Aren’t these great? I so need a pair as I get cold sitting at my glass desk (who on earth thought a glass desk would be a good idea?) in winter. And yes, I should be able to crochet some myself but can’t find a pattern this cute anywhere.
Wrist Worms by Sandra Juto are available here
Or if the world were a village of one hundred people.
Graphic designer Toby Ng has produced a set of 20 posters, each conveying a simple statistic about the state of the world.
Which I’m finding to be very thought-provoking as I sit at my spanking new computer on my overweight, college-educated butt…
See more stats and realise even more how lucky we all are here.
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One of the main things that really drew my eye to the Lulu Guinness spread was the magnificent Pearly Queen of Dalston wallhanging above the banquette. I love everything about it – its wit, the fact that it’s made of buttons, its quintessential Englishness, the colours – and it seemed like just that sort of thing an expat Londoner would hang over her Seattle sofa.
I even vaguely thought about commissioning one, but it soon became clear from sculptor Ann Carrington’s website that it would be way out of my league – it’s apparently a fairly important piece, purchased by the Rothschild collection in honour of the Queen’s 80th birthday, and doesn’t belong to Lulu Guinness at all, it merely served as the inspiration for her limited edition ‘Stamp Jayne’ handbag (shown to the left of the banquette picture and seemingly no longer available through her shop).
Here it is in more detail
And here are some other works by the artist, both made using thousands of tiny pearl buttons.
I wonder, though, if American readers are getting the cultural reference?
Pearly Kings and Queens are the heads of certain families in London’s East End, descended I think from Victorian costermongers (street sellers?) who decorate their black clothes with thousands of tiny buttons and do tons of work for charity.
If you like the look then these cushions here are pretty special.
What I like about art is that sometimes it teaches you to look at things with a different perspective.
In my life I must have spent thousands upon thousands of hours commuting backwards and forwards on the Tube in London, but never once did I think to look for these surreal juxtapositions of Tube trains/passengers and the huge ad posters which are posted on the other side of tunnels from the platforms.
Genius stuff. By Yusuf Ozkizil.
And now these pictures have got me all nostalgic for the Tube. Who knew that I would think of those days of being crammed in like sardines with one’s nose stuck in someone’s smelly armpit with such fondness?
Feeling inspired to create but can’t afford the materials?
Yes, paints and stuff are expensive, so go and rescue that sad and lonely reel of packing tape you’ve got stuffed in a drawer, pick off the bits of fluff and get to work.
Here’s the sort of thing you could be making.
The above are made from layers of tape stuck to plexiglass with light shining through.
All images by Mark Khaisman.
I came across this fabulous art via Flavorpill’s Daily Dose, where my post on Charlotte Mann’s wall art was also featured {via a mention on Fashioncopious.com). As a result my blog stats have gone through the roof and it’s been fascinating to watch my post go slightly viral, with people blogging about it, linking to it on Facebook, Tweeting it and posting it on other social networking sites.
Such things don’t normally happen round these parts, though I suspect it has slightly more to do with Charlotte Mann’s fabulous art than my sparkling prose. Anyway, thanks all for the mentions and I do hope Charlotte is getting some nice juicy commissions as result.
For the longest time I avoided wooden accessories in the home – they always seemed a bit too rustic and ‘knit your own yogurt’ and you know that I’m really not that sort of a girl.
But recently wood seems to have become a little more sleek, sophisticated and playful, while still retaining that delightful tactile smoothness and warmth.
Check out this gorgeous coffee table from Habitat in the UK
These cute owls (here we go again) from UK designer Matt Pugh
This beautiful walnut cheese board/server from SavedFromAFire (made from offcuts of wood saved from furniture making, which would otherwise be thrown away or burnt).
These stacking rings from Little Sapling Toys who make the most fantastic wooden kids accessories
These wooden iPhone cases from Vers (though I’m not sure how practical pulling your phone in and out would be).
and finally, the wooden accessory that revived wood for me, my Jean Pelle candleholder
So, if I were 20 years younger, 20cms taller and er, a heck of a lot thinner, I would SO be buying this dress (and not just for Halloween either)
Made to order by Nicole Lindner. Available here.
Delicious eye candy via Decor8 yesterday of the home of photographer Danielle Thompson. More photos of the rest of her home are on her blog, but I was particularly drawn to the pictures of her sofa, which sort of have the vibe I’m aiming at – a smooth modern sofa accessorised with a vibrant granny blanket. And her warm contemporary pastel colour scheme is so wonderful.
I also really like the arrangement she’s created above the sofa. I’m a bit over very frilly frames like these, but love the idea of collecting frames and framing fabrics.
If you’re looking for a easier crochet blanket, check out this simple but beautiful one from Casapinka. I love its clean modern vibe, crochet can so often look overwrought and fussy.
Not terribly practical if you’re chasing your peas round your plate, but I do like the way these wall plates with holes subvert the whole plate as practical item concept. And look nice too.
All details of British designer Andrew Tanner’s Silhouette plates are here.
