Beverley Hewitt mug....

At the Spring Country Living Fair earlier this year, I spotted this gorgeous mug from British ceramic designer, Beverley Hewitt. It's a biiiiig mug, perfect for large cups of sweet, milky tea, or to take lots of cream squirted on top of a steaming hot chocolate.<br /><br /><div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495535904859491010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HT3espkkGobgYZTkchByzXm4rQxvIY83L957k6_JKyCb3pp7Dx9TYeiH7YtF7FeVEMDGizQI2amRknh1Fi7fv3s_ow-IJvGZvl_3A1nonyjeLnsGnlxnf3q5dMNhLmuix8aRgzJXFOc_/s400/1july10+164.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div> </div><div><br />The shape of the mug, whilst being classic, feels original, rather than a rip-off of one of the better-known ceramicists.</div><div> </div><div><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495535916524675858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8YurqiVbFlYMdQ3iJEu90acptnShq7Klz1BFKa_cx-KOKw9DIlJSIZ9zqvJZiDi-4IxTnRcjYq-BUzWt4TCfxtFh-rceK6C197EIWsGfEPIhotFFZsvB_G36YiH4yrNfDqf8Mzcri2fI/s400/1july10+166.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div> </div><div><br />The lettering is bold and clear (and, perhaps more importantly, hasn't faded in the dishwasher!). I especially like the 'LOVE' down the handle.</div><div> </div><div><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495535911488366866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7qLuvXtSlM4jZPinBMzTy9hSJp8tCRq9nchJw-1JguiHpUGiidy8I4y_N3h9QN5LgMSOFOBXB3V4HkrxPjlG8Kxmpt22WdeQT7Z9OFu-QnZpqnOOOYa5lE1HO6hoYEXKKwUccbv0Gidv/s400/1july10+165.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div> </div><div><br />I'm really pleased with it! More of Beverley Hewitt's gorgeous designs can be found <a href="http://www.beverleyhewittdesigns.co.uk/">here</a>.</div></div>

Beverley Hewitt mug....

At the Spring Country Living Fair earlier this year, I spotted this gorgeous mug from British ceramic designer, Beverley Hewitt. It's a...

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Back issue inspiration...

<div>In a friend's car, the other day, I saw the magazine Living etc from June 2009. I had a flick through and one feature caught my eye to such an extent that I bought that issue on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ebay</span> the next day (hooray for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ebay</span>!).<br /><br />The article was about a Victorian London semi, renovated by the photographer Paul Massey. </div><div></div><div><div><div><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494425330682098850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh861WboFiUpcE0eOGH18D4FcmUB5A8jisgSMyZmWwWqyzOCvwtXWcJ5T-xLZXe3sTEwbdsnKm4uCF2Q0D4S5XHC-7251HpwKzrrPrO9mxqJoo2hUFaobrq5o115-r6_I4dYtRi8zdYCU7b/s400/1.bmp" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div></div><div><br />It looks quite ordinary from the outside.....</div><div></div><div><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494425340062158658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18Z0ur-WJNRHD1x55GrD_HZ4c_ndFGeXCGNBXyOJ_mD87vR5FWiZf3R_MLsJcYLvijt9q4fQd12sIpwl_MPERdcVXhiT8v-Nz-oPNMQH0xcXO3Gs3as4ek9kirE_YK0Uwu6Yyk0gQzjPz/s400/18.bmp" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div></div><div><br />...but inside, it's scrumptious!</div><div></div><div><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494425330635202162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSl2Jzv9o2bagrzNH8kWsr49Vo7ucVsOS1MZaZObjt3xJMvpoTkq1C8puwTWuBdmN4zhz7kOxyvP8UHPFJJenOM7zGkfpA92IQniuEQ65kD0_kaj03rsHHFQwstr53dA24abtCCQ7XR9Z/s400/3.bmp" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div></div><div><br />I LOVE that sofa. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Mmmmmm</span>.</div><div></div><div><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494425335227957442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMejt1HnV9gXaCfYw2KOOkD1_Oa-OQ0wffLLzW-MZhfzhp3MBNUVfD0MXLlvJw41lk58tzrEu8scO9mF1sWawR5fgs_y2IT_Cj89QcN3tYUg7fBR9a-ykPQ0pZ5q7khlJDHpHZTlUyP6F/s400/11.bmp" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494425349980753026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0Mh5WiC7fuodIyHnaCxazrSOWu9rk7aUqVwD1zRzL-ZcPPEPXVgLRVMVnxQQLkQ58rEI4A39CAG3fK6Fr0dOy5P3enMFYfZKUyrag-2kj_UNFoS_ikqrmAba2KfYYQhCxb7cKmHxFshc/s400/21.bmp" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br />You can see more from the article <a href="http://www.livingetc.com/houses/cool_calm_renovation_article_281402.html">here </a>but I hope this has been a good taster.</div></div></div>

