Once Upon a Wartime: an educational exhibition for little ones

Whether it’s during the summer holidays or on a long weekend, we’re sure you (like us, too) are always on the look out for ways to entertain the kids.

Thankfully, London’s Imperial War Museum has just the answer. Since February, the museum has been running Once Upon A Wartime: Classic War Stories for Children. The exhibition focuses on five well-known books: Carrie’s War, No Man’s Land, Little Soldier, The Silver Sword and War Horse, which was written specifically to coincide with the exhibition.

Through special life-size sets, visitors both large and small can wander through the installations and discover each book's themes; from loyalty and separation to excitement, survival and identity. It's a truly interactive, experiential exhibit that we're sure all will thoroughly enjoy.

Once Upon A Wartime: Classic War Stories for Children runs from 11th February to 30th October, 2011.

Selina Rose: crazy about cut-outs

Award-winning textile designer Selina Rose has a thing for cutting out designs in felt; when she was studying at university, she was immediately drawn to the fabric and how it could be cut, punched or perforated and never fray.

Seven years down the line, Selina’s love affair with felt continues and has blossomed into a self-titled range of beautifully crafted soft furnishings. Each piece, in her searing colour palette of citruses and cerises, is crafted from 100% wool, dyed using natural pigments and features cut-out work inspired by nature; a detail that has become her signature.

We're thrilled to stock Selina's Bloom range at Roost. To find out a little more about Selina herself, read the chat we had with her last June.

Bloom Rug

Bloom Throw

Bloom Coaster, set of four

Tick-talk! Conversational clocks

A kitchen is not quite a kitchen without a beautiful clock bestowed upon its walls. From vintage-inspired finds to iconic pieces of design, here are a few of our favourite statement-making timepieces – each set to cause plenty of admiration in the abode.

Bamboo Doily clock from Uncommon, available on Etsy.com.

A little background on the brand: Uncommon are a husband and wife design duo who describe themselves as “a new branch of home décor design based on simple old-fashioned sensibilities and the precision of modern computer-aided devices”. The result? Striking, wholly unique pieces.

Scallop clock from Uncommon, also available on Etsy.com.

The Solari clock was originally designed by Gino Valle in the 60s. Available at good auctioneers and, if you’re extremely lucky, eBay.

Australian Doug Jackson crafts these beauties as a hobby. Available at his website Dougswordclocks.com.

Retro-inspired ‘Milk’ clock. Available at newgateclocks.com

Not just for walls: from statement wall-pieces, to statement jewellery (we couldn’t help but add this to our list, it’s just so utterly charming).

Grandfather clock necklace, available at Accesorize.co.uk.

BP’s Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery

One of the best things about London has to be that so many of the galleries are free for all to enjoy. It’s an opportunity for us culture vultures – veterans or novices – to get out there and experience some of the most wonderful pieces of art that are quite literally, on our doorstep.

Each year, the National Portrait Gallery brings us the wonderful BP Portrait Award too, which serves to recognise some of the most talent artists, both established and emerging. This year’s exhibition opened on 16^th June (winners were picked on 14^th) and runs at the gallery - just off Trafalgar Square - until 18^th September.

With free admission and late nights until 9pm each Thursday and Friday, what more of a reason does one need to soak up a little culture in the heart of the city?

First prize: Distracted by Wlm Heldens

Second prize: Holly by Louis Smith with help from Carmel Said

Third prize: Just To Feel Normal by Ian Cumberland

Young Artist prize: Mrs Cerna by Sertan Saltan

BP Travel Award 2011: Flora MacGregor by Jo Fraser

Just Perched at Roost: Ms Chattanooga by Kathy Dalwood

We have been a long time collaborator and admirer of Kathy Dalwood’s work and we’re thrilled that she has crafted us an exclusive piece; the ‘Ms Chattanooga’ bust.

