Christmas gift guide

Shopping is one of my most favourite pastimes. Well it's not the shopping exactly, but the looking. I can spend hours happily browsing without a care in the world, in real bricks & mortar stores, or online, I'm not fussy!

I've put together a few of my favourite finds as a bit of a christmas gift guide type thing, and just in case my husband reads this, I'd be happy with any of them!

For monochrome loving mums...

Handbag frenchenglish on Etsy, cup & saucer House of Rym at Couverture, tray nionio design, candle in a tin Anthropologie

Blanket Lucky Boy Sunday at Cissywears, cloud & raindrops mobile The Butter Flying at Darling Clementine, owl cushion Donna Wilson, squirrel dress YMC

And for little princesses with a penchant for neon pink...

Necklace & tutu both Atsuyo et Akiko, shoes Start Rite at Smallable, Clap USB mini camera at Fab

Things to do, places to go, people to see...

I love a good list. In fact without them I'd be lost. Remembering things is just not my forte... Obviously I'm not going to share the boring ones like my shopping list, or jobs to do around the house, but something a little more interesting.

Recently, as and when I've come across somewhere or something I think will be fun, I've started jotting it down. I like to try and do at least one nice thing a week with Mila (working mother's guilt) so we've called it our 'things to do, places to go, people to see' list, and it's now got pride of place on the fridge door.

We're getting quite a collection of things for December, so I thought I'd share a few of them with you.

Donna Wilson  & YMC Sample Sales 30th November

I'm very excited about this, so much so I'm taking the day off work to go. With Donna's scarves and plates from £10 it's the perfect opportunity for a spot of Christmas shopping, or perhaps to find a little something for me! Luckily it happens to coincide with the You Must Create sample sale being held just around the corner so double whammy!

Donna Wilson Studio
Unit 12, 3rd Floor, 10-14 Hollybush Gardens, E2 9QP
www.donnawilson.com

YMC
28 Redchurch Street, London, E2 7DP
www.youmustcreate.com


A Most Curious Kids Fair 2nd December

A fair few of my most favourite shops and brands all under one roof, hurrah! Especially looking forward to seeing Cissywears, Little Nest Box, Home and Kids and Molly Meg. With vintage tea room and Santa's grotto to keep the kids happy, it's got to be a winner...

York Hall, 5 Old Ford Road, London, E2 9PJ
www.amostcuriousbabyfair.co.uk


Chris Bracey's 'Gods own junk yard' at Circus of Soho until 15th January

Typography and neon, a match made in heaven as far as I'm concerned. An exhibition and pop-up shop full to the rafters with Chris's amazing neon signs. It'll be looking only though at this one, with works starting at £950 it's a bit out of my price range!

Circus of Soho
47 Beak St, Soho, W1F 9SE
www.godsownjunkyard.co.uk

Knitting news

Contrary to expectations, the knitting is coming along quite nicely. The hat's done and dusted, and the scarf is almost there...

I've kept it simple and stuck to garter stitch. It's good for people like me who are inclined to forget what they're doing half way through a row! I don't think I'll be increasing my stitch repertoire any time soon, but I've got my eye on a slightly more challenging project, a jumper for Mila.

I've seen a pattern on the very cute French blog Les Tricots de Granny. It's perfect for me in that it's knitted in one piece, with none of that shaping nonsense! I'm going to give it a try, and with a bit of luck it'll be finished for Christmas.

all images Les Tricots de Granny

Meow meow...

Mila has been obsessed with cats for as long as I can remember. Just walking to school she has a lengthy conversation with each and every feline friend she comes across. She regularly asks for one, but I've always said no, coming up with one excuse after another, until now...

Her persistence seems to have paid off as I've found myself trawling Preloved and Kittenlist, and today I think I've found the one for us. He reminds me of Mog from the Judith Kerr books, all wide eyed and bemused looking! He's currently in a rescue centre about 200 miles away, but we've arranged to go and meet him and if all goes well he might just be coming home with us...

