Category: London
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
Crystal Palace x
One of the best children’s day outs in South London is a trip to Crystal Palace..the train comes straight into the park, there are full sized dinosaurs (promise) a farm (open 12-4, closed wednesdays (made that mistake before..)) a playground..and a maze..and what’s more, it’s all free. There’s even a greasy spoon cafe for lunch…we went there with friends yesterday to find, much to our surprise, there was even more…the council had set up an adventure playground including zorbing..and that was free too!..happy days!
There was hula-hooping…
Hoppers..
Giant garden games..
Stilts..
Animals the kid were allowed to stroke and hold..
Including some pretty exotic ones!
Charlie on the wrecking ball..
And to finish off, glitter tattoos and badge making..
It really was a perfect day!
Laters, Kate x
My Summer Beauty..
This was a purchase from my vintage wander to Stoke Newington..and I love it. It hasn’t made the holiday packing cut purely on the basis the material is quite heavy, which means it holds it shape wonderfully..and is perfect for those cool English summer evenings. I wear it with a pair of wedges, my vintage Mulberry bag and a big smile….puurrrrfick!
Laters, Kate x
Heading Off..
Barmy summer has hit leafy South West London, the skies are swallow tail blue, the grass on the common has been cut and is turning to hay…soon they’ll send in the big bale machines and turn our urban bit of green into a country field which always brings a smile. For the first time this week I’ve smelt the laburnum in the air, all sweet and sultry and the prediction is that today the temperature will reach thirty degrees..so probably a good time to leave and discover the sanctuary of a faraway beach…
It’s been strange not having the kids for a whole week. I thought that I would get loads done…but I haven’t. Part of that was I realised how much else I cram into a day..and part of it was refusing to do any extra. My brain went into shut down mode and just wanted to sleep. We did get out though..the above picture was taken on an evening bicycle ride home across Clapham Common after watching ‘The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out Of A Window And Disappeared’ (to be recommended..laugh out loud hilarity) – it was a joy to feel that pink evening sun again – as a parent it’s the time you’re always doing the bedtime routine so you never get the chance to drink it in, but it’s such a special time of day. Which doesn’t mean I haven’t missed my two…we’ll be flying to Athens today, picking up a hire car then driving over the Peloponnese to Costas, where we’ll pick up a water taxi (a speed boat) (the most expensive form of transport known to man (other than a space rocket..and perhaps a Venetian Gondola..which depends if you’re doing price per person or price per mile..hmmmm)) and head across to the island of Spetses where they’ll be waiting for us on a star-lit beach…it’ll be a bit like James Bond…can’t wait…
Laters, Kate x
The Chap Olympiad..
On Saturday we headed with the lovely Fairy to the Chap Olympiad..a vintage celebration of Britain’s sporting ineptitude where sensational cravats take precedence over sweaty lycra and more points are awarded for maintaining immaculate trouser creases than ever crossing the finishing line..
(Fairy and the Husband)
Set in leafy Bedford Square in Bloomsbury, London and surrounded by gorgeous Georgian houses with the sun shining, it was a pretty idyllic setting..
And the Pimms wasn’t bad either..
The competitors took their dressage very seriously..
Rarely have I seen Boris Bikes put to such good use than in the Tea Pursuit..
Only a few cups were broken..
Umbrella jousting..
Poor show..this was taken far too seriously..
So if you every fancy a wonderfully eccentric English day out it’s a date for the diary..just don’t forget a suitably spiffing picnic to match…and book early – it sells out fast.
Laters, Kate x
I Dyed.. x
Like the lifespan of a butterfly, the summer term is flying to it’s end. For Bella’s class it’s quite a poignant time as her year get re-mixed into different classes for September so after three years together it’s a real time of change. As a little hurrah for the mums of her 2B class I held a Shibori tie-dye day..with all the essentials….
Joy of joys..the sun shone!
Is that a stick I see before me?
Our patriotic dye bath..previously used for mixing concrete for the patio. The union jacks come from cut up passport covers from the 99p shop – they were perfect for holding the material in place to create the square shaped tie-dye pattern.
The magic starts when you unwrap..it’s a bit like Christmas..you have no idea what they’re going to be like..
But the results were pretty spectacular!
Each one different and unique! My washing line has never looked so cool!
OMG – It actually looks like the tutorial photo!
This beauty was the result of ‘stick’..it’s like looking up at the sea whilst diving..
Now I have the kids home and dying everything in sight! But honestly, I can’t blame them..it’s addictive..for a wonderful day with friends, it’s surprisingly easy, wonderfully effective and thoroughly recommended!
Laters, kate x
Serving strawberries and cream..
Dressed up to the nines and on a bike, heading to somewhere in South West London..
Where everything is very English and rather civilised..
Including the lunch..
A little clue..
Getting warmer…(in fact it was a scorcher..)
Yay! No.1 Court at Wimbledon to watch athletic Federer gracefully ease his way to victory..
