| Jump, Jive and Shout club night in London Posted: 03 Feb 2011 02:45 PM PST 
We don't feature many club nights, usually the ones that jump out from the crowd - like this Jump, Jive and Shout club night in London.
It's a club night from a different era. At least, that's the premise, with a soundtrack of lively, pounding, pulsating 1940s/50s rhythm n blues, jump jive, boogie woogie, doo wop, blues shouters and more, played out on the second and third Tuesday of the month with DJ Salome Jackson. Not just records either, live music too, ranging from boogie woogie/rock n roll piano pounders to rockabilly trios, girl groups,western swing and country boogie combos, and jump jive bands.
For the diary, Tuesday 8th February is Jamie Rowan's Boogie Lightnin' and Tuesday 15th February is The Muleskinners. It runs from 8pm until midnight, entry is £5 on the door and it takes place at The Fiddler's Elbow 1 Malden Road London NW5 3HS.
Email here for more details  |
| Christie's Interiors auction in London Posted: 03 Feb 2011 02:08 PM PST 
Want to kit your home out in some classic 20th century design? You need to head for the Christie's Interiors auction in London, which takes place at the South Kensington site in London in 8th February 2011.
In truth, there are items going through the centuries, both antique and fairly recent, but it's the midcentury items that have caught our eye. This Ernst Igl Hadi desk is one such design. From 1971, this space age gem was produced by Bayer in moulded polyurethane, with storage and lighting built-in.
Not too expensive either really, £800 - £1,200 is the estimate. Check out the site to register to bid or see all the lots.
Find out more at the Christie's website  |
| John Lewis retro-styled Aalto armchair and sofa Posted: 03 Feb 2011 01:42 PM PST 
Not sure if there's much similarity to the work of the man it's named after, but we like the retro styling of the John Lewis Aalto armchair and sofa.
Pictured above is the oversized armchair, with light oak legs, a high back granite-coloured 'chunky' fabric upholstery and the bonus of a scatter cushion.
If you want something bigger, check out the sofa over the page, which is in much the same style. Available for order now, prices start at £999.
Find out more at the John Lewis website 
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| Acme The Beatles Collection Pen and Card Case sets Posted: 03 Feb 2011 01:31 PM PST 
Something for The Beatles fans out there, although you'll need to be an affluent fan of the Fab Four to collections all of these Acme The Beatles Collection Pen and Card Case sets, which celebrate 50 years since the band was formed.
Each set limited to 600 worldwide and each design is based around an original Beatles album, so the one above is, as you've probably guessed, A Hard Day's Night. Also released in the first batch is Please Please Me and With The Beatles, with other albums following over the next couple of years.
In the set, you get an enamel rollerball pen and business card case with the album design featured, as well as a presentation box which replicates the album cover and is individually numbered. Available for pre-order now, £119.99 is the price. See over the page for the packaging.
Find out more at the Utility Design website 
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| eBay watch: Italian 1970s eyeball desk lamp by Prova Lighting Posted: 03 Feb 2011 07:52 AM PST 
Not sure how collectable this actually is, but the eyeball desk lamp by Prova Lighting is certainly an eye-catching and distinctive piece.
Designed in either the 1960s or (more likely), the 70s, this Italian design has an aluminium base and a steel body, with a lacquered mustard yellow finish. The entire thing stands at around 30cm and is, of course, adjustable.
This lamp has been recently re-wired, retaining its original period inline switch and is described as being in 'pretty much mint' condition. £4.99 is the current bidding price.
Find out more at the eBay website  |
| New Sir Peter Blake limited edition prints - Vera Puzzle and 24 Flags Posted: 03 Feb 2011 07:41 AM PST 
We're not going to pretend these are cheap, but if you have money to invest and want to invest it in art, Sir Peter Blake has two new limited edition prints on the market - Vera Puzzle and 24 Flags.
