Here’s the latest from NOTCOT’s London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw.

Last week we attended the garden party preview of Grow London, the contemporary garden fair at Hampstead Heath. While we love the tradition of Chelsea, Grow promised contemporary new solutions for urban gardeners and we were excited to see what it was all about! The preview supported the Garden Museum and offered a fun mix of installations, contemporary garden products and more unusual items like fertilising tea!

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Tags: gardens - london - nature - plants

Here’s the latest from NOTCOT’s London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw as she visits the London graduate showcases. This post is from Central Saint Martins Degree Shows, including work from both Degree Show One and Degree Show Two.

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Tags: design - london

Here’s the latest from London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw.

When we heard Bompas & Parr were teaming up with Colgate we didn’t know what to expect. But when we heard it’d be a chance to check out their new studio space (and kitchen!), we knew it’d be a treat and glimpse inside their delicious and fantastic world.

The event turned out to be an interesting tooth-testing evening of making our own bizarre icecreams using liquid nitrogen and a host of unusual ingredients. Find out more on the next page.

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Tags: BompasParr - food - london

Here’s the latest from London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw as she explores Clerkenwell Design Week.

One of our favorite displays from Clerkenwell Design Week 2014 was that of Buster + Punch, a studio founded in an East London garage and keen makers of everything from light fittings to motorcycles. They showcased some great products, including a new heavy metal range. See more photos including of their Battersea workshop on the next page.

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Tags: design - london

Here’s the latest from London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw!

The sun always seems to shine on Clerkenwell Design Week and this year was no exception for us as we explored some our favorite temporary London venues. There were many familiar faces and products as well as some newcomers and new activities (I even tried my hand at making a coin!). More photos from our exploration of Clerkenwell on the next page.

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Tags: design - london

Here’s the latest from London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw!

This year we were back at the Chelsea Flower Show, which brings together stunning displays of uniformity and diversity through selective breeding, as well as showcasing some incredible design. On a hot, sunny May morning, many plants were flowering early and the displays and show gardens looked incredible. More show highlights including a barbecue-lover’s dream garden, Chelsea pensioner sheep and more on the next page.

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Tags: gardens - london - nature - plants

Here’s the latest from London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw!

Our highlight from Pulse this year was the “Made in Korea” stand showcasing a number of designers respresnted by NoTag that had lots of playful items including fold-your-own paper toys, a dog-shaped bookstand and more. Check it out on the next page!

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Tags: design - gifts - london - shopping - toys

Here’s the latest from London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw!

This afternoon was all about crafting as I visited the Knitting and Stitching Show to get a bit of inspiration. It was a glimpse into the world of not just sewing and knitting, but braiding, felting, weaving and much more. Displays included vintage sewing machines and all sorts of beautiful prints and patterns. There were alpacas made from alpaca fibre, sheep made from wool, as well as some adorable crafting kits for felting and crocheting. More photos on the next page.

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Tags: london

Here’s the latest from London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw!

This year we visited Crufts on the day of the Working and Pastoral (Herding) Groups. There were no Gamekeepers present like last year’s Gun Dog day, but the day did mark the judging of some amazing dogs, including towering Great Danes, Mastiffs and St. Bernards in the working group, as well as some impressively dreadlocked Komondors and perfectly fluffed Old English Sheepdogs in the herding group. We met some fantastic dogs and dog lovers and as always, the sweetest moments were always, those little interactions between dogs and their people. More photos of Day 1 at Crufts on the next page.

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Tags: dog - london - travel

Here’s the latest from London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw when she went to check out the 2013 Experimental Food Society Spectacular in London! A meadow of sugarpaste flowers billowing in the wind created by Rosalind Miller Cakes.

A breathable tea room from Camellia’s Tea!

Tags: drinks - events - food - london

Here’s the latest from NOTCOT’s London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw. The experiment of the week— i’ve been trying out superposts that live over at NOTCOT.org! So click the pics to see the the full features with tons of photos, details, and more!

A look at Tent and Superbrands 2013 at the Old Truman Brewery, complete with axe table legs, conveyer belts, constellations, woody kids bikes, installations and more.

Our look at Worldscape, from Atmos Studio, at 100% design. The flat-packable table seats 80 diners around a relief map of the world and is created from CNC cut plywood.

Money from Hyundai Card at designjunction, an interactive installation introducing pretty new metal credit cards and an interactive exhibit where tapping the cards prints informative receipts about the project.

Microagriculture in your own home? Bringing hydroponics, algae tubes and more into the kitchen at Farm Kitchen at 100% Design. Amazing installation designed by mette.

