It’s coming around to my afternoon tea time around here, so consider this post slightly biased. It might be sunny outside, but I’m not really a frappaccino kind of girl; instead, I’ve completely fallen for the adorable knitted cozies of KnitStorm. Kate makes them for mugs and take-away beverage cups, in a huge variety of colours and styles. I’m having a hard time deciding which one I like best- help me out?
Hello, my friends! Yes, I am finally back here after a far-too-long blogging hiatus. As much as I hated ignoring you, spending the last couple weeks away from my computer screen was necessary and important: I had work to do, family in town, and plans to make.
But I’m back now, and in the spirit of re-igniting my blogging mojo, thought I’d share a couple of items which caught my eye over the past weeks. Yes, I know it’s a bizarre time of year to be thinking about candles, but I just can’t help myself- these holders are so lovely and covetable. Read on and you’ll see what I mean.
I stumbled across these beauties from Loglike on The Beat That My Heart Skipped. Made from found vintage saucers and reclaimed, hand-carved Welsh wood, they’ve got a rustic-retro quality which I’m loving. Check out their Folksy shop for the entire range.
My second find was sinead o moore, who handcrafts lovely ceramics and sells them weekly at Greenwhich Market (and elsewhere). I was immediately taken by her porcelain tealight holders, paper-thin and egglike in their fragility. I’d like a pair of the turquoise ones, please.
Happy Monday! Let’s kick the week off with some covetable ceramics, shall we? You all know I’m a sucker for old-fashioned pottery, and Jason Russell‘s fits the bill perfectly. I’m digging the solid, rustic shapes and pleasing earth tones, as well as the odd splash of refreshing colour. Check out my picks from this great new shop.
Spring might be around the corner, but there’s still soup to be eaten. I’d like mine from one of these heavy soup bowls, please:
I love the colour and shape of these egg cups, too:
There’s something so lovely and retro-but-modern about these coffee mugs. I like the squat shape and the graceful dripping glaze:
Nesting bowls are always useful for prep and serving, and this striped set is pure country kitchen:
This blue serving bowl is my favourite item. The colour is to die for and the shape modern and understated:
To make up for the slow blogging (so far) this year, I’ve got a double treat to share with you today! Lyn Swan is a talented potter living and working out of Sonoma, California. She keeps not one but two Etsy shops; lyn swan for ethereal porcelain pieces, and clayswan for colourful, Fiestaware-inspired pottery.
lyn swan
I love the colour of these mini balloon bowls:
The larger balloon bowl in white is special, too:
What a lovely petite porcelain cup… perfect for an espresso:
Check out this sculptural watering can:
I covet this cheerful green tray. Perfect for cookies or other nibbles:
clayswan
If you’ve been searching for a salt pig, then search no further. I love this bright yellow one:
How perfect is this JUNK vessel for storing pencils and other items?:
I dig the fluidity of this creamer and sugar bowl set:
This teal vase would be lovely with or without flowers:
These two tiny trays are perfect for serving or storing:
Happy New Year! It’s a new week, and new month and a new year, and although I let things around here slide toward the end of December, I’m determined to step up my game in 2010. I’m not in the mood to focus on one shop today; my brain isn’t yet back in “working mode”. Instead, here are ten random, lovely, and covetable kitchen finds from Etsy. Enjoy!
The fantastic shop Brookish has added some new items, including these whimsical Mr. Darcy proposal dish towel:
I also love this Dolphin Tea Towel from niceBreeze:
This pair of Flower Trivets is so pretty, I almost wouldn’t want to put anything on them! From Uncommon Eye:
How’s this for a New Year’s resolution? Beat Batter and Bake Stuff spoof print from Queen’s Spoof:
VintageO‘s pair of glazed stoneware bowls is lovely (and I love the photography!):
My Mum has several of these cups, and I never really thought about their charm before now. Vintage tin measuring cup from buppins:
I like this sandwich/snack bag from Country Life Naturals, which is made of a vintage tea towel with a food-safe liner:
CeramicJen has some wonderful items; I especially like her Flying Bird Teabowl:
I love the feeling of this Teapot in Blue print from Studio Lyon- it’s so unique and decorative:
This Colander Pendant Lamp by Purpose ReDesign Studio would be great in an industrial modern kitchen:
Welcome to the Kitchenisms Holiday Gift Guide 2009, a week-long extravaganza of cool present ideas for the holiday season. Each day has a different theme, and I try to include both stocking stuffers and big-ticket items. You’ll find a mix of new finds and favourites from the archives here, all stuff I’d love to find under the tree on the 25th!
