Category: accessories
Remedios Vincent
Recycling as part of the circle of life: Remedios Vincent uses reclaimed antiques to create new objects to honour the history and aesthetics of good craftsmanship.
As re-imagined ghosts of the past, is it any surprise that some of his creations have a macabre, Frankenstein flavour?
(All pics Here)
Reincarnation lives on..
Laters, Kate x
Stampede x
The Bucket List: The things you think will happen one day but never will unless you set them in action, such as having an inspirational workplace like French graphic designer, Aurelien Dabat.
His is the stuff dreams are made of: In Marseille, not far from the sea, industrial with woodworking machines, not precious but creatively alive with fellow creatives – architects, designers and a painter.
A more instantly achievable bucket list option at around £20 is Aurelien’s Stampville – the retro style box contains 25 woodbacked stamps in an assortment of graphical shapes and textures ripe for exploration and flights of fancy.
(All pics Pinterest)
The only additional requirement is imagination.
J’adore.
Laters, Kate x
Outside the box x
Maybe summer is finally here, even with the cooler breeze this week jumpers and layers have become redundant and the blue sky is becoming a regular visitor. Charlie is away on a school trip, the Husband is away on business, so it’s just Bella and I at home so we’ve been heading out in the evenings, just the two of us. It’s felt like our own holiday, something that sits well with the soul. Which has raised the thought, why wait for special times to do something different? Wether it’s a change of routine or changing the way you use a space, like these pics prove, little things can make a big difference.
(All pics Pinterest)
Food for thought. Enjoy.
Laters, Kate x
The Green Machine x
Revelation x
There are many things that science can still not explain so maybe I have died and gone to heaven, such is my delight at discovering the designer and maker of this wallpaper and her treasure trove of work.
Marthe Armitage graduated from Chelsea School of Art after World War 11. Faced with the problem of juggling young children, she started designing and lino-cutting her own wallpapers. After sketching the design she uses the hand-cut lino blacks and a century-old offset lithographic printing press that she has owned for over 40 years to created custom-printed rolls of wallpaper.
Not only does she create an object of desire but a lifestyle, a passion and a calling.
Maybe she’ll adopt me?
(Link here, all pics Pinterest)
Before my idol was William Morris, but it’s the seductive meanderings of Marthe’s work that pull at the heart strings and make eyes glow.
When my boat comes in, this is the wallpaper that will adorn my walls.
Laters. Kate x
Mobility x
Balanced, beautiful, adapting, changing, moving, adjusting, reflective.
(All pics pinterest)
A movement of peace in our slapstick chaos.
Laters, Kate x
Soap.Co x
Just when you think capitalism and the need for profit at any cost has snaked it’s way into every aspect of our lives a company comes along that blows your handcrafted socks off: Soap Co. is one such beauty.
It goes without saying they only use natural botanicals, nourishing vitamins and pure-essential oils.
It’s also interesting that their eco credentials impressively stack up: Their bottles are made from old milk bottles, their plastic film is made from reusable wood pulp, their sticky labels can be composted, their paper is both recycled and recyclable and their glue is non-toxic and biodegradable.
But taking the social responsible crown by a storming majority: Their products are handcrafted in the UK by people who are blind (hence the braille), disabled or otherwise disadvantaged.
This is a social enterprise that proves there doesn’t need to be a trade-off between award winning design, product, eco awareness and social purpose – this really is the best of the best.
(All pics Soap Co.)
And I for one won’t be buying my rose oil from anywhere else.
Laters, Kate x
Inspiration x
The zeitgeist of a moment when simple things are greater than the sum of their parts.
(All pics pinterest)
Laters, Kate x
Light it up x
In the back of my mind I’ve been thinking about these lights ever since my sister-in-law Sue said they had a problem with the lights over their kitchen table because there’s no way to put a pendant in. Their attraction is multilayered: Many are fixed to the wall rather than a ceiling, there’s the brooding statement wow factor, the multidirectional angles plus playful shadows and that cunning ability to move the arms at whim.
(All pics Pinterest)
Add in a dimmer switch and I’m sold.
Laters, Kate x
Bright White Light x
There was this article I read last week that on initial skimming was talking my artisanal language – it’s message was make sure it’s the stuff you hold and use every day are your investment pieces because this is where quality and appreciation will sing. Except that’s when I had a lightbulb moment because it’s so not true – in fact, the real truth is the very opposite: We need the stuff we use every day to be simple and replaceable because their constant use means the chances of them being broken wracks up and who wants to shed tears on a daily basis? I know we have a white mismatched dinner service that I’m sure started off as a two bogoffs from Tesco. It’s been added to over the years, but it’s core has remained the same: mismatched but matched simplicity with a lack of drama when a piece inevitably breaks.
(From Argos £7.99 for 12 piece set)
I’ve been noticing this boomerang effect a lot lately, where you think one thing leads to a certain consequence when in fact, the opposite happens: Take the row over Facebook…the premise is we’re all connected. But in truth is it segregation with the tribes who share our views leading to intolerance, division and stress? It’s food for thought.
(From Argos £58 for a 18 piece set)
(From Habitat reduced from £60 to £30 for a 12 piece set)
Maybe we need to be more careful where real value lies, but what I do know is taking a walk on the cheap side of the tracks means there’s so much more left in the kitty for the real stars to shine: The ones that get used every day but have no danger of being dropped..
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 