A visit to Brighton: Age of Reason scarves, Alexa de Castilho jewellery and St Leonards leather bags and purses

A visit to Brighton...

...to the Age of Reason studios a stunning high ceilinged work place, lit up with candles for an afternoon sample sale.

 I am huge fan of Ali's work (blogged about here and here). I love her free flowing drawings, her naughty sense of humour and her choice of colours: vibrant pinky corals, dashes of orange and soothing, flattering greys. I had to visit her sample sale not only to check out her wares, but to see her beautiful studio. I see tantalising glimpses of on Instagram; it did not disappoint and it was lovely to see it in candle-light.

Some Age of Reason scarves and pocket squares

St Leonards leather bags made in simple classic shapes from bridal leather in the most lovely colours (below is green, and white).  These bags are gorgeous.

Alexa de Castilho jewellery: gold, silver, bronze, vintage, skulls, fangs. The first time I have seen Alexa's jewellery, and it is *love*

End of a lovely day *sigh*

more Royal Wedding - Fifi by Fiona Howard

Ah, the Royal Wedding.
Of course, you have to buy one of those commemorative mugs with cheapo photographic transfers of William and Kate's smiling faces, but as an alternative these are sweet - from Fifi by Fiona Howard.

Fiona Howard's designs are based on lino-cuts, made by hand in her Brighton studio.

She also sells fabrics, tea towels, bags, cushions, coasters and trays. I like this Harbour fabric

Sanna Annukka's illustrations and prints

I have a bit of a thing about biscuit tins: v useful storage for different categories of bits and bobs. This Christmas and last, one of my fav illustrators and print makers, Sanna Annukka, designed biscuit tins for M&S.

good biccies, GREAT tins

I know her work from collaborations with Marimekko - the wonderous Finnish designers who are famous for bright colours and bold patterns. Sanna is based in Brighton, and is half-British and half-Finnish - her designs draw inspiration from the fauna, flora and folklore of Lapland where she spent summer holidays and I love the fir trees and kaleidoscope suns on these biscuit tins.

Imagine my delight when I discovered that Sanna has also created a range of screenprints -I have my eye on this purple and gold Magic Berry Bush print (check out that wooden storage unit - is that new or vintage, Ms Annukka?)