A fun way to use some unwanted crockery and glassware is to make a cake stand. You can use old saucers and plates for the bases and glasses, small candlesticks and vases for the stands in the middle. Make sure everything you are using is clean and dry, mark the centre of your plates and play around with how you’d like your cake stand to look.  Mix up some Araldite epoxy to the instructions on the packet and using a cotton bud, apply to the vases/glassware and place in the centre of the plate.  I would recommend leaving it to dry overnight, but you can add more levels and create the cake stand of your dreams!

Yesterday was a  crazy day, I started early doors and headed over to Decorex (I will blog about my favourites later today) and then I headed all the way back to Spitalfields Market to Origin. This exhibition has always been a firm favorite as I LOVE looking at all of the designer makers work (it finishes today so hurry down if you want to take a look).  Run by The crafts Council, it’s their annual showcase of original contemporary craft.  I remember spending many a day at the Crafts council researching for my textile degree; I was always using their huge selection of books and information to research designers.  The event was extremely busy to say the least and so it was a little tricky to take any pics.  I have used the photos from the Origin website to list my favourites (below).

Desiners, from top left: Ollie Zwitserlood, Lubna Chowhary, Justine Allison, Lowri Davies, Christian O’Reilly, Janine Partington, Claire Crouchman, Chris Keenan, Betty Pepper, Kaori Tatebayas, Abigail Brown, Sarah Thirwell, Yoko Izawa, Tina Vlassopulos, Virginia Graham.

If you are a lover of Liberty like I am, you will be extremely excited to know that Liberty’s long established Haberdashery and Fabrics Department is to nearly double in size as the department expands and re-launches this October 2010. The store is going to stock the entire range of Liberty prints!  Also on offer are the popular sewing school classes and by popular demand, the reintroduction of Liberty’s elasticated ready-to-sew skirts in printed fabrics.  Click here for more Liberty fabrics

Fabric: Nancy Ann A
Fabric: Felicite C
Fabric: Betsy D

Fabric: Caesar B

Fabric: Toria D

It’s incredible to think that Heals is 200 years old; and still going strong.  The store has always pioneered great names and has been responsible for showcasing some monumental design pieces.  Lucienne Day was one such designer and as a way of paying tribute to her and in line with the latest trend in 50′s style interiors, Heals are re-issuing her famous Calyx fabric from 1951 (seen below). Lucienne Day created many beautiful collections that continue to be an inspiration to the design industry.Lucienne and Robin Day

Below are some original posters from Heals in the 50′s & 60′s; aren’t they great!

Moving forward to modern time, Heals are still showcasing current and new talent with British designers like Mathew Hilton and Kay + Stemmer and more recent designers such as Lee Bloom (who I featured in my London Design Week post) and Benjamin Hubert.  Then there are the staple names such as Tom Dixon, Ligne Roset and Vitra.

Click here for Heals full collection

The following pictures are a great example of beautiful interior design; they are from the The One Room Hotel, the new micro mini boutique hotel that opened it’s doors in the very trendy Shoreditch.  The creators; James Russell & Hannah Plumb used London Design week to showcase their new project (furniture, lighting, interiors) and had their first guest staying at the hotel after the exhibition drew to a close.

The hotel consisted of ‘one bedroom’ along with a small bathroom and a little kitchen  area.  All the furniture was custom built to fit the space and consisted of beautiful reclaimed pieces of metal and woonden furniture that had been lovingly brought back to life by the talented couple.  The chest of draws was crafted using an old metal frame and the drawers were made from vintage suitcases that had been cut in half; very cool.   The soft furnishings were textured and sumptuous; almost with a feel of The White Company or Kelly Hoppen Home but a little more rustic.  The paint palette was a mixture of earthly warm greys & creams topped of with the odd bunch of vintage looking hydrangeas.  The whole look was very cosy and organic.  I think it was really well constructed and when you stepped inside the space, it didn’t feel cramped or claustrophobic.  To view more of Jamesplumb’s projects, visit the following website.  The One Room Hotel by JAMESPLUMB, photo by Gisela Torres