Things I Bought in London

Of course I’m going to geek out about the fabric first. I experienced a reverent feeling as soon as we entered Liberty’s fabric and craft floor. I think I heard angels singing, possibly. I wish I’d had the courage to snap a few pictures in the store, but I was afraid I’d get in trouble and I wanted to make sure I had a nice, long time to browse. They also have a fabulous yarn section that would make any knitter weep for joy. It made me misty and I don’t have the first clue about knitting.

In the end, the entire wall of delicious Tana Lawn fabric on bolts were just overwhelming. I couldn’t settle on one yardage that I wanted and the price makes it a big commitment (21 quid/meter, with translates into roughly $34/meter). So I ended up with this lovely bundle of lawns you see above, from which I plan to make…something.

Now I regret not purchasing some yardage, but that’s what I get for being unable to focus at the time we were shopping. Blame it on the jet lag. I’m sure Robyn wanted to quietly slip about ten paces away from me as I kept up a constant litany of “Oooh, look at this one. I LOVE it. OOOH LOOK AT THIS ONE. Ooooooh…”

I commented to Robyn at the time that if you account for the unfavorable US/UK exchange rate, it might be about the same cost to just purchase some Tana Lawn online back in the states. That’s not quite true in all cases, since you have to add in shipping and the online price varies by a few dollars. And of course, there’s not nearly the selection as on the mothership.

So I was stingy with myself for nothing. But I award myself points for at least making an effort at restraint.

I do love the bundle I came home with, and I think it will be gorgeous together in a quilt or throw. If I ever make one. I’d throw in a bunch of creamy white or grey to complement it, possibly. The peacock and floral fabrics shown on their own above are my two favorites from the bundle. Makes me wish I had a few yards of that green/cream floral. Mm mm mmm. Wouldn’t that be a stunning blouse or shift? Crud.

While I was at Liberty, I picked up some glass headed pins. I can’t find them at my craft store. My pins are all in pitiful condition, hopefully these will last longer. (I can’t type the word pins without thinking about Stanley in Going Postal. Book nerd moment.)

And here’s the ubiquitous tourist magnet purchase, which will join the group of destination magnets on my refrigerator. I’m not much of a collector, but that is one thing I make sure to get from each place I go. And on the right some cute purse sized notebooks as souvenirs.

I wanted to get a Christmas ornament from Harrods, which I did after getting lost in the store (despite being given a map as I entered the door. Be quiet, Robyn). I had envisioned something really classic and British looking, like a blown glass union jack or double decker bus, but I was disappointed with the selection. They were mostly kind of cheap looking, plastic, gaudy and HUGE. So I just went with this frosted glass one I liked for it’s design and I’ll write “London” on the back myself.

OK. If you’ve never seen a Pylones shop, you won’t understand the brightly colored and powerful tractor beam that draws you in off the streets of Oxford and pries open your wallet and makes you want to buy every blasted adorable thing in the store. I was very proud that I came away with only this pepper grinder. It could have gotten very ugly for my bank account in there.

And lastly, this very wrinkly shot of the coolest tea towel ever. I super love it. I bought it from a great shop we both loved called pod. I will not be using it to wipe up milk spills. I think it would look great mounted in a frame, but not sure yet if that is its final destination. I love how each of the sights of London are so cleverly represented. 

And that sums up the retail therapy portion of the trip! If you missed the stuff I learned or the stuff I did, you can jump to those.