DESIGN WEEK IN CLERKENWELL WITH MOROSO, FLOS, VITRA, MOROSO ETC

Yesterday I went to Clerkenwell in London (UK) for their spring design week. Most showrooms and design related companies were open and a few unusual "fair areas" had been put up where a mix of old and new design were shown. Very interesting and inspiring, and well organized. Will finish tomorrow 26 May! I started with a light lunch at Moroso/Flos where they held inspiring design talks about colour and trends. Look at these trendy nibbles with tuna, capers and chives!
One of the showground was in an old prison....
There was even an open temporary bar in the middle of Clerkenwell Road instigated by Ilse Crawford & gang. An invitation to the upcoming design award that will take place in November this year.
Inside "the prison" small rooms with a mix of interior design exhibitors.
Vitra made up the table for a children's party with crochet cups etc, fun! (Clerkenwell Road)
Lulu Guiness, the famous English handbag designer, was invited to do this "project" with studs. Press yourself or anything and look what is on the other side...

Upside down pots....turn gardening on its head, Patrick Morris for Boskke.
...and finally, new lamp from Swedish Company Belysningsbolaget who was there!

BEST IN SHOW AND GOLD AT CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

Best in Show this year at Chelsea Flower Show (London, UK) went to Leeds City Council with this reclaimed waterwheel and tranquil lovely "wild" garden. Congratulations!
Gold medal went to Daily Telegraph and their Mediterranean inspired garden where reclaimed material such as Cotswold's stone and old water pipes etc were used. Also a garden were the plants will evolve and change naturally with time.
Diarmuid Gavin and the Irish Sky Garden got a gold (seen here in leather jacket) for his "satellite" inspired by Avatar and going up and down with guests....lovely rolling landscaped garden below...unusual and very expensive (had a £ 250.000 budget!)

CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW IN THE SKY

Chelsea Flower Show May 2011. I started by going to David Austens Roses for a glass of champagne and to have a look at Vivienne Westwoods fantastic dresses (for Ascots 300 year anniversary) unfortunately she did not turn up herself, but the models did!
This year Chelsea Flower Show (probably the most prestigious flower show in the world) was going sky high! Not only were there flowers on the roofs, the gardens were sky scrapers...like this one by B&Q....(Gwyneth Paltrow was there to put into the tabloid press)
Diamuid Gavin, famous Irish garden designer also took the garden to new dimensions with this movable "satellite". Well he could see his garden below from a new perspective.
Alan Titschmarch, gardener turned TV-presenter, here doing this nights BBC report...from Diarmuids garden. Very lush and green and with typical Gavin "circles"..
Gwyneth Paltrow posing for the photographers in B&Q:s garden. I will be back tomorrow with more "gardening" news...

DINNER AND LUNCH IN THE OLD TOWN OF NICOSIA, CYPRUS

Today we returned for lunch and had a very similar meal, this time with tsatsiki and other dips to go with it. It was lovely to sit in the sun and enjoy this perfect meal! We will be back....


We went back to the white restaurant last night. There specialities are modern Cypriot food with a twist! We had salad with local goats cheese, pomegranate and sun dried tomatoes, grilled octopus and some love barbecued lamb shops with thyme and rosemary. Even the chips were delicious! After food we enjoyed some local musicians playing the guitar etc and singing Cypriot love songs! A very nice evening! (in the corner of Xenierou and Trikoupi Street)

LUNCH AT RIMI IN THE OLD TOWN OF NICOSIA ETC

Yesterday our plan (we are in Nicosia, Cyprus) was to rent a car and go round the island but due to the election today there were no cars available, all had been rented to foreign journalist etc...Instead we walked around the Old Town and went across the border to the Turkish side, A lot more run down and "eastern" but we had a lovely chat and a couple of beer just across the border and met a fellow brit, Justin, who told us all about the north!
A minaret tower on the north and occupied side of Nicosia.
We had a late lunch at Rimi (again, www.rimihotel.com) with a fresh Cypriotic salad, lamb chops and tsatsiki! We got to know the owner and he treated us to the drinks and we got to know a lot about business and politics in Cyprus. A lovely afternoon.