Wimbledon has always had a special place in my heart and it has been particularly thrilling as an ‘adult’ to watch from the best courts….every year, with my best friends, we used to bunk a day off school to go and queue at the crack of dawn for tickets. The cheaper Court 2 tickets were our favourites: you got a guaranteed seat plus in the first week when the timetable was chocca you were guaranteed to see one of our idols fighting their early gladiatorial battles: Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg, Jimmy Connors, Martina Navratilova, John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert..we were in seventh heaven..
Happy memories.
A StarWars like camera man..
The finish of the day was probably my highlight..a game of veterans doubles: Patrick McEnroe and Peter Fleming against the effervescent Mansour Brahimi and the unforgettable Henri Leconte..my youth re-lived, they had us crying with laughter..crawling on their knees to the line judges, nicking all the balls, taunting the opposition – and the ball boys and girls, spinning around before hitting shots, catching tennis balls in their pockets…it was pure class and showmanship..and for all their tricks..they still won!
The perfect way to end a perfect day..before we cycled off into the sunset..
Laters, Kate x
Roses and Cupcakes x
Creative Coffee Mornings are still a regular Wednesday occurrence and a highlight of the week. These pics are from our ‘Sugar Art’ session..
Which included a variety of projects including making elderflower cordial..even the word ‘cordial’ makes me smile…
We also crystallised edible flowers..so simple and so effective..
You thoroughly coat each petal – back and front – with egg white, then cover everything in sugar. A sprinkle of very fine glitter helps with the final fairy effect. Then they dry out and can be kept for months in an air tight container, ready for a dramatic flourish when required.
And we made cupcakes to practise our icing skills on..
With a whole box of toys to play with!
The joy, the pride, the ability to allow yourself the time to be creative and the companionship of sharing the experience with others all feed in to make this time so very special. You literally zone away from real life – I’m sure it’s a similar endorphin rush to a serious gym workout. Just without the pain…
Next week is ‘homemade sausages’…..guaranteed a giggle…
Laters, Kate x
End of the Week.. x
It’s been a pretty mad, bad week from the lows of a long dentist appointment (oh the joys of a periodontal clean due to impacted wisdom teeth..6 injections later..) various meetings and visits to the vet with a very stressed dog..to a fabulous Book Club night (the above is my reminder for the next one..)
And a wonderful day out at the Spirit of Summer with lovely mate Galliana. I will confess: we did initially think we’d got the wrong venue..and date..
My Wardrobe.com had a stand and I succumbed to this little number from new label Christophe Sauvat..it was the boho vibe and the pop of neon that sold it..(and the fact is was the last one left..)
Christophe Sauvat is one of those fascinating characters..He started in the 80’s designing clocks and watches..
Then moved to Brazil where he made and exported thread bracelets, selling over 8 million.
Before co-founding Antik Batik in Paris.
Now he’s in Portugal where he’s started his own label based on his love for the gypsy-style woman who still feels at home whether in London, Morocco or New York.
It has my heart.
The day/week ended with a Mum’s Night Out to ‘Supper in a Pear Tree’..a pop-up restaurant with a difference…Run by two sisters, Annabel and Charlotte Partridge the evening starts with a glass of wine and a Drawing Class around a nude model with supervision from Charlotte. We had NO idea it was going to be a rather fetching male model..there was much tittering and flexing of charcoal from behind our easels…
The evening finished with a three course supper cooked by Annabel..including foraged herbs and homemade sloe gin…
An event to remember…
Laters, Kate x
Weekend Wanderings..
On Saturday Fairy, Bella and I headed to Shoreditch to the Jumble and Pearls vintage and more sale at the Book Club. (A fab cafe in it’s own right with loads going on…and it’s own table tennis table..)
Shoreditch is an eclectic, buzzing, creative, urban area with stories and something different round every corner. Looking with eyes wide open is a must.
(I was thinking of you, Su..loved the retro letters..)
Opposite the light shop was this fairytale-like Reclamation Yard…we were immediately sidetracked (it doesn’t take much..). Set in an old church it was like stepping through the wardrobe into Narnia…..
I didn’t think so much space existed in central London…
In my dreams this old French haberdashery unit is pride of place in my kitchen holding bowls and plates..and anything else..
We were at Jumble and Pearl to see my wonderful cousin Nathalie (her story here) and see her new merchandise for Sam Says Enjoy Life.
(My sister swears by these bibs and is always being asked where she got them from)
I also had Bella’s portrait drawn by the lovely Jenny Robins.
I’ve always fancied having a wall of framed ‘street art’ portraits of the kids, drawn across the years, seen with different eyes and marking their growth into adults.
Jenny has said she’ll help, so this is the first one…I like to think the finished collection will be like an Installation in it’s own right..
We headed home, very happy with my purchase from Nathalie – one of her new up-cycled denim bags, perfect to hold in style the daily detritus I manage to accumulate and lug around.
I particularly like the pockets..that little bit of embroidery is heaven.
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 