more from Ysolda Teague

I last blogged about Ysolda Teague here - she's an amazing knitwear designer, and she has published a number of books with patterns for sweaters, toys and accessories. Cleverly, if you don't want to buy a whole book of patterns you can download one pattern at a time which you can store in your Ravelry account - Ravelry is a knitting and crocheting on-line community: create an account for free, organise and share photos and notes about your projects.

This mousie is still one of my favourites.

I also like Poppy the doll. It is a great shame I cannot knit.

Ysolda's latest books: Whimsical Little Knits 3 and Saturday Treats

Esk Knitwear

The featherish sound of snow falling across the UK must be music to the ears of knitwear designers - after a very summery autumn, and a not exactly cold Christmas, at last their woolly scarves, hats and gloves are in high demand. Esk Knitwear, based in the Esk Valley in South West Scotland* is a family-run factory with a long history of producing garments for world-famous designers - this is their own collection, which has lots of fancy stitch-work (think cable-knit etc), the right amount of chunkiness for warmth and a good colour palate of neutral and earthy colours with splashes of intense reds and oranges.

Esk Knitwear makes a range of jumpers (see pic of mustard-coloured cashmere), cardigan-jackets (see pic of the Navy Gansy jacket which I covet, though fear it would make me look v bulky), body warmers, ponchos, scarves, gloves and some excellent looking wellie-socks which would look fabulous on those lucky girls with long long legs, and cashmere bedsocks. (An essential for me, even in high summer. And they have to be red).

*not to be confused with the Eskdale valley in the Lake District from which you can access Hardknott Fort, one of my very favourite places in the world.

Valentine's Day cards from The Plinth

If you want to send a more original Valentine than a 7p card from ASDA, send a Timbergram from The Plinth: 4mm birch postcard (150mm x 100mm) engraved with a message, initials or a love heart. Absolute bargain at £3.85 (incl. postage, can only be sent to UK addresses).
I'm quite tempted to send myself one with the message 'sail on silver girl', but that's a bit tragic isn't it?

The Plinth is a design studio based in Spitalfields - products are made in the UK, and there is always a current offer 'on the plinth' (as they say), so it's worth checking back regularly to see what's available.

Mrs Osborn goes to Wilton's Music Hall

I went to a wedding at Wilton's Music Hall at the weekend - what a magical setting for a lovely wedding. You can never have enough fairy lights, in my opinion.
Wilton's is the oldest Grand Music Hall in the world, dating back to the 1850s. After 22 years as a music hall, it was used by a Methodist Mission, then a shelter for those who were bombed out of their homes during WW2, and a sorting place for rags in the 1950s. It is now used for performances, plays, operas and pub quizzes - as well as being available to hire for weddings. Wilton's has fallen into disrepair, but its crumbling structure and interior gives the place unique charm. Click here to find out more about the work being undertaken to save Wilton's.

On the way there this sign for an Infant Nursery appeared out of the gloom

today: Emma Fox, Mimi and Kew 159

Emma Fox doves necklace, Mimi Berry handbag (Classic Ada) and pink silk / cashmere scarf from Kew 159.

Mrs Osborn goes on a spree to Redchurch Street: Labour & Wait and Purple Shop

Labour & Wait, which was on Cheshire Street, is now on Redchurch Street.  It is full of useful things for the home which are neatly designed and made, and a few carefully chosen classic clothes. Ever yearned for the best looking dustpan and brush or enamel milk pan? Look no further. Ditto stripy breton-style shirts and Guernsey jerseys (which I can't seem to find online but I am sure they used to sell them...). Everything in the shop subtly co-ordinates in simple colour schemes and natural materials, down to the baize aprons that the shop keepers wear reminiscent of Open All Hours.

 Their products are sourced from around the world, but there are some British designer-maker things such as this Welsh floor rug made in the oldest working mill in Pembrokshire, which was established in the early 1900s.

The enamel milk pans, jugs and mugs are particularly lovely - look at this palest pink milk pan (I think it is made in Germany).

With the chilly winter weather being the theme du jour, I purchased a hotwater bottle.  Green and lovely.

Also on Redchurch Street is the Purple Shop, home of PS Kidswear - organic / fairtrade 100% cotton clothes. I'll do another post soon as they tell me that some new pieces have been designed and are going to be uploaded onto their website soon.

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.