An unlikely source of gaming inspiration on the high street – not my usual pound stores or hobby stores – but a trip to the usually flowery Cath Kidston shops or online store.
She often has some unusual offerings in her “vintage boy” section from Cowboys to Steam Trains and London Guardsmen.
A batch of these A5 notebooks in the Cath Kidston sale last year proved perfect for jotting down blog notes, games design ideas, recording my Little Close Wars game turns etc.
Her 2016 range guardsmen includes a colourful new A5 redesign of this notebook:
http://www.cathkidston.com/cath-kidston/guards-a5-notebook-1018039
Her guardsmen design (2015) as you can see are a strange and charming toylike mix of Danish and British Guards regiments, from different periods (cross belts, modern rifles) but fun all the same.
As well as handy notebooks, Cath Kidston does pencil cases, stationery and two fabulous guardsmen mugs, both practical, useful and stylish.
A cup of tea, a perfect complement to your toy soldier section!
Figures in the photographs are original Britain’s guardsmen and my home cast Prince August guards officer saluting, both from my collection.
A batch of Cath Kidston guardsmen design postcards also provided some useful ideas for ‘Card Warriors’ for gaming – watch this space once I’ve finished with my scalpel and glue!
The current Cath Kidston range includes a London design “Guards and Friends” (2016) featuring selection of yeoman wardens, guardsmen and police.
Lovely graphics and design extends across her website:
Cath Kidston’s boys range reminds me of past birthday cards for boys which featured cars, motorbikes, steam trains, spitfires, sport and other such ‘boy things’.
More Cath Kidston inspiration from her past cowboy range alongside my colourful collection of vintage lead Cowboys will be featured in a future Man of TIN blogpost.
Posted by Mr MIN, Man of TIN, June 2016.
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