, bikers, tattoo parlours and street retail advertising. But Bracey doesn’t just regurgitate old lights, he adapts and adds to, recycling old lights to make new pieces, that are more relevant to us today, whilst referencing the land so far from these shores. And no further away than from Walthamstow, where Bracey works in his delightfully named workshop, God’s Own Junkyard. His workshop is now open to the public on specific days, so after you visit Scream to see his exhibition, I advise you to check out his website, then go and indulge yourself with more neon goodness.

1.) Lady Luck (detail), 2.) Hot Burning Love/ Hotel Love, 3.) Love and Hate, 4.) Hands of God (and detail),  5.) Find Love Upstairs (shown in three light variations)

Chris Bracey at Scream Gallery. 12 April until 01 June 2013.
27 – 28 Eastcastle Street, London, W1W 8DH Tel: +44 (0)20 7268 9857
Monday – Friday 10am – 6pm, Saturday 11am – 4pm

It’s All Woolly Good

 animals, Art, collaborations, colour, craft, decorative, Designer-Maker, events, homewares, inspirational, interiors, London, nice things, textiles, texture, things to do  No Responses »
Mar 142013
 

Woolweek Its All Woolly Good

Yesterday saw the opening of this year’s Wool Week by Campaign For Wool at Wool House, Somerset House. I first got excited by Wool Week two years ago with their Wool Modern exhibition, which I loved for all its crafty exhibitors but found disappointing due to its heavy fashion emphasis and a lack of homewares. This year, they’ve totally turned it around with more interiors and homewares than you can shake a sheep at. Which is only right, when you think about how much wool is a major player in homewares; from cushions, carpets to sofas and blankets. Very nicely curated, with an extensive exploration across all interior styles and colours. Go in with open eyes and prepare to be amazed. You’ll never look at a sheep in the same way again. It’s a cracker.

Photos from left to right, top to bottom:
Infinity carpet runner by Christian Zuzunaga for Brintons
Arran jumper armchair by Champ Upholstery with Vintage Clothes- seen in the Natural Room by Josephine Ryan.
Fabric walls in Wool Sateen Glace Indigo by Holland & Sherry- seen in the Classic Drawing Room by Fox Linton Associates
Wool lettering detail
Curved Laine, three-dimensional acoustic sound absorbing panel, 100% wool felt, made to order, designed by Anne Kyyrö Quinn- seen in Modern Room by Anne Kyyrö Quinn.
detail of the cloud mobile, custom made for Wool House, by Donna Wilson- seen in Nursery by Donna Wilson.
Leaf, pink acoustic sound absorbing panel, 100% wool felt, made to order, designed by Anne Kyyrö Quinn- seen in Modern Room by Anne Kyyrö Quinn.
Chain carpet, designed by Ashley Hicks, woven to order by Alternative Flooring- seen in Study by Ashley Hicks.
knitted vessels by Hilary Anderson-Barr- seen in the Natural Room by Josephine Ryan.

The Campaign for Wool’s WOOL HOUSE
Wool House, West Wing, Somerset House, London
13 – 24 March 2013
Open daily
Free admission

The Glamour of the Big Screens

 architecture, decorative, events, fun things, inspirational, interiors, London, nice things, things to do  No Responses »
Dec 122012
 

Barbican Cinema The Glamour of the Big Screens

I’ve been very excited at prospect of a brand new cinema complex at the Barbican. The current screens have always felt a little bit lost and forgotten, and were located at the end of such a long windy corridor that you always wondered if you’d ever make it back out again. Though it did mean that often you’d have the screens to yourself. Mum and I used to go a lot, as it was so close to both her work and our home. Many a tear was shed, a giggle gurgled and ice cream slurped in the quiet plushness of the old screens.
The new screens are splendid, I can tell you, but one mustn’t skip to the pinnacle without describing the ascent, eh what-what? The ‘shop’ front is Edward Hopper-esque heaven and the inside has measures of both 50′s film star glamour and contemporary chic to keep all viewers happy. There are beautiful chairs, mirrored ceilings, burnished copper counters, sweeties in glass jars, old film posters framed and even a wall of film clips montaged interspersed with those scanny-griddy barcode-y things that enables you to download film scripts. The cinemas themselves are simple in comparison, but no less dowdy. Off-setting the lipstick-red leather chairs with a plush rouching of steel-grey fabric encasing the room, you can’t help but feel delightfully cosy. Well, it’s hardly a objective review, but what do you expect from a girl who loves the Barbican. Top marks to Dannatt, Johnson Architects for a marvellous job on the interiors.

Spinning Bowls

 Art, ceramics, Christmas, colour, craft, decorative, Designer-Maker, events, homewares, inspirational, London, nice things, shopping, things to do  No Responses »
Dec 042012
 

Sapetra Spinning Bowls

It was the Christmas Cockpit Arts open last weekend at their Holborn studios, and whilst I’ve been to Deptford, I haven’t been to the original site for a good while. I used to work at the opens, sitting on the desk taking the entrance fee and shivering in the cold. But, alas, I digress. There were lots of old friends with new news, and Sapetra is just one of them. Well known for the ceramic ‘Air’ series, particularly the little travel pillows, it was nice to see them nestled amongst new designs. I’d not seen this ‘Spindle’ series before and was rather taken with them. They are a perfect form, that rests on one side of its sloping bottom, allowing a circular movement should you so wish. But the bit I liked the most were the colours and the way the slip had been dribbled in rivulets down the side of the vessel. Lovely.

