What a Night

thank you to all those who came to the launch of the pop up last night.  it was very busy indeed, there was a great buzz, good conversation and mutual admiration of lovely wares. congratulations if you were able to put a line through some names on your christmas lists ...and if not there is always today and sunday - doors open this morning at 11! see you there!

Habiba stations are go

Was around at the habiba house last night and it was a flurry of activity ... remember, mulled wine and mince tarts available to stave off the snow and cold. 

and did i mention the roaring fire?

Cash or Check ..

Just a reminder to all of you thinking of coming to the Habiba Christmas Pop Up Shop this Thurs, Fri and Sunday - we'll only be able to accept cash or cheque.

Hope to see you there with bells on - ha! get it?  bells? no? .....ok.

Also by HBC (Hester Bennett-Carter)

Hand-painted Christmas Baubles.

Available from Thursday ... Snowflake, Robins and Holly designs.

Handprinted by Hester

Hand printed by Hester Bennett-Carter, one off sheets of wrapping paper, each one is unique. Available from Thursday at the Habiba Christmas Pop Up.

Owl Factory Progeny

The Owl Factory has been going flat out the past few days to get the stuffed owls ready for Thursday.  Here they are in all their gorgeous fabricky glory.  The little one to the right clearly has his eye on you!

Avoid the Christmas Rush

Hope you weren't part of that mad christmas shopping exodus over the weekend ... we hear the traffic was disgusting ... easier just to wait till this Thursday, Friday and Sunday and do all your shopping at one place. Right?

See you all soon!  Have a great week.

TGIF Part 2

It seems like just yesterday when we were wrapping up the week with a glass of wine.  We love wine.  We love Fridays. 'Tis the season for a glass of wine and we're thinking we might start a petition to make every day a Friday.

We're entering the final stretch before the Pop Up - it's next Thursday, Friday, Sunday if you haven't noted it down. Hope to see you there ... there's quite a bit to choose from now.  Every time I turn around there's something else to add to the blog!

Like ... cushions by Sparrow Kids:

Or ... something for the small people by Isabee:

Elaine Martin Soaps

One of the items on offer at the Pop Up will be hand made aromatherapy soaps by Elaine Martin, made with a glycerin base and free from any surfactants/mono propylene glycol or sodium lauryl sulphate, so no nasties! Elaine uses pure essential oil and organic flowers and petals.

Elaine Martin Soaps

Seabed soaps

Seabed Soaps make fantastic stocking fillers for Christmas and come in their own special little bag (not shown).

Thumper Green

Thumper Green : designs forged in the heart of Crouch End. Unusual. Delicate. Beautiful. The perfect Christmas present for that special someone we wonder? Reasonably priced and available at the Habiba Christmas Pop Up, December 2, 3 and 5.  Hoorah!

The Weather ... And the origins of Bespoke

I hear snow is forecast for later this week.  In fact, it was while I was online, checking out the weather forecast that I stumbled upon the definition of the word Bespoke.  Intentional? Or bizarre coincidence I don't know ... but given that I am now mulling over all things bespoke as we prepare for the Pop Up I had to read on. Well, who wouldn't?

Further exploration revealed that the word originated in the fitting rooms of Savile Row.  At least, this is what my dear friend Wikipedia tells me. It seems that when cloth or fabric had been chosen by some dapper young gentleman to be turned into a well fitting suit, made to measure and made specifically for him, said fabric was said to 'be spoken for'. Hence the word bespoke. Lovely.  That all makes sense now.

Hello Monday

All set for another week ...  Planning meeting today.  Will post more samples of items for sale as soon as possible.

TGIF

Hello all - just a quick update:

We achieved quite a lot this week - the Blog and Facebook page are up and running, inventory steadily swelling (see previous posts for an idea of what is available come December 2nd, we'll add to this as we go along, lots of items waiting to be photographed - that's on the to-do list for next week).

Thanks for your support so far - you know the dates and will make sure we post directions and a map closer to show time.

So, for now, nothing else to do but to put our feet up and have a glass of wine. Have a great weekend!

Marielle Designs

Fitted Fox neck Warmer - by Marielle

North West London fashionistas Marika and Louise make up Marielle Designs. Their Autumn/Winter Collection, designed in London, made in France, includes sheepskin coats, jackets and gillets along with knitted rabbit scarves and accessories.

All I want for X-mas ... Trellis Jewellery

Large Antique Coral Bangle

Aspen Real Leaf - Yellow Gold Plated Earrings

Silver Wrap Bracelet Brown Leather

Who is PoshRob?

Available at the Pop-Up: bespoke furniture by PoshRob.

PoshRob is also Doctor Rob but he gave up a successful career in research pharmacology in 2000 and since then has devoted his time to his passion - fiddling around in his shed, listening to Radio 4 and making furniture that is both beautiful and functional.

All his pieces are bespoke and commissions include contemporary kitchens, cabinets and island units through to chairs and chests of drawers.

PoshRob, who IS rather posh and also rather lovely has over 20 years experience in Cabinet Making and the best thing about his work: he uses sustainable solid hardwoods, like oak, cherry or walnut, combined with glass, steel or stone.

Stuffed Owls

For all those intrigued by the notion that stuffed owls are on the list of items that you can purchase at the Habiba Christmas Pop Up Shop, rest assured these are not in fact, as above, previously alive owls, but rather owls of the fabric and bean variety.  Good for propping open doors, pinning down picnic rugs and as a weight in the family hot air balloon. 

Christmas Cards by Sam Egarr

We love the contemporary feel of Sam Egarr's Christmas cards.

Sam is one of our favourite graphic designers and she also has a fantastic eye for photography.

While Sam is super fast with her design skills she was a little harder to nail down when it came to words.  We asked asked her to answer a few questions about herself for the blog and she answered: I'm rubbish at writing stuff about me. I just like making pretty pictures".

And yes they are, very very pretty.

Sam Egarr cards (Christmas and otherwise) will be available at the Habiba Pop Up from December 2.

Keep and eye out here for more samples of her work over the coming weeks.

Clare's last minute mincemeat

Christmas is so close i can smell the mince tarts.  Oh no, wait - that's Clare in the kitchen practicing her last minute mincemeat for the Pop Up.

If you can't wait till December 2nd, here is the recipe.

 To make 2kg

2 large bananas

60g each: glace cherries and preserved ginger

125g unsalted butter

125g each of: currents, sultanas, raisons and mixed peel

2 large cooking apples, washed and grated with skin on

50g each: walnuts and almonds, roughly chopped

grated rind and juice of two lemons

200g soft brown sugar

Half a teaspoon each: ginger, nutmeg and cinammon

3 tablespoons rum or brandy

6 jam jars - wash and dry in a cool oven to sterilize

Dice the bananas, glace cherries and preserved ginger, melt the butter and gently fry the three together till banana is cooked.

Then stir all the ingredients together, slosh in the alcohol and spoon into the jam jars - be very careful as they may still be hot!

I put a little circle of greaseproof paper on top of each before screwing the lid on - not sure why, my Mum did.

Store in the fridge.

Habiba Home Website

The lovelies at Habiba Home:

Habiba Home

Sync your calendars

Habiba Home Pop Up, 3 days only
December 2, 3, 5
Queen's Park
London
Vintage Fashion, Decorative Homewares, Candles, Cards, Hungarian Linen, Jewellery, Luxury Soaps, Bay Hearts, Stuffed Owls, Holistic Hampers and much much more.
Just in time for Xmas ...
Lovely.