Once again, Shopping Bag has unwittingly defied expectation - even her own. In the stealthily refusenik manner to which she is becoming accustomed, "Shopping" Bag is not living up to her moniker. In other words, I have not done any shopping in preparation for Christmas. NONE. Oh, there were a couple of little purchases in the summer (I'm either extremely organised or extremely disorganised, alas) that she stashed away for presents, but they barely count, given the list (that hasn't officially been written) of people to buy for. I don't know how this happened - well, I do: Belfast last weekend, and  Moscow the weekend before cut out some valuable shopping time (no, I couldn't get close enough to Lenin for a souveneir)...and the weeks have been so busy that all I can do is bury my head, only occasionally popping out for air, in order to give a shriek.

But I will not be outwittted by my own stupidity. And so here I reveal to you initial thoughts for my intensive present buying that I trust will be lifesaving:

I'm going to (virtually) visit The Shop Floor Project for gorgeous, unique things (jewellery, ceramics, limited edition books) that appear to have required hours of browsing around independent shops to find. This will be done by 20th December so that the post arrives to me in time to wrap and pass on. I really hope they arrive before Christmas Eve. Actually, in a brief display of risk assessment, I'm going to do this before the 20th December, FYI.

I intend to shop at Caravan, the place I'm always going on about. You can go there virtually too, for their beautiful gold and silver metal rose bouquets and countless other delights, but I'm going to go there in person because I like wandering around the treats, and chatting to Emily, the owner (herein lies my downfall - too easily distracted).

IF I lived in Manchester, I can tell you that I'd visit Moth, a very lovely place that holds treasures galore for Manchester-dwellers. But I do not. I live in London. So iIf it is still open, I will trot to Shop at Maison Bertaux - my favourite little boutique, in Greek Street Soho, which very sadly is closing down. Due to the aforementioned reasons (visiting Lenin and family - sometimes easily mixed up), I haven't been able to get there to say goodbye, or to pick up bargains. But if there's anything left, I will be able to get very discounted lovely stuff (Vivienne Weswood jewellery, Eley Kishimoto clothing, APC designs) for my friends.


Does this help anyone? It's helping me, in theory at least. To be continued, as other ideas surface...

The bells of Hades rang loud and clear for Shopping Bag this morning as she attempted an ostensibly simple task that gathered in complexity as the minutes ticked by, a deadline approached, and her printer refused to recognise a black ink cartridge. How hard can recognising a black ink cartridge be? Very, apparently.

I'm not saying I'm a technological whizz, but I'm not a moron either, and I just didn't think that putting in a new printer cartridge involved sticking an old microchip on the front of it first. I did this - inefficiently apparently - for about one hour. And then the courier arrived, who was supposed to be taking the emergency print out (of a visa form for the Russian Consulate) to an urgent location. He waited a long time  (declining tea) while I struggled and spat and eventually handed him something that had black inked words in some areas, and was definitely just a blank bit of paper in others. (It wasn't up to standard BTW, but that's another part of my day you don't want to hear about.)

The whole experience was made all the more Tenth-Circleish by the piles of loose papers on the floor of SB's study (being "sorted out" ), the chair with a tottering tower of clean laundry so SB couldn't  even sit down while developing an ulcer, and the precariously placed clothes horse which fell over with a crash when SB was on the phone to a printer-expert. So it was with uncanny prescience that post this traumatic experience, SB found an email from Store - an online shop that promises 'a place for everything' - in her inbox. I'm not making this up - the day has been too wearying already to add lies into the mix.

( Read more... )

Shopping Bag greets you, and accompanying SB on this gloomsville day is a black and white checked Gianni Versace coat, labelled, double breasted, with black moulded plastic buttons. It's on the left, if that description wasn't comprehensive enough for you (see, I'm in a bullish mood today; I feel it goes with the jacket). It's a special coat though, because it once belonged to Elton John, and is, today, going to be auctioned off at the excellent Kerry Taylor Auction House (lot 1199). And if the coat that once hugged Elton John's back is your dream purchase, the beauty of this auction is that the estimated prices are actually pretty low: the High Estimate is £150.

Not for you? I don't want to hear it, because you're spoilt for choice. Do I sound brattish? Maybe that's because there's SO MUCH to buy in this auction that I'd be truly PEEVED if you stopped reading just because you're not an Elton fan.

( Read more... )

Good day to you. Shopping Bag hopes you have not had an interminable week. But if you have - then I have an event that might brighten the weekend that is tantalisingly beckoning.

It's a sale of products from Fine Cell Work. This is an excellent company which embroiders cushions (London skyline, left), makes rugs, quilts, and makes needlepoint all very contemporary. The difference from any other hip organisation is, though, that all the embroiderers are incarcerated.

( Read more... )