O Baby

This place is full of colours and soft fabric for baby. I love their ethical believes in supplying top quality organic cotton brand for delicate skin of little people.

Tucked in on the road where I mostly walked everyday, the little entrance could easily be missed. Luckily their colourful array of shop display is changed frequently in the most sweet colours and not easily forgotten. Their  current Easter display was so jolly it will be hard to resist for mum and dad (or someone looking for a gift) and splurge on an item (or two).

I picked up a very gentle sleep suit for babyG. This time it's footless because her daddy loves the similar cut I found on charity shop. Baby grows so fast that she only wore it a couple of times. This time, I fell in love with the brand Piccalilly with its sweet floral pattern. The lovely feel of organic cotton is one to keep and treasure forever.

1. O Baby Clothing Shop
2. 126 Fortis Green Road, London

   N10 3DU
3. 020 8444 8742

Tiaz

Archiving the archiver

A private view evening of an exhibition was a very good excuse to venture in South London.

My dear and very talented artist Eleanor Davies was curating a wonderful show about the history of Lewisham. So much colours and cultures to learn about the area. I was so impressed by how balanced it all looked.

Tiaz

Follow the Foyles

I used to never being able to find this store when I was a poor student and visited London as a tourist. Back in the days when website were pretty basic and mobile phone shopping barely exist. I used to browse hours on end on Foyle's website to find a Louise brook's book, or some rare textile publication that the library didn't have.

Fast forward to 2014. It was one of my favourite spot to browse on books. Currently I am very lucky that I only need one bus to get to Tottenham Court Road. And it is so easy to spot the clean new building from outside and large glass door that's very inviting. 

On my recent trip I picked up Frankie and French Vogue magazine as a birthday treat. Also few children book for DD (dear daughter).

Amazed by how fast the new elevator in Foyles took me from top floor to lower ground floor. I'd say it's a pretty neat place to use the toilet. Each department was easy to find. They have plenty of events happening on the upper floor and very sweet cafe with one of those trendy looking industrial lights.

Being a new mum I absolutely love their collection on children books. During my pregnancy I also picked up some very very good after birth book that I still read through for quick guidance. The new floor layout is far from the cluttered old display and very confusing navigation to find what I need. 

Holiday season was rather busy to move around. Especially with a pram. But at the end I was very pleased that the que was very fast. I'm happy to also see that they were anticipating the pre-New Year rush and still employed lots of human staff rather than 'hello can I help you?computer screen.

Tiaz

Can't get enough of pink.

Starting with the pink cab that I saw in central London few weeks ago. You end up with taking snap shots and picking up colours that makes you happy.

During my walk last Friday. I finally manage to discover and enjoy British museum with all its treasure, even in the midst of school trip children and tourists. I love the linen layers and patterns the Egyptian use for the mummy. 

Also nice to see a real Andy Warhol's work in bright pink neon screen print piece in the museum.

I planned to eat my packed lunch in my favourite city garden spot, which was sadly closed for some reason. So ended up squatting in Covent garden and watched people go by.

Second part of the walk was to temptingly went to Cath Kidston's store and admire the sale and watched what people are crazily spending their money on. I always find her store exciting when looking at what the vintage goods that the Visual Merchandiser found and somehow camouflaged amongst the new collection.

One of the perk of going window shopping on your own is that no one ever rush you to go here there then everywhere. I had few more hours to kill time until meeting one of my friends in Fitzrovia. Limited by how far I can waddle around Charing Cross road. My 'hop in and out' visit to Foyles bookshop, ended up to be a few hours visit, on which I will review the place some other time.

I can't believe I only discoverd Tiger last week since moving to London. Its one of those places where you read about it years ago in weekend newspaper supplement and never really get the chance to go and see one. I love the many cheeky bright colours, and simple fun print products to brighten up summer.

