Come In...I have a funny story to tell you...

Time to come clean, I am a dooroholic. I love doors - old, new, unusual, quirky, mysterious... I have so many photos of doors - it's unnatural. What do you DO with so many photos? I've asked myself what is it about doors that holds such a fascination for me? I think the answer lies in the fact that I am a person preoccupied with 'what lies behind'. I am interested in people and their motivations, back-stories, biographies, old photos..

6 years ago I was burgled. The thieves stole my Grandmothers gold watch. In my misguided attempt to replace it like for like, I made my way to a place in Hatton Garden, recommended by the insurer. It was run by an old Jewish gentleman, an Aladdins cave of second hand jewellery.
I found a watch nearly identical, in a fit of 'what lies behindness' I asked the gentleman, 'do you know who this belonged to?' Fondly imagining he would tell me a story of a fragrant, stylish woman, her life filled with glamour and stories of late nights filled with twinkling lights and cocktails under the stars.

His deadpan, heavily accented response to my question? ' She's dead'!
It was at this point I realised the humour and pathos of the situation. I never did buy the watch, it wasn't the same. My Grandmother was gone, and now, so was her watch, it could never be replaced and not should it.

Sometimes doors are best left closed.

Nursery Rhymes and play times



As it's still the summer holidays, and my own memories of long childhood days have been in my mind, I have chosen 2 children's books to go into my shop today. One is a very British style with it's illustrations of nursery rhymes, the other book is a beautifully illustrated (by Eleanor V Abbott) American book and shows children admiring the flowers in a typical cottage garden. The flowers remind me of my grandparents cottage garden and walking underneath their tunnel of runner beans, silently reaching up to pick a bean - and eating it raw. Happy memories.

The web link to my shop;
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BeauBazaar

It's all happening in...



We have just got back from a short holiday to the land of canals, fabulous canal houses and 1,000's of bicycles. Wouldn't you love to look as stylish as the girl above, whilst making her way round town? Everyone cycles, young, old, fat, thin, stylish and the sartorially challenged. It has filled me with a resolution to up my peddle quota - just need a Pashley, the right clothes, good weather...

I managed to get to the Molenaar Boeken (the book market at Molenaar to you and I) where I found some treasure for my Etsy store. Check it out; http://www.etsy.com/shop/BeauBazaar