Cynthia Ozick 'Foreign Bodies'

Cynthia Ozick's Foreign Bodies (published by Atlantic Books) is shortlisted for the 2012 Orange Prize for Fiction. An absorbing read - I'm currently half way through it.

Andy Smith - Illustrator

Coincidences, eh? In a recent post re the Pick Me Up event at Somerset House I think I mentioned our lengthy lingering and loitering around the printed work of Tom Frost and Andy Smith. Yesterday this turned up in the post from Mr Smith. 

Michael Dean at The Henry Moore Institute

Michael Dean Installation at The Henry Moore Institute, Leeds

John Byrne 'Donald & Benoit'

John Byrne's sublime 'Donald & Benoit' published by Universe Publishing (2011). Who could resist the exquisite gritty lure of this book with such fabulous emporiums as the John Dory Public Library on Squid Row, The Lemon Sole Cafe or the Electric Eel Cinema at the far end of the Pier or Donald, a cat in oversized boxing trunks? Resplendent in both its eccentricity and beauty. (Big Rabbit of 'Big Rabbit's Bad Mood' by Ramona Badescu, illustrated by Delphine Durand can be seen peeking round in the background).

Normann Copenhagen 'Norm 69' Part III

Norm 69 accomplished. Next to hang it. Over and Out...

Normann Copenhagen 'Norm 69' Part II

Currently under partial construction in Greenwich this morning another Normann Copenhagen 'Norm 69' light to wrestle with. The annual marathon is taking place this morning just a few meters away so not much scope for escape now from Greenwich as the roads are impassable until all the runners have gone on their way to the finish line. So far I've only managed to split a little part of the central core but some white fuse tape managed to remedy the situation which hopefully can't be detected or, erm, prove flammable.

Get Your Glerups On...

A hard rain fell and a persistent gale whipped along the coast in Hastings for two days, so I decided to take on an indoor project sanding down the floor in the living room. It seemed like a great idea at the time - four hours later, in a dust cloud which snuck its way into every chink and crevice in the room, I wondered why I hadn't bothered to underake something simpler as the day's chore. After the clean up operation all I felt able to do was sloth around the house drinking hot beverages looking out the window at the rain and and languish in the warmest pair of Glerups felted wool shoes (well, yeah, okay they are slippers) from The Republic of Fritz Hansen courtesy of a gift from The Norwegian. 

Tom Frost Illustrator - Dead Wrestler

It was love at first sight with this charming fellow. I was wowed and won over by this fabulous plywood wrestler made by Tom Frost at the recent Pick Me Up show over at Somerset House. Had to have him. It's the natty pants over trouser and boot combo that does it, I think...

Pick Me Up

Hello there, I've finished work for a while and have been distracted by places and things to do in my time off. Forgot to mention just how good (and healthily very busy) this year's Pick Me Up was a few weeks back at Somerset House (see my out of focus image above which I took as I sped my over through the crowds to rummage among  through the fabulous print work items which were for sale). I spent a fair amount of my time lingering and pondering purchases of work by Tom Frost and Andy Smith.