Category: Products
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
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
RE x
If I was a shop I’d be RE: A magical place where global unloved items hit emotional science and are transformed into objects of desire…like these laundry baskets and washing up bowls made from recycled plastic in Senegal.
Pure fireworks for the kitchen.
How delicious? These baskets are made by the Mixtec people of Mexican mashing traditional palm weaving with unwanted plastic.
And there are recycled tin cans from Peru, all given new life. A plant pot – or a pen pot? The choice is yours.
You head to the site for storage ideas..and end up being amazed by cunning delights like these lights…designed to hold a tea-light and convert any bottle into a table lamp…genius.
Or these candlesticks holders..spiked to stand in flower pots..or hammered into a log.
Thank God they’re not based in London. Now where’s the credit card…
Laters, Kate x
Projects x
I read an article once that said it was only ever possible to have two out of the three of the holy grails of building works: Cost, quality, time. I think the similar principals apply to children at halfterm…happy children, messy house, cost…only ever two at one time..but at least acknowledging these salient truths makes wading through the detritus of my present house so much easier. Which is a good thing, because added to our layer of general chaos is the fact we have the school quiz next week – this was last year – so why should this year be any different? We’ve started working on the costumes..and discovered a new creative product – ever come across thermomorph moldable plastic before??
It’s amazing stuff. You add these little plastic balls to boiling water.
And wait 2 minutes till they go clear.
Then you take it out and wait just long enough so no-one will get scalded.
And start molding…into anything you want.
It’s amazing stuff – the time line between being soft and hard is quite short – but you can just drop it back in the boiling water to soften again. And they dry totally opaque and white. What we were making I can’t say…except all will be revealed next week…
Laters, Kate x
Small steps..
This weekend marks the start of moving towards a less wasteful life as inspired by this post. For me, it’s not about wearing a horsehair shirt but finding simple solutions that work and moving away from the total belief in mass produced, mass marketed products we pick up without thinking. The first experiment neatly fits in with my own eco philosophy – it involves dryer sheets – which to many would be an environmental oxymoron, but as a dryer works for us as a family it stays – and the spotlight goes onto what goes into the dryer..
From my research, there seem to be two basic methods – the first involves using ready made (you could make your own..there are recipes..(I’m not there yet)) fabric conditioner. Strips of old towels or sponges are soaked in the solution and then are used either wet, straight from the pot or can be dried before hand.
(All pics Pinterest and View from the Fridge)
The next method requires a larger leap of faith…the cloths are stored and left soaking in a mixture of vinegar and essential oils (any combination you fancy). They say, when the clothes come out, any smell of fish and chips has evaporated away…
The kids could be grateful it’s half term next week…
Laters, Kate x
Sharing…..
Because sharing is caring……let me introduce to a new discovery..the rather magical world of Sugru..
It’s a bit like flubber..you never thought that anyone would ever actually invent it…
It’s a mouldable glue that glues anything and sets within 24 hours..to still remains flexible..
All those dodgy exposed flexes? Sorted.
Plus anything else you care to think of – It’s the ultimate true hero in the fight against the modern disease of built-in obsolescence…
It can cope with hot stuff..
cold stuff..mending cracks in fridges…It’s even dishwasher proof.
And waterproof…
These people can explain more…
But basically the only thing that limits its application……is your imagination…just utterly incredible!!
Laters, Kate x
Indoors Out..
Baby, it’s hot outside (well..almost..) so let me grab some large, plump cushions and the Saturday papers (pretty please kids..) and lounge lady-like on my eco-friendly outdoor rug by Green-Decore..a company I discovered at the Grand Designs exhibition in London last week.
They’re seriously worth checking out – fabulous classic eye-catching heart-stopping designs that include outdoor benches, cushions as well as the more traditional cotton rugs.
There’s a great range of colours..from sea blues to neon pink and lemon yellow…
And a sensible price point to boot – the outdoor rugs range from £29 to £90 
And they even have rugs made from re-cycled sari’s.
I’m sold.
Laters, Kate x
Banjooli x
There are three things that caught my roving eye with this remarkable collection of garden furniture designed by Sebastian Herkner for Moroso..
1. They’re brilliantly inspired by the mating dance of male ostriches – (or ‘banjooli’ in Wolof tongue) – who stretch out their wings to show off to the ladies.
2. They’re produced by African craft weavers using fishing net yarn.
3. They make me smile.
Herkner says, they may be based on birds, but they are human in their perfections and flaws. Mi piace.
Laters, Kate x
Great Bones..
There’s something utterly majestic, breathtaking and impressive about a herringbone floor..
But the bullion cut? More expensive..but it’s still a temptation, particularly when you know you’re only laying a floor once..
In fact choosing a floor is like crossing all sorts of boundaries..width of wood, colour, type, durability..mix into to that the cost and it’s a potential minefield..
So excuse me if I feel a little bit chuffed in finding Edward Oak Floors (OK. My mother found them first) But you know you’re on to a good thing when the showroom in is a remote part of London, in the middle of an industrial estate, attached to it’s own factory.
And because it’s all made on site, they can smoke, wax, colour, distress the wood to any colour you want – and any size..and if they lay your floor, it’s guaranteed for 15 years..me likey.
The distressing machine..it’s riveting..
But they really do have the ability to transform the mundane..
So that’s one thing ticked off…now there’s just the rest of the building works to plan..ho hum
Laters, Kate
Cover Story x
The beauty that is Steamcream seems to gobble up every modern influence going…
– It’s an eco-friendly cutting edge moisturiser, hand made in the UK and Japan with natural ingredients, in eye candy packaging (think vintage French cosmetics and old-style biscuit boxes given a modern day nudge) that can will be kept and re-used once the cream has gone. At £12.95 it’s easy on the purse and cleverly..it’s designed for both men and women…
You can literally hear the success grow – definitely one for the festive present cupboard..
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 
