interview :: fine cell work

Fine Cell Work is a social enterprise that teaches needlework to prison inmates and sells their products. Prisoners work while locked in their cells, and while the earnings give them hope, skills and independence, the work itself seems to give them some sort of peace.

Fine Cell Work - Inmates stitching

I spoke to Elena Hall to find out more.

out and about :: coffee and design in London

Even the most hardened of London explorers sometimes need to refuel. And the design geeks among us would always prefer to do so in a cafe or bar with some serious design credentials. Luckily, a few real gems have popped up lately. Here are my three favourites; first the V&A Reading Rooms on Exhibition Road in Kensington.

V&A Reading Rooms

A bookshop with a bar; why has no-one thought of that before?

creative spaces :: allan manham

Allan Manham‘s pots have a wonderful organic quality that drew me to them from the first time I saw them. So you can imagine how excited I was when Allan agreed to show me around his studio.

My very own Allan Manham pot

Walking down the alleyway that leads to Allan’s Putney studio is like stepping back in time.

here’s one I made earlier :: blah blah pocket monster

I love Donna Wilson. I love her products, I love her brand… I even love her outfits. The thing is, try as I may, I just can’t convince the boy that we should spend £70 on a cushion, not even a 100% lambswool, knitted in Scotland, grey with ebony robin, 40cm x 40cm, comes with a duck feather cushion pad, Donna Wilson cushion.

Donna Wilson 'Make Your Own Monster' kit

So imagine my joy when I spotted this Donna Wilson Make Your Own Monster kit in the Design Museum Shop! And for only £15! This is what was inside…