spring mattresses

popped out for a bike ride to Westbourne Grove yesterday and went a bit mad maxing the plastic. first i bought some delicious Diptyque Do Son eau de toilette - a fresh sweet fragrance of tuberose and berries - which reminds me of something, just on the tip of my...nose!  they've also created new solid perfumes too, next on shopping list...

then managed to grab a fab scarf from twenty8twelve with a gorgeous owl on it...in the sale basket (but still far more than i should have been spending) - just had to have it.

before stopping for lunch (and a bit of food shopping) at Daylesford with my mate Mandy as we sat and watched the super-rich and surgically-enhanced strolling by (same place i spotted Brigitte Nielsen with a bandaged eye last week!).

jersey royals and fresh eggs from Daylesford - thats dinner & brekkie covered!

on the way home i spotted a mattress in all its green finery and my mate Luke in South London also sent me one he spotted down Crystal Palace way...stripeylicious!

green with envy on Herbert Road, NW10

a neat little set up in Crystal Palace

in the dock

 

today was the first clear blue sunny day in what seems like weeks so i decided to hop on the bike and head down to Portobello Road.  firstly i nipped into love kr to drop off a couple of my Mattressland Calendars and lovely shop owner Paula has already been bitten by the mattress-spotting bug and recruited another friend - brilliant!  she had a few pics of recent spottings in the area (which i had missed) including one which had not only a bed but a whole bedroom suite...with wardrobe too...ha ha!  then it was down the road to Portobello Dock.

I wanted  to check out the fairly new development down there which includes The Dock Kitchen and Tom Dixon's design shop. Mr Dixon has also acquired the water tower over the bridge which he has clad in wood and is converting into his own private residence - jammy sod - bet the views are fantastic.  The Dock itself all looks and smells very luxurious and i'm keen to test out the restaurant soon.

 

the water tower - new ho\me of Tom Dixon

the shop

 

 shed in a shop

 a shiny Brompton

a curious and beautiful random painting of a nurse 

on the wall of the shop...wonder if she's local

i cycled on toward Portobello Market, which was absolutely rammed as usual on a saturday afternoon so i didn't last long, where i spotted some delicious looking brightly coloured bicycles.

 

 

then it was over to say hello to the lovely boys at halfpipe on Golborne Road - the best bike (and skateboard/snowboard) shop in north/west London - to give them a calendar in thanks for all the free tire-pumping and bike twiddling they have done for me this year.  i think they would have preferred something edible or drinkable - so must bring a beer and chocs with me next time.  then i headed homeward up Chamberlayne Road and popped into Circus Antiques, another of the lovely new shops which have been springing up in Kensal Rise, to buy something for my bro for his birthday - before a last pitstop at 8 station terrace for a coffee and a pastry before finally going home.  i'm sure i can smell snow in the air....and my nostrils were pleasantly surprised when i walked in the door as my flat still smells rather deliciously of ginger ninja-bread men after last night's bake off - way better than expensive candles!

 

 

thoughts

i used to write a daily diary when i was at boarding school but seem to have never to had the time since then.  i saw this via laissez faire  and have decided i can surely manage a line a day.  its great because you have five years on each page so that you can look back at past entries as you go along.  it reminded me of something James Mason said in The Shooting Party which i watched the other night...i don't remember the quote exactly but he was writing in his journal and advised his grandson that he should get into the habit of writing his thoughts down, in that way you do not have to subject other people to them - quite - and with this little short and sweet journal, you don't have to subject yourself to too much rambling either.

vintage signs

wonderful signs from signs of vintage spotted via true & wesson

apple of my eye

beautiful candles from DL & Co  (images via cherry blossom girl).....want.  luckily i have found they are available at Liberty.

royal wedding

despite the media hoopla - we are not all that bovvered about the upcoming royal nuptials between Wills & Kate - the best thing will be the day off.  love that fab KK outlet have come up with some hilarious commemorative plates - available in January at the store - as seen via The London Design Festival.

cath kidston's home

 

 

 

spotted these photos of cath kidston's home via the wonderful patchwork harmony blog.  i know exactly where it is from the sight of that tall towerblock as i've walked past it many times.  i am loving the details - especially the loo wallpaper!  which reminds me...i wanted to get  this fab fondue set...yummmm

little jane st

have just discovered little jane st via finders keepers and i really want some of these cute little ceramic magnets. read Alarna Zinn's blog here to find out more about this gorgeous boutique stationery and textile studio and her (Brisbane - i think?!) based shop which she has just opened.  another great Australian discovery!

finders keepers

love these beautiful pieces of embroidered silver jewellery from caro baertling - aren't they just darling.  caro has just relocated from the Netherlands to Australia and i heard about her via the Melbourne based finders keepers who are dedicated to bringing home-grown designers and crafters to the fore. they now hold regular craft markets with a festival feel with stalls, cafe, bar and live music from local musicians.  Melbourne really is THE place to be right now....i must visit one of these days, especially as friends have also relocated there in the past few years - so really there is no excuse not to.

does a bear...eat cake

how delicious are these plates from James Ward as seen via the fabulous Kingdom of Style...i just LOVE them!  coincidentally i saw some of James' pieces in a little gallery on my recent trip to Hastings.

ikat scarf

i have a serious scarf addiction...and now i want one of these (spotted via well worn)...ikat print in lush soft wool...mmmmm

delicious

i've been trawling charity shops to pick up old flowery plates to doodle on for a friend's upcoming event and have just come across these wonderfully naughty pieces from trixie delicious's etsy shop (via indiaknight's posterous) - bloody brilliant!

heart hose

from here

plumo-tastic

am loving this bag on sale at plumo and these fab bamboo stools too....

sunnies

on saturday i lost my favourite sunglasses...sniff....due to NOT PAYING ATTENTION!  i really cannot remember whether i left them on the table outside my local caff, where i was having a coffee and a catch up with a friend, or whether i may have dropped them later on while walking on Hampstead Heath and took a phone call which distracted me....either way i am devastated as i loved them.  but i must...sigh...let go....of material things. 

i can also dream about buying a new pair of these lovely Ray Ban CATS 5000....just need to decide on colour...yummm....tho of course i will probably go for black.

teepeetastic

gotta have one of these Zandra Rhodes designed teepee tents...as spotted via kingdom of style

lip-smacking

i sooooo want one of these fab Lulu Guiness clutches ...available here

SHARK ATTACK!

just saw this gem from playing with paper at Etsy and it reminded me i am really excited about upcoming trip to see Jaws this weekend at the Lexi!

underwater purse

 i want this beautiful purse from etsy i think it'd go great with my wedding outfit but its a little over my budget!