Bits & Pieces Enamel Tin

One of those lovely retro enamel tins. I came across this at the Imperial War museum shop and was really tempted to buy it, but I managed to restrain myself. It’s a buttery cream coloured tin with a green lid and bold text on the side of the tin proclaiming “Bits & Pieces” also in green. A nice nod to yesteryear as well as being a bit tongue in cheek. Available to purchase from dirtydollie.co.uk

Photo from dirtydollie.co.uk

House of Cards

This is something I covet, but it’s a little too dear to justify buying. We had them in a playroom at my ex-workplace, addictive to play with and lovely to look at. The cards each have a different picture from the animal, mineral, or vegetable kingdoms. They have notches cut in them so the cards are easy to interlock into a visual bonanza.

(The images are from here (UK) and here (US).)

When looking for this online (I’d seen it in the South Bank Centre’s shop), I learned to my surprise that Ray Eames is a girl. I’d always thought Charles and Ray were two brothers.

Nuts For Life

I was lured into this new coffee and nut shop on Chiswick High Street by the enticing cupcakes on display in the window.

Cupcakes seem to be having a bit of revival. I see them all over nowadays. I had the coffee flavoured one and it was delicious, really moist. There is something about these cupcakes that make them seem grown-up, yet retain their childlike fun. Both shopgirls said that the vanilla one was their favourite, so that’s what I’ll be having next time I go.

The shop is a salad bar of nuts: raw, flavoured, roasted and coated. They also do dried fruits, muesli, cakes and coffee.