1707 Wine Bar

Meeting up just before closing time at Fortnum & Masons last night turned out to be the best decision I made all day.

We met in the new luxury jewellery room, of course, and with 5 minutes to go, had a quick look around the top floors. We wanted to go in to the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon but  it was closing and they suggested we try the Wine Bar on the lower ground floor. I liked the light and airy colours of the Tea Salon - duck-egg blue, pale wood and flashes of red in the little posies on the tables - plus there's a stunning Steinway grand..... 

We took time to admire the new design and layout of the shop as we descended, looking down the levels through spirals. My friend worked for the company which designed it and he approves. 

After checking out the champagnes on the lower ground floor - love the weighty name 'Jeroboam' for an over the top enormous bottle- we decided to try a carafe of  Rioja in the award-winning 1707 Wine Bar. As we had arrived too late for prepared food, we had the most delicious snacks, including salted almonds which are apparently one of the best anti-ageing foods: it's up there with red wine and dark chocolate ..... mmmm, shouldn't be too difficult keeping the ageing process at bay then? 

It felt great to be tucked away in the wine bar, knowing the rest of Fortnums was closed. Quality time, wine, snacks and tip top service. We left via a stylish back entrance which took us through The Fountain Restaurant (will have no problem thinking of a special occasion for a reservation there) and outside to Jermyne Street. 

The Fountain Restaurant

Walking along Piccadilly, we passed the wonderful Itsu, which I just love. From a little stall outside the shop we bought delicious half price salmon, rice and edamame beans and pots of fruit for our Sunday lunch. 

This week I've had curry on Brick Lane (accidently over-ordered but then had the most delicious food for the next day), dinner at the V&A and we're off to Brunswick House next week for the first time. Can't wait. 

 Isn't London just a great place to live?

Banking in China

Another great Friday night atmosphere at the V&A - 'David Bowie is....... '

Loved the red carpet into the gardens, with 'paparazzi' at the ready, Bowie music blasting. Needless to say, we just slipped off the red carpet quietly and were glad to see a more extroverted poser in front of us take the limelight with flair. Great fun!

But looking around the galleries, our attention was caught by these tiny silver place card holders from the 1930's, from Chengdu.  The little figure on the left carries a bamboo stick with two baskets on either end with the word 'bank' written in mandarin. Is this how money was transported in the past? 

Asia House Fair

A wonderful afternoon was spent in Asia House hearing a Tea Master from China Life tell us about Tea. After tasting a few teas, I bought my favourite tea which is Silk Oolong - have been enjoying  its 'creamy milk and mango flavours' every day for the past two weeks. Love it.

I need to find out about more about my Puer Tea Cake - a gift given to me in 2008. Apparently it will improve with age, like a good wine.

Puer Tea Cake and cover 

Now looking forward to checking out China Life's stylish 1920's Shanghai Tea Bar in Camden.....

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Dior pop up shop

Call in to Harrods to see Dior's London window display and pop up shop - shoes travelling on red buses, handbags bobbing around in the Thames under Tower Bridge:)

Clerkenwell Show this weekend

The Private View last night was fun and if you missed it, you can call this evening after work - 4-8pm - or over the weekend. 

You'll love the incredible range of talent and stunning creations at Craft Central Gets Hitched 

(whether getting married or not!)

Claire Hart Design New Collection

Claire Hart Design is launching a new Collection at Craft Central Gets Hitched next week.  
Be one of the first to see her stunning new China-inspired designs.  Click here for your invitation to the show.

New Rose Branch Necklace

 Craft Central Gets Hitched returns for 2013! Give your wedding some character with unique, handmade products by 60 designer makers. Fed up of sprawling soulless commercial wedding fairs? Get personal at Craft Central 21-24 March 2013! All you need to add a handmade touch to the big day. From the bride herself to guests looking for the ideal gift, there’s something for everyone… and, what’s more, IT’S FREE! 

Browse ready to buy products, commission your own piece or discover a bespoke service. Our designers are as excited as you are about your big day (well, almost!) so come and meet them!

Two stalls at Southbank

Spark Productions

Claire Hart Design

Here they are at the Women of the World Festival, my silver jewellery on the stall I shared with Flux  jeweller Alex Yule, and the glorious technicolour products my students made for the Mulberry stall!

Huge thanks to all the colleagues who helped set up the students' stall and brought them on the trip to Southbank. Thanks also to Tim Scott and Gillian Arnold for printing the mugs - they sold really well!

The students can't wait to count their earnings tomorrow........they'll discover that they did fantastically well:)

WoW Festival at Southbank

I saw Jesse Norman introducing some speed mentoring - from a distance! 

Sea Bamboo Bracelet with Butterflies

The Women of the World Festival at the Royal Festival Hall today was packed, with inspiring speakers and lots of info for women in business and in charity work.

Lovely chatting to people at the stall I'm sharing with Alex Yule Jewellery.10% of my sales this weekend goes towards Eden Ministries, a charity I've seen in action in Kunming. They successfully rescue women from trafficking, using a holistic approach, which includes providing them with safe accomodation and teaching them jewellery-making skills in workshops.

My students made fantastic sales today on their stall 'Spark Productions' - and came to help sell! They had a great time.

Looking forward to two more busy days at Southbank this weekend!

Ming Crown at the British Museum

I had a morning (booked four months ago as yesterday was the first Wednesday I had free!) to study this late Ming Dynasty crown at the British Museum. Such a luxury to spend a morning in a quiet library, drawing an antique. It had to be set on crumpled tissue paper to raise the level so that the down-turned beaks of the birds in the front were not touching the table. 

I am fascinated by  the incredible detail of the whole crown - phoenixes, flaming pearls, flower heads, dragons - but it was the leaves that caught my attention, plus a few tiny clouds which I discovered hidden amongst all the gilt silver openwork:)

Flowing movement in the leaves

I first saw Chinese crowns in Dali, Yunnan, in 2008  but at last I have seen an original close-up. It is an amazing decorative object. I've made lots of drawings and will probably need to book a return visit the next time I have a Wednesday free - hopefully less than four months away!

Wedding Show in central London

Call in to 'Craft Central Gets Hitched' - central London's premier Handmade Wedding Fair 21-24th March - where I'll be launching my new silver branch necklace with blossom, alongside my classic red, white and butterfly collections. 

Free entry for lots of  inspiration for your wedding from 60 selected designers:)

.....is this the most beautiful paper in the world?

Hand-made Chiyogami paper from Japan which I buy from Shepherds Falkiners, book-binding specialists  newly re-located to Victoria, central London.

Temptation is now much closer to home - it's going to be hard to resist buying more of this totally gorgeous paper!

London Street Art

We dropped in to Cargoes last night for a drink just so we could sit outside in winter, under the heat lamps:) Looking at the graffiti and talking about art, I realised that the plastic covering over one of the graffitied walls could only mean one thing.  We'd randomly picked a seat with a good view and were sitting in front of a Banksy original.

Apparently this was one of his first in London (2001), but the details of the dog are not as defined now.


 

Banksy at Shoreditch

Earlier, we had come out of the Courtyard Theatre, having seen an interesting play 'Episodes'. Walking along Pitfield Street I recognised this Stik 'Thief' . Love this one!

I pass this Banksy 'Hoodie and Keith Haring dog' every week,  just off the Old Kent Road