Recently in Mid-week Find Category

With the advent of children everything changes - I mean everything! One of the most notable changes I found in the kitchen was the subtle, yet eventual invasion of melamine. Bourne out of necessity, as I did not want tiny toddlers using our good China and glassware, I reluctantly decided to get a couple of plastic plates and bowls for sheer practical reasons.

But over a short space of time our cupboards began to overflow with a hodgepodge of plastic bowls, cups and plates. Hence, our repertoire ranged from Winnie the Pooh, Angelina Ballerina, Thomas the Tank Engine and Peter Rabbit. I distinctly remember drawing the line with - Barbie, Bratz and the Incredible Hulk as I could not stomach those garish faces staring back at my innocent children as they ate their tortellini or spaghetti of an evening.

Today's mid-week find is Catherine Ivins- mad scientist, mum, owner and designer of Olive Bites Studio. Catherine endeavours to use recycled and sustainable materials in 'new, unique and beautiful ways leaving the lightest possible footprint' in her wake. The cork she uses in her designs is grown in managed forests in Portugal and Spain, using age old traditional hand tools and without fertilisers or pesticides, thus ensuring that the forests remain undamaged.



The glass test tubes Catherine uses to package her jewellery are science grade with 62% recycled materials and the industrial zinc she uses is 30% recycled. Catherine's current range is available to purchase through their online store.

Todays mid-week find are mother & daughter design team Elly Nelly. Both Elaine and Nell Oliver are experienced textile designers with an avid interest in pattern. Their wall decals are a fusion of hand illustrations and stylized modern graphics that enable you to inexpensively transform a room in a short space of time.

Today's mid week find is young Melbourne artist Lucy Folk. Her appetising jewellery in silver and 24 carat gold is a celebration of the unexpected joy and beauty of food. Her 'Nibbles' collection includes glimmering gold corn chip and diamond set pretzel earrings, sweet pea, popcorn and chocolate necklaces.



Some artists are inspired by organic or natural forms, Lucy on the other hand is inspired by one of her greatest loves - Food (truly a  girl after my own heart)! Hence, Lucy's childhood was spent behind the scenes in her father's Café where she was exposed to all sorts of delicious treats. As a result of having been around food for so long and inspired by all things delicious, Lucy then found herself recreating some of her favourite foods into quirky pieces that are truly satisfying to the eye.

Do take the time to have a look at Lucy Folk's current range - 'More Nibbles' as it's guaranteed to 'imbue the wearer with a tasty touch of confidence, without adding inches to your waistline'.

Today's mid week find is Re Jin Lee both founder and designer of Bailey Doesn't Bark. Originally from Brazil, Re Jin possessed a love for art from a young age and began to draw when she was a child. Thus 'inspired by her own life, memories and dreams, Re Jin wanted to create simple, yet humorous designs on functional products'.



Each item whether it be a cup, bowl or plate starts off as a drawing.  Re Jin will then 'either hand paint directly onto the porcelain with a ceramic glaze, or she will transfer the artwork onto ceramic decal'. Both processes of which are finished with a kiln firing. Bailey Doesn't Bark is based in New York, where Re Jin resides with 'her most loyal companion and the company's namesake - her dog (who doesn't bark) Bailey'.  Re Jin's current range is available to purchase through her online store.

Today's mid week find is Lindsay Pemberton from New Zealand. Charmed by the simple domestic ritual of brewing a pot of tea led Lindsay to experiment with vintage tea cups which resulted in the -'Tea Bangle'.

Lindsay dissects vintage tea cups with a diamond saw thus giving them a new lease of life as elegant, yet surprisingly strong 'Tea Bangles'. In the same range are Lindsay's delicate 'Heart Pendants' which are made by joining two former tea cup handles to form a single heart.


Her products are 'designed to challenge our thoughts about everyday objects and rituals' and her brand 'Rekindle' is yet another great example of 'recycling the old and unloved and making it cherished again'.  Lindsay's current range is available to purchase through her online store.

Today's mid week find is Rae Dunn from San Francisco. Rae is inspired by the simple forms that surround her and 'finds beauty in simple shapes, natural forms and found objects'. You can visit her website to view her complete line of plates, cups, bowls and platters. Rae also has a manufactured line that is sold throughout America.



Items found in her Etsy store are often only one of a kind pieces and limited editions. You can also contact her directly for custom made orders. Do take the time to have a look as Rae's work as it is stunning in its simplicity and 'deceivingly straightforward'.

Today's mid week find is Asya Palatova the founder of Gleena. Originally from St. Petersburg in Russia, Asya spent many endless summers as a child at her family dacha, a Russian country house. There in amongst her grandmothers 'carefully tended gardens and apple trees' the dacha proved to be a constant source of inspiration for Asya. Hence, Asya 'merges classical and modern to develop objects with a purity of form that compels people to touch and use them'.

Today's mid-week find is Esther Coombs from London. Esther purchases all her ceramic items from second hand charity shops, boot fairs and flea markets. Everything is hand drawn by Esther as she does not use transfers or other people to manufacture her work.

Esther likes to 'mix the old treasure and narratives these items possess with the new story' she then layers onto them. In doing so, Esther is contributing to the growing number of people out there focusing on re-design by using discarded items to thus re-invent anew!




Please note that Esther is having a January clear out Sale and most items are discounted between 10-50%. View Esther's Etsy Store to see her current range of one-off designs.