A look around my London, favourite places...

A beautiful window display at Rachel Riley on Marylebone High Street.

One for you crafters/sewers, a John Lewis window display.  Don't they do it well?

Lego London at John Lewis, almost as impressive as the real things.

Monsoon, the most adorable kids clothes EVER. Their dresses would give a bride a run for her money, absolutely beautiful little dresses, perfect for flower girls or other special occasions.

Sadly they don't ship to NZ.  But here's a few that do:

Next

Marks and Spencer

Cath Kidston

Iconic and beautiful Liberty store.

Cath Kidston Piccadilly

Neals yard, Covent Garden.  One of my all time favourite London streets.

and a couple more from my old stomping ground.

Love this view!

.

Spitalfields, you didn't disappoint!

Sarah x

Portobello Market, Notting Hill...

I've just returned from an incredible two weeks in Europe with my sister, it was total bliss! We had four days in London, showing her the sights, exploring the shops and reminiscing.We then headed to France for the main event, my brothers wedding, which was a beautiful, perfect day in an idyllic french village. We finished up with a couple of days in Paris, sightseeing, shopping and working our way through the delicious patisseries. Again, total bliss. Throughout the trip I took loads of photos with my blog and it's followers in mind. I'll share them over a few posts, starting with this one on Portobello markets, Notting Hill.  The sheer array of vintage goodies is just incredible, and although I wanted to bring SO MUCH home, my suitcase and the often exorbitant prices kept me in check. The atmosphere is fantastic though too.  We got there early and wandered with ease before the crowds descended.  The aroma from food stalls, great people watching and GORGEOUS buildings makes it one of my favourite experiences, which is why I spent many Saturdays during my OE roaming the market and why we booked our flights to arrive the night before!

I had to bring one of these wee trays home.

The street food, fresh produce and flower stalls were amazing. Oh to be local!

Oh, to live in one of the gorgeous pastel houses too!  I suspect my husband wouldn't be too keen on painting our home pink, somehow it works so well in Notting Hill, New Plymouth? Probably not.

And for those Cath Kidston fans out there (I know a few of you are!), here's a peek inside her Portobello road store, my first visit to one of her shops.  I loved the way genuine vintage props are used throughout her stores, I only wish they'd been for sale.  She had the cutest tins, baskets and chairs.  Check out the yellow kids chair in the last photo.

A few treats for the kids came home from here, love the ballet range!

See you back here soon with some pics from France, including a peek inside the cutest kids shop EVER!

Sarah x

My garage sale treasures...

images via pinterest

Beautiful aren't they? Well images like these were my inspiration for buying the following bed heads. Having given up on ever finding one to revamp, I bought Eden a wrought iron bed frame off trademe.  It's pretty cute, but having a foot board really limits how we can arrange her room, as it obstructs the window and door in  a couple of the possible layouts.  So I'm very excited to find one (actually two) of these, now I just need a base and a decision on which delicious colour I'll paint it!  If you're in Australia and looking for one of these colourful beauties, check out The family love store, gorgeous.

I absolutely love over sized vases (like the one above) for displays, as you can clearly tell from my pinterest board, display.  I originally bought four of these large jars from a garage sale, regrettably sold two at a garage sale of mine, so was stoked to find a couple more yesterday!  I'll list one on trademe and will keep the other, as I love the look of three down the centre of a dining table, with large foliage such as taro or fruit salad plant leaves as display.  Speaking of which, I also got a massive fruit salad plant for $5!  So large my lovely parents had to pick it up in their trailer, Thank you! x

Apparently they're old coke syrup jars, so I've been told.

A very retro child's suitcase.

A jug, which fits perfectly on my little kitchen shelves.  Cute tea tin and a wee vase I'm totally smitten with.  It has no makers mark, but if anyone can identify it that'd be great.  I love displays of all white vases and am thinking of one along our mantlepiece. Has anyone else noticed the great display in a recent heat pump (?) ad on telly, it has a cricketer who's name escapes me... anyway, it's above kitchen cabinets and looks amazing.

My new vase on display.

Very cute clock puzzle, would look great as art.

 A very successful morning indeed!  After quite a break from it, I may be hooked all over again.

I hope you've all had a great weekend.  If anyone else has shared their finds on a blog,  feel free to comment with a link.

Sarah x

A little shoe cupboard (for very little shoes)...

I picked up this super cute wee cupboard last week, for a bargain $2 from my local op shop.  I love it's little curved corners, bakelite handle and lovely wood grain.  I'm guessing it was once a bathroom cabinet, and that it would have had a mirror, where now it is a piece of board.  But it's just perfect for a little shoe display cabinet...

Firstly I gave it a very light sand and used some danish oil on it, it came up beautiful. I decided to do the front in this pretty duck egg floral, a scrapbook paper from spotlight, that way if I want it in my room it'll suit nicely.  It's glued then mod podged.

But the inside is a gorgeously happy children's party print.  Lot's of bunting, sparkles and clouds (just to carry on the theme).  It makes a lovely cheerful surprise and perfectly suits my little shoes.  Very happy indeed!

For more creative spaces, pop over here.

Sarah x

flea market finds: Eltham Op Shops

It's been a while since I've joined in with flea market finds, so I thought I'd share some recent finds. My sister and I did an op shop trip to Eltham last week, so much fun!  There's Antiques and Effects, which has painted it's floorboards white since I last visited, what a difference.  I love painted floorboards, it brightens the whole place up.  Then there's The Bank, with such gorgeous vintage clothes and homewares.  We had morning tea  in Rhubarb tea rooms, run by Annette McGregor, mother of previous NZ master chef winner, Brett McGregor.  Delicious!  Best, creamiest, vanilla slice I've ever tasted, will be back for more, especially since they have a roaring fireplace (probably rather essential that close to the mountain).   Second Impressions is a big secondhand clothing store, in a barn shaped building, where I found the gorgeous, vibrant doilies.  For 50c each too, bargain.  I also scored a pink, and a gray, gayware container (will photograph another time) from the same 50c  bin, definitely the highlight of my trip. 

The buttons were from The hospice shop in Stratford, the yellow ones a trademe purchase last week.  Buttons are my new obsession, I love them.  I also can't believe how expensive they are. 

The blankets are the cutest I've ever come across! They were from the woman I bought this coats blanket from.  Too good to cut for coats, they'll be kept for my darlings beds.  The chair was a garage sale buy years ago, you may remember it from here.  It's recently had a revamp, as I'm banishing black from our bedroom.  I'm loving the lighter colour.

To see more flea market finds, pop over here.

Sarah