Hudson River Watch Co.

These watches by Hudson River Watch Co. really caught my eye when I saw them on the Kickstarter  site a couple of weeks ago. Each of the 9 watches in the collection are named and inspired by streets across New York City. Above are the ones that stood out to me. Berry St. and Cranberry Place are both inspired by flea markets and antique stopwatches, Fulton St. by ship telegraph dials, Front St. and Sutton Place take on a more classic look, reflecting the characteristics of the area and finally my favourite, Charlton St which draws influence from the dial of a cigar humidor.

As I mentioned previously Hudson River Watch Co. is currently running as a Kickstarter, and they have recently reached their pledge target. It's really inspiring to projects like this on there, hopefully we will hear more from the brand very soon.

 Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / Blog Lovin' / Northern Goods Co.

Northern Goods Co. Key Clip

Just a quick update this morning on what we've been working on for Northern Goods Co. Introducing our second product, the Key Clip, soon to be available in six colours. We're both very pleased with the outcome of this design so it's great to finally be able to share it properly with you all. The big difference between the Key Clip and the original Shorty Fob is the heavy duty trigger snap on top and we're used a double weave technique to create the body. We currently have the Camo and Blue versions online but the others four colours will be following very shortly.

We took on board the feedback from my last NGC post and we'll be creating our products in burgundy and a darker colour (black or dark brown) once we source the materials. Also in the pipeline is a longer version to connect a wallet too and we're brainstorming ideas for a camera strap. If you have any questions about the Key Clip or any requests just get in touch.

I've created a 15% off discount code for all my readers, just enter the code below at the  Northern Goods Co. checkout;

"BUCKETSANDSPADES15"

Join us - Etsy - Northern Goods Co. // @northerngoodsco // Facebook // Instagram 

Pierre' Squares Giveaway - CLOSED

HeyDay pocket square by Pierre' Squares

Here's a small giveaway to lift the moods in what's turning out to be quite a gloomy January. Up for grabs this time is a rather swanky floral pocket square by Pierre' Squares. It's packing a loads of colours but the main tone is a nice subtle moss green. I've got this same colourway and it got quite a few compliments when I popped it in my Harris Tweed blazer back at the work Christmas do last month. It's doesn't need to be only reserved for smart occasions mind you, shove it in any top pocket and you're ready to roll. Girls should get involved too I reckon, I'd like to see that. 

So if you want to be with a chance of winning the HeyDay pocket square by Pierre' Squares and join the floral bandwagon just follow these simple steps below -

• Either follow Pierre' Squares on Facebook or Twitter
• Tweet or RT the giveaway
• Comment below with saying which you follow and a way for me to contact with you, either email or Twitter will do fine 
• You can have an extra entry for new followers on my Facebook, Twitter or GFC (connect on the right). Just let me know which you have done 

Best of luck guys!

That's all you have to do, nice to keep is simple. The giveaway will be active for 2 weeks, ending 12th February (23:59pm) and is open worldwide. A winner will be selected at random and will be announced shortly after.

Northern Goods Co. Update

The new Keyclip we've been working on

The last couple of months has been heavy. Holding down 3 jobs over Christmas did get on top of me but we made it through the other side with time to work on some new stuff for Northern Goods Co. The second product we've been developing is this Paracrord Keyclip, which differs from the original "Shorty" fob by having a heavy duty clasp and being double the thickness of the single weave fob.

We've got a new bunch of colours on the way too, including purple and red which is all very exciting. At this point we're still ironing out all the creases with the Keyclip but with any look these will be on the store in the next few weeks.

Is this something you would use for yourself, maybe see your partner using? What colours would you like to see? We're still perfecting it so any feedback is very helpful at this stage.

Join us - Etsy - Northern Goods Co. // @northerngoodsco // Facebook // Instagram 

Top Notch Christmas Gifts

Here's a few things that I think would make top notch gifts this Christmas -

Sandal Wood Candle - Fable + Folly

William Fox & Sons Gloves - Present

LED Bike Lights - Bookman

Scott Nichol Fair Isle Socks - Oi Polloi

Beard Oil - Herbivore Botancals

Mamnick Tie Slide - Mamnick

Futuristic Car - Present London

Roadside America - Amazon

Victorinox Pen Knife - Goodhood

Also this week -

Still time to enter the Harrop + Penny Christmas Giveaway

Me and Hollie have set up shop on Etsy, Northern Goods Co.

Home of Millican

 In order - Les the Cooler bag, James the Duffle bag, Keith the Writer's bag, Rob the Traveler bag, 

Ryan the Domepack, Peter the Doctor's washbag

I've been itching to post about Millican's latest offering for a couple of weeks now so here goes. The Millican story began not too long ago in 2008 when the now married couple of Jorrit & Nicky met while backpacking around in South America. Their friendship grew on their love for travel, discovery and design; the pair moved to Keswick in the Lake District, soon set up a HQ (the shed) and started to produce a range of organic bags and travel goods.

The brand took its name from the legendary outdoorsman and self-styled "Professor of Adventure" Millican Dalton. Dalton left his life in the city and moved up to the Lake District in the early 1900s, to be entirely self-sufficient and live off the land. His life and values rang true with the pair and the Millican brand was born.

