Marching to your own beat

Ed and I watched Revolutionary Road last night. I've wanted to watch it, but not wanted to watch it. I'm glad I did and I wish I hadn't if that makes sense. How do you live the life you dream of instead of the life you should or worse, the life you fall into? 

We currently live in an area of London that many people would give their right arm to live in. Unfortunately, it suffocates me and I am pleased, oh so very pleased to be moving somewhere more like a espresso and less like a decaf cappuccino. It would be easy to stay, but I think I'd die of boredom. The local high street - now a sea of (v smart) chains. Oh, I could go on, but I'd lose you before I reached the point. 

Katherine Mansfield said the following:

"Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth."

And that should sum it up. Live where you dream of, in the house you want, and, most importantly with the people you want. Because the alternative, well it would be a terrible thing to be bored for so long wouldn't it?

These are our favourite things ( for this week! )

Our favourite things from Design Week.

Benchmark for everything they do and for how long they've done it.

Hannah James - because her bowls are extraordinarily beautiful.

(oh and she is the assistant to Edmund de Waal)

Claire Brewster - for whimsy and minute attention to detail.

 

Pinch - because this bench will be ours (if I can convince Ed of its merits) and because as a husband and wife team, their work is far more than the sum of the parts.

Sidsel Dorph-Jensen - because these silver pots are the kinds of things you would have forever, probably not very useful, but very, very beautiful.

Another Country - because I like the way they turn the notion of 'craft' back to its original meaning - and their furniture is useful and lovely to look at.

Ochre - because even walking on their stand makes me feel like a nervous schoolgirl, and because they use traditional materials to create unexpected beauty.

C'mon, c'mon

 

Two classes left this year. Book here. It's a lovely way to spend a day I promise!

100% Design

I will start by saying that 'mass' design exhibitions are not my thing, so going to 100% Design this morning, I wasn't filled with uncontrollable excitement. I was right, it isn't my thing. In my humble opinion, a great deal of over-design, copies and unusable things. I don't get for example, how a laser cut, plastic, 3d carpet is going to perform any useful function.... 

There were two companies who were a cut above. The first is Davey Lighting.  In their own words, many of their lights are original designs date back to the 1880's. Traditionally made in their UK foundry, they use high quality materials and ensure great quality craftmanship. Although originally manufactured for the marine and other industrial industries, many of these beautiful lights would look happy in a kitchen, office or restaurant.

Have a look at their website here.

David Mellor. I probably don't need to say much, but no other cutlery comes close. Again, artisan made and again in the UK. This time in an award winning building.

3d plastic, die-cut rug anyone?

Tiles

I'm fanatical about tiles, especially in London weeny sized kitchens and bathrooms. I'm also fanatical about hand-made and local sourced, and honest and i like the idea of supporting small businesses where possible. I want the tiles in our new kitchen and bathroom to bring cheer,to champion handmade and to turn 'bijouxness' into jewellery box, albeit a very clean one. I'm fairly sure on the tiles I'll be buying and I'll be travelling to Suffolk to the tile maker to select each and every one. This house is going to have a whole lot of love poured into it and not a whiff of mdf.

On my travels to find the perfect tile, these are my favourite finds. The first tile about is from Heath Ceramics. These tiles are cleverly half matt, half glazed. I've written about Heath before and every time I see their work I am inspired. 

And then there is Emery et Cie. In the UK they are based at Retrouvius in London. Beautiful Moroccan zelliges. Handmade and truly beautiful tiles.

Grove Brickworks from Waterworks in the States. Handmade brick tiles beautifully glazed. If they were made here I would have chosen these.

Here they are. Handmade Suffolk clay tiles from Alice Gibbons.

Each tile is handmade and glazed, so that you can see the mark of the maker.

Very excited. Flooring next......

Cleaning out and starting again

With a move upon us, I suddenly feel overwhelmed by stuff. I thought I was pretty rigid about the whole 'just what you love' scenario, but even I have collected too many things that I don't love. Please excuse my language ahem, but I think I have amassed too many 'bits of shit', right down to clothes in my wardrobe(I am not, repeat, am not a Luella girl). Much stuff has got to go as how else will we be able to  relax and enjoy our new home. Isn't it better to have just the things you love instead of a mass of 'it will do for now'. Our clothes line is a prime example. It is looking at me right now and I can't believe we own it, it's such a thing of hideousness.

The desk I'm sitting at -  umm well, it's Eds, but we have agreed it has no place in Peckham Rye. Ditto the office chair and the sofa. However the table (yes the table), dining chairs and coffee table are all much loved and will make the cut. Of course the books and music and the four guitars and my magazine collection are non-negotiable. The art - well, some of it was bought to fill a space - ta ra to them as this method never, ever works. Ed's boarding school trunk is a stayer and I'm sure will be fought over when we've popped our clogs. The Ikea stools - not so much...... And then of course there is the container at Heathrow... I hope I was ruthless. I'm thinking possibly I wasn't ruthless enough.

I can see our new home. It's precious and lovely and deserves to be lined with beautiful things, not insulted by a very ugly clothes line......

For the love of pets....

