Necklace to Bracelet and back to Bracelet to Necklace

While I don't accessorize very much - 
I rarely wear my wedding ring - 
I do enjoy jewellery and accessories from time to time and always on others!

But most likely in the case of many, 
there are items that I enjoy having in my jewellery tray and admiring.

Chaine d'ancre silver necklace in the very small size

I also like to try on different pieces with my outfits 
which are terribly boring as
 I don't wear many prints and tend to save those for scarves.

I have this necklace which is a simple and classic design that has been around since the Greeks had used them in their motifs back in the B.C. days.
It displays classic symmetry that the ancient Greeks liked so much -
 it's an oval that is split in half and linked to symbolize eternity.

As a necklace, it is a good staple to have and can be used in daily wear or for a nice lunch date.
But for some reason I would wear it around the house but
 I could never commit to it when I actually left home.
Who can explain these odd quirks?

But like so many of us, I want to either use and cherish my items or they become clutter no matter how valued / valuable the object was.

 I love bracelets. 

While I am very simple in my manner of comportment, 

I love a bracelet stack and throw away any minimalist tendencies when it comes to bracelets.

I was playing with my necklace and double wrapped it and realized that if I got rid of a few links 

( 5 in my case ) then I could wear it as a bracelet.

So I took it to a jeweler and had them drape it around my wrist and confirm with their professional expertise that the amount of links taken out would work as a bracelet. 

This is a commitment as I won't be able to wear it as necklace with the new length but the jeweler will be able to put back the links if I choose to wear it as a necklace again.

My newly configured bracelet

In my previous post, 
I tried on a carnelian Byzantine ring in the quatrefoil/ four leave clover that went with my Alhambra bracelet also in carnelian.

I absolutely adore the quatrefoil motif as mentioned 
in the previous post and 
would collect every stone in both yellow and white gold if I could!

To satisfy my craving for an Alhambra necklace without having to actually buy one, 
I got a chain from another necklace that wasn't too long but 
long enough to turn my bracelet into a necklace.

My bracelet turned into a temporary necklace with a chain extender

As a necklace is generally seen from the front, the chain satisfies displaying the motif.

I also have a shorter chain by a couple of inches and it changes the drop of the necklace to hug the neck.  
You can purchase extenders at most jewelers and I find them so useful in changing the way you wear your items.  
It could also make a necklace become a long chain necklace and 
is a way of maximizing the jewelry you already own.

You could use them to turn necklaces into a double wrap bracelet or triple wrap even but the extender would be more noticeable on the wrist.

I hope you look through your accessories or 
take some pieces to your jeweler and 
see how you can make the most of your collection.

Round up beautiful objects seen at Masterpiece London and Alesund, Norway

Sometimes I am like the blogger version of a wedding DJ and I take requests.
Jill from Everything Just So asked me to go to Masterpiece London and I did try and take a picture of those ballerina brooches but they said pictures had to preapproved with communications so I couldn't...Sorry but I did try!

Let me start at the small city of Alesund in Norway.
I went to a small antique store that had the most astonishing and sophisticated selection of objets d'art that could parallel any major art capitol.

Look at these
guilloche ( there is an accent over the e but I am borrowing Mr CSW's PC) enamel teacups!

This Danish art deco tea set had me doing foreign exchange calculations from Kroner to sterling.

These enamel salt shakers were divine.
In certain circles, it was considered poor manners not to have several salt shakers on the dinner table and it was seen gauche to ask to pass the salt.
He had competitive prices because the same shakers but as a set of two sold for the same price as the set of 6 in London.

Objects like this is what made Tiffany a world class name and it should go back to its roots before it loses its brand credibility for good.

Faberge never hurt nobody.
If only the translucent nature of the cup could be translated properly in the picture.

Only because a dear friend was holding her masters show at Central Saint Martins did I manage to get the energy to go and see it the day after I arrived from my trip.

These ceramic lights took my interest because they were fragile yet moveable from the rubber bands.

These are my friend's water filter project and her ceramic jugs.
She has made some inserts that you can place in your own pouring and drinking vessels.
So clever.

Not that she's anti Brita but she is a true boho and has one of the most sophistsicated palates around and she wants to bring some panache and good design to water filters.
Watch this space.

There was also the usual art student stuff and believe it or not this top made out of fake finger nails was the best thing in the MA Fashion department...

I went to an auction preview to see what cheeky bids I could put in.
I didn't put it on this...

This was Eva Braun's calling card.
Yes. That one!

I didn't even other putting a bid on this set of Herend but in the end I don't have the space but it ended up going for about £300 for the lot.

