Sooooo, I have been busy moving house over the last two weeks – not just a small move, but a really big move with 
over 40 years of accumulated stuff. I always thought that I was a light traveler through my life but instead discovered over 30 pairs of old shoes that I had hidden in a box when I moved in with Ol over 6 years ago. How I laughed! I couldn’t even remember the sort of occasions I used to wear these things – one, a pair of velvet Kurt Geiger mega platform strappies that would have made me about 6ft 3!! I must have looked like a freak! This is coming from a shoe designer whose favourite footwear is either a. bare feet, b. birkenstocks, c. some revolting fluffy shin high slippers that gather grass clippings if I step out onto the lawn in them. To me, shoes are like music. Just by hearing a certain track, you can transport yourself to a certain time and place, picture the people you used to hang out with and generally remember the boys you were snogging at the time. Shoes have the same effect. I can always remember exactly where I bought them, who I was with and generally where I went for lunch having just bought 
them. In my misspent youth, my friend Emma and I used to spend hours and hours hanging around Selfridges in London “shoeing.” I have sat next to Kylie buying cork wedges, “Sue Ellen” from Dallas trying on some very sensible courts and clocked Natalie Imbruglia with a new pair of boots. As we worked just around the corner, Selfridges became our local. What a shop – I still love it now.
Anyway, the point being that shoes are absolutely fundamental to any girl. It is almost as if they are ingrained in our very soul from the moment we are conceived. Today I have been designing some fabulous new peep toes for launch next Spring. I was lucky enough to meet some fantastic Indian embroiderers at the Harrogate Bridal show so the new styles will feature classic Indian beading and needlework. They are so good at it and the work is so immaculate that I cannot wait to see the new designs. Watch this space.
Another great opportunity in moving house means that I have been able to fluff about with some new curtains. 
Oliver and I spent our summer holidays in Sweden – a country rich in amazing design and textiles. We found some re-issued Stig Lindberg folk inspired material from the 1950’s, (visit Huset-Shop for some other lovely stuff). Well, if I am honest, Oliver found it and insisted we buy it – I was kind of – “what do you know about design?? You’re the MD!” but actually I love it – a beautiful design with something new to discover each time you look at it. It is of a charming folk scene – ladies carpet beating, someone fishing, others hanging out naked in trees (mmm wasn’t sure what THEY was doing!) and various other charming vignettes. I have also gone slightly mad with the fabric in our sitting room – full of pinks, reds and oranges, it will make it a warm and cosy room for those 
long winter evenings which are just around the corner. The wind is up here on the farm today – I am not looking forward to the obligatory dog walk this afternoon. Monsieur Mutters (the dog) loves it of course, but the girls will no doubt huddle in the pram and whinge about the cold! I should spend the afternoon in the office where the girls have the heating up full blast. The are all skinny minnies and should wear thicker jumpers. Or be like me, only take your coat off for the month of July.
Anyway, more thoughts from me later! Have a great day.
Pip pip
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