colourliving

lost in london

This post is inspired by a lovely magazine i just discovered. I’m a little late to the party since this is their fourth issue. Lost in london is published to coincide with the beginning of each season. It is aimed at country loving city dwellers and anyone yearning for a simpler life. The next issue comes out in march.

When I missed the v&a connects event on the future of magazines a few weeks ago, I contacted the lovely lucy scott and tina smith to find out more about why, as a magazine junkie, i hadn’t heard of them! I got the loveliest of replies, together with a complimentary current issue. It’s charming, inspiring and full of goodness and i immediately felt myself relaxing and slowing down! Pure magic! Thank you girls.

Now i might be an urban chick but i do appreciate all different facets to living in london and often welcome the simpler life so ‘lost in london’ is totally up my ally.

As i was planning my saturday i thought it might be fun to play tour guide and show you snippets of my london through some of the places i visited. Camera in hand, off i went. What wasn’t planned was the gorgeous weather we had in london yesterday. The first real spring-like day. My itinerary took me to various different areas and i really hope you enjoy this little tour.

First stop was the british museum. Grayson perry: the tomb of the unknown craftsman, which opened in october 2011 and finished today.

Here is a section of grayson perry’s ‘map of truths and beliefs’ 2011 wool and cotton tapestry. It shows many possible pilgrimage destinations, both religious and secular. This was taken with my iphone in the exhibition.

I picked up some macaroons for a present from pierre hermes in knightsbridge. Loved their window display.

Next stop was chelsea and kensington. While there, i popped into the conran shop for some inspiration. The conran shop is housed within the michelin building, one of the most beautiful buildings in london. Within, you’ll also find the excellent bibendum restaurant where, in the past, i’ve had many business lunches and dinners.

Here are 2 examples of architecture you will find in kensington and chelsea, today regarded as the most expensive area in london.

The weather was so glorious at the serpentine that i stopped to get a couple of shots for you. The serpentine gallery is charming, unique and well worth a visit.

Next stop was mayfair. I needed to stock up on skin care products at aesop and like to get them from their flagship store because it’s utterly devine and was designed by ilse crawford. Do i need to say any more?

Now while out and about i spotted a few of the fabergé eggs currently dotted around the capital. This subject is covered expertly by annie over at insideology so will leave it well alone. I just had to show you one because it tickled my fancy.

Can you guess what it’s made out of? Well, can you? I first saw it from a distance away and the sun was beaming on it so wasn’t sure. Upon closer inspection it became clear. Yep, one penny pieces. I just love the mosaic effect, don’t you?

Then I hopped over to portobello market to pop into a couple of shops, meet up with friends for tea and generally hang out. Here is a selection of photos i thought you might enjoy.

Then i went to pick something up in primrose hill. A highly sought after and fashionable area in north london, reflected by the prices of properties. It has a charming urban village feel. Gosh, i just sounded like an estate agent!

Finally i rushed off to to meet up with friends to go to the cinema. Extremely loud & incredibly close is about a boy who is finding it hard to come to terms with his father dying in the world trade centre on 9/11. He goes in search of a message that he believes his father left for him somewhere in NYC. Truly moving.

I really hope you enjoyed accompanying me on my saturday adventure. I had a really great day and it was even better knowing i can record some of it for your viewing pleasure. Oh, just in case you are wondering how i managed to get around so many different areas and places, photograph it all and how i fitted in so much stuff into one day? Well, welcome to tina’s world. I couldn’t do it without my partner in crime, yes, my beloved vespa.

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city hopping

I got thinking. How do people choose what to see, where to shop, eat and stay when exploring a city. We all know there is a plethora of things each city has to offer and with limited time how do we choose and navigate, and more so how do we keep a record of what we want to visit?

Back in the early 90′s i swore by the marco polo guides. Originated in germany, it was like a bible to me. Every time i would visit a new city, off i went to a shop (note ‘shop’ as we didn’t have internet shopping) to buy the accompanying guide. I would study it as if my life depended on it. They had the marco polo selection for every category and you could be sure that their ‘favourites’ were honest and had nothing to do with price. I’ve used so many of their suggestions and was never disappointed.

Slowly, they started bringing out english editions which i preferred. They are no longer available but the german version is still thriving.

