If the fairy or star at the top of your Christmas tree is starting to look a little battle scarred maybe it’s time to invest in a beautiful Halinka creation. Originally based on characters from the ballet, the range has expanded to include Christmas and woodland themes as well as, my favoutite, skating couples from around the world. The figures are not cheap, staring at around £20 and rising to
My mother was a huge Heal’s fan in the 60s so these fantastic new tea towels caught my eye. The designs have been taken from the Heal’s archive and screenprinted in the original 1950’s colour palette onto 100% cotton. Each tea towel is 48 x 74 cm and costs £10. Get yours here.
Perhaps not a fashion collaboration you would have predicted but Primark is selling Harris Tweed jackets and waistcoats. Waistcoats are £30 and jackets are £80. All products have the wonderful Harris Tweed label – surely one of the best brand identities and not a branding agency in sight. The Hebridean fabric has a history of bringing beauty to many products over the years – Vans (shoes), Urban Ears (headphones) and
Until now the humble shower curtain seems to have been overlooked by designers but a clever American company called Deny have transformed artists’ illustrations into a wide range of home accessories such as shower curtains, duvet covers, cushions and coasters. The shower curtains aren’t cheap, averaging around $100 each, but it’s not every day your coasters can match your shower curtain.
No it’s not Hawaii. It’s Scotland and the surfer is Frazer Reid, riding the East Swell at St Andrews on a surfboard he made out of wood. Coals and Newcastle come to mind when Frazer explains buyers have travelled from Newquay to Fife to buy the beautiful wooden surfboards which he makes and sells. Although shipping costs proved a bit prohibitive for the enquirers from South Africa and Thailand. Reid
American artist Wendy Gold first gained notoriety decoupaging toilet seats. Always looking for new inspiration, she stumbled across a beautiful antique globe at a flea market and immediately recognised her next canvas. The globes start at £280 which is not cheap but they would make wonderful Christening or wedding presents. More affordable are her maps (bottom) which start at £85. Check out Wendy’s work here.
Still haven’t bought your souvenir to celebrate Andy Murray’s victory at Wimbledon? Here’s a stylish commemorative mug by designer Gillian Kyle and illustrator Clare Forrest. ‘Andy Murray’ was so popular he’s sold out but is back in stock 23 September. Other ‘Local Heroes’ include Robert Burns, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Mary Queen of Scots and Alexander Graham Bell. Gillian, who is known for her range of Tunnocks teacakes and caramel wafer
Rachel Collins, like many of us, was taught to knit by her grandmother. Unlike most of us however, who never got beyond pointless squares and gappy Doctor Who style scarves, she has gone on to be the creative force behind Selvage, a young company based in Crossgates, Fife which sells beautiful, supersoft Fair Isle blankets, scarves and cushions in the muted tones of the Scottish landscape. Rachel, who grew up