With a shop called All Things Original it must be quite a challenge to curate, as the name alone gives hope that you will not only be exposed to designs not seen already a thousand times over, but that everything is handmade by the maker and very, very special. All Things Original does a fantastic job at living up to it’s name…
As I click through their gorgeous product offerings, I’m reminded of how much exists out there that we still have yet to discover and it excites me because I think many worry that all this instant gratification on the web will leave us high and dry at some point with nothing left to blog about. Many readers ask me about this and my reply is always the same, I think we’ll always have plenty of new designs to be exposed to as long as these designers are supported and products are being purchased. Schools are releasing thousands of design-hungry motivated grads each year so as long as they have a place to show their work and others pushing them along to succeed, we’ll continue to have designs to drool for. In addition to the grads, we see growing numbers of men and women who may have missed their earlier calling in the arts to pursue an unrelated field only to return to art and design later in life. The massive following that the indie craft culture has right now is exciting and though I believe it will continue to gain popularity, I think that at some point it will level out a little and growth won’t be quite as aggressive as it is now. But despite all that, there is enough to go around so don’t worry. The well isn’t drying up anytime soon!
The curated collection of wares found over at All Things Original exposes us to some amazing work from homewares to furniture all from independent British designers. Ceramics by Hanna Melin, lighting by Rose Cobb, and Jo Heckett ceramics are a few of my favorites all shown above. Thanks Beverly for writing in about your unique shop!
(images from all things original)
I usually don’t share things I win on eBay here but this just makes me so happy that I must show you my winning item! But first a little story time. Okay, so I’ve been wanting to find a new umbrella stand since my current vintage one ended up becoming the storage bin for my rolls of wrapping paper. After seeing this fish in Domino magazine this month, I was inspired to get out there and start hunting for the perfect umbrella stand.
Owl from Burke Decor, $96Also considering that we’re in the month of April, “April showers bring May flowers”, it’s the perfect season to find a replacement. I don’t have a thing for fish as a design motif so I decided against the one in Domino. I can’t imagine spending nearly $300 on something I’m not bonkers over. I thought of the many DIY solutions, how I could make my own by decoupaging a tall glass vase, etc. but I really wanted something ceramic and white and my heart was dead set on some kind of creature. Just not a fish. I thought about what my perfect stand would look like and I kept envisioning an owl. A glossy white owl with a mid century vibe. So I searched and searched and came up with this one from Burke decor for $96 (free shipping). But it’s a reproduction piece and I reallllly wannnntted vintage. Yes, whining exactly like that.
My mid century vintage owl from eBay.Meet my new friend Oscar. Maybe I’m nuts but I confess my illness — I name many of the creature objects that live in my home. Perhaps I miss having pets. Maybe I need to invest in a solid rocker, Velcro my remote control to the side of my television, and start highlighting episodes of Murder She Wrote in the TV Guide while I’m at it. But really, I’m not a crazy old lady. I just like to name stuff.
Oscar is my latest find, a vintage owl umbrella stand, white, and glossy ceramic circa mid century. He’s so handsome. If I ever decide to host a swanky soiree, I’ll add a black bow tie around his neck for the occasion. Perhaps once I tire of him holding umbrellas, he’ll become a vase for displaying pink quince although something tells me he’s too manly for flower holding and won’t go for that . eBay I love you today. Thank you for making this crazy shopper happy and for confirming that you can truly find anything on eBay.
Looking to spruce up your entryway for Spring? Visit A Grand Welcome, a recent decor8 article all about how to welcome your guests in style.
(images from burke and ebay)
I never tire of peeking in on what’s new over at Roost Living, a site that showcases the work of emerging talent within the UK with some of the most fantastic items for sale. Their ceramics are so delicate and beautiful, I can’t stop staring at this pendant light…
The textural white earthenware Blaue Blume Tea Cup and Saucer by Tina Tsang was designed with a goal in mind, to solidify the texture of lace into ceramics. I just adore the legs-as-handle cuteness, so feminine but also with a hip edge to it. I also have my eye on the Lemon Squeezer with gold trim by Sena Gu because it’s so unique — I’ve not spotted anything like it before. And with the overwhelming array of lighting out there, the Star Light by Kathleen Hills stands out from the rest — truly a breath of fresh air to see a pendant made in a less-than-common material like china. Of course, who can go wrong with a white Ruth Cross knit bag?
(images from roost living)
These plates are fantastic! Pearl wrote to me today about Pearl Bell, her collection of classy lady plates, cups, and saucers and I knew I had to feature them. I love that feeling, when designers write to me and the moment I click on their link I get butterflies. It’s so exciting to come across interesting work, so thank you Pearl.
She’ll soon be expanding her tableware collection to include animals (like the little owl you see above), but for now it’s all about the ladies! Even though you can dine on these, I’d prefer hanging them on a wall as art, but that’s just me. My favorites are the mostly white plates… And I love seeing fashion illustration on ceramics. Thank you Pearl for your submission, your work is really tops!
(images from pearl bell)
Can you resist the beauty of Polly George ceramics? The clean lines combined with fluttery details are so feminine, in just the right amount. Very balanced, modern, chic.
Polly slip casts and individually creates each piece with birds, butterflies, roses, and other adornments. You may be familiar with her Mr & Mrs Jones ceramics as they’re in lots of my favorite design stores. But I didn’t realize that she created so many beautiful things so I’m glad I looked her up today.
Travel tip: When in London, you can visit a shop that Polly co-owns called Luna & Curious at 198 Brick Lane in London’s West End, it’s a collaborative boutique run by five designers showcasing everything from fashion to interiors and of course, ceramics. :) I *heart* such stores, it’s exciting to see designers working together more and more since shop ownership can be so hard on owners flying solo.
(images from polly george)
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