I just saw these images for the first time and my heart skipped a beat.
Shot by legendary British photographer Tim Walker, this is the Mulberry Autumn/Winter 2012 campaign, inspired by both the romance and darkness of children's fairytales and creative director Emma Hill's visions of explorers, mysterious stories and fantasy travels.
(and a good dose of 'Where the Wild Things Are' by the looks of it!)
Images: Photographer; Tim Walker, Art Direction; Ronnie Cooke Newhouse and Stephen Wolstenholme at House and Holme
We are no strangers to witnessing the magic that occurs when a collaboration between art director Ronnie Cooke Newhouse and Tim Walker takes place-
Their past Mulberry campaigns have too interpreted visions of beauty from vividly imaginative minds.
This one however has to be my absolute favourite to date!
"London Style Guide takes you on a journey through the heart and soul of London, revealing more than 150 hidden venues that make this city unique"
I like to think that I know the city in which I live pretty well and love to stay clued up on all of it's lesser known gems off the beaten track, for this reason I often find this type of 'hidden London' book boring and repetitive as the same places are mentioned over and over and lack any new ideas to inspire me-
This book however is very different!
It is obvious that a lot of care and attention has been channelled into the project by writer and editor Saska Graville to ensure that the end result became the masterpiece that it is.
Everything from the tactile letterpress texture of the cover to the grainy vintage feel paper pages, the clever prospect of dividing the book into separate 'villages' ready and waiting to be discovered and gorgeous photography from husband and wife team Jess Reftel Evans and Martin Reftel.
With great will power I managed to save reading this for the coach ride up to Newcastle at the weekend and was genuinely overcome with excitement at the prospect of returning to the Smoke so I could make a head start on checking out all of these fabulous recommendations on places to eat, sleep and shop.
This would make a great gift for Londoners and tourists alike and is a very welcome addition to my coffee table collection, I cannot rate it enough!
On Friday morning I embarked on a 7 hour coach trip to my home town of Newcastle Upon Tyne to surprise my Dad for Fathers Day.
To some that pilgrimage may sound like a horrific prospect but in honesty I didn't really mind, I quite enjoy a long journey alone, I find it gives me great space to think.
I had a fab new book (more on that later), a selection of freshly downloaded albums on Itunes to work my way through, a notebook and pen and a whole lot of greenery, sheep and torrential rain for company.
I had already planned to spend Saturday afternoon taking my folks out for an early Fathers day pub lunch in Corbridge, a small market town in the Northumberland countryside.
It's a pretty little town with idyllic stone cottages complete with Farrow & Ball coloured doors, cosy pubs, coffee shops and boutiques selling Emma Bridgewater and Cath Kidston en masse.
All very lovely yet slightly cliched - that is until you discover RE.
Tucked behind a filling station in a converted workshop RE is a haven of collectables and curios, old and new, weird and wonderful.
REclaimed, REcycled, REscued and REstored.
A delightful den of REally unusual found objects for the home.
Open since 2003 I'm not quite sure how I have let this one pass me by unvisited for an unbelievable 9 years!
I have definitely been missing out!
It was brought to my attention by my sister who's photographer friend often sources props here for shoots.
If you ever find yourself in Corbridge RE is well worth a visit and for those of you who rarely leave the bright lights of London town you will be pleased to hear that RE has returned as a permanent concession on the fourth floor of Liberty following the success of their pop up shop last year!
Click on the video below to meet the owners Simon Young and Jenny Vaughan and hear them chat more about the brand.
I have been following the blog Junkaholique for a couple of years now and never fail to be inspired by the beautiful life of jewellery designer and online vintage boutique owner Artemis Russell.
The blog is jam packed with gorgeous photography and interesting insights into her creative world of work and play.
all images credit to Artemis Russell junkaholique.com
Whether she be working on a new design alongside her husband Nao for their jewellery companyRust, sourcing treasures to sell online, camping in their bell tent or campervan (which they lovingly renovated themselves), sewing in her whimsical little garden shed/studio, or exploring some new little town or village in search of a tea and cake fix,
this blog takes you on a magical journey of escapism to a dream like land far far away
all images credit to Artemis Russell junkaholique.com
I have just discovered these 2 amazing rings by designer Noemi Klein, I love them!
ribcage ring
spine ring
images - credit to noemiklein.com
Originating from West Germany Noemi has been designing and making jewellery for over 10 years now.
She also recently collaborated with London based tattoo artist Liam Sparkes to produce a range of mens' jewellery fusing his drawing skills with her artisanal workmanship
The fact that we do not have a garden of our own is not such a big deal given the abundance of green spots we have right on our doorstep.
A couple of weekends ago when a little thing called the sun was putting in a rare appearance I was walking past Strawberry Hill House when I saw a sign stating free entry to their gardens.
A fairytale name and a fairytale view.
On further inspection I discovered a huge lawn in the shadow of the house reminiscent of a bright white Disney castle.
Who knew this little haven complete with coffee shop was hiding here the whole time?!
I shall most definitely be making this my secret garden this Summer. . .
As I travel around London visiting clients I am constantly discovering.
It's one of the things I love most about my job, the freedom to be in a different place every day of the week, exploring neighbourhoods I didn't even know existed and uncovering their hidden gems.
This week I discovered Mel's a lovely little cafe/bar in Earlsfield and enjoyed a coffee in their secret garden before heading to my first appointment of the day.
smaller images credited to www.melscafebar.co.uk
The walls are adorned with music memorabilia from the 60's, 70's and 80's and the retro theme flows throughout the mismatched furniture too.
Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week Mel's has a real homely kind of feel where a warm friendly welcome awaits from the lovely staff.
