Chase and Wonder Screenprints are Just Lovely

Tags

Art, Cats, Christmas, Christmas Gifts, Design, Dogs, England, Graphic Design, London, Printing, Retail, Screen printing, Shopping, Silly season, Worcestershire

We are officially in the run up to the silly season now. I’m hearing on the news here in Oz that retailers are expecting online sales to be up for the Christmas buying rush. So, with that in mind, today’s wee offering comes to you from the deliciously quirky duo at Chase and Wonder – all delivered to your door at the touch of a few keyboard strokes, wherever you may be…

Dandy Lion by Chase and Wonder
Limited edition of 400
2 colour Screenprint
Paper size – 210mm(w) x 300mm(h)
(Image from Chase and Wonder)

Faye Pearce and David Aspinall founded Chase and Wonder in late 2010 with the simple aim of creating finely designed products with British personality. They design and print all of their products in their converted cow shed in rural Worcestershire.

It also sounds as though they might just be soul-mates, given they met at primary school and reconnected in their early twenties while in London. That just makes me like their lovely screen prints even more (what can I say – I’m feeling the love today!)

Anyhoo, these lovelies have quite a reasonable price-point for the silly season – and are especially great as potential gifts for those hard-to-buy for boys in your life…

Sophisticated Dog by Chase and Wonder
Limited edition of 400
2 colour Screenprint
Paper size – 210mm(w) x 300mm(h)
(Image from Chase and Wonder)

Manners Maketh the Man by Chase and Wonder
Limited edition of 400
2 colour Screenprint
Paper size – 210mm(w) x 300mm(h)
(Image from Chase and Wonder)

Sophisticated Cat by Chase and Wonder
Limited edition of 400
2 colour Screenprint
Paper size – 210mm(w) x 300mm(h)
(Image from Chase and Wonder)

Chase and Wonder have lots more to see at their store. You can check it out here.

Rachael Howard – Who’s a Clever Girl, Then?

Tags

Appliqué, Clothing, Design, Doodling, Drawing, Embroidery, Fashion, Fiber art, Rachel Howard, Royal College of Art, Screen printing, Sewing, Textile, Textile Art

Doodle Ties from Rachael Howard Ties Collections
(Image from here)

I’ve just discovered Rachael Howard. How cool is she? She has created a tie collection out of doodles she first created and then screen-printed onto fabric. O for Oar-some, I reckon. A creative and commercially savvy woman who makes money out of her doodling. Just brilliant.

Of course, it’s not quite that simple…

Rachael had early success designing tie collections for Paul Smith. Her own tie collections are hand screen-printed, using water-soluble dyes on to natural linen.

Purple Flower Tie from Rachael Howard Flowers Collection
(Image © Rachael Howard)

Noughts and Crosses Tie from Rachael Howard Doodles Collection
(Image © Rachael Howard)

Dog on a Lead Tie from Rachael Howard White Sketch Collection
(Image © Rachael Howard)

She was also one of the Royal College Of Arts first six Embroidery post graduates in 1992. Since then she has become renowned for devising new ways of combining screen-printed drawings with appliquéd fabrics and machine embroidery. Rachael has been involved in a variety of projects, including the prestigious Jerwood Textiles Prize (1997) for which she was short-listed..

She has a fascination with drawing, particularly people , observing their postures, expressions and actions in spontaneous sketches – often humorous studies of human behaviour. These drawings are translated into graphic, screen-printed, appliquéd and machine embroidered narrative images – beautifully crafted and exactingly worked motifs. Howard expresses events through drawing, fabrics and stitch, using image, text and object to tell – often autobiographical – stories of the everyday.

I’d like to learn more about her work BUT the only website I can find is her tie collections here. Rachael Howard, why don’t you have a website detailing more of your fabulous work…?

 

Abigail Ahern is the business…

Tags

Abigail, Abigail Ahern, Boris, Design, Dogs, food, Islington, Lighting, London, Ottolenghi, Travel, vegetarian, Yotam Ottolenghi

Way back in March, I wrote about the fabulous Abigail Ahern bulldog lamps (read about it here) that I so coveted…

Abigail Ahern
(Image from here)

Famed for her edgy, eclectic taste, Abigail runs her super funky North London design school & boutique, Atelier Abigail Ahern, in between blogging and creating amazing spaces. She is a total design ‘it’ girl, and funny and warm to boot. I was lucky enough to attend one of her recent Design School sessions in Sydney and it was fab’ (but that’s another story).

Anyhoo, as you can imagine, I was most excited to have the opportunity to visit Atelier Abigail Ahern in Islington while I was in London. So, under the guise of a dining experience at Ottolenghi (conveniently located just across the road), LM trooped out to Upper Street for a wee look-see at Abigail’s flagship with me…

I was not disappointed. However, I did not walk away with one of the bulldog lamps. No, I did not. Rather, after falling madly in love, I am soon to be in possession of a most gorgeous Mungo Bulldog Lamp. I have named him ‘Boris’ – in honour of our recent trip to London.