In other cat related news, here's a couple more kittys I've fallen for recently!

Mog plate Donna Wilson

Cat rug Bobo Choses

Peter Blake

The other half is a huge Peter Blake fan and has been wanting to see his exhibition at Pallant House all Summer, but somehow we never quite got around to going. Until today... 

With the exhibition closing tomorrow, it was now or never, so we jumped in the car and headed down to Chichester. We couldn't have picked a nicer day actually, it was all blue skies and brilliant sunshine as we whizzed through the Sussex countryside.

The exhibition focuses on Blake's relationship with pop music and his musical heroes. I'm not going to go all 'art critic' about it here because I haven't had to do that since college, and I'm not sure I even remember how, so I'll just leave it at that!

Much to my dismay no photography was allowed inside the exhibition, but I managed two snaps before I was asked ever so politely to stop!

When you take children to an art gallery or museum, the cafe and shop both seem to feature quite prominently (or is that just me?!!). At Pallant House neither disappointed. The cafe isn't really a cafe, it's a lovely restaurant called Field & Fork, so lunch was rather more exciting than we thought it might be. The food was amazing and we managed to bag a table outside in the courtyard garden.

After devouring our lunch we set off for a stroll around Chichester, but not before we'd purchased some obligatory stationary from the shop. I mean how many pencil sharpeners and rubbers does one child need?!!

Bermondsey Street Festival

We made the most of the last few days of sunshine by heading up to the Bermondsey Street Festival, in yep, you've guessed it, Bermondsey... We started the day with custard doughnuts from St John on Druid St. They were so good that we ended up going back for seconds!

There was plenty to see and do the length of Bermondsey Street. Mila had her first ukelele lesson, we painted paper planes, played hopscotch, watched a fashion show, and then when we'd had enough, just enjoyed the sun in the park.

I managed a quick half hour nose round the vintage stalls, and then as dusk fell (and the party really got started) it was time for us to bid Bermondsey farewell.

Mila's Room

Over the past couple of weekends we've had a good sort out in Mila's room. I sent all the old toys packing (well to the charity shop anyway) and have used some of my french baskets to store what we are keeping. I picked up a lovely washed linen duvet set from H&M, and I've finally put up the Tinou le Joly Senoville posters that have been gathering dust since they arrived in the post.

Like most little girls, Mila wanted a pink room, but we compromised... The bottom half of the walls are painted in a pale dusky rose (Sanderson No. 91) and everything else in white. It's not the biggest of rooms so I've kept furniture to a minimum, at the moment it's just a bed, desk and chair.

I found an old glass fronted wooden cabinet dumped on the street a couple of weeks ago and thought it'd be perfect for keeping all Mila's clothes in. So I stopped, wrestled it into the boot of the car, and bought it home. It is currently being rubbed down ready for a lick of paint...

I've also got my eye on these two, the colours couldn't be more perfect!

Lucky Boy Sunday cushion at Sisters Guild

Ketiketa garland at Smallable

But I'll probably end up making rather than buying!

Corby Tindersticks

I don't remember where I first stumbled across Corby Tindersticks, but I do know that it was love at first sight...

I'm not usually one for soft toys, but really, how could I resist when one of their characters "likes car boot sales and collects vintage typewriters", I mean could we have any more in common?!!

Corby Tindersticks s/s 13 collection is just fab, take a look for yourself here or here.
Popeye Peter and Pico Pippin are already on my Christmas list (they're not just for kids y'know!).

It's getting chilly

So that can mean only one thing, it's time for me to give knitting another go. Normally at this time of year I get all excited about knitting, I think "ooh wouldn't it be lovely to give handmade presents at Christmas" and I take a trip to John Lewis, and I buy some more wool, and I get started, and all goes well for a few days... Then I drop a stitch, and don't notice until it's too late. So I start unravelling it, and it all gets rather messy, and finally I lose interest and away it all goes for another year.

