Category: Craft
Toy dogs x
As a child I was literally obsessed by the small, the cute and the handmade. There was a shop in Highgate Village near where I lived called ‘Animus’ full of beautifully made mice and cats from Beatrix Potter that I drooled over..I still have the shop from there I got in my stocking one Christmas – it was a fruit shop and every individual piece of fruit was painted clay and each was a tiny parcel of tissue for me to open. Probably my best stocking present EVER. These micro delights from Suami on Etsy remind me of those days….the workmanship just takes my breath away.
It’s funny though as by nature I love beauty and practicality rather than ‘stuff’..but there’s an invisible line that still gets crossed and suddenly I want to own and covet special things and have them live in a beautifully crafted wooden Victorian treasure chest with hundreds of tiny drawers and hidden secrets and spend hours sorting out which treasure goes where…and then re-arranging them all over again..
The miniature Molly dog has to be a favourite..
Laters, Kate x
Rebel with a cause x
The modern beanie: A heavenly mix of humour and swagger.
(Photo by Tommy Ton)
Modern and retro.
That all sort of started with the Jil Sanders 2012 show.
And has been taken up by the likes of Riri..Anna Dello Russo..and anyone else really.
(photo from Bella Bridal Flower at Not on the High Street website)
But I was thinking..wouldn’t it be nice to do a DIY version..but take it up another level? – Add removable corsages on the side similar to the one above- a further play on the vintage cloche hat?
It could be a flower..or a collection of them..love the shape of these from Amica felt.
But imagine it all in Black..
Or even an animal..
Now..she da fox!
Laters, Kate x
P.S. I love this..
The time of present hunting is nigh and if there is one thing I love with a vengeance it’s searching for the perfect gift – even better if they’re made by artisans and not from the high street.
Which is my first port of call: ‘Not on the High Street‘ is a UK based website (they do do international shipping) that hunts down the most original items from the best creative small businesses and brings them together in one place.
I was originally looking for adult crochet hats as a modern/retro twist (you know what I mean) on the beanie (I wanted a cloche type flower or something on the side)..but I think that’s a whole other post now because these delicious offerings stole my heart. Click here for direct details.
Totally and utterly edible!
Laters, Kate x
Coffee Time..
Sometime it’s the simple things in life that make the magic and one of those things for me are Creative Coffee Mornings. They were started by the lovely Sophy three years ago when she made the genius decision that chatting over coffee with young children was so much more fun when creating was involved. Originally we’d all take over our unfinished projects and use the time to give ourselves much needed permission to finish, but now Sophy and best friend Minta have developed it further and prepare, for a small fee, everything in advance with a termly timetable of weekly delights..If you live near SW London there is a website. Next week is festive nibbles..followed wreath making..with an extra mulled wine evening version for the men to join as well! (In half term I sent the Husband and Charlie to make jam..the perfect antidote to brain boil).
Sophy and Minta at work.
This week was Christmas Spirits (whooo hoooo!) with much tasting needed..
And homemade chocolates!
(Accompanied naturally by coffee and delicious nibbles. Lush)
The stewing blackberries for the Bramble Brandy..the smell was sublime.
I chose the Sloe gin option..for me it’s such a rarity to get hold of genuine sloes..and the Brucie Bonus..these came from Minta’s parents’ farm in Dorset. They were frozen because the best Gin comes from sloes picked after the first frost.
The skins are pricked and placed in a bottle.
Sugar and a couple of almonds are added, then it’s all topped off with the gin and shaken. Onto the chocolates…with orange peel, ginger, cranberries, dried strawberries, dried raspberries and almonds..
Sprayed with edible gold for that extra Christmassy feel.
This to me is living life to the full and I love it!
Laters, Kate x
Soul Searching..
There are times when you need to stop the day-dreaming and get down to the real knitty gritty of life…
I think it might catch on..
Laters, Kate x
Blog Paaardy!
Do we need a reason to celebrate? NOOOOO! But it has been a smooth transition to this effectively new Blog ‘Maison Bentley Style’..I had no idea you could change your url and still manage to hold everything together, but you can and I am very grateful!……So let’s get this disco ball rolling!!
The rules of the game:
1. You are ALL invited! to accept, please leave your Blog address in the comments below.
2. The party will take place on Sunday 27 October starting at 9.00am GMT but don’t worry if you’re on the other side of the world..because of all the time differences the last party went on for 2 days!
3. Write a welcoming post with ‘Welcome to the Maison Bentley Style Blog Party’ Somewhere on the page..think of it as the welcome mat to your Blog. It’ll make people feel connected and part of the fun, feel free to talk about your Blog and what people can expect to find – the last time we did this everyone experienced a huge surge in stats and followers so it’s really worth doing some house cleaning and tarting up the paintwork..have some nibbles handy and a glass of something special ready..music anyone? If you’re behind UK time, think about putting up your post Saturday night.
