This week I went to the Emma Bridgewater factory in Stoke on Trent with The Calico Club. We started with a tour of the factory, being very naive about the process of making pots I was gobsmacked by the level of work that goes into each of EB pieces. After that, we heard from Emma about starting the business; it was inspiring to hear of a 23-year-old woman set herself this mammoth task. I can tell you I ended up with a bit of a girl crush; she asked the handful of Calico Club member whether the tour was what we were expecting, I an excited 6-year-old shouted 'Better!', which has been haunting me ever since.
After that we went to The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, where we visited Ozzie the Owl, along with 637 Cow Creamers and a tremendously big punch bowl, I could have spent the whole day there. So now that Milan has been postponed perhaps a trip North?
Anywho, let's get on with the matter in hand, the weekly round up!
1) Sometimes the round-ups can miss out the stalwarts of the British High Street in favour for smaller brands, but I shall try and rectify this as its good to support ones high street and add a little bit of affordable design into the mix. This John Lewis & Partners Twist Wooden Table Lamp is terrific. Also, if you want to make it a real high street hero, I would add the white pleated lampshade from H&M that I mentioned in a previous round-up. The lamp costs £55.
2) Couverture & The Garbstore is an excellent shop in Notting Hill, great for clothes & design alike. There must be a seriously good buyer hanging around there as I always come away with quite a few things on my wish list, This Round Splash Vase Lemon, £55, by Hay has firmly nailed its place on the list.
3) Rectory Blue offers long-lasting well built pieces of furniture. They will paint said pieces in any colour from Farrow & Ball or Little Greene and deliver them from their workshop to your door, what's not to like about that! The piece that caught my eye was The Painted Scandi Bar Stools, £169, from Rectory Blue
4) Annie Coop popped into my inbox this week and promptly shoved someone off my pre-planned round-up. But for me, I was so excited about seeing her designs I had to get it out quickly. My eye was instantly seduced by the colours & pattern. If you think they are a bit of you, email Annie at hi@anniecoop.com
5) What is not to like about Ferm Living, not much. Like Hay, they are continually expelling terrific designs. I thought this lamp from Ferm was a bit of beauty, Hebe Lamp Base small, 135 euros.
6) Stride & Co have some of the best furniture I have seen. There isn't a piece I wouldn't be proud to have in my home. But as Tat is so keen on candlelight, I thought I would shout out to this completely smashing Forge Steel Candelabra, £250
7) I recently put up the home of Sergei Bobovnikov's in St. Petersburg on my Instagram. There is a beautiful shot of a day bed; eagle-eyed Gina SkilBeck noticed that the day bed looked very similar to the Hemnes Day Bed from Ikea. Whether it is or not, this day bed is an ace addition to the home with lots of storage underneath, £215, from Ikea.
8) Octaevo won its place in my heart with there fantastic paper vases, a lot of design with a minimal price tag. Now they have revisited a traditional design and given it a very colourful update, Sicilia Ceramic Basket Large, 52,50 euros.
9) Gorgeous George has done it again and made a 'Painted lidded stoneware vase.' And it is a real beauty, £185, for more information got to Ceramics made by George.
10) Let's finish off with a Tat Favourite, Cart House! Always such a good selection on their website. This delight of a bench is two thumbs up for me, meant for the garden, but I would love it in a hallway, £280.
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