Mungo Bulldog Lamp from Atelier Abigail Ahern
(Image by TSL)

I gotta’ say – the lovely Ainsley and her pooch, Bailey looked after us so well. ‘Boris’ is being shipped to us here in Sydney, along with a couple of other wee treasures. AND, when Ainsley heard we had some time to kill before our dinner, she sent us off to ‘The Bar With No Name‘ at 69 Colebrook Row for a wee beverage. If you are ever in the area, take it from me, it’s well worth a small detour…

AND, Ottolenghi was everything I had hoped to experience and more. I have long been a fan of Yotam Ottolenghi’s food since acquiring his vegetarian cookbook, Plenty. It is sublime (and I am no vegetarian). If you are not already a convert, I encourage you to check it out.

I leave you with a wee shot of Bailey on the couch at Atelier Abigail Ahern…

Bailey
(Image by TSL)

Atelier Abigail Ahern can be found at 137 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 1QP. Ottolenghi can be found at 287 Upper Street, London, N1 2TZ.

Inge Jacobsen – How Cool is She?

Tags

Art, Arts and Entertainment, Collage, Cross Stitch, Design, Embroidery, Fashion, Inge Jacobsen, Photography

Inge Jacobsen Vogue Cover March 2011
Photographer: Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott
(Image © Inge Jacobsen)

So, I was sitting in the dentist’s waiting room this morning, leafing through magazines and I came across the most amazing images of Inge Jacobsen’s work. I came home and immediately googled her – anybody who can marry a traditional craft like embroidery with fashion and photography like she does deserves a google search, I reckon…

I wasn’t disappointed. Danish-Irish artist Inge Jacobsen uses embroidery, cutting, and collaging to create new images out of magazine fashion editorial and newspaper imagery.

Her primary concern as an artist is how one responds to the mass of imagery in the world.  She is particularly interested in exploring the different contexts in which photography can be used, straying away from the conventional perceptions of what photography can and can’t be.  She seeks to create something unique out of the mass-produced.

And you want to know something else? She’s 24 years old.

Inge Jacobsen Vogue Cover April 2011
Photographer: Mario Testino
(Image © Inge Jacobsen)

Inge Jacobsen Sewn Chanel Black Quilted Bag
(Image © Inge Jacobsen)

Inge Jacobsen – Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Helena Christensen in September 1991 issue
Photographer: Peter Lindbergh
(Image © Inge Jacobsen)

Inge Jacobsen for Georg Jensen S/S 2012
(Image © Inge Jacobsen)

If you’d like to see more of Inge Jacobsen’s work, you can check out her website here.

Hybrid Chairs – They’re Cool!

Tags

Design, Furniture, Industrial Design, Interior design, Istanbul, Kelly Clarkson, London, Merve Kahraman, New York, style

Hybrid Chairs by Merve Kahraman
(Image from here)

I’m cute – and God I hate that. Because that’s not cool. I’m like your niece, and nobody wants to date their niece. It’s the chubby cheeks. The whole reason people voted for me on American Idol is because I’m an everyday, normal girl. (Kelly Clarkson)

Well, Kelly – I reckon you’d definitely be considered cool if you got yourself one of Merve Kahraman’s Hybrid chairs. They are seriously cool…

Hybrid No1 by Merve Kahraman
Materials: Dark chocolate lacquered finish and leather upholstery
(Images from Merve Kahraman)

The Hybrid collection was inspired by the mythologies of parahumans. The anthro chairs apparently unite with each owner, merging them into one.  They are entirely handmade, special leathers were selected and a textured paint finish applied on wood to mimic the appearance of a deer or rabbit and create an animalistic feeling for the user.

Hybrid No2 by Merve Kahraman
Materials: Ecru lacquered finish and leather upholstery
(Images from Merve Kahraman)

Merve Kahraman was born in 1987. She studied Interior Design at the Istituto Europeo di Design (Milan/Italy) before moving to London. Since graduating, she has worked in several architecture and design studios in Istanbul, New York and London. Her decision to specialise in industrial design stems from her desire to include furniture and products as an integral part of her designs for spaces.

Currently, she is continuing her masters education in Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design (London/UK) and working on her own industrial design projects.

Have I mentioned I think her work is seriously cool?

You can check out Merve Kahraman’s website here.

