Darling Jacob

I know I keep saying it, but being able to reconnect with my family again has been one of the most incredible experiences of all! I haven't been able to visit Crewe or Chester since Christmas but seems my wee man Jacob still remembers me, laughing, pointing and waving at the computer screen on skype then when his Daddy said to say goodnight he leant forward and kissed the screen over and over in between big smiles (eyes are welling up as I write!!) What am I like!!! He just melts my heart time and time again!

London Fashion Week Take Two!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can't believe I just worked at LFW for the second time - I have been in London for 7 months now and working at Daks for 6 - where the time has gone I do not know! I knew what to expect this time round and even though its very tiring - especially after you have been traveling in the same week - its so worth it and such a great experience. I was on the night shift but of course was awake at 6.30am on the Friday - I worked from 3pm till 3am then had a nap at the hotel before waking up at 6am to head to Somerset House where the show was held. I think next time round in September it will be even more exciting cause I'll have more prints and fabrics in the next show - this time round fabric was used that I did the artwork for and was pretty amazing seeing it on the runway - sometimes I forget where I work cause your job is your job - you go everyday and just do your thing then suddenly it comes to life and I have to keep reminding myself just how fortunate I am to have come to London and landed a dream job like this - especially in a recession - and it has already been incredible for my career. The most exciting moment over the last few weeks was seeing the fabric i was initally contracted to design (for just two weeks when I first came to London) produced into bags, wallets and belts and to see it professionaly photographed on models in the look book - real wow moment! Im excited to keep learning and continue working on exciting projects with the fantastic team at Daks!

Laduree / Chocolate shops

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where to start... How do you being to explain the experience Hannah, Maiko and I had at Laduree? We had the most amazing afternoon tea (late lunch I guess you could say!) we each got a dessert and hot chocolate that was so real and thick it took longer to pour than you'd expect! It was just devine! I have to admit defeat... we each got a mini jug of it and after one and half tea cups I just could not finish it - I know, me, not finishing it, unheard of! Hannah succeeded and Maiko was in the same boat as me! The cafe itself is so beautiful - like a seen from the movie Marie Antionette and rightly so as the cafe is based on that part of history. Its a very pricey place to go - we paid around 45 euros for 3 hot chocolates and 3 desserts (around $70) but its worth the experience especially if you have a terrible sugar addiction like myself - I will be making sure I visit every time I go to Paris! It would be a crime not too!

I also visited the chocolate shop Debauve & Gallais and bought two specialty chocolates that were amazing! All I can say after all this food talk is Im glad that I can just pop to a European country for a few days and thats it - I would balloon if I stayed anywhere for more than a week!! Of course there are countless beautiful chocolate shops around Paris - Im going to make it my lifes mission to sample chocolates from as many as I can!

Merci (Shop)

 

 

 

 

 

My favourite shop that we visited in Paris was Merci. I had seen photos of this shop from past market research projects that Hannah had worked on so I was really excited to get to see it for myself - and it didn't disapoint. Like Anthropolgy in London (but on a smaller scale) it had everything from homewares and stationery to clothing and beauty products - there really is something for everyone in this shop. I had some Xmas money from my brother so decided to buy a beautiful notebook from here and a postcard to put on my desk at work. I won't write in the notebook of course cause its just too beautiful! But its nice to have a little something that I can keep from Paris especially since its from my brother.

We visited quite a few boutique shops, found great fabrics for work as well as inspirational shop interiors. Me being me I had around 15 mini maps of everywhere I wanted to and how to get there depending on what hotel I was staying in. It really pays to be organised especially if you have limited time - if I hadn't have been living in London there is no way I could have figured out that underground map (well maybe eventually) so you have to take all this into account - by the time you have figured out a route of how to get somewhere a good half hour could pass!

My little Paris Book - The Best Kept Parisian Secrets

Before we headed to Paris, my workmate Hannah bought two gorgeous books on Paris. Such a great idea and so handy to have - each page has tips on what to wear / say / eat and where little boutiques are that are hard to come across unless you know where they are, fun quotes etc and its beautifully illustrated as well. I love books and this has definetly made it into my must have collection!