Deptford Cockpit Arts is open this weekend, and most definitely worth a visit, for original and interesting handmade gifts.

Deptford Cockpit Arts
18-22 Creekside, Deptford,
London,
SE8 3DZ
T: 020 8692 4463

Opening times: Fri 11am-9pm, Sat – Sun 11am-6pm

Rains Down, Down On Me

 Art, collaborations, exhibitions, fun things, inspirational, interiors, London, nice things, random, theatre, things to do  2 Responses »
Oct 122012
 

rain1 Rains Down, Down On Me

So, having got drenched yesterday it seems somewhat pertinent to be blogging about an exhibition about rain which doesn’t get you wet. Yes, people, you read that right. A rain exhibition. You’d have thought that in this country the last thing we’d need is a room of rain. And even more amusingly, the day I went, I had to queue for almost an hour to get in. Laugh, you may, but the last laugh will be on you if you don’t go. Rain Room is the latest project and installation from those clever people over at Random International at the always and forever fabulous Barbican, London. It’s free to get in and on until March 2013. Make sure you get down there. This is art definitely worth getting wet for, or rather, not.

Random International: Rain Room
4 October 2012 – 3 March 2013
The Curve Gallery

Tickets: Admission Free

Times: View gallery opening hours
Open daily 11am – 8pm; Thu until 10pm,
Except Sat 13 Oct: 11am – 4pm (last admission into the queue 2pm)
Wed 31 Oct: 11am – 10pm

Papel de Flores

 Art, craft, decorative, flowers, fun things, inspirational, nice things, paper, photography, things to do  No Responses »
Oct 102012
 

paperflowers Papel de Flores

No, these aren’t particularly Spanish. In fact, Spain nor Latin America has anything to do with any of these images. It was just a little flourish, a little fluffing up as paper flowers just doesn’t sound as exciting, does it? However, this wee blog post is merely a pictorial pleasure ride than anything of meaning or substance. I like paper flowers and soon shall be having a go. I’ve done origami flowers before as you can see in my portfolio, but I want to try something different. Fingers crossed, they’ll work out lovely.

With thanks to all the contributors on We Heart It

The Seven Sisters

 holidays, inspirational, nice things, photography, random, things to do, treats  No Responses »
Sep 112012
 

Seven Sisters1 The Seven Sisters

Sunday saw the Summer’s final fling of glorious sunshine, which surely signals a change in the weather and the start of the move towards Autumn. And how better to spend it than out in the fresh air. I bade farewell to London with all its activities (Paralympics closing ceremony and The Thames Festival) hopped on a train and chugged my way down to the south coast. Slathering on the sun cream and looking the part of the ultimate walking geek, I headed to the beach at Seaford and hooked a left, heading east along the coast. This little walk was by no means a breeze. 21km of pure unadulterated hill and no joke, various parts of my body are still stiff rendering it tricky to do even the most basic of daily movements. However, the views were such that I would do it again in a blink of an eye. We are rapidly losing our south coast due to the aggressive erosion of the sea, which has been documented in the dramatic photographs on display at Birling Gap, charting the demise of Birling Gap in particular. On the day went, and slowly climbed all seven of the sisters and made it to the top of Beachy Head. The weather momentarily turned for the worse and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the clouds blow on in, we were spared and remained safe on top the cliffs, despite moments of uncertainty. With my end goal of Eastbourne now in sight, I ignored my throbbing feet and onwards was spurred. I skipped through Eastbourne (not literally) without stopping even for chips and settled smugly onto the train, an hour earlier than the book predicted. Go me. I recommend it to anyone and everyone. No walking book required as you just follow the coast!

Pretty Painted Pots

 collaborations, colour, craft, decorative, fun things, homewares, nice things, photography, things to do  No Responses »
Aug 282012
 

AugustBreak 290812 Pretty Painted Pots

Paint filled jam jars to coat the inside drying outside in the afternoon light in preparation for my styled Laura Ashley blog post. Pretty.

Roar, Lion, Roar

 architecture, decorative, interiors, London, nice things, things to do  No Responses »
Aug 242012
 

AugustBreak 240812 Roar, Lion, Roar

This is a lion in one of my favourite churches in the city of London. I often try and visit during Open House London. He survived a major bomb hit during the second world war and is still here to tell the tale. Lovely fella.

Flowering Glory

 collaborations, colour, decorative, flowers, fun things, gardening, inspirational, London, nice things, photography, things to do  1 Response »
Aug 072012
 

AugustBreak 070812 Flowering Glory

A little Peony offering from the Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden, London. A beautiful place to go and visit whatever the weather. There’s a cafe up there too so you can sit amongst the blooms whilst enjoying an edible treat.

pixel Flowering Glory
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