December 2013 Instagramy post

I tried to take a picture of my local Brora store for 

Dani of DaniBP Mop Philosopher a few weeks ago but forgot that it moved to Westbourne Grove proper. 

I rarely go on that very stretch as 

I go to Ottolenghi on the back roads.  

It's in a dangerous cluster of Whistles, Heidi Klein, and Diptyque among others!

I went inside to have a look at the goods of which 

Dani is a huge fan.

 

I was looking at some throws and a lovely lady helped me through the choices and different types of fabrics.  I did think she really knew her product knowledge.

Then she said things like, "I went through the archives of patterns and chose this color.  I decided that this should be part of a permanent collection and next season I might design..."

I looked at her quizzically as I thought she was just an extremely skillful sales associate and asked her, 

"What do you mean you will go through the archives? 

Do you design for Brora as well?"

"Yes, I do. In fact, I founded Brora." 

I was a little embarrassed but punchy simultaneously.

"No way!  You started the company?  I am here browsing but also taking pictures for Dani - you know Dani the blogger right?"

Victoria Stapleton then said she thought Dani was wonderful, 

looks great, and is so supportive and it was fans like her that 

makes her so proud !

She was so stylish, incredibly attractive and so amiable!

She wanted to take a picture of us two but 

I was not presentable...

So this is Victoria modeling a throw she was showing me.

There are a few more throws in the left hand side that were so soft.

So that's for you Dani!

Blog Giveaway Winners and Blog Review

I did my blog giveaway to celebrate my one year of 

Coulda Shoulda Woulda.

I might consider doing these giveaways in the future as 

I lost 3 followers since the giveaway!

It's funny because one truly doesn't know what people will respond to and it's not a predictable science.

My blog stats are hard to decipher in terms of most popular post and the like because the blog has grown from literally 0 views a day 

so comparables are harder to sort through.

Okay...so I had one or two - but that was me!

But my most popular post in many aspects is my post on Emmanuelle Alt.

It is consistently in the top 5 most popular posts every week.

It has been the most shared and linked to blogpost.

This also gets hits from search engine for Emmanuelle Alt.

This is the post that made me realize that your latest post isn't the only one that gets read! 

Festive Mood at the William Morris Society Museum

There is something about the Victorian era 

that is so festive and very Christmasy.

Perhaps it is because it is during that period where we started many of our present holiday traditions such as the Christmas tree which was brought over by Queen Victoria's German husband.

So I finally got rid of my bah hambug mood when I visited the William Morris Society in Hammersmith by the Thames.

Sorry for the blur...

The two buildings in the picture are owned 

by the William Morris Society.

The annexe on the left is the museum and the workshop that William Morris himself worked.

The house on the right was his home which is presently being leased to a very lucky family!

It is on the Mall which is on the Thames Path which makes it a perfect destination for locals and tourists alike.

This picture was taken directly in front of the museum.

The museum entrance.

Hermes 70 cm Silk Scarf Turned into a Cushion

We all try and follow various philosophies in life right?

Use your good things...

During the packing of my belongings into boxes for the renovations, I realized how much crap and how many lovely objects ( to me anyway ) I possess.  But I store them in a drawer or another room only to guiltily stroke them intermittently.

As some of you may know I collect Hermes silk scarves.

But try as I might, I can't seem to wear a scarf everyday.

I had seen a few scarves made into pillows and thought I should try it myself one day.  I went through my stash and chose a scarf to make into a pillow.  

I chose a 70 cm silk scarf called Tres Kelly.

I saw this scarf on Tabitha of Bourbon and Pearls  and 

on Faux Fuschia ( click to see the scarves in action )

and wasn't going to follow those two acts. 

So instead of the scarf languishing in my drawers

I saved it from its fate of hanging out eternally with cedar balls.

Eh Voila!

It is quite big.  

I am glad I didn't choose a 90 cm scarf because that would have been humongous! 

But I should have also chosen a less puffier pillow to display the scarf better.

One year blog anniversary and Giveaway!

It was one year ago that I started this blog.  
I had opened the account back in 2007 but 
left it empty until one year ago.

What I thought would be difficult has been easy and vice versa.

 But it has been such a fun, informative, and educational experience.  One thing I told myself was that no matter what,
 I was going to do it for one year and 
I am proud that I kept that promise to myself.

Time does go quick.

Glad I did it last year otherwise I would still have it on my to do list.

Last week CarolinCairns gave me a Sunshine award so it is lovely timing to coincide for the one year mark.

Thank you Carol!

Mews News Part 3 - Renovation updates

Things have been slow.

As I am a bit tired, I am not going to try and come up with a new analogy so let's settle for snail's pace shall we?

The accident that my builder had eventuated in the expected post traumatic stress disorder symptoms and he stayed at home or at the pub philosophizing on life.  
Which is fine but he hardly showed up on site.

We cut him some slack but then it got to the point where he may have survived the fall but I warned him he may not survive my wrath...

We had crisis talks and I warned him that there was a clause to implement financial penalties after 16 weeks of construction.  
But there are certain things that not even Alan Dershowitz could  contend with.

My builder simply said that if we were going to implement penalties then he would rush the job, mess it up and then we would have to call him to fix things but he would be busy on the next job and he doesn't have much money so there is no point in suing him.

Builder 1 - Naomi Huh?

So in a nutshell without boring you with building details that my dear Mr CSW manages to on a nightly basis,
I shall just show you the pictures.

The new 2nd floor ( UK ) / 3rd floor elsewhere.

Plaster drying and then finally primed.

Hermes Petit H Exhibition in London

I recently went to the traveling exhibition collection called 

Petit H (click for link) at Hermes in Bond Street.

I received an invite to the exhibition although it was open to the public.

It is a special collection created by artisans by re-purposing materials that would otherwise have to be disposed of. 

The installation was done by Faye Toogood.

Faye Toogood and her home was very recently featured 

in the NY Times.

Faye Toogood in a dress from Egg Via the NY Times

She used to be an editor at the World of Interiors but has now started her own studio called Studio TOOGOOD.

The items are all one off creations and 

not normally seen in their other ranges.

As it was an exhibition, the rules of not touching applied.

Instagramy Post November 2013 Part 2

The London weather has been pitch perfect autumn lately.

Went for a walk by the Thames on the full moon.

Depending on the light, 

London can be so moody and dare I say that overused word - Dickensian.

Not everyone believes in orbs but pretty spooky that there are so many on the bank of the Thames.

I think we all have our theories on them.

I was taking my brother's new cockapoo, Millie, for a walk.

All new creatures to the world seem gifted with cuteness so 

they get taken care of.

Biology working its magic.

She is still scared of the world so the walk wasn't as smooth 

so tried again the next morning.

Tides were up so couldn't walk right next to the river.

How beautiful is the city in the cold bright light?