stockholm & helsinki

In the absence of summer.... a wee look back to a watery Nordic trip from this time last year. Never quite got round to blogging about it before. We had a few days in Stockholm before taking the ferry over to Helsinki for a few more. Before we left the weather was dismal (here & there) so we packed accordingly, but on arrival we hit a bit of a heatwave. It was hot!!

For anyone who has been to Stockholm (or Helsinki) you'll know that it's not cheap, so it was a diet of bread, cheese & water for us for most of the time (I won't embarass myself by listing all the food items I managed to pack into my suitcase beforehand!), and it was probably the most sober holiday for a long time (my husband is a brewer so beer usually features high up on the agenda) but we definately made the most of eating outside.   
   

One of the best things we did in Stockholm was to hire some bikes and get out and about around the many islands. It's such a joy to cycle there as there are cycle-lanes absolutely everywhere. It feels extremely safe - even in the middle of the city. And it was a perfect way to get about in the heat. I couldn't recommend it more.

  

We decided to book the overnight ferry to Helsinki after being told by a friend that it would be just as cheap or cheaper than a night's accomodation elsewhere. It wasn't. At least not compared to the places we usually stay! Oh well, we all have our different budgets (perhaps he's not quite a bread & cheese kind of guy). Having said that we both thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Our cabin on the ferry! (complete with faux view)  

This was our first time in Helsinki (I've been to Stockholm once before, K a couple of times) so would have liked to spend a bit more time here to get our bearings. Would have been great to get out and about on bikes here too. It was extremely hot (you don't quite get that from the photos) so we spent a lot of time lurking in the shadows.  

   

a little bit of jubilee...

Everywhere you look at the moment there are Jubilee themed shop windows strewn with red, white & blue. We've not quite gone down that road here at Boo Vake but we do have a small collection of Jubilee(ish) items (that we rather like) in the shop at the moment....

The Jubilee Jelly Mould!! Comes complete with instructions on how to get the best wibble & when you're finished making the perfect Queen's head jellies you can hang it on the wall! £10

  

Royal Tea bone china Jubilee mug. Featuring royal commemorative cups from the past. Comes in it's own little labelled box. £10

Woof bone china Jubilee mug. Two rather regal corgis proclaim the big event. Also comes in it's own little labelled box. £10

Those little boxes for the Jubilee mugs! All the Illustrations are by Charlotte Farmer.

Close-up from the Royal Tea teatowel. 19 different royal commemorative mugs & cups from years gone by. £12 

 Fabulous temporary tattoos. Two different packs available. £3 each  

A 'subtle' blend of two events in one with Lush's Royal Dressage teatowel. Royal malarkery in the park! Love the pantomine style horses. £11

Well there you have it! And all made here in the UK.

The morning after the night before.....not a bad way to spend it!

Myself & other half were at our friends' wedding in Kinlochard Village Hall at the weekend (a fabulous spot for such a thing (pre-midge season)). We had a really good time helped on in no small part by a nice bunch of people, beautiful surroundings, great B&B overlooking Loch Ard & a stumble upon a rather fine tearoom at Balquhidder on our amble homewards(ish). 

Congratulations Katie & Nico! 

early closing on Saturday...

Boo Vake will be closing at a ridiculously early 12 noon this Saturday (5th) as I will be away at a wedding (sorry!)
(as much as I'm looking forward to it, in my mind I've already jumped past Saturday's proceedings and am firmly focused on Sunday's cooked breakfast in the B&B (these things just don't happen that often :)))

making space...

I've been doing a bit of decluttering at home and in the shop recently. Not a full-on clear-out but a slower bit-by-bit sifting. Yesterday's small task was just one drawer in a soon to be redundant chest of drawers. In amongst other long forgotten 'items' was this small stash of my spectacle wearing history. Note the Deidre Barlows from the 80s (although missing is a large white metal framed pair - the memory of these must have been too much to bear). Second down were my Jack Duckworths with sellotaped legs (worn for rather a long time in this state). By the mid 90s my staple were the round framed Harry Potteresque pair which wobbled around on my nose. Not just a sad reflection of my fashion sense in the 80s/90s/00s but a frightening illustration of the mammoth task ahead!          

 

new hilke Macintyre...



'Watering', 'Strawberries', & 'Raking' - each £59 (4cm x 22cm)

,Here are some of the new limited edition ceramic reliefs we have in from Fife based artist Hilke MacIntyre - featuring everything from working in the garden to on the football pitch!  

 'Walking the Dog' - £79 (16.5cm x 12cm)

   'Cockeral & 4 Hens' - £69 ((5.5cm x 21.5cm), 'Tackle' - £69 (5.5cm x 21.5cm),

'Cycling' - £39 (5.5cm x 10.5cm)

back to 1992...

I've been doing a bit of a clear out at home and came across this blast from the past - my degree show poster from nearly 20 years ago! Themed, as you can see, as an identity parade (ID/ interior design - get it?!). I'm the one who didn't own the required bleached jeans (a popular choice back then - at least in our studio) and appear to be wearing my pyjama bottoms. I'm presuming the untucked t-shirt was an attempt to hide that fact!

I know very little about what everybody else is up to these days (being the time before mobile phones, email, facebook....,when you had to be a bit more committed to stay in touch). One, I know, emigrated to Australia, and another walked into the shop just a few months ago, the first time we'd seen each other in almost as many years! 

new ceramics

This week we got a delivery of beakers and jugs in from ceramic artist Julia Smith. Julia works from her studio in Ardersier near Inverness producing hand-thrown earthenware, which she then decorates with leadfree glazes & decals. I decided to go handle-less for these as they fit so beautifully in the hand that handles just seemed unnecessary. I think they would be perfect for drinking whisky out of (complete with water jug) or perhaps for milk & sugar (the beakers could easily double as a bowl).

