Archive for the ‘Alex’ Category

Well, it’s Movember time again. Last year I grew a ‘tache in November because my dear old Dad had Prostate Cancer. Well, it got the better of him a few weeks ago, so this year I’m doing it in his memory.
Basically, I look rediculous with a ‘tache, so when my old friend Emily from Penhaligon’s told me they were doing a free pop-up ‘tache trim and shave shop in their Covent Garden store I booked up straight away. (check it out here!) It was lovely, hot towels a trim and a shave by the lovely Lee. If you do pop in say Hi to Richard. He manages the shop and is fantastic. You’re bound to have a laugh if he’s there. So now I look slightly less like Ned Flanders and slightly more like someone who would try and sell you dodgy nylons in 1940′s Britain. Ah well. Just wait. By the end of Nov I’ll be waxing it!
Anyone interested in Movember and all the good work they do check ‘em out here
My personal profile page is here http://mobro.co/agmonroe (any donations very welcome!)

And here’s a pic or two…
Back soon,
A

Me before the trim, and Lee in the Covent Garden Penhaligon’s

I’m just back in the studio from the Paris shows… and it was boiling! But I had a cunning plan; I flitted about and left Emma and Suzy.A to do all the hard work. Lunch in the Marais, coffee in the park. Not too bad at all.

Paris was beautiful of course. We had supper at my old favourite Yanase near Porte de Versailles on Saturday night. Japanese-French mix. Luverley.

Tuileries Sunshine.

Sunset on the way home.

Talking food… we had a super meal at Jamie’s Italian in Angel last week. Very nice too but nowadays we are such a big group the table was about half a mile long!

Jamie's Italian

Then back just in time for Mayo’s birthday. Dim Sum out in the yard with chocolate cake to follow.

Mayo and Susie polish off the Dim Sum

Feeling rather stuffed now…

Alex

We were sent this lovely pic of Eliza Doolittle at London Fashion Week. She’s looking lovely wearing our owl-on-a-perch earrings. My daughter LOVES Eliza so I might even get a teeney tiny bit of respect when I tell her (even though I’ll continue to play my old Bob Dylan albums much to her dismay)

Eliza Doolittle

Thanks to everyone who came to the London Fashion Week-end sale. The girls had great fun, but poor Jutta had to take Monday off because she was sooo exhausted, they were incredibly busy again! Thanks to you all.

See you,

Alex

Well… I’ve had some highs and I’ve had some lows. We have won lots of awards and honours, but nothing has come close to what happened this summer. I entered (jointly with my Mum I must admit) the Framlingham Flower and Produce show… and got a FIRST for my cucumber, a FIRST for my quinces, and a SECOND for my pumpkin! It doesn’t get much better than that! (Except next year we are planning much much more…).

Prizes!

Prize winning cucumber!

It’s been a good week or so all round. Fresh from the Framlingham flower and produce show I was swooshed off to dear old Kate’s (Moss of course) party in Battersea power station with Rimmel. Kate and me? Best buds now (except I didn’t even see her and left early for the babysitter).

Denise walks the red carpet at the party....

Coooooool party!

Rosie did a fab photo shoot with the help of her friends of our new collection.  They came up with several pics, the one we chose for LFW was the big wicker chair one. Anyway, here’s a peek, see what you think. Big thanks to all involved! (more info on facebook) These aren’t the final ones, I’ll post the proper finished ones asap.

This was our absolute face with the wicker chair.

The slightly mysterious green door.....

And this frilly one is pretty gorgeous too.

London Fashion Week was great, but there always seems to be lots of annoying politics…….this time too many skinny posh 13 year-olds (the organisers) being unhelpful as we set up. We weren’t allowed to use Rosie’s lovely pictures on our stand! Boo hoo. Still, we got lots of orders so it was almost worth the agony.

Glam girl Suzy.A at the show.

The display for Summer's Embrace.

We are setting up at London Fashion Week-end today. We love this show!

