Art Walk with Fox & Squirrel

A little while ago, when the weather was more spring-like, I went on an Art Walk with Fox & Squirrel (@foxandsquirrel_) a company that offers a range of Lifestyle Walks, through which you can discover parts of London you never knew existed. Given that I have an insatiable curiosity about this city I call home, I think the concept devised by Fox & Squirrel is genius - and I'll definitely be back for more walking tours.
The Art Walk was lead by Natasha Hoare (@tashka) - art curator and writer, hugely knowledgable, stylish, charming in the face of my ignorance about the contemporary art scene.

The Art Walk, first stop: Cubitt Gallery - 8 Angel Mews, London N1 9HH
Cubitt is an artist-run space: studios for a community of 30 artists and gallery / exhibition space, as well as off-site activities.  We saw an exhibition of Nina Canell's work - Into the Eyes as Ends of Hair.

This is actual solid air, rather than ice (I don't know the title of the piece)

A glass vessel full of air from Mendeleev's study - the C19th Russian chemist who devised the periodic table.

the glass vessel - so precariously  balanced, perhaps not suitable for those arts enthusiasts with toddlers

Telepath (2010) - a 2000 volt current is drooped over a copper pipe of equal length

Next stop: Work at 10A Acton Street

to see Suzanne Treister HEXEN2.0/Literature - details of reversed book covers - more details abou Suzanne Treister's project here)

I read Walden when I was a student - but not backwards

Third stop: Gagosian Gallery - an amazing collection of digital photos of Mars taken by NASA and enhanced by Thomas Ruff. Also the workplace of a super glamorous and knowledgable gallery manager who told us a bit about Ruff's work. Sadly, no photos allowed...the 3D ones were amazing, and quite dizzying to look at.

Finally: All Visual Arts, 2 Omega Place

Reece Jones - 'Control Test'

charcoal, with incredible depth

and also intergalactic light fittings

Greenwich: Sophia & Matt

I went down to Greenwich today - my main purpose was to visit Sophia & Matt's shop (previously blogged about here) as they are just the sort of designer-maker company that I love - starting out by doing all the designing, cutting and sewing themselves and selling their wares in Greenwich Market. They now have a shop next to the Market decked out in beautiful wallpaper and vintage furniture, and they use a London factory to keep up with demand. They have an ever changing range of patterns, and and an ever growing range of bags and purses - if you're in the area, pop by for a visit, they have a lot more in store than available on-line,.

The shop!

the baby changing bag - which actually looks like it's useful for any bod who likes a large bag with a long strap and zip (although I'm willing to compromise, these are the two key features I look for as it's practical when I am out and about, on my bike etc) - even the baby's milk bottle shaped pockets at either end look like they could have another use (eg. bottle of evian etc).

large tote bag - really very tempted by this as it looks perfect for a picnic - in my fav pattern by Sophia & Matt

basket o' purses

love this pattern - how about mini dots in these colours, Sophia & Matt?! bring back some mini dots!

handbag in gingko floral

On a spree to New York - get coffee

I have to start the day with coffee. Missing my morning caffeine jolt from The Sandwich & The Spoon or my afternoon cup of coffee from the Arancini Brothers, and having seen a zillion Starbucks (heartsink), it was a big relief to find good coffee locally at Third Rail Coffee on Sullivan Street. 

Unto This Last, Brick Lane

I blogged about the Brick Lane furniture manufacturers Unto This Last here.
On my way to Old Spitalfields Market last month, I went past their shop - I love the detail on their fascia which has been made out of ply, and celebrates their 'Digital Craftsmanship'.

D Chairs (£90) in the shop window

Mrs Osborn goes on a spree: Old Spitalfields Market

I've found some beautiful children's clothes at Old Spitalfields Market - simple designs, lovely fabrics, handmade.
These girls dresses are by Sharon and Lee of Minimod, using fabulous vintage and retro-style fabrics - click here for their website.

And these ones by Mal at Connection Clothing - using Liberty fabrics, shirts for boys and skirts for girls.  Prices start at £15 for a skirt, £20 for a boy's shirt, and £26 for a dress.

Mal also makes screen printed t-shirts which are available at his stall or from the website.

Comfort Station jewellery

Isn't this a clever idea? found via Tea for Joy, Comfort Station's Barometer Necklace - adjustable pointer, to suit your mood, from stormy to excellent. The perfect gift for your weather-obsessed Brit. 

The necklace costs £145, and can be bought online from the Comfort Station website, or from the London store on Cheshire Street, just off Brick Lane.

Lampshades I love: Timorous Beasties, Miss Print, Cressida Bell and Clarissa Hulse

Small lampshade from Timorous Beasties, featuring the fabulous London Toile, £159.

