Artistic artefacts

Sometimes the most exciting bit of a visit to the museum is the run around the shop at the end. I do work for one of those shops at the end so I am slightly biased but I especially enjoy seeing how they've used the artist's work to inspire new products - hopefully producing something a bit more interesting than endless mousemats and key rings. There's some great exhibitions on at the moment, with the great shops at the end to match.

Tate Liverpool are currently hosting an exhibition on Magritte, giving them a great reason to stock all sorts of weird and wonderful things, like Donna Wilson cloud cushions and Jeeves and Wooster bowler hat lamps. My favourite is this bowler hat bag. Surreal but nice, it's £10.

I can't wait to visit the Tracey Emin show at the Hayward Gallery. She's currently selling a small range of homewares at Selfridges. Tracey tends to divide opinion, so you'll probably have to be a bit careful about the recipient but perhaps this I Love Him mug could go down well with a loved one? It costs £10.

The Robin and Lucienne Day exhibition at Pallant House finishes at the end of week, so rush and see it if you can - it's full of 50s and 60s fabulousness. Their shop includes this Night and Day tea towel, using a genuine Lucienne Day design from 1954. Proof that a good owl never dates, it costs £16.

If this all inspires you to a bit more creative, take a look at the Masterpieces pattern which those clever people at Better Living Through Design found yesterday. Place the pattern against your wall, hammer through where marked, and follow the numbers to thread up an image - take a look at the version of Girl with a Pearl Earring above. Just 9.90 euros to help create your very own work of art.