Loving London with Libby

I am in London with my daughter Libby, as today she has an appointment at the London College of Fashion. More than anything Libby wants to be a fashion journalist and this is really the only college she wants to go to. As they have 800 applicants for 35 places, it is going to be a tough day. Still, Libby couldn't have done more; she wrote her book Love Pink, she organised a fashion show at school, she gained work experience on Cosmo and she writes a pink blog! www.lovepinklibbypage.blogspot.com

(And I am pleased to see she has recently added some pink Paris flower shops to it!)

First there is a written test lasting an hour and then an agonising 2 hour wait to see if she will be called for interview, or whether we will be getting the next train home. To kill the time we wander around the nearby Westfield shopping centre. Now, I have something to distract me - as Libby restlessly flits in and out of clothes shops - I loiter around this rather glamorous flower stall.

I love the colours in this bouquet of roses, ranunculus and the striking 'Robin Hood' germini.

But, even these gorgeous flowers can't take my mind off Libby's anxiety and we make our way back to to the college. She disappears into a lecture room, appearing half an hour later to say she has been asked for interview at 3pm. As hers is one of the last names called she is relieved but distinctly frazzled.

It is a very different Libby that emerges from her interview later that day. Her smile would light up a dozen rooms. She's in!

We walk back to our hotel to collect our bags, Libby talking all the way. As we wait for a taxi to take us to the station I can't resist taking a few photos of the hotel flowers (I am sure the staff think I am mad). I love the way they have twisted the bear grass in a big hoop around these tulips.

But enough of pink tulips! Libby and I realise we have not eaten all day as we have both been so nervous. So we raid M&S for a picnic for the train - complete with some pink Champagne to toast Libby's success. Well done Libby!

Garden Inn

The sun is shining, the sky is a pale, watery blue and it really feels like spring may be here. I am out for the day with Jennifer (we are on our way to Cafe des Fleurs in Rye), and what could be nicer than to discover another beautiful flower shop when we stop for coffee in the Hampshire town of Stockbridge.

Garden Inn was started five years ago by Jane Campsie when she decided to put into practice all she had learnt working as a stylist for life-style magazines, and she opened the doors of her own flower and gift business.

Jennifer and I have a wonderful time wandering around the shop looking at all her wares. Jane has a great website so you can also have a look on that if there is something you fancy.

www.garden-inn.co.uk

It is clear that Easter is nearly here!

I am always on the look out for new vases and come away with a white vase covered in butterflies - I have forgotten to photograph this of course - so I will make sure I do for another blog. But I also love this circular glass vase which is perfect for tulips.

Jane explains that at this time of year there are lots of seasonal gifts around, but come the summer months and she will have more and more ideas for keen (and stylish) gardeners.

After a last look around Jane directs us up the street to The Greyhound pub for coffee - which is served by the fire accompanied by the chef's home made biscuits.

What more could you wish for!

Happy Mothers' Day!

When my friend Jane says that she and her sisters want me to run a workshop as a surprise gift for her mum, I think it is a lovely idea. When she says there will also be lots of cake and wine involved I am hooked!

The men are sent away for the day and after a welcoming glass of Champagne we settle down to some work.

Except it doesn't feel much like work!

By the end of the session everyone has created a table arrangement of cerise roses, with white ranunculus and shamrock blooms and learnt how to create a hand-tied bouquet.

One of the hand-tied bouquets is tall and elegant in creams, whites and greens, whilst the second one was a short spring posy, suitable for a small china jug.

And a good day is had by all.

I wonder if I will get flowers from my girls on Sunday? ... just a hint if you are reading this!

Yes, you can go to The Paint Ball!

First we had the exhibition. This was at First-View Gallery at Stourhead. So many people took an imaginative approach, including my daughter Libby who embroidered the poem ...had I the heaven's embroidered cloth...on to her canvas.

We also displayed and sold Rwandan art which is made by a women's cooperative.

And then there was a mad week preparing for The Paint Ball!

The paintings are hung, the tables are set and now we are nervously waiting for the first guests.

Each table has a different artist as its theme - obviously with the right flowers to match! And many of the individual tables of revelers chose their own picture theme to follow too.

As Oscar Wilde said' "One should either be a work of art or wear a work of art."

Martyn Jose makes a great Van Gogh - all except he is deaf in one ear and he has managed to bandage his good ear! But at least he has found himself a sunflower.

During the exhibition at Stourhead and at this Paint Ball we sell over 75 paintings and will raise more than £7500 for Msaada and their work in Rwanda. Now that is well worth celebrating.

