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.
Aug 072012
May 312012
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 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
Mar 022012
It’s all gone a bit rock’n'roll over here in finch land today. I may be feeling far from rock’n'roll myself but that isn’t going to stop me from indulging in some pure heavy metal. Long gone are my days of head-banging, and boy, I did for a while (less said about this the better) but I still like the look of unadulterated metal. Just without the distressed leather, cans of lager and grimy bandanas. And how better to bring in some industrial-chic than with this selection of hardcore items. No Nine Inch Nails and certainly no Guns and…, though roses would definitely work. In a suitable vase, of course. Get out the air guitars and get rockin’, people. Let me hear you say ROCK!
p.s Slash- yes, I’m happy to come and interior-decorate your office, it’ll cost you though.
1.) Chip the paper clip holder by Rodrigo Torres, £32, Design Museum, 2.) Hee lounge chair designed by Hee Welling, £215, SCP, 3.) wire wall rack, £60, Cox and Cox, 4.) set of 4 hammered metal coasters, £9.50, M&S, 5.) Ginger table light, £259 exc. VAT, Original BTC Lighting, 6.) Wirehouse magazine rack, £34.95, Pretty Dandy 7.) Basket of glasses, £26.50, Ben Pentreath, 8.) Kalveri metal chest of drawers, £695, Conran, 9.) vintage metal boxes, perforated £45.95, plain £40.95, The Balcony Gardener
Jan 262012
All packets of seeds are £3.25 each
I have lusted after these seed packets for many a year so I’m now doing the next best thing to buying them. Blogging about them. The Balcony Gardener is an excellent on-line shop selling, well, you can probably guess really, gardening paraphernalia from ready-made planted containers right down to a lowly little packet of seeds. Except these little packets of seeds are far from lowly. They are the mightiest of the most mighty. I absolutely adore them all. Beautifully designed, each packet has a bold graphic repeat pattern design in bright cheery colours relating to its contents’ characteristics. You really would want to pick them all. These packets really do represent what I like most about this etailer-haven. They’re fun and approachable and most importantly got an eye for some good designed items. Below are just some of my favourite products; Half Pint Garden growing kit (more beautiful packaging), Flower Bomb (funny), Bungee seed feeder (funny) and the Bird cafe (beautiful and funny). Most gardening shops are a little off-putting especially for those with just a tiny 2x12ft balcony to call her garden but not these guys, there is something on here for everyone and every sized garden. If you don’t have time to potter yourself but want pretty window boxes, their pre-planted containers look absolutely beautiful and come in a variety of themed ‘looks’.
1.) Half Pint Garden growing kit, £10.95, 2.) Flower Bomb, £12.50, 3.) Bungee Bird Feeder, £8.95, 4.) Bird Cafe, £35.95
All images with thanks to The Balcony Gardener
Jan 122012
Illustrations from Madeleine Floyd’s ‘Birdsong’, published by National Trust Books
This really is one of the sweetest books that I have seen in a long time and I can’t think of anything more perfect to help welcome the eventual coming of spring than with this little book. Madeleine Floyd’s ‘Birdsong’ is a collection of illustrations in pencil and watercolour of no fewer than 50 of our nation’s feathered friends. Now, we all know that collectively we are a nation of bird lovers and that has never been more apparent than in this slim chronicle offering affectionate descriptions and words detailing the quirks and the behaviours of each little winged creature. The illustrations are charming and perfectly capture the characteristics of both nature and colouring of bird and her egg. Each illustration accompanies a couple of nugget-sized paragraphs giving the reader information about the bird’s habitat, food requirements and habits. Perfectly informative, the book manages to remain factually accurate (complete with the latin names) whilst being softened by a gentle and fond, if not strictly objective, writing style. The most delightful element for me is each bird’s song has been articulated into written sounds, which you cannot help but try to replicate yourself whilst looking at the wee fellows. A true celebration of both bird and song, a guaranteed all round winner.
images with thanks to Anova Books
Available to buy from the National Trust bookshop, for £7.99, ISBN: 9781905400973
Aug 302011
Aug 102011
This pictorial post is of all the wild flowers that I saw whilst in Scotland on my brief jaunts off the boat onto land. Now, I know that for an interiors and props stylist that this is all getting a bit naturalist, it being the 2nd ‘look, what I’ve spotted’ post on the trot but you gotta understand that I’m still pretty excited about all the new stuff that I saw last week and no darn rioter is gonna take that away from me. Hmmph.
images taken from Wikipedia, British Wild Flowers, Foto Flora and Flower Picture Gallery .
Jun 272011
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
Apr 202011
This entry is all about food landscapes. I was sent an image of La Maison du Chocolat‘s interactive chocolate garden (yum) and I liked it so much that I thought I’d see what else I could find. This little garden has a definite link to Easter what with all the bunnies an’ that but I went off a little askew afterwards. But I’ve tried to keep it all tied in…..
‘race in the garden’, La Maison du Chocolat, £580
image: Federic Lebain taken from http://stateoftheart.popphoto.com
Chocolate train made by Carl Warner, photo: Ally Carmichael image taken from The Telegraph
image taken from Bompas and Parr
photo by Carl Warner
and finally, just for fun…
Apr 182011
I spent the last few days shooting for a house feature down at a farmhouse called Botelet located in the south-east of Cornwall. The farmhouse and its surrounding 250 acres have been in the Tamblyn family since the late 1800s. Originally a working farm, it now rents out its fields to be worked by other farmers whilst the farmhouse, surrounding out-houses and buildings have been used as paid accommodation since the 30s.
Surrounded by rolling hills the farm’s nearest neighbours are fields of sheep and their gamboling lambs and beautiful brown cows. There are chickens, mineral water from their natural water source below the orchard, cats, wellies, tractors, mud, ponds, wild birds, yurts, flowers, big fireplaces, the smell of wood smoke, to name just a few things. Absolutely everything you could possibly want in a country holiday. The Family Tamblyn are absolutely delightful to boot, with neither request nor question a bother. You couldn’t do better for your holidays. Go, go, go!
