Yesterday a friend took me to Spoon Cafe on Nicholson Street. Before starting my job here at The Red Door, I was away from Edinburgh for a year. It is fun discovering the new places that have opened up during my time away. Lots of hidden gems.
I remembered Spoon Cafe from it's former location on Blackfriars Street - my, have they grown! It is spacious, beautifully decorated and they do a tasty bacon sarnie. Oh and a particular mention must be given to their crockery, it very nearly ended up in my handbag.
If you have recommendations of places I should go and investigate please email them to me - rachel@edinburghart.com

factorycraft album promo 01 'Shallow' from FOUND on Vimeo.

Having the perfect sound track helps keep the beat to a good day... and we get an extra cheery dimple when we hear Scottish musicians creating a song and dance in the national press... Vic Galloway has been singing the praises of Edinburgh's own Art and Pop collective Found. For the full interview check out the Guardian's Edinburgh Blog, but here's a wee snippet from Vic Galloway himself

" (Found) ... blend electronics with songwriting and guitars. They're really inventive and they've got a record coming out and I really think the world's got to hear that record. They've got so many ideas. I think they're as good as anything that's coming out of London, the United States or Japan or anything. And it's right on our doorstep."

Found currently have an sound based art piece installed in the Royal British Society of Sculpture as part of the Material Rites Exhibition curated by the RSA's Sandy Wood... they are also heading off on tour around the UK next month with the awesome Phantom Band.  They are having not one... but TWO album launch nights (one for weegies and one for burgers) and just incase this is making them sound a little... you know... busy... they are also playing in Glasgow on the January 28th at the Old Fruit market along side Cybraphon... their hand built autonomous emotional band... in a wardrobe... with a scheduled like that and beats like those...there's gonna be a lota good days...

Jeff Josaphine's Sophie Elm enjoyed taking part in our Customised Tenement Exhibition so much that she has transfered her design for the Finch and Fouracre DIY Tenement Kit into a charming £22 poster... how could you not fall in love with this wee hoose?  All we need now is an architect to build a life sized version... or maybe just a willing tenement to have a face lift.... any volunteers?  In the mean time, this poster can be a reminder of how jolly our streets might look one day, if artists were let loose on them...

 

We Slick gallery galls are all a panic - it is almost time to turn off our lights and we have yet to mark this year's Burn's Night... which is tonight... oh the best laid plans... 
Thankfully, the Tremendous Bettie's over at Finch and Fouracre have created some supremely limited edition Tartan Tenements.  which are their tribute to Burns himself. They are the perfect table centre, talking piece AND game to go along side your ode to a haggis... or at only 17 cm high you could well find yourself building "a wee-bit hoosie" for Burns' little lost mouse. 

We are rather fond of the re-conditioned tenement, as some of you will remember from our Half Way Home exhibition last year.  The tartan house can be yours for a mere £25 and will be one of only 30 ever to be made. 

We hope you all have a joy filled Burn's Supper, that your haggis is fresh, your clapshot is creamy and your whiskey glass charged, but if your plans go askew... you can always build a wee hoose!

Let's go fly a kite!
Stunning new work by Lucy Gough. Being a fan of both kites and stripes, there were big smiles as I removed these from the packaging. They are beautifully printed and the colours hint that Spring is a comin!
Screen prints (£50) and little kite cards (£2.50).

Ewan John stopped by last week for tea and a biscuit. With him he brought new badge sets - 'Cats and Dogs', 'Be My Valentine' and his wonderful 'Birds'. The designs are printed on white cotton and they are limited edition. They are available now in our bricks and mortar shop at just £5 a set. Soon to be available online.

Good Morning Monday. I'm not too sure this is my kind of music but there are Rubix cube hot air balloons in this video - enough said.

Some more 'ABC Francais' books arrived in the post from Kate Sutton. Perfect with my Sunday breakfast.
Repeat after me - L'appareil photo...Le bouton...Le chat...

Lots of lovely new bits and bobs have been arriving at The Red Door over the last few weeks. This morning Miss Kate McLelland paid us a wee visit and left us some Big Cat Badges. Luckily for us they are attached to a beautifully designed card. Phew. Roarrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

I came across this animation the other day. It so beautifully captures those 'dark cloud days'. We all have them, especially at this grey, old time of year. Some sunshine please Sunday.
I recommend a trip to The Red Door at such times...

If I lived in London, today I would go to the Ancient and Modern on Whitecross Street. They are exhibiting ‘a selection of library book covers ‘defaced’ by playwright Joe Orton and his partner Kenneth Halliwell during the early 1960s’. 
Nothing like a bit of creative vandalism (Not that I'm encouraging such behaviour on The Red Door blog!)
Until 26th February 2011.

Perfect for this grey, rainy Saturday.
Coffee and a croissant anyone?

A new job requires new notebooks!

All available to buy at The Red Door, Edinburgh.

Last weekend in the shop I chatted to a very lovely lady named Jen Hall. 

She was Scottish but had moved to Melbourne a number of years ago. 

Before leaving with a copy of 'Oh Comely', Jen scribbled down her website for me. I've been admiring her designs ever since. 

Allow me to introduce myself... My name is Rachel. 

I am very pleased to announce that I am the new Gallery Manager at The Red Door. It's very lovely to meet you all.

After 7 years running The Red Door, we wave goodbye to Sarah tomorrow. 

She is flying off to have new adventures in sunnier places. We would like to thank her for creating such a special place and we wish her all the very best with everything to come. See you later ;)

It's a bit chilly outside once again. So, to cheer The Red Door customers along their way I opted for wee bit of French pop this morning! I definitely spied some foot tapping, so I think it worked a treat.

The Hogmanay holiday brings people from all over the globe to the streets of Edinburgh. It is great to see so many different faces come through the Red Door. I would like to give a particular mention to the lovely young lady from Cape Town who wrote me a fascinating list of artists and designers to research. Very much appreciated!

Happy 2011 everybody! We hope it brings you as much happiness as the folk above.