I have a picture of my mother in my wallet, aged eight, with her first litter of kittens. Currently she has five cats, two dogs and I'm sure there are a few rescue birds in the hot water cupboard (or her pocket). Our skype calls usually involve holding up one pet or another to admire. We were privilaged to always have animals in our lives and as such can't imagine life without them. 

It's a proven fact that pets reduce stress, make you happier and more centred. How often does your mind wander when stroking a cat, or contentedness descend whilst roaming the woods with your dog?

We all love to be loved, but often as we turn into adults there are times where there is a distinct human 'love' gap. We turn our sensors off, or there literally is no-one to adore us. If we had a pet instead, perhaps we wouldn't make some of those 'bad' choices, just because we were lonely.......

I know some of you can't get a pet, but it's nice to think/plan isn't it?

Bye Bye cushions

It's time the last of our patchwork cushions went. These will be the last, so if you love them go here and they are on sale - 50% on sale. Feather inner and all....

A room of ones own.....

We all need private space. Being alone is very connected to your sense of self. We all need a room, or desk, or bench or chair to relax, to be alone and to be creative in practice, or thought.

Our new house has a studio in the garden - I wonder if that will be my space? I won't know until I settle in, surround myself with the things that are important to me and figure out if it's where I can be ME. It's smack, bang in the middle of the garden, so it's look positive....

We all need a place to be who we are rather than who we think we should be, don't we?

Where is yours?

Things we love ( this week )

John Pawson. Which may seem strange as I'm fairly fanatical about textiles and John Pawson isn't. However, whilst planning our new house, I've found many of the images I'm drawn to are his. I seem to need clutter put away and a sense of containment.I will never give up period detail but I need the 'fiddly' messy bits hidden in order for my mind to rest. Maybe a stage I'm going through, but more likely, just as you do with your clothing style, you find your rhythm and your own way of living happily (Dries van Noten, Zambesi, Cos and Gap if you're interested). I'm thrilled that finally there will be an exhibition of his work at the Design Museum. From September 22nd, there will be a full scale installation to enjoy and a special talk with John and Alain de Botton.

Follow the progress here. 

Copper shades from Tom Dixon. I love metallic anything,and these will just look lovely with a velvet sofa and an antique rug we have. Most of Tom Dixons products are now available online, but I'm much more for sauntering down there myself... 

 

This should arrive in my letterbox on Friday.

Nigel - we salute you.

Enough said. 

 

 And finally, this image. Only the Japanese would turn envelopes and paper clips into something so very beautiful. 

Inspiration for a house project

Time to walk away from the emails and pick up a pencil.

Do something nice this weekend - lots of new lovely books coming in this month, plums are dying to be put in a free-form pastry pie, there is liquor to be consumed with a friend somewhere, and a lovely big walk with the dog. Perhaps a rummage in Notting Hill tomorrow.

Sound good?

Handmade gifts

Hands up all those who love receiving hand-made gifts! Hands-up who loves making them!!!  Hands-up who feels a little terrified of whether it will be loved or scoffed at!!!!!!!!!

I recently sent my nieces dresses that I'd made out of antique silk saris. It was only when I joked with my sister 'have you checked my stitching?' that she realised they weren't 'purchased'. I was terrified she'd think they weren't good enough. She was quite amazed I'd made them and the girls love them. 

O & F each made their dad a silk scarf for his birthday last month. They did everything - choosing the fabric, cutting, pinning, sewing and hand-stitching. The proud look on their faces was wonderful and Ed was thrilled.

I'm sure we all would love to make things for friends and family, but are just a little nervous of what they'll think - is it good enough, do they understand the thought that's gone into this - will they care!!!!!. Start small - make some jam, or biscuits, or a little cushion. Just remember it's a lovely thing to do and think how happy you'd feel if someone turned up with a cake for you - just because.... We used to do it all the time. Think of what we've lost, but more importantly what we could get back.

For our Breakspears project, I'm going to ask everyone to help me make quilts for every mother and baby in the house - can you imagine receiving a quilt that has been put together by many hands - just for you?

What would you like to make and who are you going to make it for?

Oh and let me know if you'd like to help with the quilts - you don't have to be in London....I have a plan.

Image from Donna Hay - who has wonderful recipes on her site.

Date for the Diary.....

Please diarise October 4th......

Our Breakspears project launches then...

You won't believe who I'm meeting this week. She's going to be our patron.

If I was American I'd say 'She's major'!

Thought for the week - soup

As autumn wends its way, I woke up and thought of this quote (actually - I was thinking about the Maslow book I am reading, which then made me remember this quote). It's true isn't it? How much pleasure do you get out of a really, really good bowl of soup? You can't eat it quickly. It must be savoured. It has to be handmade and it's one of the best things about the colder weather.

I'm thinking onion.......

Hoorah for soup!

Walking the walk

At last, at last, we have bought a house. Not a big house, but a house, that the minute I walked in, I felt good. Yes it needs work..... but it has all the things I believe in. Light, a happy face, a garden big enough for Lily and space for everyone in our family.

So now, rather than just espousing thoughts on what Haven's are, maybe I'll be able to show you. Of course, you may not like my version, but that's fine too because home is a deeply personal thing.