City maps are everywhere and each person has their favourite. I did try many afterwards, here are some of my selection: luxe guides, travel guides with a difference. Super-svelte in format, it will fit into any pocket. No pictures, no graphics (except the front cover), only concise, curated travel companion for the discerning traveller. Updated each year, they also have monthly online updates.

Who hasn’t heard of wallpaper city guides? Of course you have. A run away success, they have dominated the travel guide market since their launch in october 2006. Many tell me they don’t like the guides because they associate it with the magazine. I can tell you i have had the best meals and other recommendations from them. I really like their 24 hours in a city section. For example, the first milan edition told of the then recently opened studio museo achille castiglioni. Achille castiglioni was a renowned itailian industrial designer who, at the age of 84 died in 2002. His heirs got some sponsorship and in 2006 signed a 5 year agreement allowing his studio to stay open and be visited by the public. I was so excited to be able to go and see the studio of such a talented designer, so phoned a friend and flew to Milan. It was magical and i will not forget that visit in a hurry. Additionally, through the guide, i found an incredible place to eat, an authentic 40 year old family run tiny restaurant.

A couple of years ago i came across a little start-up called à la carte. One to always support entrepreneurial endeavours, i immediately ordered myself a map. I was impressed with what i received: a guidebook, city map and piece of art all in one. Totally charming.

What’s great is that they also have maps for creative types: ‘create your own city à la carte maps come with a plain map and 2 pages of stickers and icons. You can, so to speak, decorate your own map.

Well, by that time i had already created my own maps out of normal city plans. I often go to berlin and sometimes like to take a 48 hours trip, rent a scooter and go trendspotting. So that i’m organised and know what i’m doing i create and decorate my own maps and keep adding as i go back to those cities. Here is a section of my personalised berlin map with some of my favourite haunts.

Here are some of the stickers i use. I got these from paperchase.

These days, although i still read city guides i rely a lot on the blogging world. What better way to find real gems? So, city travellers, will you share some of your ways of experiencing a city break? Do tell.

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learning the art of patience

In another lifetime, (sometimes it really feels like it) i decided to do a part-time jewellery course. I suppose after studying graphic design i realised that being creative has many outlets and it would be fun to explore some of them.

I remember the first time the teacher told us to get a solid piece of silver. Going to the jewellery making suppliers in hatton garden was really exciting but when i bought the silver i wondered how on earth i would make a product out of it. Of course, with the help of the lovely teacher, i soon discovered the laborious task of beating a piece of silver into a bracelet, ring or other object. It took me a few weeks to make a hairpin, my very first piece of jewellery.

With time i got to know about casts and precious and semi-precious stones and a whole new world opened up.

What did i learn from this? Well, i soon discovered that long-term jewellery making was not for me. It did not ignite my fire or get me that excited. I think i simply enjoyed learning how to make it, the intricate methods and the end result. Ironically, now i hardly wear any jewellery at all.

There was an invaluable lesson though: learning the art of patience. I went into jewellery making a pretty inpatient and fiery young woman. Out came someone, who understood that things take time, they have their own cycle and we cannot force or control them. Patience is a virtue and i’ve become a master at it.

Where do you fare on the patience barometer? Any anecdotes or lessons to share?

Here is a selection of some of the jewellery pieces i made. I also really got into beadmaking, which i still enjoy today. I predominantly use japanese delica beads.

 

 

 

 

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tea ceremony

I am delighted to start a new column on something that’s close to my heart: slow living. After the very sad news of whitney houston’s passing and in view that it’s valentine’s day today, i thought it appropriate to mark this day in this way.

Personally i am not a great fan of valentine’s day, (except when combined with self nurture like shown here by Jennifer) for the same reason i am not in favour of new year’s resolutions. These seem to be stipulated by traditions and have very little to do with the reality of everyday living. I am more interested in finding sustainable ways to support my everyday life so that i can hopefully function at my best and achieve my potential. I know that when i’m ok, the people around me are ok and when i love myself i am more able to truly love another.

In this column i will talk about ways that I find help me with attempting to self love. They are personal to me. Maybe some of you will resonate, others won’t and that’s totally ok. Whichever way, i hope to inspire and stimulate discussions and to learn about your ways and methods to take care of ‘yourselves’. Hope some of you will join me on this ride.

