The Apple (Green) Of My Eye

 colour, fashion, homewares, interiors, jewellery, nice things, shopping, shops  3 Responses »
Jun 272012
 

Green The Apple (Green) Of My Eye

I’m no teacher but I do like an apple and I say that Apple Green is for all. Cheery, calming and happily confident, this full-bodied tone of the popular hue is really rather dashing in all forms. It doesn’t shout or demand attention and works as well in the home or on the person. Seriously undervalued and underused, this colour brings sophistication to a grown up palette and once you start looking, you won’t stop spotting it everywhere you go. And rightly so. The colour of Wimbledon, I can’t think of a better time to celebrate it. I bow down to you, apple green, long may your reign continue. Here are my top picks from the UK high street of this fresh and juicy colour.

Product credits: 1.) Fresco Tumbler and Hi Ball Glasses Lime by Ella Sabatini, prices from £3.50 (sale price), Heal’s, 2.) Isabella shoulder bag, £199 (sale price), Mimi, 3.) Evoke Mio radio in sage, £129.99, Pure, 4.) Tube by Tom Dixon, £POA, The Rug Company, 5.) Supreme Supima towelling in ‘Green Tea’, prices from £3.50 for a face cloth, Christy, 6.) Parakeet brooch, £36, Tatty Devine, 7.) Siirtolapuutarha cushion by Marimekko, £40, Skandium, 8.) The Grid leather trainers in ‘Iceberg’, €110, Veja, 9.) Kenneth sofa, Designed by Faudet-Harrison, £2,052.80 (sale price), SCP

Ceramic Innovation and Tradition

 Art, ceramics, decorative, Designer-Maker, events, exhibitions, homewares, inspirational, interiors, jewellery, London, nice things, product design, things to do  No Responses »
May 152012
 

Tradition and Innovation Ceramic Innovation and Tradition

‘Tradition and Innovation: Five Decades of Harrow Ceramics’ is the current exhibition that’s showing at the Contemporary Applied Arts gallery in the centre of London. It’s a bitter sweet exhibition because it’s the end of an era. Five decades of ceramic prowess nurtured and encouraged at the Harrow Ceramics course is being celebrated in this last ever show which sees the closure of the course. The Harrow Studio Pottery Course recently became the BA Ceramics as part of the University of Westminster, but sadly is no more. The show is a look at recent work from current and past students and tutors of the course. There is a nice mix of materials, not just ceramics and porcelain, as true as the nature of art, the students and tutors have grown organically as has their work and the materials that they work with. There is paper, plastic, metal and wood in all forms and shapes, recognisable and otherwise. Some of my favourites are pictured above. On until the 9th June 2012. Admission free. If you’re in the big city, why not drop in for a spot of tranquility and ceramic art? Why not, indeed.

Contemporary Applied Arts: 2 Percy Street, London, W1T 1DD. Telephone: 020 7436 2344

From left to right, top to bottom: Lawrence Epps, Daniel Smith, Caterina Fadda of FaddaSantos, Sue Goldschmidt, Prue Venables, Richard Slee, Marie T. Hermann, Sylvain Thirouin.

images by Atticus and Finch using Instagram, with thanks to CAA for letting me photograph the exhibition.

Celebrating What Really Makes Britain Great

 architecture, Art, ceramics, collaborations, colour, decorative, Designer-Maker, events, exhibitions, fun things, homewares, inspirational, interiors, jewellery, lighting, London, nice things, product design, textiles, things to do, treats  No Responses »
Mar 292012
 

British Design Celebrating What Really Makes Britain Great

And really it is great. Don’t believe all the negative press. When you stop and have a look around at all the wonderful things we have made, designed and created over the centuries, you’d be right to feel a pang or two of patriotism. I know I certainly do and no more so than when attending the press preview of the new exhibition British Design: innovation in the modern age at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. This exhibition is a welcomed showcase of design created on these shores since the last British Olympics in 1948 until today, 2012. It encompasses all areas of design without any favouritism (unlike myself- it would appear most of my photos are of textiles and furniture. At least I’m consistent, eh?) so there will be a good all round learning going on and something for everyone. On for the entirety of the summer, if the Olympics get too much for you, you can just catch the tube in the opposite direction and be no less entertained. Nicely laid out and lit by a modern British designer (be sure to look up, they’re lovely), the exhibition works its way through an almighty wealth of political, social, technological and scientific developments and charts our country’s progress accordingly. Be sure not to miss it. Opens on Saturday the 31st of March.

Another fantastic show sponsored by Ernst and Young- thank you.

Prices for booking details, please check the website.
£13.80 Full
£11.60 Senior citizens
£9.60 Full-time students, 12–17 year olds, ES40 holders, disabled people
£23.20 / £35.60 Family tickets (One adult & two 12–17 year olds / Two adults & two 12–17 year olds)

The Victoria and Albert Museum is located at Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL

Images all mine with thanks to the V&A Museum and all collection donators.