Back issue inspiration...

In a friend's car, the other day, I saw the magazine Living etc from June 2009. I had a flick through and one feature caught my eye to s...

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Modern Country Style shops: i gigi

I've decided to blog from time to time about my favourite shops. I do masses of my shopping online so locality shouldn't be a problem in most cases (although extortionate p and p abroad can be prohibitive. Come and visit!!).<br /><br />Going into <a href="http://www.igigigeneralstore.com/">i gigi </a>, in Hove, East Sussex, is like stepping into an alternate, incredibly chic reality. The owners have got an amazing gift for arranging and displaying their wares. <br /><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493670079003426914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3u8I9mUavur0HuWTvRlK9Hc1jqfUGtER2lsd8i-Y7A7UaUQIqh1LPuRYlGCqcTu-1V7kyPTG893NW6JiMOy9ehvexzWObQbRsI31XcqSA-WgOLAb2tKinNuV0dGBlL3YvrSqpJYHYBbS/s400/184b7cb84d7b456c96a0bdfbbeaa5f14_L.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br />They sells men's and women's clothes, furniture and accessories for the home but it's the homely bits that really sells this shop to me.</p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493670082698708226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWoAxuT4lPOWaEw83wTOchps-ODCrws9uR1QX7c4x9MqtLVeyf2lsVoQQty9xbp3qKzignBPkMcl20_1S46vT05LSLFIblQFYhyphenhyphenGizc3o8frc8FjavLQ4PsNaG0AvBeWUzYbvo1_r8JpE/s400/generalG4.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br />The ranges all fall into a delicious earthy palette of muted greys and browns, which could sound drab, but in their capable hands becomes modern, elegant and exquisite.<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493670089444082370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_ZTp2jkKhAiuIdKM-5SAmhhnba7LOooq94RPujs7dx9os_kuB7jv-g4o-oN94P4VTYReWttiNcJo_ilTBK83nV3qAjAGJoltq2o0BNeg0wn-4bKTQBEqA5jlHGpz2j2wVQKUadUWzsTA/s400/generalG5.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><p>They've also recently opened a website <a href="http://www.igigigeneralstore.com/">http://www.igigigeneralstore.com</a> from which you can browse and buy until your heart is content (which will only be when you've bought the contents of the entire shop, believe me!).</p><p><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493670100902795202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnlyL_B5e9wXUNzlwUxzo8DZjHrs_q8OyYQOXyyL1R8UPFKg6R1Dwc89hd00d0qn1VQDrWBf7mlNra65SDrLSuvwO0A_fGIzyh8RHg5YSujhWDjaUqaotOiB60i3XBI_iYcZSSJ9NW1Fn/s400/gallery4.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></p><p>i gigi has an amazing mix of vintage pieces (when I was there they had an elm table fashioned out of a hundred-year old door...nice) and carefully chosen new pieces.</p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493670089906763266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdnVgATxM0pg8H7o0lzaVlvgTRH0giSkdTtvHdwbaqyxB60HHKFqaSvQGO64R7lYAsV1S3HztHHIsNsJxMZotKuNofDgeZdsD8wHlnFAwTYvuKh4v51XdPITUkut8sEcVBwWXC9hxREu2/s400/generalG2.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></p><p>A huge amount of careful thought has gone into designing the shop (which you can peek at virtually on their site), including importing a staircase from France - when did you last do that?!!</p><p>All photos are the property of i gigi (yes, photography is another thing they can do well. Grrr!!).</p><p> </p>

Modern Country Style shops: i gigi

I've decided to blog from time to time about my favourite shops. I do masses of my shopping online so locality shouldn't be a proble...

Read more »