But this year is different... I have a pattern from Citronille that is perfect, a simple hat and scarf.

Will let you know how I get on!

Winter wardrobe

Ok so London Fashion Week has kicked off and fashion is at the fore once again... With that in mind, here's my picks for Mila's perfect winter wardrobe.

From top to bottom, left to right: skirt Maan at LFG, linen dress Mercredi, striped top Album de Famiglia at Orfeo, jumper Acne at Elias & Grace, sweatshirt Bobo Choses, boots Clotaire, shoes Start Rite at Bonton, jeans Imps & Elfs at Orfeo, hat Bonton.

This time last year

I was getting married. We did it all the wrong way round of course, child first, then house, and finally wedding, but it was still the best day ever.

Anyway I digress... this post is actually about what we did today to celebrate. We hit Bermondsey Street. I thought being a Sunday that everything might be closed, but I needn't have worried.

First stop Jose for lunch and it was a-maz-ing. The food was great, but the staff really made it. Taking a seven year old into a bar is always a bit daunting, but they couldn't have been more welcoming to Mila. The three of us sat up at the bar, overlooking the kitchen, and what a treat that was. We chatted to the chef as he carved the jamon, and my god it was good!

Suitably stuffed, we wandered up the street to Tin Lid, a little children's boutique run by the lovely Ghislaine. After chatting for what seemed like ages about Jose (she's related to the family that run it), then Catalunya, then children's fashion, we said our goodbyes and headed back home (with only a minor detour into Cave!).

Hurrah for Hither Green

There has never been a huge amount going on in SE13 but things are looking up. New children's store cissy wears opened today, and with no other plans Mila and I decided to head over and take a browse around.

And we're so glad we did... Mila acquired herself a cosy aran cardi, and I just couldn't resist a cute floral skirt, admittedly Mila wasn't as keen, but I'll work on that! Both were from the vintage section and very reasonably priced, we'll certainly be back...

Just around the corner is you don't bring me flowers. I just love this place, it's pretty much what I dream about setting up one day. It's a cafe/florist/vintage emporium with a small gallery space upstairs. I sat browsing magazines and devouring a pastel de nata, whilst Mila explored the lovely little roof garden.

On the way out we picked up a few of our favourite blooms to brighten up the house.

Columbia Road Market

I've been visiting Columbia Road market on a Sunday morning for years. Initially with friends and a hangover, but more recently with Mila and the promise of an hour in the swings at Victoria Park afterwards.

It's not just the flowers we go for, we normally grab some breakfast (Lily Vanilli's is our favourite) and a stroll around the shops. It's a great place to sit and watch the world go by.

The flowers weren't great yesterday, but the sun was out, so there was plenty else to see. 

1. bench outside Elphicks 2. tiny little vintage chair at B Southgate 3. & 4. window & chandelier at Printers & Stationers

The Simple Things

Having accidentally stumbled across Mollie Makes in WHSmith one day, it has since cheered up many a morning commute and continues to be one of my monthly reads.

The people behind Mollie Makes are now launching a new magazine The Simple Things, and I must say I am just a little bit excited.

"The Simple Things is a new monthly print magazine celebrating the things that matter most. It’s about knowing the greatest rewards come from the simplest things, that there’s no satisfaction like that at the end of a long muddy walk, no pink so pretty as freshly-cut rhubarb, no perfume to compare with your own home-grown flowers. It’s about making warm inviting homes – big or small – sharing food with friends, growing your own vegetables. It’s about shopping for a coffee table only to find you’re happy with a tea chest. It’s keeping your dad’s old typewriter just because it’s beautiful. It’s an empty beach on a Sunday morning. It’s backpedaling. It's the Simple Things."

They've very kindly given us a sneak peek here.

It looks very much like my cup of tea, roll on the 6th September so I can get my hands on a copy!

A big hello

Well I've finally done it. I've set up my own little blog. 
A big hello to anyone who has stumbled across it!