Since i don’t drink coffee or tea and haven’t for 20 years, i’ve had to find other solutions to satisfy my need for hot drinks. Over the years, my choices of such beverages changed. Whereas before i was happy with a chamomile or peppermint teabag (that used to be about the extend of choice in cafes and restaurants), nowadays there is far more choices on the market and the non-traditional tea market has exploded over the past few years. What has equally exploded is my way of tea drinking. These days i make a point of having a tea ceremony even if time does not permit. Before you all shout at the screen: i haven’t got time, i’ve got work, husbands, b/f, g/f, kids, dogs, cats, crafts, blogging, cooking, socializing and so on, just stay with this. It takes no time, or the same time as gulping down a starbucks concoction.

The tea ceremony is there to stop me in my tracks from rushing around, going at 100 miles per hour and forgetting that i haven’t even taken a deep breath today. It’s there to help me gain some awareness in what’s otherwise a crazy and mad day. It also helps with dehydration, which is more important than people like to think.  I do this whether i am at home or out. When out, i seek places that serve some of my favourite hot drinks, either fresh mint with hot water or sliced lemon and fresh ginger with hot water. One such place is the wonderful leon that’s saved me many times from starvation and thirst.

When home i have more choices and can indulge. Here you won’t find a teabag in sight. I prefer fresh leaves when it comes to camomile or green and japanese teas. I also use unbleached teabags that I fill with my favouirite tea leaves so i am prepared when travelling, especially on planes (yes, in 2012 they are still only serving tea and coffee unless you fly business or first class).

It goes without saying that my need for excellent product design, together with the search for beauty and aesthetics keeps me on my toes when acquiring new tea ceremony favourites. Well, i hope you enjoy some of my collection.

I first saw this teapot with lid and infuser at Tate Britain. I want every colour! It’s ingenious as it has beauty and functionality in equal measures.

There is something lovely about hot drinks in a glass. I love the simplicity of the felt. These were bought in one of my favourite cafés in berlin.

This korean crackle glazed teapot and cup is from east teas in borough market.

Another purchase from east teas. This time a korean teacup with its own strainer and lid. Ideal for steeping green tea. Ideal for taking to the office.

Ah, my special find. I found this in my favourite paul smith shop in borough market.

My beloved moomin mugs. I chose one here that might make the pro valentines brigade go awwww.

Smaller sized version found at paul smith. Btw, if you can’t find them any longer it’s because i bought the whole lot.

I love this. The tray is made out of bamboo and you put your leaves into the small teapot. Let it sit for a couple of minutes and then immediately pour into the glass pitcher. The idea is that the tea doesn’t get too strong and that you can re-use the leaves a couple of times. I bought this from jing tea. I just saw they don’t offer this anymore but have something similar here.

This teapot warmer is my latest addition, thanks to my friend michael in germany who introduced me to this ingenious method. It comes in two different sizes and lots of different colours.

I buy my teas from the following suppliers: jing teas, east tea, postcard teas.

For more beautiful tea wear hop over to Nicola’s site. Here is what it’s about: “tea and related ephemera to look at during afternoon tea break. Always added at 4 o’clock.” Isn’t that charming?

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homage to missoni

When I was 15 years old, i spent a weekend with my father in switzerland. On a shopping trip he took me to a missoni boutique and bought me a blazer, cardigan and scarf. I immediately fell in love with their knitwear designs. There is no doubt in my mind that this first encounter, over 30 years ago, has greatly influenced my use and views on colour, patterns and generally the way i look at fashion, interiors and design. It certainly left an everlasting imprint on me.

This is the cardigan i bought over 30 years ago. I last wore it about a week ago. It hasn’t dated right?

Breathtaking patterns and imagery on knitwear.

Does this look like a scarf bought in the early 80′s? Could be the latest season’s design?

The story of rosita and ottavio (tai) missoni began at the 1948 london olympics. Ottavio, a member of the italian olympic team, designed the uniforms for his team mates that year. Rosita, who was born into an italian family of shawl and embroidered fabric producers saw him run the 400m hurdle race. They fell in love and started the missoni dynasty in 1953, the same year they got married.

