rail journey

I travelled to another interview with my son yesterday which involved an epic five hour each way train journey to the deepest south west. I saw lots of England's back gardens, allotments, and sheep and was very glad to get home! On the theme of trains, these are a couple of my rail related books. I found the King Penguin in a charity shop in Rochester last week, and the Little Red Engine books are childhood classics, written by Diana Ross (not of the Supremes!) and this one with beautiful illustrations by Lewit-Him. I love the little engine steaming home through the townscape, brilliant textures and colours.

ballooning

I have had this ballooning print in my mind for a couple of years so when I found this charming King Penguin book in a second hand book shop in Broadstairs I was finally inspired to get it off the ground! It's first outing is as a new set of postcards which arrived in the post today. As soon as I have made the screens I will be making a 40x50cm screen print and cushions will follow.

knit!

Ok James I give in!  I love the bossy design of this old knitting book. I am not an enthusiastic knitter but I am accumulating a collection of vintage needles - just for the colours!

i can fly!

My heart skipped a beat when I found this battered and much loved copy of I can fly on a vintage stall. I must have had it as a tiny child as every illustration was instantly familiar. I was very pleased with myself to have found it until I looked on abe books and discovered that it is still in print and yours for only 62p!

mid-century chair

There was plenty to see at the Midcentury Modern Show and not too many crowds this year, maybe because there is going to be a second show in north London in May. My favourite stands upstairs among the contemporary designers were lovely printed textiles from Maria Hatling and Eleanor Prichards' beautiful wool blankets woven in Wales. And it was really nice to catch up with Sally Nencini who was selling her knitted wares. I came away with a 60's Danish office chair in a very sunny shade of yellow. My office is in a very dark corner so it really cheers it up. I may make a cushion pad out of this vintage fabric.

happy finds

While Charlie is attending his interviews I hit the charity shops, and here are this weeks finds. Mosaic game - hours of fun! some chunky pottery in lovely glossy colours, a fine teak pepper mill, and an entirely unnecessary pussy cat string holder to go with the owl string holder. All for under ten pounds. I am thinking of going to the Mid-Century Modern fair this afternoon if the queues aren't too long, I don't think my £10 will go quite as far there!

family matters

I haven't been in the mood for posting lately, things seem unimportant compared to the stories and pictures coming from Japan where so many lives have been destroyed and so many people are living on the edge of horror, it's difficult to know what to say apart from joining the voice that wishes everyone in Japan safety and hope for the future.
I have also been away from my computer taking my son to interviews at art colleges around the country. It seems really hard to believe that this cute little blond fellow is now a very handsome, six footer and soon to be leaving home. It's also hard to imagine that his dad ever looked this young!

russia with love

On the subject of Russia, I found this poster in a Charity shop in Brixton. I think it's for a puppet theatre.  So I now have a picture hanging dilemma. The lovely green three tree print is by Guusje from Guusje's Appaltaart, I really love her work. We did a print swap a while ago but I haven't found a home for it yet. Her latest tree print over on her blog today is really nice.

perfect companions

This funny little pottery lady was my 50p spend in the charity shop this weekend, so now I have some company for my funny pottery reindeer and an excellent prop for my folkdance print. I am not sure where these figures come from, the reindeer has a tiny scrap of label on it that looks like Russian, does anyone know?

Update - they are indeed Russian, many thanks to Sheila who recognised them from her collection of Russian matchbox labels as Dymkovo toys and she writes about them here on her blog. While you are there check out her illustrations - really lovely!

New York doll

I love this picture of Lucy in Grand Central Station. She and her brat-pack of fellow fashion students were let loose in New York for fashion week. I have never been there so I was very envious, next time she goes her mum goes with her!

spring colours

I have introduced a new spring colourway for my siesta cushions and sardana screenprint, a lovely fresh periwinkle blue and chocolate. The white linen cushion is in my shops now and the print will follow soon.