I always love to see how things are made & Julia has a fabulous online video giving an insight into her process of making  - which you can see here. Well worth a watch! 

beakers £17, jugs £19 

stags, boars, clowns & crows

stag

At last a new blog post! In my (feeble) defense I have spent the beginning of this year painting what seems like endless coats of paint on our walls & ceiling (almost there), trailing around trade fairs & making lots of new orders to keep things fresh here in the shop. All this whilst spreading boo vake thinly over Tweetdom & Facebookland too (mmm...two more things for potential neglect?).
In the meantime shop life has gone on with  new (undocumented) things arriving all the time. Which brings me on to these gorgeous new prints from out of the head of Lush Lady Maria Livings. You might recognise the top two designs as they feature on some of our most admired lamp shades.

wild boar

clowns

crow

They are A3 size (so will fit many standard frames) and are digitally printed onto traditional mould-made paper - beautiful quality and £25 each!

hello 2012!

Happy New Year everbody!! At (long) last the shop will be re-opening tomorrow at 12 o'clock! I suspect I may be looking slightly confused until I get back in the swing of things (as is usual at this time of year!). Have a few changes planned & looking forward to getting stuck in. Hope to see you soon!
Arlene x

boo vake on facebook

You can now find us on Facebook amongst other places (eg. on here, on twitter, & even in the shop!), and we would be very happy indeed if you could take a wee peek. Why, you can even like us if you so wish!

hilary grant scarves

We've got some beautiful lambswool scarves in the shop at moment - including these very special ones from Dundee based knitwear designer Hilary Grant. 

 

Each one is knitted by Hilary on a hand-operated domestic knitting machine before being finished by hand.

They come either finished with lambswool pom poms or as continuous circle scarves long enough to be wrapped around your neck up to 3 times - keeping you super snug! 

 images from Hilary Grant

Treat them right and these scarves will last you a lifetime.

circle scarves £46, llama pom £54, pylon pom £58 

For those on our mailing list.....the winner of our gift voucher give-away was Caroline MacKay!

If you would like to be added to our mailing list use our contact form here (putting 'please add me to your mailing-list' in the message box). 

gift vouchers now available...

We're acutely aware that at this time of year some of our customers' partners/friends/families sometimes get a bit confused/overwhelmed/desperate. So to make things that bit easier we now have the option of boo vake gift vouchers available to buy in the shop (or over the phone if you like). At the moment we have them in £25s & £50s but they could be in any amount you fancy, just ask.

A little late I know, but at last a pic of my attempt at a Donna Wilson creature (from her The Knitted Odd Bod Bunch book). My first attempt at knitting since I triumphantly completed a (well loved) Mondrian styley mohair jumper circa 1982, aged around 12 (it would seem I peaked too soon in my knitting career). The needles were finally picked up again with the arrival of a number of small people this last wee while. Bunga Bear has gone to live with young Fynn, and if his parents ever forget his date of birth they will find it clumsily 'tattooed' on his rear end. Now on to trying to knit with four needles. If anyone has any tips they would be gratefully received!    

There is a very good interview with Donna Wilson here where she talks about her exhibition at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, her influences, and the growing of her business. Well worth a watch.

We are now open every day until Christmas!! Check out our gift guides on the website!   

festive hours

Mon 10-5

Tues-Fri 10-5.30

Sat 10-5

Sun 12-4

image courtesy of Jane Foster

wine drinkers gather round...

Whether you fancy yourself as a wine buff or, like me, just like drinking the stuff and haven't really a scooby beyond the general (and generally ignored) rule of drinking red with red meat and white with chicken & fish,  then we have THE tea-towel for you!! Following on from showing us the way with seasonal foods, designer Stuart Gardiner has now turned his attention to enhancing our wine/food appreciation!

There's a version for red & white wine lovers, and they are jam-packed with recommendations for which wines go best with which food/dishes/tastes along with other useful pointers, and which combinations you should absolutely avoid! All that and it dries your dishes too!! Would make a perfect present for just about anyone who partakes in the drinking of the old vino (maybe with a bottle wrapped up inside).

  

a guide to pairing red/white wine with food  tea-towel £9.50

some new donna wilson

I've got a bit behind in showing off some of the new things that have been arriving in the shop recently, so to get back in the groove, here are a few of the lovely new things we have in from boo vake favourite Donna Wilson!  

First timers at boo vake are Big Ted (pictured at top), who is a bit of a stunner (& rather large, measuring in at a height of 83cm), gorgeous arm-warmers & mittens, and mixed packs of cards, perfect for sending or for framing. We also have a number of rather stunning baby blankets.

Taking of babies... spurred on by a number of friends having (& about to be having) babies this last wee while I've finally got round to knitting something from Donna's book The Knitted Odd-bod Bunch . First time I've picked up knitting needles since circa 1982 so needless to say 'he' has some imperfections but I'm hoping that might add to the 'charm'!  Will maybe post a pic after said 'odd-bod' is safely in it's new home.

big ted £60, arm-warmers & mittens £38, pk of 5 large cards £12.50 

The shop wil be closed tomorrow (Thurs 6th) as I'll be away at a funeral. Back open as normal on Friday.