Mrs Osborn goes on a spree to Luna & Curious

Luna & Curious on Calvert Avenue is full of lovely things, most especially some delightful ceramics by Polly George, We Love Carou and Phoebe Richardson. All of these designer-makers use simple white ceramics as their base, so these pieces would mix and match very well if matching tableware isn't your thing.

Polly George has designed ceramic pieces with clean lines that have a twist - Mr and Mrs Jones are two characters who pop up in unexpected places; and decorated butterflies rest on the side of mugs and teapots - these ones have patterns designed by her grandfather Lesley Arden.

 photo found on Wee Birdy blog

 photo found on the Luna & Curious blog

We Love Karou: I love the nautical range which wouldn't look amiss on the Captain's table (no, not the Birdseye fishfingers one, for those of you who remember those adverts), decorated with anchors drawn with thin blue lines. More on my anchor obsession shortly.

and also the palamino range with it's gold 'accents' (begining to sound like QVC)

 

all photos found via The Beat That My Heart Skipped blog as I can't seem to grab images off the We Love Karou website

Phoebe Richardson also designs fine white bone china in classic shapes. These ones illustrated with images inspired by 16th Century medical engravings are particularly good - I like the stacking cups, head body and legs stylee.

more from Rachel Orme

I have seen a lot of handbags in my time; I can conclude that not all handbags are created equal, some are more beautiful than others.  Rachel Orme's handbags (last blogged about here and here) are particularly special - Rachel specialises in the use of textured leathers and lines her bags, purses and portfolios with Liberty fabrics that are chose to compliment the colour of the leather. They are practical and pretty.

You can contact her directly via her website, or see her online shop on Not On The High Street if you want to buy any of her wares.

Purse made with delicate glove leather from Somerset - I love the detail of the pattern, and the shape of the purse which fits so well in my hand (I'm using my purse to store my camera at the moment).

Look see, lovely Liberty print lining, and useful patch pocket on the inside - which can be used for cards if you are using it as a purse.

Leather portfolio - which is large enough for A4 sheets and slim files (yesterday I had my tax return papers in it, which somehow made the whole dreaded process of submitting a tax return a bit more bearable) notebooks and pens.

Liberty lawn lining in pale sorbet colours which contrast well with the dark leather.

I have just spotted on Rachel's Not On The High Street shop this lovely Rathbone satchel

which has an adjustable strap so that it can be cross body or over the shoulder, and a nice neat stud fastening at the front - it is also available in the embossed leather (see portfolio above).

Country Living Fair - March 2012

Oh grey skies of January; I'm looking forward to the arrival of Spring - and a visit to the Country Living Fair in Islington in March - which is a great place to find British designer-makers.  It's open from  21st to 25th March.
Exhibitors this year include: Little Dye House for womenswear and childrenswear; and Jane Hopkinson handbags.

Opening times: 10am to 6pm on 21st, 22nd and 25th, with a slightly earlier opening time of 9.30am on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th. Also a Gala Evening on Wednesday 21st, 6.30 - 9pm.

today: Jo Gordon and Mimi

Fingerless gloves from Jo Gordon, and the best ever handbag by Mimi

Mrs O's vintage finds

1930s pressed glass candle sticks, and a meat platter (this was £3, bargain, chipped on the back but what the eye can't see...)

Blodwen sale

Blodwen of Cardigan Bay is having a sale.

Welsh Tapestry Scarf, was £80, now £59

Fingerless gloves - were £60, now £30

Vintage tapestry in coral pink, yellow and black was £280 now £145

Mrs O makes marmalade (version 2012)

I made some seville orange marmalade. It set. Apparently this is the first time it has set 'in years'. Humph.
Let me know if you'd like to try some*

*delivered by hand, therefore walking distance only

today: Lesley Parry, Jaeger, American Apparel

Lesley Parry antique Indian silver necklace, Jaeger pink silk scarf, orange (but they call it red) clutch from American Apparel.

Barbara Wiggins 2012 diaries

Lovely leatherbound 2012 diaries from Barbara Wiggins

Notebooks, satchels, passport covers and luggage tags are also available

Ally Capellino sale

I love this bright red colour (veg tanned leather from Ally Capellino) - the Lesley bag now on sale, but sadly no longer available in this colour.

But you could always try this one from Kate Sheridan - not quite such a glowing red, but an excellent tote bag nonetheless.

Jo Gordon sale

Having had impressive amounts of rain over Christmas and New Year, and wellies and umbrellas were de rigeur. It's now cold and windy and time for woolly hats and scarves: Jo Gordon knitwear to the rescue, even better that it is now on sale.

Mimi sale

I do love a good bargain, and I do love a good handbag - and what luck, Mimi is having a sale. With up to 30% off, it is worth checking out - how about the Gonzo purse in patent leather in burgundy:

or the smaller Burt in patent leather:

or perhaps the Superhero bag - complete with zip top, outer zipped pocket, patch pocket on the bag and a cross body strap (thus near perfection as far as bags go, as it is also a good size: 36 x 28cm, and 5cm deep)

Mrs O's vintage finds

A little bit of rootling around in a junk shop found these lovely 1960s cups with saucers - love the pale blue with coffee

Clutch bag - Jane de Bono

Clutches, keep them in your. Have you spied the ones by LA designer Clare Vivier, and the more affordable ones made by American Apparel? I love this one by Jane de Bono who has screenprinted this metallic splash onto leather. Clara clutch available in dark brown, green and tan, £85, size 11in by 11.5in.

Check out Jane de Bono's website for her sale, now on.

today: Clara Francis, Jo Gordon, H&M and vintage finds

Clara Francis fox necklace, Jo Gordon scarf, H&M rose corsages, vintage brooch from my grandmother and coat given to me by my aunt.