London Shopping :: Part II

Hello, good morning, and welcome to the Attic24 Lovely-Things Show n Tell!

I can't tell you how much fun I had yesterday, unpacking my bags and styling  a little photo shoot  so's that I can share all my recently purchased goodies with you. I love taking photographs, love playing with pretty things and it's so nice to be able to show you everything I bought, to share it with you. Nobody else around here is remotely interested in the contents of my bags, well hang on, not strictly true, because these first two items have generated a lot of excitement amongst the two Littlest members of the Attic24 house. The above little wooden Christmas tree came from Paperchase, and it is already out of it's box and on our table. A bit premature for Christmas, but honestly, the pester-power was ginormous. And what fun the Little People had decorating their very own tree, it was delightful to watch.

But even  more popular than the little wooden tree is this Christmas Tin (from John Lewis). Awww it's so cute, I think I bought it as much for me as for the Littl'n's. What you can't see from the photograph is that the tin contains a little music box inside :: when you wind it up, it plays a wonderfully tinny, nostalgic, beautiful rendition of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". Oh how we love it! And as well as containing musical loveliness, there are also brightly wrapped chocolates inside :: the Little People have begun a routine which involves an immediate post-breakfast dash for the tin, followed by eating a  chocolate each to the sounds of the Christmassy music. I'm sure they shouldn't be eating chocolate for breakfast, but hey-ho, it's so much fun I haven't the heart to stop it now. I have a feeling this tin will be around for many, many more Christmases to come, and I love that thought. Love it very much.

Next up, a couple of the cards I bought in Paperchase. I love to buy cards for myself, little snippets of inspiration which for the price of a few pounds give me a lot of pleasure. I have a box full (and I mean full) of cards which I have collected over the past twenty years, and one day, when my Attic Studio is up and running, I intend to create a large Inspiration Wall to display cards such as these. I have a surprising number of cards which feature patchwork quilts/blankets, I just love them so much.

Now you can see we are at the Haberdashery :: red christmas ribbon (Paperchase), East of India Ribbon (Liberty), a much desired CK button tin (John Lewis),  beautiful glass beads (John Lewis) and pretty mother of pearl buttons (Liberty). Ahh I do so love a good Haberdashery Haul!

These glass beads from JL just had me from the start. I simply HAD to have them, no question. I have no use for them (yet), but the very bobbly, colourful, frivolousness of them nearly had me in tears. Only I could get so emotional over haberdashery, honestly, I am quite a headcase sometimes.

Similar emotions with these Liberty buttons :: serious heart-flipping desire, followed closely by wanting to cry, then a fidgety sort of jumping from foot to foot when I decided I HAD to have them, then nearly peeing my pants when I realised how much I had actually paid for them.

And if you think beads and buttons had me bad, imagine the state I was in over this gorgeously tissue-wrapped bundle. Oh boy, I was really in a lather here.

I think I mentioned briefly yesterday how much I love Kaffe Fassett fabrics. And coming face to face with a whole wall of them in Liberty's was seriously exciting for me. I have only a very modest fabric stash, I have never really had available cash to buy fabric for the sake of it. But this is exactly what I did on Saturday :: I decided on a complete impulse that I would not only stroke this fabric and photograph this fabric, but I would actually treat myself to this fabric. Just Because. And I am So glad I did. It is beautiful, colourful and inspiring. I look at this fabric and I am inspired to sew, to make some sort of happy, colourful patchworky something or the other. Not sure what yet, but of course you will be the first to know when I do decide.

Aren't the colours just fabulous? I bought 30cm lengths of each, so not a huge amount really, but enough to cause me to get hot when the amount ker-ching-ed on the till. Incidentally, the top two fabrics in this pile are actually Amy Butler designs (also for Rowan).

Some Country Living goodness now :: I treated myself to two more mugs by Susie Watson, as they were a special price for two at the fair. Her stand at the fair is always huge, and always very popular, deservedly so. I do love her designs, both the patterns, and the shape of the things too. It's a pleasure drinking coffee out of these, really it is. Paper napkins were also bought, and cute paper cake cases too. My paper napkin stash is coming on a treat, the pile is almost at teetering stage.

