‘Your face, your wall. If you don’t like the way it looks, take it up with God (or your parents).’ So runs the feisty marketing pitch of Four Eyes Furniture who make these great portraits from furniture grade plywood with a hand rubbed oil finish. California-based Four Eyes is the project of C Sevin Salomone who, as well as the ‘It’s You’ series, makes gorgeous wooden tables which are completely customisable.
Your kids dinner money is enough to get you into a knitting group at The Woolly Brew. Everything is £1; £1 for coming, £1 for a cup of tea and £1 for a piece of home-made cake. Other more formal workshops might cost a bit more than this bargain price. Fiona Wright (left) and Karen Grant host groups in their yarn shop which opened in Pittenweem, Fife, December 2011. The idea
No need for coasters when the coffee stains are this impressive. Artist Hong Yi painstakingly created this portrait after being inspired by a song by Jay Chou that starts with a line about a coffee cup. Apparently instant coffee is much better for portraits, if not for drinking.
Taking her inspiration from British culture and a selection of good old basic biscuits, Dundee based Nikki McWilliams has produced a delicious range of cushions you won’t know whether to snuggle or bite into. All of Nikki’s products are handmade in Scotland using locally sourced materials. Prices start at £28.
There has to be an easier way to make a lampshade. Looks beautiful athough, after all his hard work, the poor man just got loads of comments about the wood he wasted. In fact he uses all the wood. Rikki Berger, a woodturner/inventor/teacher with 35 years at the lathe says ‘I hope you enjoy a small glimpse into making one of my shades.’ ‘Please before you write a negative comment
If your wearying of Orla Kiely but like your ceramics bright and cheery, the work of Brighton-based potter Ken Eardley may be just the ticket. Originally a textiles designer, Eardley now makes lovely stencilled earthenware ceramics in a huge range of colours. Mugs, vases, bowls, jugs and lightbases are available from Yellow House Art with prices starting at £24 for a small mug. Commissions are also welcome.
Lately at Avocado Sweet we’ve been thinking it’s time we were a little more groomed and sophisticated so we’ve been working on our appearance. It doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll be typing with immaculately lacquered nails and big bouffant hair (although we might). But it does mean the site will have a new design: all the usual features will be in place plus new ones and we hope it will be
‘I became a Buddhist in the 1950s , but I’m also Jewish and I don’t have a quarrel with that – I don’t feel I can only be one or the other.’ Artist Dora Handzholder’s primitive style may not be to everyone’s taste but at 84 she seems to have achieved an enviable joy in life. ‘In many ways I turned to Buddhism because of its teachings of basic kindness, hope
The trend for personalisation shows no sign of slowing down. These handmade rings, with matt and polished finishes, are by Edinburgh based silversmith Hannah Louise Lamb and show your chosen stretch of coastline. They are available in silver, gold and white gold and also with diamond embellishments. Rivers and city skylines can also be depicted on rings, brooches, pendants and cufflinks. Prices start at £130. The range is available from
For the most part, dogs are happier than people and people with dogs are apparently happier than people without dogs. For advice on how to be more dog-like in your outlook, check out these handprinted, linocut posters by Buckinghamshire based Enlightened Hound. The posters are signed and editioned in sets of 250 and are available from Folksy for £25 each.