One of the things I love the most about my job is the travel I get to do and all the amazing people I meet. I love hearing about peoples' life journeys and how they have ended up where they are right now. I spent a lovely afternoon with Sarah from Sala Yoga in Hampstead Heath this week, reminiscing about life, love, work and yoga (and yes we did talk a little bit about boys too). An inspiring lady with a humble, human approach to life in general and the body in particular, getting to know Sarah has been a pleasure and privilege. The benefits of yoga, meditation and mindfulness is something that for me is a constant companion on my journey so far and I can't wait to see where it will take me next.
Norfolk- Horticultural Society Show
After a very long summer, I have lots of stories to share... I'll start with this one. As first-timers we entered three items into the horticultural society annual show in our little Norfolk village. Cooking apples from our garden, a single rose as well as Norfolk Honey biscuits that I made.
We actually won first price for our apples, second for the rose but no mention of my baking efforts ha. Next year we have our eyes set of taking an actual trophy home! Watch this space.
As a Scandinavian living in the UK, I found the whole event rather exotic- this quaint show had a lovely traditional element to it. Plus I loved all the cute ladies in florals. We will definitely be partaking next year, and I'll be wearing my very best floral outfit.
Juniper Weaves
Earlier this week I went to visit Kelly who's the founder and creator of Juniper Weaves in her beautiful home in Richmond where she lives with her husband and two adorable little ones. Kelly showed me a selection of her stunning wall weaves and macrame work- I'm in love with her work's rustic charm and feminine sensibility. Really excited to be working on a special WE ARE HERE NOW + Juniper Weaves collaboration to be released in the next couple of months- watch this space...
To buy a Juniper Weave or discuss bespoke work email: juniperwallweaves@gmail.com
The Floury
A sunny summer morning spent in the garden of Holly's Victorian house in Stoke Newington, taking pictures of cakes. It doesn't get much better than this in my books! The Floury was founded by Holly in 2015 and makes wonderful cakes and baked goods using mainly seasonal and local ingredients whenever possible. Not only beautiful, but also made with much love, The Floury bakes everything from gorgeous bespoke wedding cakes to delicious birthday brownies. Inspired by the countryside, greenery, flowers and simple living- The Floury's unique aesthetic and mindful approach to baking makes it truly one-of-a-kind and very inspiring indeed.
A Retreat with the Secret Yoga Club
After a hectic week, going on a weekend retreat with the Secret Yoga Club at the beautiful Knowlton Court was exactly what I needed. Two days filled with yoga, creative workshops, amazing food and wonderful people I came back to London feeling calmer, more mindful and truly relaxed. Some things are good for the soul and this retreat was definitely one of them...
Morning yoga session taught by the lovely Laurella Fox-Pitt
The beautiful gardens
Breakfast by Becks Wilkinson
Supper in the stunning dining room
A creative drawing workshop led by Jessica and Lottie
Hana Hybs Ceramics
I love the blend of faith, serendipity and luck in life and somehow believe that things don't just 'happen'. There's a purpose to all the people we meet in life, some stay only for a little while to teach us something and some people change your life forever. This is the beauty of life.
I was so pleasantly surprised to find out (via Instagram of all places) that Hana Hybs lives just a couple of doors down from me in the same building, on the same floor. I love the creative process of everything handmade and ceramics in particular, so after looking at Hana's beautifully crafted ceramics online I was dying to see them in person and of course to meet the maker behind them. Hana invited me over to her workspace/ studio/ living space and now we are working on a little ceramic collaboration together- soon available in my webshop.
Working with a variety of clays and porcelain, Hana works with small batches of mainly one-offs. Describing her work as 'modest considered pieces that last' I couldn't agree more and can't wait to share more pictures of her work from our upcoming collaboration. To see more of Hana's work and to buy her ceramics visit throwlikeagirl.co.uk
Function + Form Event
I was invited to Function + Form's first event in November last year and loved everything about it (down to the stylish paper clips). Bringing together like-minded people over an informal brunch in a beautiful space is probably my most ideal weekend activity, so I was delighted to receive another invite to their second gathering this past weekend. Starting with coffee and amazing cakes at Ottolenghi in Spitalfields, this time it was all about inspiring interiors as we were invited to tour the East London homes of architect Chris Dyson and interior designer Laura Lakin courtesy of Houzz.co.uk.
Set in a quiet backstreet of historic Spitalfields Market, architect Chris Dyson's grand family home houses a ground floor gallery and a rooftop terrace with amazing views over some of London's oldest rooftops. Dating back to the 1720s, this house is a lovely example on how to fuse historic architecture with contemporary details.
