The Big Smoke!

A couple of weeks ago, we journeyed out to the big city with our intrepid students to visit the National Gallery and to fill our boots with culture, (and shopping!)

Sorry, couldn't take any photos in the gallery, so let's fast forward to dinner time!

We treated ourselves to some gorgeous grub at Jamie Oliver's 'Union Jacks' restaurant in Covent Garden.

The styling was so welcoming, with touches of retro humour, (just look at the arctic roll for pud!)

Debs, (shy and retiring as ever!) modelling her fine feast of delights!

This was honestly one of the best pizzas I ever had, (and I've had a lot!)

What was also fab about it was that is was called a 'Margaret' pizza, (the English version of a 'Margaritta'!)

Sorry for seeming patronising there,I'm sure you worked ot out straight away, however, it took a fair few hours of wondering 'now why was my pizza called Margaret?' before I got it!

Doh!

Now, the fun really started when we found the loos in the cellar, (yes, I realise just how dodgy that sounds, but bear with me please!)

They had many-a-bangin'-tune-a-playing, and just look at the doors, and the colour scheme, and the stairs!

The lovely Charlotte, also rocking down the 'loo-club-ago-go!

(By the way, the photo of me mate Sam on the stairs is not as dangerous as it looks...she was just pointing to the lettering, and not falling down them while I'm photographing the whole sordid incident for the sake of my blog).

That would be wrong, very wrong.

What a cool van!

And did you know that in Covent Garden you can find Moomin Land?

Oh, yes indeed!

(Arty city shots).

Time to go home...



Scoffing obscure American goodies on the train!

(I can advise against the alluringly named 'Moon Pie', especially whilst travelling, (okay, especially whilst doing anything at all! Bleurgh!)







Keep Sake Keep Safe Keeper:

Mrs B is going to have a little rest soon.

So in the run up to the holidays I've been thinking about the autumn, (as you do in this heat wave!)

I love making these little Keep Sake Keep Safe Keepers, and I think could be just the ticket when buying for someone who has everything, as you can always put in some old photographs and mementos of the times you've shared together.

The very innocent looking fawn was a whole day's stitching (with the occasional very un-ladylike swear word thrown in,) but it's the pieces that you have to battle with that often give you the most satisfaction in the end.

(Well, that's what I tell myself after the fiftieth cup of tea!)

Hope you like!

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Fringe Benefits!

Getting a big fringe cut into your hair that covers a third of your face

=

33.3% less wrinkles!

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Never Judge A Book By Its Bling.

I never really knew my great Auntie Hilda all that well.

I saw her on occassion and was fascinated by her immaculate marcel-waved hair and flambuoyant glasses.

But she seemed to be from a different time, a different world all together.

I was given a huge pile of her costume jewellery when she died.

And as I sifted through the diamantes and rhinestones, little snippets of her life emerged.

There were keep sakes from dances and souvenirs from holidays.

And there was this:

Never would I have imagined my great Aunt Hilda owning, never mind treasuring, a Popeye brooch (with movable forearm nonetheless!)

And then I realised what I had done, something that I deplore with all my heart.

I had pre-judged and pigeon-holed.

And for that I am truly sorry Auntie Hilda.

Every time I wear this I will remember the lesson that you taught me, and I shall wear my bling with pride.

x

Playing Around...

I'm still loving my pen and paper app.

Wish there had been something like this little gem when I was at fashion college all those hundreds of years ago!

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Snapshot:

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Stitching Revelation!

Sometimes I am so daft I scare myself.

For ages I've struggled with sketching directly onto the fabric before scribbling away on the sewing machine.

Although this wasted loads of fabric, I didn't want my designs to look the same.

But then I thought, why not draw my design, trace it and then stitch through the tracing paper?

Doh!

Why didn't I think of that before!

And I don't think it looks mass produced because both of these patchwork pins were traced form the same sketch and they look different.

The one on the top seems a bit skittish and the little fellow above seems much more 'together' and self assured.

Do I sound bonkers now?

Here's the original sketch.

With this pair of pins they even turned out as different sexes!

Original sketch.

Mr. Hare.

Mrs.Hare!

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