Megan Price Designs

Shelf Sunday Thirteen

For this week's Shelf Sunday, I'm moving away from the kitchen and over to the bookshelf, as I have just received a copy of Charlotte Rivers' new book, "I Love Stationery".

It's beautifully designed, by Emily Portnoi, and is crammed with letterpress, screenprint, collage, and calligraphic stationery. 

As well as showcasing examples of bespoke stationery, it also is full of advice about technique, tools, tips and resources.

And, I'm in it! Well, some of my cards...

Mr.PS greeting cards made with screenprinted collage lettering.

Other lovely print and paper folk featured include Heart Zeena and Skinny La Minx.

The book is split into 8 chapters, each concerned with a different technique. Within each catergory there is a wide selection of inspirational designs, and also a brief interview with each designer.

Each chapter starts with an overview of the method involved, so if you like the look of what can be achieved, you will have a grounding on how to proceed with doing-it-yourself.

A lovely little handy book for designers and craft fans. Hooray!

Shelf Sunday Twelve

Faux Bois cup and saucer by Burleigh

On a cold, snowy winter's day, after a walk in the woods, it's time for a warming cup of hot chocolate.

Down from the shelf comes my biggest cup and saucer, Faux Bois, the most suitable for the job, n'est ce pas?

Having been established in 1851, Burleigh ware is still manufactured  in Stoke-on-Trent, using an underglaze transfer printing process which has been in use for over 200 years. The transfers themselves are printed from a hand-engraved copper roller. Find out more about this process here.

Meanwhile, on with drinking the hot choc!

Shelf Sunday Eleven

The dark damp January days are starting to take their toll as this month drags on. So for today's Shelf Sunday, the last of the month, here's a bit of spring colour on my kitchen-diner mantle to lift the spirits.

The little decorated Poole vase was my nana's, and my mum has one too, I've always loved this design. It looks so pretty holding a posy of cottage garden flowers. 

As I am still waiting impatiently for my spring bulbs to bloom, I couldn't resist these jolly tulips which fit nicely in our larger Poole vase.

The rest of our Poole collection consists mostly of plain pale green plates, cups and saucers. There seemed to be quite a plethora of the stuff in the charity shops of Norwich.

I've tried to research some more about these patterned vases. Poole pottery dates back to the mid 19th century, so there have been many designs over the years, and these are now no longer in manufacture by the current owners who took over in 2007.

Ursula, the beautiful green jug, is by Royal Copenhagen - I've just found out that it's been discontinued too, so I must be even more careful than usual near it!

There's a little bit of print in this scene too, keen-eyed observers will notice my Helen Rawlinson Sunset Strip pendant lampshade, from back in my London-based screenprinting days.

So now back to waiting for warm sunny spring days, it can't be long now, surely?

Shelf Sunday Ten

What's on the shelf this weeK?

Moomins!

I have always had a place in my heart for Moomins, the loveable creatures created by Finnish writer and illustrator Tove Jansson.

The first encounter I had with them as a child was my mother's Moomin book, which she herself had won as a child, a prize in a colouring competition. No surprises then that this well-read dog-eared hardback book itself had been "enhanced" with extra colouring in.

Fast forward a few decades and thanks to Arabia Finland, these enchanting characters now grace mugs, jugs, plates, in endless delightful combinations. 

Tove Jansson is probably known most for the world of the Moomins, but as well as working as an editorial illustrator for Finnish newspapers, she also illustrated JR Tolkein's The Hobbit, and Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland.

Some of these works formed part of the exhibition, Magical Moomin Valley, held at the Bury Art Gallery in winter 2010/11, celebrating 65 years of Moomins. It was genuinely exciting for me to see some of Jansson's original artwork. I was really struck by the intricacy of the images, such fine line work, and how with just some delicate cross-hatching, an erie moonlit wood could be magically created on the page. The original illustrations were much smaller than I expected too.

Lewis Carroll's The Hunting of the Snark, republished by Tate (2011).

Having recently read Jansson's novel, The Summer Book, I am now pouring over her illustrations for Carroll's The Hunting of the Snark.

