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

[Jennifer]

Hi Lucy - Loved your finds. and your descriptions. You could be a writer because you feel like you right there with you!

I love Kaffee Fasset too so much that I hung up a piece of his fabric over some stretch boards for a piece of art. It was really easy to do. I'll show you some day. Jen

[Deb]

Wow, gorgeous haul Lucy! Thanks for sharing.

[Emily]

ooh how lovely! Thank you for sharing your shopping with us... those Liberty buttons! Beautiful!

[july]

Oh how i absolutely love your blogs!! and today i was so excited for you. You lucky lady! with all those lovely treats, i especially love the fabric and the teatowels.Thankyou for sharing this you have inspired me with so much inspiration.July x

[m]

I wonder if you've ever visited Hemingford Grey Manor? It's delightful - oldest house in the country, and it was the setting for Lucy Boston's Green Knowe books. But you also get to see Lucy's quilts and there's a wonderful Utility quilt made from dusters and dishcloths. Rather a long way for you, I know - but well worth a detour some day!

[Anna]

Oh Lucy, you certainly have a gift for shopping. And I really love the fact you go on these special jaunts by yourself for a bit of you time. Very lovely indeed.
I am very excited on your behalf about the tea towel quilt. As you know I have an obsession with teatowels myself. I think the quilt idea is inspired, and if I could sew I would join you in making one!!
I also have an obsession wit buying cards...there are piles of them stored in old Liberty bags in my cupboard. Simple things in life...xx

[Kitschen Pink]

I need a seriously large cuppa. Just bliss. Once I've recuperated I'm coming back for another look. OOohh Those liberty flower buttons ooooh oooh . t.xxx

[driftwood]

what a truly wonderful trip, and I just adore all your goodies!!!!

[Sandie]

I love this virtual shopping trip.

[A Thrifty Mrs]

A feast for the eyes, so many gorgeous things to look at. I love the little tree, I bought one from Muji last week.

[sarah]

Ooh so enjoyed admiring all your goodies I love them all just posted my goodies on my blog I was there Saturday too I bet our pathes crossed!
I can see why you got excited about your fabric sometimes it's just good to think oh blow it and make that purchase it's so satisfying! I bought off the Greengate stall too I share your passion for all things Greengate!
Sarahx

[Lisa]

What an incredibly colourful and beautiful selcetion of goodies and treats you bought.
Love the buttons the most.
Lisa xx

[tracy]

a choccie before breakfast?
you are seriously a great mama - i love a bit of chocolate first thing and admire you so much for saying what the heck - you will have kiddies that are happy, healthy and well adjusted!
when i was a nanny i never set fast rules - childhood should all be about fun - right?

as for the other goodies - yikes - perfect.
i am planning an away day shopping for goodies next week - just me and a good friend - it is quite an event as we have to drive two and a half hours to get to the town - i am so excited at the prospect at even seeing M&S - it has been that long!!!!

enjoy your fabric stroking

t x

[Fiona]

Oh such loveliness! I especially like the Greengate teatowels. When we were in Belgium at the weekend we went in my favourite shop which stocks lots of Greengate. I managed to restrain myself. Aren't I good?! Marylebone Highstreet is my most favourite street to shop in London. You should definitely have that trip.

[Mariana]

Well, this post confirms that I'm not the only one who loves to buy mugs, cards, tea-towels, buttons, tins... I have never enough of these things! And I agree with you, these little things (or "perfect things", as I like to call them) are a great source of inspiration,

[do you mind if i knit]

Sigh! You lucky thing................... though I do actually feel I've been shopping and done the same trip as you................. it's been rather wonderful! I think the only places I would have added to the list, would be Loop, and that bead shop in Kentish Town, I think, can't remember its name................... oh, and the V and A shop, which is amazing these days.................... yeah............... that's all I'd add Lucy!!!!!!!!! Anyway, I enjoyed shopping with you, and drooling over your purchases, especially the fabric................ even though I don't sew......................

[Hannah B]

Oh you lucky thing with all those lovely liberty purchases! I love it in there, but am yet to treat myself to a financial blowout - but one day!

[Joanne Stocker]

Phew-antastic! And I am glad you share all your love here! Housework or no housework...

I know exactly what you mean about remote interest. I am rather in the middle of nowhere here in central Germany with my love of British Vintage stuff.

Goolly, do I love those flowery buttons! Yipes!!

Take care,
Jo

[Lynda]

Oh, that is GORGEOUS! I am inspired to start saving now (realistic given that Christmas is so close? Worth a try!) to have a shopping-just-for-Lynda day!!! Wish I could include Liberty of London in that, but I'll have to try and find an antipodean equivalent.....!

Glad to see that I am not the only one who buys cards for my own satisfaction as well....

Beautifully done and thank you oh so much for sharing!!!!

Lynda :)

[MarmaladeRose]

OOO! I think I'm almost as excited as you after seeing all those goodies. I was going to say, I'm loving those fabrics, but really I'm loving all of it, the whole lot!
I was as emotional as you when we went to the V&A last month, I had a big lump in my throat as we were going round.

Lucky you staying at the GD in Hardraw. I love that pub, it's our favourite. When the weathers dry enough we walk the dog across the fields to the GD, stop for a drink and the walk home again. It takes about 40 mins. I can just see the end of Hardraw village from my kitchen window!
If you manage a trip to York House Antiques in Richmond while your there, you could travel from Hardraw over the Buttertubs Pass, through Muker, down Swaledale to Reeth and then on to Richmond, but I'm sure you knew that already. OOO, I'm so excited for you. If you make it to Hawes give me a bell! (There are plenty of pubs to leave a husband in! Teehee!)

[Clairey]

Lucy, that is a seriously fabulous haul my lovely. I have the entire Susie Watson website on my Christmas list - amongst many other things - spoilt moi?!?

Clairey xx