Christmas inspiration

We're already going through ideas for a Christmas candle. Log fires, pine cones and mulled wine... What scents sum up Christmas for you?

The Mumbai satorialist

We recently came across this Mumbai blog called Wearabout. It has the greatest shots of Mumbai street fashion showing traditional and modern India. And the shots of colour certainly brighten our dull London days. Love this orange worn in very different ways (above and below).

Really like this combination of colour and pattern.

Beautiful cool girls with a kind of Indian Studio 54 look.

Like her pumps and the way the flowers match her skirt.

Sweet.

This dress is really original, and she looks so relaxed in it.

Fabric covered suitcases! Check out more here It's worth the visit.

Anzu on Pinterest

Be inspired and follow us on Pinterest!

http://pinterest.com/anzu/

We've been busy pinning away on Pinterest. With inspiration boards on everything from meadows, crystals, inspiring retail displays, great shop windows, Anzu things and our dream work wardrobe we hope there's something to inspire you.

Sakura

Although the blossoms weren't quite out on the trees whilst I was in Japan, I saw many wonderful blossom flower arrangements and lovely Sakura products.

Above is the huge display of blossom in the Mitsukoshi lobby.

Pretty blossom stationery in the amazing 9 floor stationery shop, Itoya, where you can also buy Anzu cards.

Blossom on both sides of the door framed the entrance of this florists. The photo doesn't do it justice.

Sakura sweets everywhere. Above and below from Minamoto Kitchoan, also available in London and New York.

Sakura cake - another lovely gift in Japan. It was delicious.

I also bought Sakura vert tea from Lupicia. They do amazing teas.

A cherry blossom table styled by a lovely lady who dropped by the Anzu exhibition, Kouko Ishizaki, in the book Table Decoration.

Thank you Japan!

The Anzu exhibition in Mitsukoshi ended yesterday and I want to thank everyone for coming along and everyone (especially Aki and Keiko) who helped. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

We met many wonderful people and heard incredible stories. Stories that were funny, sad, touching, inspiring and lovely. One lady came by who was in her 80s and made costumes for the palace. Whilst she chatted she took out a piece of patterned blue paper and made an origami peacock to give to me.

Mitsukoshi were wonderfully supportive and I surprisingly found it really easy to paint in there! This is one painting I did during the exhibition.

Some beautiful gifts from my trip. They are all so special to me.

These are the Anzu sumptuous jewels and Flower necklace prints embellished with Swarovski crystals. If you're in Japan and missed the exhibition at Mitsukoshi, don't worry however, because from the 28th it is then moving to the Pop-up London shop in Dakaiyama!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter from everyone at Anzu!! x

Crystals

As you know we love crystals at Anzu, particularly Swarovski ones which we use to decorate our cards. This feather and crystal chandelier in Stockholm looks incredible and also huge.

Tears of a mariner art installation

Stella McCartney horse installation, in tribute to her Mum

and the Swarovski waterfall chandelier by Vincent van Duysen

Press conference in Tokyo

The sun was certainly shining on the press conference for the Anzu Bejewelled exhibition in Tokyo. With the help of a lovely interpreter, Ellen was asked lots of questions by the journalists. Here are some of the questions and Ellen's answers:

What inspired you to start Anzu?

After visiting Japan and seeing the incredible hand-painted silk of the Geisha's kimono and all the beautiful packaging on the products be it tea or sweets, I felt inspired to paint again. When I came to choose a company name, I chose the Japanese name for apricot, Anzu.

an example of kyo-yuzen silk

What inspires you to paint?

There are lots of things, but to name just a few - the English countryside and afternoon tea, vintage couture especially Balenciaga and Poiret, the glamour of 1930s films and amazing jewellery collections be it the Romanov jewellery in the Armory, Moscow or the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London.

stunning piece of vintage Balenciaga couture

What is your favourite film? Anything by Alfred Hitchock or Wes Anderson. I love the style of Hitchock, and the quirkiness of Wes Anderson in particular 39 steps, North by Northwest, Life Aquatic and Rushmore.

detail of the train, which was especially painted for the Wes Anderson film Darjeeling Limited.

And finally given a drawing pad, Ellen was asked to quickly sketch her favourite thing in Japan. She drew Sakura (cherry blossom) as it is the season there now.

the latest Sakura 'weather' map, showing the progression of blossoms moving from warmer Kyushu up to northern Hokaido.

Anzu in Tokyo!

An exhibition of our limited edition bejewelled prints (as well as some prints unique to Japan) is taking place in the grand dame of department stores, Mitsukoshi's flagship store in Nihombashi. This is me painting live in the store! Meeting the MOST wonderful people and just amazed by the friendliness and graciousness of everyone. More to come!