Miss Print Dandelion Mobile lampshade in slate with light blue and black, from £82 to £168, depending on size.

Hand painted Oak Leaf lampshade, £33.50 by Cressida Bell

Clarissa Hulse Burnet Briar silk standard lampshade in fuchsia / plum £99

Milo & Saint handbags

OK, I'm getting withdrawal symptons - time for more handbags... take a look at this one, the Hardwick by Milo & Saint.

Joy of joys, instead of a zip it has a snap-closure like an old fashioned frame purse.  What's more it has two sorts of strap: one 'cross-body' strap for those 'hands free' moments, and also straps to carry the bag on the shoulder.  There are several pockets and compartments to keep you organised, plus it has great detailing - it has boxed pleating used on the front pockets, and a very pretty lining.

Wow, look at that, v smart in jet black.

Milo & Saint has several other styles - the Chantry clutch bag; the Drayton bag which is similar to the Hardwick but slightly smaller and simpler in design, and the main compartment has a zip closure; and the Franklin tote which has a long shoulder strap, and a large zipped main compartment, for totin' around lots of stuff, elegantly.

The bags can be bought directly from the Milo & Saint website.

Marte Frisnes jewellery

Marte Frisnes makes very pretty jewellery: delicate and detailed but not too fiddly - these are two of my favourite pieces.

The Liberty necklace, new for this season, is surely a classic - Marte suggests that it can be layered with other pieces, which is how I would wear it; and of course it would look good by itself, it's so elegant. Perfect for a breezy Spring day.

These Magdelena earrings have amethyst and rose quartz drops and are, says Marte, a great choice if you like hoops - I do, and they are.  They have a very long drop - total length 95mm - which sort of says 'special occasion', but I know I'd wear them taking the kids to school, because glamour is for life not just for Christmas.

The necklace costs £105, and the earrings are £125.

Royal Wedding street parties - Trestle tables from Unto This Last

Looking for a trestle table for your Royal Wedding street party?  Take a look at Unto This Last who make a fine range of trestle tables and benches.

Unto This Last are local craftsmen of the digital age - they are based in London, making their plywood furniture range to order in their workshop, delivering only to their local market ie. London, so they do not have complicated logistics (no warehousing and packaging); and with the use of digital technology they are able to offer a huge product range from a small location.  As well as four standard facings (white, oak, dark and walnut), new for 2011 is a range of 150 colour laminates.

PS - we went to a great Royal Wedding Street Party - someone got so utterly legless, they decided that opening a tin of red paint was a good idea - you can imagine the carnage.  Trestle tables and benches with a pillar box red laminate would have disguised the damage.

Mrs Osborn's favourite shops - Harrington & Squires

I'd really like to have a business card - but I think I need to be more of a ducker / diver / wheeler / dealer and a bit less of a maid-of-all-work before I splash out. Besides, I need some time to work out what info should go on my business card.

Once I've decided, I know where to go: Harrington & Squires, letterpress printers and designers.

Harrington & Spires are tucked away in Tufnell Park, in a tall thin space called The Corridor (1.2 metres wide, 3 storeys high).  They have many, many beautiful examples of business cards for inspiration, and can design one that is just right for you.

As well as bespoke business cards, wedding stationery, invitations and cards, Harrington & Squires also sell hankies, fridge magnets and calendars...

Top row: folded letter Love card £6;
Bottom row: Sneezie hankie printed with the word Sneeze, Boohoo or Atishoo £10 each

shopping list button fridge magnets -
you probably can't read the type as I didn't zoom in enough...
they have essential grocery items to remind you what to buy

top row: perforated calender
(it's long and thin and you tear off each day that goes by) £16.50;
bottom row: postcards £2.50 each

Emily Bedford's earrings

I had a chance to meet Emily Bedford last week and to see her jewellery up close...having spied a friend wearing a pair of her swallow earrings (silhouettes of a bird in flight, set against gold leaf - classy and very wearable), I knew I had to do some investigations for myself.  

Emily hand makes her earrings individually, rather than casting them, using gold, silver, miniature paintings, resin and enamel - so each one is unique.

I took some pics of her earrings - she also makes necklaces, bracelets and brooches (available on her website). These earrings use pictures of tiny birds, and the images used in each pair are slightly, subtly different from each other.

earrings featuring miniature paintings from the Souvenir collection

gold and silver earrings with coloured enamel from the Dancer collection

gold earrings

It was lovely to meet you Emily, and thanks for the tea!

Here is a pic of the earrings that I have my eye on (these earrings are also available with black swallow on a gold background):