About Me

My photo
Loving all stylish and wonderful things in life, fashion and interiors. I am English but living my life in the fabulous city of Melbourne in Australia. Welcome and please read on.... (contact me at sjstubbs19@gmail.com)

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Kilver Court - a place I'm definitely visiting



Kilver Court - designer bargains, secret gardens, great food..... Well, that info. has got me totally interested and you'll bet that this place in Somerset, England will be on my list of places to visit when I am back there in about a month's time..... (And even better news is that it's only about 45 mins from our cottage in the West of England)


Some "blurb" from their website :


A fresh, new experience, Kilver Court mixes a fabulous discount designer shopping emporium with amazing secret gardens, excellent food from the Sharpham Park Farm Shop and pop-up restaurants, a plant nursery, wellness centre and an ever-changing calendar of events.


Created by Mulberry founder Roger Saul, The Kilver Court Emporium is open seven days a week (Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm). It offers an ever-changing, exciting mix of discount designer labels including - Margaret Howell, Toast, Cabbages and Roses and Duchamp. The Emporium is filled with gorgeous fashion and home furnishings. Ranges include menswear, womenswear, fashion accessories and lingerie as well as new and upcycled furniture and vintage decor.

Kilver Court provides a refreshing change for those seeking quality designer items and fantastic bargains all presented in an environmentally aware setting. Restoration, regeneration and renewal are the driving forces behind Roger Saul’s vision for making Kilver Court the best designer shopping destination in the UK. In recent years, Roger and his team of craftspeople have transformed a range of historic industrial buildings with great care and expertise.


Can't wait to visit and wait, there's more - Mulberry's Factory shop is also just around the corner from this wonderful place too!


For more information - http://www.kilvercourt.com/

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Knit Wit.....

I discovered knitting relatively recently in my life and have to say that I rather enjoy this hobby. And I am in good company so it seems; Cameron Diaz, Geri Halliwell, Uma Thurman and Sarah J-Parker all indulge in a little yarn therapy too.

It first helped me through a bout of mild depression about 8 years ago so whenever I get out the knitting needles Mr SE does worry - but he doesn't need to. The only thing I would say is I do like variety and have 3 small projects on the go at the moment. Below photograph shows the 3 together.





This is the first one above. A scarf (that is about all I have managed to master so far!) - but done in a rib stitch - 2 plain knit stitches then 2 purl stitches along each row. I am using a lovely Rowan tweedy wool for this....




Project number two. This will be a 'snood' for darling daughter for when she goes back up to Durham University in the Autumn in UK. I have used a pure undyed wool from Jacob Sheep..... The pattern is one row plain knit stitch and one row of purl. Easy and fun.







And thirdly this one (also to be a 'snood'). It's done in Moss Stitch. One knit stitch, then one purl stitch all along the row. This is also a Rowan pure wool and I love the colours.


The weather has been cold - well I guess it is Winter here in Melbourne but it has also been rainy too - perfect weather for knitting on your day off. It's full on and busy at work with a new catalogue out and this is a good way to relax once all the household chores are out of the way (or out of sight!!) .

View below from the sitting room.







We have been nice and cosy inside today but someone has been 'hogging' the fire - see below!









Anyone else like to knit - are you an expert, or do you like to clack away for fun?













Sunday, August 7, 2011

Kookaburra sits





Last week I was awoken just before dawn by what sounded like a monkey in a jungle.... !!




Actually, it was a Kookaburra and for those of you who don't live in Australia you might be interested in playing the video link below. It does make me laugh everytime I hear it but it wasn't all that funny so early in the morning. I have to say that it is the first time I have heard a kookaburra here where we live in Melbourne - we are quite near the City although the garden does back onto a small area of rough parkland.




Please take a few seconds to listen HERE - and I am sure it will bring a smile to your face too!