The Vintage Gardener

Right now, I'm obsessed with container gardening, although this has not been translated into any actual planting (is it too late to plant some herbs?) Instead I am looking out for fetching containers, such as these baskets and buckets from The Vintage Gardener.

Tea of the week: Rococo

Tea-flavoured goodies {dark chocolate made with Jasmine tea, and Earl Grey wafers} and pretty packaging from Rococo.

A year's supply...

...of bamboo toothbrushes, wow! I want these... also desperate to get my hands on the 'guest' version, from Berry Red {£10.50}.

Tea of the week: a watering can

Something I didn't even know I needed, a teapot watering can {£35}! Just in time for my almost-too-late summer gardening ventures.

The Pen Room, Birmingham

Because of my camera fail, these photos do so little to portray the amazingness which is Birmingham's Pen Room museum. I love obscure little museums, run by volunteer enthusiasts. The museum tells the history of the fountain pen industry in Birmingham before it was destroyed by the biro.

The best bit, which you can't really see, is that you can make a fountain pen nib using the old machinery on the left hand side of this wall. It took several steps on heavy machinery, and I can't believe they embossed the name and address of the factory on the tiny nibs.

They run calligraphy classes too, on Saturdays, which are £2.5o for 90 minutes; I wished we had known in advance. I know London has inflated prices, but this seemed ridiculously cheap to me.

It makes my top 5 museums ever {actual list to be determined, but I'm sure it makes the cut.} We practically begged some tourists we found in the street afterwards to pay it a visit. Please go! I'm hoping to rejuvenate its fortunes.

Next on my list, the Pencil Museum {has anyone been?}

Black and white photos by Katchoo on Flickr.

Tea of the week: a paper mache teacup

A paper mache teacup by Ann Wood, and instructions on how to make your own, here.

The Book Barge

Last Saturday I met a friend from Lancashire for a day out in Birmingham. I didn't want to lug my camera around all day, so I didn't bring it, but it turned out there was so much to see! Some photographs from my friend's camera, apologies for the quality but I hope you get the idea.

The Book Barge is a bookshop on a barge! Having worked in publishing for a few years, I'm a big advocate of supporting independent bookshops.

The Crying of Lot 49, one of the most grim books I've ever read.

You can follow the Book Barge's whereabouts and activities on their blog {you can barter books!}. If you can't make Blognic, how about someone organises a Midlands-based Boatnic, or Blogboat, or something...

Product packaging: Steve's Leaves

When I saw the funky packaging for Steve's Leaves, I thought the branding looked very like the work of Big Fish - and I was right! I'm signing them up if I ever launch a food brand {other designs seen here.} Steve's Leaves look good too, beyond the packaging; pea shoots, baby spinach and baby chard - yum. Am hoping it's not too late to plant some summer salad leaves in pots for my own variation...

via Looking to Cook on Twitter.