Time to unFirle

What could be better on a blustery August Bank Holiday than a good old blow as Granny would say, " Do you know Sarah, it was so windy up there it nearly blew me eyebrows off!" ( Said in a buttery west country burr.)

Firle beacon - sea on one side, South Downs on the other. A high swirling ridge where an English carpet rolls  out below us. A glorious carpet, all green and golden and studded with yellow and purple. Fields demarked by their hedges embroidered with late summer flowers.... and at the bottom? 

The prettiest little village resplendent with pub, post office, buckets of flowers and home grown produce.

Happy Bank Holiday weekend

xXx

Come and have a gander at a treasure filled day.....

A fairy-tale circus type of day.

On Saturday I went to the Big Smoke, to the East End no less and had a jolly good day sewing and learning and embroidering and making with Jessie Chorley.

Before I go on I should add my thanks to Lynn at Sea Angels who wrote a wonderful piece about one of Jessie's Workshops here. It was reading this lovely post that spurred me on to contact Jessie, so my thanks to Lynn and the amazing serendipity of the blogosphere.

So I set off early doors from the warm summer, glowing Sussex countryside and made my way to London by train. The first glimpse of the London Eye or the Gherkin never fails to send a shiver of excitement.I love to crane my neck to glimpse Tower Bridge and the Tower of London through the snicket in the foreground as you approach London Bridge. I love London, and only now that I no longer work, live here, am I able to see it in all it's majesty again.

Stepping out on to the street at Shoreditch, Redchurch Street to be precise, the first thing I saw was Les Trois Garcons. A sudden rush of memory, this is the most weird and wonderful restaurant. I haven't been here for years and I had quite forgotten all about it! How did that happen? It is extraordinary inside, theatrical and magical and decadent all at once, I was so bowled over the first time I ate here. The food was by no means an after thought either. But still my overwhelming memory is of towers of exotic fruits, crystal chandeliers and stuffed leopards! I urge you to try it!

Still reminiscing about a past life I pass this extraordinary window display of circus curios and toys. I love the grime on the windows it lends an eerie quality. I stupidly didn't look to see what it was!

And on I go to Columbia Road, home of the famous flower market and a lovely enclave of independent makers and dealers.

Love the architecture in this part of London, this is a detail from a wonderful limited edition print by Vic Lee, I have ordered the Columbia Road print, have a look at his work here.

I have been meaning to check this gorgeous emporium out since forever .....love the lettering. But no time to dally I have an appointment here

Jessie and Buddup's Shop.

Any shop with knitted bunting and a bespoke dolls house in the window is absolutely top of my list.

 (I adore the way the houses opposite are reflected in the window.)

Inside is staggeringly lovely.....

 everywhere you turn is another vignette, we sat at this table whilst Jessie showed us her work, WOW! So inspirational, cut story books, journals and fabric story books. Unsurprisingly Jessie has just finished making a batch of her journals for Anthroplologie stores in the US.

 The good news is that Jessie is running some workshops for Christmas! Spaces are limited so don't delay, find out more here. You never know who you might bump into! 

Note to self for next time:

Take my "Auntie Ella"

Write down the names of the creators of lovely Tommy Trinders

Remember to bring a weasel and stoat

Look both ways when crossing the frog and toad

Hello to my fellow work~shoppers and most importantly of all
THANKYOU JESSIE
 xXx

Through the window and in the hall

Soft, rich tones of colour and light seen from through the window at 6.30am. A kind hearted morning, sweet and ripe like the hedgerows. I felt an impulse to harvest and bring some mellowness indoors.

I am by no means a florist but I just loved snipping and seeking the red hawthorn berries and the crab apples and the slowly antiquing hydrangea heads. Of course mellow can also mean slightly tipsy, and that is perhaps the title of my arrangement!

The hall table is now bedecked in something that recalls my early morning glimpse through the window. 

xXx