March 2014 Instagramy Post Part 1

Time is going so fast I couldn't even remember what has been happening of late.
I have been spending a lot of energy which doesn't equate with results on the refurbishments and other chores.
Post soon to come re renovations...

Last year was the year of the never ending winter but this year 
Mother Nature threw us Londoners a bone.

It is spring and a few days have been like summer.
You have never seen a city come alive in the sun like London.

I love all sorts of tree blossoms but magnolias are a favorite.

My brother was away on holiday so I was dog-sitting Millie a lot.

She had a few run ins with swans that I now have to put her on a lead because swans get all karate kid with puppies. 
They misunderstand friendliness as an attack - 
they are London swans after all...

Hermes Festival des Metiers at the Saatchi Gallery - Part 1

Hermes is holding a special artisan festival at the

Saatchi Gallery in London until the 27th of May.

This event is to showcase the tradition and artisanal skills of each "metier" or craft.  If you are in London or this event is coming to a city near you then I must strongly urge you to go.

I adore porcelain of any type let alone Hermes.

One of the few collections I have is of Hermes porcelain so this section interested me no end and I could have stayed for hours!

This artisan was Christine and she was originally a drafts person for architects and was very adept at drawing which led her to hand painting her niche which is porcelain trays.  

She explained that each color painted on the tray is put 

in the kiln for at least 7 hours.  

She said that each color takes on a unique temperature 
according to the dye.

For those of you familiar with Hermes porcelain, 

Christina is the one who makes all the tiger series!

She says that the platinum used on the trays is so costly that only the top experts are allowed to use it as a small bottle costs about 3000 euros so wastage is not encouraged.

She hand paints that freehand!!
Each tray takes about 10 days to produce.

The different stages of the evolution of a porcelain tray.

This is for those who can't be there so I have taken 

some extra photos to demonstrate.