August Summer Break 7

A day's planning

On Yer Bike

Douglas and Gordon have for years struggled to express their personality within the muddled estate agent market. Therefore when 'i am' associates re-branded and designed the interiors of their offices D&G were at last able to run with the big boys. One of their values D&G hold dear is their ability to be innovative and caring within a profession rarely associated with these qualities. But caring and innovate they are and to highlight this back in April they announced a new addition to the fleet, a vintage style bike.

This is a brilliant idea for this brand, highlighting their values perfectly and at last someone is jumping off the 'branded mini' wagon and into a unique branded transport area. I am just wondering if they have male and female versions? If not I feel they may have missed a trick - using old butcher's bikes for the men in the office would allow them to leave their property newspapers onboard for people to help themselves when they are left in the streets.



I just do hope no one has uttered the 'office bike' gag.

http://www.i-amonline.com

4 Sleeps To Go!

Everything in my life has been on hold for a long time now and in four days time I am able to reclaim my life again. I have to admit I have had a ball being back in advertising, with some real challenges, but most importantly some great people and colleagues that I have worked with. However, now I am ready to get back to RedFish, my interiors, my vintage buying exploits, sourcing wonder pieces for people and getting Teacups & Pearls truly up and running (more on that another time). So my first challenge is to create and build a website for RedFish and Teacups & Pearls, and for this I have given myself three weeks. I am going to use this space to show the countdown and see if 3 weeks are possible. Let's see shall we?

My best friend T believes that if you think hard enough about something it will begin to happen. There is one thing just recently that has happened in this way, but I will save that for another post as the culmination of the thought is on Monday and I don't want to tempt fate.

The thought I do leave you with is that today at the market I bought 4 1920's pen illustrations of ladies head fashion and a sale poster scamp for Derry and Toms (which I will share with you when I find their full history). Derry and Toms were one of the largest department stores in 1920's London. They were rivals of Selfridges and Swan & Edgar attracting vast queues on their opening sale days and standing the test of time until they sadly closed on January 13th 1972. Most people would then have known the building to have been taken over by Biba with the amazing Rainbow Restaurant and the famous Roof Gardens, commissioned by Derry and Toms, and now owned by Richard Branson.

So imagine my surprise when I am part way through researching the history of the illustrations I had bought and clicked onto a blog I read regularly Ted and Bunny. Her latest post was about yellow and how much she would love to wear it but sadly cannot, as the colour does not suit, and the last time she had bought a yellow piece was in Biba in the old Derry and Toms building on Kensington High Street - weird, random, coincidence?

Lucienne Day - 1 January 1917 to 30 January 2010
Thank you for your inspiration.

Camping and a fresh outlook

Yes, I haven't blogged for a while now, Yes, I have been a bit lapse, No, I have not lost interest. Mr S and I have just been camping for four glorious days down in Sussex. Long walks, bird song, great food on the barbie, weather was grand, wish we could have said the same about the caravan! Joking aside we had a magic time which has inspired many new ideas, keep checking back as they will be on here soon. In the meantime have a great weekend, fingers crossed the sun stays out, I'll be back soon with more on our glamorous get-away!