A haul new world.
If I have a super busy working week then I treat myself to a to a morning off and go to a mid week flea/antiques fair in Kempton, Surrey. It’s more personal than work because the stuff I normally find is for the flat. I swear if you had an empty home and a lorry you could go there and fill it with some brilliant things. You have to get there early, about 6.30am. Bring a flask of tea.
These recent finds include some nice enamel lamp shades. The tags were from a grumpy man, I think they are cattle tags. The colours are just my cup of tea. I got a pie dish for a quid ! And a notebook for 40p which is super graphic, like an old computer game. I was especially pleased with the stamp books and those bike sale labels. The red postman is part of a set of rub down ‘occupation’ templates. He is my favourite. Finally the pig is perfectly formed, I saved his bacon.
Kates Cafe
On Saturday we visited a new, pop up cafe in central London where everything has been crocheted ! The artist Kate Jenkins has turned the gallery into a cafe where you can eat real cakes and drink tea, but surrounded by impeccably crafted crockery and foodstuffs. Knitted food has been around for a while but I have never seen it on such a scale with so much detail. It’s fun, kitsch stuff and if you’re in London you should check it out, and have a cuppa too.
Real Cafes !
The real, non knitted cafe scene in London has had some brilliant new additions recently. It wasnt until I visited NZ & Australia that I saw how great a cafe can be, they sure know how to do it. For readers in London, or people visiting soon, these places are worth a visit. Thanks to Bellaphon for the extra pics.
The Modern Pantry in Clerkwenwell, run by Kiwi Anna Hansen, is set in a listed Georgian building. The outside area is a real sun-trap where you can get good coffee and an original brunch . I love the copper lampshades, they remind me of fish kettles.
J&A, Sutton Lane EC1 –also in Clerkenwell, is a new venture by sisters Johann & Aoise. It has an enviable industrial feel and some hearty, no nonsense homemade cakes. Love Magazine and Alexander McQueen work upstairs, so take your C.V !
Fernandez & Wells– Soho needed a new cafe and the cosy F&W really hits the spot. They have tasty cured meats, lots of cheese and a perfect people watching bench out on the street.
Milk Bar, 3 Bateman Street W1 – their logo is fun and the stripey door drew me in. This Antipodean hang out does good coffee and entertaining staff ! They made me headbang last time I was in there, and they weren’t even drunk.
Bob Bob Ricard– as much an eaterie as a crazy 1930s, train carriage inspired trip (and I don’t mean the variety where you travel somewhere). A fancy destination for a real treat. An old school menu featuring Hot Bovril, Farleys Rusk Milkshakes and other such classics. Champagne buttons at your table and staff in gold trousers.
Czech this out !
My friend in Barcelona sent me this sheet of Czech labels and it arrived today. Not much to say, it speaks for itself ! A frame beckons….
Glad to be clay.
Yesterday I took a trip down a ceramic memory lane. Today I wanted to post up some pics of Jaime Hayón’s latest work. Mark and I have been coveting his range for Lladro for SO long. Unfortunately they are rather expensive. The Spanish designer, responsible for Camper store interiors, uses traditional and elaborate techniques for a very modern result. His creatures are fantastic and I long to have one of his grid vases-inspired by armory and Islamic arts.
On a slightly similar note I recently discovered Barnaby Barford’s ceramics. This English artist is doing really interesting, sometimes humorous, porcelain snapshots of modern day life. The scenes of muggings, fast food, hoodies and thefts are an acquired taste. Barnaby constructs them out of found ceramics and then pieces them back together with his own hand crafted additions. Not one for Grans mantelpiece !
From my bookmarks :
A link that is just for fun. I really like bad food in bad photographs, with their gaudy colours and unrecognizable dishes. Love it. This site Airline Meals is dedicated to snapshots of in-flight cuisine (so you get to see some packaging and logos too). There are some real treasures here. You can browse by airline, so you know which ones to avoid !
