OLIVE LOVES ALFIE

June 18, 2010

Name It With Galia

Filed under: Uncategorized, bespoke products, christening present, design, illustration, interior ideas, personalised presents — ashlyn @ 11:02 am

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

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May 18, 2010

Making News In Japan

Filed under: Stoke Newington N16, bespoke products, collaboration, creative ideas and projects, design, interior ideas, press — ashlyn @ 12:49 pm

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

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February 9, 2010

Illustrate Your World

Filed under: Uncategorized, bespoke products, design, illustration — ashlyn @ 6:39 pm

Before I met Vicky I had seen her work on her website and loved its psychedelic exuberance. I wondered how children would interpret her illustrative style.

When I showed Vicky’s work to Olive she made up more than one story for each illustration. Having an insight into a child’s view reinforces just how much scope there is for their own creativity to be encouraged when they are exposed to inspiring ideas.

Vicky’s illustrations are available from our handmade and bespoke section on online shop in three sizes and prices range from £25 to £99. Inspired by her work and Olives love of trapeze we are working on a circus themed illustration together that will be available this Spring exclusively through Olive Loves Alfie.

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January 7, 2010

Photographic Montage

Filed under: collaboration, creative ideas and projects, design — ashlyn @ 11:30 pm

A few weeks ago I met a brilliant London based photographer and film maker whose work I found beautiful and fascinating. In his photographic work Phil Miller creates montages using projections, artwork and multiple exposures. Layering inanimate objects, scenic and typographic elements together his work has an amazing depth and quality so that each piece of work becomes a compelling contemplative narrative.

Cat In Cannes was inspired by and produced after a visit to the Cannes Film Festival and is my personal favourite.

We have commissioned Phil to produce a montage based on Olive Loves Alfie.

If you are looking for a unique way to capture your family or to tell your story I think Phil’s photographic montage would be a wonderfully original and powerful medium.

www.philmillerphotography.com

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November 20, 2009

Love love love Cornershop

Filed under: boutique, design, music, new products, shop window, special products — ashlyn @ 2:50 pm

Vibrant colour, illustration, music and nostalgia are just some of my passions. You can imagine my delight at the sound and sight of the new Cornershop album and their new video Soul School. I love the pop vibe of orange and pink combined together. It was the first choice for my own logo when we designed it in 2006 and for Cornershops new album cover too.

Available now £10 from Olive Loves Alfie

I have got my heart set on a copy of one of their posters to hang up on my wall at home alongside my collection of hand printed posters from Dandy Star and General Pattern that are all available from our boutique

In the late 90’s I jumped on and off the Cornershop tour bus in Europe and the US when they were busy quite literally touring the world and being nominated for the prestigious Mercury Awards. I have some very fond memories of carefree days, hopes and dreams.

Almost a decade later and life has taken a very different but equally brilliant direction for everyone. Olive is almost 7 and her lovely daddy is still their drummer, she has her own drum kit and raves about Cornershop to her friends. I often see Tjinder and his wife Marie in Stoke Newington and have had many an amusing conversation with Ariel their eldest son. A few weeks ago they came into Olive Loves Alfie to buy their Spotty Otter winter coats. And so it seems the whole world is growing up ever so quickly.

Illustrations by Abi Williams from Soul School the new Cornershop video

It’s heartwarming to see that Cornershop are back brighter than before. With artwork created by Abi Williams from Rude and her quite brilliant directorial debut they are serving up a visual feast that I whole heartedly approve of. If my recommendation isn’t enough try these for size.

“its the best album this decade since their last album this decade” x-reflex magazine, Japan

“Judy Sucks A Lemon For Breakfast, this bold fresh sounding album makes them a candidate for the quintessential 21st century pop group” MOJO

“Love the new ‘Shop album! Instantly amazing” NME

“Clever and engaging, happily detached from the mainstream – an admirable way to continue down an improbable career path” The Guardian

Album of The Week ratings: The Guardian 4/5, Independent 4/5, Metro 4/5,Independent On Sunday 4/5.
big issue 4/5,Uncut 4/5, MOJO 4/5,Daily Mirror 4/5, the sun 4.5/5,Daily Express4/5, Sunday Times 4/5, Elle Magazine 4/5 News Of The World, Album of the Week 5/5

Go no further you can now buy their new album from our boutique and will soon be available on our online shop www.olivelovesalfie.co.uk £ 10.

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October 22, 2009

Bespoke Names Cushions

Filed under: bespoke products, design, personalised presents — ashlyn @ 2:59 pm

If you are looking for present inspiration look no further. Last year we worked on a collaborative project with Gina Lely to design heirloom cushions that are perfect for naming days or birthdays. They are just as popular for presents for grown ups too. They are also perfect for putting messages and we are having JOY and PEACE made at the moment for our Christmas window. The handmade cushions have a lovely retro feel with patchwork letters on a denim background and a brushed cotton back.

The cushion complete with the inner cushion costs £17 and each letter is an additional £4.

Allow approx 1 week for the cushion to be made especially for you.

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July 14, 2009

Vintage Styling

Filed under: collections, design, interior ideas — ashlyn @ 9:47 pm

When I am buying I love seeing how different people present their collections. Justine from Cotton and Milk told a lovely story with vintage props, black and white vintage photographs, metal coat hangers wrapped in ribbon and a huge vintage tin that she kept her stationery in. And the collection?…vintage inspired, beautifully styled and perfectly made merino wool pieces to treasure.

My Grandma had dozens of old biscuit tins and toffee tins that she kept her treasures in. I used to love looking through them every summer when I went to visit her in Lancashire. I still have some of them now with her button collection as it was probably 50 years ago. They have become memory boxes with hand written notes, cuttings from local newspaper, old watches and spectacle frames that all paint a picture of her life. At the age of 6 Olive is starting to be as interested in their contents as I remember being.

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February 10, 2009

Kid Acne

Filed under: design, events — admin @ 12:12 pm

We have just finished our first design collaboration that was commissioned by the V&A for their Top to Toe exhibition at the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green which runs until the end of April 2009. It came together brilliantly when our kimono inspired jacket was printed by Aida at Brag Clothing with a repeat print of off set clouds and a boy riding a dragon illustrated by Kid Acne

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January 10, 2009

Lizzie Loveless

Filed under: design — admin @ 11:37 am

We love Lizzie Loveless Alphabet series of framed pictures. Each letter depicts an animal with original vintage fabric detailing so each one made is slightly different. G for Giraffe and M for Monkey are particular favourites but all other letters are available and are made to order through Olive Loves Alfie £140. Please contact us for further info.

Lizzie Loveless Alphabet

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84 Stoke Newington Church St - London N16 OAP - Tel: +44 (0) 0207 241 4212 - info@olivelovesalfie.co.uk

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