Cherry blossom

I recently did some painting work for the new Jo Malone Sakura perfume, which has just been released. To research I trawled through lots of images - I love this 1940s/50s Japanese print above.

The perfume itself! The illustration I did was for their own private correspondence.

Loved the black and pink on this image - just makes the cherry blossom look more contemporary, I think.

And aside from spraying yourself with Jo Malone perfume, you could get this Guerlain cherry blossom blusher,

and this Paul & Joe dress!

Anzu at Progressive Greetings Live

Anzu at Progressive Greetings Live

Islington Design Centre, London

Stand number 142

24th-25th May

Look forward to seeing you there!

Jewel colours and rich gold

Very much into this at the moment. Although I love to see modern white flowing interiors, sometimes it's just good to see rich jewel colours, lavish gold and just a sumptuous over the top interior.

Images: Dawnridge drawing room, Berge, Camilla Krishnaswamy

Anzu in NY!

Visit us at the N&Q booth, 2602-2709

So excited for our cards to be there again, and that our candles got chosen as one of the best products in show!!

www.nationalstationeryshow.com

Present from Japan..

One of the best and lovely things about doing cards is the response you get from people - it really makes it worthwhile. Recently I have been writing to a lovely lady who buys our cards in Japan, Sumi, and I was delighted to receive this package from her, packed full of beautiful Japanese stationery and paper (there is such great paper things to be bought out there), pretty bookmarks that she had personally made and this tin of Apricot tea. Anzu means apricot in Japanese, and the tea is AMAZING!

And then to top it all Sumi sent this photo of Anzu cards that she had had beautifully framed. I am so flattered! Thank you so much Sumi!

Some beautiful photos...

I recently discovered the melisaki blog, which has the most beautiful photographs. Above Canasta de luz (basket of light), Sumpango, Guatemala by Flor Garduno, 1989

Ministers meeting in Rome 1940, by Carl Mydans

and Elephant in Amboseli by Nick Brandt 2008

Treats from the Columbia Road flower market..

Guest blogger: Saffiah, Scribbles and Ink

Last summer we had a few blogs from members of the Anzu team and we thought we'd revive that. A few weeks ago Saffiah joined the Anzu team doing sales and creative work. Over to you Saffiah:

'I think the large scale scribbled wall, created by Kelly Wearstler, is really eye-catching and bold especially in comparison to the grand staircase and sculpture. The geometric carpet on the staircase works well too.

The same goes for this look too. I'm not sure who created the piece of art, but I think the ink splatter works well against the monochromatic bold stripe of the furniture. I also love this inked backdrop with primitive style drawings in this artist's studio. To see more of this gorgeous apartment, click here

This is a lot more understated, but I think it looks great, just a massive gold scribble adds something different to the traditional style wallpaper!

And if you wanted to get the look, you could get these ink splattered espadrilles from www.designformankind.com

or our very own ink splattered Union Jack notebook.'

Images: Kelly Wearstler, via sketch42blog.com, Rue Magazine, via finderskeepersmarketinc.blogspot.com, Design for Mankind, Anzu

Another warm day

Sunny days in England? Practically unheard of. Sunny days here in April? Rare. Sunny days on Bank holidays? It's a miracle!!

Just need one of these fantasy pools now..

Images: via betweenpeaceandhappinessblog.com, Chanel, Klaus Pichler

What type are you?

I've always loved questionnaires and typography and this combines both. See what type you are over at the Pentagram site. Just click here

I ended up being Pistilli Roman!

I think it's a bit bold to truly reflect me, but I like it all the same.

If you're also a typography-nerd, you can get this typography manual app for your phone, just click here

Happy Easter!!

Thought we'd do a little post on Easter gifts - if you're feeling especially flush, you could opt for this golden Faberge egg,

this Fortnums egg is almost as amazing as a Faberge egg with the added bonus that the lucky recipient actually gets to eat it too,

if you're feeling a bit English you could opt for this traditional English simnel cake (also from Fortnums),

or if you're buying for somebody who is tired of cute bunnies and chocolate this Easter bouquet of roses from Only Roses could be just the thing,

another artfully crafted concoction for someone with a sweet tooth, this time from Maison Blanc,

or finally this funny Rabbit egg cup from Liberty. Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Amazing places to live

well, maybe not this one..

Images: unknown??

Bigger than Kate's!

Kate Middleton might be a bit jealous when she sees this Anzu whopper! Anzu's Ruth will be outshining all and sundry when she wears hers to the Royal Wedding.

To make, simply buy one of our Anzu engagement cards, decorated with Swarovski crystals, cut round and tape elastic to the back and you're ready to go.

The card is currently on sale at Harrods,General Trading Company or email us info@anzu.co.uk to buy direct or to find a stockist.

Perfect day for a picnic

It really is the perfect day for a picnic. My ideal would definitely be a bit Brideshead Revisited style, and essential ingredients would be champagne, strawberries, ginger beer, salami sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches, crisps and there has to be scotch eggs. Click here for the perfect scotch egg recipe.

And it would be in a location like this (is it Hever castle?), but perhaps not with 1960s pop bloke Donovan..

Images: via guromusic.blogspot, Donovan from unknown

Treats

We had some rather nice treats arrive in the Anzu office this week. Makes a nice change from bills! This Mingei cow arrived from the lovely Mlle Paradis over at the Passage Paradis blog I love it!

Mingei are Papier Mache folk art created in Japan, and as far as I could find out Mingei cows are the symbol of Fukushima province, and are a talisman against sickness, so it has extra meaning.

Then this chocolate handbag arrived thanks to Paulie. Paul Smith is a music producer who works in the studio below us and who has produced the likes of Sonic Youth, Chrissie Hynde, Kings of Leon, and Gorillaz, and is now training to be a chef! I can safely say after a period of admiring it, this delicious concotion was very quickly wolfed down by the Anzu team along with some champagne... Yum!

Thanks Paul and Claudia!

Anzu on Facebook!

Anzu has finally joined Facebook, and to celebrate joining, we are giving 3 goodie bags away. To enter simply click here and add to us to your likes!

Also be sure to click enter to see the animation.

A Japanese day

Last weekend I went to the Japan at Home exhibition at the Geffrye Museum. The purpose of the exhibition was chiefly to show that people have an idea of Japanese homes as being minimal, whereas often the reality is the exact opposite due to the lack of space. Above a little collection of objet - I didn't know owls are considered to be lucky.

Drawers with lovely kimonos in them.

After visiting the exhibition on the way back, as well as spotting about 20 Vietnamese restaurants all on one street, I came across this gallery, the Flowers galleries by accident.

And what a great surprise it was too! A really fun exhibition. I liked the cardboard people bowing by the door. In fact the whole exhibition of work by Jiro Osuga was amusing.

From the fake vending machine and slippers,

to the ninja poised above you ready to strike as you climbed the stairs,

to the people having fun trying on the masks

to the fortune stand at the end. Traditionally in Japan, these are in temples and the fortunes range from good to bad - if it's good you tie it on the line, if it's bad you throw it away.

This was my fortune - oh dear. Hasten to say I put it straight back!