Mutant carrots

In San Francisco, Utilitarian Franchise produce a whole wealth of screen-printed textiles that celebrate organic matter (as well as one or two industrially produced items too - yep, there is a gun.) What I love about their designs is that they are not only extremely well drawn, but are also very clever. A favourite technique is the creation of human/vegetable hybrids - mutant carrots with roving eyes for example - which are novel and surprisingly attractive. I was immediately reminded of the paintings of Renaissance artist Arcimboldo (the one who painted the men with vegetable heads- below) so they are clearly in good company!

Archimboldo "Summer" and "Water".

The shop includes a whole host of insect designs and all come in a variety of vibrant colours. I recommend a scroll through the Etsy shop as there are quite a few little surprises in store!

A bodice-shaped pitcher

There's something about Anne Black's "Ruth M" ceramic range that is really quite beautiful. It may be the combination of pastoral scenes - reminiscent of 17th century Dutch Delftware - with the quite angular forms popular in 21st century design, or quite simply the delicacy of the pieces as a whole, but whatever the cause the result is undeniably sophisticated and elegant. I'm hankering after this pitcher:  the clouds remind me of Japanese prints and I adore the fact it's shaped like a bodice!

Stylish vintage furniture from Holland

Neef Louis is my find of the week. Collecting and selling vintage furniture, this Dutch outfit also offers items for rent, so if you're putting together a set, this could be a good place to know. Pieces are one off so if you like it, get in quick - it might not be there further down the line!

Celebrating the arrival of half fat "BioLait"!

It probably seems a little out of place for the Poppy Club Club to be celebrating a milk carton, but for those citizens of France, who like me have waited years for this day, the arrival on the shelves of my local supermarket this week of half fat organic milk is a small revolution that deserves its' very own post somewhere in the webosphere. Until now, the choice was high cholosterol and full fat organic milk, or a healthier heart but a less healthy planet. We can now get somewhere closer to both. This is a great day for France, for organic milk production for all those British tea drinkers who enjoy a splash of half fat "Bio" milk in their cup. Yipeeeee!

Lovebirds

There's no escaping it - Valentine's Day is already being shouted across the media airwaves and will soon be upon us, although I don't remember it being talked up as early in the year before. Was it always a post-Christmas call to emotional arms, or did I dream that in the past we made the card the night before?

You've probably gussed that I'm not a natural romantic and had I not come across the designs of the UK's Prince Design, I might even have opted to commit commercial suicide and chosen to ignore the event altogether. But the porcelaine love-birds couldn't go un-mentioned and this really is their day. Coming in a variety of colours and designs, these handmade little dishes are lovely to look at - even on dates that aren't deisgned to tug at our heart-strings!

But what really steals the show for me is the gorgeous Poppy bowl below, which as a namesake does us proud!

toasty throws

I don't know where you're sitting right now - whether it's 0° outside or 35° - but here in Paris today it's coooooold. What I really need is a hot chocolate, curled up on a sofa with a good book and - why not? - a throw by Cococozy. I love these geometric, Islamic designs and the soft natural tones they come in.

I think they would go very well with the bold Arabesque ceramics of Jill Rosenwald (see The Poppy Club post  "Where East Meets West") below:

I feel warmer already!