Royal Wedding Fashion

A break from normal business, to share some of these wedding guest outfits I saw at the Royal Wedding, coming out of the afternoon reception. There were so many stunning outfits which we didn't see on tv. My ideal coverage would have just focused on each guest going into the Abbey...

Love this orange outfit

Gorgeous dress and bag {and there were a lot of nude shoes}

Arabella Musgrave, a lady in red, a great colour for a pale brunette

Understated, but elegant.

Two of my favourite outfits were worn by Miriam Gonzalez and Princess Beatrice {I loved her Valentino coat, and the Philip Treacy hat} - both of which have been described by some as fashion flops. Which did you like, and how did you celebrate? And what do you think of this photo - changing into your Birkenstocks when you're at the Palace gates? I hope you enjoyed watching!

{Photographs - mine. Please do not use without my permission.}

Red, white and blue all over...

Emma Lee {just because I liked the colours}

Miss Hope's Chocolate Box {£7.87}, Umbrella {£18}, Fairy Liquid {via India Knight}, Union Jack shopper {£10}, Commemorative mug {£20.}

Silver Jubilee party {via this fabulous post on street parties at Caroline, No - I keep going back to it.}

Max Attenborough

I resisted buying any Royal Wedding souvenirs in the end {except for this ring}, and you won't see any Union Jacks on my blog again in a hurry {can't stand any national flags}, but I am so excited for the wedding! Today I went for a walk around Westminster and Buckingham Palace {where I once went to a garden party!} and there was a great buzz; have a lovely weekend, whether you are watching or not!

Summer style

Just a few summer accessories I like... faded scarf {£19.99}, cork sandals {£45 - I have these and they are very comfortable}, trilby hat {£18}.

Easter flowers

I would love to have a garden with flowers and leaves for cutting. Above, a rustled-up centrepiece from my mum's garden, in vases I found around the house. It doesn't match, but sometimes anything goes and makes the table just that little bit more special.

Tea of the week: a royal wedding

Predicable, perhaps? Not a long-term souvenir, but these tea bags {£7.95} are a fun {but pricey} way to accompany the early morning coverage. I'm going in search of a replica engagement ring today. Apologies in advance to the landfill, but I am hoping to buy the £2 Primark version.

Thanks, Mathilde Heart Manech.

£5 finds: Charlotte Farmer

Next up in my £5 finds series is Charlotte Farmer, an illustrator with a fun range of tea towels, {including an obligatory Kate 'n' Wills version} and a blog, too {love this burger cake!}

Here's her £5 find:

"It's a green velvet jewellery box type thing, which I've had for years...but it was that worn when I found it in a little antique shop in Cheltenham. I think the signs of age make it much nicer and intriguing than if it was in perfect condition. I kept going in and looking at it and eventually one of my friends bought it for me and pinned an old German illustration inside which says: "Lotte, the eldest daughter plays tennis" which was perfect as I used to play tennis all the time!

I really love just how worn it is, inside and out. It has a slightly less glamorous role in life than it probably used to, as it is home to my memory stick - which I lost a few weeks back, so when I finally found it I knew it needed to be somewhere safe!

{The green box is resting on a nice royal plate which I got for £3 in Lyme Regis, inspiration for my Kate 'n' Wills teatowel!}"

Thanks, Charlotte!

Shopping list: clamp lights

On my shopping list: some kind of clamp light, as I can't see very well from my bedside lamp and want to direct the light better. Which do you like?

1. BTC lamp, 2. Luci clamp light {£49.95}, 3. & 6. Silver and pink clamp light {£10}, 4. House Doctor light {£80.68}, 5. Vintage 1920s lamp {sold, on Etsy.}

There can't be many...

...people who can successfully carry off these disco shorts {£129}, but I envy those who can. Other shorts I like here and here.

London love: DriDri gelato

Mouthwatering flavours and a very cute website from Dri Dri Gelato. {Custard cream gelato and cherry sorbet - yum.}

{via Looking to Cook on Twitter.}

Farrow and Ball

Love these inspiration images, showcasing Farrow and Ball's latest range of colours. A blue ceiling, anyone?

A week and a bit to go...