Hope to see all our fave customers there. Just check their web-site for details.

And we just caught the last of the summer sun yesterday. Tea outside in the yard with cake bought by Catherine. Thanks Catherine!

Tea in the sun!

And just had our new display cabinet delivered from Spain. It’s going in the shop soon and then we can open! Fingers crossed.

Spanish cabinet.

More soon,

Alex

Big congratulations to our lovely Suzy A. She got married to the also lovely (and very lucky) Nigel last week. We declared a national holiday here at AMHQ, shut the studio down and headded off to Marylebone registry office. Gasps as Suzy came in, looking AMAZING in her dress and it was all over in a few minutes. Short and very sweet and out onto the old routemaster which whisked everybody off to the Albert for a right old knees up. The sun shone, drinks all round and we sat and chatted and ate all sorts of deliciousness. I was really pleased to meet Suzy’s lovely family and particularly her Dad. Very glad to be able to tell him how much we all love his wonderful daughter. I had to leave at about 6-30 and left the gang getting very merry and set to boogie the night away. Here’s some pics. Well done Suzy and thank you so much for the best day ever! (oh yes, and sorry to Tom but I couldn’t resist the last pic., somewhere there is one of me wearing the veil but why would I blog that?)

Here she comes!

On the steps

Suzy posing in the pub garden

Good grub... mmmmm...

Tom is looking goood...

Bye for now!

A

Hi All,

I can’t believe how long it’s been since I wrote a blog. I guess Summer came and I was just too busy having fun! So I thought I ought to do a quick newsy update.

Summer kicked off with Rakhi going on her maternity leave (Rakhi worked with our ‘Bespoke’ clients). We had a lovely lunch from Paul. They delivered a HUGE box of Sandwiches and an even HUGER box of cakes. We had tea and ate till we were fit to burst. The best news is that she has had a lovely little girl called Lila. CONGRATULATIONS!

Rakhi on her last day.

And more congratulations to Suzy.A! She got married this weekend so we declared a national holiday at AMHQ; On Friday we dressed up and locked up and all headed down to Marylebone Town Hall for the ceremony, followed by a knees up in their fave pub in Primrose Hill. Hooray for Suzy and Nigel. (I think that’s our first ever AM wedding. Must tell the gang to do this more often) Pics to follow as my camera has drowned (details below)

But in-between the Baby and the Wedding what’s been happening with us…?

We’ve been working on re-launching our website. The new version should be up and running VERY soon. It’ll have the new Chrysanthemum collection on and loads of other new stuff, better features etc.

The Shop. Hmm, it is very, very nearly finished…….But the council wanted us to clad the wooden structure in ceramic, which has turned out to be impossible, and now they’re not budging, so we can’t finish it! I’ve got all our councillors onto it, and I’m hoping Simon Hughes MP will help. So with plenty of lobbying we are hoping to change their minds and get the building finished soon. Anyway, the architects reckon at the very least that we could put up some temporary cladding and open the shop very soon. It’s all very complicated. No idea why, but Southwark planning seem to have had it in for us. Just bad luck probably. If anyone out there has any ideas I’d love to hear them!

Susie Lee has taken over the bespoke side of the business and is doing great things. We’re making more and more precious pieces and doing lots of engagements and weddings. It’s really fun!

I had a lovely two weeks holiday in Suffolk. I cycled there with Tom and Lloyd which was brilliant. 113 miles. We have a cute little cottage in the forest and I love it! There are owls and snakes and deer and rabbits all sorts of birds. Perfect. I grew veg and cycled and walked and sailed. The kids went feral. Orford village fete was a high point. A proper village do with loads for the kids. I loved the flower and produce section best. I might enter something myself next year? On the last day I sailed up to Snape for a pint in the pub and fell overboard with my phone in my pocket. Lots of spectators so I made a complete arse of myself. Anyway, it’s only a phone, but I am sad about losing my pics.

