Category Archives: Out And About

Greenwich Market

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Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny and warm day and I decided to go to the antiques market in Greenwich with C. because I wanted to look for some treasures. We got there early and had a coffee and hot chocolate on a terrace while basking in the warm morning sun. I’ve found some wonderful treasures, a Noritake tea set: six cups and saucers, six small side plates, a sugar bowl, a milk jug and a cake plate. The back mark seems from between 1911 and 1941.

I also found a cup and saucer by George Jones & Sons, Staffordshire and two tiny Chinese bowls to add to my rice pattern collection. And I bought three beautiful old books: I love how they’re bound, the covers and old pictures. One needs restoration work on the back but I learnt how to bind books while attending graphic art school so I can do some of it myself. It’s weird if you think of the fact that this book belonged to someone else over a hundred years ago…

The market is closed down as of next week, another beautiful and vibrant place gone because the borough sold the land to a property developer. These are the kind of places that make London London to me… Such a shame, but I’m happy I have something that reminds me of a beautiful day I got to spend there!

George Jones & Sons, Blue Dragon c.1891-1920

Noritake, c.1911-1941

Old books

Old books

Old books

Old books

Summer Fair

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‘The worst-tempered people I’ve ever met were the people who knew they were wrong.’

Wilson Mizner

I went to the Summer Fair yesterday and was extremely disappointed about the whole thing. I thought it would be some really interesting design show but I didn’t see anything new or innovative just a repeat of what has already been out there. And this fair claims to be about the latest trends, well sorry… but it was all waaaaay to contemporary and just plain boring. I can’t believe people would actually be willing to pay an entrance fee for this [25 pounds I think]. I’ve seen far more interesting stuff on the internet design-wise by independent artists and/or designers and for free.

Perhaps I’ve got it all wrong, perhaps I have different standards and I dare to admit that these might be slightly high but I do recognise when hot air is being sold. I got this ‘Disneyland’ feeling *being sarcastic* while I was there so I guess my expectations were too high. Also an incident with a trader from Isleworth who seemed to have some personality issue on the edge of paranoia/aggression, made me want to leave. The other people at the stand had to make up for his behaviour by apologising about five times… I’m sure his attitude and his so not-worth-mentioning-products won’t bring him much business.

There were a few really nice stands though, there was one that showed amazing furniture and accessories handmade from natural reclaimed and recycled materials. And another that had funny metallic wind spinners, unfortunately the links to their websites don’t work so I can’t show them here. Still I was in and out in about 45 minutes and spent the rest of the day enjoying the unexpected sun and the wonderful company of my friend KB. and her partner. It was quite windy though, 28mph according to the BBC weather forecast, but it was nice to have a stroll around the area.

Back to work today… I’m gonna be sketching for a few hours for the online glove shop and will work on my own project which happens to be an online shop as well.

Best design to be found outside the building rather than inside