Rainy Portobello Markets

So, it's been a while. london has kept me somewhat busy, but lately i have been feeling uninspired and i love in this great city and have so many awesome things to do, i have made it my lil project that each weekend i do something different. So today i decided to revisit Portobello Market in Notting Hill. Armed with my trusty ol' camera and my Aussie friend, Lauren, and what started off as good weather, which in true london style changed by the time we got to Notting Hill.

It rained, and rained hard needless to say. brollies in hand, we strolled down Portobello Road, trodding in puddles, dancing down the rain. Red velvet Hummingbird cupcakes were had, and a few laughs too.

Polaroid loving. 

Not too many pictures due to the rainy day. needless to say as i stepped off my tube home the sun came out. typical.

We've got a secret and we can't keep it!

Topshop has kept much of London and New York in absolute suspense with their "Secret Store". The doors were opened today at both London and New York flagship stores, as well as online at Topshop. This pop up store aims to reinvent fashion through flowers. Arrays of one-off hand-crafted pieces which have been created by London and New York's renowned designers of Limited Edition Topshop Boutique.

A pop-up "wild at heart" florist has "sprung" up in the Topshop flagship store on Oxford street , and  decided to pop in yesterday! Amazing to say the least. Low key lighting, allowing the pieces to speak for themselves. Potted plants for sale too at the entrance to the pop up store. Such a lovely idea in time for spring (although it doesn't really feel like spring is in the air at all!

These are a few of my favourite things :)

Seeing these items in the flesh added a whole new dimension to them, feeling all the beautiful fabircs, the lighting, the pop up store vibe, being in Topshop's flagship store, created a great atmosphere for "the secret that can't be kept"

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Project Ocean

The Ocean is a source of inspiration, has inspired many an artist, is a source of food and a place for recreation, but is now under threat due to over-fishing and poor fishing practices.

From 11 May to 12 June 2011, Selfridges are partnering with more than 20 environmental and conservation groups to celebrate the beauty of the ocean. Together they will highlight the issue of over-fishing, to help us understand the threats to the ocean and to help us make positive choices about the right fish to buy and eat.

They have also created a range of products as part of their campaign. I just love their tee shirts!

Lets create awareness and help save the nemo's of the sea....

Successfully Living by Diesel together with Moroso

Moroso and Diesel worked together to create a collection of products that had a comfortable and relaxed mood gaining its inspiration from an informal lifestyle. They targeted the products at consumers who like simple shapes and simultaneously seeking a "modern" style which is made up of Modernisms iconic "simple shapes". 

Moroso worked with Diesel's creative team to develop both an alternative and interesting collection concept which was to represent who very opposing aspects of a certain contemporary trends: one which is darker in tone, inspired by the underground world with more of an aggressive and enigmatic aesthetic, whilst the other is lighter, inspired by nature and a visual radiance consisting of soft and welcoming shapes. 

All of the above produced the Camp and Rock collections. The first consisting of a sofa, the Nebula Nine Sofa. This resembles a large soft cloud. This lends itself to generous shapes which allow for you to sit or lie on the large, soft cushions which have been upholstered  in stonewash linen cushions thus making the sofa an ideal space for relaxing and socialising. The sofa is constructed from a wooden frame throughout making it very strong and compact. The Cloudscape Chair offers the same experience and feelings. Made up of the same large cushions that define its space and support the seat for unique comfort.

Nebula Nine Sofa

Cloudscape Chair

The Camp collection also includes a series of other products in hand-painted wood: the Overdyed Lounge Chair, Overdyed Side Chair as well as two small tables. A unique, important paint technique is used (ragging) means that the natural streaks of the wood are revealed, and when coloured and then wiped away, creates a vintage effect. The support structures are in black-painted steel adding contrast.

                                             Overdyed Side Chair             Overdyed Lounge Chair

The Rock collection is completely the opposite, one where Diesel is linked to the music world, concerts and the visual idiom. Xraydio 2 Disc is a rectangular occasional table is made by printing an X-ray of a DJ console onto glass and use colours of the night with shade from the electric blue to black. The effect of the transparency is retained and is evocative, strong and highly iconographic. This process was applied to the small Xraydio 1 Razza table with different images printed on: ray of fish swimming against a blue background.   

Xraydio 2 Disc

Xraydio 1 Razza

The 3-panel screen Xraydio 3 Natura Morta which has a photographic image printed onto it which plays with the archetype of a 17th Century still life. A further referemce tp the rocker style has been introduced through the use of studs used on the Bar Stud stools and the Ego Stud mirror.

Xraydio 3 Natura Morta

Bar Stud

Ego Stud

A truly reflect of the collection item is the Flightcase storage unit which was inspired by the trunks that musicians to carry their instruments in whilst on tour, available in both two and three doors, and available in black and white. 

The collection was describes as "The best thing about this collection is that it's alternative and different. Each product has its own strong identity yet its value increases even further when all the items live together, strengthened by a laid-back, fun and rocker vibe and creating an interesting mood as shown in the fine images by Massimo Gardone which are to be included in the Successful Living from Diesel with Moroso catalogue".

info courtesy of Moroso and Diesel

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it's been a while.... and i have a new "home"

london. has been my home for a month already and it has been kind to me. but also not so kind. life is different here. flat hunting. job hunting. all the not so nice things are making me unhappy with this place. BUT then there are LOVELY things about this place, the adventures put a huge smile on my face. i do just love this place. i just need to make it my new home.

so these are some snaps from adventure day 1, exploring london town and being a typical tourist!

On our (my friend Jen and i) adventure day we strolled along Oxford Street, ok we didn't stroll, people here don't stroll, it was a fast passed walk or you face the chance of being trampled, we walked past Selfridges! wow i do love this department store. I would LOVE to have even the tiniest thing to do with their window display design! wow.

Selfridges have the most amazing home&leisure department, well everything is just great there!

On our second day of adventures we went to a Dutch festival in Trafalgar Square. Surrounded  by orange and festivities, live bands appeared on stage and to say the least i was in my element. in London, watching live bands and living my dream. i felt like i had waited my whole life for this moment. stood in Trafalgar Square, live bands, of whom i knew none, and appreciated where i was and how i had thought up this day many years ago. my adventure as begun. 

National Gallery gloriousness

Camden Town day- went to meet up with some friends and had fun walking around the market and experiencing a very different side of london. punk kids flooding the streets advertising tattoo and piercing shops. doc martins on mass and stall after stall selling the same stuff. 

Cyberdog, trance store 

*WE COME TOGETHER NO MATTER THE WEATHER*

so goldfsh did a little euro tour and were kind enough to pop into london. ah a little bit of home and all the "saffa's" going mad! 

also have popped into Paris during my time here. :D 

                                                             

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...Taste some Tea...

So my mum, dad and i decided to go tea tasting at Contessa, a tea connoisseur in Rivonia. This was right up my alley, me and tea and just great friends. They had set out 6 different infusions of tea and underneath were descriptions as to what each tea consisted of and how long you should let it brew for, and we were given timers in order to time..... was just glorious!!

All the different infusions

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