In keeping with Kathy’s full collection of characters, the elegant Ms Chattanooga takes her inspiration from 18th and 19th century portrait busts but instead of being sculpted in stone or clay, she is made by direct casting from real-life materials, fabrics and objects, hence the fascinating level of textured detail.

To see Kathy’s masterpieces in-the-making, take a look at her blog, where you’ll also discover the full story behind Ms Chattanooga and how she was made, as well as the inspiration behind Kathy's pieces.

Easy artichoke spaghetti

Everyone has a few of those ‘go-to’ recipes that that they make time and again (and they always go down a treat, too).

Here at Roost, we just can’t get enough of artichoke spaghetti – it’s so simple and quick to make, that’s it become somewhat of a regular on our dinner table. The best thing about it is (apart from the fact that it’s so fast and easy to make) is that really, the ingredients are so incredibly simple. And, unlike normal recipes, which can often lead to making far too much (or worse, not enough) the recipe below quotes just enough ingredients to make the dish for one. Cooking for friends and family? All you need to do is multiply the ingredients by how many you’re cooking for and hey presto.

Ingredients:

1-2 cloves of garlic, crushed

1-2 small shallots, finely diced

1 handful marinated artichokes

½ can chopped tomatoes

30ml single cream

1 handful of wholemeal spaghetti

2 tbsp grated parmesan

2 tbsp olive oil

1 knob butter

Chives, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Add the spaghetti and a tablespoon of oil to a pan of boiling water. Brown the garlic and shallots in a frying pan with the butter and a tablespoon of oil. When soft, but not brown, add the tomatoes, artichokes and salt and pepper to the garlic and shallots. Simmer for 8-10 minutes. Add one and a half tablespoons of parmesan to the artichokes, stir well, and then add the cream slowly - making sure the sauce doesn’t become too runny. Drain and plate the spaghetti, topping it with the artichoke mix. Sprinkle with parmesan and chives to serve.

Let there be light (just make it up-cycled, please!)

Forget “vintage” or “recycled” – today’s buzzword is “up-cycling”. It’s a word that covers everything from the classic stripping and re-painting an old chest of drawers, to even transforming disused traffic lights into a desk lamp—an idea we simply love here at Roost, and one that has inspired us to pick a few of our favourite environmentally friendly finds. Plus, we’re also sharing a few tips on how to easily start (and finish!) your very own up-cycled project.

Ready, steady, go!

This trio of colourful signals (from Chiswick’s The Old Cinema) makes for a desk lamp with a difference.

Ruling the Roost

We love our best selling shade as it’s just so unique – made of vintage rulers, it creates such a talking-point piece.

Bright idea

BootsNGus reincarnate commonly found glass jars into eco friendly yet modern chandeliers.

Feeling creative? Give up-cycling your own lampshade a go. Here’s how:

1. Use an old lampshade that you’re happy to reinvent or pick one up from a charity shop. Top tip: we recommend using one that has a wire frame with easy to remove fabric.

2. Make a new pattern for the frame by removing the old fabric and placing it seam down on a piece of brown paper.

3. Place a pencil on the top edge of the lampshade and onto the paper. Keep the pencil in place and roll the lampshade, drawing a line around the edge. Make sure you keep the pencil to the paper the whole way round

4. Repeat this process by laying the lampshade back down where you started drawing the first line and continue until you have made a complete circle.

5. Cut out the pattern and trace it onto your new material and cut the fabric to the pattern.

6. Cover the reverse side of the fabric with a spray-on adhesive and carefully position the fabric, starting at the seam, around the lampshade.

7. Trim any excess fabric from the top and bottom of the lampshade (or hand-stitch for a neater finish).

8. Time for the piece de résistance! Raid your spare button tin (or buy some odd ones from a haberdashery) and sew them on, covering the entire shade. Et voila!

P.S. Too much like hard work? Fast track to a unique up-cycled shade by adorning an old one with plenty of cute buttons.