Friday 12 June 2015

Friday 12th June: The Flower Appreciation Society: An A to Z of All Things Floral













Congratulations Ellie & Anna A.K.A The Flower Appreciation Party who launched their first book last evening at Dalston's Curve Garden.  As Anna originally trained in illustration, the content is a mix of her pencil drawings in amongst the photography of posies and crates of bloom.  Its an alphabetical guide to their unique approach to the art of floristry showing how you can get stuck in yourself and pull off great results.  I particularly love the chapter dedicated to the stall holders at the flower market who are a key role in acquiring the best of the bunch at the break of day.  
The launch was one of those balmy summer nights that rarely strike for English Garden parties and the girls were graced with the longest of the lot, so close to Solstice.  A brass band provided the background buzz and the flutes of fizz were decorated with bobbing pansy and sweet-pea petals.  Guests were also offered the service of their hand-tied hair accessories & pin holes to bring to life the wearable arrangements shot in the book (see bonnet above).  Every detail was considered from the edible flowers in the canapés to their Swan vase used as a vessel at the bar.  This is why I love The Flower Appreciation Party and everything they do - including introducing me to this hidden Narnia enclave of Green in the middle of E8!


Includes:
Anemones and Appreciation, Bouquets and Bees, Colours and Corsages, Delphiniums andDaisies, Edible flowers and Events, Foliage and Forget-me-Nots, Garlands and Gardens, Headbands and Hydrangea, Insects and Irises, Jasmine and Jam jars, Kit and Kitsch, Lily-of-the-Valley and Latin names, Mother's Day and Markets, Narcissus and Nature, Old wives' tales and Orchids, Peonies and Posies, Quick tips and Questions, Roses and Romance, Scents and Seasonality, Tulips and Thyme, Urban legends and Unloved blooms, Vases andValentines, Weddings and Wild flowers . . . And Xylem, Yarrow and Zinnia

Thursday 11 June 2015

Thursday 11th June: Spectrum Spinner










I've had my road bike for a year now (thanks Hackney Peddler)!  Since that time Ive been stopping off infront of street-art to capture it against London's colourful urban canvases!  Before finishing the marathon I signed up to race the RAPHA Womens 100K ride which is coming round quickly now.  I'm getting a new bike made to measure to help me speed up by getting clipped into pedals with cleats ............ finally getting up to speed with the rest of the city's two wheeler community!  More news on that soon...........
(Some of the artwork above by Lakwena, INSA & Camille Walala who took this photo of me infront of her latest commission on Old Street)

Thursday 11th June: "Riviera Style" at The Fashion & Textiles Museum











Before you start your Summer holiday swimwear search, sail down to Bermondsey for the "Riviera Style" show at The Fashion & Textiles Museum.  It's a complete history of the story with a bonus extra exhibition curated by Amber Jane Butchart to coincide with her new book "Nautical Chic".  Here are a few shots of my personal highlights from the displays and snaps of Amber's beautiful hard back anthology.  Whatever era is your favourite time in vintage styles, both of these records are a complimentary chart of the evolution in Oceania trends.  I'm in love with the 60's shapes - the Rudi Gernrich onsie is an unrivalled classic!