MLE happy 2016!

I always like when a fresh new year begins after some time off. For my first note of the year, I’d like to tell you about a special little shop I went to when I was in Wales: Jane Beck Welsh Blankets.

One would be surprised to learn that this tiny shop (that we had to drive a few hours into the middle of nowhere and could barely find), actually holds the largest collection of Welsh blankets, new and vintage, anywhere in the world.  They are beautiful!  So of course they have been featured in all the interior magazines, in various television programmes, theatre productions, and even a Vogue fashion shoot. Welsh blankets are a passion for Jane, and you can tell.  Her personal collection has been loaned to museums and is regularly accessed by students and artists.

Wales was once covered with small independent mills and weavers who supplied the local community.  Jane is one of the few people who can accurately identify the date and mill of a particular blanket pattern design/weaving technique.  With the commercialisation of the wool industry at the end of the C19th, almost all these mills have been lost except a handful.

Her Heritage Collection of blankets reproduces some of her favourite vintage patterns, dating from the C18th.  They are made in Wales, as they have always been: at a small independent mill, using age old looms and traditional methods.

In my pictures above, you can see Daniel in awe at the gorgeous blankets everywhere.  You can also see some of the incredible Welsh blankets that were on sale.  Of course we couldn’t leave without one!

Have a nice weekend my friend,

Suzan xx

 

Hey hey MLE,

I was walking around Arnold Circus in Shoreditch when I came across this rather interesting shop, thought I'd write a post.  We will have to go visit it next time you are in London!

I'm surprised I hadn't noticed it before, it has been there for 10 years now evidently.  Samson Soboye, a designer and stylist runs the place and it's full of a really amazing edit of pan-African designers as well as global brand names.  I love the menswear and jewellery best, but there is also womenswear, housewear and tons of shoes.

The man himself is pictured above with a necklace I need, no sorry want. Want not need.

www.soboye.com

Talk Friday!

Suzan  xx

Happy Friday Suzan!

It's that time of year again where I'm on the hunt for calendars. Even though like most people, I do most of my planning these days digitally, I still have a thing for hanging up some good-looking numbers on my wall. Came across this lovely thing once again on the Swiss Miss site – and again immediately thought of you and your knitting talents. It's totally impractical and would last all of 3 minutes at my house within reach of a 1-yr old – but the idea of literally unravelling time is oh so poetic.

Snowy snowy day here in Stockholm, and I'm sitting in a cafe playing Christmas music. And speaking of time slipping by, where on earth did 2012 go??

E xox

Hi Suzan!

Ok, even though this is kind of gross, I can't resist. A silk bacon scarf. So ridiculous it's brilliant. Doesn't it look real? I think it looks so real, you would almost expect it to feel greasy around your neck. And then there's the name –  you don't get puns any better than that! Hmm, maybe a Christmas present for you, my friend? I know how much you love bacon. Mmmmmm.

Found via Swiss-Miss, designed by artist Natalie Luder, you can buy this bit of oily goodness here.

xx E.

Hey MLE!

Ok, check out these amazing tights.  A brilliant idea. So many people are all about silk screening t-shirts.  These ladies have brought silk screening to tights.  Ta da!  I know a friend who has a pair and they look amazing actually being worn.  Their site features a series of really beautifully curated images of patterns, well work a gander. Oh and I love their logo too.

www.patternity.co.uk

Suzan  xx