They say every picture tells a story, and that is certainly what I find when I collect in the 109 paintings that form this exhibition. The vast majority of the painters are amateurs, many have never painted before, but all find something that they love enough to paint - even if this turns out to be a jar of Marmite! To have a look at some of the paintings visit www.first-view.co.uk

Now you don't see that in a picture everyday!

Pierce Brosnan?

All the young helpers join in the spirit of the evening; working for free, hiring costumes with their hard earned Saturday job wages - and then at the end of the evening giving all their tips to Msaada.

And people complain about 'young people these days'!

Decorating this wonderful barn (www.ryehillbarn.com) with my florist friend Jennifer was such fun; there were English spring flowers for the Constable table, roses for the Redoute table and lilies for the O'Keeffe table.

For the Van Gogh table a bowl full of sunflowers.

And for the Picasso table? Lego flowers of course!

The Flower Shop

As soon as I saw their van I knew I had to visit The Flower Shop in Bushey!

The Flower Shop is a double fronted building with large windows, and years ago it was used as a car show room selling Austin A40s. When current owners, Martin and Susie Roberts, took it over they had to remove the bays the cars were parked in, and during the renovation they discovered that underneath the flooring there was a beautiful parquet floor.

This is a wonderful flower shop, I am so glad I called by. There are banks of flowers in almost edible colours and around the shop are quirky bits and bobs that would make perfect gifts. I just wish my florist friend Jennifer was with me - she would love it so.

It turns out that The Flower Shop is a real family affair. Martin (who everyone seems to call Harry!) and Susie's son Sam once helped his parents out on a busy Valentine's Day when he was seventeen, and over ten years later he is still here.

Sam gets married in June and I have a feeling flowers is the one thing he and his bride will not have to worry about.

Susie tells me that what she loves about her shop is that it is a village flower shop, but that they are also so close to London. This means they could be making up a nice bunch of flowers for people locally or travelling up to London in their van to decorate Claridges for a wedding.

They have also been asked to provide flowers for stars' dressing rooms when they are performing in London. For one such order she was told that comedian Lee Evans - 'hates flowers' - so Susie decided on an arrangement of spiky thistles and anthuriums. It turns out he liked them so much he took them home with him.

I also get to take some flowers home with me. Over a cup of tea we chat about my books (Susie has promised to help me with my next one) and the family say they would like to have a copy of 'Flower Shops & Friends'. This is easy, we barter a book for some flowers and everyone is happy!

Happy Valentine's Day from The Flower Shop

Twenty years ago today, as the clock struck 6am, I was already in my London flower shop, The Lemon Tree. That day we organised nearly 300 flower deliveries and did not stop until 8pm, when we all sank into sofas in our flat above the shop with glasses of wine and a curry. Except, I didn't have the wine as I was 81/2 months pregnant! Some people say the spices in curry will hurry on a baby (some might say being a busy florist has the same effect) but what ever it was, my daughter Alexandra Philippa Page was born on February 15th 1990 at 5.30pm.

Happy Birthday for tomorrow Alex!

This Valentine's Day I have the pleasure of fond memories, the chance to visit my flower shop friends, without quite so much hard work! Sounds very good to me.

First stop, naturally, is Ted Martin Flowers - the subject of my first two books. I am delighted to see Ted has a poster in her window promoting our painting exhibition (see blog below) with a note saying that florists Sarah and Kate have submitted paintings. Both created beautiful and fun pictures using a mixture of paints and collage. I am going to show you Kate's here as it is so perfect for Valentine's Day. To see Sarah's 'Burleigh Angel' you will just have to come to the exhibition!

The shop is experiencing a brief lull when I arrive and then, like a wave, the next customers arrive; elderly couples, young women, dads with their daughters in tow for some advice, and of course the anxious looking, young men.

One young customers is wearing the perfect coat, so I ask if I can take a photograph of her amongst the flowers.

There are gorgeous bouquets and posies all ready for delivery, but I am also drawn to this small jug filled with broken flower heads that sits quietly on the dresser.

After a brief chat with Ted and the girls, next stop is to see Vicky and Anna at Wild Paeony in Shaftesbury. Anna's trade mark is fabulous red lipstick - perfect for Valentine's Day!

Vicky is whizzing through orders for bouquets and they are also kept busy making up 'ready to go' poises for the shop. 'So much easier for those worried looking men!', Anna laughs.

I make Vicky stand still for one moment so I can photograph this lovely mix of roses, tulips, ranunculus and waxflower, and can't help wondering if I will get any flower today?

Happy Valentine's Day!