On this day last year....

...I was at Royal Ascot with two beautiful ladies. By the end of the day our wallets were considerably lighter, not because of all the champagne we bought but because of the bets we lost!

The Last Couple of Days

Sorry that I've been MIA for the last couple days; long days, late nights, but here's what's been happening....

Wednesday: The Independent Designer Handbag Awards 

My Instyle Goodie Bag! 

Cab ride home: Empire State (of mind) Building

Thursday: Cocktails and er...Cocktails:

I know it looks like pond water but it was delicious! Basil Gin! 

  

Caitlin with a Cocktail

On to....

Elsa in The East Village, another awesome recommendation. Kinda reminded me of Amoeba back home.

My first Aviation in NYC 

Tonight:  The beautiful roof top view of the Statue of Liberty never ceases to get boring...

Roch, Tarran & Jen, these seat have your name on!

X

Behind the Scenes & Screens

Yesterday morning I attended a photo shoot for some of our latest bags. It was a great experience and, as I didn't break anything or get in the way, I'm hoping to be invited back to assist the photographer on future shoots.  :)

The Anglo Tote: This won't be the last you'll see of this bag, watch this space...

The Postal Bodmin Tote (yes, as in Bodmin, Cornwall). 

On the topic of handbags...I'm representing Kempton & Co at the Independent Designer Handbag Awards this evening! Very exciting!  I'll fill you in on all the action at the event in the morning.

Ciao! 

x 

Guess Who's 70 Today...?

I'd like to wish my Uncle Ron a huge happy birthday! Hope you have a wonderful day, I'm sure the 3 fabulous females in your life will spoil you!

XXX

The Upper West Side Apartment

I had a really fun evening at the exhibtion last night. It was one of the more unuusual exhbitons I've been to as it wasn't really a public exhibition. The artisit, David, was showing his work in his late Grandfathers apartment on the Upper West Side before it was sold.

His art work was a combination of 2-D graphical drawings and 3D scultpures which were both very detailed and intricate. The apartment made for a great setting and I found it just as fascinating as the exhibition. You could tell it hadn't been touched for years, probably decades, by the flaking paint, elaborate yet wobberly light switches and a bathroom suite that was so dated it is probably back in fashion.  

 

David's Work 

Domestic Goddess

I decided to do a spot of cleaning and found this under the sink which totally cracked me up!

Who needs Mr Muscle when you've got 'Krud Kutter'!

I also had my first NY baking session this morning. I whipped up one of my staples - Lemon & Poppy Seed Loaf with Butter Cream icing:

Now I'm just getting ready to got to an exhibition on the Upper West Side. 

TTFN

x

Cupcakes & Foxes

Yesterday I got another freebie from the coffee shop up the road, this time is was cute cupcake. They gave it to me as an early birthday present but I didn't have the heart to say that I was a ceoliaic as it was such a lovely gesture. Instead gave it to Frank when I got back to the workshop and he was delighted. 

Coconut Cupcake

We've just got our very first intern at work, a girl called Caitlin. She also works part time at a restaurant just down the road called The Good Fork, so after work yesterday I swang by to say hi.  Two French 75's later, my arm was twisted and I ended up staying for food and another cocktail (or two).  Caitlin finished early so she joined me and we sat outside in their beautiful, fairy light and vine tree laden garden. The food was delicious and it was lovely warm evening.

Caitlin was horrified to hear that I hadn't ventured to any of the local dive bars yet, so after finishing our meal we walked up the road to one of the local hang-outs called The Ice House. Upon entering I immediately understood why it was called a dive bar, it was really dark with loud music and sticky floors, and the clientele were tattooed, larger drinking 30-somethings. Needless to say I felt slightly out of place in my pencil skirt and pearls! None-the-less it was kinda fun and they served a good G&T. Some random people came over and started talking to us when we went out to the beer garden. I wasn't really up for divulging any personal information, especially to this motley crew, so I put on my best American accent, gave a fake name and said I worked in finance. After a slightly funny look from Caitlin she quickly cottoned on and elaborated saying that we were both associates at Goldman Sachs, to which the guy replied 'What's that...a car dealership?'. Oh dear! We swiftly finished our drinks and left table. We then ventured next door to another dive bar called Bait & Tackle, (it was quite literally out one door and in the next). This place had a bit more...er......erm....charm(?) but it was still a dive bar all the same. It was filled to the brim with stuffed animals, everything from bears to fish, and there was even a fox that starred across at you form the other side of the bar. 

Mr Fox.

After another G&T I was ready for my bed, but its safe to say that I had a rather surreal but fun first night out in Red Hook! 

x