loop

I'm a big fan of this crafty London shop. Though I've never been there in person, their combination of craft materials and independent designer pieces are just lovely...

1 ~ what's your name, shop name, and shop location...
Susan Cropper
Loop ~ 41 Cross Street, Islington, London N1 2BB England.
We also have an online shop, and we ship all over the world.

2 ~ tell us about some of the objects in your display...
~ The vases are made by Annette Bugansky. They are vases that have hand knit cosies made for them. They are then cast in porcelain and fired at very high temperatures. So they are beautiful and functional and have knitted surfaces!
~ We also have hanging lights by Esther. They are called 'segomil' lampshades (limoges spelled backwards!). They are made of porcelain. She uses everyday household objects and makes a twist on them.
~ Throws and cushions by Catherine Tough.


3 ~ describe the mood, what inspired you, or what you intended when creating/arranging these pieces...
The mood and feel of Loop is just the way I style and make things. What I intended was a warm and welcoming space that people could come to and feel calm and also inspired to make things from the beautiful knitting supplies.

My apartment looks pretty simliar to the shop. The look of the shop is pretty pared back- there is simple wooden floors which are painted white. Floating shelves for displaying the handmade designer products. Loads of jars overflowing with knitting needles and crochet hooks and buttons. There are 88 cubby units for all the different yarns from around the world. These, again, are painted white. I keep it pretty white as I wanted the gorgeous colours of the yarns to be showed off. (people have said it reminds them of a sweet shop). It's all about the yarns and the handmade things at Loop. I am blessed with a small outdoor deck in the front of Loop and we have some wooden chairs and hurricane lamps wioth candles out there which immediately creates a mood. We have a fireplace with logs in it. It doesn't really work but it does add to this very warm feeling when you enter the shop. There is always chilled out music playing. People come and sometimes don't want to leave. It is a very small space though. It has a lot of charm which would be hard to duplicate if we ever moved to a larger space.

I was recently in California and bought a beautiful small metal rail with hooks that has birds dotted along it - I immediately wanted it for the shop to hang some pretty twists of yarn on. I'm always adding things to the shop - as long as I love it and think it will work - it is a work in progress. Overall I think it feels charming and slightly bohemian.

4 ~ what are 3 objects/pieces sold in your store that you are dying to have or... you already have and love...
~ I have the long and wonderful Handknit throw by Catherine Tough. It always sits on my big long couch and it looks gorgeous and when one of my kids grabs it and wraps it around it's also unbelievably cosy.

~ I have the Annette Bugansky vases and tealights dotted all over our apartment. They are used often. We have fresh flowers and candles burning a lot- especially in the english winter when the dark days can begin to get to you.

~ Ruth Cross teapot and mugs with hand knit cosys.

5 ~ list three things that provide you with inspiration...
~ Colour. Most of all colour (figs, chocolate,plums)
~ Ambiant light (twilight on snow, fairy lights, candles)
~ The cinema