That London

I was not actually late for the 06:42 train early on Saturday morning, although I confess I did have to run to the station and consequently arrived all hot and out of breath and with just five minutes to spare. No surprises there then.

I was excited, oh I was soooo excited to be going on this trip. It's a very long time since I had company on a trip such as this one, as usually I am very happy to go shopping alone. I had wondered how it would be to have company on the journey and also once there. I could not imagine it, yet I was surprisingly  thrilled to have it. There's something about a shared trip that magnifies the whole experience, and my friend Lovely C turned out to be the perfect travel and shopping companion. For a start off, she was very organised, and packed her bag with chocolate and energy bars and bananas. She also made sure to remind me to bring crochet. And a map.

So our train journey down from North to South was a delightful few hours of crochet, nattering, coffee drinking and route-planning. It was kind of like our weekly Knit and Natter but on-the-move. So yes, we had it all worked out :: I had been given a marvelous ready-made plan by the lovely Hen, who coincidentally had made a very similar trip to That London recently. Her kind of shops are my kind of shops and if you hop across to her blog, you can read a remarkably similar London Tale over there. 

First stop for us was Liberty's :: straight up to the third floor for the yarn and haberdashery. I realised immediately from this very first shop that we would be Shopping with Intent. That the pace for the day would be Fast and Furious. Lovely C is a seriously pacey shopper :: she gathered reels of ribbon to purchase while I was still catching my breath from the three flights of stairs. But that was fine by me, I can Speed-Shop, oh yes indeedy.

Next stop, as recommended by Hen, was a shop inside a beautiful trendy arcade to the side of Carnaby Street. All The Fun of the Fair is a quirky little shop packed with yarn and vintage trims and all manner of hand made goodies. The knitted cakes and cacti were especially charming I thought.

As we were on our way out, we had to go past this cake shop :: the cupcakes in the window are what you would most certainly call Eye candy, and I couldn't resist taking a photograph to share with you....

After the delights of the arcade, we walked (very fast) back up Oxford Street :: desitnation Marylebone High Street. More specifically, VV rouleaux (ribbon heaven), Divertimenti (fantastic kitcheny shop with an amazing cafe at the back where we stopped to have a delicious lunch), Brora (cashmere), Emma Bridegwater (pottery and kichenalia) and finally the one and only Cath Kidston. Oh, it was such fun! So many beautiful things to stroke and ooh and ahh at! Shop after shop of inspirational and desirable gorgeousness! In and out we went, the pace was indeed well, yes Pacey!

At the top end of Marylebone High Street is a small tree lined square which often has an outdoor market taking place within. Last time I was there, it was a farmers market with produce jauntily set out under breezy striped awnings. This time it was a vintage inspired market with a banner telling us it was called the "Cabbages and Frocks" market. Lots of vintagey clothes and jewellery, and then joy of joys a stall selling these....

...aren't these simply THE most beautiful cupcakes you have ever ever seen? Oh, I was absolutely in love with these edible creations, which are the work of the marvelous Peggy.

They so reminded me of this...

It was late afternoon by now, but we reckoned we still had time to whizz across town to Islington to make a much dreamed-of visit to Loop.

This was my first visit to this well known yarn shop and it was pure joy. In every possible way. It's hard to describe, but this small shop, down a quiet side street, had such an amazing vibe, and was quite incredibly visually and creatively uplifting and inspiring. There was lots of yarn (naturally enough for a yarn shop), but amongst all the wooly goodness there were also lots of quirky and beautiful little displays of creative, hand made items. These included a number of exquisite creations made by Julie Arkell, who conducts workshops at the Loop shop. It was just wonderful :: from floor to ceiling, from front to back, wonderful. The owner of Loop is Susan Cropper, who's beautiful crochet book I have, and if you'd like to know more about this lovely lady, there's a very good interview with her here.

And so our lovely day was drawing to a close and it was time to head back to Kings Cross to await our train homewards.

Sat on the train, journeying North, and I buy a cup of tea from the refreshment trolley as it comes through our carriage. Tea to drink with this.....

.......my very own delicious, beautiful, charming Peggy cupcake. It was sweet torture eating those gorgeous sugar flowers. the cupcake was as delicious as it was pretty. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm and oh-so-good. Just like the day itself.

Lovely C and I chat about the day, about our various purchases, about what we had loved, about what had inspired us. We sit and quietly crochet, and we both find ourselves beginning to yawn. Sooo tired. But wasn't it such a good day? Yes, such a good day. I am longing for bed....

....and when I finally get there, with my head in the roses and my feet under the ripples, I am blissfully happy and so glad to be home. Such a good day, but so good to be home and into my bed.

So......wanna see my goodies?

I didn't buy a lot.

I was very restrained.

But what I did buy is scrumptious.

Yeah, really yummy.

You know, the usual Attic24 delights .

The things that make my own little world go round....

:: balls of yarn ::

:: woven trim ::

:: a turquoise kitchen spoon ::

:: and multi coloured teaspoons ::

:: cotton tea towels and the lastest CK catalogue ::

:: a candle holder and a pretty pouch ::

:: buttons (well ok, it's actually a sheet of buttony wrapping paper) ::

:: the time to sit and make 24 circle flowers ::

Oh yes, it was such a good day, and I thank you so much for sharing it with me.

xxxxxxxx

Comments

[Umm Hibaat]

Glad you had such a wonderful day Lucy! I can't wait to be back in London to check out Loops!

[frances]

Hello Lucy, before I forget it, I do want to say how much I like that buttony gift wrap. I would also have wanted it.