One of my favorite lecture spaces within 100% design this year was Paperspace designed by Studio Glowacka in collaboration with Maria Fulford Architects.

Design Is Everywhere at the V&A Museum - 3D Printed Gun, door of pinwheels, mesmerizing glass baubles of a chandelier, ferrofluid skull, Moleskine sketch inspirations, beautiful magnifying glasses, and more…

A letterpress studio from Society of Revisionist Typographers - SORT popped up inside Fortnum and Mason for the London Design Festival.

Tags: design - london

Here’s the latest from NOTCOT’s London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw.

This morning, I made my way to Top Drawer at London Olympia. The show features a wide range of suppliers and was filled with fun products and design inspiration. Here are a few of our highlights featuring designers from Britain as well as around the world, including Australia, Sweden and more! Can’t wait to see more of these products in stores soon! Check it all out on the next page.

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Tags: animals - design - gifts - london - shopping

Here’s the latest from NOTCOT’s London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw.

Our adventures with Baileys began a few weeks ago, at the enigmatic Dennis Severs House, where we joined Bompas & Parr for a secret event which promised Culinary Alchemy, marbled foods, chocolate and rhapsodomancy. We didn’t know much, but marbling was suggested and a touch of alchemy… Once inside, we learned about the years or development behind Baileys’ Chocolat Luxe, which officially launches today at Harvey Nichols and will be available more widely from October. The new liqueur combines Belgian chocolate, Irish whiskey, and cream (alongside Madgascan vanilla and other delicious ingredients).

Baileys Chocolat Luxe was revealed among a sumptuous brunch of treats from Lily Vanilli with a marbled theme. The swirling marbling, mixing of chocolate, whiskey and cream is key to the new Chocolat Luxe as is its decadence, captured beautifully by the venue of the launch, which even included a dining room train! More photos of the teaser launch and Chocolat Luxe on the next page!

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Tags: BompasParr - drinks - events - food - liqurious - london

Here’s the latest from NOTCOT’s London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw.

An evening of fruit salad and jelly, taken in through kaleidoscopic glasses and hosted in a masonic temple, within a hotel, in the heart of the City of London. The festivities were all to celebrate the launch of Bompas & Parr’s latest book, Tutti Frutti with Bompas and Parr and friends! A self-published, collaborative piece, the new book features architectural pineapples, the spaces of banana control, how blue became the international colour for raspberries and a luxurious host of fruity recipes from a host of characters including Sam Jacob of FAT, Alexis Gauthier, Martin Parr, Justin Piers Gellatly of St John, Joana Vasconcelos, Inventory Studio and more. More photos of the celebration of fruit and jelly on the next page!

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Tags: BompasParr - books - cooking - drinks - food - london

Here’s the latest from NOTCOT’s London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw!

Last night we enjoyed the launch of The Gilbert Scott’s new Gin Garden created in collaboration with Hendrick’s Gin. A garden under the arches at George Gilbert Scott’s stunning Midland Grand Hotel at St Pancras Station, the space was filled with playful touches including a bathtub bench and Hendrick’s phonebooth/bar. More photos of the new Gin Garden and stunning architecture on the next page.

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Tags: drinks - london

Here’s the latest from NOTCOT’s London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw as she visits the London graduate showcases!

I popped over to the Central Saint Martins 2013 Degree Shows after a day at the Horniman Museum & Gardens and was delighted and surprised to see some of my beloved Natural History specimens within the show, through the illustrations of Gabriela Tomczyk. Natural history museums and art are a natural pairing, and this hasn’t been the first museum/grad show crossover, but it was fantastic to see some of my favorite specimens illustrated so beautifully!

Gabriela’s “London’s Natural Curiosities” took the form of a multi-fold brochure-like series of illustrations and featured some of my favorite London treasures, not only my beloved Horniman Museum & Gardens, but also the Grant Museum of Zoology (see our earlier post on the museum here) and Hunterian Museum. Her sketched pages look like a much friendlier and thoughtful guide to treasures in London and really communicate time taken to enjoy the details and a real appreciation for these museums (and their specimens) and the piece was titled I love that she included specimen numbers too as I recognized specimens like familiar friends! More photos on the next page and on Gabriela Tomczyk’s website and behance.

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Tags: animals - art - design - graphic - illustration - london - nature

Here’s the latest from NOTCOT’s London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw as she checks out Clerkenwell Design Week 2013.

Parlour Lighting from Donna Bates. This playful series of lamps was inspired by the designer’s early years growing up on a farmyard near Ballyronan, Co. Derry. They look rather industrial and reminded me initially of lab glassware, but actually trace their origins to the milking parlor! The shape of the lamps is taken from the forms of receiving jars which are used to collect milk in the dairy. I love the rural, yet industrial inspiration! More photos on the next page.