Ah yes :: Greengate. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Greengate! There was a stand at the CL fair selling just Greengate products, and I spent a long time here. I picked up various items and put them back again (honestly, I was close to broke by now), settling in the end for three lovely tea towels, which the kind lady discounted for me because I purchased three instead of one. These are being added to the in-the-attic-not-to-be-sullied pile of tea towels, as they are intended for my tea-towel quilt. I'll try and remember to photograph this little stash pile next week to show you how it's coming on, because it is absolutely delicious (see here for a reminder of what I'm on about)

When I go to the CL fair, what I like more than anything is to come across the work of talented crafts people. There are not that many there these days, you have to search them out, spot them scattered in between the mass-produced made-in-the-far-east type products, But I love to see and buy British Handmade, love it very much.

This gorgeous boat was made by glass designer Ann Wood. And what a lovely young lady she was! We chatted about a love for the sea (she lives on the coast of West Sussex) and she told me how she beach combs locally for the driftwood and shells used in her work. As well as these charming little boats, she also made the most fabulous glass and wire chandeliers, oh they were so quirky and wonderful. A bit out of my price range, but I really did admire her style and talent.

So. Thats all folks. That's me officially spent out and satisfied until March 2009, when I shall do it all again. Although Lovely C and I are pondering a January trip to London which will be mainly centred around the delights of Marylebone High Street, aren't we Lovely C?

Thank you so much for your generous enthusiasm and sharing, its been an absolute pleasure. Right, I'm off to reacquaint myself with long forgotten cleaning products and my dusty old Dyson :: I've a friend coming to visit tomorrow (we will be going to Knit and Natter together, what joy) and my house is looking...well, words can't describe really. As husband of mine keeps quipping "too much Blogging and not enough Housework".

Yada-yada-yada.

xxxxxxxxx

Comments

[London Hotels]

nice post. really cute pictures of an incredibly colourful and beautiful selcetion of goodies.where can i find it?thanks for the information.

[Anna]

Oh wow, I can't believe you responded that quickly. You're obviously as lovely as you seem. Thank you for the tip about Emma, I'll definitely write her. Anna x

[Anna]

I know I'm a bit behind, like a year or so... I've fallen hopelessly in love with your Ann Wood glass boat. Would you know if she's online, or rather, if her stuff is online somewhere?

I luv luv LUV your blog! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful creative life.

Anna, Sydney

[Estelle]

Oh you have such a wonderful eye for colours and photography. I envy you your skills and you goodies - especially the beautiful Liberty buttons!
Estelle x

[Judy]

I want to go shopping in London!! What a wonderful haul and I had a favorite until I saw the fabric and then I melted!! Love the fabric. http://judy-judysfabricaddiction.blogspot.com/

[TracyV]

Hi Lucy,

I love reading your blog, there's always so much inspiration! I think I need to invite a friend over to force me to tidy up as well

Love, love, love the crocheted ornament, did you use a pattern?

[Liz]

How funny, your show and tell made me laugh!!!! We really have similar taste as I have loads of identical items and fabrics in MY house!!!!! Obviously you have an immaculate sense of style....!

[sheila jones]

Hi Lucy,

I have just discovered your blog and oh what delights! Lovely, lovely shopping, beautiful crochet (so comforted to see you struggled with the ripple pattern as I am doing right now having taken it down too many times it is now at the bottom of the bag!), fantastic photos and inspirational words. I shall be back for sure. Thank you for sharing so much.

Sheila

[simone]

Lots of beautiful things but I think the glass beads are my favourite.

[Ange]

One of my favourite things about a big shopping trip is coming home, and looking at all my purchases and sharing them with dh - I think it stems from that big-school-uniform shopping trip when I was little and we put on a fashion show for my dad when we got home!
Anyways, a lovely blog - I feel as if I've been sat next to you as you unpack each lovely, gorgeous item.
We've got the tree from Paperchase too!
A xx

[http://lavenderhouse.typepad.com]

Anne who made the little boat lives about three roads away from me! I have taken a photo of a beautiful mirror she made and I am going to blog it tonight so you can see it!

Love Emma x

[Alex]

Oh lucky you, what a wonderful day you must have had, no wonder you were worn out!

