It’s thursday and the olympics are slowly drawing to an end. Team gb did us proud. Take a look at an illustrated celebration of team gb at the olympics.
This is my last post while the olympics are on. I’ve had an incredible time in my city and couldn’t be prouder. I really hope that all visitors and the world at large saw what i see on a daily basis. A city full of hope and glory, a city full of diversity, and multi-cultural flair. A city that embraces all!
What makes london so special to me? As a designer i’m constantly drawn to visual stimulation. Part of it comes from designer shops and museums, but a large part comes from more raw imagery. Sometimes something too aesthetic or too perfect can actually leave me cold and uninspired.
What i particularly love about living in london is the diversity of people, areas and cultures that mingle together. You’ll find that everything goes, there is room for self expression and inspiration is everywhere if you only care to look and see.
Out and about i was drawn to the many independent shops that try and make a mark for themselves with their own flair. Not designer shops, no lovely interiors here. What you’ll see is a multitude of self-expression and pride in who they are. To me, they are a really important part of the city, people who cater to neighbours and communities in the many diverse areas. Diversity is good!
Believe it or not, the next picture is a top of a shop facade. The whole length of the shop has stuck on circuit boards. Incredible!
I hope you enjoyed some of these. The last picture lends itself to a painting, don’t you think? I would probably simplify it more by using the light blue throughout as the background colour. What would you do? It could also be a floor plan, couldn’t it? Personally i would love it as a chiffon fabric to make a blouse, skirt or even a sarong. Maybe paul smith would print it on a bag! You?
Here’s to more gold medals and an exciting closing ceremony. I’ll be watching from abroad. Next up it’s the paralympics. Happy weekend everyone. Enjoy wherever you are and whatever you’re doing. Let’s hope for some more sunshine. See ya. x
18 Comments
This post is too much fun! What a great collection of quirky shops that are just oozing personality. I think you are so right about them being an important part of a city. A city could potentially be a cold and lonely place, but not with shops like this around, right?
I love the red diy/hardware store. It’s so lively. I wish such shops were more popular in Germany. At least in the cities where I’ve lived, it’s been hard to find a little neighbourhood hardware store. If you’re looking for screws or something you have to go to Obi, which I feel is a bit ridiculous.
The Charity bookshop is calling my name!
That last picture is too cool. I ‘m curious what the shop looks like from a distance. To me it looks like a city map – or a bird’s eye view of a section of town … kind of reminds me of liquorice candy too somehow … mmmm candy… 🙂
Great post Tina! Happy travels xoxo
Aww, I know, always surprised how anal a lot of shops are in Germany… lifeless!!!
Except Berlin:)
OBI, don’t get me started!!
The shop with the motherboard was closed with shutters down. I don’t think it would have been anything special, I was just fascinated by that top bit:)
liquorice candy, hmmmm?? Interesting! xx
Ta, I’m back now:)
London did a great job hosting the 2012 Olympics. You should feel very proud and happy. Interesting group of quirky shops. They would be called mom-and-pop shops here, independently owned with their own style.
I would agree that the last photo lends itself quite nicely as inspiration for a painting. There are some great colors in there.
Well, have a wonderful time in Germany. Safe travels and happy weekend, Tina!
Thanks, like the name: mom-and-pop shops!!!
Hey Tina. You inspire as always. I have to say that the shops you picture are exactly the type I will walk right by. But yes they do indeed have a personality of their own. They’re certainly different.
London is a greatly diverse city and that is good & bad in my experience. I’ve noticed a few cultures that tend not to mix and there can be quite a bit of separatism. I see it particularly with African & Indian or Pakistani communities.
Great last image. It’s like looking down at a small city from high above.
Enjoy yourself wherever you are xx
Ha. What a surprise. Now there’s a thing:)
I can see that these shops would upset your fine-tuned aesthetics… actually they might upset your stomach or give you a headache??:)
In every multi-cultural city you will find separatism but as an outsider I love to watch their different ways of expressing their cultural habits and try and look beyond the drama:)
Thanks Tina for taking us along to London
Love these pics
As always – the unexpected from you
merci carolg
merci Carol, glad you enjoyed!!
I’m hoping you will join in on tomorrows challenge:)
Great shots lovely. I agree with gerard, last shot looks like a birds eye of new York to me- fabulous! Have a gorgeous weekend:-) xx
I love how you all see something different. That inspires me xx
Really liked this post Tina. My favourite shot is of the laundrette. I have to say the Union Jack is a brilliant graphic.
I also absolutely LOVE the Union Jack as a graphic! Cool you like the Laundrette and I like your post that’s been inspired by this one:) x
great photography, love all the colour combinations on the circuit board coupled with that rust effect. 🙂
Thanks, look forward to our photography workshop x
Great collection of imagery, Tina!
Inspiration also comes much more readily to me from raw/unrefined sources. My favourites are the red store – I love the way they’ve used the wall as a shop window with which to “display” their wares – and the circuit board. I’ve always considered them to be really pretty! 😀
Hope you’re having a super time in Germany! x
I knew this would appeal to you:) x
I remember that colourful hardware shop from when I lived in London N! Glad to see its still there. Why can’t they all look that good?
Alas, why can’t they all look this good!!!