Hygge Nook

Can you guess where I'm going?

The OH and I are taking a little trip next week. For once it's nothing work related, it's to honour my impending 30th birthday mid-April. Can you guess where we're going?

 
I know! Could I have squeezed in any more Eiffel Towers?

I've lived in London for almost seven years now and Paris is a mere hop, skip and a jump across the channel, yet I've never been. It probably takes less time to get there on the eurostar than it does to get home to see my family (it's sure quicker to get to Brussels!) I have a little list of very touristy things to see and do. I have no qualms about touristy things. I want to see the beautiful icons of our neighbour - the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Champs-Élysées, Le Sacré-Cœur, Laduree (mmm!). I don't want to traipse round back streets pretending to be disinterested in these amazing places.

Let me know if you have any reccomendations for places to go/see/eat?

From top left: Shopper bag, Next; Postcard purse, Accessorize, Eiffel bag, Timmy Wood, L'amour earrings, Accessorize, Cluster necklace, Accessorize (I think I will buy matching necklaces for my daughter and I), Macarons, Laduree.

Recovering chairs

We have two marvellous armchairs. They're made by Moroso, and are big, deep, leather chairs. My OH bought them for the princely sum of £1 at an office sale. Yes, £1 for both of them. Amazing. One sits in the living room, one in our bedroom. There was only one problem - the hideous seat covers. The seat pads are a slight oval shape and are in good condition, they just needed a new loose cover made to make them look pretty fabulous.

I'm not one to shy from a challenge but I don't think my limited sewing skills are up to whipping up some new covers for the oddly shaped seat pads. So I asked around and got a recommendation for a London-based company who would come to my house, measure up and quote for two covers (the company have just had a mention in the May issue Living Etc which is reassuring).

They didn't have a lot of fabrics to choose from but I like the thick black velvety cord that they had, though I wish it was a solid, true black. I still like the idea of a really bright colour to contrast with the leather (a heavyweight silk in orange or shocking pick, perhaps?) and I may well attempt that some way down the line. Would that be possible for someone of my limited sewing skills?

Laura Ashley Teatime lamp

Isn't this lamp fun? I love it.

I do think the drum shade is a tad boring but that stack of china tea cups base would make a great talking point.

Laura Ashley have a 25% off sale on so the teatime lamp can be yours for £75 until Sunday (£100 after).

Crochet blanket progress

The big blanket project is coming along slowly. I've crocheted three whole strips together now. I've taken on board the recomendations of others to do this as you go, so that you don't have a hundred odd blocks to join together right at the end. What I've not been so great about is sewing in all the little ends as I go. I'm doing this one strip at a time as it's quite a boring (but neccessary) job. At least I can park myself in front of a film whilst I'm doing it.

Here's how it's coming along -

 

I've got another row to join and have now started on row five. I'm pretty pleased with it so far but wish I had more time to devote to making the squares.

I was running a little low on wool so after a meeting in town a couple of weeks ago, I decided to wander around looking for some yarn shops. First stop was the well regarded Loop. I've tried ordering online once before without success (my order went out of stock, so I cancelled it... then a couple of weeks later it turned up, except I had already picked up the yarn in store by then). It took me some time to find the little shop which is tucked away in a side street ten minutes or so walk from Angel tube. They did have the wool I wanted for making a pair of mittens, but not the type I wanted for the blanket. All the yarn inside was very moorish and I spotted several types that made me have a good think about what I could make with them.

Outside Loop

Next stop was Oxford Street for John Lewis. I've never been to the haberdashery floor in here before, but, hello! Sweet shop! So many colours and brands. And can I just say how sweet it was to see a trendy guy on his iPhone clearly been given instructions to stock up on a little pile of baby pink wool. Sweetness personified. For the convinience  of the location and the range of stock, I'll be sure to pop in here again. If only they sold online! Perhaps I should do a post about the good experiences I've had with online sellers?

I didn't take a snap in store but I did pick up a nice selection of lovely Rowan handknit cotton (for the blanket), most of which has now been used so it's time to restock (again!)

If you're going to San Francisco...

I'd be wearing flowers in my hair... (as the song goes) if only I could go to Crown and Crumpet in San Francisco's Ghiradelli Square.

 
One can only be happy in such cheery surroundings...

 
I can imagine hordes of children absolutely delighted to be taking afternoon tea with their mothers; lovers; girlfriends...

 
These treats make one want to fall into the computer screen...

 
Tea for two? Yes, please.

Go visit so I can live vicariously through you, until I get to visit! And visit Crown and Crumpet online for more pictures, menus and the reservation number.