Can't wait to see future creations using some of the beatuiful fabric

x

[beck]

What a lovely lot of loot!! Your excitement is contagious! Wow, what a fun time you had, love all the colours and textures. x

[Crystal House]

India produces variety of beads such as glass beads, wood beads, clay beads, horn beads, metal beads, ceramic beads, lac beads and many more. Crystal beads are very popular due to their transparent and clear nature which makes them shine with any type of accessories. Indian handmade beads are one of the most demanded beads in the world. The majestic handwork of the Indian expert craftsman has made these beads very popular all around. Lac beads are generally handmade and are greatly admired by people all over the world for its exclusive handwork. Glass beads occupy the biggest bead market in India and are available in variety of colors, designs and shapes. Indian glass beads are exported in all countries as they are cheaper and have great finish. Wood beads are also available in abundance, carved wood beads and painted wood beads are the two main streams under which wood is processed to make beads. Although ceramic beads don’t have as big market as glass or wood beads but it has a great potential. The shiny finish of ceramic beads makes them very attractive. The main thing which has lead to the extensive spread of the Indian bead market is the fact that every buyer (whether it be a small shopkeeper or a wholesale businessman) can satisfy his needs of beads through the Indian market. Normally people dealing in wholesale beads keep a great variety of beads under a single roof which makes it easy for the buyer. [email protected]

[Monda]

I have serious shopping envy. I would have picked all of these things - I especially like those buttons. I can see a trip to Liberty is on the cards...

Monda
x

[Ali]

Oh, those KF spots are wonderful. And poops to the housework police. A girl needs a self-indulgent weekend once in a while!

[Hen]

Yay, great things, Lucy, so glad you enjoyed yourself and went for it on the shopping front. I'm seriously coveting that xmas tin box and I really love the card with the kitty on the granny squares blanket. I have those Liberty buttons too, they're too lovely and now you've made me want even more Kaffe fabrics. Hmm, didn't know that was possible!

Yes, a shopping trip to Marylebone High St is a must. It's my fave place in London to go shopping, so much quieter, more civilised and all round nicer than Oxford Street - but safe in the knowledge that so long as you start at the Cath K end, by the time you are down at the other end, via VV Rouleaux, John Lewis is still not far off if you can bear to brave Oxford St!
Look forward to hearing more about your teatowel quilt.
Hen x

[Moss stitch]

Why has everyone been to the Country Living fair except me? I'm soooo jealous, may be next year! Anyway glad you had a lovely time and bought some fantastic stuff.
M
xx

[Anne]

What fun - love all of your purchases. The fabric is so pretty. I am glad you had such a fun day - you deserved it!!

[sarah]

Hi Lucy,
Looks like you had a great mooch around the shops, was hoping to get to the country living fair but didn't make it...next year...love your buttons and fabric, you have such good taste....it is what we are missing in the north a contemporary fabric shop. My mum made me kaffe fassett quilt which I used after the arrival of freddie, curled up on the sofa....all a mixture of the stripy fabric...I have been on a free motion quilting course at the weekend and acquired some new techniques and am intending to make my first baby quilt for a imminent arrival, just waiting to see what sex the new baby is before I get started. Will bring my sample piece tommorrow to show you...see you tommorrow,
Sarah x

[cathleen]

Oh, my...what a delightful amount of goodies, Lucy. I am so happy for you to have been able to take that little solitude trip and treat yourself. Everything is lovely and charming and the fabric....YUMMY.....can't wait to see what you do with that fabric!!! Enjoy your company tomorrow!

[luanne]

lucy, what fun you had! i could hardly wait to see which kaffe fabrics you bought. sure enough, you too were seduced by his lovely spots, my favorites.

loved your photo of the colorful shelf of fabrics in yesterday's post. what a treat to find all those beautiful fabrics lined up in front of you, how inspiring! i might have stood there all day, just endlessly rearranging them.

p.s. more blogging + less dusting = happy home!

[Alexis]

I want it all!

[Cláudia]

Fabulous Lucy!!!
Congratulations!!!
Bye!!!

[gardenymph]

Wonderful, Lucy! Absolutely wonderful! I just love everything. I'm so glad that you had a wonderful time. It's so important that we moms remember to take some time for ourselves, treat ourselves to something special, and to celebrate the things that make us the interesting people that we are. :~)