4. We live in a virtual world..so this is YOUR chance to wear/interior design/gourmet your food/dream the dream to WHATEVER LEVEL YOU FANCY..that little Chanel number you’ve always lusted? It’s in your wardrobe..in your taylored-to-fit size too..those Valentino shoes? On your feet! You live in in a CASTLE? REALLY? The sky is the limit..put up pictures and let us know because all you need to do is tell us in your post! And quite frankly, the more outrageous..the more outrageous! To give you an idea, this was last partie’s post.
5. This post will stay up till Saturday evening, then I will list all the participants in a new post for Sunday..and then it’s super simple..we fly around on our magic cyber carpets and visit all the names on the list…and try not to get too drunk!
Can’t wait!!
Laters, Kate x
The Weekend x
I often think what a strange beast Blogging is, even when people ask me what I do I rarely say ‘I Blog’ because it seems so nebulous and unexplainable. But I still love the feeling that there is this hidden river of energy surging on a creative current running between all of us, between all countries that all our posts filter into. I wonder if I dipped my finger into it would I see sparks?
On Saturday I was so lucky that, by pure fluke, I actually managed to ride the cyber-wave and meet up unexpectedly at the South Bank’s Vintage Car Boot Fair with two fellow bloggers that are close to my heart.
The lovely Kaori at Twist and Turn (click here for her post on the day). An artisan knitter who, if you can believe it, knits with her fingers. How cool is that? – this I HAVE to see.
And the wonderfully creative Vintage Attitude who up-cycles and re-invents everything to do with material – I’ve already given her a commission to find a new life for a beautiful embroidered tea cosy that just sits in my drawer. I Hope we get longer to talk next time.
It was such a lovely day..a shopping event without the obviousness of a mainstream megahit.
Where red London buses were converted to bars. I’ll catch the new number 6 any day of the week..
And where even a Rolls joined the car booty fun..
The spirit of the day was totally embraced.
There were little Caravans converted into dainty cake stalls.
And larger vans converted to cook pizzas on open stoves – check that fire. Some even sold lobster!
Out of that weird power of the internet we made a connection. The intangible became real.
And now I have new friends. How special is that?
Laters, Kate x
The Obsession Continues..
Navajo Blanket Coats are not the only fruit. An integral part of Canada’s fashion history is the Hudson Bay Blanket Coat..they hit you right in the imagination..gotta love those pockets..
(Photo from http://www.geekychic.ca)
As an example of love, craftsmanship, necessity and creative courage they are genius.
Looking through pictures you’ll find each one just a little bit different.
Such a simple idea that still packs a punch. Check out www.pointblankets.com for more historical information.
But I likey this tartan blanket coat too with it’s clever use of the fringing. 
And that zip-off collar…sigh
Now..where are my scissors……..
Laters, Kate x
I Heart Mr Morris x
But as a rule, it’s been because of his interiors..however..
Nigel Weymouth wearing William Morris Jacket with Rufus Potts Dawson, Amanda Lear and Jess. Photo by Colin Jones 1967.
George Harrison also sporting a fetching number… And the modern equivalents..
Alice and Olive floral skirt. Style.com
Oswald Helgason A/W 2013 Collection..seriously worth checking out.
Crossing the centuries: Maria Sethe.
Which goes to show, when it works..it works.
Laters, Kate x
YSL lives on..
(Photo by Sophie Carre)
Back to reality..almost..
There are certain places I have visited only in my dreams, but one day, one day Rodders, I’ll get there…Coco chanel’s apartment, the Picasso Museum in Antibes..and the Studio of Yves Saint Laurent at 5 Avenue Marceau, 75116 Paris.
For a lucky few and until the July 21, it’s possible to go on a guided tour of the studio and library courtesy of the Pierre Berge-Yves Saint Laurent Foundation. The Foundation was set up to share the forty years of accumulated memories and artefacts of this iconic creator with his intimidating reputation for excellence and meticulous sculpting of cloth.
Oh to be a speck of dust. To be still and drink it in.
But if I can’t be there in person. Sigh. There is still the internet – part of the Foundations aims is to promote cultural projects and with this in mind, they are releasing all sorts of wonder through their site which is so worth a visit. For instance, there are the production boards..
Illustrating 1283 production drawings from 81 Haute Couture collections from 1962- 2002. Each garment features a sketch, a sample of fabric from which the final garment was produced, the name of the couture workshop that produced it, the name of the model that wore it and even the order in which she walked during the Fashion Show. It is a little glittering cyber treasure trove…
It’s also possible to buy a beautifully bound four book edition of the Production Drawings. And if I had 2,100 euros handy..I would.
The latest release from the Website is the ‘Paper Dolls’ – Yves Saint Laurent made these beauties between 1948 – 1949 using from amongst other things, cuttings from his mother’s favourite magazines – Vogue, Jardin des Modes and Paris-Match. These fragile works of art are the physical embodiment of his vivid, verdant imagination and somehow make him feel very human..touchable even.
The website allows you to pick a ‘doll’ and then choose her outfit by clicking on it..how super cool!
Hours and hours of nostalgic Haute Couture pleasure…with more than a little bit of fairy dust.
Laters, Kate xxx
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Maison Bentley Style 
