Avocado Sweet is delighted to be giving away this Celia Birtwell book as a competition prize. The book was published by Quadrille this week (3 October 2011) and is worth £30. As you might expect from a textile designer, the hardback book is a piece of beautiful design in itself filled with colourful sketches and designs from throughout her career. The book charts her life, from working with husband and
If the literary internet resembles the school playground – and it does – McSweeney’s is the class wit who’s got all the answers and is ready for cocktails while you’re still learning to tie your shoelaces. Launched by novelist Dave Eggers in 1998 as a literary journal dedicated to rejected work, McSweeneys is now a sort of alternative publishing empire with a loyal subscriber base and a strong independent bookstore
Just to add to the seasonal confusion that has arisen with record high temperatures at the start of October 2011 here are some beach huts. At the end of September Coast magazine announced the winners of their national beach hut competition. Beach hut owners are evangelical about their little sheds of paradise. Such is their popularity that there are over 23,000 beach huts in the UK and the figure is increasing
Linking the east of Edinburgh's city centre to Leith is Easter Road, an area sometimes dismissed as bit grungy but one that's full of life and much beloved of its residents. At the top of the road is popular local hangout The Manna House Bakery which offers 30 types of handcrafted breads and authentic European pastry delicacies freshly baked in store each day. With a New York, Sullivan St Bakery
After forty years of being represented by men; favourably by good friend David Hockney in Mrs and Mrs Clark and Percy (above), and later, less flatteringly in ex-husband, Ossie Clark’s diaries, designer Celia Birtwell is publishing her own story. She chose style writer, Dominic Lutyens to help write about her life and work. In a refreshing contrast to the current trend in autobiographies she has avoided sensational revelations and has
These impressive posters were designed by someone known as Andrew Power in the 1920s and 30s. In fact Andrew Power was a pseudonym used by Sybil Andrews, an acclaimed modernist printmaker who adopted the assumed name apparently in tribute to her studio partner and collaborator Cyril Power. Andrews, who was born in Bury St Edmunds in 1898 and died in 1992, emigrated to Canada after the war where she continued
When, seven years ago, Grace Bonney fired up her computer to start tapping out thoughts about her passion for design, the mighty, opinion-forming blog did not exist and people still sought their ideas and inspiration from print media and television. Soon however Bonney, a southern belle of exquisite sensibilities sharpened by a little New York grit, had attracted – Pied Piper like – an avid following eager to take part
Confined Nomad is a blog by three people who are eating their way around the world without leaving New York City. Using the alphabetical list of UN members as their starting point was not always as simple as its sounds. Cuisines are not defined by the UN; there are regional specialities, there are countries not internationally recognized, there are border disputes, and new countries are being formed all the time.
The Octopus chair may be an amazing feat of technology and design created by artist Maximo Riera but we wonder if it's a bit too Pirates of the Carribean? The artists other chairs include never seen before Walrus, Beetle and Rhino all of which will be on display at 100% Design. Avocado Sweet will be checking it out along with other less scary exhibits at 100% Design London today, 22
Postcard above: Image by photographer, Mickey Smith and text by writer, John Lamb. Abe's Penny is a micro-magazine which combines the brevity of the digital age with the charm of the 19th century. Two hundred years ago novels were mailed to readers in instalments. Abe's Penny, an art and literary journal on a postcard is mailed to readers four times a month. Each month's issue is a collaboration between writer