CHINESE NEW YEAR + LONDON ART FAIR + ALEXANDER GIRARD

Happy Chinese new year! The year of the Dragon, a most auspicious year for us all and one in which I hope we are going to feel a return to confidence and determination to succeed. Our window features the beautiful chinese dragon that has been waiting twelve years to make a reappearance, and a collection of silkscreen prints from Sandra Blow RA, Sonia Delaunay and Sir Terry Frost. It was only a matter of time before I had some constructive comment on my attempt to write Happy New Year in Chinese.

We had a fantastic flying visit to Kenya and brought back some kenyan kikoy in hot holiday colours for the shop. Here is where they came from, sorry it is too beautiful for words!

London Art Fair last week was a treat, I really enjoy the venue at the Business Design Centre and just wish I had allowed more time as there are so many beautiful pieces to see. This stunning painting Toil of our Hands by Biggs and Collings shown by the Vigo Gallery, stood head and shoulders above its surroundings. Sorry these images are taken from my iPhone so they are not ideal, I always feel a bit nervous snapping at exhibitions! The last one was taken as I was running out the door as the show closed so do not know the artist!

The guys in our workshop are making some beautiful frames as usual here are some pictures they took of what they are up to this morning.

We had the most exciting new book delivered at the shop this week, a huge and comprehensive book on the lifetime work of Alexander Girard. I have been completely absorbed, it is an amazing source of inspiration, each page chock full of ideas and colours. The humour and down-to-earth nature of this genius is wholly apparent - a book for life!

See you in a while...