Unto this last

Flat Pack conjures up images of cheap Ikea put-together-yourselves-and-sorry-we-forgot-the-screws headaches....
But look at this clever mob aiming to get back to local craftmanship at mass-produced prices.

Unto this last make gorgeous pieces in London out of birch ply with digital routers in their back room ...with on-site workshops in Brick Lane and in Battersea. Oh I love the East End.

'Unto This Last purpose is to offer you the convenience of the local craftsman workshop at mass-production prices
We design along a single principle; less dependence on heavy industrial processes, more use of innovative digital tools adapted to the small workshop.'

UNTO THIS LAST: Choose your colour, pay not much and have yourself a very merry little piece of gorgeous furniture. The fun part is watching the guys behind the glass, carefully creating the next coffee table while you browse their creations.




Is this not beautiful?



Honeycomb shelves

See website http://www.untothislast.co.uk/

Fancy an intership? Just send in your CV. Love IT!

Brick Lane Workshop
230 Brick Lane London
E2 7EB 020 7613 0882

Talking Markets...Moscow

Just thinking about markets....markets are just my favourite things, I guess its never quite knowing what you will find that makes them so exciting...

Ive been to a fair few in my time, one of the most 'far out' was the huge sprawling market on the outskirts on Moscow, Izmaylovo Market. It sold everything, fur gloves, fake dvds, russian dolls a plently and a healthy stash of vintage relics to rummage through...

I would love to go back and buy and buy....crate loads full because some of the stuff I havent seen for sale before - like the friendly wolf! All of amazing quality, the value a little lost on the masses.

Round dolls, skinny dolls, fat dolls, peasant dolls, many many dolls..

War memorabilia, standing Stalin proud

Amazing and random oil paintings and iconography

Genuinely old Virgin Mary's

Light fittings, books, vintage maps..

..And the friendly wolf

Broadway Market

With London fever so high at the moment, I have cast my mind back to the fresh crisp London spring mornings where daffodils carpet the fields yellow.

Roaming East London was my best day out, armed with a good coffee, a hat and my camera.

Here are a few pictures I took at Broadway Market, the heart of the East End.
Its a foodies delight, vintage galore and quirky bits everywhere!

One vendor still sells jellied eels.....

Hungry?

Huddled in the sunny spot for coffee

Market stall cash collector

F Cooke, Hot Jellied Eels

Mr Hot Jellied Eeels!

Fresh apple juice...ymm

This is for my friend Alex who wanted East London market suggestions, enjoy x

Dumbo Feather, pass it on

Hello again, little me is sitting with a very sketchy web connection these days, it drives me to distraction but am hopefully going to be changing network providers....who would have thought in a first world country, huh??

Just been nose embezzled in a lovely independent magazine, Dumbo Feather, pass it on. I happened upon in a small shop I found in Surrey Hills, its so full of good stories of creatives finding there talent and 'somewhere finding the courage to fly'.

Its so inspiring and informative, it takes 5 people, looks at what they create, where they work, their inspirations and their journeys.

Take Nga Waiata, living in Napier co incidently (see two entries before). Nga is a gemologist who makes the most beautiful rings from sanded crystals and wood. I had actually forgotten about his article until the lady in the coffee queue this morning displayed a beautiful bold yellow one as she grabbed her Campio Coffee...

See her amythyst rings, enhances stability strength vigour and peace, heightens spirituality, a traditional healing crystal

Or the flourite rings, said to bring clarity on every level, identifying truth behind illusion...very good for centering, calming and balancing.

Her rings are available In Barneys, NYC! The big time, but can also be ordered from her directly. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

See Dumbo Feather at www.dumbofeather.com/thenest

About three ads in the whole mag, now thats quality ;-)