London Design Week #2

So.... I am on my way back to Scotland after a long week of design fun. In total I managed to get to four design shows, three exhibitions, 1 museum, 4 restuarants, 2 pubs and countless shops. My feet, my brain and my credit card are all very tired. But it was definitely worth it..........

100 % Design



This was probably one of the best shows I saw whilst down there. Hundreds of innovative designs and ideas. One of my most favorite was the inflate stand..... the inflate boys have now developed an outdoor room, a mini extension, so that you can have a studio/living room/office in your garden. Made with a series of inflatable pillows, wooden beams, and glass panels...... its warm, ambient and entirely cool. All hail AirClad!

http://www.inflate.co.uk/frontpage.html

My mate Roddy MacIntrye works at inflate and should be extremely proud of all his hard work..... I especially liked the luminous pink carpet and working 'space invaders' game. Attention to detail. love it.

Talking about attention to detail, I was thrilled to see my mate Liam from Lazerian there. The Manchester power house who brought you the Mensa table and lighting have now branched out into jewelery and have such a following that they have their own newspaper. Who doesn't love the dog?

http://www.lazerian.co.uk/news.php

Another section of the show that was really interesting was the 'sustainable toys' area. Young designers that have just graduated had come up with toy solutions. Recycling had never looked so fun and who would have thought that some well placed stickers could turn an empty deodorant stick into a tiny space man. Slightly disturbed by the 'twin teddy' though. A teddy, made out of the child's placenta. I think I'll stick to making puppets out of socks.



Just before we left, we hit the DESIGNERS BLOCK...... a magical world of cactus chairs, flock wall paper and a tree house made out of trays. The usual suspects were there, showing us how it's done, hats off to Ella Doran and the Timorous Beasties team for setting the standards.

London Design Week

Hello all,

I am down in London town, swooning on all the hugely talented people who have gathered here this week to showcase their work. Bob and I went to Tent on Thursday at the Truman Brewery and spent most of yesterday wondering around 100 % design at Earls Court. These clever clogs have worked day and night to create exhibits which awaken ones senses, with a barrage of colour, texture, giant lighting installations and huge inflatable rooms....

So lets start with Thursday.....

Tent was great, with some real stand out designers, in particular Caroline Ritchie and her textiles, furniture and wall pieces...... if you want some happy,love,colour,fun in your life than her beautiful patterns are right up your street. Think Sailor Jerry/frida khalo/baroque house of cards...... Corita Rose, is the name of her company and her giant sofa is now firmly on my wish list.

Another very talented lady is 'original little bird'- surface pattern by Gabi Bolton. Lovely, soft, batik esque textiles in muted yet rich tones.......So much detail and careful printing that you want each design in every colour. She had a dress that was made out of her fabric too, tres chique and what a clever way to show the versatility of her work.

I didn't just swoon on textiles, but they seem to be very big this year..... another artist which caught my eye was Kyeok Kim and her re-transplation of objects installation. She is going to continue to wow folk for some time yet..... a big hit for visual arts and stood out as a non functional piece of design.

Along the same lines was James Plumb..... a vintage/nostaligic feel to the work, yet left a very strong impression, due to the superior finish on all the pieces. Tim Burton would want to hang out with James. And whilst inside the giant black tent ( complete with real floor boards0, part of me wanted hang out there too.

Off to the V & A now to look at the ceramics. Will tell all about 100 % design tommorrow. Until then xxxx

Kitty & Dude on Edinburgh's skinny.co.uk

Just in case you haven't heard enough from me. Kitty & Dude has an interview written up on the skinny. Check it out! And fingers crossed y'all Digg it.

The Gathering is approaching........

So only 15 days to go until the worlds largest Highland Games. On the 25th & 26th July Kitty and Dude in conjunction with Angharad Jefferson will be showcasing our talents at The Gathering 2009!

This is going to be the biggest 'gathering' of the Clans ever staged..... with all sorts of Highland festivities and people are coming from all over the globe.

So, with an audience like that Angharad and I have been hard at work creating all sorts of ceramic and embroidered delights.

