Drink, shop & do

       

I was very excited to interview the inspiring and stylish pair behind the most exciting shop to hit London's King's Cross in the last year. Drink, Shop & Do is an incredible vintage homewares store – but also much much more, besides.

There are snacks to be bought, cocktails to be shaken and silly games to be played (clay modelling in an 80s style, for starters).

Check out lots of luscious pictures and find out more about the shop and its super cool owners, Coralie and Kristie (they even have great names!) in today's New Review magazine.

Secret sample sales!

... and because you're very special people, I'll let you into a secret or two. There are some spectacular interiors-y sample sales going on in London in the next few weeks. Where do you hear about them? Stick with me, Kid. (In the meantime, click on the link above if you haven't already.)

Elphick's online art shop

It's a day of discovering lovely new things... Isn't this the sort of shop you want to just rush into?

Elphick's, in east London's Columbia Road, run by the artist Sharon Elphick (you can see her flowers in a vase picture in the window) is packed with the owner's well-chosen collection of art, including her own - and at very affordable prices. I'd heard about the shop but have never been - but the online version is almost as exciting. There's so much great stuff I don't know quite where to start. Without doing an inventory of the entire catalogue, I'll attempt to self-edit and pick out a few highlights you might like the look of. But do check out the shop for yourself - there's a lot going on.

I really like this print, called Tuba, by Helen Lang aka Madamsange. It reminds me a bit of one of my favourite children's books, Patrick, by Quentin Blake, which has equally joyous visions of flowers growing where you least expect them, and shoelaces turning into giant ribbons. But Helen's boxy figure feels much more Fifites/early Sixties than the fluid, 1969-published lines of Blake. The print measures 30x40cm and costs £55. See more of Helen's work at her Wet Paint website.

Not sure if Russell Loughlan's work is still at Elphick's but it had its debut there last year. And I like his work so much I thought I'd include it - plus a link to his site, above, just in case. I know Russell, but hadn't seen his work until it appeared at Tales from a Park Bench, a special pop-up shop/ performance art/writer-y thingy I took part in. But back to Russell, who combines illustration, found imagery, vintage postcards, antique maps and pop culture. Elphick's were selling them in recycled frames for £145 each.

I tried hard not to feature one of Sharon Elphick's lovely bird artworks and picked this postcard montage instead (are those John Hinde cards?). A woman after my own heart, not only does she cherish old postcards, but seems to share my love for bird ephemera. (In my house, from where I'm sitting right now: I can see one money-box - a 1970s brown owl; one lamp - one of Ed Carpenter's pigeon lights; a sticky-in-the-ground wooden garden ornament (from Brazil) and my Ikea outdoor bird fairy lights.) Wish You Were Here, at her more expensive end, is £350.

I love Charley Harper, as old-school followers will know. But I've struggled to find prints of his work - in desperation I bought a Harper memory card game from the Saatchi Gallery shop and framed the whole pack of little squares. I like it - but I also like this print, which is one of about ten that Elphick's is selling - it's £40. And I also now know why I had struggled to find Harper prints before - Elphick's is the only place licensed to sell them.

Seamstar's fabulous fabrics

Seamstar is my new favourite website for window shopping. The fantastic fabric shop has such great taste - and they sell their wares in lots of handy types of package, such as this tonal bundle of small pieces of fabric, perfect for fronting cushion covers. 

I can't believe I'd never heard of it, but it was my friend Holly's birthday the other day and her friend and sewing buddy, Deborah, gave her a bundle of of Seamstar's finest as a present. Being exceptionally stylish, she went for the Echino bundle, by the Japanese designer Etsuko Furuya - all edgy prints of things like bicycles and glasses 

(see a few Furuya prints below or click on the link for Seamstar's selection). I was almost as excited as Holly was. Now all I need is to learn to sew. Or, rather, learn to have the patience to perfect my very basic sewing skills. Hmm. Meanwhile I'm enjoying the final suggestion on the website's tips about what to do with your chosen fabric bundle. Nice idea...

Seamstar says

- Perfect for making a quilt as each bundle comes colour coordinated and includes plain fabrics

- Due to their complimentary tones, they look great made into separate items on craft stalls

- They are great for just stocking up your fabric stash in some of your favourite colours

- No time to make stuff? Our bundles look lovely piled high on bookshelves and in sewing rooms

Lovely shops

55 Max 

Amazing archives of photography available in all sizes and finishes. 

