Copyright

THE BEAUTY BOTANIST

26th April 2016

No. 56

Carole Elsworth’s knack for unearthing the precious, the perfectly formed, the aesthetically pleasing, the highly functional, the inherently covetable is unerring. From No. 56, her shop on Chapel Street in Penzance, Cornwall, (now at 14 Chapel Street, having outgrown its previous home) Elsworth shares her finds with the world.

Every item is personal, selected by Elsworth and with a story. And each is carefully displayed with plenty of space to appreciate its proportions and draw the eye. This is homeware elevated to objet d’art. Only one or two of each item are ever on the shelves at any one time, giving No.56 a museum like feel. There’s a pervasive sense of reverence, for the items and their makers, that imbues purchases with a special resonance that, at least for me, endures long after the newness fades.

I'm obsessed with the practicality of this bag, my latest No.56 prize. It's been the perfect companion whether I'm walking the coast with the dogs, selecting produce at the farmer's market or cycling from one place to another. Basically any time I think I'm going to need both hands. There's plenty of room for purchases, spare shoes, and even the odd plant. And I always seem to have it...unlike my bag(s) for life!