I didn't get this bergere chair because I put in as always a cheeky bid.
 I had to because of the cost of upholstery in this country.

Although I do like the trim.

Paintings like this don't exist in Asia.

If you have the space you can still get bargains on big brown furniture.
This armoire had great details for half the cost of IKEA.

Went to Masterpiece today which was held in the same grounds as the Chelsea Flower show.
Can you feel the heat?
Boiling today.

It's a lovely event and like being in a museum where everything is available for purchase.
A bit of a downer for an oligarch who loves the chase.

They had these huge flower arrangements dotted around everywhere!

There were some never publicly seen pastels by Monet.

I know they are a bit old fashioned but I love a Fantin-Latour and they look good with all sorts of furniture which is handy!

Shoes - Pleasure and Pain Exhibition at the V&A

This exhibit is being held at the Fashion Rotonda at the V&A which is strengthening its role in fashion exhibitions to rival the MET.
Even though it is aimed at the fashion crowd I think it would also be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in history and sociology.


There are very few items that apply to both men and women and has expressed so much about one's status or desired place in society as the seemingly simple shoe.

I was invited to the preview and nearly didn't go because 
I have so many errands to do before I go away 
but thought I would just drop in a few minutes and 
ended up staying 40 minutes making me late the rest of the day...

As this is a quick last minute edited post for your viewing
 please excuse the cursory pictures taken on my iphone but just wanted to share the pictures for those who may not be able to attend the exhibit held from June 13 until January 31, 2016.
 Please click here for better photos and more insight.

The most famous fable with a shoe as the a character almost its own was Cinderella.

It turns out that the most commonly known version of a lost shoe fitting its rightful owner dates back to 1st century Egypt.

This shoe is one of the oldest shoes molded in the modern known style and dates back to the Egyptian glory days.


They also had the famous glass slipper that was used in the most recent Cinderella movie, the original black Manolos that Carrie Bradshaw wore in Sex and the City, and the very same red ballerina shoes that were in the 1948 film "The Red Shoes".

Del Boy's Flat Reflects Our Taste Changes in Decor

I was watching a rerun of the iocnic British TV show called
 Only Fools and Horses.

It's one of those shows that is so entrenched in the British mentality that there are references in conversation that allude back to this show even to this day.

Via

So much so that the first few years I lived here I did wonder who this Del Boy character was that everyone seemed to know...

I still don't find it that funny but I watch it just to familiarize myself with pop cultural references and see what my husband laughs at.

I was watching an episode the other day and found myself ignoring the dialogue and concentrating for once on the wallpaper.

The flat is meant to be in a high rise public housing building but looking at the wallpaper and decor it could be a modern day flat in a gentrified part of London.
To be fair I am not sure how the viewing audience would have viewed the wallpaper in that time...

Okay the carpet is definitely not current and would be ripped out on the day after purchasing the flat but the rest of it would not be so alien to decor aficionados.

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The animal print throw on the sofa, 
the strong colors and graphic walls and fabrics, and the brass accented dining chairs that I would buy off Del Boy but perhaps reupholster are surprisingly bang on trend. 
( which means past its sell by for some!)

Forget that Peckham is now referred to as Peck Jambon
but isn't that something Del Boy should have referred to Peckham as back in the day with his penchant for Frenchifying everything!

Love Peckjambon it should say.

The closest I could find to recreate that bamboo wallpaper was the following.  
In terms of shape of the leaves
 this Florence Broadhurst was rather similar.

Via

In terms of color and copying almost exactly is the black and white version from Farrow and Ball.

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This Timorous beasties rendition is nice althought the planting is a bit clumped or am I getting to Chelsea flower show judgey?

Via

An old print from Cole and Son is another option.

Via

But isn't it funny how standards of taste and trend can vary?

Who would have thought that the wallpaper in Del Boy's flat in public housing is now a motif that is sought after and stocked in such stores like Farrow and Ball and Cole and Son.

A good reminder in the fluidity of trends!
I might start watching Eastenders to see any future design trends...

Just a quick note to say I am going away for a couple of weeks in a few days so will be quiet on the blogging front and may or may not be on Instagram wifi depending! 
Stay safe and see you in July xx

Potatoes at Chelsea flower show, Peonies, and the Duchesse of Roxburghe at Sotheby's

I have been all things floral the month of May.
I celebrated with peonies.

The first batch of the season's flowers always seem to be the best crop.
These lasted 8 days and every stage was glorious.

My second batch were lovely but didn't last as long.

But unlike other flowers, peonies go through such a transformation of bloom and fade out their color.

After two days they were blush and then another two they turned white.

Chelsea flower show was fun although I wonder who would maintain this garden with mirrored inserts in its water feature.