A day up in Town

As the girls are away with my parents this week, I decided to take myself off into Town, I don't go very often as it's full of tourists, expensive and I've seen everything. But I decided it was time I visted the one and only craft shop in West London, Blade Rubber Stamps.

It was easy to find, not far from Holborn Tube Station. On 2 floors its an Alladins cave for Rubber Stampers, just a shame I don;t have an enless supply of money lol. My girls would have loved it, Kathryn (the 11 year old) for the huge range of peel offs, Aimee for the stamps,ink pads and alcohol inks.

I thoroughly recommended a visit if you are ever in Central London and its walking distance from Covent Garden.

I also visited The Bead shop in Covent Garden, a place I used to visit quite often when I made jewellery about 15 years ago, they have moved but stilla fab place, got some little charms for 10p each to use on cards.

I wandered by foot to Soho and found an Art shop called Cowling & Wilcox, a fab place for card, got myself some pearlised vellum for 30p a sheet and they had a sale on canvases so I got 2 4 x 6 " deep edged canvases for 81p each! I am going to decorate them for the girls as a Christmas present. They do the usual A1 sheets of card & paper and they also do large sheets of Mirror card, the prices I thought were pretty good, about the same as what I pay in my local art shop. If you are in the area pop in anyway theya re at 26-28 Broadwick St Soho W1f 8HX.

I had to have a walk thought Chinatown, just for old times sake, as a child I had psorasis on my fingernails and had to go to St Johns Hospital for Dieases of The Skin in Lisle Street about every 6 weeks, it is right in the Chinatown and always reminds me of visits with my Nan and Grandad as it was always one of them that took me. The building is still there looking very grubby.

I went into a couple of shops in Chinatown, the prices aren't so good as they used to be. The biggest shock was the fact that the Chinese eat all you can Buffets around the area seem to have put chips on the menu.

Anyway I took a picture, mainly for the girls of the HSBC bank in Gerrards St, as well as the bank sign being in Chinese you can also see the parking signs in Chinese too.

I couldnt go into central London without a vist to Cybercandy, a sweetie lovers hoy, full of goodies from all over the world, American & Japanese sweet being a speciality, the shop was packed, the girls got to see me on the instore webcam and I came out witha few goodies.

Anyway today is the last day I have alone as the girls come home tomorrow, they are having a fab time being spoilt by Grandma and Grandad, including a visit to Stonehenge which they both thought was cool.

I am hoping I can get some crafting done today.

Happy Halloween

June