EAT IN THE OLD TOWN OF NICOSIA (CYPRUS)

I am in Nicosia, Cyprus, for the weekend. My husband is working (financial seminar) and I am being a tourist walking round the old town. And look what I found. A new and modern Cypriotic restaurang "Working together in time", lovely name and according to the receptionist at my hotel it is one of Nicosias best and new places. Where supposed to have gone there tonight but have to go to a business dinner instead. Will go tomorrow and tell you all about it! (corner of Xanthis Xenierou and Trikoupi).
I found this wonderful "Turkish bath" in the Old Town, not only can you have some nice bathtime, you can also have massages and treatments. Hamam (www.hamambaths.com), Separate days for women, men and couples!
Some parts of the Old Town are tourist traps but this Boganvilla growing just over the restaurang and hotel Rimi are in a lovely setting, have a salad and a drink, it has that typical Greek Cypriotic feel to it. A lovely piazza to spend a lazy afternoon in!

CREATIV CAMPDEN LADIES IN CHRISTINA GARDEN

Today as a member of Creative Campden (www.creativecampden.com) Christina Kingsmill invited us all into her walled garden for a creative session and homemade pizza! We were five ladies who wrote, took pictures and painted...Look at Liz wonderful painting of the surrounding houses!
Jane was doing this pretty watercolour of Christina's pot! See below!

We ended our lovely get together with some homemade pizza (sun dried tomatoes from Christina's garden) and fresh salad with newly picked pea shoots....thank you Christina!

INTERIORS AND FASHION IN STOW-ON-THE-WOLD

This Sunday we had a short stroll in Stow-on-the-Wold (The Cotswolds, UK) and went in to the fairly new shop, House etc..., were they have recently opened a second floor!
It was filled with lovely wooden cottage furniture (stain and colour removed! Just like in the 1970-is). And textiles in patchwork, nice
They also sell frocks, jewellery, interior accessories etc...
One of my favourite shops in Stow is Foundation. An eclectic mix of fashion etc...
The outfit on the left was hard to ignore...

GARDEN GADGETS IN CHRISTINAS GARDEN AND BLACK AND WHITE THEME IN MINE

Today I went on a creative lunch with members from my local "club" Creative Campden!
We were only five but we managed to write, take pictures, paint and make pizza! Just look at Christinas (hostess) lovely garden gadgets! Inspirational...
She had planted violas in this old handbasin, table from Ikea.
Use old garden tools as decorations....creative
In my garden the theme is black and white with a hint of purple!
These big Alliums are just flowering and looks gorgeous with a background of white Clematis.

SPRING GREENS IN MARYLEBONE HIGH STREET, CONRAN SHOP, MARIMEKKO ETC

Spring and early summer at Conrans at Marylebone High Street (London, UK) with flowery garden "umbrellas", stripy sun chairs (takes me back to the early 80-is when I made my owns and painted both the frame and the canvas!) (£45) and this these "soft" containers for your temporary herb garden. Inspiring!
Marimekko near Christophers Place (London UK) took me back to the 60-is, lovely colours in yellow and purple.
In Designers Guild fairly new shop on Marylebone High Street we found this "corner" in black and white with inspiration from Sweden! Up my street!
Cooked by husbands favourite dish the other night and this is the start. Fry spring onions, chopped garlic and chopped red onion in olive oil. Add grated fresh ginger, chopped fresh coriander and some chili (to taste). Add chopped tomatoes (tinned), sun dried tomato paste, tomato paste, a drizzle of honey. Let it simmer for at least 10 minutes and add salt and pepper to taste. Finally add some already cooked tiger prawns and let them just warm up...Serve with black spaghetti (squid ink pasta) or any other spaghetti of your liking. Top with some fresh coriander. Spicy and different, a marriage between Thai and Italian!
Finally, Brisi always has very nice window displays. Notice the lover flowerpots "in flower".