Lastly, it was Paperchase in Tottenham court road that was full of pink delightedness, (and many other neutral colours off course). They stock Merchant and Mills product which I'm rather impressed with. For a store that sell paper, their current display and collection are just fantastic. So much natural lights streamed in through the shop. I'd say its a nice place place to have cake in their cafe in the upper floor, when one has the time (even if its with a good book or a really good company).

For more pink inspiration, take a peek towards my Pinterest board.

Tiaz

Petit Aime boutique

 

A walk along Westbourne Gorve bring back a slightly nostalgic feel and always takes me back to the second time I move to England for good, and this was the area where I get to know real 'British' culture.

Now that I am about to embark another chapter in my life, priority change when it comes buying material things. 

Petit Aime in Ledbury Road has been on my list for quite sometimes on a place to visit. Luckily now there is a better excuse to really pop by and coincide with some other meeting arrangement around the area.

With the help of London map on the Barclays bike point, I found the street fairly quickly and it was 13 minutes away from Notting Hill gate (Should be about 6 minute in normal walking phase). Greeted by the bon bon window display for their Spring-summer styling, I found the space very relax, clean and full of treasures. I particularly love the small stock collection of the many European brand that has a hand made feel, and designer-maker quality of product. There are option also for those who love muted colours on children's wear, or for those love the brightly colour combination trend. Of course they also have wonderful traditional toys, and books that are pleasant enough to buy as a treat for the little one. Their print collection for greeting cards, and wall art were not not harsh on the eye, but fun enough to stand out for a small living area space.

 

There are many beautiful children shop if you walk along Ledbury road. The little croissant (37 week yrs old bebe) in my belly were too excited at lunch time and I had to leave the lovely array of shops and find a place to sit down and rest.

Inspired by a good session at the atenatal yoga class this morning. I picked up a Maileg doll to accompany an old bunny that has been looking rather lonely in my house and manage to do a quick whizz on the sewing machine and made a little dress to greet her new friend.

Tiaz

Shop for play and colour in Crouch end.

Niddle noodle in Crouch End is the busiest children's wear and toy shop I've came across on sunny Saturday morning. I've manage to resist the many wonderful Nathalie Lete's product tuck in amongst the corner (and window display) of this shop. 

Thou this one hand printed greeting card by Belinda Chen is hard to leave behind.

Tiaz 

Local feast for the eye.

I love the pop of pink at Sally Bourne's window in Muswell Hill. The contrast with array of muted clay invited me to came in and picked up beautiful card by Elena Deshmukh. I have been a big fan of her work for few years and a little princess in Leeds will receive this little kitten through the post as soon as she came back from the hospital.

Tiaz

Happy chick

Almost the last of one of my very busy week. The littlest things became matter the most in the blink of an eye.

Getting on the wrong bus sometimes can lead you to another side of London that I wouldn't even bother to pay a visit. I had to end up with a short walk towards Embankment and manage to soak up the river Thames's grandeur in quietness of the street. Even if it was a rather cloudy day, I feel like grey actually suits London very much amongst its colourful life.

The dearest, has made some beautiful pasta from a very simple yet magic ingredients of garlic, tomato, mussels, and parsley. So far its one of my favourite and humblest dinner I've ever had.

After 3 years of reading Country living magazine. I finally manage to find a free weekend to visit their craft fair today. I must say Saturday was packed with ladies pushing and getting quite excited with all the beautiful (but very cramped) array of stalls. After an exhausting day, I was very happy to get home early in the afternoon and came home with one of Charlotte Macey's pretty mug.

Tiaz

Back Stroke

Those cliche saying of 'think positive and good things will happen' has slowly been coming one by one since September start. I have learnt not feel guilty when eating double cream patisserie from Maison Bertaux and enjoying being a shop guide and watched them getting excited when purchasing gift for themselves.
The tumbling weed pattern keeps rolling into a really good phase, and I'm not complaining at all about the speed that feels like its all coming at the same time. New job and new friends is giving me an opportunity to keep learning as a person.
Discovering many hidden green space around London is becoming one of my new favourite habits this summer. Last Friday whilst having my walking lunch, little blossom of flowers were gretting happily with their really nice petal colour.

