October 2013 Instagramy Post Part 1

I forgot to mention that I had gone to the Pearls exhibition at the 

V & A the other week.

Various pearls found from different shells.

For those who haven't gone yet, I highly recommend it.

It showed all aspects of pearls from the history, cultivation, 

artistic and historic elements.

Totem shields decorated with mother of pearl.

These photos were taken before I was told no photos were allowed! 

But they had they had somethings of note, for me anyway...

They had the pearl earring that King Charles I wore at his execution, the pearl necklace that Mary Queen of Scots wore just before her execution, and Marilyn Monroe's pearl necklace.

( Please click on link to see what those items look like if you are interested.)

Different sizes of raw pearls.

The official circus was in town as opposed to the one that is always in London.

Don't know why but it always makes me sad.

I can't explain it...

Was in the mood for auction shopping to nab a bargain at 

Chiswick auction house. 

 They tend to film a lot of BBC shows there so it can be fun.

I won the following items.

Georgian style Victorian spiral library steps that need a good clean.

I got really lucky with these curtains. I am not too fond of the peachy color but I love the chinoiserie pattern on it.  An interior designer confirmed it was a discontinued GP & J Baker fabric.

Plus they were made by the old famous firm Charles Hammond that was a rival to Colefax and Fowler at one stage.  

The curtains need a good clean but they were properly lined and were even weighted.  To get similar curtains made would cost at least £2500.00 and I got it for £75! 

The only compromise is the color and I have to get it altered as they are about 3 meters long and figure out where to hang them.

I didn't win the following.

An original Asprey desk letter and pen holder from the mid 1800's.

I also didn't get a French 1800's silk screen that was badly damaged so must have been bought by a dealer.

My new neighborhood is like Eastenders, 

always something happening.

I saw a fox brazenly lying on my neighbors garden.

They have had bad press as they end up in children's bedrooms and going through the kitchen pantry...

This was the sign at the local florist.

I just thought, well if you know, go get 'em. 

Why bother with the sign? 

But I notice that in England when people get really mad, 

they write letters.

I love this bookstore in Chiswick.

It is so Georgian in feel and I get some great antique and

 vintage books here.

Don't you just love it?

High brow to low brow.

Who in the heck designed these loo brushes?

The designer did not think the logistics through.

We may not be able to pinpoint the exact downturn in the Roman empire but I can safely say this might be the event that is the beginning of the end for Kate Moss.

Carphone Warehouse?

Gee whiz, I don't even get my phones from there.

The leaves are changing in the parks.

Why can't our hair turn gold and red instead of grey?

My Pavlovian fall flower is the cosmos.  This was the wild flower that grew all over the Korean countryside before it got massively developed and urbanized.

While I was in Kensington Gardens, I dropped in on the new Serpentine gallery/cafe that was co-designed by Zaha Hadid.

The reconditioned original building.

They built an extension and this is the cafe section.

I first walked around it to get a feel.

Then I walked in through the back.

It was oddly comforting to be inside and has a slightly cocoon effect.

Apparently, she lets a computer program do most of the wave modulations and then gets engineers to figure it all out.

I also dropped in on the gallery next door but it was one of those exhibitions where everything including the floor was part of the installation.

Love this feature in the Sunday Times.

Apologies if you already saw in on my instagram but

 I thought it was hilarious.  

Went to a friend's birthday dinner and the restaurant had amazing wallpaper. 
This chinoiserie stuff is following me around guys.

So I went to the de Gournay store to get a few pamphlets and 

they gave me this shopping bag.

I felt like I was 16 when I bought my very first lipstick and 

was so chuffed about the packaging.

Perhaps I am not so jaded after all...

 I have some other photos but will put those on my instagram as otherwise as I mentioned before it creates problems with the posts.
I know not everyone is on it - I am still just getting a hang of it.
Just a reminder that Mercury Retrograde starts on the 21st of October so back up any files and double check everything :)