We'll have cushions, kilt hose, plates, brooches, tiles, framed work, ornamental Haggai (yes really) and many more treats. This is the first time we will be showing our joint efforts, so we need lots of support. It should be an awesome event and a great day out, one which you can round off perfectly with some home grown, uber stylish, design led souvenirs..............

If the tartan thing is not your vibe then pop along anyway and have a swatch at Angharad's beautiful batch of new work and the ever expanding Kitty & Dude collection; that teamed with food, beer (specially brewed Gathering Ale) and world class, history making Highland Games.... what more could you want for your £15.


Fingers crossed we'll see you all there............ had better be off and get glazing.

Kitty & Dude xxx

Macaroons and swoons

Hello from London town.......

Having a very lovely time down here and have been keeping myself busy. I took on North London, the first two days and am now exploring the delights of the South side.

I have managed to hit most of my London wish list:

I visited all of the shops, barr Shelf cuase it was shut and swooned at all the beautiful things they stock, also came across a few jems on the way.
Caravan is definetely a contender for my most favorite space in london alongside Atelier Abigail Ahern, beautiful and witty things everywhere.

However, yesterday I went to Laudree for afternoon tea with my Godmother. And it took my breath away. An emazing tea room, with gorgeous pastel shades everywhere, from the menus to the packets of sugar, no detail was left chance. And the rows and rows of gorgeous multicoloured macaroons....... like wee jewels lined up for eating.

Sadly, no photography is allowed inside Lauderee and I'm not surprised, with a Parisian interior like that, I'd keep the paps out too. A must visit for all who like to indulge in a bit of Marie Antionette funtimes. Let them eat cake, pah! Let them eat macaroons !!

London Town and Liberty

Greetings all,


So off I pop, down to London with all sorts of ceramic samples and business cards. It shall be a week of cruising Elle Decors most stylish boutiques in the hope of some interest.


Followed by a weekend at Collect, admiring all the gorgeous craft council worthy work.... particularly looking forward to seeing Becca Wilson's 'Eat Me, Keep Me' collection, that was just featured (10th May) in the Sunday Times Style Mag. Well done missus!


After all that hob knobbing and swooning my visit will be topped off with a wee meeting with Liberty (yes, that shop on Regents Street), with the hope of seducing them with my ceramic delights. Fingers crossed!



On my London Wish List:

• Pizza at 'that amazing pizza restuarant' in Brixton Market.


• A wee look around in : Labour of Love, Twenty twenty one, Few and Far, Shelf, Comfort Station, Caravan and F-Art.


• Macaroons from Lauduree


• Sunshine and funtimes at BBQ with my mates.


• Lunch at Trinity.


• A wee trip to the South Bank centre.


• Dinner at 'Hot Stuff' with Stockwell Inc.


• A wonder down Brick Lane.


• An afternoon in the V & A.


• And afterrnoon tea at Treacle

My Gosh, wont I be busy....... and full. Am planning to stretch this out over several days, so panic not!

I shal keep you updated with my progress and if anyone can think other places/activities I should add to my wish list then let me know.

toodle pip for now
love Kitty and Dude xxx

Have just uploaded some Kitty and Dude products onto mydeco. Fingers crossed they get a warm welcome. http://www.mydeco.com/

Happy Easter Everyone! Hope that the Easter Bunny is good to you.

Just a quick note before I disappear for the weekend, if anyone would like to order a piece of Kitty and Dude stock, then simply visit www.velvetboutique.co.uk and look for me under the 'interiors' section.

The website will be 'all singin, all dancin', very soon.... so please bare with us.

Ohhh... and here is a picture of my ornamental grenades. What do you think? Those who like the grenades, I have a piece in the RSA Spring Open called 'Willow Warfare', which is full of Grenades and Willow pattern. Show opens next Saturday at the Royal Scottish Academy on the Mound in Edinburgh. Come and have a wee swatch.

Toodle pip for now and Happy Egg hunting.......

Much love Kitty & Dude xxx