Equally gorgeous, with a very different vibe- interior designer Laura Lakin's Hackney flat is housed in an old school building. Home to a intriguing selection of contemporary art, this stylish home perfectly fuses a monochrome colour scheme with industrial details, still retaining a homely cozy feel. Can't wait for the next Function + Form event!
Madeleines
I love baking and I've been wanting to make Madeleines for ages, so I finally got myself a Madeleine tray and made some this afternoon. I found this recipe online at Allrecipes.co.uk- it's really easy + takes under 30 minutes to make from start to finish.
This makes about 18-20 Madeleines (I may have tried a little bit of the mixture..!)
You'll need
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 125g icing sugar
- 100g plain flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 125g butter, melted and cooled
- Preheat the oven to 190 C. Grease and flour the Madeleine moulds.
- In a medium bowl beat eggs, vanilla and lemon zest with an electric mixer on high speed for 5 minutes. Gradually beat in the icing sugar. Beat for 5 to 7 minutes or until thick and satiny.
- Sift together the flour and baking powder. Sift 1/4 of the flour mixture over the egg mixture, gently fold in. Fold in the remaining flour by fourths. Then fold in the melted and cooled butter. Spoon batter into the prepared moulds, filling 3/4 full.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are golden and the tops spring back. Cool in moulds on a rack for 1 minute. Loosen with a knife. Invert onto a rack and cool. Once cool sift icing sugar over the tops and tadah you're done!
Persephone Books
Bloomsbury is one of my absolute favourite neighbourhoods in London and right in the middle of it you’ll find historic Lamb’s Conduit Street, offering a selection of really nice independent stores. Not to be missed, Persephone Books reprints often neglected books by 20th century female writers. The signature grey book jacket is matched by lovely vintage-inspired endpaper and corresponding bookmark, making it the perfect present. I also love the A Book a Month subscription where you can choose between a six or twelve membership and get a book a month of your choice sent to you or a friend.
Visit Persephone Books at 59 Lamb’s Conduit Street, WC1N 3NB
The Perfect Long Weekend at Deans Court in Dorset
As much as I love living in London, there’s something truly magical about leaving the hustle and bustle and general craziness of Hackney on a Friday afternoon to arrive in the tranquil countryside just a couple of hours later. This weekend we went to beautiful Dorset and spent three amazing days at adorable Plum Cottage on Deans Court Estate.
Plum Cottage
Our view from the back door at Plum Cottage
Located just a stone's throw from the centre of the picture perfect town of Wimborne Minster, Deans Court is run by William and Ali Hanham. The impressive country estate has been in the Hanham family for nearly 500 years and it's not difficult to understand why it's such a popular wedding venue. It also houses a vintage-inspired lifestyle store, great café, holiday cottages and a beautiful walled kitchen garden.
The seven bedroom Gate House is perfect for a long weekend with friends or family.
The Gate House
Walking around the grounds, orchard and walled vegetable garden was a real treat.
The Greenhouse
The super cute lifestyle store offers a mix of hand-picked items for the home as well as a café, which serves delicious coffee and a selection of seasonal snacks, sandwiches and homemade cakes. Using local produce as much as possible, the food in the café comes from the vegetable garden and the local surrounding area.
The Squash Court Store
The Squash Court Café
To find out more about Deans Court as a wedding venue, book the cottages, The Gatehouse or to to attend one of the workshops (I love the look of the fishing event!) visit Deans Court's website.
Blåsippa
The blue Anemone (in Swedish 'blåsippa') is one of my absolute favourite spring flowers. We often find them in the back garden or in the forest in front of the cabin - bringing some home for the dinner table is one of the surest signs that spring is in the air.
Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs
Easter is one of my absolute favourite holidays and we always spend it at the summerhouse in Öland which this year is somewhere on the verge between winter and spring. Decorating for this special celebration is always a highlight and this week I dyed my own Easter eggs using red and yellow onion peel. Incredibly easy, all you do is cover your eggs in the outer layers of the onion peel, wrap each egg individually in tinfoil and boil for about ten minutes to get this incredible marble effect.
Grey is the Calmest Colour
A walk by the summerhouse in beautiful Öland, a magical island just off the East coast of Sweden. My favourite place on earth, the colours here are always spellbinding...
Kew Gardens in Spring
Receiving a membership to Kew Gardens is still one of my best Christmas presents to date, it's such a special part of the world. This afternoon I just walked around the grounds, exploring with my new camera...
