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? 

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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.