Category: 2015
The Sky’s the Limit..
The meeting with the builder went well..looks like we could have a start date at the end of July. It means the month of August will be frantic, but if I’m going to be without my kitchen I’d prefer it to be in the summer months when salads are picnics are staple requirements – hopefully it will be a glorious sunshine and we can spend the days outside..at least there won’t be the horrors of the morning clash, trying to sort builders and attempting to get kids out the door for school. Shame about any lie-ins…
We’re also renovating our cellar at the same time…the intention was just to add more electrics, some clever storage, a TV and a sofa to turn it into a den. But the builder took one look and suggested we dropped the floor by 20 centimetres…it would make all the difference, but hits all my fear points – our cellar is bone dry and I’d hate to mess with that..but he seems to think it’ll be easy..so I’m going to see what the damage is in terms of cost. I know there won’t be any natural light, so for decor it’s dark and moody all the way..like an exclusive gentleman’s club..
Looking for inspiration I came across this picture and was struck by the ceiling..how nice to have that flash of blue, space and air..
I started looking at wallpapers..but the problem is the repeat..clouds become to regular when the beauty is they aren’t.
There’s this option..Nuvole by Cole &Son..but at quite a cost! And like beans, it still repeats..
Better is the option of wall murals from places like Surface View – this one is a reproduction of Constable’s clouds..you can order them to any size you want. Again, not a cheap option..
Then I found Pixersize which has one of the biggest ranges I have ever seen and very good value. Their sky range is enormous..the skycapes dramatic..
(But I secretly preferred the softness of the painted skies..)
Not to worry..they had that too..
(All pictures pinterest)
With so many options I think it’ll take me till August to decide which one…(but I think the last one has my heart…)…Wallpapering the ceiling..who would’ve thought..
Laters, Kate x
Happy Easter!
As a child, Volker Kraft saw a beautiful paschal tree in his home town…and he wanted one.
In 1965 his dream came true – his own tree with 300 odd eggs on it. Since then it has grown every year..
2015 will be the last year of the Saalfeld Easter tree..and the total is now 10,000 decorated eggs. One man’s madness, one man’s passion..one man’s joy. I doff my flamboyant Easter bonnet to you sir…
Laters, Kate x
Day Out x
I had that typical middle-class adult dilemma this week – is it kitsch that my kids favourite activity is shopping? As soon as I mention it, I see the bright gleam in their eyes, the excitement..the quickening heartbeat and I know it has them in it’s tight, materialistic jaw..
We had to step into the lion’s lair this week to re-stock on socks and pants for school. But I went attempting a new regime..
I told them exactly what I was going to buy. Then anything over had to come out of their pocket money/christmas money/birthday money which they had to have in cash..no loans. Anything big and desirable went on birthday (not long till Charlie’s) or Christmas list.
The hardest thing is that I have to stick to the plan too – there’s lots of stuff I’d love to buy them. But what message does that give? I limited the extra’s to looking for a top for Charlie and a dress for Bella, both for Easter Sunday when we’re seeing relatives.
I know that if I think back through the mists of time, I can still remember that feeling of stepping into the equivalent of a sweetie shop – the seduction of it. And too often, when dealing with kids, you look at a situation through the knowing eyes of an adult, forgetting the journey it took to get there. It can’t be skipped just because you know the answer.
However, both my children have a fair amount to learn..money burns a hole in their pockets and the magpie tendencies are strong..
Though Charlie did boost his cash reserve by eating a clam. Bella refused. But it was their choice.
Naturally, they blew everything they had – Bella on stationary, Charlie on a puzzle toy and a hat..
We found him a brilliant top in Next for Easter – £14.99 and it looks like something by Ralph Lauren, and is beautifully lined in grey marl. He wanted to wear it straight away..the resulting mash-up amply demonstrates the preppy look his mother would love him to embrace..and the secret clubber within..
Bella bought a dress from Marks and Spencer that fluttered her mother’s heart..black with a peter pan collar. I’ll take a picture on Sunday.
Of course now, for the lesson to be fully learnt, having blown all their money, I have to take them shopping again so they can know what it’s like to want something and not be able to buy it. That big gulf between need and want. That special emotion that can be one of the world’s best motivators…you want it, you earn it..you save for it. You spend it on what you really want, not the fluff inbetween..learn the difference between the diamonds and the fools gold…you want more? Find a way..work hard..make it happen.
Laters, Kate x
Result!
What a difference a packet of dye makes! One session in the washing machine with half a kilo of salt and the jacket now has the patina of something between oil reflecting on water and that titanium jewellery which was very popular in the eighties (made from stainless steel with an electric current through to make wonderful, unexpected, rainbow-like colours?)..honestly, you couldn’t replicate this if you tried..I and absolutely love it!
It’s bluer than these photos..and the alterations were surprisingly simple – I took out the zip, took off the blouson cuffs and removed all the velcro square buttons. Then removed all the elastic out of the waistband and ironed it flat. I’ve got some black binding just to tidy up the sleeves, that job has yet to be done. And I also want to add a tie fastening three quarters of the way down..
The one draw back of the dye process was it exposed some small holes in the cotton, exposing the white of the filling. There were four particularly prominent ones on the bottom of the shawl collar..so I’ve started doing some hand quilting in the style of the Kantha quilts of India, in vertical lines but with random spacing. If I had the time and the patience I would quilt the whole coat with all sorts of patterns..but I want to wear it!
