Postcard from London

 Earlier this month, I went to London for a couple of days. As so often, I stayed in my favourite place, the Number Sixteen Hotel in South Kensington. Each time, the room is a surprise, as they are all different and get refurbished regularly. This one was particularly bright and happy, and I loved the fabric-lined walls in warm yellow and the bold pink headboard.

Travelling outfit ... sleeveless blazer with a black v-neck jumper, jeans, ankle boots and my Ex Libris en Kimonos 90 carré in a reverse basic bias fold

Such beautiful details:

I met with DS for a late lunch at Daphne's

and we had a wonderful time catching up (dress by La Double J; I wore it with skinny black jeans and ankle boots).

The next day, I headed to Decorex, ready to explore it with my friend Melissa White. I had never visited this show before, and I'm so glad Melissa told me about it.  

The first stop was an embroidery workshop held by Fromental. 

We were given a beautifully printed linen napkin that we then embellished with a variety of stitches.

I chose French Knots to decorate the pomegranates,

a chain stitch for the bird's tail and French knots for the upper part of the wing

It was so much fun exploring the show with Melissa and seeing the works, crafts and materials through an artist's lens. She also knows a lot of people at Decorex, friends and work-related alike, and it has been wonderful to meet and connect.

This is Claire Coles in front of her latest work, a couture wallpaper with appliqué and painted flowers on a gold leaf background. Recently, she did a similar commission for the Diptyque showroom in London, where she created a spectacular ceiling for the main entrance (you can read more here).

There were also several fabric makers, and I loved browsing this pretty pattern book.

Melissa enjoys fabric sourcing as much as I do!

There were also numerous craftsmen showing their trade, and one of the most striking was Elizabeth Ashdowns's passementerie stand. She is one of the few remaining artisans left in the United Kingdom still mastering this craft,  and I love how the bright colors she uses give it such a modern and vibrant twist.

The next day, I strolled down the Kings Road and saw the exact same plates as above at Anthropology. What are the chances?

I also loved this fabric ...

And it goes with my dress!

London shop displays don't end at the windows ... I love how they sometimes spill out onto the pavements, making the sidewalks so pretty and interesting.

Number Sixteen

A last glass of champagne

Back home, autumn is in the air but takes turns with Indian summer days. My hydrangea went from pale pink to bright green in late summer and has now turned scarlet red.

This was two months ago and a perfect summary of our summer.

For now, on our daily walks, the boys and I are watching nature turning into a colour spectacle. 

My lunch bowls have also taken a seasonal turn towards autumn. I made this one with red beans, chickpeas, smoked tofu, beetroot, onions, olive oil, and pumpkin seeds.

Have a wonderful remaining autumn and Indian Summer, everyone xxx

PS. Some readers told me they hadn't received an email for the previous update (Christmas workshop). If this has been the case for you, please let me know in the comments below. Thanks so much!

Links in alphabetical order to the people, brands, products and places mentioned above (as usual, there is no affiliation, sponsorship or paid advertising ... I'm just sharing what I encounter, love and enjoy)

Anthropology Geo plate

Claire Coles

Daphne's

Decorex

Elisabeth Ashdown

Fromental

La Double J dress

Melissa White

Number Sixteen

Tall Trees bowl

Christmas workshop

The festive season will be here sooner than we think, so this seems the perfect time to announce my upcoming Christmas workshop (a regular blog post will follow soon).

My past workshops (olive and lavender-themed) have been wonderful experiences; there is nothing more fun than spending a day in a small group baking or cooking, decorating, sharing a meal, exploring scarf-tying and learning new skills.

The picture gallery and program below gives you an idea of what to expect (you can choose the class with or without the napkin embroidery module).

Travel tip: We are less than three hours away from Paris by train; why not combine a trip to the City of Lights with a visit to the South of France?

For more information and how to book, please click here. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below. 

Looking forward to spending a day filled with activity, creativity, and fun with you! 

xxx

My grandmother Else (below with my dad and his sister) taught my mother the Christmas cookie recipe, which my mother taught me in turn. 

 Here's the original recipe in her cookbook, which she credits to her aunt Anna. The date is December 29, 1912. They probably saw each other at or after Christmas that year, and Else must have asked Anna for the recipe:

The Program

We start the day at 9:30 am with coffee and tea and then make my favourite Christmas cookies. 

Once we finish baking, we'll explore gift wrapping. I'll show you how to make perfect bows and share my tips on creating extra special and beautiful wrapping. 

After the gift wrapping, we have soup, homemade quiche with salad, baguette, cheese, and a glass of local wine for lunch.

Next, we create a festive tablescape using natural materials, candles, and seasonal decorations.

Then we practice scarf tying. You can bring a couple of your scarves so we can explore various ways to wear them and showcase specific parts of their design. You can also ask for how-tos on specific knots.

The class ends around 4pm (unless you booked the embroidery module).

In case your booking includes the embroidery module:

After the scarf class, we have a tea/coffee break and taste our freshly baked Christmas cookies. 

Then, I show you how to embroider a decorative and festive wreath onto a linen or cotton dinner-size napkin. The embroidery stitch is quick and easy to learn and adapted for beginners. If you need more time to complete your creation, you'll be given all the necessary materials to finish your napkin at home. 

The class ends around 5:30 pm.