All Things Considered

Will Self on the Brompton

A link from the Brompton folding bicycle website led me to this article by Will Self in The Independent:

"It was love at first sight – the first time I saw a Brompton folding bicycle, I fell in love with it. All right, perhaps this is an exaggeration on all fronts: it wasn't the first time I'd seen one, but the first time I'd really noticed it – or her.

And it was not so much love – an emotion, I concede, that unless you're seriously perverted, only truly exists between sentient beings – as a kind of lusty covetousness; but, you can take it from me, it was a very strong feeling, and one that has only increased over the years I've either had a Brompton between my thighs, or hefted one in my arms."

Read the article in full (Portait by Andy Sewell)

Castor & Pollux - Brighton

On the road again on Thursday. A night in London, then down to Brighton ready for the opening of Angie's exhibition of prints at Castor & Pollux in Brighton. If you're in the area between 6-9pm this Friday (October 24th) pop in for a drink. It's going to be very tempting to see Underworld who play in Brighton the same evening.

Back to London on Saturday, then Angie heads off to the Curwen to work on new lithographs. More news on that soon.

River Cottage Store & Canteen

We're just back from a trip to the South West for the opening of Angie's exhibition at Hybrid in Honiton.

Took the the opportunity to try Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage Canteen in Axminster. Located at the back of their local produce store, the Canteen showcases food from the South West, open pretty much throughout the day. I guess that knowing so much about HFW and River Cottage from the various TV shows and books, it could potentially have been a disappointment. But no such worries. Great service, friendly staff and very hearty food. I think we would have felt we'd earnt it more if we'd walked round the Golden Cap estate that day, not the day after.

Squob.com

Earlier this year I posted a blog about the Dutch motor-home site Tonke. Although the pictures of the motors were great, my understanding of the Dutch text was not so great, so I confess to knowing little about the beautiful vehicles at the time.

Then this week I received an email from Chris from the Recreational Vehicle blog, Squob, Informing me that he had just posted information about Tonke's in English.

After reading the article I flicked around the Squob site. It is brilliant if you're interested in diverse forms of mobile architecture and like to dream about roaming around, mortgage free.

"Squob is the only RV website focusing on good design. We cover the most interesting new vehicles and classics from the past."

The site is full of  images and information on trailers, motor homes, expedition vehicles and caravans both vintage and modern. It has links to some amazing images on Flickr, including a pick of Squob's top ten best RV images from the Flickr Group Squobstock.

Dovecot Studios - Edinburgh

On Saturday 27th September you’ll be able to visit the newly renovated Dovecot Tapestry Studio in its new home  - a former Victorian baths in Edinburgh’s Old Town.

In August I had a chance to see the current exhibition which displays a range of the tapestries created over the past 50 years through the collaboration of the Dovecot’s weavers with a range of  artists including Bawden, Moore, Paolozzi and Hockney. Dovecot Studios, 10 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EH1 1LT www.dovecotstudios.com

Ballerina Ballroom in Nairn

We spend a good part of the year not too far from Nairn, on the Moray coast in North East Scotland.

Sod's law, we're going to be back south when the first Ballerina Ballroom Cinema of Dreams is taking place between August 15-23rd 2008.

From this weekend's Scotland on Sunday...

"Cannes it may not be, but Tilda Swinton is hoping to place her quiet Scottish hometown on the world stage.

The award-winning actress is behind a film festival which will be launched in the Moray community of Nairn this summer.

The Ballerina Ballroom Cinema of Dreams event is the brainchild of the Chronicles Of Narnia actress along with Mark Cousins, a former director of the Edinburgh Film Festival, and the Oscar-winning writer/director Joel Coen."

Read the full article online

Tonke Campers

A friend and fanatical camper-van admirer sent me a link to this Dutch website, Tonke Campers. These beautiful hand-crafted wooden units have the combined look of classic yachts and gypsy caravans with quality, retro styled interiors.

The functionality of these carriages look fabulous and there seems to be heaps of space in them too. I like the fact you can release the carriage from the vehicle allowing you to set up camp so you are then able to drive off without having to make sure everything inside is secure and put away.

As you would expect, they're not cheap but if holidaying in one rather than owning one is tempting, then there are two Fieldsleepers available for hire.

Unfortunately, the site doesn't have a English version but with the help of Babel Fish and a little linguistic imagination, you can get the gist of what Tonke Campers are all about.

Tinsmiths

Friday night saw the opening of a new exhibition in Ledbury. Hosted by our friends at Tinsmiths, it was a bit of a first for us - combining the printed work of Angie and Mark Hearld with the fabrics they've designed.

Phoebe and everyone at Tinsmiths had done a fantastic job of hanging the work in what is an almost domestic setting - all housed in a thoroughly modern showroom designed and built by Alex Clive.

We've always had an instinctive sense of exactly what St. Jude's is all about and why we set it up in the first place - but it was great to walk in another space and seeing how our work has been interpreted. Inspirational.

The exhibition runs until 12th April 2008 and you can view the work online. In addition, any personal callers to Tinsmiths can enjoy a 10% discount on our St. Jude's printed fabrics when purchased by the metre.

Knockando Woolmill - The Movie

It's been great working with Hugh Jones at the Knockando Woolmill who produces our woollen throws.

The Mill is mainland Scotland's last surviving small district spinning and weaving mill and was a finalist in the BBC's Restoration series in 2004.

It's an exciting time for Knockando Woolmill Trust as they are hoping to secure funding for a £3 million restoration project. Find our more about the Trust

This short film gives a great overview of the Mill as it stands and the plans for the future.

If you're not seeing a movie above, you can view direct at YouTube.

You Only Live Twice...

Perhaps you need to be a Bond obsessive to have the real desire to stay the night afloat Dutch waters in a bright orange capsule decked out with sheepskin, sleeping bags, disco ball, champagne, DVD player and movies and a chemical loo.

The converted lifeboat, the Capsule Hotel is currently docked in The Hague, a short walk from the city centre.

There may not be a helipad or parking for an Aston Martin, but a bicycle with luggage stand and lock on is available on application.