Today started with a trip to Calvert Avenue for the official launch of Charlene Mullen and Royal Doulton’s two dinnerware collections. I saw them a few months ago at Home, but the delicious setting that is Charlene’s shop set them off a treat. Also, I walked past three large film crews en route, that area is smoking hot.

To the collections: Both are black and white and hand drawn – nice wobbly lines included. Perfect additions to the textiles Charlene has designed before. The Foulard Star range includes four geometric patterns while London Calling depicts the city skyline filled in with more bits of pattern.

Let’s start with some beautiful photography from the official shoot.

They were taken inside the shop – note the floor above left and sofa upholstery just seen, right – Charlene designed both.

Ok, lower thy expectations. Here come my photos.

I’m including them because the almost-black wall of plates in the shop looked really striking and because I liked snapping evidence of Charlene’s knack for creating little corners of interest everywhere, as seen below.
She sent me off with a press pack containing three home made biscuits with her pattern designs on top on rice paper (I think, my baking knowledge is not what it might be). A sixteen year-old blogging school girl made them for her and they were delicious. What’s happening with this world, I dread to think what I was doing at that age, but I definitely wasn’t running a blog or making goods for successful designers.