Thursday, 10 February 2011

Commenting

I would really like to be able to respond to comments on my blog but I don't seem to be able to. Does anyone have any top technical tips they could share with me?

I'm going to make a little side table out of this tray.

A little drawing of a bicycle made for two. I think that might be the man of the house up front.
 

Monday, 7 February 2011

Wu and Wu

Yesterday I visited the Spring Fair at the NEC in Birmingham. It is the mother of all trade fairs. I caught up with some friends, talked some business and then went for a wander.

We visited Wu and Wu, whose work I adore. At each trade fair I treat myself to something from their collection.

 
 
 

http://www.wuandwu.com

Today I am leading a pirate workshop. Yo ho ho me hearties! I might need a bottle of rum by the end of it...

Sunday, 6 February 2011

The King's Speech

I finally went to see it and of course really enjoyed it. I did already know quite a lot about the history and the various people, but didn't know about Lionel Logue's contribution. I really enjoyed that male friendship angle and the idea that George VI had somebody helping him through that life imposed upon him.
I came across a recording of the speech around which the film revolves and was impressed with how well Colin Firth captured it. It is very touching to hear the original. And amazing that this King went on to become an inspiration for his people during war time. True courage and a real sense of duty.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAhFW_auT20&feature=player_embedded
I have two claims to fame on this matter! Firstly my great-grandfather was a Hansom cab driver in London and according to my grandmother, he used to take Edward VIII in his cab visiting ladies, one of whom was Wallis Simpson. My grandmother in relaying this tale used slightly spicier language and a bit more detail, but this will suffice.


Secondly, my father was Our Man In Paris who dealt with some matters relating to Wallis Simpson when she was old and infirm, living in that massive house on the Bois de Boulogne.


I don't know if you have ever noticed, but an amazing amount of letterboxes still bear the letters GR. I like to look out for them. I love the fact that we have access to our history all around us if we just think to look.

Saturday, 5 February 2011

Happy Chinese New Year!

It's the year of the Rabbit!



I seem to have developed an addiction to wasabi peas. Is that normal?

Friday, 4 February 2011

Good Morning!

I used to be really naughty, skipping breakfast, forgetting about lunch and then feeling RAVENOUS at about 3pm, eating anything I could find (biscuits usually or crisps) and then pestering the life out of the boyfriend when he got through the door to establish how soon we could eat dinner.

But not any more! I'm a good girl now :)

 

Thursday, 3 February 2011

Stephanie Thannhauser

Word up peeps, there's a new blog on the block!

This is the very charming work of a friend of mine, talented designer Stephanie Thannhauser. We looked at her work a while back. http://www.frecklefaceblog.com/2010/10/gno.html

Find her blog at http://ric-rac-uk.blogspot.com

and her website here http://www.ric-rac.co.uk

She really is a very, very clever thing.



Wednesday, 2 February 2011

Hawaiian style

Flowers in the hair, brightly coloured wiggle dresses, cocktails, palm trees, serenades. What's not to like?

I wouldn't mind being there right now...