I knew that illustrator and self named drawist Galia Durrant had it going on when she burst into the shop with her slightly crazy enthusiasm for all things weird and wonderful. With a dynamic individual streak she is better known as one half of critically acclaimed duo Psapp who put toytronica on the map with their multi award theme tune to Grey’s Anatomy, a music for whole host of TV shoes and commericials.
Soon Galia created a parallel universe for Psapp filled with irreverent cats, imaginary keyboards and friendly monsters that graced their album covers, T-shirts and animated videos.It’s not difficult to see the brilliance of everything she creates.
Come and have a look at Galia’s hand finished bespoke name screen prints. Prices for framed prints range from £100 TO £125 with a week lead time for the final naming process. To order or to request more details just email info@olivelovesalfie.co.uk
Vintage treasures have arrived re-created and beautified by Mini McGhee. Hand made in Scotland all of the pieces are one-offs and are lovely heirlooms. We are working on a new collaboration ‘Olive Loves Mini McGhee’ that we will be launching soon but you will have to wait a little bit longer to see just what we are working on!
All of the pieces from Mini McGhee will be available on our website soon but we couldn’t wait to give you a sneak preview. Laundry bags £29 and shoe bags £22 created from hand embroidered linen vintage table cloths, grosgrains and printed cottons are gorgeous enough to hang on any wall or in a row on some vintage coat hooks. Be imaginative and use them for storing lots of different things inside.
Treasure a hand knitted baby blanket from Mini McGhee in a beautiful vintage embroidered bag £59 or onr of her striped felted blankets £46.
Mini Rodini swimwear has arrived in store. Perfect for the summer sunshine, the range has a brilliant retro feel, using bright red and navy blue with vintage inspired frills and printed motifs, perfect for splashing around in the pool, garden or at the beach.
My friend who is a brilliant swimmer is buying this cute bright red one piece for his newborn niece as we speak, she’ll be swimming before she can walk!
Olive was swimming under water when she was two months old at a baby swimming class in London. Although we didn’t make regular trips to the pool, I think her early experience has given her an amazing confidence in the water. Having her quite literally in the palm of my hands, eyes fixed on mine with an honest mix of trepidation and trust in me is something quite magical that has stayed with me.
Check out Baby Swimming for an introduction into the underwater method. If you haven’t seen any pictures of babies swimming underwater before prepare yourself. It really is an incredibly beautiful sight. There are lots of teachers out there so I hope that will be able to track down a class in your area.
Our home has made it onto the pages of another new Japanese interior book, A Girly Interior in London, published by Editions de Paris. Just inside the front cover there is a beautifully illustrated map that puts Stoke Newington right up there where it belongs as an exciting and diverse London neighbourhood. We have already been asked if we can get hold of some prints of the London map for friends and customers in Stoke Newington so I will see what I can do.
When stylist Emma Cassi came to visited us in East London she was stunned by the cherry blossom mural in Olives bedroom. A mural as grand as this is a big statement but we really pulled it off. I think that there is a fine line between a mural that really works and one that is too twee or too contrived or quite frankly just not painted very well. I consider myself to be incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to work with a wonderful scenic artist Susanna Burton who bought my ideas to life quite beautifully. If you would like to discuss ideas for your children’s room with us please get in touch with us info@olivelovesalfie.co.uk
Activity is hotting up at the Elephant Parade, the beautifully creative conservation campaign, designed to highlight the plight of the endangered Asian elephant. Elephant Parade, London’s biggest outdoor art event on record, is here in London until July 2010.
We are really excited not only because we have a great love of Asian elephants but Vicky Scott, one of the artists we have been working with at Olive Loves Alfie, was given her very own elephant to decorate. We are heading out on the 22nd of May to track Vicky’s elephant down, to take some photos that we will post here, and to say hello to Vicky and her elephant. Olive has promised to empty her piggy bank in a bid to raise £2 million to help save one of our favourite animals.
All of the elephants are going up for auction at the end of the exhibition.
So don’t miss Meet The Artists day and the 250 elephants in and around central London on Saturday 22 May between 10 am and 2pm.
With Olives love of trapeze there is an almost unquenchable thirst in our house for the dynamic and powerful combination of physical theatre and circus. With a sense of awe and wonder trips to the theatre have become a family favourite thanks to our friends at Crying Out Loud who are committed to bringing contemporary extraordinary theatre to London from around the world . The Race Horse Company and their subversive circus performance have emerged from the Finnish underground and are coming to town in June.
In their new show presented by Crying Out Loud, the new show Petit Mal is set against an urban backdrop fusing break dancing, hip hop, trampoline work, a Chinese pole and acrobatics. Petit Mal will be at The South Bank Centre between 4 and 6 June.
For a chance to win 4 tickets worth up to £80 e mail your name and contact details to info@olivelovesalfie.co.uk.
Winners will be notified by 28 May 2010.
For a sneak preview check out their show on You Tube.
Our new bambi coat hangers are kitsch and totally gorgeous. Made from the most eco-friendly plastic available made in Sweden without any PVC or nasty endocrine disrupters (what are they?…horrible and unnecessary substances that act like hormones in the endocrine system). Whats more the colours have all been approved for use in the food industry.
Instead of looking for a new picture to hang on your wall choose from a lovely selection of colours and hang your favourite little piece of clothing on it for a keep sake.
The artist Bryony Lloyd came to see me a few months ago with her photographic portrait montages. I loved the idea and wanted to develop the idea into a bespoke portrait project that would be exclusively available through Olive Loves Alfie. We have created 3 different questionnaires for kids, teenagers and adults that will create a brief for Bryony to work with for each portrait.
Olive told Bryony that she has 2 love birds, goes to trapeze classes, loves Italy and the colours yellow, blue and silver. I gave Bryony a photograph to work on with Olive hiding behind a huge dried Alium.
The framed portraits cost £200 and the questionnaire can be mailed out as a gift if you are buying it as a present. Each bespoke portrait will take approximately 10 days. Aprox 32cm 42cm.
I love the new collection from Brights and Stripes that has just arrived. Inspired by 1970’s wallpapers the prints are bold and bright and quite brilliant.
The collection has grown up a little and for those of you who wanted bigger sizes the collection now includes sizes upto 4 to 5 years. The new Spring Summer 2010 collection is now availble from on-line shop.
Our first delivery of Birkenstock arrived with the sun. We have great selection of colours and finishes for you to choose from. Rio is available in Pearlised amethyst or raspberry, metallic silver or matt lime green. Roma is available in both black and white. Both styules cost £34 and are available from size 24 (UK6) to 34 (UK3).
They usually sell out quickly so call in our look on-line to get your summer sandals whilst we have plenty to choose from.
