Liberty of London meets Target

What's new at Target starting today? Liberty of London!!!  Target and Liberty have hooked up to market a new line of fashion and home items with Liberty flair at Target prices. Known around the world for its signature mini-floral prints, twenty-five of these prints have been selected to be featured in their Target line.

Bedding, bicycles, gardening gloves, pillows. blouses, purses, scarves, picture frames, children's clothes, men's boxers, shirts and ties, teapots--the list goes on and on.

Situated in a Tudor style building on Regent Street, the Liberty store had its beginnings in 1875. Since that time, it has archived 43,000 of its prints. Striving to stay current it has taken on partnerships with a French concept store called Merci and now most recently with Target.
The line is already selling out in several categories online and in the stores, since becoming available early this morning. A pop-up store in New York City which opened early had 11,000 visitors in two days and had to close up earlier than expected when they sold out of the line.
So run, don't walk, to your nearest Target, or do like I did and pop online to see what's left that might interest you. It's going fast, but you can find it here.

Mothering Sunday

Maternal Affection

by Edward Hodges Baily

1837

Victoria and Albert Museum

In the UK, it's Mothering Sunday today, which is always observed on the fourth Sunday of Lent. The early origin of the day is not clear, but it is thought that hundreds of years ago, Christians would return to their "mother" church, the nearest cathedral, once a year. They were often said to have gone "a mothering." It seems that this is the day when children who had been sent off to work as servants were allowed one day off a year to go and visit their mothers, having a bit of a family reunion as they all returned to their mother church. Since that time it has been a celebration of motherhood.

Bouquets to all the mothers in England or wherever you find yourself today, because you are to be highly honored.

A Little Bird Told Me

It was big news here in Chelsea last year when the oldest and most famous antiques center in London,  Antiquarius, was purchased and its dealers evicted. Originally built in the 1920's as a gentleman's club and pool hall, this historical building has seen a few changes through the years. Located at the corner of Kings Road and Flood Street, where I live, the antiques center had first been established in the early 60's and was well loved by locals and tourists alike for its charm and variety. 

Causing quite a storm of unrest, the dealers fought to stay intact, but the "American retailer" who was moving in, went ahead with its renovation.

After a year of extensive renovation, the building is looking refreshed and all spruced-up. The facade has remained the same due to its historical listing, and now it's almost ready for its unveiling.

Won't be but a few days now until the doors will open for a new era.

Crews have been working long days and into the night to prepare the store for its opening.

A little bird told me it's one of my favorite stores.

Are you seeing any clues through the windows? I've been checking it out for all of us every day, watching the progress.

Her new face is on, the store is all dressed up with more and more treasures every time I pass, and I know the shopkeepers are wondering just who is this woman whose nose is pressed up to the window every day. 

Have I given you enough clues that you can guess who's coming just steps from my front door?

Celebrity Lullaby

I love it when my Texas world and my London world intersect. I'm starting to grow quite fond of Ricky Gervais these days. How can I describe him?  An English comedian, actor and film-maker who starred in the original version of The Office here in London, and is the executive producer of the US version. Maybe you've seen him on Letterman or hosting the Golden Globes this year. But did you know he is also a singer? Indeed, he was part of a pop duo in the 80's called Seona Dancing who was signed by London Records. Little known fact, I bet, but I'm wondering if you heard his US singing debut recently?

Now here's where the Texas part comes in. My granddaughter loves and adores Elmo. And when Elmo has trouble going to sleep at night, he sometimes gets a celebrity lullaby to carry him off to dream-land. Take a look at this clip of Ricky and Elmo--it really cranks up about half way through. Click once to view on the blog, or twice to view on You Tube full screen.

This one's for you Jordan!

Sunny days

Last week two new blogging friends both surprised me with a little sunshine. Believe me when I say, we can use all the sunshine we can get around London. What a nice treat to receive this award from two very lovely ladies. Hope you'll hop over to their blogs and take a peek. Thanks friends!