Things I like, March
Some of my favourite things this month: I absolute adore the work of Swedish illustrator Maja Säfström and her new book 'The illustrated compendium of amazing animal facts' is a delight for all animal fans out there (in shops later this month). As I'm a bit of a natural beauty junky and a sucker for beautiful packaging, I also have to include Swedish company Vilda Växter's wild pine & flower body oil, as well as the super relaxing and divine smelling Moroccan Rose hand-blended bath salt from Ravenscourt Apothecary. Speaking of beauty regimes, everyone around me know that it takes me AGES to get ready in the morning (sorry!!) so I bought myself this mini hourglass from HAY which runs out of sand after 15 minutes to time myself... Last- but not least- I LOVE this handmade leather bag from Swedish brand eduards accessories, which I'm excited to say will be available in my webshop very soon.
A Trip to Kent
Spring is (almost!) in the air so we decided to leave London for some fresh country air this weekend. Kent is so close and have lots of lovely places to visit- we drove to Deal, Sandwich and Broadstairs and only saw a fraction of this beautiful county. We shall be returning very soon.
One of the most special things about a weekend away in the UK countryside is staying in a lovely B&B, we found the perfect farmhouse, dating back to the 17th century with stunning views of the countryside and a free-standing bathtub.
A blustery walk from St Margaret's at Cliffe with stunning views of the signature white cliffs of the Kent coast.
Fresh fish and crisp white wine at Wyatt & Jones in Broadstairs was a highlight.
My favourite little town of this trip was definitely quaint Sandwich, so many pretty houses and doors.
And I always love a pebbled beach...
Three Days in Paris
Three days in Paris is just about enough time to absorb a whiff of refined French everyday life. Some of my favourite spots include classic cultural institutions Palais de Tokyo and Musée d'Orsay, walking over the beautiful River Seine (about 50 times) and having endless cafe noisettes.
The futuristic architecture and pinetree garden at The National Library
Coffee and lunch at Institut de Bonté
Ai Weiwei's whimsical paper sculptures at iconic department store Le Bon Marche
And the Iris Apfel Installation
Art History classics at Musée d'Orsay
The downstairs bar at Palais de Tokyo
The inspiring green colour scheme at Monsieur Bleu (with the best view of the Eiffel Tower)
The Best Pancakes
It's no secret that I'm slightly obsessed with finding the perfect pancake recipe so when Sue kindly made me the most amazing pancakes on my visit to Norfolk, I just had to find out exactly what her secret is...
These are great to serve with maple syrup, honeycomb or blackberry butter or fresh blue berries in season. We had ours with Pancetta.
You will need:
- 4oz ( 100g ) plain flour or spelt flour
- 1 level tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 half level tsp cream of tartar
- pinch of fine sea salt
(Sieve all above together)
- 1 oz of caster sugar
- 1 Egg
- 125 ml of full fat milk or buttermilk
A few drops of vanilla essence
Put all dry ingredients into a bowl. Then mix together the egg, vanilla and milk with a fork.
Add to the dry ingredients and beat all together with a wooden spoon.
Place spoonfuls of the batter on to a griddle pan (smooth) or a lightly greased frying pan.
Cook until bubbles burst on the top , then flip over until cooked.
Keep cooked pancakes warm wrapped in a clean cloth until all are cooked.
Things I Like, February
Some of my favourite things this month: receiving gorgeous wallpaper samples from William Morris (still can't decide which one!), the new skin serum from Bamford (love the packaging), white hyacinths, making eucalyptus wreaths (tutorial here), The Saul Leiter exhibition at The Photographer's Gallery and finally having a tote bag that fits ALL my bits (I had my own made and will be selling it here soon).
A Day at Bamford Haybarn Spa
I'm a big fan of the Daylesford brand as well as the beautiful Bamford line so I was beyond excited to be invited to spend the day at the stunning Bamford Haybarn in the Costwolds.
A most spoiling experience both for body and mind, the day started with a lovely bespoke facial using the natural and gorgeous-scented signature Bamford products.
Lunch was served in the sun-soaked relaxation area and consisted of a hearty mix of delights including organic chicken bone broth, raw slaw and cold pressed juices.
Followed by an hour's mindful meditation practice with the lovely Christina Chandika.
A place to return to, the Daylesford Farm also houses a beautiful flower shop, lifestyle store, deli/ foodshop as well as café/ restaurant. My only regret is that I couldn't have stayed a bit longer...
I shall be back to this very special place soon.