...and I'm very excited about the Royal Wedding, despite the backlash. No street party on my street, so I have been following other people's party plans here {includes a crazy lady making replicas of every house on their street.}

ABC paper cups from Papermash {£9.50.}

Tea of the week: Charlotte Street Hotel

Spring-like teacups at the Charlotte Street Hotel, whose hotel facade is the prettiest in London.

Wednesday workspace: Dulux green

Bright green isn't a colour I can imagine using, but doesn't it look so cheery in this space? This room is painted in Dulux's Forest Falls.

{via Homes on Film.}

I am surrounded by birdsong...

...in my London flat, and like to support the little ones in their endeavours, - so I love this bird feeder from Hunter Gatherer {£19.50.}

Orla Kiely

I like to think I am quite well acquainted with Orla Kiely {I've spotted her twice, once on the Eurostar, once at Midcentury Modern}, but it was a treat to revisit her website and find a few items which are slightly different from her signature stem style. The lampshade is pretty typical perhaps, {but it's yellow, and fitted in with the post} and I love the yellow wallpaper! Her clothing range is great too. The grey skirt called to me from the window of her King's Road shop {but not quite loudly enough, at £266} - I also love this yellow dress, and all of her sunglasses.

When I think of Orla Kiely, my first thought is of the fireplace in her home, which was in Living Etc a few years ago {I noticed Zoe has scanned some photos in here.} Does anyone else remember it?

Jen Rowland at the Southbank Centre

I went on a couple of blog excursions last week*, one of which was to the relaunch of the Southbank Centre shop, which has doubled in size! They are running an exciting collaboration with Cockpit Arts {another of my favourite London design institutions}, and are highlighting the work of 12 different designers throughout the year, on three-month rotations. One of those currently featured is Jen Rowland, whose botanical designs I love.

Each designer has produced a £25 limited edition item. Jen has designed the tote bag above, {which I wish I had bought} and they also commissioned her to reupholster the white Ernest Race rocker above {thanks Midcenturylass for the name} Jen's designs are also available at her online shop.

*The other excursion was a Conran/My Deco event - you can see some photos of Terence Conran's apartment {well, once upon a time}, here.

Tea of the week: It's teatime somewhere

It's teatime somewhere, by Circus Runaway.

{via Your Tea Time.}

Emma Cassi + Happy weekend

Some chic images from the spring/summer collection of Emma Cassi. I've been trying to track down the geometric wallpaper in the background, only to discover it is Balyan fabric from Osborne and Little. I am looking for a yellow wallpaper in a similar design; any suggestions?

Today I am guest posting at Lottie Loves; you can see other yellow things I love here. Hope you have a lovely weekend! I am home sick today and don't think I am going to make a super-quick recovery, which is very depressing as it looks like it will be a glorious weekend!

Cath Kidston magazine

I'm not always such a fan of Cath Kidston* as I think they have oversaturated the market, but I do love the Cath Kidston magazine, which you can also find online. I love the styling in the above feature, and many others in their most recent issue, including the brilliantly named 'Tray Chic'! I wish I was the kind of person who could carry off the cute ankle sock look above.

The book reviews, craft projects and recipes are almost enough to distract you from the fact it's a catalogue cunningly disguised as a magazine.

*Nevertheless, I do actually shop there regularly. I wear these pumps all summer {very comfortable, and cheap}, just bought this jacket for my niece which apparently she looks very cute in, and am eyeing up this purse. And so it goes...

Tea of the week: Tee and Toast

Tea-riffic items from Belfast-based Tee and Toast which also sells great logo t-shirts for kids and adults; You're Tea-riffic card {£2.85}, and Tea-riffic tea {£3}. Thanks brother G for the tip.

Happy weekend + links

Friday again, but I accomplished a lot this week and even found a new job when I had not started looking. This weekend I plan to enjoy every minute before the exhaustion of working full-time kicks in. Time for a new work wardrobe, possibly? Have a lovely weekend all, here are some links to enjoy.

*A strawberry party

*Decayed buildings

*A cute tiny tam!

*A very true and hilarious blogger revelation

*Love, love, love this birthday present! {I'm a late convert in life to the thrill of balloons - probably because I can't blow them up - is it just me?}