Now, thanks so much for the report on your London visit. You are my proxy, and have saved me lots of airfare, and hotel tariff, and all the rest. Where you visited are spots that I would have on my own list.

I think that Loop must be somewhat akin to my own favorite NYC yarn shop, Purl, on Sullivan Street in our SOHO neighborhood.

You were well advised to take along your crochet for the train ride. I do recognize that table top under the multi-color crocheted wheelies.

Looking at all the comments above, and those that appear often on you site, I am sure that you do realize what a following you have with this happy, inspiring site.

Keep up the lovely energy from your attic. The views both inside and outside are what keep folks coming back to 24.

xo

[Kelly]

What a lovely day! Those cupcakes look so yummy. And I love those teaspoons!

[Patricia]

Oooops! bad grammar. I should have said beautiful 'simpleness'. I didn't think it looked right. I am sure you all know what I mean. :)

[Patricia]

It was so lovely reading about your day full of delights in London.

What a lovely world it would be if 'eveyone' got such enjoyment and pleasure out of the beautiful simplicities of life. I know I do. But I wish so many more people did.

[Ali]

You hit loads of my favourite haunts! My feet ache just reading about it. What fun!

[Shannon]

It sounds like a perfect day, right down to the cupcake. Thank you for sharing the journey and the beautiful pictures of what came home with you.

[Victoria]

What a fabulous day you had, I love hearing bloggers stories on their trips into London, certainly gives me some ideas for my next shopping trip. Working in London I tend to pop here and there after work for a quick hour but i really need to spend some weekends shopping up there, after all I have the paid up travelcard to do so!

Victoria xx

[Hen]

Ah, Luce, it looks wonderful, so glad you had a good time. Am seriously impressed you managed it all in a day, you must have been shattered on Sunday. It's funny to see tastes so similar to my own; I have those Rice spoons (had the long handled ones a while and got the little ones last time). We sort of have allocated colours in our house, I get the pink, naturally! Those cupcakes look so divine, not sure I could have brought myself to eat such beauty. I'm also loving the Cath K stencil print teatowel now it has been re-coloured in all those sugary pastel shades. I'm hoping she'll release the fabric otherwise I'll just have to buy loads of teatowels!
Hen x

[Dragonfly]

My kinda day! All my favourite hotspots - I must make more of an effort to have days like that...

[Alessandra]

the cupcakes are gorgeous and look very yummy.

[LittleGem]

Hi Lucy, sounds like you had a wonderful shopping day. My boyfriend lives right near the Loop shop yet I have never gone in it! I will have a peek next time I go! It is funny that I live in London yet hardly visit any of the shops you have mentioned. I think a little shopping outing of my own is needed! XXX Gem

[Janette]

what a perfectly fantastic day - my idea of shopping heaven.

Janette
xx

[Gina]

What a fabulous fun packed day!

[simone]

What a fun packed day! I am a Londoner and have never even thought about organizing my shopping day. No wonder I miss out on so many good shops. Next time I vow to plan my day before I venture up town. I have product envy of all the lovely goodies you bought back with you. It's a good job you made it there and back before the snow!

[Dawn Glover]

Hello, just to let you know how much I'm enjoying attic24. I think your crochet is delightful. I'm just a beginner, so appreciate the skill involved!
Looking forward to reading more of your day to day life and looking at your pretty photographs.
Dawn

[emma]

Hi Lucy

Glad you had a good day. I bought exactly that ribbon too. I liked the stripes and the turquoise. I also have loads of stuff from rice. I have just ordered some more bowls from Nettle Green, which as long as the snow hasnt stopped them, I should get tomorrow. Also I have a pink version of the turquoise cooking spoon. They are great - they dont get tomatoe stained!

Glad you had a fabulous time. I'm in the process of sorting out which Julie Arkell course to go on Brighton, London or Launceston or Marlborough. Decisions decisions.

Have a lovely day.

Love Emma xxxxx

[Ruth]

Sounds like a great day trip and the cupcakes were wonderful! I have never made it to Loop when its open, but its sounds like such a brilliant place.

[Sara]

Wow Sounds a great day - wish I could have been there

You captured it all so beautifully and your purchases are beautiful

Just put the crochet book on my wish list

Sara
XX

[kitschen pink]

Help! I need a stiff drink to calm down after all that eye candy- there's enough here to keep me happy for weeks! Oh you lucky thing - what a wonderful day out! t.x

[JacquiMcR]

Lucy, Im exhausted just reading about your day. I adore Liberty and going to London, but could never live there, its far too busy for me.

[fleur]

Beautiful day! How do you do to make it so sunny?!?

[Jude]

Thank you for taking me on a lovely trip to London, I enjoyed the browse so much too!
I also own a big bright turquoise serving spoon, bought as a 'souvenir' from Denmark. My family didn't really 'get it', but I love using it to dish up home cooking-Simple pleasures!

[Lucy Locket-Pocket]

It sounds like a blissful day! We went to Loop in November and it was a fabulous shop and experience! I'm going to have to follow the link for the crochet book now! I can't wait to go down to London again, hopefully for another bloggy meet up. I just have to find a time when the trains are reasonably priced and the journeys times haven't been doubled (like most of March on the East Coast line) with railworks and bus connections.

My only problem is that I can't crochet on the train because it makes me feel sick - I can knit though!

Lucy x

[Linda]

Glad you both had a lovely day. Ah....Liberty...no shop quite like it is there. Off to re-read and check out the links.