Ye Olde Antiques Market at Camden Passage, Islington

Do you have a weakness

dear visitors

for lovely old things?  (I suspect you might.)

You will find some here then

at the Camden Passage Market, Islington

on a Saturday (8a.m. - 4 p.m.)

or, Wednesday (7 a.m. - 2 p.m.)  

or Thursday (7 a.m. - 4 p.m.) in London.

The prices can be gentle

for odd bits if you don't mind a bit of a rummage

and some good-humored haggling.

For Mlle Paradis with her

magpie eye........

it was the usual delicious tortured bliss......

of imagined worlds, imagined needlework projects, imagined adventures.....imagined times - past. 

I did manage to carry off with me one of those bone edelweiss'es (in the top left corner)  for pinning on my person eventually. I had never seen such things before.  Apparently they are souvenirs of alpine visits to Switzerland and Austria - also sometimes made of ivory.  (The lady who sold them was super nice.)  Fascinating!  Like sea anemones I thought.

And - this one couldn't be pinned down - but a little blouse 'caused very acute past memories to wash over me - not at all imaginary.  In a burst of recognition.  Odd how these things happen.

Not so odd was Mr. Paradis - after much patient hanging about and talking records and rock'n'roll with an amiable silver plate seller (as in forks and knives, yes!) finally dragging me away from a table full of goodies like this........with the promise of a pint.

Anyway, must leave something for the next time, NO?  And for all of you out there too, YES!?

Toodle-pip!

Chinoiserie at Christie's South Kensington

Have you ever lurked in an auction house exhibition hall?

Mr. Paradis and I have poked our noses into them on Bond Street and it was intimidating.

Even though we were only having a look then at some vintage childrens' books and Bob Dylan paintings and sculptures (not many people know about Bob's sidelines - did you?)

The auction house team seemed to think that we might be members of some

international ring of smash-and-grab hoodlums.

Happily, it was a different visit on an easy sunny day at Christie's in South Kensington.  Where everyone was very solicitous and welcoming (maybe the sunshine put them in a good mood?) and left us to wonder undisturbed at the goodies displayed.

It was better than a museum.  We were able to get very up close and personal with this grouping 

of beautiful robes.  The needlework was delightful and imaginative.  Little hidden treasures imbedded in what are otherwise fairly plainly constructed, and simply shaped, womens' garments.

I have always had a weakness for this jewelry made of kingfisher feathers.  (But I am sadly not capable of being a properly responsible caretaker of such treasures.  I have too much reverence for them to imagine it would be a good idea for me to take any home.)

There was a whole further selection of blue and white porcelain which other visitors were allowed to handle and examine more closely:  (we were also offered such examining privileges but we declined)  brush holders, bronzes, chinese export things you might normally expect.

For me the visit was all about the robes and imagining Chinese ladies of old, with their tiny bound feet - reclining in carved and brick beds heated from below, or perched on little stools

with streaming lengths of silk

and dreams of dragons and chrysanthemums.

(Please excuse my clumsy retouching job.)

Imagine what the piece above might have looked like in its original colors.  (Which would be more beautiful - plain, or colored?)

This ornately rendered bodhisattva seemed to perfectly embody my own - and perhaps some others' - conflicted feelings about the country and culture of my mother's birth.

Don't be too timid if you get a chance at a similar visit.  Just because you don't have a giant checkbook doesn't mean you should deny yourself access to such a wonderful experience and resource.  Christie's auctions change frequently, there will always be something new to view and choose from.  And when you're done...the V&A is also close by!

We're having a Fourth of July weekend here in the U.S.  The week has been marred by even more tragedy - one thinks it will never ever stop now - so, so discouraging.  On a cheerier note, the plucky Icelanders have come from nowhere to hold their own, beat the Brits in the the Euros and scored two goals against Les Bleus at the Stade de France.   (Bravo!  Pretty good for a bunch of dentists!)

Stay well, Stay safe and Enjoy your Sweet Summer Days

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Kensington Church Street to Notting Hill, Part One - Gawking, Greenery, and Glam at Christmas

In fact, they weren't all open 24/7 because, as you might know

some people are still rather sensible (IMHO)

and take the week after Xmas off to relax and spend with their friends and families.

In any case, if you're interested in honing your tastes at small expense to your pocketbook....

and possibly encountering legends while you're at it (no I don't actually mean the flesh and blood

Mr. Churchill but I have run into David Hockney once or twice on Kensington High St.)

 - when it's not Christmas week -

I AM recommending this walk up the steep Kensington Church Street to Notting Hill.

(Could that rather be the origin of the pub's name?  "Church" - "Hill"?  Hmmmmmm)

Many of the old antiques shops have now given way to chain stores but still, still, there is beauty

and exoticism.....as you top the crest at Notting Hill

and descend again to Portobello Road.  It's a bit of a cliche on the tourist "musts" lists

but Portobello Road doesn't much disappoint.

You can just look.  And.  Look.......as is usually my habit because.....

HOW TO CHOOSE?!  But......

if you are any inveterate shopper with a fancy credit card...there will be suitcases for all your loot.

Next week:  Notting Hill, Part Two.  You might like it.

Pure Indulgence - Perfect Partnership of Man and Nature

Hello everybody!  Well, really, MAY!!!!??????  Already?

Since it's raining today in L.A. and I haven't been taking alot of my own pictures

(mociun jewelry, nyc)

lately, I thought I'd indulge us all with a little of these somethings that I've collected with my

magpie eyes.  The story behind them is that Mr. P. and I celebrated a biggish anniversary

LAST YEAR and ever since then, I've been toying with acquiring for myself a nice piece of jewelry.  In honor of.....and because of course, you realize, I am richly deserving.  (A little joke, I'm entitled to, at least, no?)

(also mociun)

For the record, all these months on.  I have acquired NOTHING!  And anything I eventually acquire will not remotely resemble anything like this (sadly) in scale, workmanship, or value.

Since I am one of those people who's always got hands covered in paint, dirt from the garden, or plunged into sinks full of dirty dishes......rings aren't very practical.  And I am inclined to losing things or have clasps fail me at inopportune times.......And it's true, I am not spending my weekends (or even weeknights) at gala affairs, requiring glittery things to go with my dresses.

 (mociun again)

But you know, looking has been delicious fun.

Most of these things I found on FirstDibs.com and I can't rule out them disappearing instantly from this post, since I don't own the copyright to these beauties.

I have to admit that there is a special place in my heart for English Edwardian jewelry.

And some things like this, I find utterly fascinating.  I have sworn to myself that I will eventually own this.  Which will likely only happen if I recreate it out of Sculpey!  But probably in a coral red color.

Anyway, and this will not be the first or last time I say this - dreaming is cheap!

Any good dreams lately?