Category: accessories
Full Spectrum x
I’m being distracted by everything Mexican folk art. Not surprising with Day of the Dead just around the corner, but it’s an art form I cherish.
Honed and loved into existence, it’s a buzz that can gather and turn something simple into to a jewel.
There’s exuberance, simplicity, ingenuity and joy: It’s life.
Laters, Kate x
It’s Started..
Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat. Except it isn’t..but the insidious creep is appearing on my peripheral vision like the ink from a frightened octopus. I bought my first stocking fillers today…and faced head on the yearly mental anguish of the inner childs excitement for presents versus materialistic waste and the accumulation of useless stuff. I still haven’t got a solution to square the circle – how to appear less Ebenezer, more Mathew Cuthbert? Except possibly to buy less, buy better, buy clever. With this in mind I found myself on this site – Life of Jay – which, though I didn’t realise it at the time, caters primarily for men which they don’t presume to be all sports mad. It genuinely has some interesting stuff..(though does it work if it’s still classed as ‘stuff?’ Sigh)
But who can say no to good stylish storage?
Or a retro notebook for the jottings of the block buster you know they want to write.
But then I see a silly tin toy rabbit and want to pop it in my basket. Why??
They have these which are clever – a retro tin..
Containing the bits you think you need. Except I’d pay more if the interior wasn’t made of plastic..
This appeals: A reusable teabag robot. Who doesn’t need that on a cold morning?
And I love their lab style storage jars.
(All pictures Life of Jay)
Then side tracked by a cunningly designed pizza cutter…
And I’m failing and falling already..
Laters, Kate x
Lavenders Blue x
Strange things flit through my head – take today – lavender bags? Maybe because a kilo of dried lavender has arrived through the post..an impulsive purchase made with thoughts of a tidy, old fashioned style utility room with crisp white linens adorning the shelves.
But it would be a lovely project to do with the kids..and a great way to use up dying but much loved scraps of vintage fabric.
Shame it’s only Monday.
Laters, Kate x
Bags of love x
It was on Wednesday when the realisation struck that I was already down to one pair of school socks between the two of them. I high-tailed it to Oxford street, partly because I wanted speed…partly because I had an ulterior motive: A few weeks ago, after years of drought, I’d spotted that the stalls selling the touristy type of tat usually avoided had started selling designer rip-offs again. I’m not a great fan of faking it make it..except if you want to do something a bit radical.
I’ve been wanting to cover a recognisable designer bag in junk for sometime (sort of inspired by Anya Hindmarch, but also by an earlier random street style photo of someone carrying a battered Louis Vuitton bag covered in sewn on patches). This is just the start – the idea is to cover as much of the bag as possible.
Except maybe the back.
Laters, Kate x
Time to Study..
September is fast approaching and I’ve made a mental commitment to have the house ready for the new school year. Not finished, but papers sorted and filed, noticeboards cleared, detritus binned which has meant the study is in the mortal throes of a mid-summer spring clean and it’s not pretty.
I wish the room looked like any of these pictures, but it doesn’t. My desk is piled high with with every piece of crap possible. The floor littered with paper, shed like dead skin. I’ve lost my ipad – it’s waiting to be re-discovered under the bin bags. It’s four days in now…and it’s still not looking any better.
A girl can dream. And possibly invest in a desk foot hammock..or am I just distracting myself?
Laters, Kate x
Maria Black x
There’s something special about wearing simple jewellery in the summer months when everything becomes a little less pressured and a little more precious.
Maria Black Jewellery combines beautiful lines with artistry – she wants you to wear her pieces with individuality and freedom like a single cloud on a hot day.
Ideas to embrace.
Laters, Kate x
Soak and Sleep x
I’ve never met a cotton pillow case I didn’t like and ever since The White Company ate up the homewares market there’s been a focaccia bunfight for aspirational linen shops. Soak and Sleep is one such company, offering fabulous bed and bath products for a lot less than on the high street.
Like these linen bedspreads from £20.90. Which means they’re both easy on the eye and there are bargains to be had…except check details…the sandstone is available at £20.90 but want the navy? and the price rises to a steep £129.
Even so, with the range on offer they’ve got something: Classic designs with an artisan edge combined with lux textures and products you genuinely feel will age with you (..I think that’s a compliment..)
If you need to buy for a special present/wedding/birthday they’re worth checking out. If you need to buy for yourself…I’m jealous.
Laters, Kate x
Shibori..
Yesterday was spent teaching a group of friends (I’m a rep for Charlie’s class) how to shibori tie-dye. It’s something I love to do with its heady mixture of deep indigo, spontaneity, freedom and promise.
I’ve posted about it before (here) but this year was a little bit different/lessons learnt – the scarfs are longer (2m – possibly the perfect length) and the dye is a new one: If you’re making a large dye bath with the more commonly used Dylon, it’s hard to keep the solution warm so I went for a procion dye that works with cold water (it’s the dye they use for batik dying) and it produced excellent results. If you want more info on dyes and techniques, check out this website (makes me wish I lived in Bognor)..this is a brilliant craft for kids in the summer..and imagine on duvet covers, sheets..or even larger pieces of furniture! Bella spent her evening after school dying..socks!
Gloves are always useful..
This may be old school..but it’s still the best.
Laters, Kate x
Hot to trot x
Nostalgic and a bit sentimental: I’m after a pair of wedge espadrilles with ties this summer. I’d love them to be in a deep navy blue, but I suspect black is more realistic.
With just that little bit of extra height, they give an outfit the potential to carrying on strutting straight into a decadent night on the tiles.
As well as being highly adaptable (also great with culottes or skinnies) they’re supremely comfortable and, with a bit of shopping around, easy on the pocket.
If slides are your thing, check out Asos for the best selection..
(All pics from Pinterest)
With prices starting at a mere £12 i’ts winner, winner, chicken dinner.
Laters, Kate x
Innovation x
How about this for a super cool design: A light that opens up like a flower..and closes again.
It’s the work of the Science Museums Inventor-in-residence, Mark Champkins. Inside the petals are bi-metallic strips – a sandwich of copper and steel. The copper responds to the heat of the bulb by expanding, the steel doesn’t, resulting in the realistic bend.
Whilst I love it, It’s small and I’m not convinced it’s working to it’s true potential..Just imagine it as collection together designed as a blossomed branch huge chandelier..
Or inside a large eye-filling glass pendant: Three in a row over a kitchen island unit…heaven.
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 