The Paris Underground / Transport System

Paris is definitely a beatiful city but it is also a city which means its very dirty and dodgy in some parts more than others. One thing I really noticed was how gross the underground train system was - I will not complain about the London underground from this day fourth! The map is much clearer in London for starters and even though there are germs everywhere from the millions of people that use it day in and out (I want to hand-sanitize now just thinking about it!) on a whole its very clean compared to Paris - and safer! People open the doors before the train has fully stopped!! Its a good system and seemed to be more realiable than London but still I wasn't the hugest fan. The coolest thing about it was they had double decker trains!! Underground! Who would have thought... 

Everyone knows how crazy European drivers can be so Im always quite anxious when I have to get a cab or in a car... I was so anxious with the driving at one point I just closed my eyes and hoped for the best!!! There are like huge roundabouts with no markings and cars just pile up and try get round the other and it just ends up being a huge mess! I really enjoy walking so if its within an hour walking distance and I have time I will definitely walk!

Les Puces de Saint-Ouen Market

After looking through the Oh Happy Day blog, I really wanted to visit the largest flea market in the world - so I did! It really was huge, since I went on a Monday I'd say at least half of it was shut but alot was still open and it was filled with so many beutiful antiques and treasures - if I lived in Paris I was buy every single thing for my house from there! I found a great boutique where I was able to buy some fabrics for work and had so much fun walking round and taking photos - great market research and great for just a general visit - its a must see and do in my opinion!

Premiere Vision

 

 

 

So the main reason we venture to Paris is to visit 'The Worlds Premiere Fabric Show' that occurs twice a year. I can't even describe the feeling of walking through the doors into a huge building filled with stall after stall of exuisite fine fabrics and art prints - I was in my element to say the least. Photos are strictly forbidden as everything is copyrighted - prints start from 400 pounds a print... If you look at the map, my section was in Hall 5 and that in itself takes a full day just to have a proper look at all the stalls. We look for fabrics and prints for up coming collections and inspiration and there was just so much to see - you really can't see anything like it anywhere else in the world so I feel very appreciative that I was given the opportunity to go - I can't wait to go again in September!

Paris!

First of all I want to say thank you to the blogger behind 'Oh Happy Day'. There is a fantastic section on Paris, where to go, things to do etc and I based the majority of my trip on these must see places and am so glad I did - so thank you Oh Happy Day! You can check out the blog by following the link below.

http://ohhappyday.com/

http://ohhappyday.com/category/paris

I have to say that second time round Paris was everything I had originally thought it would be and more. Last year we had 24 hours on the bus tour to run around the city and see all the sites before we jumped on board and continued on and to be honest I had no real desire to go back because I thought it was over-rated.... this is one of rare times that I will happily admit how wrong I was! Now that I am working for Daks I have to travel to Paris twice a year for market research (I know, what a hassle aye??) and to visit Premiere Vision (I will talk about this in my next entry) so I am definitely going to start learning French! I went a few days before the rest of my team to have a mini break and do some extra research - of course I was full of cold by day two, I always seem to get sick when I go away! 

You can't quite describe the 'wow' factor of when the Eiffel Tower first comes into view - we have grown up seeing pictures of these iconic European landmarks but seeing them in real life is just a whole other experience - its literally breath taking. Last time I was there I didn't walk up and this time I did... 670 steps later... it wasn't as bad as I thought and Im so glad I walked up it! Of course the views from the top were great, would love to see the view on a summers day so may hike back up in September... I had to head back to the Louvre as it is one of my favourite buildings in Europe and its crazy to think that the last photo of me there the sun was shining and I was in my summer clothes but this time round I was wrapped up more than ever (yes, I am wearing ear muffs but its totally normal in Europe to do so haha!) and the water had frozen over! Was pretty cool to see it in different seasons!

SNOW

SNOW!! IT SNOWED!!!! We felt like we were in a movie!! It was so beautiful and magical we loved every second of it. I walked past my street when I got home that night cause I didn't recognise it in all the white!! I was at my friend Akane's from work and were sooooo excited we just jumped up and down and stood there in awe of it all. Awesome that we got to experience it together cause its the first time we have both properly seen snow fall!!


Also got a new app for my iPod touch called 'ShakeItPhoto' its soo cool it takes pics and develops like a polaroid would! Awesome!