Bacchanalia Presents Alter-Ego for Notting Hill Carnival

Saturday saw the launch of new mas band Bacchanalia, this new addition to Notting Hill Carnival presents Alter-Ego Through the looking glass. A theme which encourages you to delve into your Alter-Ego.

Bacchanalia was formed in 2005 as a fun mas band, we then saw them re-enter into Notting hill carnival alongside Bachanal Mas. Kelly and Andrew Rajpaulsingh are dedicated to keeping carnival culture alive here in the UK.

"We want to raise the profile of carnival and all the elements associated with it- from what carnival is to making the mas, the history of carnival and the true mas men of our generation, costumes and more"

We arrived at the venue after 11 and was please to see that the show had not started yet, the crowd was friendly and not clicky. The 4 front line sections had us in ore from the moment we stepped in. The oversize feather head pieces, back packs and jewelled bikini lived up to the teases they had been feeding us through Facebook.











The show started with a poetic introduction dissecting the historical elements and creativity to carnival which was a nice personal touch.














This band captured a new vibe and energy which we had not felt in a while, this is essential to creating a great carnival road experience. As long time Notting Hill masqueraders for over 14 years we liked that the band is medium with a capacity of 200, and focuses on good customer service.

On a negative side we felt that the costumes did not have any literal relation to the theme and therefore we could not make any connection to costume and section name (however this is true off so many carnival bands). The biggest deal breaker for us is the price, with Premium Leaders coming in at £295 and £350, Premium section Female £225.00 and males £195.00, which so far makes this band the most expensive for Notting Hill Carnival.

Overall the band gives you stunning costumes and looks very promising for the coming years.

We would like to say thank you to Kelly and Andrew for making us feel welcome.

Check out their Facebook and website for more pics and hype.

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Panton at 50

“A chair must be dynamic – one should sit on it comfortably.” Verner Panton


Fifty years ago, Danish designer Verner Panton (1926-1998) designed the first single mold plastic chair with a curvaceous profile called the Panton chair. It was Panton who first realised the potential for moulded plastic design.


Verner Panton (third from the left) photo source

Though Panton first had the idea for his chair as early as 1960, it wasn’t until the latter end of the decade that its American manufacturer, Herman Miller, found the means to mass produce it. When finally introduced to the mass market in 1967, the chair was often cited as the foremost example of the new vanguard of Modernist design. This original Herman Miller Panton Chair – also commonly referred to as the Stacking chair and the “S” chair – was rendered using a single piece of “S” shaped cantilevered plastic which was later fitted-out with a reinforced lacquered integument.




To celebrate 50 years of the Panton chair Vitra UK had a competition for architects and designers. They were given a white Panton chair to customise in any way they liked. The only rule was that it must still be moveable.

First place Jump Studios


Second Ben Adams Architects


Third Maris Interior

Photo source Vitra


Verner Panton and I

PoisonUK Season Launch 2010 Zero Degrees

Last Friday saw Poison uk kick off the start of their season events for Notting Hill Carnival. Starting at Zero degrees the band launch at the The Cobden Club in the heart of the Carnival route

We headed down to the band launch not sure what to expect but as the models skank there way on stage we were very impressed at the standard of the costumes. We have played mas with Puk before but wasn't really feeling the imported costumes. But this year we can tell you the costumes are 100% made and designed in the UK.



The theme for this year is That's Amore with sections such as Jungle Fever, Tempest, Desire, Erotica, Black Magic, and as always their fun mas section 'The Gondoliers'. Also Dynasty entertainment presented Tribal Love to go along side the theme.

Jungle Fever
This is the wilder side of Amore...Love. This costume depicts sensuality in the open jungle – feel at home with nature. The lovely headpiece represents the outdoors in Love’s natural surroundings.


This has to be our favorite section and the one we would probably go for. We love the different shades of lime and emerald green which complements the gold.

Tempest
Tempest portrays the thin division between happiness and tragedy, and uses fantasy and magic to explore love and hatred… The temptation is wrong but feels so right!



Another hott section, love that the belt is made up of rhinestones.

Desire
This section was designed to show rawness and carnality. That under-lying sexual instinct that we all possess.


This is our least favorite, the head piece is really basic but the bra is well balanced and loving the use of tassels

Erotica
This creative piece has been designed to represent European erotic desire. Erotica was created to transcend the areas of style, fashion and carnival.