I find it very strange that those little buds are showing at this time of the year.
Before things are getting extremely busy this week, I had the chance to tidy my old sketchbook document it by photos. Space is such a luxury in London and de-cluttering art material actually felt like a less burden. Now the difficult task is trying to constrain on filling the gap with more clutter.

I have place few images from my past sketchbook in Pinterest here.

Tiaz.

September Roast

Things are slowly getting better. Me and my family has been mourning to such a sad lost, my mind almost shuts down to what’s around me. A nice Sunday dinner with my loved one and my dear friend that I haven’t seen for few months really make a big difference on moving forward.

My friend is really good at recommending places with great roast dinner. So she has successfully persuaded us to come and eat at ‘Eat 17’and enjoyed our meal very much. I was very happy with their use of local produce ingredients when I came home and checked it on their website. I had lovely Moroccan Lamb sausages from the butcher ‘across the road’ and everyone seemed to cleaned up their plate with no complaint or so ever (except the one who doesn’t eat their greens). I had a bite of the famous Bacon Jam burger and was not disappointed to what they have been preaching all about it.

Walthamstow was not so bad at all. On Our walk to Eat 17, we grabbed a bunch of colourful tomatoes and beautiful courgette from Wildco stall at the Farmer's market. We were mesmerised by the marble pattern of the the tomatoe's skin.

I must say I appreciate today even more since the ever so lovely my mother who has been cooking fantastic Indonesian meal and recharge my taste bud to a real gritty and meaty English flavour.

Grey Garden

One of the best things on getting on the London bus is that you can see delightful shops and garden on sometimes can be very long journey. I promised to myself to visit this very beautiful Greyfriars garden in the middle of modern buildings when I was sitting on the top of no. 25 bus.

Last Thursday I’ve made it to finally come and see a couple of butterflies floating along, above clematis and rambling honeysuckle wafting in the air.

Over the weekend I was still admiring the ribbons I have found at the Cloth house fabric shop in Soho. The colours on the embroidered velvet ribbon reminded me of all the pretty bushes I have seen on this early summer.

Tiaz

Columbia Road Cake

I have visited many more fantastic gardens around London. The blessed sunshine weather has got me hot and bothered to go out and see what’s around the corner.

I love coming to Columbia Road market on Sunday morning and grab delicious cake from Lily Vanilli. A further 10 minutes walk towards Hackney City Farm is always a lovely ending to say hello to lovely animals.

Tiaz

Zesty Oranges in London

I had fantastic day going to New Designer show preparation day in North London. Its definately worth the visit if your design course are exhibiting in New Designer show next year.
I couldn't help but getting very inpired by the different shades of fruity orange colours around Islington and the very eclectic Anthropologie, London.

I abolutely love the many textures (image 3 and 5) that the product and the shop display are placed around another at Anthropologie. Living in the cold 'Up North' Yorkshire gets me very appreciative with looking at those type of product. Being able to touch the embroidered fabric that they've design is especially marvelous and far more sensous than looking at their seasonal catalogue.

I would definately recommend visiting New Designer show this summer. The ticket is on Sale now via their website. Try also to bring an extra carrier bag to pick up beautiful promotional pack that the new graduates has to offer (for FREE!)


Tiaz

Cabbages and Roses mission

I finally manage to visit one my favourite English clothing brand, Cabbages and Roses. It was a very hot and sticky day. I almost gave up half way through King's Road, distracted by a fantastic cowboy boots shop R soles. And so they say 'If there's a will, there's a way'. The atmosphere, and the clothes that was for sale was just fantastic. The mood of the shop was just as gentle as the the new collection of clothes that was for sale. I was so excited to be in the shop and left my favourite long umbrella behind.

Note to be remember: ' Must attach all belonging item to oneself, when entering a beautiful shop'.