a friday thought

I love a pretty kitchen. I think it has something to do with my family home. The kitchen is where we sit for hours, chatting, laughing, crying, sharing, advising. I do love my current kitchen, but unfortunately when there are two people in there it feels crowded.

Anyway then I saw this picture ...

A small mismatch kitchen. But it's beautiful. (For all I know this could be the corner of a massive room but I doubt it).

What drew me to the photo were the plates. I have a(n)(un)healthy love of plates and tea cups. But I do feel a bit guilty about how they are displayed. Currently they are like this:

They are lovely in there but a bit hidden away ...

A selection:

(retrieved from a rubbish bag)

(whole set bought for £20 0n Brick Lane)

(a second hand shop I think)

I do have quite a few more but that's for another post.

So I may not be able to expand my kitchen, but perhaps it's time for the plates to take centre stage.

me xxx

that's more like it, London

I don't mind if it's icy or even a bit windy, just as long as the sky looks like this. No more of those grey rainy clouds ok?

Me xxx

Why travel when you can sit?

So ... I was just looking on the world wide web today and I stumbled upon a very trendy Russian website. Upon said site I found the most amazing things I think I have ever seen. Unreal. I mean I can't quite believe they exist and, I want one (all) of them.

Deep breath.

Numero 1. Suitcase chairs! Suitcase. Chairs. How clever is that? And such beautiful colours too.

Numero 2. Oh my lordy. HOW beautiful is this? I mean I can't even fathom the beauty. That fabric is adorable.

Numero 3. Vintage suitcases? Check. Love? Check. Made into adorable stools? ... Oh my goodness it's officially Christmas inside my heart.

Numero 4. I hope you are still there and have not collapsed due to amount of beauty. A gorgeous vintage case made into a vanity cabinet! Genius!

So there you have it.

I know. Enough said.

Me xxx

a couple of things

I purchased a new lamp. It is mainly a bedside one but I have been carrying it around from room to room when detailed work is required. Isn't it pretty?

(Habitat £19)

They also had some other colours too, but I liked the brightness of the yellow. It's a nice take on the vintage design.

Also, along with the singer machine I rescued there was a little booklet - "Instructions for using ... For Family Use".

I opened it up and couldn't quite believe it, HOW on earth did they get a picture of ME sewing??

hee hee. The question at the top reads "HAVE YOU seen THE SINGER WAY TO SEW BY ELECTRICITY?" It was published in Nov 1926.

Another quote - "After dark the Electric Singerlight throws its light just where it is needed ... Prevents eyestrain and fatigue; saves time and annoyance when threading the needle". I couldn't quite imagine that lady getting annoyed. It's the quiet ones that need to be watched though.

right under your nose

As I was saying a couple of posts ago, coming back after some time away really does make you see things with fresh eyes. Along with that, you suddenly notice how much 'stuff' you have collected in your flat that YOU DO NOT NEED. Boxes full of things that you no longer remember, clothes that you hold on to, and hold on to, and hold on to. Well no longer says I. This week I have had a massive clear out. I have been one for keeping every scrap of evidence of a memory. Just in case.

Have you ever seen Everything is Illuminated with Elijah Wood? I was heading in that direction ...

(For those of you who haven't seen it, he keeps everything related to a memory in a little plastic bag and sticks it to his wall ... teeth, hair, sand, food ... )

So yes.

It really is a great feeling to clear out. And also you might just find some gems too! (Not the point I know but anyway.)

For years now I have had a white wooden cupboard as my bedside table. I was one of those very old singer sewing machine 'houses', where the machine was built into the actual framework. It was a bit clunky and I have wanted to get rid of it for ages, but it's a singer sewing machine says I! That's against everything I live for! Sort of. Anyway, after about 6 years of wondering what to do, I realised I could just simply unscrew the machine from it's prison and throw away it's shackles. And just look at the beauty that was released ...

And all that time hidden away. Sinful. Look at this little beauty.

I just need to find a home for her now. Somewhere on show I think. She certainly deserves it.

I also found a wonderful Billie Holiday tape cassette that my mother used to play in the car when we were younger. Fantastic.

ps

so I have managed to add a photo, but now the text is in a different font and size ...

we will get there ...

that Sunday night feeling ...

Sister and I couldn't quite believe it when we saw this vinyl in an antiques shop window in Camden passage ...

The Adam Singers "Sing Something Simple". We endured their slot on Radio 2 every Sunday evening of our childhood. We had both completely forgotten that they even existed! I distinctly remember having quite a lot of hatred for them ... They were unfairly associated with that Sunday night feeling (which sometimes sneaks up on me still), school in the morning, still have to learn a poem ... but listening to them now I somehow feel safe and warm, and they really do have such lovely voices.

Have a listen ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuqVk1S5uks

I always find it fascinating how much power memories have, and how easily they can be triggered.

If only I could go back and whisper in my own ear. Think of the things you would say ...

Me xxx

Falling in love again ...

So, yes, this is my first Hawk and Fallow blog entry. I think it only polite to welcome the reader, of course, but I am also reluctant to drag that out too much. So how about we just pretend we have always been friends. Soon we will find it hard to imagine a life without one another like all good friends do.

Today was my first proper day back in London having been away for a little while. Oh London. The buses are red (I forgot! How could I forget a thing like that??!)and the people are sharp.

Arm in arm with my red head, red lipped chum, we headed to

The Photographers' Gallery for the Jim Goldberg : Open See exhibition. The series of photographs document "the experiences of people who travel from war torn, socially and economically devastated countries ... in search of stability and the promise of a better future".

The combination of images and words conveyed so many personal and intimate experiences and stories. I found it quite moving but never forced or contrived. I recommend. It's showing until 17th January, so you've still got a bit of time.

---

(sorry need to work out the (probably obvious) way to include a photo ... I'm a wanderer in these parts)

We were a bit peckish. I had imagined that we would have a slice of yummy cake at the gallery, but as fate had it my sister phoned. We were thus directed to a nearby delight called Nordic Bakery. Hmmm. Hot cinnamon buns anyone? So big that you have to wrap up the leftovers and pop in your bag for later?

Red head chum did suggest sharing ... but I of course laughed scornfully at such a silly idea. Aye aye aye. Having done this and drunk a delicious latte, I realised that today's menu had been a coffee and pain au raisin for breakfast and a coffee and bun for lunch. Sugar rush ah hoy. No wonder London looked so brilliant!

Enough culture and fun for one day you say?

Oh no! Not us!

Sugar fuelled we headed to The National Portrait Gallery.

(Of course we did) Red head wanted to look at the 2009 Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize exhibition. So I accompanied. Wow wee. Some amazing photographs. Even more time to see this, it finishes on the 14th February 2009.

And ... (finally) home. Home sweet home. (Via one of those red buses).

Being away I had forgotten how colourful the flat is and am seeing it all with fresh eyes. I will be showing you too in the days to come, but sure we've our whole lives ahead of us, what's the rush?

Me xxx