A Beautiful Carousel

 animals, colour, decorative, Designer-Maker, fun things, jewellery, product design, shopping, shops, treats  No Responses »
Jan 052012
 

HaoShi A Beautiful Carousel
All images taken from Bouf’s website

Every year I promise myself that I will make this a jewellery year. I rarely buy jewellery as I am remarkably adept at losing items especially rings. I also am very bad at remembering to put it on, so the jewellery that works best for me is the stuff that stays on through thick and thin until it falls off. However, I am very pleased to find Haoshi Design’s beautiful white jewellery on Bouf, as Taiwan is an ever-such a long way to go for a necklace. I’ve thought of them often since seeing them at Tent in the summer and love them as much as I did the moment I saw them. Animals and merry-go-rounds make up the subjects of their designs and superbly so too. I’m not a fan of a cutsie animal, I like them too much in their natural state and there is definitely an all too thin line between twee and just plain wrong. These all hit the nail on the head perfectly. The Merry-Go-Round set make an nice, softer alternative to the animals even if they are mostly horses! The simplicity of the mono-white is ideal to counter-balance the realistic intricacy of the details and they are just so nicely executed.

Duck X necklace, £45, Wolf X, £45, Merry-go-round man brooch, £38 and Merry-Go-Round X (Twinning), £60, all available from Bouf.com

If there’s one thing you do this weekend….

 Art, ceramics, collaborations, colour, decorative, Designer-Maker, events, exhibitions, furniture, homewares, inspirational, interiors, jewellery, London, nice things, product design, textiles, things to do, treats  No Responses »
May 062011
 

webbanner02 aw If theres one thing you do this weekend....

Now this time of year, it all gets very busy. All the shops are putting on their A/W 2011 press shows and there’s a lot to see and do. This time of year also signals the arrival of one of my favourite calendar highlights: Collect 2011.

Collect is an international art fair for contemporary objects which is put on by the Crafts Council at the Saatchi Gallery down in Chelsea, London. And it’s super. Now I love a good craft show, always have done, always will and this is the king of them all. There’s a stonkingly good array of all crafts on show (ceramic, glass, sculpture, jewellery, art, furniture, etc.) from all over the place and if you’ve the money you could be going home with your favourite piece (you lucky devil).

If the Spanish heat wave that we’re predicted to be getting this weekend gets all too much for you and you long for some cool marble-floored rooms with plenty of good stuff to look at, this is for you. Inspirational, motivational and aspirational (and I’m sure there was plenty of perspiration, though none on show) this collection will not fail to wow. Love it.

Here’s the blurb…

● Friday 6 May:11am – 6pm
● Saturday 7 May: 11am – 6pm
● Sunday 8 May:11am – 6pm
● Monday 9 May:11am – 4pm

Venue- Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, London, SW3 4SQ

On the door- Standard ticket £15 / Concession £10 

Rule Britannia!

 ceramics, chocolate, collaborations, colour, decorative, Designer-Maker, events, fashion, food, fun things, homewares, interiors, jewellery, London, nice things, product design, shopping, shops, textiles, treats  2 Responses »
Apr 292011
 

rule britannia Rule Britannia!

Here’s my nod to the Royal wedding without it being too Royal or wedding-y, you could say that it is just a celebration of general Britannia-goodness…

1.) Made in England mug, £10.50, Heal’s 2.) Britannia dinner plate, £6.50, Royal Stafford 3.) set of 5 Union Jack chocolates, £2.50, Suck & Chew 4.) Union Jack Baker’s twine by Folly & Glee, £4.50, Not On The High Street 5.) Grande Bretagne silk cushion, £54, Re-Found 6.) Royal Guards London Tray, £19.50, Liberty 7.) Buckingham Palace cushion, £40, Not On The High Street 8.) crown necklace, £15, Tatty Devine 9.) Royal wedding tea towel, from £12.50, Thornback & Peel

lively up your s(h)elf

 Art, collaborations, decorative, Designer-Maker, fun things, homewares, inspirational, interiors, jewellery, London, nice things, product design, random, shopping, shops, treats  No Responses »
Apr 062011
 

logo shelf1 lively up your s(h)elf
I have spent the last month mourning the loss of one of my favourite Sunday afternoon pleasures. Shelf of Cheshire St., east London have shut the doors of their bricks and mortar shop for the final time to concentrate on their online shop.

Jane Petrie, a costume designer for film and Katy Hackney, a jewellery designer, are both busy ladies with their full time jobs and they describe this as ‘an elaborate hobby’. What a hobby. I want a hobby like that! Their ability and knack for finding obscure and fabulous things from all over the place is awe inspiring and also their consistent backing and support of new and undiscovered designers is excellent.

Having worked next door in my good friend Mimi‘s shop (beautiful leather handbags) for a number of years as her Sunday girl, I built up a relationship with Jane and Katy and their lovely staff as I would often go and gaze longingly at all the lovely bits and bobs when the shop was quiet.

I will miss popping in when passing and having a good mooch. Cheshire Street won’t seem the same. Much time has been spent in there and much pleasure been gained from their superb shop. However, I am somewhat placated at the promise of more things and so I’m very much looking forward to seeing their new extended line of lovely stuff.

Here are some of my favourites…

shelf lively up your s(h)elf
1.) Frerk Muller’s Tea Towels, £19.50 2.) Romeo and Juliet Magnetic Toy, £13
3.) Naked Russian Dolls, 7 piece, £22 4.) Love letters, £16 5.) paper mache Fox Head, £205 6.) Shelf Tape, £5 7.) Ride Your Bike Letterpress Print, £30 8.) Consul the Educated Monkey, £14.50

pixel lively up your s(h)elf
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