On crockery watch at Jarrold in Norwich

I have a bit of a thing for crockery. That sentence felt like it was prompted by some kind of confession at a self-help group. It wasn’t meant to, and I suspect you already know about my crockery thing, or some of it at least as I’ve shared a few crockery posts here in the past, and use my own mini-collection comes out for styling posts at times. It’s not really a mini-collection either, as I have complete tea sets but let’s keep that just between you and I, ok?

In Norwich recently I was keen to take a look around the city’s independent department store, Jarrold and as we wandered around the Lanes I spotted it in the distance and steered MOH towards it and inside before he could work out quite what was happening. We headed straight to the Lower Ground floor where the homeware department was. I wasn’t expecting to be bowled over (sorry!) by the dishes that called my name, but I was.

You can see why, can’t you?

I had more time than I thought I would to peruse, and wish and wonder and plot and plan for their use and future purchases as MOH had landed in front of the gin section, and was doing his own extensive research.

While the bold geometric patterns above are great, it’s the smaller repetitive patterns that I’m much more attracted to. My problem, as ever, is choice. Too much of it appears to paralyse me, rendering me almost unable to make an informed decision. Quite often, the choice becomes much simpler, if I can’t choose then it becomes I’ll have all or nothing. And that quite often helps the decision making process, I mean, buying all of these just because I couldn’t choose would be silly, so the answer was none. For now.

There will come a time I’m sure when following that decision tree, I’ll think it perfectly sensible to buy the lot, perhaps then narrowing it down further will become more realistic. Or maybe, I’ll change tack completely and go for the bees…

Or other small patterned insect, bird or animal patterned crockery.

Who knows.

But all those decisions, or almost decisions, made for thirsty work and so this Gin and Tonic set were actually the most likely to leave the shop as purchases, but by then it was time to prise MOH out of the wine section before we ended up with a serious discussion on how many bottles we should buy.

And it was definitely time for tea and cake…

Geometric and encaustic tiles at Grand Designs Live

I’ve said before that Grand Designs Live, and in fact any show is a treat for the senses, and can provide complete overload as well as the inspiration you might be after. Or both. And sometimes, like anything, it takes a while for the brain to process it all. There’s so much to see, that it means very tired legs at the end of it after trying to see everything, and MOH will tell you I try my best to see just about everything.

At times though there’s things that just make you stop and smile. And yearn for a Victorian style property that has a short path in the front garden that could be tiled, or better has the hallway that you could lavish tiles such as these on.

But first, let me tell you about encaustic tiles - a term i’d not heard of before. They’re simply ceramic tiles where the pattern is made of different coloured clay, rather than being part of the glaze. Usually they have two colours, but can have up to six colours, and the image below shows some good examples of these, and they’re stunning aren’t they?

You’ll probably have seen them before though, even walked on them I’m sure, as they’re often embedded into designs with geometric designs.

And of course, there’s plenty of designs. This one definitely has the feel of a patchwork quilt pattern - I wonder what came first, the tile pattern or the quilt?

And if you’re thinking that all of these are very traditional, then think again. This smaller pattern has a much more modern feel and in a modern setting, say a bathroom with a crittall-type shower enclosure and black fittings would look stunning, and bring the traditional and contemporary styles together.

They also give the tiles I’ve shared from Porto a run for their money too, don’t they?

Galvanised pots and bits and bobs

I’ve been a fan of the interiors shop at Creake Abbey in Norfolk for a while now, and many Norfolk visits are punctuated with trips there for some interior, and garden inspiration. But what’s peculiar is that I can’t find a previous visit here on my blog; it could be that I’m not looking properly, because it’s attached to something else, or it could be that I have, up until now, just kept their wonders to myself. Who knows.

If it’s the latter though, then today I’m about to spoil that. Home by Annie Lambert is my must-visit shop on each visit, once I’ve stopped off at the deli and the cafe that is. It’s the sort of place that has things that if they weren’t here together I’d most likely wander straight past them - Joyful Living is another place like that, and I’ve managed a stop there on this trip too, so look out for photos from there soon.

My attention - and imagination - is always captured right outside the shop with these galvanised pots of almost every shape and size. Frequently the dogs also look pitiful at me and encourage me to take them home, but so far I’ve resisted (although I’m sure my resolve won’t last forever). The sensible me wonders how on earth we’d get them home, the devious me wonders if they’d be ok on top or underneath MOH’s bike, or even instead of his bike, but then I sense him realising that’s what I could be plotting and he looks worried…

He doesn’t have to worry, quite just yet though. These are a one-day-right-property kind of purchase, and if we were to take a dog home now, I’m not sure what the foxes, or next door’s cat would make of it at all.

I told you there were all shapes and sizes, and now you can see why getting them home could be such a problem. And that’s even without getting to the dogs…

GROW OLD ALONG WITH ME THE BEST IS YET TO BE

Actually looking at the dogs again, I fear the foxes would have them as playthings, and that can’t happen. The quote on the sundial’s pretty good too isn’t it? We haven’t even got inside the shop yet, and I can sense MOH twitching. I wonder if it’s the how-will-we-get-them-home plan, but then realise it’s more likely because I’ve commandeered his phone after leaving home unintentionally without mine. He’s realised though that there’s no point me giving the phone back until we’re out of the shop, and he’s fine with that, I think he just wants to know if he’s expected to receive it in between shots or not!

THREE GREEN BOTTLES…

Finally we’re inside the shop and my attention is immediately drawn to the globe, I’m not sure why as we already have one. The unit to its left with the jug and candles to match the paintwork are my eyes next stop. My magpie self doesn’t quite know where to flit to next.

And then I spy the crockery. Piles of gilt edged plates and saucers. Flowers and pretty patterns, but below them fish. Clearly worn and clearly used, and for me that’s what makes them great. MOH is a new and pristine kind of person when it comes to homewares, but over the years he’s getting to know my style and gradually we’re blending our styles to create our own.

There’s shelves and shelves of inspiration in the shop, and it’s here that I spied the Lettres a Picots, which I posted earlier in the week. I didn’t go back and get them, and I still kind of wish I did even though I’ve no use for them. If the feeling remains strong then I know I can phone to find out if they’re still there, and if they’re not then it wasn’t meant to be.

It’s the kind of shop that the more you look, the more you realise there is to see. Which I know sounds daft but I could always spend much longer here than I do, I think MOH knows that and that’s why his role is chief-chivvyier-along. Which to be fair, in places like this, is just as well.

I mean, this is just asking to be looked through isn’t it?

Yes, another visit is needed. One which coincides with a bike ride for MOH if I’m lucky…