 And of course, drinking out of Moomin cups!

Shelf Sunday Nine

For this week's Shelf Sunday, we are moving to the sofa: Sofa Sunday!

Where else is better to be on a cold drizzly January weekend then snuggled up with your favourite cosy cushion?

We picked up this Welsh woven wool cushion direct from a mill in Anglesey.

The traditional pattern still has a contemporary edge, pleasingly pixelated, yet still with a folky feel.

If you're looking for a cleaner take on the Welsh blanket effect, take a look at Snowdonia-based textile design company Peris & Corr who take these traditional patterns to print. See their lovely cushions and fabrics here.

Staying with a slightly celtic feel, here's another contemporary twist on a classic.

This is a Neon Fair Isle cushion by Angharad Mclaren. "Woven in soft Shetland lambswool, this design is inspired by tradition, with a contemporary twist!" 

Well you know I'm a sucker for neon, so how could I resist. Other items in the range include beautiful scarves and hot water bottle covers. Ooh lovely.

And to finish, here's an obligatory cat shot - for who else knows how to do sofa snuggling so effectively.

Shelf Sunday Eight

Three vinegar bottles

Our Sunday walk this afternoon took us round past the treasure trove that is "Yassers," a small Jewish-run shop which is stuffed to the edges with cookware, handy kitchen implements, crockery and all manner of things you never knew you might need. 

Outside on the street there's always a table of clearance bargains. Most of our plant pot saucers come from here, 10p Poole plates and other pretty pieces of ware which have been separated from the rest of the dinner set.

Today's offering was a basket full of vinegar bottles. So of course we had to get one of each colour, the set.

Pretty nice, huh?

Shelf Sunday Seven

A quick shelf Sunday this week:

Handmade Italian bowls by Ceramiche Toscane, and Tivoli jug, designed by Susan Williams- Ellis, Portmeirion Pottery.

Shelf Sunday Six

After a couple of weeks off, the Shelf Sunday series returns. And it returns with a beauty.

Swan Lake teapot by Hornsea

Earlier in the year when Team PS were on their Summer Tour, we had a delightful, if a little cold and breezy, trip along the south coast. A highlight of our afternoon out in St.Leonards-on-Sea was sheltering with tea and cake at the Post Office Tearooms.

A highly recommended little place, crammed full of vintage crockery, jovial banter, delicious cakes, and letterpress printed artwork. 

Anyways, furnishing our table was the best condiment set I have chanced upon (and there's a fair few tucked away in our kitchen cupboards - more on those another time), the most lovely pair of salt and pepper shakers, dusky pink orbs. (I know we are talking about being by the British coast here but don't worry I won't stray too far in to kiss-me-quick territory). The proprietor said they were Swan Lake by Hornsea. And so. I put this info in the back of my mind, (and notebook) and off we set.

Fast forward a few months, cross to the other side of the country and we are in Anglesey, which certainly is a rich picking ground for thrifty vintage finds.

And here I find, in a charity shop window, unfortunatley not the dusky pink condiments, but the creme of the collection, the Swan Lake teapot. It even has a little swan on the lid, with concentric ripples going out all around the pot.

As part of the second-hand set were two tea cups and saucers, and 4 dinner plates. These are all in a soft grey matte glaze, which for daily use works really well. Even I can admit you can have too much pink.

Hooray for charity shops. One day I shall find those salt and pepper shakers, one day they shall be mine....

 

Shelf Sunday Five

What's on the shelf this week?

Hornsea Tapestry storage jars.

And two little jugs. I love the shape of the beaker jugs, and the pale blue glaze.

We picked up this set in a charity shop in Wales. Initially I thought 'cross stitch' and indeed it is called tapestry. A very 70's pattern which was designed by Sara Vardy.

Hornsea pottery's rise and fall is covered on the Hornsea Museum site.

 

 

Shelf Sunday Four

It's a little late, and low on content, but here's what's on the shelf this week: three small jugs

The middle one is Meakin, the other two are by Roy Midwinter.

All charity shop finds, and too pretty to resist.