"... if obejcts were more useful, cheerful and altogether more friendly then that's miles better."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gallery/2009/jul/08/wood-exhibition-ethical-homeware?picture=349962094 found at http://brainfood.howies.co.uk

When ideas are running faster than fingers can type...

... I end up with an overload of stuff I want to post but no time to, as I want to go enjoy the sunshine before the big hot ball of fire disappears again. It doesn't help that my computer crashed yesterday while typing up a long homage to umbrellas.

So, number 1 : http://www.wejetset.com/ which I came across when googling opening times for the Magma shop in Manchester where I'm planning to buy some artfartfashion mags the read in the sun. It looks one of the many designer's shopping heaven. Well, for the designers with similar taste buds to mine anyway (Jack: know it?) Never mind the cringe worthy shop name. They also generally look like they take themselves too a bit too seriously, brrr. Found some wantful wonderfully ueberpractical and very designed things. The mac book hardcover is one (I should probably be more gentle with mine in any case, case or no case), another is a pitter patter umbrella (as shown above and opened to the right).

And then ... I keep coming across them... the desire to own one grows stronger every time..

Beautiful?

Being the perfect opposite of the accurate digital photos, sometimes even photoshopped afterwards (which I thoroughly enjoy myself) , the result of lomophotography is charmingly unforeseeable. The hues that can be achieved are unique and stunning. Unfortunately I actually know nothing about these cameras, will research & ask around before purchasing.

http://shop.lomography.com/shop/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/lomography/

Oh yes, numero dos: howies sample sale in Manchester starts today and is on till Sunday! Woohoo! I was going to resort to ebay (jeans? risky business.) but this is superduper news!

http://brainfood.howies.co.uk/2009/03/manchester-sample-sale-3/

Ciao for now!

Howies add on

And this in their catalogue referring to their big carbon footprint on Merino they use but they are trying to improve.
(How many posts have I already made this week?! Guess this is what an office job does to me. )

Hand me down Howies

This week made clear: it's spring! On Wednesday was spent in lotus position on a rooftop on a woolen blanket with tea lights in jam jars (long live jam jars!) and bottles of wine, kept warm in woollen Fjallraven/Barbour Katie K jumpers; it had been sunny, hazy and mild all day. Daffodils, cherry blossoms, cardigan weather. Mhhmmmmmmm...

On that rooftop, Katie came to talk about Howies clothing and how awesome they were. I didn't know them (gasp!) and looked 'em up the next day. Indeed, awesome the are. One unique concept is 'Hand-me-downs' http://hmd.howies.co.uk/ : "These products have been made to last. So that one day you can hand them down to someone else. And they can carry on their little journeys.". High quality, organic, classic garments&accessories made not only to last your whole lifetime but the one of the next person you hand it down to (with a 10 year guarantee). They achieve vintage status by actually being worn for tens of years as they will last that long, and not washed down and treated with chemicals for a vintage look that is fashionable and disposable. Same concept with their jeans all being raw selvedge denim. After flicking through their website, blog and brand history they come across as creative, chilled dudes I'd want to sit on rooftops or have bags&clothes-making sessions with.