It’s thrilling to think that from this reject, my butterfly was born..
Laters, Kate x
Joseph’s Coat x
This is not an April fool, but one of my purchases from the South Bank Classic Carboot…a rather vibrant 80’s number picked up for a pleasing £10. Some would say there’s a reason it was so cheap..
But I think it has potential for a bit of alteration and a re-dye..I love the collar, the padding, and the shape of the arms..
At the moment I’m thinking dyeing it a midnight navy blue to knock back the yellows to a dark green and the pinks to a purple…here’s hoping..I’ll post the result tomorrow..
Laters, Kate x
Do you Dream?
And then when you do, can you select your thoughts with silver tongs?
I thought this was the way that everybody dreamt – it was only speaking to a friend last week that I realised what I took for escapism and wishful thinking was in fact a unique state of mind and has a name: Lucid dreaming.
(All pictures from pinterest)
It’s that moment when you become conscious in a dream – sometimes it’s that time just as you’re waking up and you’re reaching out for a mood that’s disappearing fast over the horizon and you’re trying to catch it’s tail, because you know if it goes, you’re going to sense it’s loss, but you don’t know why. But you know if you can catch it..it’s a magical, mythical beast…
And then there’s the dreaming you do with your eyes open..for me it’s a similar state and The Husband can spot it a mile off…I can run a list through my head and see all the actions so clearly, I can convince myself I’ve already completed the tasks. Or falling asleep when you’re the architect, director and star of all you see, softly slipping into a timeless world of controlled infinity where anything is possible…I think I’m going to have to explore this some more…in a quiet corner, somewhere..
Laters, Kate x
Against Captain’s Orders..
On Sunday we took a family trip down the Thames to Greenwich. Growing up in London the kids have no idea how lucky they are..we live 30 minutes from Waterloo, which is a short stroll from the London Eye, which sits over the pier where you catch the boat..
Just opposite the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben..
Charlie opted for a outfit of utility chic. Honestly, he looked like a road sweeper.
The boat journey down the Thames is magical, from the drama of Shakespeare’s Globe and Tower Bridge, to the violence of the Tower of London and the old warship, HMS Belfast. It’s a spectacle. Unfortunately for us, it was all seen behind rain splattered glass as the heavens well and truly opened. Although by the time we reached our destination, the World Heritage Site of Greenwich, the sun popped out, if only for a minute..
Greenwich is a remarkable place to visit: There’s the Royal Observatory and the Meridian Line to hop over, The Cutty Sark, the Old Royal Naval College all seeped in romantic, baroque architecture..but we were there for a reason..
To see Against Captain’s orders at the National Maritime Museum, a groundbreaking theatre experience bridging the gap between museums and drama, thought up by the one and only Punchdrunk Enrichment, stars of immersive, interactive theatre.
The golden laws of interactive theatre mean I’m sworn to secrecy and therefore can’t tell you very much…except this is how it starts – and it’s not a stage set – you sit in the boats wearing life-jackets…before you are led away into a fantasy world where you are very much part of the fast-paced action in a behind the scenes experience in the deep, dark bowels of the museum. It’s brilliant, innovative..and an experience I know the kids will remember for a long, long time. It’s designed for children aged 6-12..and you don’t want to take any younger – it’s pretty heart racing…you’ll find little hands reaching out to find yours! Performances continue till the 31 of August..but take note: they do an adults version as well in an after-hours exclusive…if you can..GO!
Then it was off for lunch and wandering through Greenwich Market..yet another reason to visit…
Passing the Cutty Sark..
Before stopping at the nostalgic Hardy’s sweet shop to spend pocket money. I made Charlie buy popping candy..
Neither he nor Bella had tried it before..
I think it was a success..
Then it was time to run for the return boat home, before the storm clouds caught us..
Laters, Kate x
Inspiration..
It’s rapidly heading towards crunch time for our proposed building works – the builder is coming to quote on Tuesday which means all the big structural decisions have been made. Now thoughts can turn to the decorating..but rather than hoarding pictures of perfect rooms, I’m finding myself drawn to the opulence and layering of faraway cultures…
(All photos from Pinterest)
Whatever happens…it’s going to be a journey.
Laters, Kate x
Made to Treasure..
Remember Loquet? 
Well it looks like they’re going to be doing bracelets..charm bracelets.
(All pictures Loquet and Garance Dore)
And so the heavenly lust list gets longer..
Laters, Kate x
Ray of Sunshine x
The end of term is creeping up and, as ever, it can’t come soon enough – I’ve got both mine off school today with sore throats – they’re really just knackered. And I can relate – I’m still feeling like I’m living underwater since last week. Which is why it’s rather lovely to find (thank you cousin Claire) humorous, supercool art like Rainworks!
Invented by Peregrine Church in Seattle, these street art pieces are the proverbial silver lining only appearing when it’s wet.
The designs are stencilled onto concrete using hydrophobic, environmentally friendly spray (for details check out the website – it’s literally stuff you can pick up yourself) which last for up to 4 months, depending on weight of traffic. Effectively, the spray keeps the concrete dry.
Genius. Now….where’s my nearest piece of concrete??
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 