Hail for baby named Francesca Marina born after a treacherous journey

While the naming of the new royal princess of Great Britain -Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge is making headline news everywhere, I am intrigued by another news yesterday buried in the inside pages of the i Paper, about a new born on a naval ship during a rescue mission in the Mediterranean Sea.
Among 7,000 migrants rescued from overcrowded boats crossing the Mediterranean to Europe in the last few days was a woman who gave birth to a baby girl on an Italian navy ship while being rescued, according to local officials.  The crew of the naval vessel off Sicily found the woman in labour on a boat.  The baby was named Francesca Marina, paying homage to Italy (to the pope perhaps?), and in Italian, Marina means navy.
What a celebratory weekend it has been, for those born into privilege and those providing great hope for suffering families.

It's a Girl. A new Royal Baby!

Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.  The wait is over.

Congrats also to Her Majesty The Queen who's gained a fifth great grand-child.  And of course to Prince George too who now has a little sister.  He himself came to our world just 21 months ago.

And congrats to me who's won a bet with my husband.

The Duchess Catherine gave birth to a baby girl this morning, with the Duke by her side, we've been told.

Weighing in at 8 lbs 3 oz., the new addition to the royal household is fourth in line to the throne. 

Congrats all round.  Now what will be her name, the nation and indeed the world await.

Caption for above picture:- Soft 100% cashmere knitted baby blanket with a delicate cable knit design running through from Plum & Ivory Cashmere.  It measures 80cm square.What a lovely gift and keepsake this luxury cashmere baby blanket makes....fit for a Royal princess!

Jessica Zoob to show new Playtime collection at Loughran Gallery

Congratulations to British artist Jessica Zoob for launching an exhibition of new creations called PLAYTIME.

The new creations will be shown in Loughran Gallery's beautiful new space in Motcomb Street, Belgravia, London from May 20^th to June 17^th.

Zoob has described her new work as her “most joyful and exuberant collection to date."

Jessica has also made a short film of her Playtime's creation.

Watch it here for a glimpse into the world of Zoob!

Etsy launches Manmade to celebrate male designer makers

It is true that often we talk about women artists and designers or at least we tend to feature more news on women who have the talent to make things.

Now Etsy (Etsy.com), the New York-based online marketplace for handmade products,  has joined forces with Crafty Fox Market and print-maker Sam Wingate to launch ‘Manmade’, a new craft market in London showcasing 60 male designer makers.

The event will take place at the Truman Brewery in trrendy East London on 12^th and 13^th June, just in time for Father’s Day.

Manmade will celebrate the work of the male designer makers from across the UK, covering a wide range of work from art and jewellery through to fashion and ceramics. 

As well as the marketplace, Manmade will feature a visual art area, also talks by inspirational male designers, beginner’s screen-printing workshops, craft demonstrations, music, food and drink.

Etsy seller and printmaker Sam Wingate (etsy.com/mrwingate) is the brain behind Manmade.  He came up with the idea for a men-only craft market when he noticed how few men participated at the craft fairs he attended.

“As a man who makes things, I have always been aware of quite how few of us are out there making and selling in comparison to our female counterparts” says Sam Wingate. “The number of women selling at craft fairs like Crafty Fox far exceeds the number of men. I want to get more men involved with making and selling and dispel the myth that craft and making is just for the girls.”

Manmade will be curated by a selection panel comprising Crafty Fox’s Sinead Koehler, Sam Wingate, David Nicholls, Features Editor of House and Garden (formerly The Telegraph Magazine’s design editor and menswear columnist), and Sarah Hewett, International Community Programmes Specialist at Etsy.

Manmade takes place at The Old Truman Brewery, East London
(F Block G4 & G5, facing the courtyard at Ely’s Yard) 

on Friday June 12th (12 noon - 9pm) 

and Saturday June 13th (11am - 8pm).

Entry is free of charge.

Amanda Coleman creates jewellery of kissing bunnies

British jewellery designer Amanda Coleman has a way of adding fun to dainty jewellery.

Known for her quirky, enchanting designs, her new “Kissing Bunnies” collection features two little bunnies frolicking on a spring meadow and stealing a little kiss.  How cute is that!

The pendant is made from 925 sterling silver and 22ct gold vermeil and features either a pink mix of semi-precious stones - pink tourmaline and amethysts of a green mix of semi-precious stones - peridot, pale blue amazonite and citrine.

With a master degree from the Royal College of Art in Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork and Jewellery, Amanda ‘s new jewellery are available in both Sterling Silver and 22ct Gold Vermeil, with a mix of semi-precious stones (peridot, blue topaz, pale blue amazonite, citrine, amethyst and pink tourmaline), all handmade in her workshop in Lincoln. 

The range includes necklaces, bracelets, bangles, finger rings, hook and stud earrings.

Amanda’s jewellery is available both online or from around 70 stockists in the UK and in other far flung places such as Japan, China and Australia.

Heal’s launch Reprinted Vintage Posters

In 1983 when the Heal’s family (of home retailer Heal’s) sold the retail business to Terence Conran’s Storehouse Group, they gave the archive to the Victoria & Albert Museum where it’s now housed. 

Above: “Winter comforts in the home” are among the highly collectible vintage posters.

As well as furniture designs, there are innovative marketing materials – some of the first brochures mailed out to customers in the 1890s when mail order was the internet of the day.

There are also 70 beautiful posters, designed to promote new furniture ranges and exhibitions in the feted Mansard Gallery which opened in 1917.

The reproduction of Heal's vintage posters make a statement when a selection is grouped together.  Above: (Clockwise from top left) “Contemporary furniture at Heal’s”, “Furniture for the garden at Heal’s”, “Heal’s for beds”, “Heals for pottery and glass”.  Large framed print, £45, small framed print, £25.  

As Heal’s have been renovating their store over the past two years they have discovered drawers filled with previously unseen vintage posters that will be given to the archive of the V&A as they had previously done.

Some original posters are in circulation and can be found on specialist poster sale sites. The ones for the Mansard Gallery exhibitions were designed by the artists on show and are highly collectible.

To celebrate the discovery of this new cache of posters Heal’s have reprinted a small collection. The posters are printed onto hand-made paper using fine giclee ink-jet printing. Available in solid, stained black ash frames made in the UK. A selection is shown above.

Sparkling flowers on bridal heels from Freya Rose.

Freya Rose interprets to great effect the on-trend floral theme on her 'Darling' shoe to elevate any potential bride to a whole new level.

The classic and stylish almond toe court shoes are handmade with Ivory Duchess’ silk satin upper, soft gold kid leather lining and leather sole.

The unique hand embroidered heel detail is the work of fine craftsmen synonymous to the Freya Rose brand. The exquisite embellishment uses crystals, beads and chiffon to create a beautiful and luxurious detail.  

Superbly elegant also are the matching bridal belts (which come in two different lengths) adding lovely finishing touches to bridal gowns.  All from the award-winning London-based Freya Rose.