Linda Bloomfield ceramics at Spirit of Summer Fair

Back in the days when I rode a Penny Farthing bicycle (as my 6 year old daughter fondly imagines) I used to take pottery classes - and I was just a little bit obsessed with blue and green glazes (matt and shiny), most specifically mastering the fine art of getting an even glaze (no drips gathering at the bottom) and seeing what happened when I double-dipped pieces.
Linda Bloomfield (also see here) uses a most lovely greeny-blue glaze on her hand thrown porcelain ware, as well as citrine, grey and pale blue. My ideal weekend would begin with breakfast in bed, served on Linda's porcelain tableware.

handbags by Harriet Sanders at Spirit of Summer Fair 2012

I last spotted Harriet Sanders at the Spirit of Christmas Fair last year (it was the yellow Classic handbag that I liked the look of), and she was back at the Summer Fair with some new designs: Tie clutch, Matinee Bag and Matinee Purse (left to right) in pretty palest pink. Harriet's bags are handmade from ethically produced leathers, which are incredibly soft - and she lines the bags in constrasting coloured leathers. If you need a handbag for summer outings and parties, you cannot go wrong with The Classic bag - you'll like the soft leather, curved design and (for me, crucial) over the shoulder strap - the difficulty will be choosing which colour.

The Tie clutch and the Dicky Bow clutch are made using recycled ties, so each one is unique

fantastic orange suede lining

some Matinee Purses

The Classic - I do love a good turn-catch on my handbags, and I like this design! Inside this slim bag there are three internal sections, and two smaller ones - very handy if you are like me and cannot find your keys, purse or oyster card amongst all the other 'essential' stuff you carry around.

purses and keyrings

Messenger bag - new for this season - which has shoulder straps and a long cross body strap. Again there are three compartments inside - this bag has good capacity!! (essential in choosing the right handbag)

Romney Marsh Wools at Spirit of Summer Fair 2012

A pile of Romney Marsh Wools blankets at Spirit of Summer fair

Kristina will be taking her Romney Marsh Wools next to Chichester Cathedral Festival of Flowers 7th to 9th June, and Wealden Times Midsummer Fair 14th to 16th June

Best Jubilee things at Sprit of Summer fair

Celebrate the Diamond Jubilee with these good things I found at the Spirit of Summer fair.
I like this Hope & Glory range from Heyland & Whittle, packaged up in Union Jack boxes. Heyland & Whittle, based in Surrey, handmake soaps and other lotions and potions, and also scented candles (normally I run a mile from these things which fry your nostrils, but the H&W ones smell delicious: their range includes neroli and rose, or citrus and lavender). You can find the complete Heyland & Whittle range on their website - they are also stocked at Fortnum & Masons on Picadilly, and John Lewis.

This tea-towel is by Have A Gander who are based in Kent - the design is inspired by a playing card...more Have A Gander designs coming up in another post.

Damselfly - dresses for girls - Top Pick at Spirit of Summer Fair

Damselfly, my Top Pick from the Spirit of Summer fair, make the most exquisite dresses and skirts for girls aged 2 to 12 years.
Inspired by early 20th century vintage style, these handmade creations are made out of beautiful silks of every sort, hand dyed in a palette of delicious sorbet colours (think: eau de nil and shell pink) and embellished with fine details. These elegant clothes are sustainable and environmentally friendly - organic cloth is used where possible, and everything is made in Shropshire, using the 'whole garment' system so that seamstresses work on one piece from start to finish to ensure consistently high quality.
Damselfly's clothes conjour up a Midsummer Night's Dream, Swan Lake and John Singer Sargent's 'Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose'. These dresses are for special occasions, but your little Peaseblossoms and swan princesses may insist on wearing them all the time (cute with wellies, no?).

Bookery stationery - special discount offer!

 To celebrate 10 years of designing and making stationery Bookery, last blogged about here, is offering 10% off their stationnery range in conjunction with Seek and Adore. I like the Ebb & Flow notebooks - two notebooks in a nubuck cover, and this leather iPhone cover made from cotton-lined calfskin is great - it would be even better if I had an iPhone to go in it.

