Edmund de Waal

Poor neglected blog. I've been a bad blogger. Forgive me, I've been busy at work on a new site for my work which I'll be launching soon, but I plan to continue to post design inspirations and favourite finds here on this blog from time to time.

I popped into the Pump Rooms at Leamington Spa the other day to take a look at an exhibition of ceramic works by Edmund de Waal.

De Waal uses a subdued colour palette to create beautiful vessels that are both comfortingly domestic and calmingly sculptural.

The Exhibition, water-shed, features a collection of recent work and includes a newly commissioned installation by the same name. The show is open until 11th April 2010.

My other obsession

Scandinavian glass vases - my other obsession.

Long before I became a florist I had already acquired a huge collection of these.

Here are a few of my favourite pieces, mostly from the 60s. I love 60s and mid-century modern design. My favourites change from time to time as I find new pieces in junk shops or on ebay and sell old ones on. They look great when grouped together and most pieces are still relatively inexpensive, so it's possible to build up a decent collection without spending a fortune.

Coral vase

I love the subtle detail and simplicity of this porcelain 'coral' vase by Ted Muehling available from Rose and Radish.

More lovely porcelain here.

Not quite a Myla bikini....

Yesterday at work we went out to collect the pedestals from last weekend's wedding from the church. We were delighted to find that one week on most of the flowers were still looking almost as fresh as they did when they left the shop, so I couldn't resist salvaging a few bits and pieces and bringing them home.

The lilac hydrangeas work really well as an accent colour in our new bedroom which I lovingly painted in Farrow and Ball 'Bone' just a couple of weeks ago after Mr H and I spent our entire week's 'holiday' sanding and varnishing floors. This year we decided to forego the lure of the Greek Islands or the South of France. Instead of spending my summer holiday lying on a beach in my bikini (the gorgeous yellow Myla one I spotted whilst out shopping today would have been just perfect), for most of the week I wore knee pads, overalls and ear defenders. But when we had finished and our new bedroom was complete, my lovely husband bought me a Robert Indiana 'LOVE' sculpture (as seen in first picture), which (apart from my Mulberry handbag) has to be just about my most favourite present ever!

Shifting vase

Simple, sculptural, architectural design by Isolation Unit.

This shifting marble vase is sliced into layers that can be twisted and rearranged.

Via Dezeen