London, Spring

 A few weekends ago I was in London to visit my brother 

The weather was glorious and while this was a family weekend 

I did manage to squeeze in a few shop visits 

Mini bouquets on Dalston High street

I finally got to visit 

FOLKLORE

in Islington 

a beautifully curated shop 

simplicity

honesty

integrity

as I made my way up Islington high street I popped in to 

OTTOLENGHI

I didn't stay........

I love Ottolenghi,

but now that he is a "celebrity"

the place was rammed!

well, it was a saturday afternoon

bought some cookies to go and kept on moving

Next I popped in to 

ATELIER ABIGAIL AHERN

which was mostly full of beautiful faux flowers

Next was a trip to 

AESOP

where it seemed like a really good idea to part with a large chunk of cash for some beautiful products 

Since I have been home Spring has well and truly landed 

Every year it feels like a full body stretch after being curled in a ball for 5 long cold months

Such a feeling of hope and optimism

projects, small and large vying for space in my brain 

and all seems possible

Keith McNally London Home

This Month's House and Garden is a cracker.

Is it me or is this publication getting better and better

I was both surprised and delighted to find amongst it's pages photograph's

of the Home of Keith McNally

I have never seen press on any of his homes before

If you don't know who Keith McNally is then you are certainly not a New Yorker 

and if you have ever visited NYC then you have certainly eaten in one of his Restaurants

Balthazar

Pastisse

Schiller's

The list is extensive 

(for a full list and an interesting article on Keith you can go HERE)

And now he has returned to his place of birth, London and opened up a London Balthazar

Keith just gets it right every time

One of things that is mentioned in the H&G article and that I have always felt 

"it is key to his restaurants that while they are stylish they are never elite"

I think Keith changed the way we eat, the way we socialise.

He levelled the playing field in a way 

His restaurants are not inaccessible 

Ok, they may be pricey for some pockets and we're not eating there every day 

but what I mean is 

Prior to the Reign of Keith 

hip restaurants were stiff, extortionately  expensive and elite 

His restaurants changed that

 and his house is just as stylish as you would expect 

all images are from the pages of House and Garden 
Photographer Simon Upton

Also IN H&G this month is a beautiful home in London belonging to the founder of

Made.com

and a beautiful award winning home belonging to Sebastien and Lucy Fenwick

I highly recommend you hit your news stands and purchase it

just in case you are wondering 

this is my opinion and NOT at all, in any way paid for or endorsed by anyone 

as is everything I post on my blog

Tim Ryan C12

Tim Ryan C12 collection

Stunning and glamorous

One of Ireland's true Fashion talents

Available through Browns London

........ and I am not sure, sadly if it is currently stocked in Ireland

James Plumb

You are probably familiar with James Plumb 

The duo responsible for the cluster lights 

but I only just came across what I think are far more beautiful 

Silk screen lights

Made using discarded silk screens 

from France and India

They are like illuminated paintings

to view more of this duo's work go HERE

to see a great little film on their work for 

Hostem 

a menswear store in London 

go HERE

Lost property of London

Loving these recycled coffee sack bags from 

Lost Property of London

Tim Ryan

Irish designer Tim Ryan's latest collection is his best yet 

ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING

Currently stocked in Browns London

This collection should take him on to new and dizzying heights

If buyers don't sit up and take notice ............. well I believe they will

Such a talent 

Congratulations Tim

images by Felipe Pagani

Ai Weiwei

Tiny handmade porcelain sunflower seeds

Installation at The Turbine Hall

in London

by

Ai Weiwei

These hanpainted porcelain seeds cover the floor

and people walk on them .....

such a beautiful and thought provoking concept

Seen via mindmaded

Kate and Sarah's Wedding dress

Kate Middleton and her sister Pippa

from

Vogue.com

Simply Exquisite dress for Kate
by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen

COS

Can anyone tell me why there are no COS stores in the US?

Basically it is one of the few high street shops that I go into and want everything in there
They also do a great kids line
and they have a great site which features amazing artists, designers and generally interesting people like

Kaat Debo
Fashion Director of
MOMU
in Antwerp

follow this link to read the article

http://www.cosstores.com/gb/site/home__start.nhtml#BLOG-1676f84b-e0d9-4c3d-8191-4928aeaa65ab

I loved these shots of the accessories

Still lives with shadows