I’ve Fallen in Love With FatBoy

Tags

Australia, Bean bag, Comfort, Design, Fatboy, Finland, Furniture, Interior design, Marimekko, New Zealand, Shopping

FatBoy Marimekko Beanbag
Unikko Red
(Image from here)

I’ve got a thing about bean bags.  They’re probably not very cool and they certainly are not the most refined members of the furniture family, but I love them anyway. I love their welcoming informality. I love that they are like gi-normous cushions that forgot to stop growing. Mostly, I love them because they are so bloody comfortable.

Of course, I don’t actually own a bean bag. But all that may soon be about to change because I have discovered FatBoy, a Finnish bean bag brand, which is so cool they even collaborated with Marimekko…

FatBoy Marimekko Beanbag
Unikko Black
(Image from here)

The FatBoy bean bag was designed in Finland by Jukka Setala. This super comfy bean bag comes in more than a dozen different funky colour choices and is great for big and small kids, in the living room or even in the garden. The FatBoy Original bean bag can be positioned in a variety of different ways for maximum comfort when all you want to do is chill!

Filled with spheres that are guaranteed to rebound after use, the Dutch-made FatBoy Original giant bean bag is hard-wearing and wipe clean. All you need to do is give it a good shake after use to restore it to its original shape.

FatBoy Buggle Up Orange Bean Bag
(Image from here)

If Marimekko ain’t your thing but you’d love a bean bag – how about the super sized FatBoy Buggle-Up 6 ft. extra-large number. It’s a giant-sized outdoor bean bag which features water-repellent fabric and unique straps that allow it to “buggle-up” into a supportive chair. Yeah, Baby! Summer’s coming (to the Southern Hemisphere…)

Fatboy bean bags are distributed by HUB Furniture in Australia and Sinot in New Zealand. You can learn more about them on their website here.

I Want to be Like Rachel Castle When I Grow Up…

Tags

Art, Arts, Australia, Castle, Colour, Design, Inspiration, Interior design, Lisa Gorman, Rachel CAstle, Sydney, third drawer down, wall art

Modern Art Tea Towel by Craig Damrauer
(Image from Third Drawer Down)

Craig Damrauer’s tea towel for Third Drawer Down is kind of how I feel about the super talented Rachel Castle – only, you have to substitute his words ‘modern art’ for the name ‘Rachel Castle’, and I couldn’t really do what she does (except in my imagination).

Rachel Castle is one of those amazingly clever and creative design-y types who makes it all look so easy. I’m sure it wasn’t always so, but I just love her sense of fun combined with her joy of colour. I also loves that she works with her Mum.

‘I Come From A Land Down Under’ by Rachel Castle
Felt and sparkly cotton on vintage linen
(Image from Castle and Things)

Castle was founded in 2008 by Rachel Castle with a small range of bed linen made for friends and family. Considerable interest ensured it quickly became a commercial venture. The brand represents a love of beautiful, often handcrafted or handprinted, pieces for the home.

Rachel Castle has spent the past 20 years working in the homewear industry both in Australia and abroad. Prior to Castle, Rachel was joint founder of London-based branding and design agency, The Nest, and before that, worked for The Conran Shop in the UK. She regularly styles and writes for Australian lifestyle magazines, and currently lives in Sydney.

All handmade artworks are sewn by Rachel Castle and her very patient and loving mother, Jillian Patching. I love them.

‘Put the Love in The Coconut’ by Rachel Castle
Felt on vintage linen
(Image from Castle and Things)

‘Stripey Heart’ by Rachel Castle
Felt on vintage linen
(Image from Castle and Things)

‘Going to the Opera’ by Rachel Castle
Acrylic on 500gsm pure European linen
(Image from Castle and Things)

If you’d like to learn more about Rachel Castle’s work – like her collaboration with equally talented Aussie it-girl, Lisa Gorman – check out her website here.

La boutique des Boîtes à Musique d’Anna Joliet

Tags

Anna Joliet, Boites a Musique, Colette, Design, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, La boutique des Boîtes à Musique d'Anna Joliet, La vie en rose, Love me tender, Music, Music Box, Nostalgia, Palais Royal, Paris, Shopping, The Beatles, Travel, Yesterday

Ballerina Music Box
(Image from here)

Growing up, my sister and I were not part of the ‘ballet set’. Not even when we were very young. For starters, neither one of us would have been seen dead in pale pink. Not for us the pink leotards and hair ribbons. I didn’t even have one of those ballerina music boxes. Instead, my Mum’s godmother sent me a beautiful pillow, all the way from Germany, which – if I remember correctly – somehow played Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and smelled divine. I loved that pillow.

I do not recall ever feeling hard done by for not having a music box growing up, but I do vividly remember how I felt on one of my early visits to Paris when I discovered La boutique des Boîtes à Musique d’Anna Joliet (Anna Joliet’s Music Box boutique). This enchanting (and tiny) shop at the northern end of the Jardin du Palais Royal specialises in music boxes, both new and old, from Switzerland.

