Tagged: London

May 15, 2013

Oasis in the noise..

This post is dedicated to Laura Lynn as an extra pair of eyes for her to see the more hidden parts of London, until she can come and visit again x

There is a nearly secret garden literally buried deep in the heart of the City, almost under the far reaching shadows of St. Pauls Cathedral.

It’a called the Postman’s Park and was once the graveyards of St. Leonards Foster Lane St Botolph Aldersgate and Christ Church Newgate. Which sounds huge, but it’s only a little place with a rich atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Ordinary yet quietly extraordinary.

Through the gates and past the pond is a memorial created by George Fredrick Watts, a painter and social radical. In 1887 he had the idea to commemorate ‘heroic men and women’ for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee year. No-one else felt it was a particularly good idea so he financed it himself.

Set into the wall are over fifty plaques catching frozen moments in time, each bringing a spotlight to the pendulum swings of fate and lifes’ vulnerabilities. Every plaque commemorates a selfless act of bravery and with simple words to make you bleed they open up a theatre in the mind as you picture the stories and comprehend the consequences.

It is a small place, a poignant place where history lives on.

Laters, Kate x

April 15, 2013

Trip to the V&A..

It’s been the Easter holidays which can easily feel like tumbleweed…to inject some excitement we all went en famille to the Victoria and Albert museum which just so happens to be one of my most bestest, favourite, most edible places in the world..

Welcome to London.

Amazing glass chandelier. The queues were for the Bowie Exhibition. Not for us sadly. The building is a gem. Incredible floors. Lots of marble. Have I said how much I like marble? Instead of Bowie we got these – special backpacks for children – all free – that take you on an adventure…this time we chose China.. The kids get a map to follow, an instruction book and different tasks to complete all beautifully set up in little separate bags inside the back pack. They were happy. I was happy…When Anna and I can generate enough interest to be able to dye fabric to our own specifications we will be coming here for colour inspiration..and design. Loved this print.

This a water dropper in the shape of a squirrel from 1662!The repetition of the print without obvious repetition. Stunning Mughul dress. If I could choose a paper weight…those flecks of green.. isn’t she fabulous? That expression..those colours.. This is the courtyard in the centre where there are places to sit, get coffee – or paddle in the pool in the middle. Seriously. Inside the Cafe – not my greatest photo, but you can just make out how incredible the wallpaper is. This cafe was the first museum restaurant in the world and was intended as a showpiece for modern design, craftsmanship and manufacturing. It is sublime.

The ceiling..I die.
It is one of the most beautiful places to have a latte in London..The shop, though busy, is pretty awesome too…they have some super cool children’s toys..the above come as flat packed cardboard.