Ceramic Artist: Shirley Fintz

I first came across Shirleys work when looking in a shop on the antique alley which is Church Str, Cape Town with my sister Megan. She had been given a gift of money from her London friends for her 30th to buy something special. She came across the piece shown here on Shirleys hip and loved it....

Not long afterwards I was browsing in Regent Streets London Anthropologie (heaven on earth) and these interesting pieces caught my eye...to be represented at Anthropologie would be a rather big deal I would have thought!

Whats quite clever is the use of antique patterning on a modern and very different ceramic surface, see the Dutch 'delft' patterns and colouring....behind glass cabinet doors all over the historic homes of the Cape, given a new twist here.

A little tip - buy these in Cape Town and NOT at Anthropologie....your wallet will be happier for it.

The Artists Press

Being back in Cape Town for a good spell after years away was such a wonderful dose of goodness for the soul. I love the creativity that is oozing out of every pore of South Africa at the moment, theres a great energy and sense of achievement after hosting a very successful world cup I thought.

I have just received an email from South African print makers Artists Press celebrating their 20th birthday. My friend Simone and I spent the morning at a print studio in Woodstock pawing over many of the prints they supply, here are some of the ones we loved (and bought) And then I went back again with my sister....



Judith Masons pomegranates



Sam Nhlengethwa: Blues Series



Joshua Miles Stone Pines

Joshua Miles - Bokaap

The closing note of the newsletter from the artists press wishes one a slower and more mindful 2011. I liked that.

The most beautiful thing

I was sitting contemplating the things that give me joy, and as much as I love new little finds and discoveries, I realised little people bring so much joy...they see things with new eyes and it is humbling to watch their discovering of the world - Max what joy you bring.

My precious nephew Max - how I love thee.

Beijing Postcard

As we have just seen the Chinese New Year pass, the year of the rabbit...I thought Id dig out something from Beijing.

Beijing was such a pleasant suprise, trendy, hip and happening. As we stepped out of our hotel it was like we had entered another world, narrow streets lit by red lanterns led us down to the unexpected and trendy hutong* in the Dong Cheng district.

Beijing Postcards presented a small shop is a window into a lost world.... the owners collect old China photographs from the period from 1890-1940s. These are used to make large high quality reproduction photos.  The photos have been collected over the years from flea markets, auctions and even private collections with some dating as as old as a century. Short descriptions on the back give a concise history.

Collection of bits I bought at Beijing postcard

There has always been a preference for boys in China. To fool the devils and the evil spirits the Chinese used to dress up their boys as girls, give them girls names, have them wear earrings and had their hair put up like girls.

Nan Luo Gu Xiang, the hutong on which Beijing Postcard is situated was built 700 year ago in the Yuan dynasty and is mainly a protected street of traditional courtyard homes called Siheyuan. The street is about 1000 meters long with 8 symmetrical lanes, or Hutong, on both the East and West sides. The lane is so neat that it looks like a centipede. This is where it got its second name, "Centipede Street."

* Hutongs are a type of narrow streets , most commonly associated with Beijing. In Beijing, hutongs are alleys formed by lines of traditional courtyard residences.

Nutty Tarts

When in Helsinki, we stumbled across a design fair happening in an old town hall. There were some gorgeous bits from young up and coming designers, one, Nutty Tarts was slightly unforgettable.

I think you'll agree the humour in these is fab (or is it just me?)....and Im sure you know of someone who the sight of donning one of these would be unrivalled. The price though was something ridiculous. Perhaps keep your natural hair to get the look?

Helsinki : A city of ultra style

Design in Helsinki is everywhere, the Finns ooze style and have a dedicated Design District in the heart of Helsinki, mapping all design influenced eateries, jewellery stores, bars, homeware shops, fashion, furniture, antiques...you name it. City culture ala chic. For more info see

http://www.designdistrict.fi/design_district

I stumbled across an antique shop which was crammed with retro designed crockery beautiful coloured glass and other delights for the eye. http://www.astiataivas.fi/

Inside the treasure chest that is AstiaTaivas

Keep your eye peeled world over for ultra stylish ARABIA crockery, their retro designs are just as captivating as their modern designs.

Retro ARABIA jars

New ARABIA designs...soooo stylish

 

Marimekko is widely sought finnish brand known for its stylised fabrics, when entering the store there is no doubt as to why, a few inspiring designs below....these people know how to use colour!





 

And these trays...could become a tea lady for the want of looking at them.

The love of Paper

Pa-per: Noun: A substance made from wood pulp, rags, straw or other fibrous materials, usually in thin sheets, used to bear writing, for wrapping things etc...

Nowhere have I been more fascinated by paper than on a recent trip to China. Paper has a real history, scrolls with curled up edges line the walls, fans in the making are drying in back streets, revolutionary writings were treated like bibles. Paper = learning. China and paper felt synonymis.

Paper and paper products are beautiful items to add an nostalgic air to a space think old envelopes stamped stuffed with letters from afar, think prints bought at a gravel floored flea market in Paris, bookshelves lined with bound spines, think paper lanterns guiding you down a path, mobiles of butterflies, birds, paper jets - options are endless.

Here are some of my 'paper' shots of China, it was only after I finished our trip there did i realise the significance and vastness of the paper scene.

Teachings at a book market

Paper scrolls line the walls. Calligraphy hand writing was considered a very important job and only for the extremely talented. Dont you love the way the edges curl?



The composition here of paper goods is beautiful and tells a story of its inhabitants



Fans drying in the back streets of a rural village near Yangshou, a bicycle ride away

I would love to know what wise musings these contain

Dave with his well groomed beard sourrounded by ...paper. These scrolls request good energy of sorts. Wouldnt it be lovely for the western language to be visual art?