November 28, 2013

My Maison, Mia Casa..

On this special day when our friends across the pond are celebrating Thanksgiving, others are celebrating Hanukkah (and some are even celebrating the unique Thanukkah (not to be seen again for another 79,000 years)) I thought I’d welcome you all into my house for a few festive nibbles and a couple of glass of something cold and classy to raise a toast to everlasting joy, happiness and all that’s good with the world!

(Yep. The laundry room makes it. Just because I love organised laundry..)

With love,

Kate xxx

November 27, 2013

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..

il_570xN.314905858 The miniature Molly dog has to be a favourite..

Laters, Kate x

November 26, 2013

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

November 25, 2013

A Family Wonder Event x

On Saturday we had an early Christmas present..a family day out at the Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park courtesy of ‘Fairy’, Bella and Charlie’s wonderful Godmother. Such a brilliant idea…memories are so much better than bits…honestly, she is the best!

We all went ice skating on the Wonderland ice rink and watched Charlie demonstrate his natural kamikaze skills..

And Bella showed her elegance. They both have regular lessons so they left us for dust.

We couldn’t have picked a better day.

Spot the extrovert.

We’d been before – 2 years ago..but this year was different. The traditional was everywhere, like this fire pit..specially designed for roasting marshmallows..how special?!

Charlie and Bella with Fairy doing just that!

Which meant there was always a sweet smell of smoke on the air mixed with mulled wine and chocolate….

Who needs to go to Germany when Germany’s in London?

Too much information..

There were also playthings for the adults..depending on how many bratwurst sausages you’d eaten..and how much you minded them repeating..

We also had a very funny trip into the freezing Magical Ice Kingdom to see the ice sculptures (NB There’s also an ice bar..cheaper than a trip to the infamous Ice Hotel)….but apologies..all my pics are blurred as I was laughing too much….at the end is an ice slide….suffice to say unless you had the right coat on (Fairy) it was more of a bottom shuffle (Husband)…

It was a delicious, delightful, delectable day to savour for a long, long time..

Kisses to our amazing Fairy! – memories are made of this.

Laters, Kate x

November 23, 2013

After a hard night..

The joy that is Banksy…turning the mindless into witty treasures.

Laters, Kate x

November 22, 2013

What is Beauty?

Originally taken up by wayward adolescent youth as a symbol of rebellion Doc Martens are firmly on the list of lust.

Solid, indestructible and defiantly special things have definitely moved on from the basic bomber boot of yesteryear. Now there’s an intriguing elegance and a characterful charm to their no-nonsense appearance.

I want.

If these weren’t embossed with paisley I would buy them for The Husband for Christmas…with the paisley?..just a bit too feminine? (Never, in a million years thought I’d ever say that about DMs..).

A possible compromise..but once you’ve seen that beige leather edging in the pair above..they look almost..boring! quell horreur!!

13762310 I saw this green pair walking down the street and my eyes followed, instinctively.

And my heart turned the same colour.

Would you ever think these were a pair of Docs?

So lush..

J’adore..

These would be treated with the same care I would give a small, cute, furry animal…

Laters, Kate x

November 21, 2013

R.I.P Packhorse..

My beloved buggy is no more. Held together by cellotape for the last few months, it has finally given it’s last hurrah and collapsed in a little metallic heap.

Not surprising given the extensive tours of duty it’s performed over the years. And truth be told, for much of this year it hasn’t even been used as a buggy really except for the odd sneaky sleepy…

Instead I’ve been that mad woman walking the streets of South West London pushing my vacant buggy like an unaccepting empty-nester. We got attached Buggy and me..he became my ever-faithful ever-there friend getting me and my clobber from a to b in relative safety..picnic stuff/blankets/cricket bits/footballs/school bags/swimming/gym kits/shopping..buggy did the lot with never so much as a word of complaint, saving my sanity, shoulders and let’s be honest..multiple trips to the chiropractor.

So what am I to do now? I can’t carry this lot..I swear most people drive to the school because of the amount stuff required on a day to day basis. I don’t want to drive to the shops or order on the internet either, I get little enough time to exercise as it is..and I’m rather proud that in the urban sprawl that is London we actually do more walking than the majority of our country friends.

So is it wrong to be thinking of getting a trolley? (she whispers very quietly) Can I break the old woman stereotype? Is there a fresh, modern perspective on the art of lugging?

shopping_trolley_front There is this option I’ve found that looks pretty/traditional (picture with plaid picnic rug and warm baguette peaking out..she urges in hope..) ..even if it would take up half the hall…and is’t waterproof.

Or this ..ugly..but cheap and sort-of practical?

Or these, playing the trump card of up-cycling, they’re made from old cement bags and not bad at £39.99 a pop. Bit more street cred? Or am I sadly kidding myself?

I found this one made from an old sail…at bit more expensive at £85.00..but?…. still granny?

Or this one made in Spain by Rolser where they have cobbled streets (it has to last and they swear it does)..it’s £66 and folds up as a shoulder bag till you need the wheels..then ‘ping’ …trolley!..an acceptable-face-saving-vaguely-trendy-compromise?

What do you think? Which would you choose? Would you choose? Help!

Laters, Kate x

November 20, 2013

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

November 19, 2013

Autumn..

November 18, 2013

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..