Both are part of his 'Found Art' series, as well as as being giclee prints with a silkscreen glaze and in a signed limited edition of just 25 of each. The flags one, as you can see, is a collage of Union Jack images, while the Vera Puzzle artwork, which is pictured over the page, is inspired by vintage Mickey Mouse imagery.
Both are sized at 36 x 42 inches and both are available now for £2,500 each.
Find out more at the Opus Art Gallery website 
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| La Vie Ordinaire wallpaper from B&Q Posted: 03 Feb 2011 05:28 AM PST 
If you like Cath Kidston's London design or the retro city views of Lizzie Allen's City Gents wallpaper or indeed the the C'est Magnifique wallpaper we featured a couple of weeks ago, this La Vie Ordinaire wallpaper from B&Q could offer you a good budget option.
Like those three designs, it's decorated with illustrations of a city, in this case showing London, Paris and New York. It's a very nostalgic, touristy viewpoint so New York gets yellow cabs and the Statue of Liberty; London gets gents in suits and a girl in a rain mac holding a bulldog. The retro feel is further enhanced by the red and yellow highlights that have been used as part of the illustrations. The paper costs £19.98 for 10 metres Order it online  |
| Fairground mugs from Snowden Flood Posted: 03 Feb 2011 05:18 AM PST 
Snowden Flood has been featured quite a few times on this site before: for her work featuring famous London landmarks and her take on design classics. A slightly different type of style is evident in her new range but still one that's pleasingly retro - as demonstrated with these fairground mugs.
The mugs feature illustrations influenced by traditional British folk art - indeed as the name suggests they are influenced by old-fashioned funfair signage. Each mug is decorated in a different colour with a different fairground ride style slogan. The bone china mugs also draw on another British tradition in their manufacture as they are made in Stoke-On-Trent. You can buy the mugs individually for £18.50 or as a set of four for £70. See them online  |
| On the Road classic Penguin flask Posted: 03 Feb 2011 04:53 AM PST 
This classic On the Road Penguin flask pictures the iconic book cover, written by Jack Kerouac in the 1950s.
Inspiring beatnik teenagers everywhere to set off and explore, escaping the restrictions of authority, this thermo-flask is a handy travelling companion Kerouac himself would have been proud of. Another great move from Penguin, get yours from Urban Outfitters for £25.00.  |
| Vintage 1930s evening opera bag Posted: 03 Feb 2011 04:36 AM PST 
This vintage 1930s evening bag should not just be reserved for the opera, although the sparkling beauty of it yearns to accompany your evening gowns. It's in good condition, despite its age, and covered with hundreds of small white and clear beads in a sun ray pattern. There is a classic push back clasp and extra carrying strap, with a small inner pocket. Truly something for a special occasion, it can be yours for £43.00 at SuzieFloozie.com  |
| Tossed Vinyl Wall Art Posted: 03 Feb 2011 03:19 AM PST 
More art and another product inspired by old vinyl! The Tossed Vinyl Wall Art is a digital print of randomly scattered records.
The close-ups of albums are set against a stark white background, which provides a contrast with the black vinyl and gives the piece a Sixties op-art look. The canvas measures 20 by 30 inches. It costs $48 (about £30) from Urban Outfitters.  |
| Coulson Macleod Etiquette Prints Posted: 03 Feb 2011 02:49 AM PST 
We mentioned Coulson Macleod's Decades prints a few weeks ago, but those aren't the only typographic gems in his range. Also worthy of noting are his series of Etiquette Prints. The three prints in this range are made up of rules of good old-fashioned manners such as how to treat a lady, table manners and drinking tea. One statement in each print is in a bolder font, and its from these that each one takes it name. Choose from "Napkin Not Serviette", "Lunch Not Dinner" or "Pudding Not Dessert". The typeface has a distressed look to it, which combined with the oak frame, adds to the vintage look of the prints. The prints cost £199 each and can be ordered from the Coulson Macleod website.  |