For their latest shoot they didn't have to look far for a suitable location, the above shots were taken in an abandoned pencil factory in Keswick (home to the UK's first graphite pencil, first produced in 1832 none-the-less!), just down the road from their offices. The wannabe Urban Explorer in me is mentally bookmarking this place for a trip in the future. Every piece in the collection is made with functionality in mind; using organic canvases, recycled polyester, tanned leathers and locally sourced wools. Each bag has been named after local friends who live in the Lake District, as a little tribute to the area. That's a pretty nice touch isn't it?

For such a young brand Millican have a real sense of identity and direction, taking inspiration Dalton's alternative lifestyle and turning that into products fit for the modern day. I just wish I got to venture out in the countryside more.

For more information on the brand and their products visit Millican.

Have you entered the Urbanears Giveaway yet? It closes on 25th September.

Go On, Hav-A-Hank

It's fair to say that I'm not only totally obsessed with colour but obsessed with products that come in a wide range of them. You've may well have noticed actually, it's all that I seem to post about but colour does something to me that nothing else does. It's a proper mood changer and as I always prefer to be in a good mood I tend to search for product, objects and places that bring joy to the old peepers.

These bandana print hankies by Hav-a-Hank tick all the right boxes, coming in a wide range of tasty colours. It's their take on the classic hankerchief, mixing it up with some interesting shades. I've got a few bandana hankies but I'm certainly sticking one of these on my birthday list. They're made in Greenville, South Carolina and retail for $15, which isn't bad for a pocket stuffer. 

You can pick them up at Indigo & Cotton

You may noticed that I'm have a bit of a re-design at the moment, things are going to get a bit jumpy around here so please bear me while we grind the cogs. I'm hoping it shouldn't be too long till it's fully up and running. Also, I'm considering creating a Facebook page for Buckets & Spades, is this something people would be interested in joining? I would use it to share extra photos and interesting things that I find from day to day.

Close Ups @ Bank

I was recently approached by Bank to look through the current stock to pick out some of my favourite items.  I've chosen to look at some of their more colourful and interesting close ups rather than plain of product shots. Buying clothes online is a tricky business, we all know this. It's hard to get the fit right, to get a proper feel for the fabric and quality so nice and clear close ups do help a bunch.

Above are a few of my favorite pieces which are all currently online. The cycling stitched chambray shirt would be a great nod to Olympic gold medalist Wiggo and the K-Way windbreaker is possibly what every person in Britain could do with, a waterproof. Superga trainers have been a firm favourite of mine for a few years, Hollie pointed out the other day that I'd suit this colour. I'm now quite tempted as my grey ones are on their last legs.

K-Way Jacket // Eastpak Backpack // Supera Trainers // Nanny State Shirt // Rivington T-Shirt

Close ups are just about the next best thing to seeing products in person. So do you prefer, Online or Offline?

This is a sponsored post, which helps with my current job situation and tea addiction. Designer clothes at Bank Fashion

Chester Wallace Waxed Tote

Pretty awesome tote bag for you today, in the way of this fold-over wax cotton shopper by Chester Wallace. The bag itself comes in a heavy duty, water repellent waxed cotton and is handmade in their factory in Portland, Oregon. What really attracted me to this style apart from the design was the range of colourways they have available, they specialist in this style so you know it's going to be a good'en. 

It's a pretty roomy number, measuring at 46cm x 37cm, with loads of space for your files and laptop. The nylon strap is long enough to go around you and not just over your shoulder so it's perfect for commuters and cyclists. Along with the Amsterdamn Shoe Co. Market tote this style is the best one around at the moment for me. Very reasonably priced at £120, well worth it for the design process.

Which colour do you reckon you would go for?

They're currently available at Flatspot. Visit Chester Wallace for more details.

The Hill-Side & Co. Short Videos

Today I wanted to share with you some amazing 10 second videos by The Hill-Side & Co. The Brooklyn, New York based small accessories connoisseur usually concentrate on ties, pocket squares, scarfs and smaller good but they have recently extended their range to clothing, hats, bags and quite excitingly, furniture.

It's amazing what you can do in such a short period of time, I cannot think of a better way to spend 10 seconds. I don't tend to post videos much but please do watch them, trust me you won't regret it!

The Hill-Side & Co. is available at Hickoree's Hard Goods. For more of their videos click here

New Found Treasures Part 4

It's been a while since my last "New Found Treasures" post, but we're slowly getting to the last of them now. For all that aren't too sure what I'm harping on about, I'm showing everything I bought within the time I moved down to London(I wasn't there ages though). So this time, it's the backpack.


I picked this little number up in French Connection in Brighton. Not a shop I go in loads but my friend Nic saw something in the window, as the sale was on. I managed to pick this up for £13.50, which I consider a massive bargain as I know there are similar ones around these days for up too £130(COS for example). I realise it's bursting open in this picture but I was carrying a lot that day.


Anyone else got a backpack thing going on?


This image was taken by my friend Kate, who also blogs at anyweargirl.com which is pretty cool.

New Found Treasures

On my travels over the past two months I have picked up quite a few things. So over the next few weeks I will be doing a "show & tell" on them all. First up is a few pieces which make up my nice new (or old) necklace

I found the silver racing car at Spitalfields Market in London for £5, I had to have it, I'd never seen anything like it before. The old key and ring came from Snooper's Paradise in Brighton, has any else been there? It really does live up to it's name and affordable too. The key and ring came to £6 combined. I have a little obsession with keys and I'm going to start a collection, along with railway timekeeper's pocket watches!

Some great finds eh, the hunt goes on for more to add to my necklace.