blog:proleno

The Out Of The Ordinary Festival (OOTO) takes place on Friday September 12^th until Sunday 14^th September, 2008 at Knockhatch Farm, A22.

After the success of 2007, the OOTO crew is reviving ‘Ootopia’ with a combination of healing events and ceremonies; inspirational talks and workshops; live music and DJs on the Brighton Flux stage; an ethical market with local foods, wines and ales; and an incredible vibe - all set in the beautiful fields and woodland of the Sussex Downs.

OOTO is an earth mystery family and community festival, focusing on healing, education and entertainment. Powered by alternative energy and love, with a zero waste policy, the festival celebrates the autumn equinox full moon. Running to 5,000 capacity, it is a flagship event for sustainable living, promoting green and ethical businesses.

The focus point of the festival site is a new stone circle dedicated to world peace. This circle encodes the rhythms of the sun, moon and stars and plays a part in reconnecting people to their natural environment.

Talks and workshops will include: the celebrated crop circle expert, Andy Thomas; Philip Carr Gomm, the chief of the order of Bards Ovates and Druids; Professor Gordon Hilman, wild food expert as seen on the BBC2 with Ray Mears; and the popular psychic medium, Jay Love.

Music will be provided by top artists, such as: Banco De Gaia; Katharine Blake; Cry Tuff; Drookit Dogs; Bruise; The Scarlet Street Resistance; The Burlettes; The Adventures of B Violet; The Damn Dirty Humans; Syd Arthur; Sensiriti Sound; King B Fine; Gin Club; New Rising; Unity & Division; Malarki; Keltrix; Brighton Jams; Bethlehem Slouch; Herbal Love; Turiya; Keltrix; Weird Sleeping Kittens and Herbal Love.

Entertainment and attractions will include films, drama, poetry, performance, circus skills, fire dancing, drumming workshops, song and dance.

Stuart Mason, director at OOTO, says: “There’s too much misery going on in the UK at present, what with the wash-out summer and endless analysis of the housing market and the credit crunch. OOTO is the perfect antidote to all that is drab and depressing with its focus on inspiration and entertainment, combined with a friendly, family feel. We hope to build on the success of last year with an even bigger and better event.”

The Out Of The Ordinary festival (OOTO) takes place on Friday September, 12 until Sunday 14, September, 2008, at Knockhatch Farm on the A22 west of Hailsham.

Two and three day camping tickets are available, as well as single day passes, with prices ranging from £25 to £70. Kids under seven enter for free when accompanied by an adult. Campervan and caravan passes cost £10 and car park passes £5.

Tickets are available from the website www.outoftheordinaryfestival.com

With the 50s set to make another fashion comeback next season, author, broadcaster and fifties aficionado Mike Brown has published a book sure to delight designers, social historians and anyone with an interest in this style-defining decade. ‘The 1950s Look: Recreating the Fashions of the Fifties’ takes the reader on a tour of the trends and signature styles of the era – from Audrey Hepburn chic to high school prom queen. Published by Sabrestorm, the book is priced at £16.99 and is available from September 1, 2008.

Moving forward a decade from his successful book ‘The 1940s Look’, Mike Brown deconstructs the key elements of iconic 50s fashions, as well as shedding light on the origins of many items of clothing now taken for granted on today’s high street.

Over 144 pages, with more than 300 full colour photographs and pictures, readers can learn about the new synthetic wonder fabrics, the Trapeze dress and the Teddy Boys’ quiff, pedal pushers and drain pipe trousers.

Prime Minister Harold Macmillan famously summed up the mood of the fifties when he told the country: “You’ve never had it so good.” Cinched waists and full, layered skirts celebrated femininity and the availability of luxurious fabrics after the restrictions of the previous decade.

The success of fashion houses such as Dior signalled the rise of chic Italian and French styling, and this was the decade that denim jeans arrived in the UK from the USA. An eclectic British style began to emerge from these influences, and with it a whole new breed - the teenager.
Author Mike Brown says:

The 1950s was a decade of decadence - a rebellion against wartime restrictions and rationing. As people turned their backs on the privations of the drab war years, exciting new fashions and daring styles from overseas found a place in British homes. In the decade of the Coronation, the conquest of Everest and the Festival of Britain, the second Elizabethan age had arrived, and with it came optimism for a bright future.

Meticulously researched and lavishly illustrated, this retrospective is essential reading for anyone interested in social history and fifties design, and would make a great gift for grandparents to look back fondly at the 1950s. Chapters include: formal and informal fashions; couture house to homemade; hairstyles and make-up; the figure; and accessories.

‘The 50s Look’ is available from Sabrestorm (ISBN 9780955272332), online at www.1940.co.uk , Amazon, or through bookshops such as Waterstones, WH Smith, and many more.

Danish company Yakkay has developed a new bicycle helmet where safety and style are combined. With four individual hat designs currently available, each using a city theme as inspiration, you can define your own style based on personal taste, location or mood.

A spokesman for Yakkay said ” The main function of your bicycle helmet is to protect your head. But, that doesn’t mean you have to compromise your style when wearing it. If you are among those who use your head, you are using your helmet, and if you are among those who appreciate looking stylish - you wear a Yakkay helmet!”

Of course, whilst this is a new idea for the cycling fraternity, anyone who has sat on a horse will know that helmet covers have been around for a number of years!

The Spice Boy grinder, by Oliver Hemming, seems to be drawing attention. The original wooden version was created by the British designer in 2000, followed by the coloured, acrylic version in 2004. The coloured Spice Boy recently caught the eye of Emily Leppenwell at the Sunday Times and is a winner of the 2008 Red Dot Award for product design.