We really like the corset on this costume and the fact that it gives you more coverage. However with a name like Erotica a darker, stronger colour could of been considered.

Black Magic
As we all know all’s fair in love and war and what better way to execute this than in the form of Black Magic. The hands on the bra reach for the star. Black is beautiful, black is magic



Over all a very nice costume but would of liked to see more black for maxim presence.

The Gondoliers
Is the fun mas section for the guys and girls who would like an alternative to beads and feathers.





Tribal Love by Dynasty entertainment
This year's theme was chosen to highlight the similarities in the richness of the culture of Caribbean people and Native American Indians. Our diverse and colourful cultures are both influenced by music, dance, rhythm and a love for nature and life.



We really like the colour combination of this costume but it was a bit too much beads for us. But we love the one shoulder and the deep purple design.

Poison UK present 'Togetherness' for the kiddy mas and we have always love the creativity and freedom they put into the kids costumes. No miniature adult costumes instead they give you sculptural forms with hand painted fabric.



Poison UK have definitely stepped up their game with these costumes. Although not groundbreaking they are contributing to the creativity and craftsmanship of mas in the UK. We look forward to hopefully playing mas with PUK this year. Much thanks and ReSpecs to Catharine and the other Puk girls who made us most welcome.

All 2 piece costumes packages are from 125.00 make sure to sign up for a Puk card this will entitle you to a 10% discount. click here for more details.

All pictures are from Trini Jungle Juice and BNN

VERY GOOD & PROPER Canteen Utility Chair

Measure twice, cut once

We came across this chair by Ed Carpenter of Very Good and Proper when it was first introduced to the Canteen restaurant In Spitialfelds.


Popup Canteen Resturant at 100% Design show

The simple chair goes hand in hand with the simple British food philosophy of the Canteen Restaurant. Now 4 restaurants later Canteen has brought out a book called Great British Food where you can recreate some British classics .



Last year we were pleased to see that the canteen chair and table was launched  at The Dock during London Design Festival.

Inspired by the ubiquitous post war school chair. Powder coated steel frame married to a pressed beech plywood seat and back. Light weight, stack able, with our without seat pad.

The Canteen Utility Chair at The Dock


Hooray the chair is now availble to buy at Liberty

Appliqué

Appliqué
Ornamented with a pattern (which has been cut out of another color or stuff) applied or transferred to a foundation; as, appliqué lace; appliqué work.

So following on from Do you like my Angles in print I decided to experiment in appliquéd leather. Here are the results which can be worn as a statement necklace or attached to a vest.

Norma Bar's Negative Space

More work from illustrator Noma Bar and her use of negative space






Margaret Thatcher


The Big Squeeze: piece for an article on the oil gains to be made from Iraq


Gun Crime

Get Noma Bar's book Negative Space here

Perseid

Now taking place The Perseid Meteor Shower

Meteors are streaks of light in the sky caused by blazing pieces of dust drawn into the Earth's atmosphere from near space.The meteor particles, many no bigger than sand grains, come from comets which have passed through the inner Solar System.

On their journey around the Sun, the comets evaporate and leave behind a trail of gas and dust. When the Earth ploughs through a comet's old trajectory, this dusty debris burns up in our atmosphere to form shooting stars. The Perseid meteors owe their origin to Comet Swift-Tuttle, which last moved through the inner Solar System 11 years ago. The Perseid meteor shower is also known as the "Tears of St Lawrence" since the peak of the shower occurs around the anniversary of his martyrdom in AD 258


Pictures from last night via BBC News


Pete Lawrence


Bill Pinnel South London

Reading the Stars by Embroidery MiniatureRhino via Kitsune Noir

The stars tell stories of ancient myths involving monsters, loves and animals fixed in the night sky. i remember learning about these stories as a child and they still captivate me as do the graphic beauty of the constellations themselves. This is a group of my favorites constellations stitched ever so delicately

Needle point constellations




1. Andromeda - the chained lady
2. Ursa Major - the great bear
3. Cygnus - the swan
4. Orion - the hunter

Cosmic Designs by illstrator Chrissie Abbott for Little Boots



Chrissie Abbott T Shirt for Jaguar Shoes Kingsland Road

Get it here

Peter Pilotto's A/W 08 Collection via Trend de la Creme blog

Cosmic Prints
The Circinus Galaxy


Galaxy NGC 1569