Monday 8 August 2011

Liberty's of London, and Totoro Bun

I apologise if I haven't visited everyone recently, or posted much in the last week.  I've been away from home, or been at home and had guests ... and it will continue next week too.  But I thought you might like to see where we took one of our guests on Saturday - Liberty's.

This is the big shop in Regent Street, famous for its artistic and unusual wares (and high prices).  A couple of years ago it had a revamp, and I didn't like it, but it's all settled down now, and so a trip there is just as much (free) fun as it always was. 

I didn't snap any of the fab selections of clothes and accessories and scarves from top designers, so you'll have to imagine these. I got my camera out in the homewares section.  We specially enjoyed the "bargains" corner (that is, prices merely high rather than sky high) and found the strangest things. 

I liked the visual impact of these fluorescent pink garden chairs (plastic and painted metal.) Best for a minimalist city garden, I guess - the sort of garden that has just a few well chosen and strange looking plants. 

Elsewhere, were original takes on familiar things.  I feel a "crafty" person could probably copy some of these ideas.  

I mean, why chuck away the rusty old lawnmower when you can convert it into a garden light? 


The chest below was beautifully finished with a white lacquer, but the idea of putting lots of interesting handles on it could be easily copied.



A tiger skin rug for those who don't like to kill animals



One collection of tin trays, panels, etc. had a combination of animal pictures and Tudor portraits. The animals look as if they are dressed up like Henry VIII and his court.  The lady duck is holding her baby ducklings.




Since our friend is Japanese, we then went around the corner to the Japan Centre and bought some very good Sapporo beer, and a Totoro bun.

27 comments:

  1. That Totoro bun is cool! and cute. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. FUN FUN FUN!!!! Looks like a great day for sure on Regent St!!! Thank you for sharing it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great pictures - I didn't know there was such a thing as a Totoro bun - I LOVE Totoro er I mean my grandchildren love Totoro...

    ReplyDelete
  4. I used to love wandering round Liberty's when I lived in London. Could never afford to buy anything though!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Very interesting goods, indeed! I rather fancy the trays!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the chair, it's wild!

    ReplyDelete
  7. The chair is great, and so is the chest.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Just my idea of a fun day out, although I've never actually had the pleasure of tootling around Liberty's of London. I'm not sure if my husband enhanced or ruined my shopping fantasies when he taught me to look at a particularly engaging item and say to myself, "I could make that!" I guess it's more reassuring to say than, "I could never afford that."

    ReplyDelete
  9. What fascinating objects! They are so cute, strange, and happy.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love the chest and with all the knobs mimicking flowers and butterflies.

    ReplyDelete
  11. What an unusual store! I liked the tiger pattern rug! I have never been to Libertys. Perhaps need to visit it in order to appreciate the charm?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Very interesting items, particularly that wheel chair. I finally ordered your book and am excited to bury my head in it. It was timely since I seem to be steeped in Carroll's verses these last few weeks!

    http://thefoolishaesthete.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Those Tudor animal trays are awesome but I'm afraid to ask how much they cost.

    ReplyDelete
  14. These items are gorgeous and have sense of humour a lot. If I could have one of them!
    Have a nice summer vacation.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I must say you found some "interesting" things!!! Sounds like you have had and are going to have a busy week. Take care. Mickie :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Liberty's is such a wonderful place, and I'm concerned to hear that it's had a revamp. I haven't visited for a few years, and to me the whole point of Liberty's is the wonderful atmosphere. Dare I go again? Has it been 'modernised'?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Looks like an interesting place! I think it's very inspiring for creative people.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks for the great comments- I'll reply and pay return visits to your blogs when I am back!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Are you sure that's not a real tiger that had an unfortunate encounter with a steamroller?

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a fun collection of items!
    The bun is gorgeous ... nearly too good to eat :D)

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'd like to visit the place if the price could allow me to do so. Seemingly it's not the case.
    I wish I were ingenious to create something new out of old stuff. I'm wondering how that pink garden chair is used.
    Be careful not to work too hard, Jenny.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love the animal portrait and the tiger skin rug. Interesting pieces they have there.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Heisann!

    Many funny and gorgeous photos on your blog. I enjoy them ;:OD)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hello again!
    As you can see - hotel rooms in London are not always what they present to be!
    My main blog Vilt og vakkert http://viltogvakkert.blogspot.com/, (Wild and Wonderful) is more positive to visit, so please, take a look when you feel for it ;:OD)
    Have a nice time!

    ReplyDelete
  25. @cit og vakkert, yes I thought your picture must be of substandard London hotel! there are so many bad ones. @cosmos, you can visit Liberty's for free - it's a shop. Buying is perhaps a different story! @Relatively retiring, no, Libertys still has the same decor. At one time it started to have less unusual merchandise but they've seen the error of that. @The Foolish Aesthete - thanks so much for ordering my book - I hope you enjoy it.! @louciao - I think you can sometimes make BOTH remarks at Liberty's - "I could make that" and "I can't afford to buy this"!

    ReplyDelete

Blog Archive