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Tags: art - gifts - lighting - london - shopping

Here’s the latest from NOTCOT’s London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw!

This morning, we got a sneak preview of the upcoming IncrEdibles: A Voyage through Surprising Edible Plants festival at Kew, celebrating the some 30,000 different edible species grown at the royal botanic gardens. The festival includes some incredible installations, including a fruit salad boating lake, Alice in Wonderland style botanical dining table, bouncing carrot tops and more. The centerpiece of the festival, was “Tutti Frutti” from Bompas & Parr. You can never be sure what to expect from duo, but when I heard that they were bringing together rowing, pineapples and fruit salad at Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, I knew it would be no ordinary installation! Take a peek at all the epic madness on the next page!

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Tags: boats - BompasParr - gardens - installation - london - plants

Here’s the latest from NOTCOT’s London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw as she checks out Clerkenwell Design Week 2013.

Revitalizer from Merve Kahraman, a wax-lamp that re-creates itself. The wax lampshade melts over time, dripping into the mold below to reform the shade. The result is an ever-changing sculpture, but also a room that smells of candlewax. More photos of the Revitalizer and Revitalizer 2 in the House of Detention during Clerkenwell Design Week and a video of the lamp in action from the designer on the next page!

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Tags: candles - design - lighting - london

Here’s the latest from NOTCOT’s London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw as she checks out Clerkenwell Design Week 2013.

This year Jaguar UK teamed up with RCA to create a design challenge for students of both the RCA’s automobile and textiles courses. Of the 9 group entries, the winning design on show in the Farmiloe building alongside the new F-TYPE comes from RCA students, Ewan Gallimore and Claire Miller. There’s some making imagery over at Carscoops. See more pictures of their sculpture at Clerkenwell on the next page!

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Tags: art - cars - concepts - design - london - sculpture

Here’s the latest from NOTCOT’s London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw as she checks out Clerkenwell Design Week 2013.

I couldn’t help but stop as I caught a glimpse of the Cloud Leopard hanging through the open doorway of Craft Central at Clerkenwell Design Week. The stunning installation was cut by hand over five months by Nahoko Kojima of Solo Kojima and actually created right in Clerkenwell! Since it’s creation, the piece was unveiled at the Saatchi Gallery and has travelled extensively with Arte&Arte’s Miniartextil. More photos of this incredible piece on the next page.

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Tags: art - design - installation - london

Here’s the latest from London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw from the 100th RHS Chelsea Flower Show!

One of the most incredible aspects of flowers shows like RHS Chelsea is amazing range and breadth of both wild type and cultivated plants. Leaves and flowers come in such a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors and textures and even closely related cultivars can look strikingly different. Yet, cultivated varieties are bred to consistency and this simultaneous diversity and uniformity are highlighted at shows like Chelsea where large stands are filled with nearly identical blooms of each variety. More photos from Chelsea on the next page.

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Tags: gardens - london - nature - plants

Here’s the latest from London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw from the 100th RHS Chelsea Flower Show!

My highlight of this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show was this incredible “Fruit of the Tree” display from Kent-based East Malling Research, who were celebrating their 100th anniversary alongside the prestigious flower show. The centrepiece of the display was a delicately extracted apple tree, showing off its incredible structure both above and below the ground. The striking display was designed in collaboration with Physical Pixels, who have been behind a few of our other favorites too (including, the Big Egg Hunt!). More photos on the next page!

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Tags: design - installation - london - plants

Here’s the latest from London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw!

It’s also a great week for design here in London with Clerkenwell Design Week just around the corner and the first ever May Design Series in London. I headed down to ExCel this morning for the first morning of the May Design Series, which brings together kbb LDN, The ARC Show, INTERIORS LDN and DX all under one roof. Some of our show highlights on the next page!

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Tags: design - london

Here’s the latest from London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw!

Earlier this evening, I headed to the previously featured urban food hub, FARM:shop Dalston for a preview of “Sunday lunch in 2063, an exploration into the sustainability of food and drink in the luxury sector”, part of Hendrick’s Carnival of Knowledge which will be part of the Brighton Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe and London Cocktail Week later in the year. The lectures will be presented jointly by mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana (Mr. Lyan), Shay Ola (Rebel Dining Society) and Duncan McRae (Hendrick’s British Ambassador) and our taster was hosted by the menu’s creators. Intrigued by sustainable luxury and “edible curiosities made from insects”, I wasn’t sure what to expect. More photos and a look at the menu on the next page!

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Tags: drinks - events - food - green - london