Enter code BOOKERY at the checkout of Seek & Adore to get the 10% discount

 

 Ebb & Flow - nubuck cover for two notebooks to keep both sides of your brain organised

Seek & Adore sell a range of peices made by designer-makers - check out their website if you are looking for unique, handmade things.

textiles by Caroline Davidson at Handmade in Britain 'London A Celebration' Oxo Galleries

A few more things from London A Celebration at Oxo Galleries, designer-makers gathered together by Handmade in Britain: these textiles are by Caroline Davidson of Fruit Farm Fabrics based in Suffolk. These retro inspired apples and pears are my favourite. Caroline designs fabrics and wallpapers, furnishings such as cushions, and also runs printing courses from her studio and workshop.

fabric designed for the London A Celebration exhibition - inspired by buddleia's which grow along the railway lines, it looks quite Rennie Macintosh too with all those black vertical lines (which are railings).

London Kills Me at Handmade in Britain 'London A Celebration' Oxo Galleries

I love maps, and it always pleases me to find ones such as this illustrated map by London Kills Me.  They design and hand screenprint images onto natural or reclaimed materials, such as pure linen, silk and cotton.
London Kills Me is exhibiting at Oxo Galleries Handmade in Britain exhibition of designer-makers 'London A Celebration' - last day is today, 11am to 6pm.

This map of London has been screen printed, and then hand coloured to highlight the river and some buildings.

Anna P. at Handmade in Britain 'London A Celebration' Oxo Galleries

I met lovely Anna P. yesterday at the Handmade in Britain event 'London A Celebration'. Having worked in the fashion industry for some time for high street brands, Anna P enrolled on a course to learn about construction and pattern-cutting and she now creates bags, using vintage fabrics - this one below reminds me of a watercolour. I especially like these bags which have the vintage-style frame, and she makes totes too.She can make bespoke items using a favourite fabric, contact her via her website for more info.

London A Celebration is at the Oxo Galleries on the Thames, open today and tomorrow from 11am to 6pm.

Rachel Orme at Handmade in Britain 'London A Celebration' - Oxo Tower Galleries

Make sure you go down to the Handmade In Britain 'London A Celebration' show at Oxo Galleries this weekend (open 12th & 13th May from 11am to 6pm) and seek out Rachel Orme, one of my favourite designer-makers (last blogged about here).  Rachel makes a range of handbags, purses and folio cases using very high quality leathers, some are embossed or laser-etched with floral designs. All of her pieces are lined in Liberty lawn fabrics.

These are the perfect iPad cases, available in a range of colours (that pink is actually bright pink) and lined in Liberty lawn fabrics, fastening with a small magnet. This case can also be used for documents and papers...

yellow Rathbone satchel - adjustable strap, and with strap removed can be used as a clutch

green Rathbone satchel - great for the summer

you probably can't see the texture of the leather - it has a basket-weave effect - so so smart, this bag should be on Bond Street

Venus purses and make-up bags - made from glove leather and suede

this is a white embossed leather handbag (you probably can't tell from my poor quality photo). I say again: Bond Street. Rachel told me she only made 3 of these bags, so grab one while you can.

Family Tree - Exmouth Market, Clerkenwell

Family Tree are on Exmouth Market in Clerkenwell - they sell a range of interior accessories and gifts from around the world, all of which are well designed and crafted. My most favourite things are the brooches which they make themselves - Japanese rice paper or African fabrics which are sandwiched between perspex and resin and then laser cut into a different shapes.
You can buy their brooches from their website (or phone them up and choose one that you see here in the photos below!). The shop is open 11am to 6pm. 0207 278 1084.

Feathers and guitars (nb. the feathers look great as a pair, one small, one large worn on a coat lapel)

greyhounds, guitars and fans

pairs of butterflies

rabbits, butterflies and birds

Miss Print at John Lewis

Very happy to find MissPrint at John Lewis - this is their wallpaper, they also make fabrics which are *handprinted* and utterly lovely. (last blogged about here)

Broadway Tower on Bank Holiday Monday

Broadway Tower located on the Cotswold Way, above Broadway village, on the second highest point in the Cotswolds, a pre-medieval trade route and beacon hill. I read that in fair weather you can see 16 counties from the top, so how could I keep away? It would be almost like flying.

Past: Inspired by Capability Brown, a Saxon style tower designed by James Wyatt in 1794, built in 1799 for Lady Coventry, used as printing press for Sir Thomas Phillips (afflicted by bibliomania) and a holiday retreat for Pre-Raphaelites William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones in the 1880s, .

Present: two spiral staircases, to race your friends to the top, panoramic views, beautiful lichen on yellow-grey stone, romantic even in high winds, sideways rain and your companions scarper back to the car after only 5 mins. *sigh*