Synchronicity

A Woman's Write

From Here to There

When I want to get from here to there in London, I consider my options. Walking usually gets me where I need to go. I sometimes walk miles every day. That's a good thing, right? One of my favorite options is to take a bus,  like this vintage one. There are a few old ones like this left, but for the most part, I take the new sleek ones....

like this, and I love sitting on the top level and watching the world go by.

Of course, we use the underground a lot, affectionately called The Tube. Mind the gap, please.

Black cabs are everywhere, but every once in awhile, I take a blue one for the heck of it!

If we're going out of town, we use a Street Car. It's a great idea--you join the organization for a year, and anytime you want to rent a car, you reserve a car parked at one of the designated spots in your neighborhood.

To retrieve the key, you wave your card given to you by Street Car over the sensor on the dashboard, and the car unlocks admitting you entrance.  The keys are inside. Just take the car as long as reserved and return it to its spot when done. Sure beats having a car of your own here in the city, when you only need it once a month or so.

If I was brave, I might try zipping around by motorbike, or even by bike, but those people really have to have nerves of steel.

I love watching the way kids are moved from place to place. This is pretty ingenious, and I see mothers like this from time to time, but it seems a little risky to me.

And just like there are double decker buses around the city, you can find these double decker strollers around town too. Do you think they fuss over who goes on top?

When the kids are just a wee bit older, they all get their own set of wheels. See these scooters lined up outside a school door?

Watch out at the end of the school day, because sometimes being on the sidewalks can get rather treacherous!

Of course, if I could wiggle my nose and make wishes come true, the ultimate way to get from here to there would be one of these Rolls Royces. I bet a girl could get used to it if she tried!!

V&A Museum-New Medieval and Renaissance Wing

Recently, I shared my visit to the Saatchi Gallery, a museum of contemporary art, and I'm sure you could read between the lines, that contemporary art is not my cup of tea. On the other hand, one of my favorite museums in London, that I return to over and over for its richness is the Victoria and Albert Museum. Only open for a few months now are the new Medieval and Renaissance Galleries, which have been years in preparation.

I love learning and reading about this time in history. Have you read Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth and World Without End? I highly recommend both of these if you are interested in this time period.  One of the first things you see upon entering the new gallery is the enormous Choir screen from the Cathedral of St. John in 's-Hergotenbosch in the Netherlands. This church, built between 1220 and 1525, was the original location of this choir screen, which separated the public from the chancel where only the clergy were allowed.

One could easily spend the whole day in this gallery alone--the richness of the displays warrant the time if you have it. You would see this triptych, The Brixen Altarpiece dating from 1500, with Mary surrounded by St. Florian and St. John the Baptist, as well as....

these funky shoes, accented by gold lace, dating from around 1600 from Venice. 

Something for everyone, including stained glass from St. Chapelle in Paris and Troyes, France, a 13th century Syrian goblet with enameled and gilded decoration, and my favorite, a terra-cotta statue (circa 1465) known as the Virgin with Laughing Child. If you can't wait until your next London trip to see these treasures, take a virtual tour here. It's free, just like the museum, one of the perks of London!

Who Comes First?

Strolling down the length of King's Road recently, past what is known as World's End, I stumbled upon a group of antique shops. I was drawn into Pimpernel and Partners where I found an assortment of French replica furniture and home accessories. It had the shabby chic feel with its vintage collection. Finding a shop that has a French flair here in London is always an unexpected surprise, so I enjoyed my shopping excursion there. My purchase of the day was not French, however, but a little sign with a universal reminder.

That night, when hubby came home, he found this little sign hung on his computer.  Am I the only wife of a Blackberry addict who has ever felt this way? Especially when in London, and he's working all day here, and then "on call" during the evening hours while the US is still working. I understand dear,  that you have to be available, I understand that someone might really need to contact you while we are at dinner, I understand that you can not read a text and listen at the same time, I understand that perhaps your company can not run on its own by itself--I understand, I really, really do!

Who am I kidding--it's no fun playing second fiddle to a phone!!!! Anybody with me on this one?