Hola Silver Birds

I have to thank my sister for leading me to Joanna Rutter and her pretty silver birds. Birds have in the last few years gain a popularity in fashion and jewellery. It can get quite difficult to see something special when a motif has been used over and over again.

It is remarkable that Joanna Rutter can produce such simple jewellery that you want badly. I wouldn’t say that there’s anything especially unique about it but there’s a gentleness about the designs. And a sense that time has been spent designing and making these.

Having bookmarked this last summer I looked at the designs again today and was pleased to see that I still wanted.  If you read her blog, you will see that it is bursting with inspiration and a sort of quiet appreciation of all things nice- not unlike her jewellery.

Her pretty pieces are available to buy here.

Cosy Toes

People tend to stay in more in winter because it’s easier to be cosy at home than it is outside. You wouldn’t really walk around draped in a blanket or duvet but you can curl up in front of the telly in this fashion.

I love wooden flooring and going bare feet so having perfect slippers is essential in winter.  Last winter, I had a pair of knitted ones from Istanbul. They were beautiful wool socks hand-knitted by the same Turkish ladies who sold them for about £4.  It was heartbreaking when they fell apart.

So I have been on the hunt for replacement slippers and these have caught my eye . I love how the details go as far as the soles of the slippers. I’ve seen similar slippers being sold but for toddlers and I am so glad that these are now available in adult sizes as there are many of us who have not grown up.

I am not a big fan of fleece but I can just imagine that these slippers would be very nice to sink tired feet in.

The Whistle-Blower

I was in my friend’s kitchen the other day and heard the sound of his kettle whistling. The crescending sound brought me back to when I was child and this was the one regular sound- a constant soundtrack to our household.

It struck me then, how much I miss this sound. That shrill whistle. The one that starts tiny and reaches a maximum high, demanding attention. Like a schoolbell that signals the end of the school day, this instantly recognisable sound is like the kitchen version of Pavlov’s bell. A cuppa is about to be made.

I have not had a stove kettle for years now. My kitchen is filled with appliances that make electronic bleeps. The microwave that goes teeeet teeeeet teeeeeet when it’s done with reheating your food, the oven that goes beeeeeeep when your muffins are ready. None with the charm of the stove kettle.

Since having dinner the other day, I have had the sound of the whistling kettle in my head and my eye on this little beauty by Alessi.