Their humble beginnings consisted of a small workshop where they created art; the only possible way to describe their early knitwear designs. Taking much of their inspiration from folk art, the missonis were primarily known for their innovative use of knits and patterns. Most recognisable among these is the missoni zigzag but the label also plays with stripes, geometrics and abstract florals. Missoni uses a myriad of colours in their fabrics but avoids any jarring notes by using similar tones. The company is also known for its intelligent use of a variety of different fabrics such as rayon, silk, cotton and wool and for its innovative knitting techniques.

The missonis used great imagination for their creations, separating them apart from the old-fashioned ways of traditional hand knitted items and the often blandness of machine knitted products. Their biggest asset is their supremacy of design, mixing traditional italian skills with modern technology. Missoni still has its own factory in italy where they create their signature knits. It takes around 2-3 hours to make one meter of fabric which can contain over 20 different colours in each design.

Missoni does not rely on fashion trends but instead uses their natural talent for italian flair and style. They have been quoted saying: ‘our philosophy since we went into business has been that a piece of clothing should be like a work of art. It should not be bought for a special occasion or because it’s in fashion, but because a woman likes it…..and feels she could wear it forever.’

In 1997, after over 40 years, rosita missoni stepped down as head of the knitwear line.  Being a family run business, the three children of the founders have taken reign of the business. Angela missoni is creative director of the woman’s wear collection. Luca missoni is responsible for the design of the menswear collection and vittorio missoni is marketing director. Recently, margherita missoni, angela’s daughter, has joined the business and is hailed as angela’s next successor.

In 2003, the missoni phenomenon celebrated 50 years in business with a catwalk event at the v&a in london, as part of their fashion in motion series. I was lucky to have obtained a ticket for this much sought after event. They were showing their key pieces for each year since their inception in 1953. Honestly, not one outfit had dated and all would be fashionable today. Total magic and utter genius!

In 2004 rosita missoni, not one for retirement, launched the missoni homeware collection which has been a massive hit. In 2009 rosita oversaw the opening of the first hotel missoni, in edinburgh. I was ecstatic that this coincided with my trip to the edingburgh festival and so celebrated my birthday in missoni heaven.  A second hotel, in kuwait, is due to open in March, and she has three more luxury boutique hotels—in oman, brazil and turkey—in the planning. Not bad for a 79 year old lady!

I love going to art galleries and exhibitions. Sometimes i am left speechless and one such time was when visiting the incredible: workshop missoni – daring to be different at the estorick collection of modern italian art back in 2009. Curated by luca missoni, rather than focusing on finished products, the exhibition took the viewer ‘behind the scenes’ of missoni, exploring the technical working processes involved in the production of their fabrics and clothing and revealing their underlying sources of inspiration – including the fine arts.

Here are some pages from my own copy, but you can still buy it from here

In late 2011 missoni collaborated with target. It was, on one hand, a huge success and equally a total internet-crash fiasco.

I want to leave you with snippets of my own home project. Here below, in my living room, i’ve used the missoni fabric range: neuchatel. When it came to doing the bathroom i wanted to paint stripes, so decided to take a sample of the missoni fabric and ask the nice people of oliver paint in portobello to hand mix me the colours. They did an incredible job but unfortunately they are no longer in business.

Meanwhile, I spent a few days on the computer working out colour dimensions, proportions and how it would work best in that space.

This is a section of the finished bathroom. Who has spotted the missoni bath mat?

My dream came true when on 27 january 2012 i was in the audience in the v&a auditorium, as part of the peroni collaborazioni talks, listening to angela missoni in conversation with renowned fashion journalist gianluca long. Angela allowed a rare insight into what it’s like working for such an iconic family firm. The talk addressed her forecast for the future of italian fashion and her thoughts on the new designers and fashion houses that might shape that future.

My highlight was to be able to go up to angela afterwards and tell her of my longstanding love affair with missoni and thank her for the continued inspiration. Grazie mille!

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liebster blog award

 

I am chuffed and humbled in equal measures. I have been awarded the ‘Liebster Blog’ award. Holly from the blog hvhinteriors kindly included me in this list of her five chosen blogs. 

I was completely unaware of this award so here is the ‘science’ bit: the award is given to blogs with less than 200 followers. The chosen blog awarded, that’s me (hurray), is to thank the award giver (done) and in turn choose five more blogs (about to announce). Of course, let your chosen blogs know that you’ve bestowed them this prestige award (catch a plane if you must), sit back, bath in your glory and hope that they will pay forward and continue spreading the love…..by repeating this procedure.  The award is to appreciate and support smaller blogs. Liebster, you might wonder, means favourite or beloved in german so it is fitting to now announce my ‘liebste blog list’.

