death of a design classic

This is the kettle that boils the water for my all-important Earl Grey tea.

I have always had a Russell Hobbs like this one.

My parents had the same.

I’ve always liked the design. The slanting handle. The traditional shape. The perky, pin-point-accurate spout.

I wasn’t keen on the addition of the water gauge (which doesn’t work) or the loss of the red button, but in essence it is more or less as it always has been and should be.

But I have discovered that I am living on borrowed time.

This will be my last Russell Hobbs kettle.

Apparently this iconic design has been discontinued.

It has been superceded by ugly, dribbling jug kettles with their silly stands and built-in obsolescence.

A victim of its own longevity and the fact that people are too lazy to unplug it when it needs filling (or buy a water filter so they don’t have to).

Call me a crazy fool, but I can’t help but think that Russell Hobbs has lost his touch these days.

Would Dualit have systematically downgraded the quality and then discontinued their iconic toaster?

Would Waring have changed the jug of their classic blender to plastic, before binning the design for good?

Would Kitchen Aid have updated the shape of their time-honoured mixer to look more like a food processor?

Of course not.

be still my heart!

I’ve had a real adventure.

I am still reeling from it.

My heart was beating so fast that I felt a bit faint.

I bought a painting. A proper, beautiful painting.

It is by a local artist called Hannah Ransome. I don’t think my photos quite do it justice.

I had only ventured into the gallery once or twice before. It was closing down, so I just popped in for a look on the way back from the shops.

And there it was…

I went home and thought about it.

I am not rich. I have never bought a proper painting before.

But my heart carried on thudding and thudding.

So I went back for another look. I even haggled a bit.

And I bought it.

I had to phone a large cab to get it home. And one of the gallery ladies gave my lad a lift home as he, I and the painting wouldn’t all fit in the taxi!

But it is here. And I love it.

It is not yet properly hung, just propped on the radiator.

My partner isn’t so sure about it.

But I just had to have it. And had to share it.

Some things are just special.

material monday

A new addition to my stash.

Now, what to make…?

I love this fabric. It is in one of my favourite colour combinations: green, blue and purple.

But…

I do find stripes, checks and designs with a definite right-way-up challenging.

You can’t just get in there. You have to plan. You have to make something that plays to that linearity. You have to get it right.

Add to a mixed quilt? I have two quilts already on the go and it won’t go in either of those…

Cut for a cushion?

Hmm…

Child-free thinking time required!

buttoned up

When I was little, I used to love sorting things.

By colour. By size. By type.

We once visited Mrs Bell, an elderly friend of my grandmother’s.

I spent the entire afternoon sorting the contents of her button jar into a long snaking line around her hearth rug.

I have a fair few buttons.

I inherited both my nanna’s and my mum’s stashes – both very different.

Both are mixed up with bits and bobs like buckles, press studs etc.

Nanna’s buttons are prettier and older. Collected mainly for little girl’s dresses (mine and my sister’s).

Mum’s are more utilitarian. Bought to sew onto the numerous cardi’s she knitted.

These are just some of the contents of one of my several button tins.

I rarely sort through them nowadays.

But I have been looking for Tweetie Pie eyes.

And as its the holidays, time is more plentiful and goes more slowly than usual.

I found I had enough time for a good sort. How very enjoyable!

A lovely way to spend an hour or two.

adventures in advertising

During my lovely midweek break at my friends’ house out in the countryside, there were no technological distractions.

No internet (broadband service out of order). No mobile phone (no network coverage).

Very relaxing, if just a tad inconvenient.

Conversation flowed and the browsing of books was enjoyed.

I did, however, have my camera.

So I thought I’d share some fabulous images from their lovely old book on 1960s American advertising.

Enjoy!

thrift of the day

I have had a lovely couple of days out in the sticks this week, staying with friends.

I did not go looking for vintage treasures.

So imagine my surprise when we happened to visit a little house in the middle of nowhere – that turned out to be a cafe and charity shop!

You may be familiar with my love of Hornsea Pottery.

I caught sight of this gorgeous Hornsea mug – and it was love at first sight.

It looks to me like a mid-1960s Clappison design, but I have never come across this pattern before. It would be wonderful if anyone can further enlighten me.

Lovely!