Merchant & Mills sell the most wonderful selection of sewing essentials; safety pins, buckles, scissors, needles, fabrics… They also sell patterns for a wide selection of dresses and tops which are supplied on thick card and sent out in the post in storage tubes. The patterns are simple and elegant (like the ‘Trapeze Dress’ above) and are not too challenging; even for beginners. The majority of the materials are sourced from the UK including dressmaking shears from Sheffield and oilskin from Yorkshire. Their Studio is based in Hay-on-Wye where you can sign up to do various sewing courses. Keep up to date with all their products and news on their blog here.
Handmade Interiors
Here are a few ideas for some last minute Christmas gift shopping. These are all independent shops based in London which I found in my copy of the Independent London, which in itself is a really good present! The new third edition is out soon too. Look out for offers in store when you show them the book!
Handmade Interiors Just off Brick Lane on Cheshire Street this little shop has a selection of hand printed cushion covers, aprons, lamp shades and fabric sold alongside silk Turkish towels and British ceramics.
Tatty Devine 99% of the jewellery in their shops is made by hand in Tatty Devine’s own workshops (one in London and one in Kent). Perspex silhouettes are their signature style, but you’ll also find pieces created in textiles, wood, leather, veneer and enamel. They have a store between Columbia Road and Brick Lane but this image is of their larger store on Monmouth Street near Covent Garden.
Labour and Wait
Labour and Wait specialise in timeless and simple household goods. Like enamel coffee pots and mugs, bread-tins, old fashioned school notebooks, watering cans and garden twine. The modest store looks more like a museum than a shop – the perfect place to find a present for a home lover!
All images have been scanned from ‘Independent London: Store Guide’ 2010.
I have put together a few things that I like to do in this ‘London City Guide’. There are some places to eat and drink, art galleries to see and parks to take a wonder round and lots more… even some good places to pick up some coffee and cake! if you are a tourist and only in the City for a few hours, visit London regularly or even live here - I hope that you might enjoy some of these suggestions….
Above are an example of some shops and below are some art galleries that I love to go to, there are lots more to see here. I would also love to hear some of the things you like to do in London too… I live in North London and work in the centre so my suggestions probably tend to stear towards these areas of town. Hope you enjoy and let me know what you think!
Specialisng in womens ware their clothes are made in South Wales from mostly organic fabrics, ethically sourced. There are a couple of shops dotted around London and although their website is extensive it is good to see the clothes and try them on – they often look a bit different on the website.
Toast Notting Hill – 191 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill, London W11 2SB. tel – 020 7229 8325
Toast 133 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 1QP. tel – 0207 704 8243
This is a bit of an obvious one, but I love Libertys – it is defineatly my favourite shop. The building alone is a specticle and the fabric section is a highlight – rolls of tana lawn and traditional paisly prints. It is great for gifts and the kitchen and dining ware ranges are great. The clothes are beautiful (for window shopping!) and an endless source of inspitraiton for sewing projects!
Liberty – Regent Street, London W1B 5AH tel – 020 7734 1234
This gorgoeous shop is located in Bloomsbury not far away from the British Museum. It sells prints, books, new homeware and a selection of antiques. This is the perfect place for gift shopping and if you can’t decide what to buy someone they even have gift vouchers! Ben Pentreath has a brilliant blog you can have a look here
Ben Pentreath – 17 Rugby St, Bloomsbury,London WC1N 3QT. tel – 020 7430 2526
This shop definitely lives up to its name. There are stacks of vintage china, glass, kitchenware piled high. And large selection of textiles including fabric, curtains, tablecloths and even some lace. Combine it with a trip to Columbia Flower Market and Hackney Farm for a perfect East End outing. (please note the shop is only open at weekends)
Vintage Heaven – 82 Columbia Road, Bethnal Green, London. E2 7QB. tel – 01277 215968
SCP is one of the UK’s most innovative and internationally suppliers of contemporary design. Selling everything from furniture to toys, lighting to rugs. They also sell a varitey of textiles for the home which you can see here
SCP Shoreditch – 135 – 139 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3BX. tel – 0207749 7398
SCP Notting Hill – 87 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill, London W2 4UL. tel – 020 7229 3612
This cotton shopper bag is made from mustard cotton kadhi with white printed flowers. It measures approximately 40 x 35cms with long thick cotton handles which sit comfortably over the shoulder. The bag has a bluebell coloured lining with a cotton trimmed pocket suitable for a phone, purse or small book. The cotton kadhi fabric is handwoven, hand spun and ethically sourced. You can purchase this bag from here.
