Simple Objects

I headed back up to Manchester on Sunday afternoon and to keep me entertained on the train I bought a new magazine, The Simple Things. There are articles about food, growing, interiors, craft - lots of the suff I like. One column was about a shop in Oxford called Objects of Use, who sell household items but with heritage. They're all about being ‘against throwawayism’ and keeping a hold of long lasting, well made items, and the objects themselves are full of old school charm. Something about these objects remind me of my Nanna's kitchen when I used to visit when I was little.

Images from Objects of Use

In Love

We walked into the shop and fell in love. I have read alot about Anthropologie on many blogs, so when Emma and I wandered in to the Regent Street store yesterday, I was expecting something good. But not that good! I could have bought everything! With it's green wall and hanging chairs, alongside the beautiful clothes and quirky crockery, it was all so pleasing to the eye. I splashed out on the jumper, and Emma bought me the plate as a uni present (now what shall I do in return!) 

A very dangerous place is Anthropologie. Bank account - watch out!

Images from Anthropologie

Old Fashioned

Yesterday Lauren and I had an adventure around London. Our main aim was to visit the London Street Photography exhibition at the Museum of London, which we really enjoyed. 

We then walked along to Spitalfields where we popped into a sweet sweet shop, A. Gold Tradition Foods of Britain, where you can buy lemon curd or traditional lemonades, or purchase a sandwich for lunch. I love the bunting hanging outside! We had a drink and a slice of treacle tart at the Market Coffee House just along the way. It was like stepping into an English restaurant in the early 1900s, which we loved. I spotted one of the winning team from this year's University Challenge (the one that looked like Napoleon Dynamite!) in there which excited me greatly!

Pretty Paper

As I was walking from the Brunswick Centre back to Waterloo yesterday (enjoying the London sights in the sun and avoiding the tube at all costs) I came across a paper emporium called Falkiner's in Holborn. There were shelves upon shelves of different types of paper and I was particularly attracted to the Japenese decorative sort. It's called chiyogami and I'd love to use some to cover books.

Images from Falkiner's

TLV: Spending Sheqels

The Flea Market in Jaffa is open throughout the week though mainly on Tuesdays and Fridays. There are bric-a-brac stalls and permanent vendors, such as shoe makers, Aladdin's caves of everything that comes to your imagination - hundreds of hanging scissors - and trendy homewares.

Nahalat Binyamin is an arts and crafts market which we wandered through on Friday. You can buy from delicate glass vases to faces carved into wood.

Ha Kamel is the food in Tel Aviv which is open early everyday. The sight and smells of the fresh fruit, veg and herbs is incredible as well as spices and teas. Baklava, pastries and sweets are also for sale.

Gavriel by Rubi Israeli is a homewares store, a bit like Laura Ashley but a tad more vintage. Alongside crockery and vases, there is jewellery, globes and even an old car. I bought a cute glass cup and saucer for just 10NIS (£2!)

Sabon started off in Israel but now has shops around the world - except in the UK! It's interior is like an old chemists shop and sells gorgeous products.

The Farkash Gallery in Jaffa has a massive range of vintage posters, many from El Al airlines and tourism artwork. I got one of a woman working on a kibbutz.

The Palais Des Thes on Dizengoff is an upmarket tea shop which sells a variety of loose teas and beautiful Japanese teawares. We were greeted with a mango tea taster too.

...and that's just a taster!

Images 1&2: Jaffa Flea Market 3: Jersularm Arab Quarter 4: Ha Kamel market 5: Rubi Israeli

No Packaging

At the weekend I watched some documentaries about the Amish and their simple way of living. I thought of all the positives: travelling by horse and buggy; growing their own fruit and veg; rearing their own animals; and, most importantly, the absence of waste. In the paper this evening I spotted Unpackaged, a shop in north east London. You can buy allsorts of groceries by bringing your own packaging, encouraging an end to waste. It's such a good idea and I hope that more shops will start going this way. Check out this video about the shop!

Images from hipshops

Saturday Shoppers

On Saturday we went shopping in London. We had lunch in Busaba, on Bird Street next to Selfridge's, and it was delicious. I'd describe it as a Thai version of Wagamama's! We also headed over to Brick Lane to have a look at American Apparel rummage store (here's my bros footage of the riot the day before there which was used by the BBC!) but there wasn't anything I wanted there. Instead we had a wander round the indoor markets! I bought a cute vintage skirt!

T&T

Today the Laurens and I decided to escape Canterbury and head for the bright lights (and, oddly, the colder temperatures) of London! The aim of the day was to have a cultural trip, go snap happy with our camera and have a good Sunday lunch out... with a sprinkling of shopping! Tate and Topshop!
At the Tate Modern we saw the new installation in the Turbine Hall, a huge shipping crate inside which was a great black expanse set to fear you as you walked into what appeared to be never ending darkness... and then we had a wander around the main galleries!We had lunch under the gaze of St. Paul and then set off towards Oxford Street for a little retail therapy! The gentleman at the top was searching through the book stalls on South Bank, what a sweet character!

I love London, always have, always will, and even though today was a quick yet exhausting trip, I cannot wait til I'm there again.

Squeegee

Today me mam and I went down to Brighton! We went specifically to visit Lawrence Art Supplies which is especially good for printmaking. I've been wanting to try my hand at screenprinting for ages, so I have now got the bits n pieces I need!
I can't wait to get started, especially starting off some designs for my own fabric!