1960 Rome Olympics

We are just back from a few days in Rome. The city is full of the most spectacular architecture - it is just mind-blowing looking at the Pantheon and the Colosseum. My most exciting discovery though was well off the tourist track. We were just on our way to the Maxxi when we stumbled across this extraordinary building. It is the basketball arena from the Rome Olympics in 1960. It has such a pleasing modern feel - beautiful shapes that really make you smile. Luckily we were there just as they were cutting the long grass and were able to pop our heads in. The interior is just as spectacular - a lovely honey coloured light and a roof that makes you feel as though you are in the centre of a sunflower. Bellissima!

Car Park update

Here is an update in my collection of concrete car park mouldings (see October 2011). This one is just south-west of Holborn. It is a wonderful piece of modernist sculpture!

Realisation 01

These extraordinary images are from 'Realisation 01' - a collaborative project between weaver Lucie Beauvert and architect Paol Kemp. It was installed on a rooftop in Peckham - I love the glimpses of views beyond the parapet. It's a thoughtful, playful piece, exploring concepts of space, line and volume. 

There is more about the project here: http://cargocollective.com/realisation01

A Clean Sweep

We are just settling into our lovely new studio. We have spent the last few weeks putting up shelves and organizing yarn. It is a beuatiful space with amazing light and panoramic views.

 

I am feeling very smug having made a little corner for all our brushes... and of course our lovely new yellow kettle. Believe me - these are the kind of details that really matter!

 

Beautiful Yarns Update - Ana Kras

Many thanks to Francesca Colussi who has tracked down the designer of the beautiful shades. Her name is Ana Kras - this is her site :
http://www.anakras.com/main.php

Here are a couple more images of the lamps. There are lots of other beautiful pieces on Ana's site.

Beautiful Yarn

We are just back from showing the blankets at Maison et Objet in Paris. The show is huge, with lots of beautiful things from all over the world. One of the things which really caught my eye though was actually in a little Japanese Bento restaurant in central Paris.

I love these lamp shades. They are very simple -  just coloured yarn wrapped around a wire frame. The result is beautiful - the light leaks through the fibres and the effect is like colouring with a felt-tip pen.

 The place is called Nanashi and is on the Rue de Paradis. They do good soba noodles too!

Matthew Hilton

A couple of months ago the celebrated furniture designer Matthew Hilton came to visit us at the studio. We were in complete chaos, in the midst of packing up orders... but clearly he could picture beyond the sea of cardboard boxes...

Matthew's furniture is effortlessly elegant... really strong contemporary design. Here is the Quail's Egg blanket looking at its most sophisticated, sitting on his beautiful Hepburn bed, with the Marker thrown over the gable wall.

And again, folded on the writing desk.  I love the confidence of the lines and the real affinity with the materials in all of Matthew's work -
http://matthewhilton.com/accessories/industry/#577