The best gifts come from the heart, and handmade items, crafted with love and attention, sit at the top of this list. Of course, not everyone is crafty- and nor do they have to be. Thanks to sites like Etsy and Big Cartel, handmade no longer has to be homemade, and everyone can get in on the fun. Check out these extra-special pieces for the extra-special people on your shopping list.
I’ve mentioned Nikole Herriot’s lovely blog forty-sixth at grace before, as well as her shop herriot grace. The beautiful spoons, stands and dishes that Nikole and her father make and sell together are hand-carved from salvaged wood- definitely deserving of a place under the Christmas tree:
I discovered the Fine Little Shop (attached to the blog Fine Little Day) just the other day through Decor8. I love these charming little boards for cutting and serving sandwiches or cheese:
I like Etsy for pottery, and Jenny Blasen Pottery has some beautiful pieces in her shop. I was especially drawn to this pair of modern-looking Black and White Bowls:
I’ve been curious about these chunky hand-knit washcloths from Zummi for a while now. This set in Moss, Sand and Cedar look good for mopping up spills or drying dishes:
tinsnips‘ Dimple Cups are probably the most whimsical and charming espresso cups I’ve seen in a while- they remind me of fluffy clouds, or marshmallows! Perfect for a coffee or sake fan with a sense of humour:
I wish the Selvedge Drygoods shop had better photos, but they do have some lovely handmade goodies. The Ruth Cross and Linda Bloomfield Tea Set combines the skills of these two artists in the sweetest way- a teapot and mugs with hand-knit cozies! Perfect for snuggling up this winter:
I didn’t manage to get an Etsy post done yesterday, but better late than never, right? Today I want to share the work of Prince Design UK, an Etsy shop run by Elizabeth Prince.
Elizabeth is a ceramicist who lives and works in Northern England, and sells her work online, as well as through independent retail shops. Her work is largely inspired by nature, but is contemporary in feel. Check out some of my favourite pieces.
This trio of Stacking Poppy Bowls is so pretty and delicate, I think they’d look great on a kitchen windowsill:
Elizabeth does a whole bunch of individual poppy bowls, too. This large Salad Bowl is gorgeous:
The perforated Colander and Fruit Bowl is multipurpose- suitable for both washing and storing fruits:
I love the Lacy Bird Bowl Duo, a set of shallow dishes that can be used for display, as well as practically:
The Flying Ducks Dessert Plate is simply adorable, and I can definitely picture serving up some pie on it:
Not exactly kitchen-related (though I suppose you could hang them anywhere), these Butterfly Snowflake Christmas Ornaments are pretty and festive, without being kitsch:
Every kitchen needs a pair, right? And unless you prefer those frightening silicone ones, they might as well look nice. Check out these offerings from Etsy…
This pair from Vintage Hotcakes is made out of a vintage tea towel:
I’ve featured the girlscantell shop before, and I still love the illustrated oven mitts. This Joy of Cooking version is perfect for foodies:
For full-on vintage kitsch Cath Kidston-style, this Roses oven mitt from City Chic Country Mouse will do the job:
This Selection of Tea oven mitt from Teri’s Treasure has the cutest print, and nice colours, too:
I like the cheerful print of this flowered pair from feet up furnishings (there are potholders and a tea cozy to match, too!):
What with all the nice weather we’ve been having here in London, I’ve got picnics on the brain. While blankets, mini-grills and fancy crockery are all optional, one thing you definitely need for a picnic (besides food, of course) is a great basket.
If you’re into the classic wicker look, you can’t go wrong with a vintage-feel, floral-lined number from Cath Kidston:
This retro hamper from Etsy seller ModmargeFineFinds looks cool and super-roomy:
Also from Etsy, this burlap bucket from designsmayamade is made from a recycled coffee sack, and would be a great lightweight option:
For a non-traditional idea, I love the colours in this 3-tier melamine tiffin box from Habitat:
Understated style for a price, a modern picnic set from Heath Ceramics:
I think my favourite, though, is the Blyton tin picnic hamper, sold by Heals. It’s the perfect mix of retro and modern, and the colours just say summer:
As anyone who’s ever browsed Etsy knows, the place is crawling with aprons. Retro, modern, new and vintage, you can find all kinds on this online marketplace. Here are five of my picks.
This Bicycle Apron from flytrap is modern, fun and practical:
By famous seller Boojiboo, this retro-look Chloe Apron (I love the pear print!):
I dig the laid-back sensibility of this Linen Cafe Apron from inklore:
A Unisex Garden Apron by yellowbirddesign:
If vintage is your thing (it’s mine), you can’t go wrong with these 4 Half-Aprons from SparklePower:
