Soul On Fire
Image courtesy of Mustafa Sherpidin
“Love is always bestowed as a gift - freely, willingly and without expectation. We don’t love to be loved; we love to love.”
This valentine you might not be able to go out, but you can rest easy in the fact that you won't be sharing the love with the other 98% of the population at your side. There's something to be said for the relative calm and exclusivity of your own home. So if you are still looking for that perfect last-minute gesture, here are some of our favorites.
On a trip to Stockholm, I enjoyed stumbling across a little artisan confectionery shop in Södermalm. It was situated on a quiet back street away from the crowds. Inside was a petite vintage rest stop, a place to sip a coffee with a delicious sweet treat perched on the side of an antique saucer. Wrapped in paper reminiscent of the ye olde confectioners was the softest, buttery toffee that melted in the mouth in utter deliciousness. It turns out that caramels were a rarity in Sweden in 2010 and Pärlans (pearls) was founded out of love for the fine buttery caramels that we are accustomed to here in the U.K. Still, this vanilla-infused delicacy was like nothing I had tasted. They were indeed pearls, and despite the many toffee options here, nothing compared.
Images courtesy of Pärlans
In a selection of flavors such as vanilla sea salt, apple cinnamon, citron and chocolate and cocoa nib, these are the caramels of dreams. And I haven't stop thinking about them. Recently, I had the pleasure to discover that I can now order those little pearls straight to my door. And they can be found in speciality shops in nordic countries, Germany and Japan. If you'd like to treat your loved one (or yourself) to these little gems, take a look at their website here.
“The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.”
Want to give some love to your girlfriends this Valentines? Bella Freud has it covered. To mark the 2018 centenary of women's' suffrage in the U.K. the designer teamed up with artist Gillian Wearing. Gillian's Millicent Fawcett statue was unveiled in Parliament Square to celebrate the fight for our rights. Together with publisher Plinth and the Mayor of London, Bella Freud produced a range of merchandise inspired by Fawcett's message. And part of the proceeds from your purchase will be donated to the Fawcett society. So you won't be just sharing the love with your girlfriends, but you'll also be sharing it with all the single ladies... and the taken ones! You can find out more here.
Image Courtesy of Bella Freud
If you just feel like giving a little love to yourself, that's ok too. It's been a challenging year, and self-care is paramount in these strange times. Another gem from Bella Freud.... for your gems in fact. Treat yourself to this gorgeous trinket dish. Love is indeed the drug, whether it comes from elsewhere or from you, we all need a lot of it right now. Purchase your trinket dish here.
Image courtesy of Bella Freud
“Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”
If you've had the pleasure of dining in London's stunning restaurant Sketch, then you'll remember the joy of discovering each room, so tantalising and different from the next. From David Shrigley's Gallery serving afternoon tea and dinner, Pierre Gagnaire's two Michelin starred Lecture room, the pink art deco chairs in the Gallery and the pod bathrooms, Sketch is one of the most beautiful restaurants in London. And now you can have a little home from home with their Valentines afternoon tea box. Brought to you in a sumptuous pink box straight from the Gallery, open it to reveal delicious sweet delicacies inside. But there’s just a short time left to sample one so place your order here.
Image courtesy of Sketch London
“I told my love, I told my love, I told her all my heart”
Need a last-minute card? Want to mark the occasion without all the saccharine? Those people at Oh Deer have it covered. Less roses are red and more blah blah love 'n stuff! Buy yours here.
Image courtesy of Oh Deer
Home is where the heart really is, though you may be seeing a little too much of yours right now. So give yourself a change of scene with this delicious pink work from the talented Norwegian-based artist Mustafa Sherpidin. We love this print, reminding us to hold on to the humor through the challenges we face. Check out more of Mustafa's brilliant works here.
Image courtesy of Mustafa Sherpadin