Tuesday 31 August 2010

duckfeet

They're not glamorous, or fashionable, but I love dorky shoes like this. They're like the shoes I wore when I was five. And they're from Denmark. And they're called duckfeet. I'm sold.

Garden Girl

If I were a serious gardener (well, even if I had a garden) I would be tempted to kit myself out at Garden Girl. I'd favour the dungarees (obviously) in toile, stripes and rose-prints complete with knee pads, tool pockets and glove holsters.

Thursday 26 August 2010

Another Country

I'm really keen on the simple but sturdy-looking furniture designs of Dorset-based Another Country.

Wednesday 25 August 2010

Norfolk Knits

Lorna Gostling knits these really sweet jumpers and cardigans for babies and children, completely bespoke and to order, from her studio on the Norfolk coast. Her speciality is crabs, anchors and shells.

The Last Food of England

It's not new, but this book is top of my Christmas list. It's Marwood Yeatman's culinary history of England (with photographs by his wife, Anya); an elegy to the craftsmanship and charm of the food we grow and rear: the Wessex sadleback, the Dorking, Lancashire oatcakes, West Country cider, clotted cream... Personally, I want to discover where I can pick myself some whortleberries.

Monday 23 August 2010

Vaughan

Really beautiful embroidered linens by husband-and-wife interior designers Vaughan.

Chandni Chowk

I love this dressing gown and weekend bag made from Indian quilted cotton, from Chandni Chowk.

Friday 20 August 2010

Becksöndergaard

Lovely floral cotton scarves by Danish accessories label Becksondergaard. I particularly like the one on the left. Stocked at The Dressing Room, Yellow Bee, and Hub.

Richard Batterham

I love Dorset potter Richard Batterham's rustic, ancient-looking stoneware, glazed with wood ash. Available from David Mellor.

Rowan

I read this post by Jane about the new Rowan knitting patterns, and realise I will be needing my Granny to give me a knitting refresher course. The beautifully wintry catalogue, shot in Monmouthshire, features ambitious projects like chunky cardigans, cosy capes and huge cable-knit jumpers in mossy shades - which make me quite excited at the prospect of it getting cold again.

Thursday 19 August 2010

Marthe Armitage

I think local Chiswick lady Marthe Armitage might be my style icon. Her wallpaper designs, printed on the same 19th century press she's worked on since the sixties, are really beautiful (especially the brilliantly named Old Man's Beard), but I'm equally keen on her outfit of smock, apron, and thick tights and sandals. I was reminded of the amazing article on her in her studio, in a recent Gardens Illustrated, by Savilintu.
Photographs by Andrew Montgomery.

Barbour

A Barbour lined with Liberty print gets a thumbs up from me.

Aksel Hansson

I love this Norwegian rocking chair by Aksel Hansson - perfect for that cliff-side log cabin I'm going to retire to.

Wednesday 18 August 2010

Devotion

Devotion, run in Camberwell, is definitely aimed at people mad on yoga (not me, then), but I do like this reversible, hand-block-printed bag, little marble bowls for sea salt, and thick, stackable glasses for coffee.

Tuesday 17 August 2010

Tulip & Nettle

I would like Tulip and Nettle to do their new Church Fete Cardi and Ra Ra Skirt in grown-up sizes please.

Fired Earth tiles


I love these interpretations of traditional delftware tiles, hand-decorated in England by Fired Earth, featuring rowing boats, thatched cottages and horse-drawn ploughs, and sprigy flowers like petunias, poppies and marigolds. I think they would look perfect behind the basin in our bathroom.

Monday 16 August 2010

Sandqvist

Understatedly stylish rucksacks and totes designed with function and practicality in mind, by the unpronounceable Swedish company Sandqvist. Affordable, too.

Pero

Indian designer Aneeth Arora's rustic and romantic smocks and pinafores for her range, Pero, are inspired by traditional Rajasthani dress, and made in hand-woven, hand-dyed, hand-embroidered khadi cotton. Her simple looking, but labour intensive (and eye-wateringly expensive) dresses are available from Selvedge drygoods.

Friday 13 August 2010

French & English Confectioner's

I love Lucie Gonnord's little patent handbags, all handmade in her London workshop.

Thursday 12 August 2010

Elly's Overalls

Being a dungaree type of person, and also being keen on stripes, I have been made green with envy by Elly's new overalls. They're by Kansas work wear brand Key, and Elly bought hers in her local farm store. But, happily, I've tracked down a more local pair here.

Wednesday 11 August 2010

Mardi Jeudi

New-to-me French brand Mardi Jeudi make just the kinds of clothes I like to wear. I like the clogs, socks and massive cardi look.

Their Nibs

Their Nibs founder Fiona Bell's new book, Vintage Kids, is coming out next month, with 25 simple how-tos for making sweet baby frocks, like this one.

Chamomile Barn

If my initials were LH I'd be snapping up this lovely Linen House table linen from Isabel's Chamomile Barn.

Tsumori Chisato and Petit Bateau

Tsumori Chisato has collaborated with Petit Bateau on a small range of things for adults, babies and children, launching just in time for Christmas. The amazing whale-and-the-night-sky t-shirt has my niece Clementine's name on it.

Tuesday 10 August 2010

Venus de Milo

Denmark seems to have a never-ending supply of labels I love. Venus de Milo - Copenhagen's answer to Toast - now joins the list.