A cake a day…

It’s a very well know fact that I love cake. Cake, however doesn’t tend to love me very much. That and all food really but when it comes to high sugar content I’ll mind over matter it anyday.

This week has been on a rapid downward trajectory, I won’t bore you with the details but I will let you in on the antidote… I live a commuter town just north of London. In fact I live about a stones throw from the station. I used to get the train pretty much everyday and I can safely say there is nothing good about St Albans City station. Until recently.

A man and his genius business idea occupy the London platform exit just as the hoards are alighting on their way home of an evening. (I’m the loser that makes a special trip to the station as I now drive to work) His little van is filled with puddingy goodness and THE BEST chocolate brownies. He bakes them all himself and this evening said chocolate brownie saved what has been a rubbish day.

This is the third or fourth brownie I’ve had, and none of them lasted long enough to be photographed or even the 3 minute journey home. I have heard rumour of an elusive Lemon and Polenta cake which is gluten free and therefore good for me which I will one day manage to eat.(When my stomach is better I’ll be eyeing up the creme brulee and the summer fruit pudding)

So if you, like me are a local St Albans person get down to the station, and if you’re in London I’m pretty sure he scoots round the various farmer’s markets at the weekends so you don’t have to live in the sticks to sample the loveliness.

Cake is always the answer.

The Pudding Stop blog is here

Tags: cake, st albans, the pudding stop

The Perfect Suit

I just watched a really nice little documentary on the The Perfect Suit, and I blogged about it on Bushel & Peck here

All tied up

I haven’t really written much on here yet. There are 2 reasons for this: firstly I have had zero time, my job has quite literally whizzed the last 8 months into a vacuum. Secondly I haven’t loved many things. In fact if I’m honest this year has so far been an extension of last year. Pretty rubbish actually.

I decided to do something about it.

I have a little side project on the go called ‘Bushel & Peck’ I really used to enjoy my tie orders as tie-makers are generally a lot easier than shirt ones. I’d also supplied a couple of weddings and a gorgeous hotel in Nottinghamshire.. so I thought what better way to keep my hand in to all things handmade and luxury but a little neckwear label.

The blog is here and you can literally snap one of my debut collection right now here… (my personal favourite is the paintbox one, the fabric sold out everytime it came into stock at Liberty so it really is now or never with these.) So for sartorial blogging (that maybe slightly ambitious) ahem..for shameless selling plugs Bushel & Peck is where I’ll be.

When work allows I’ll fill this blog with lovely things. Well that’s the plan anyway!

Lucy Loves…Marrakech

I have a wonderful Moroccan friend who used to cook amazing tagines and endless cups of mint tea for me when I was at uni. He told me all about his incredible country and I knew I had to go.

So last week I finally packed my suitcase and hopped on a plane to Marrakech, a stunning 26 degrees and very sunny skies.

It lived up to my expectation. A walled paradise, pockets of sumptous gardens set in arid desert land. Cars competing with donkeys, horses, and scooters everywhere..bustling souks, incredible food. The colours and shapes of the tiles and architecture are breath-taking.

My favourite highlight of the trip were the Majorelle Gardens, Yves San Laurent lived there and the gardens have been opened to the public. The striking blues and contrasting yellows with the teal greens and shots of orange are beautiful in amongst cacti of all shapes and sizes. I also managed to find Liberty print Moroccan slippers in the gift shop !

I am so ridiculously inspired..  I only wish I’d taken a better camera! Never mind, there is always next time, needless to say it won’t be 12 years till then, I’ll be lucky if I can wait 12 months!

Made in England

I have always been obsessed with all things British and it was always incredibly important to me that whatever I do is made here in the UK. My shirt business relied upon the very few shirtmakers left in this dwindling industry and it is ultimately the reason the business could not scale…but this has not put me off British manufacturing in general.

This fact was confirmed when I happened across a documentary on Channel 4 on friday night called ‘Made in England’ It was a very interesting story about one of the last remaining clothing manufacturers in Manchester. I have been very privileged to visit proper British factories..and having spent time at Rayner and Sturges in Kent and the Trickers shoe factory in Northampton I was left totally inspired by the skill and dedication these people have. There is such a lovely atmosphere, loyalty is huge in manufacturing and alot of the girls on the line have given a dedicated service for decades. To actually see bespoke shoes being made and shirts being whipped up, ties being individually hand sewn from silk woven in this country is hugely reassuring.

The problem we face is in my opinion is two fold : the skill will go with the current work force. Uni students do not aspire to be crafts people sat at a machine, they want the designer roles and many do not focus on sewing skills. Factory work requires a different mentality. The second issue is that now British manufacturing is growing increasingly popular the small factories cannot scale quick enough leading to issues such as my shirt situation. I do believe though that there is a way with increasing demand that the supply can adapt to meet these issues and resolve them, especially with the teamwork and skill out there currently.

You can watch the program here

I am very happy that the lovely people from Rayner and Sturges have helped me with some stock for a new project I will be revealing very shortly. Watch this space for info!

She’s in Fashion

This is one of my favourites from a photoshoot we did for work yesterday. I love getting to work with two lovely friends Donato and Leo Cinicolo who I met several years ago and who photographed my university collection.

Donato has in fact helped me with my suit lining, which hopefully I will be able to post pics of soon. His son Leo has certainly inherited a keen eye for photography and has just launched his own website which you can see here

The model is Marina, a talented photographer herself and a joy to work with. I must say I am enjoying being around womenswear again but fear not my bespoke clients, I have not forgotten about menswear!

Bonjour!

Today seemed like a good day to write the first Lucy Loves.. post, and Hugh’s cartoon seemed to be an apt one for the occasion too. It’s been over 4 months since I left the world of bespoke shirts and Savile Row for pastures new and I managed to find a project that required complete submersion. I ended up going back to my computer geek skills but with a good measure of fashion thrown in working on setting up TheClothesParlour.com a new womenswear e-boutique. We launched officially on February the 1st and although it is still very much all hands to the pump, my attention has slowly wandered back to here.

I was once again truly overwhelmed by the kindness and support everyone showed me when I made the tough decision to finish the bespoke business, the last year has been pretty rubbish to say the least..but 2011 is rolling into Spring and if all goes to plan lots of lovely things are afoot.

Anyway, I have a seed of an idea I’m working on and I hope in the meantime you will forgive me if from time to time I post the odd thing I find and love on here.. and maybe sometimes very occasionally the odd thing I don’t love !

Happy Valentines Day!