Swans

July 2005 H&G Fantasy garden

Really like both these photos and they just belong together...

Styled by Emily McGregor

SHOWstudio

I walked past the SHOWstudio ship on Bruton street the other day, and it's looking very interesting. The shop sells bespoke objects from shoots and catwalk shows, and photographic prints.

I like this flag created by John Galliano,

this greenhouse by Simon Costin which was created for the Albion cosmetics campaign and photographed by Tim Walker,

and these giant cherries also by Simon Costin, which are made of painted fibreglass and resin. The shop is on 1-9 Bruton Place, London W1 or online at

Http://shop.showstudio.com/index.php

But beware - it's certainly not cheap!

Sofia Coppola

I've heard various people say recently that they find film director Sofia Coppola irritating, but I have to say I really like her style. Above and below are excerpts from an article for NY times where she picked her favourite places in Paris.

They include Alaia, vintage couture shop Didier Ludot, florist Odorantes, Sabbia Rosa for lingerie and restaurants ranging from Cafe de Flore to Chez Allard.

Absolutely love the back of this dress and the clutch she designed for Louis Vuitton.

The world of Sofia was also featured in June's French Vogue.

I like the way she takes something really quite chic but then messes it up such as a black silk Prada cocktail dress with undone hair, or her sitting room below which looks relaxed but elegant.

Portmeirion

The other night I had dinner at a friend's Dad's house and his china is all from that traditional British pottery, Portmeirion and we got chatting about the village Portmeirion itself and what fun it is.

The village was built over a period of 50 years starting in 1925 and was the dream of architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis.

It's a real fantasty world with a higgedly-piggedly mix of different architecture incorporating fragments of demolished buildings all mixed together in a rather surprising way. The quirkiness of it is just great and in addition there are a wealth of exotic plants, avenues of rhodendrons and a stunning position on the Welsh coast.

Apparently Williams-Ellis started dreaming of this project when he was just five years old!

Portmeirion was famously the backdrop for the cult 1960s tv series The Prisoner, but was also where Noel Coward wrote Blithe Spirit and boasts guests ranging from filmstars Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck to legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright who can be seen below going over plans with William-Ellis himself.

If you haven't been already I would definitely recommend it - so inspiring!

Day at the beach

There might not have been so many sunny days at an English beach this year, so for me our Anzu Day at the beach candle has been perfect so I can at least attempt to remember what it's like to walk along the beach in the summer with the fresh sea air!

I first thought about doing candles when I walked along this beach - St. Merryn bay in Cornwall where my friend and I go to stay at her great auntie's cottage each year. It's so beautiful with the wild grasses and clover and the freshly scented air that I thought how lovely it would be to have that scent in a candle and to launch a quintessentially English range of candles.

This Summer hasn't been so kind though, so I thought I'd post a couple of Riviera photos, where the Summer is rather warmer.

I love the palette of bright yellow and turquoise in these Amanda Pratt photographs and I used a watered down version of this palette for my Day at the beach paintings. I think these photographs are stunning and they just encapsulate perfect lazy Summer days spent with friends.

The picture below is so funny I think and by one of my favourite photographers Jacques Henri Lartigue.

Vintage phones

As you probably know I love vintage Hollywood-esque style and one thing I especially like are vintage phones, so I loved the post over at Habitual Chic http://habituallychic.blogspot.com

As Habitually chic writer, Heather Clawson says of the picture above 'How decadent would it be to talk on an old phone while taking a bubble bath?'

My 1920s cream Bakelite phone takes pride of place next to my sofa ready for long, lazy chats.

Love the phone but also the handlettering of the YSL logo as seen in this shot from Yves Saint Laurent's home.

There are lots of old phones that have been rewired on Ebay so be sure to take a look. I think I'd like a red one next.

Book plant pots

I really want to order a couple of these (found via http://seesawdesigns.blogspot.com) but they are from www.tokyopistol.com and right now I can't read Japanese so I suppose I'll have to wait!

Patent cards

Our brand new patent cards are here! Inspired by the fashions of this season, our cards have fun, punchy colours with a high gloss finish and an embossed word be it 'happy' or 'bling'. Call us on 020 7193 0189 or email us at info@anzu.co.uk if you would like to see the whole collection.

Falling stars

Tonight and tomorrow night are the nights for falling stars - so crane your neck and do some star-gazing..

Image londoncommons.ca

Sketching

The lovely Saffiah has been doing an internship with us this week. She has been doing general work as well as doing some sketches to make my illustrations into repeat patterns. She is extremely talented and I love what she has done! Thank you Saffiah.

And heres me - we were taking it in turns to sketch and have our photo taken!

Patent

As you may know, I recently had to paint this Alexander McQueen patent tote for New York Fashion week. It got me set on a train of thought, a spate of designing, and a new range of cards that we just received today.

High gloss, lipstick red,bright orange, embossed texture

and cheerful neon colours which are so on trend right now all inspired the range. Check back next week to see the brand new cards they inspired!