The Spice Boy is functional and versatile as well as being a bit of a looker. The wide bowl lets you easily fill with your chosen spices (anything smaller than a coffee bean) and the amazing ceramic ‘crushgrind’ mechanism won’t corrode (even if you use it for salt). Yes, you can use it for salt or pepper - but why not let your imagination run riot and create your own special spice mix?

The Spice Boy is available from Proleno for £24.95 and comes in white, blue, pink, red or black.

We always thought the Loft towel holder was a great idea. Designer stainless steel with no drilling required - you just have to be careful to place it carefully first time because the self-adhesive backing is very strong! We just received this impromptu message from a customer:

Just a quick email to say that the Zack Loft towel holders are brilliant. They are stylish, easy to fix and very practical. No more towels on the floor! I have bought them before, will buy them again and recommend them to others without hestiation!
Best wishes and thank you for your excellent service.

So, no more excuses, get organised in the kitchen or bathroom! The Loft Towel Holder is available from Proleno for £6.95.

Those passionate about their coffee will almost certainly have encountered the Bialetti brand. The company’s history goes back to 1919 when the first workshop was opened in Crusinallo to make aluminium products. Its first stove-top espresso maker, the Moka Express, appeared in 1933 and revolutionised home coffee making. The ‘Little man with a moustache’ trademark was created in the 1950s by Paul Campani and features on the company’s products to this day.

Whilst the stove-top versions remain as popular as ever today, the introduction of the Moka Easy electric in 3-cup and 6-cup models added convenience. Note that cup size used by Bialetti refers to Italian demi-tasse espresso size (personally I go for a 3-cup shot - OK, so I get a little jittery with the caffeine rush!)

Now, in 2008, Bialetti have released the Moka Elettrika - a travel version that can operate with 110V to 230V. All you need, wherever you are, is a power outlet, some water and of course some quality coffee. The Elettrika doesn’t appear to be available in the UK yet, but since it’s a travel coffee maker it can’t be too long before it turns up!

The Bugatti family Company was founded in 1923 in Lumezzane, Italy, to produce cutlery and household articles. Then every item was handmade, but that soon changed. The first die-casting machine to be used in the area was at the Bugatti factory in 1926. Always taking advantage of technological progress, the Bugatti brothers developed a new brass alloy, “Lega Bugatti”, in 1928. By 1930, their company had started the first chromated brass cutlery production and by the late forties Bugatti products were being sold throughout Europe and the US. In 1999 the company changed its name to Casa Bugatti.

Casa Bugatti presents a world of new emotions and feelings with extraordinary creativity that ranges from classic and refined style to the highest level of modern technological design. Our aim is to follow a natural evolution linking practical aspects to a contemporary lifestyle whilst offering an array of new ideas to choose from. By using a team of specialist designers, we offer a comprehensive range of products to suit all tastes. We want to stimulate your interest by continually creating original and interesting solutions to modern day life.

The designers include: Virgilio Bugatti (behind many of the current products, especially the best selling steel cutlery); Andreas Seegatz and Giuliana Corsini of starsmilano (designs include the Diva coffee maker and Volo toaster); Teseo Berghella, who teaches at the Art Direction and Furniture Design Master in Milan (designs include the Vulcano range of products); British designer Nick Munro (cutlery); Innocenzo Rifino and Lorenzo Ruggieri (Milla coffee maker and Uma scales).

Today Casa Bugatti is internationally renowned for products with unmistakable Italian style!

With barbecue season upon us, it’s time to brace yourself for those uncooked sausages with crunchy black skins! But it doesn’t have to be like that - there’s a Danish company that produces the Hot Wok outdoor cooking system. With a 7kW gas burner and wok pan you could be enjoying delicious stir-fried meals al fresco in no time at all. Even if Asian cuisine is not your thing, there are a range of accessories including a grill and paella pan. The manufacturer also provides some cooking tips. So why not try a new take on barbecue this summer?
You can buy the Hot Wok at Proleno for £74.95.

Despite the recent miserable weather, I’m still hopeful that we will have some summer sun before too long. The prospect of balmy evenings in the garden with a glass of chilled wine (carefully counting the units of course!) is particularly pleasing. So let’s take a look at that essential accessory - the wine cooler.
The new innovation on the block is the Egg-O, conceived and developed in Vienna. The unique feature of the Egg-O is the lid, which has flexible fins on the inner side. This allows the lid to adapt to different bottle shapes. With the handle incorporated into the cooler, there’s no need to remove the bottle for pouring - the wine keeps chilled for longer and you don’t drip condensation everywhere. The robust construction also makes this great for picnics. The Egg-O is available in four colours - blue, red, green and cream. You can buy the Egg-O at Proleno for £26.95.

If you want something stylish, with functionality, take a look at the Bachus wine cooler by Zack of Germany. In brushed 18/10 stainless steel and incorporating three cooling elements, the Bachus will grace any table indoors or out. The inner cooling pack liner can be frozen before use to provide additional chilling. The Bachus is available at Proleno for £38.95.

Zack have a number of stainless steel wine coolers in their range. The Oletto, shown right, is the only one that has a mirror-polished finish - this will really catch the sun if it ever comes out!!
You can buy the Oletto wine cooler for £41.95.

Tom Owen is an up and coming new designer, recently graduated from the University of Derby. His prototypical ‘One’ Bike is a new take on the fold-up commuter bike incorporating some unique features. Since all the dirty bits are tucked away when folded, there’s no risk of messing up that smart business suit. And for the more sedentary amongst us, it features an electric motor for power assist. It remains to be seen whether this striking design makes it to production, and then if it will do better than its predecessors. No doubt congestion charges could contribute to its success!