A Little Bit of Art 
Tasty printed wall art at mouth-wateringly low prices.
Adeline Country Cottage
Cute vintage bits, wonderfully wrapped. Melbourne-based (perfect for Aussie rellies).
Airside
Great graphic-y art, like my Always Look on the Bright Side of Life lyrics Monty Python print.
Aram
Get your design kudos here – not often knowingly underpriced (though occasionally so).
Art Republic
Loads of affordable wall art, as well as limited and rare edition prints.
Attic Interiors
Mid-century furniture, ceramics, lighting and more.
Beetroot
Home and living accessories with a Polish twist.
Bodie and Fou
Chic, modern gifts and accessories – from out-there wallpaper to tasty tumblers
Bold & Noble
Very British, very cool, and yet very affordable prints.
Bouf
A showcase of a shop packed with affordable pieces by small-scale designers
Candy Pop Images
Cheerful and bright images which can be ordered as cards or prints of different sizes.
Cath Kidston 
Her pretty florals are ubiquitous but there's much more to Kidston's store.
Cocoboat 
Super nice new stuff at super nice prices.
David Mellor Designs 
Well designed home and kitchenware "to improve your life". Great for foodies.
Days Gone By 
Great vintage-inspired gifts, useful home bits and great for historic photos and posters.
Designers Guild
Fabulous fabric, wallpaper, furniture and accessories from Queen of Colour, Tricia Guild.
Devon Driftwood
Does what it says on the label – beautifully.
Donna Wilson
She's everywhere now, but I'm still a sucker for Donna Wilson’s quaint creations.
Elphick’s 
Owned by the artist, Sharon Elphick, who has very good taste, it's packed with affordable art.
Exit

Quirky, contemporary accessories.

Fancy Moon Fabrics
Acres of fab fabric (rare/retro/new/quirky). Do use the handy "shop by theme" tool.
The French House 
Salvaged gallic gems. For the blow-the-budget centrepiece.
Funky Little Darlings 
Cool stuff for kids' walls.
Habitat
Fresh, modern and still one of the best for stylish essentials.
House Industries
Obsessed with fonts? Try this unusual US store and design agency, who also sell other objects.
Ikea
Like crack, but great for essentials and often gifts, too. In emergencies, try Ikea Hacker.
Jane Foster 
Heavily retro and very cute screen printed goodies.
John Lewis 
Never knowingly undersold festive things, cool textiles and generally much great design.
Keep Calm Gallery 
Clever and cool wall art at super cheap prices.
Labour & Wait 
Timeless, simple and utilitarian products.
Lisa Jones Studio
Beautiful printed designs on cards, tea-towels and more
North Rock Gallery 
Thanks Victoria's Backyard (great garden blog) for highlighting these new-designer goodies.
Not On The High Street 
Zillions of independent designers flaunt their wares here. Particularly good for gifts.
The OK Corral
LOVE these well-picked, affordable vintage finds. Got half my Christmas presents there.
Outline Editions
Limited edition prints from Britain’s most talented illustrators.
Oxfam
Patience to wade through tat? You'll find gems in the homewares/books sections.
The Peanut Vendor 
Crammed with old-school interior loveliness.
Pedlars
Specialists (with spectacular taste) in solid British design. Go with a full purse.
Penguin's gift store
Their cool covers in many formats
Pip’s Trip
Retro a-go-go!

Printed Wonders 

London-based illustrator, Xtina Lamb, specialising in printed art.

Pussy Home Boutique
Cute gifts and accessories.
Quietly Eccentric 
Pretty printed accessories for pet addicts.
Rue du Chateau
Fancy French furniture and decorative objects from 1900 to 1970. Most stylish.
SCP 
The super cool indy design store.
Seamstar
Fun and affordable fabrics.
Signature Prints
This Oz site is licensed to reproduce the chic textiles of Florence Broadhurst (d. 1977).
Source Antiques 
Cuts out tiresome Ebay bidding and exhausting flea-market trawling.
Supernice 
The East London store showcases sexy products by a range of hip designers.
Urban Outfitters
The hipsters' fashion store also does cute homewares.
Viva La Frida
Frida Kahlo inspired prints and textiles.
The V & A Shop
A great go-to for gifts.
Wessel & O’Connor 
This gallery specialises in amazing vintage and contemporary photography.
Winters Moon 
Lovely vintage or vintage-like bits – some of it recycled into swish new stuff.