Boites a Musique Palais Royal
(Image from here)

Boites a Musique Music Box
(Image from here)

For almost three decades the store has occupied the same corner, next to a sign proclaiming that the writer Colette passed her last years here by the northern edge of the gardens of the Palais Royal. There’s hardly any room to move in the store, but it doesn’t matter because the melodies instantly transport you to your childhood (even when it didn’t feature music boxes!).

There are music boxes for every budget, some tiny cardboard containers with the inner workings displayed for less than 10 euros, or a gilded cage of warbling birds that costs upwards of 3,000 euros. I still have the small one I bought 20 years ago. It plays ‘Yesterday‘.

Boites a Musique Music Box
This is not my wee music box
(Image from here)

There may only be one thing for sale in Anna Joliet’s shop, but there is a seemingly endless variety of melodies from which to choose – from the classic “La Vie en Rose” to the wind-up tinkle of Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender” and the Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine.”

I shall be visiting again…

(Image from here)

Destination Victor Churchill – Meat-lover’s Paradise…

Tags

Butcher, Charcuterie, Cooking, Design, food, Meat, Nat King Cole, Peter Gilmore, Protein, Retail, Sydney, Travel, Victor Churchill

Victor Churchill Shop Front
(Image from here)

Primarily I’m a meat man, although once in a while I toy with a few vegetables. (Nat King Cole)

If you ask LM what he’d like to do on a lazy Sunday, he will suggest a visit to Victor Churchill’s. It’s his happy place.

When my father comes to visit from New Zealand, he considers Victor Churchill a favourite destination. We bought him a full-day Charcuterie course for Christmas last year. He was not disappointed (and we dined extremely well on his confit of duck).

Peter Gilmore, Executive Chef of Quay restaurant – which currently sits at number 29 in the San Pelligrino top 50 – says it’s his favourite food shop anywhere in the world. If its good enough for Peter, I reckon it’s worth a blog post…

The original Victor Churchill’s was established in 1876. Father and son team, Victor and Anthony Puharich, founders of the highly regarded Vic’s Premium Quality Meats, are the fourth owners of the butcher shop in its 136 year history.

Inside, it is a shrine to protein and has literally changed the way people look at butcheries. It’s got major bells and whistles in the form of a Himalayan salt-brick wall and the kind of visual merchandising you would more likely associate with high-end fashion (in fact it has been dubbed the Tiffany’s of butcher shops) but it more than backs up with a superb meat and poultry.

If you consider yourself a meat-lover or a foodie, or you just love great design, this is one spot to add to the list when you visit Sydney…

Victor Churchill Shop Interior
(Image from here)

Victor Churchill Himalayan Rock Salt Wall
(Image from here)

Victor Churchill Rotisserie
(Image from here)

Victor Churchill – the product!
(Image from here)

We have some good friends visiting from Auckland next weekend. I have suggested to them we might plan a visit to Victor Churchill on Saturday so they can hand-select their protein of choice for the barbecue that evening…

Victor Churchill can be found at 132 Queen Street, Woollahra. The shop is open 7 days AND if you happen to live is a selected part of Sydney, they deliver. For those of you who just want a squizz at the fabulousness that is Victor Churchill, check out their website here.

Patrick Blanc’s Greenwall at Musée du quai Branly

Tags

culture, Design, Eiffel Tower, Francophile, Garden, Green wall, Landscape Design, Musée du quai Branly, Paris, Patrick Blanc, Travel

A very good and special friend came for lunch today. She is a Francophile, so of course I asked for her all-time favourite spots to visit in Paris.  In her top five was Patrick Blanc‘s vertical garden at the Musée du quai Branly, nicknamed MQB and located close to the Eiffel Tower.

The building was designed by architect Jean Nouvel,
and the façade measures approximately 1,200 m. Yet its most
noticeable feature is the stunning 200 m long by 12 m tall living wall covering
the entire northwest façade.

Designed and planted by Patrick Blanc, the Musée du quai Branly greenwall is one of Blanc’s most famous vertical gardens, and one of the most highly photographed in the world. Facing the River Seine with a park and small streets in between, the micro-climate creates a good environment for a large variety of plants.

Patrick Blanc’s hydroponic Vertical Garden System, known as Le Mur Vegetal in French, allows both plants and buildings to live in harmony with one another, and can be implemented both inside and out.

Now, I make no claims to having a green thumb. Quite the opposite in fact, but this I am definitely checking out when we visit Paris… Wow!

The Musée du quai Branly is located at 37, quai Branly 75007, Paris. You can check out their website here.

Oh, and I’m still in New Zealand so this is a shorter post today. My communication and response times will also still be a little more intermittent than usual. Back to normal transmission tomorrow.