I have chosen these for their outstanding blogs, full of interesting subjects, great photography and generally very high quality content. I, hereby, also would like to thank them for their ongoing camaraderie and support, for allowing me to express my passions and various foibles. I didn’t want this blog to be about finding homes and estate agents or just about interiors. I want to be able to write about what rocks my world and boy are there many subjects that do. So thank you, dear pia posse, for listening, reading, commenting and holding me accountable to keep providing you and all my readers with quality (I hope) posts. My blog is just over a month old and you are all far more seasoned bloggers so thank you for taking me in and showing me the way. I am humbled and greatfull to you all. Just in case you were wondering, no, you can’t nominate each other:) ha!

Without further ado, here they are:

1. insideology

2. inspirationcooperative

3. ilikewantneed

4. still+life

5. carousel

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light as a feather

After visiting the david hockney retrospective i came away inspired and fully motivated to create something. One thing is clear, colour rocks and so does david hockney! For those able to visit this amazing exhibition i hope you will try and go, you won’t regret it!

Here is a little project i thought you might like and maybe even try and make yourself. It is simple and doesn’t need many materials or skills. It’s fun, inexpensive and makes for a great gift when invited for dinner or when in need of a birthday present. Alternatively, why not spoil yourself?

All you need is a bic pen, some hand dyed feathers (I buy them at the knitting and stitching show at alexandra palace) and a few different mt tapes. Play around with different feather colours and sizes. There is no rule. See what inspires you. My colour inspiration today came from the david hockney paintings.

As i didn’t have more bic pens at home i decided to use pencils instead. You can use and sharpen the pencil until it needs exchanging. It’s simple to lift off the feathers held together by the tape and place it on another pen or pencil.

There is something rather satisfying about taking an ordinary everyday object and transforming it into something more extraordinary. I also like the length and weight of the bic pen and pencil once the feathers have been attached. It gives it a different feel, better ergonomics? I think so, but you decide.

You can make a few and give them instead of a bouquet of flowers?

Why not get the bic pens in red, blue, green and black? You could have a different feather colour scheme for each or keep it all the same. Everything goes and there are no limitations. Try a monochrome one or one made out of entirely the same colour. You might be inspired by an interior scheme you have seen or something in a magazine that caught your eye.

Finally, you can keep them in a little vase or any holder you have lying around ready for the next time you desperately need something to write with. Barclays pens, eat your heart out.

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art project: sir john soane’s museum

I am back with an art project today. I had very encouraging comments, thank you, so here is another dose.

This time we went to the eclectic and fabulous sir john soane’s museum. For those of you that haven’t been, i urge you to visit. I was going to attempt to describe it’s charm and curious location but will leave you to explore for yourselves. Actually, next time i need creative, descriptive and inventive writing i must enlist annie over at insideology who is the expert and puts me to shame. Check out her amazing series: london landmarks.

We were allowed to roam freely in the museum and choose any object or environment we desired. It’s quite dark so taking good photographs wasn’t that easy. Here is a selection of my journey:

An open brief like this often makes it harder to know where to start. I often start with elements from the photographs to explore patterns and shapes.

I then took out some magazines and created some coloured collages:

Now i was trying to put in some imagery so looked at different painters for inspiration.

I liked some aspects of what i did but felt stuck. When that happens I go back to basics and explore more patterns and shapes. This time with my sennelier oil pastels.

Unstuck, i knew i wanted to create a layered piece. I thought of theatre stage sets and used some of my imagery from previous sketches.

Now that i was getting closer to the layered image i wanted to create i had to think about colour. For this project we were set a very strict colour reference. We were sent a photocopy of an artists print. Jon Crane is a screen printer. He uses very finely cut stencils and up to 36 colours for one print.

Jon is a member of the greenwich print makers and will exhibit as part of the gpm at the affordable arts fair in battersea in october 2012. Here is Jon’s print and the colour chart I mixed up from it.

Wish that screen print was mine!! Inspired by the colours and jon’s print, i soldiered on.

Well i hope you have enjoyed some of this and for some real art, on friday i am off to the david hockney retrospective with john allen and jon crane.

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