My delicious mother was staying with us in Sydney a week and a bit ago, and wandering around Paddington she discovered a newly-opened treasure of a store called High Tea With Mrs. Woo tucked near Aesop and Napoleon Perdis on Oxford Street.
When we met up later in the day she was positively raving about it and I had to go back and see for myself. I was not disappointed. I pretty much want to move in and live there. Shelves made of old books, wooden spindles of twine for sale, miniature flower presses, message-in-a-bottle kits, delicate ceramics, a host of drool-worthy journals and stationery by my favourite stationery houses Telegram and Poppies for Grace (links below).
What had caught my mothers eye, however, were the unusual graphite object sculptures of San Francisco artist Agelio Batle. They are pieces of art and writing/drawing instruments all in one… Made of carbonaceous graphite (mineral remains of prehistoric plant life says the little leaflet) combined with smudge-resistant compounds, the sculptures are visually enchanting yet utterly functional, as they don’t dirty your hands yet every surface writes.
My mum insisted on giving me one as a gift to take on my writing trip to the mountains (I’m sure that will be my next blog… I’m writing this from the States a few days out of heading there) and I chose the ‘quill’ (pictured), but the current line also includes a wing, an olive branch, an owl, a Bird of Paradise flower and others. For a bit of inspiration, gift ideas for impossible people or just a lovely chat with one of the Foong sisters (proprietors) or their friends, pop into High Tea With Mrs. Woo.
www.highteawithmrswoo.com.au
www.poppiesforgrace.com.au
www.pepespaperie.com.au/journals-notebooks/telegram
www.asbworkshop.com (then click on the hand image, then the same image again in the “Graphite Object” window to get to the “Current Line” images)
[brookalicious]
Thanks for the links; although Sydney is a long ways from New Mexico, I am sure I will be going there in the future.
Thanks for tip, My Husbi and I are planning to visit Sydney next year (if evrything goes as planned) I cant wait to Go!!!
Brooke:
Thank you for sharing some of your beautiful things. Please keep sharing! I love these kinds of discoveries (especially Poppies for Grace).
Last summer I went with my grad school (Regent University, VA Beach, Virginia) to Oxford, England to study. It was around this time when I discovered your music. I listened to your songs non-stop and now everytime I play them again I think of my time at Oxford. I even remember how much I listened to your C.S. Lewis song (while walking past the Eagle and Child Pub).
One of my favorite things was walking by myself along small streets with little stores and shops. There was so much to see and take in…I’m thankful I had your music in my ear…they are memories I’ll never forget.
I’ve moved to D.C. now and I’ve discovered Georgetown! If you are ever in D.C. and have a day to wander, please go visit Georgetown and visit the stationary and antique shops. You’ll LOVE them! (Places like Just Paper and Tea or Book Arts-Grunwald & Vaniglio)
Thank you for blessing everyone with your music…you’ve made a fan for life!
I was in Sydney just last Sunday visiting an old friend. It was beautiful.
On that note, I would like to share with you a collection I came across completely by accident. It is the Lonely Planet Collection by Hallmark. They are a series of posters and cards etc. If you ever do come across them, I hope you find them as beautiful as I do (especially the cards).
Keep on singing. Your gift is amazing.