Category: accessories
Stamptastic…
As the seconds, minutes, days..even years tick past there’s one never-changing truth that remains a constant….for every good thing, there’s a shadow and for every bad event, somewhere, there’s a pearl..
Joy: The kids go back to school TOMORROW!!!
Horror: All uniforms, shoes, bags, pencil cases blah blah blah have to be ready…and labelled..
Sewing on labels is my idea of purgatory – I dare anyone to disagree..(And I’ve done ironing them on…and melted Bella’s coat..my normal cheat is a permanent marker – tres slummy mummy – but why are the nibs always so thick and the tabs so small??)
Happiness: The discovery of the website Stamptastic – Set up by three SW London mums (A local company – yay!) with 8 children under 11 between them they sat around their witches cauldron kitchen table and agreed that labelling stunk. So they came up with a genius solution: A simple stamp in just the right size with a special ink pad that can be used on all types of surfaces from clothes to stationary equipment..I’ve ordered mine with just our surname on it so it’ll do the whole family – nothing that moves will escape: Shoes, coats, gym stuff, goggles, swim hats..the husband..
Horror: I only ordered mine yesterday….so until it comes, I’m just going to duct tape everything, everything to the kids…
It’ll be a conversation starter if nothing else…
Laters, Kate x
Paula x
Paula Cademartori is an eclectic combination of Italian and Brazilian and it shows in her unconventional, covetable designs..
They’re the smile and perfect foil for the darker colours of the coming winter..
Or just for a love of life and colour..
(photos from pinterest)
Mi piace!
Laters, Kate x
Classic Changes x
In a time when classics are everywhere with their nods to the past, their roots deep in heritage rules are still being broken…take blue with black…
(All photos from Pintrest)
And with New York fashion week starting today there’s the prospect of more twists and turns..will ugly shoes appear in the audience?..or will the power heel reclaim it’s rightful footing, if only for a week?…I for one will be watching with interest…
Laters, Kate x
Monkeying Around x
One of those pieces with instant and timeless appeal…the Articulated Monkey ring by Marc Alary..
Like wearing a playable antique of the future..j’adore
Laters, Kate x
Into the Groove x
All around the sign of the moment appears to be the evil eye, an ancient symbol that crosses cultures and religions, always ready to ward off danger.
What I didn’t know is that different colours have different meanings..adds to the appeal..
But instead of following the jewellery sheep, maybe there’s another way to embrace the trend..
(All pictures from pintrest)
Simple, effective…different…especially that last one..
Laters, Kate x
A Mermaid’s Tail..
It is said the Aegean Sea is full of mermaids that can sink ships and lure sailors to their doom, including 3000 Oceanids, the mythical daughters of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys and the singing Sirens from the Odyssey.
What is true is that daughter Bella has been enraptured by them for some time, and when her spells (see above and here) didn’t work she resorted (as all modern girls would) to the magic of the internet…
Swiftly followed by the alchemy of then gently twisting her father around her little finger..
In secret cahoots, because they knew I don’t approve of presents without reasons (I’m told it was because she had a good school report..hmmmmmmm) they ordered their bounty (I think from a German website, but this site is the only one I can find that has both the mermaid suit and the shark fin that they sportingly added for Charlie…)
(Except he really wanted to be a mermaid too..)
Mysteriously enchanting, I have to confess, she took to it like a fish to water…particularly evocative was when she dived down and there was a flash of red hair and orange tail, just like the real Little Mermaid brought to life…
Now I can’t wait to see the reaction when she tries out in the local pool here…..!
Laters, Kate x
Sunny Sunnies..
Cats eyes..
Or round? What’s in your frame?
Laters, Kate x
Baggage..
Love a boho bag me….and Essentiel Antwerp have a heart pounding range…and they’re having a great Sale..temptation hey..
Laters, Kate x
Accessing All Areas..
It’s the last day of school for the kids today before the nostalgia of summer holidays, which has meant the last two weeks have been manic. Sometimes it’s hard to describe that state of continual motion when every minute of the day is converted into action. Even this afternoon: After the presentation of presents to their teachers and almost missing them with cards still to write and hair to do this morning , they’re only at school till 12. Then there’s a joint birthday party on the Common for Charlie, a picnic for Bella – all with their associative jobs – and there’s shopping still to do, the dog to pick up, supper to sort…because tomorrow the kids leave for Greece with their Grandparents – and I haven’t even started packing: If Charlie goes without a couple of stitches in his new swimming trunks his modesty will never survive the first wave. And Bella wants to take one of the tie-dye tops we made – but the arms need shortening..and it was a late mum’s night out last night…..and where are their passports – and are they up to date??
At least I’ve ordered some holiday towels for all of us…we join them in Greece in a week so they’ve still got time to arrive. We’ll then stay for a few days with my parents, before heading off to the island of Lefkas for what I thought was a Greek Glamping experience…i.e. A little wooden house with air-con for the husband….except there seems a little confusion over what exactly we’ve booked. Hey ho, time will tell..
Made the old fashioned way, these cotton towels are hand loomed in Turkey (Don’t tell the Greeks) and are meant to be compact, dry quickly, absorbent and just generally awesome and cool. It helps they’re supplied by a local Company, Sorbet based in SW London..
At least I might have got one thing right..even if my priorities are a bit questionable….!
Laters, Kate x
Sweet Life..
(Ear cuff by Ryan Storer, now sold out – Boo!)
Walked into the utility room this morning and found the sock box all over the floor. Again. How many times have I said to the kids if you go for a rummage – leave the room as you find it – if you disturb anything PUT IT BACK? I start moaning to the Husband who’s trying to get dressed. ‘It’s not a big thing, but it’s representative of a larger issue,’ I say. No response. I tell myself don’t linger on the negatives but everyone needs a rant at some point..in the evenings he gets to offload work on me so a voice says, why can’t I moan about my work? I’m the first to say mines not the job that brings in the money, but sometimes it’s the hidden work that holds a family together: It’s the monotonous, grunge, brain numbing stuff that’s like groundhog day every day except it largely remains invisible as if fairies have been at work. So I say, ‘it’s the invisible work I do that needs a bit of respect’. Still no response. I can feel the emotional plates shift like a red rag to a bull…’That’s just perfect, I’m so invisible (read taken for granted) no-one even hears me..I don’t want practical solutions, I don’t want a conference call or a European Summit but just an acknowledgement or a grunt will do’…nadah…I continue, climbing upon my very high horse..’I consider the work of a mother one of the most vital on the planet. It’s the foundations stone that builds future lives, holding them together, keeping them moving forward in a (generally) clean and (hopefully) happy manner..it’s seven days a week, 365 days a year and for all this I get..nothing..zip..zilch..I live off your income and get not one iota of recognition from the government, not a tax break, not nothing..and as for society…well if this is indicative of society’s attitude..'(voice rising in crescendo..)
He pulls out his headphones..’Did you say something, Darling’?
Men. I really just give up.
And from now on I’ll be charging the kids 10p off their pocket money every time they mess up my utility room. A girls gotta earn her money somehow….
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 