Category: Art
It started with a kiss..
Someone very close has proposed to his girlfriend, and she has accepted! And it’s this wonderful, happy, heart warming, life affirming event that his inspired this post.
I was thinking of engagement rings – the token of love with a significance way beyond it’s size.
And I was contemplating how even the word ‘size’ has been hijacked so we now confuse size with love. And pay the price.
How beautiful instead, for a ring to tell a story – a piece of sea glass from a memorable holiday, a stone from a Grandmother’s ring, something from a sister, a mother to communally create and forge in love a unique, individual circle of trust and beauty.
(All pics Pinterest)
Because the most precious things are naturally priceless.
Laters, Kate x
Jennifer Fisher x
Like the lights, Jennifer Fisher’s jewellery first caught the eye because of it’s soft detailing and gently rolling inspiration. Simple but substantial.
But it was her charms that really caught the eye: fun, rocking icons of joy.
They’re on the lust list for when my boat comes in.
Laters, Kate x
Light touch x
Light mood, sunny day, perfect design.
Made with the absence of hype.
And silence is such a rare commodity.
(All pics Atelier Areti)
But these lights don’t need the bluster.
Enjoy.
Laters, Kate x
Miss L Fire x
If I need a charismatic pair of shoes to wear all day, Miss L Fire is the first port of call.
Sit up on a coffee stool watching the world go by, curl up like a cat under a tree or paint the town red, these are the shoes that dance on the inside.
Because they’re time honoured show girls.
Laters, Kate x
Dreaming x
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you’d do?
I would find my dream bolt hole. Not exotic, not luxurious in the sense of stuff but with a deep richness.
Somewhere small, basic with heart, to breathe, dream and tread softly. Like this cabin from New Zealand (one of two) designed created in part as a reaction to overly large, little-used second homes. I like the ethos.
Need to buy a ticket..
Laters, Kate x
Synchronise Watches..
Charlie has a joint eighth ‘survival’ birthday on the Common tomorrow (I’ll be doing my sun dance once I’ve written this) (and stocking up on paracetamol/large flagons of alcohol). I saw these army characters in Poundland and thought candle holders!
It could all go horribly wrong – I couldn’t find my glue gun this morning so have resorted to carpet glue which promises to glue plastic if you leave it to cure long enough….
We’ll see…..
Laters, Kate x
7 Hammersmith Terrace
There’s a new place ripe to visit: No. 7 Hammersmith Terrace, once the home of printer Emery Walker has just been re-opened to the pubic and proudly boasts the most complete and authentic Arts & Crafts interiors in the UK. Delights include hand blocked Morris & Co Wallpaper, a veritable smorgasbord of textiles and authentic Philip Webb furniture. Deep sigh..few houses in the world have original Morris & Co wallpaper on every floor in nearly every room…but this one does.
Walker was a key member of many of the organisations that embraced the ideals of the Arts and Crafts Movement and as such was a close friend and mentor to William Morris.
His house has just undergone an eighteen month renovation – during the process all sorts of delicious discoveries were made like letters from Rudyard Kipling used as book marks and spectacles belonging to Morris with cuttings of his hair in a desk drawer. It is a living and breathing time capsule.
Could be my new favourite place in London…
Laters, Kate x
Smallest Room Part 2
The wallpaper we made over the holidays?
Despite just using the basics: Lining paper, leftover emulsion paint and cut up sponges – has worked a treat.
(Even though it meant embracing chaos)
This was the before state of the downstairs toilet. A mini dumping ground of DIY and general clutter.
First step was a deep clean of the tiles. Vinegar, though powerful on the nostrils did the job. A little bit of re-grouting was needed – and then I was going to dye the grout a dark grey, but I was concerned the new grout was of a different consistency – less chalky, more rubbery so would they dye the same colour? It was an easier decision to not risk it. Besides the new pristine white of the tiles was impressive. Finally, paint – white on the ceiling and the Little Greene Paint Company’s French Grey Dark on the woodwork which is a soft, pinky grey that seems to blend with any thing. A continual stream of Radio 4 plays on the ipad helped the process along..
The wallpaper went up easily: The lining paper was one of the thickest available and was aided by both pasting the wall and paper, and leaving the paper for a few minutes to fully soak up the wallpaper paste.
The randomness of the print meant there was no problem on the join – second piece went up where it went up. Bliss.
The finished job.
Except there’s always one thing left to do…a fitted mirror over the sink. Sigh.
Better get ordering.
Laters, Kate x
Midgley Green x
Midgley Green is the sort of shop you want to collect in a jam jar, taking it out regularly to smell and gently spread on life.
It was set up by husband and wife team Katherine Midgley and Seamus Green in Clevedon, North Somerset to celebrate crafts and creators. With an eye for detail and quality it pulls together the stuff you need, want and will last..
Take this brass hair clip: Simple, effective and fulfils the ultimate design brief: both beautiful and functional.
And breathe.
Laters, Kate x
Twinkle, twinkle x
T
Somethings are meant to go together – bread and butter, Kate and John, gloves..earrings. So what do you do if one goes missing?
If you’re artists Lauren Sagar and Sharon Campbell you turn them into a work of art – The Chandelier of Lost Earrings.
It’s a concept of multiple layers – the power of many, making something out of nothing, the transformative power of change. More than 3,000 earrings were donated by people who wanted to be part of the project originally linked to St Mary’s maternity hospital in Manchester.
Along with earrings, letters and stories were attached from each donation.
Collectively it’s a jewel of a piece.
I’m just glad they never considered socks.
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 