Bluebells

Annie posted a photo on Instagram a few weeks back and that prompted a near panic in me to suss out the nearest woods that still has blooming bluebells. After more frantic googling and texting between Tara and I, we figured that we might just be able to catch the last vestiges of wilted bluebells of 2013. The last time I scrambled around in search of a holy grail, it was for a handbag.Who knew bluebells get the same response as a Chanel?

We stuffed our 3 rugrats into the car and headed off on a mini adventure amidst howling, chortling and what looked like a World War 3 going on in the passenger seats. One does not understand the full spectrum of the word patience until one has to deal with rabid animals disguised as children on a daily basis. God bless teachers everywhere. I'd rather go through another childbirth without epidural than having to deal with a classroom full of little kids. Every. Single. Day. (I'm never going to win Mother of the Year award after publishing this post).

Anyways ........ the sight of a blanket of bluebells covering the grounds near Micheldever Woods was enough to make us (the two adults, not the kids) break into a dance. Ever tried herding children? Let me tell you, shepherds have it way easier. Because sheep do NOT have opinions. We managed to get a few photos before the wolves started howling our well disciplined, meek and sweet as apple pie kids suggested that it was past their bedtime. (mwahahaha......hope you didn't fall for that lie!!)

Top 10 Bags & Shoes Picks From Sales

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My friend, Christy and I were standing in front of my closet trying to put together an outfit for me. Something slightly more radical and "unique". "Hmmm....... you have a small and well edited collection", she said while we were scratching our heads trying to conjure up a few missing pieces in my closet. There are glaring gaps namely a pair of black ankle boots and bada$$ gladiator heels. A proper long raincoat with a massive hood that'll cover my head and face. A panama hat to reduce the risk of migraine thanks to sun glare to list a few.....

I'm hating the word minimalist more and more these days. The fear of clutter (the result of living with hoarders ALL my life) has driven me to keep only the bare essentials. Now that the sales season has started, I'm getting my shopping mojo back albeit slowly. I've had a look at the Barneys sale and the prices are so much better than what we get over here in the U.K. Take the fabulous J Brand Aiden boyfriend jeans, they're now $89 (£59). They cost an eye-watering £260 here. Notice the gulf wide disparity?

I've been eyeing the Givenchy Lucrezia Duffle for a while now. The neutral contrasting colors make it even more eye-catching without it being overly so. I have a soft spot for duffle bags as they're practical especially if they come with a detachable strap.

I've featured Sophie Hulme bags previously because they're 1) well made  2) affordable  3) while they're not considered it bags, her bags are elegant and striking. I saw a lady carrying it on an elevator once and I couldn't stop staring at the bag. I love dual purpose bags because it's a little like getting 2 bags for the price of 1. The envelope clutch doubles as a crossbody bag during the day. As for the Bottega Veneta Intrecciato clutch, it's a classic piece that never dates.

Notice all those low to mid heel ankle straps? The answer to your question is yes, I'm still obsessed with them. It's an ongoing love affair. Nothing's over 2.5 inches high which is all I can manage till I've mastered the art of walking on stilts.  Has anyone managed to nab some bargains lately?

Sales Picks

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Call me frugal but personally, I think there's no point spending more money on an item unnecessarily if you can get it cheaper a few months later. Well, there's always an exception to the rule. Some things are just that popular that if you don't pounce on it early enough, it'll disappear forevermore (yup, this has happened to me before, more often than not).

I've got my eye on a few things and am waiting for the sales season to hit the U.K. Those of you in the U.S are luckier than the rest of us over the other side of the Atlantic. Net-a-porter sale started today. Here are a few items that's been on my wish list since forever. I tend to use the opportunity to stock up on basics and nab a few designer items at a discount.

Check out this Michael by Michael Kors leather trimmed parka with a hood (an important feature in EVERY coat if you're living in the U.K) going at a mere $135. Have fun shopping!

Hermès' Festival Des Métiers 2013

It has been a hectic but incredibly exciting week catching up with both new and old friends. In fact, Lil L and I got in our front door just before midnight after a day out with a very old friend of mine whom I've known since I was 7. There's something special about a friendship that's lasted this long. We will be back in London again later in the week to see another buddy of mine soon. Can't wait! Who knew an introvert (moi) can turn into a social butterfly when given the chance?!

After many emails and tweets back and forth, Fauxionista, Kelly and I finally met up face to face. What do 3 bag obsessed ladies do when we catch up? Yup, you've guessed right. We checked out bags or in the other words, The Rolls Royce of all bags - Hermès.  Hermès' Festival Des Métiers (or otherwise known as Rendezvous with Hermès craftspeople) is in town. And for the first time, photography wasn't banned.

