Thursday
Feb112010
In London This Weekend! Plus Spoonflower and Weekend Sewing Workshops at Blueberry Hill: Updates
Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 03:41PM I leave for London tonight, give me a holler if there is anything there that I MUST see or do. My husband and Scotty are looking for an excuse to sit in a dark pub screaming at the television, so my list of design / fabric / art / shopping spots is growing without Valentines Day guilt.
As of a moment ago both Weekend Sewing workshops are filled. I have begun a wait list, and am remembering that last summer there were at least three peple who were on the wait list and ended up at one of the workshops. If you are at all interested shoot me an email.
It looks likely that my line for Spoonflower line will launch early next week!
Update: looks like Thursday or Friday, folks! Just working on a few last minute details...
-Heather
Reader Comments (27)
I would definitely check out Alfie's Antique's Market, Camden Market, Lily Vanilli Cupcakes at Swanfield Market Swanfield Street, London, E2 and the lovely Liberty- beautiful fabric there, but I am a dedicated fan so I import your fabric... but if I was in London I would have a look in Liberty because of the beautiful fabric. As it is I sit in my wet British sheep field and wish you a wonderful weekend in the big city. :)
i'll second Liberty, but more for the clothing.
the orla kiely shop.
AND the victoria and albert museum http://www.vam.ac.uk/ the gift shop alone is worth the visit. (and FYI for anyone else reading this... the V&A is having a Quilts exhibition march 20 - july. check out the website's giftshop for fabric.)
have fun!
Ahhh how I miss London.
'The Electric' on Portobello Road, Notting Hill is a great place to enjoy a vino and people watch.
Have fun!
http://www.shaukat.co.uk/categories.asp?cat1=6&cat2=32
You'll want to visit Shaukat's. The best prices on Liberty, and a huge selection!
Go see a show at the National Theater, It's amazing what theater is when the goverment supports it. The production Nation which is running right now will amaze you if you can get tickets.
Liberty! And the V&A. And Tate Modern.
Borough Markets (a walk from Tate Modern) is great for food and especially cheese.
(Thank you to the previous commenter who mentioned the quilts at the V&A - I'll be there in May and will check them out).
Yorkshire Tea. It's the best from England.
Well, as much as I wish I did, I know nothing about London...but sitting in a dark pub screaming at the television sounds darn good to me. Just sayin'. Have fun!
I'm such a lurker and am typically too shy to comment, but as a expat in London who LOVES your work, I feel obligated to make a few suggestions. 1) Spitalfields market on Sun. 2) Borough Market on Sat, while crowded and bit overpriced, is still fun with beautiful and delicious food (chorizo sandwiches are a must, followed by the grilled sandwich at the raclette stand). 3) Liberty is stunning, if not for the house wares, furniture and fabric, then simply for the stunning architecture. And while you are there, it would be worth checking out the charming Cloth House shops at 47 and 98 Berwick Street about a 5 min walk away. 4) the V&A is a must for any design junkie with many hidden treasures, but the "cast room" is an especially unexpected treat. I could go on, and on...have a great time!
Check out Tate modern(free entry which is a bonus), for a laugh more then anything, on the way there you will pass the Globe theatre, the tickets are fairly priced but the plays are LONG so make sure you get a seat. Camden market is quite grundgy (emo) and commercialised now, but still worth a look at the vintage shops round about. Covent garden is cool though, and there are usually alot of street performers/ singers/ clowns etc to entertain while you're there, some days there's an antiques market and others a craft, art market, plus lots of good shops, I'd reccomend lush...but i think you have that in the US now anyway. Deffinatly make time for trafalgar square ( where the lion statues and the fountains are) As it's opposite the national portrait gallery which houses some amazing classic paintings and its just round the corner from china town which does the BEST food....anyways thats my little tour guide.... Have fun in my neck of the woods,london is crowded and noisy but its great. Have fun. ;)
I believe there is rugby on that TC & I may catch......
Can't wait - will be a ton of fun. I may even take in some textiles - esp if they're in a dark pub.
You're in the UK this weekend?! Cool!
Must goes are the V&A museum, especially the gallery with the beautiful gowns from the Asian countries. Stunning workmanship. Also Liberty's, but you already knew that. Love, love that store. If you're up for it, they should still have ice rinks set up a various points around the city, usually there's one at Hampton Court.
Have a great time!
Head to Spitalfields for the market and some great vintage inspirations. Brick Lane for fabrics and Indian inspirations. Camden is very touristy these days imo. Borough Market for food and vibe. Have a great time.
Here's some of fun eating related things to do:
How about shopping/lunch at Borough market, walk down south bank to the Tate modern and over the millenium bridge. Also, Geffrye museum and a bite at a Vietnamese restaurant such as Song Hue. Also eat around Charlotte Street (Fitzrovia) at Salt Yard (Spanish tapas restaurant). Have fun!
When you get hungry from all the shopping head over to Borough Market for some scrummy alfresco grazing. Food stalls of every description.
http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/index.php?pid=13
Liberty definitely, and the V&A, but also the Design Museum is worth a look, and of course Tate Modern (these are just a walk along the river from each other and there are lots of lunch spots nearby). Plus you completely have to have afternoon tea in one of the big hotels (think Ritz, Lanesborough, Claridges) - don't eat any lunch beforehand and just go and pig out on tiny sandwiches and beautiful cakes (and you can usually do a champagne version which is even better) in an atmosphere which is like going back in time - absolutely fantastic. Or alternatively pop round to our place, we'll do you our own version and then take you for a walk round Notting Hill/Portobello/Westbourne Grove for some good shopping spots - it would truly be an honour.
Hmm, great suggestions above! May I add a visit to Colombia Road? http://columbiaroad.info/ or why not hop on a train and head down our way...
The Tate is worth a visit, but if you only have time for a few places the Victoria and Albert is amazing
Go to Camden, pay a visit to 'Never to Busy to B Beautiful' cosmetic an perfume shop :D Also Covent Garden is great for little shops. And definitely go to the Natural History Museum: it's free and great fun: maybe you could make a dinosaur themed fabric someday ;)
Still checking email?
Be SURE to go to the Victoria & Albert Museum! Just read about a fabulous exhibit they've got on art forgeries (yes, really!). So cool and such a hit that it's been extended for another 2 weeks. Must. See. And, be sure to go to the cafe for a scone with clotted cream (i.e., butter) and jam. I've always thought the V&A's scones are the best in London... and then I saw a guidebook that said the same thing! Must be true. LOL!
Have a GREAT trip!
Definitely don't miss the Gorky retrospective at the Tate Modern - incredible! And while at Liberty, head down to the Tea Room for afternoon tea (that's my plan for this *freezing* afternoon; it's one of the cozier spots to sit and catch up with a friend...).
Have a ball at Blueberry Hill, and can't wait for the Spoonflower fabrics to go on sale!!!
Hi! I've never been to London but am a HUGE Cath Kidston fan and can't find her stuff in the states since they closed the shop downtown. The currency exchange kills the buzz of ordering from the website.
I've just discovered the Swan and Edgar pub in Marylebone it's great worth a visit. Very nice food.
Hi Heather, i only just found your blog and was reading this.
Of course I am way late with this but I don't know how long you are going to be in London for and just in case you are either still there, or coming back to it (or keep this suggestion for a future visit) I wanted to still suggest this http://www.troubadour.co.uk/the-cafe.html . It is The Troubadour, the oldest coffee house in London. I used to come there a lot when I lived around the corner. haven't been there for over 20 years now but I heard it is still just as atmospheric and worth a visit.
Hope you are having (have had...) a great time!