my funny valentine

Apart from my husband (obviously) this is what I am loving today. Back in the day this was the ultimate design statement typewriter - the Olivetti Valentine designed by Etorre Sottsass in 1969. Glossy red with orange spools, in its own bucket style carrying case with black rubber fasteners, it is vintage typewriter heaven. I spotted it a couple of weeks ago, it looked rather grubby and the bucket had a mysterious puddle inside but it's all in working order, except the bell, which is a great shame because a typewriter is rather sad without it's ding! However it will make a great prop. I now have four vintage typewriters, I promise this is the last one.

my favourite word

I am accumulating enough typewriters to start a Mad Men style typing pool. When I saw this one in the local flea market one voice said 'not another one' and another voice said 'prop' so I bought it. It's my favourite teal colour, comes with a plastic carrying case and has the Design Centre seal of approval, what else could I do? One of my other models has a small part in the publicity material for the new Sanderson vintage wallpaper range. Over the course of a three day shoot last year our walls were papered with a series of very strident patterns from the range. I was quite glad when it was all returned to Brilliant White!

love letters

I couldn't decide between these two lovely vintage Olivetti typewriters when I saw them in the charity shop so I bought them both. I love their morris minor colours and the red button and the ding! Anyone here under the age of twenty is fascinated by them. I think they are just amazed by letters coming out of a such a primitive mechanical object.
I couldn't find an exclaimation mark key which shows that the overuse of this particular bit of punctuation must be a very modern thing!!
As it says on the last image, I am going to do my first roddy&ginger giveaway next week so please come back and take part!!! details soon.