A & M Hire

Another day and yet more searching for props. This place is Europe's largest prop house and with literally miles of antiques and props, I can hardly believe it is in London. It is truly an amazing place. Above are some parchment books - they look rather Harry Potterish don't they?

We were looking for slightly smaller props, but just to give you an idea of the scale of the place.

Mayfair 262... 

This table is 189 ft long - Jasmine is sitting at the end of it, but you can't even make her out. Pass the salt please.

You can find anything in there from confessional boxes to 1980s computers to complete pub interiors, which is no doubt why it is the choice of such major films and tv productions. AM have loaned to the James Bond films, Braveheart, Poirot, The Bill and countless others.

Some rather scary things lurk in there, including Mummies and a lot of skeletons in medieval four poster beds.

However, in addition there are many more refined choices such as grand pianos and 18th century French screens. This shop is for trade only, but if you get a chance to visit I would highly recommend it see www.amhire.com for more information.

Prop shops

We are about to do a photo shoot of some brand new anzu products and so have been busy scouring prop shops for props to hire. Yesterday we went to this one in Kensington.

They have 6 floors with everything from bird's nests to 18th century Spode teacups to Victorian nursery toys to wellington boots. You never know what you're going to find next!

They mainly hire out to lots of film and tv companies. This package and a chair were going out to Nanny McPhee.

And what is Gordon Ramsay going to be doing with this chair?

Colour wheels

I love this post www.colourlovers.com/blog/2008/05/08/history-of-the-color-wheel found via jordanferney.blogspot.com We are currently working on a project on these lines, so it was especially interesting to come across all the different ways of displaying and theorising colour from Newton to Goethe.

Above Richard Waller 1686

Schaeffer

Boutet, 1708

Schiffermueller 1772, Goethe 1810

Lichtenberg

The modern designer/artist's colour reference is without doubt the Pantone book. I can hardly believe now that when I first bought it I was worried we wouldn't use it much.

The Berkeley hotel & Harvey Nichols

A few weeks ago I was busy working for the Berkeley hotel and Harvey Nichols in adapting the Pret-a-Portea image for what is fast turning out to be quite a road trip for the Pret-a-Portea project, and I'm excited to be able to reveal my illustration for the project (why it always loses colour from the image when I upload onto the blog I still haven't managed to work out). The famous fashionista tea will be held in the Dublin and Edinburgh Harvey Nichols stores during May.

When this patent Alexander McQueen patent 'Elvie' handbag started out in life, little did it know it would be transformed into a chocolate truffle tote wrapped in mint flavoured marzipan

and this Herve Leger bikini clad model didn't know she was about to undergo radical plastics work and come out as a vanilla biscuit, but a biscuit with a reasonable tan nonetheless

and a sole Christian Louboutin shoe had no idea that it would be transformed into a coconut cream sponge cake topped with a metallic frill and get two new companions to hang out with.

And then that they would get to have their shots taken by a professional photographer, have all their make-up done by adorable Simon in the Berkeley Caramel room, before being eaten by some greedy fashionista. Lucky things.

So, if you'd like to see how many bikinis, totes, dresses and shoes you can eat, oops I mean biscuits, truffles, sponge cake and mousses do try and reserve a table asap.

The dates are Tuesday 28th April until Saturday 2 May in Dublin and Wednesday 13 May until Sunday 17th May in Edinburgh. Visit www.harveynichols.com or www.the-berkeley.co.uk for more information

Re-decorating the office

We have been re-painting the office so it's been quite chaotic.

I also hated the windows, so I thought I'd post the before and after shots. Above are the windows as they looked before, and below the end result!

I didn't want to spend lots on them so we just covered the existing windows with these Japanese/Swiss chalet stained wood panels with rice paper inside. It makes such a difference to the look of the office I think. We can still open the windows and have the existing ones behind so it worked out far more cost effective than replacing all the windows.

Spaghetti trees

We are laughing at this in the office.

It was broadcast by the BBC on April Fool's day posing as a serious documentary. Hundreds of people called the BBC after the broadcast asking where they could get hold of a spaghetti bush so they could grow their own. Spaghetti was actually an exotic alien food then so people easily fell for the joke. Thankfully, British food has certainly come a long way since then!

Lookalikes

We are working quite intensively at the moment, so I would imagine that sometimes when we leave the office we are looking rather like this.

Muhammad Ali

When I work on the Anzu men's range, I am always inspired by traditional male icons. One of these is Muhammad Ali, who was the inspiration behind our 'Boxing' card. Whilst researching, I came across some great quotes of his:

"If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologise".

"It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen".

"The man who has no imagination has no wings".

"Frazier is so ugly that he should donate his face to the US Bureau of Wild Life".

"It's lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself".

"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer".

"I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel and was in bed before the room was dark."

Amazing photo from Life magazine, of Muhammad Ali

Spring blossoms

Some pictures of the blossoms on my street.

The amazing blossom outside the Japanese embassy on the parallel street, and below more of my street...

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter from everyone at Anzu!

Wellicious homepage

Just thought I'd post a recent commission I did - a new painting for the Wellicious homepage. Check out their great products on www.wellicious.com

Easter bunnies

I came across this on Spiegel online - apparently there are a lot of giant German rabbits.

Spotted in the Westfield - a giant chocolate bunny. When are they going to take down the fence and let me in?

Petersham nurseries shop

Ok I'm aware I might be beginning to sound like an advert here (and I promise I'm not on a retainer) but if you are in London and stuck for something to do this weekend, do go to Petersham nurseries and book a table at the restaurant. You won't be disappointed. Here are pictures of the shop - this place is a lot more than just a nursery.

I love these beeswax candles in this chandelier.

Go to www.petershamnurseries.com to find out more.

Rachel Ridgley

I recently came across Rachel Ridgley's work and in particular this photo of a meadow and I love it

You can see more at http://rachellaurenphotography.blogspot.com or buy them onine at www.ugallery.com/ArtistDetail.aspx?ArtistID=1155

A lot of them have a kind of brooding Midwest feeling to them. Of course, I am especially drawn to the meadow ones, which is a bit of a preoccupation of mine at the moment. Look out for a new Anzu meadow design coming out soon!