This particular Lyon based artisan (1st photo) is in fact, the only craftsperson in the world that specializes in making velvet out of thick 2 ply silk scarves. Hermes originally employed the services of a couple who used to produce these handiwork to train 3 of their employees in order to ensure that the art does not die out. Two of them decided not to continue but this lady did. She now has 3 apprentices. Each piece takes anything from 4 to 7 days to make and are only available through their special order service or Ready To Wear collection.




The young watchmaker based in Switzerland painstakingly put each minuscule piece together to create a watch. It's all done by hand with such precision. I think I appreciate my automatic Cape Code watch a lot more now.




The jeweler was making diamond encrusted studs similar to the ones you see on the Collier de Chien cuff bracelets.







I was enthralled by the entire process of breaking down and interpreting an artist's work in order to prepare the design for screen printing. The making of a scarf was fascinating. Every step from designing, screen printing, hemming to the final product is done by hand which requires such meticulous concentration and rigorous quality control. Nadine who had a background of hairdressing has been doing this for 30 years. The  Wa'ko-ni (an Indian princess) art piece had 40 colors and took her nearly 2000 hours to draw and separate the design into various transparent sheets.

The tie making station

Having visited a factory in Turkey, I wasn't exactly a stranger to the process of making ceramics. However, Hermès certainly takes it to another level using platinum paints which costs approximately €4000 for a 30ml bottle. I guess there isn't room for silly mistakes then. Did you know that they use those cute Bonne Maman jam jars for their paints?













See that to die for Kelly 32cm retourne in Taurillon Clemence leather? It had the EXACT combination that I wanted along with the canvas strap that I'd be willing to get on my knees and beg for. Yup, I was gawking drooling stroking looking at it with such intensity that the security guard actually took a step closer to me.

The Hermès marketing ploy is brilliant. If you didn't think you'd ever want an Hermes accessory before, you'll definitely want one now. There's no way that even the most skeptical person could have walked out the door after seeing these artisans at work, to not appreciate the rare and traditional  craftsmanship that would've died out had companies like Hermes not preserve them.

Pass It Forward: 3 Extraordinary Photographers

I once had a conversation with a talented artist where I disputed the fact that photography could be categorized as art. She insisted I was wrong saying that it takes a creative mind to produce images using light and the ability to visualize the scene in front of a person into a picture that evokes emotion. And combine all this with the technical know-how of using a camera. She was right.

Talented photographers are often asked what equipment they own. I know many who use iPhones or not so fancy cameras.  The difference lies in their ability to "see" and convey an image.


Still Life

  

I've featured Alice Gao on 2 other occasions but her talent is extraordinary and needs another mention. I can't help but be inspired when I view her work. Her strength lies in creating the most aesthetically pleasing images out of mundane ordinary objects and making us see them differently. Here's her Tumblr account, After The Cups. Congratulations to Alice for being featured in Club Monaco Tumblr campaign.


Landscapes

I came across Jon Sargisson's breathtaking photos while googling for bluebell fields in England. I was rendered speechless after seeing one beautiful picture after another. It was enough to convince me that England is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Head over to his website and be prepared to be blown away.


Photojournalism

Steve McCurry's famous photo of the Afghan girl with the startling blue eyes is permanently imprinted on most people's retina. In fact, it was him who inspired me to pick up a camera when I headed off to China in search of the elusive Long Horned Miao ethnic minority group. The National Geographic superstar is a legend and whose name is whispered by many in reverential tones.

Snapshots of Hampshire

You know you've assimilated into the English culture when you become obsessed with the weather. It's the first thing you check when you get up. The weather forecast app gets more finger taps than anything else on my phone. You race out the door the minute there's a ray of sunshine bursting through between the grey clouds. Or find a spot in the house that gets the most sunshine.

The sun reared its weary head in the evening (finally) so I grabbed my friend Christy and Lil L and made them go for a walk right up to the hilltop.  Even after 5 years, I still get asked frequently why the heck did I prefer to live in the U.K when most people are hoping to escape to Australia or New Zealand. I don't have a garden nor do I ever have a desire to have one. I still have the remarkable talent of killing any plants on my window sill that aren't eaten up within a month. But what I have is charming and pretty countryside right in my backyard.

As we walked down the country lane, we caught a whiff of the fragrant jasmine flower (did you know that jasmine is a natural remedy for stress and anxiety?). There were aquatic insects skimming the surface of the river, squirrels scurrying about and birds chirping in the background. I can't help but feel grateful for my life here in the U.K.