Cycling to Suffolk

Flower and produce at Orford fete

Denise and the kids at Snape

Captain Catastrophe at the helm

The kids in the Forest

Anyway. It feels like Autumn is on it’s way, which I think is a beautiful season. The kids are back at school and we have London and Paris fashion weeks soon so it’s full steam ahead here. New collections almost finished, I’ll post pics asap.

More soon,

A

It seemed like I was only just back from Germany and I was heading back to Heathrow, and off to Tokyo!

This trip had been on/off for a while because of the problems Japan has been suffering from, but I was keen to visit and at least show my support. Actually, Tokyo wasn’t too different. There is a ‘brown-out’ in place; which means turning off some lights, every other lift or escalator and not using the air conditioning so much. Which actually I rather liked. Stairs are good. AC is horrid. Bright lights I’m not too keen on either (was that E.T.?)

Anyway, everyone was lovely as usual, and very welcoming. I had more meals out with friends and colleagues than ever before, which was great because my Japanese isn’t good enough to order food without pointing. So I ate and I ate! And had lots of press interviews and events and meetings. It was a really busy trip all round. Also, Mayo was in town which made is so much more fun. Although I do feel the long trip as I get older. And the time difference. I got back on Sunday night and am only just feeling 100% again. Here’s some pics….

First things first, I got some proper sushi

The gang in HP Bijoux shop

The big Muji had this wonderful cardboard box wall

Whenever I’m in Japan I get drawn to the temple of Muji; The HUGEST store in Yurakucho. Muji food, Muji bikes, even a Muji House! I loved this cardboard wall.

Chihiro Oide in her lovely jewellery

I love to see the way that people wear their jewellery. Japanese people are really creative and combine really interesting pieces. Chihiro is a model and does a great blog http://ameblo.jp/oide-chihiro/page-1.html#main

Goldie Shop

Another Goldie shop

Fantastic meal in the HP restaurant with HP

Mr Kameyama always takes me out for the best meals ever. HP had bought this wonderful old restaurant to save it from closing. We ate amazing food and chatted in the most wonderful setting. The chef talked me through each dish. It was a super evening. Here’s their web-site www.tokyo-jugatsu.com

Lunch with the sales team from HP

The lovely gang from the wholesale division took me out for a lovely lunch. I was very proud of myself, sitting on the floor for ages without wincing!

Supper at home with Mayo

Now that was a treat. Mayo’s family invited me for supper. They were lovely and I felt really privileged to be invited into their home.

A little walk in the museum

The wonderful Nezu museum was a delight. I particularly liked the gardens.

Ah well. Back to the old routine for me. No more trips for a bit. I’m quite looking forward to being at home for a while! Kids concerts, school plays and summer fairs. Lovely!

A

Hi All.

How did it get to be June so quickly? London Jewellery week has started (here’s a list of stuff going on), Alex is off to Japan at the end of the week, but our shop still isn’t finished. Ah well, we’ll get there…..

Anyway… here’s some news:

As part of London Jewellery Week, Alex is giving a talk at Morley college on Wednesday. Here’s the details…. Date: Wednesday 8/6/11
Venue: Morley College, 61 Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7HT. Closest tube is Lambeth North. Room B13 (We think that’s correct!)
Time: 12.30-1.30 (will allow for extra in case we over run).
For further information contact helen.smith@morleycollege.ac.uk . Or have a look here.

Alex promises to try not to send everyone to sleep, although that might be a pleasant way to spend your lunchtime! It’ll be biographical (Alex thinks it will be, he’s not prepared it yet!)

Also for LJW, we’re launching the new Chrysanthemum collection in Liberty on Wednesday. Someone will be in all day, Alex should be in store from about 5-30 ’till 7. Come and say ‘Hi’!

Catching up on the other stuff…. the building is coming along nicely, still no definite completion date, but we’re hoping it’ll be finished before the next ice age. Alex just did a nice bit of filming with the bees and Burt’s Bees and the BBKA. The rushes look great, but Alex did get a sting or two! More filming in the workshop afterwards..

The trunk shows in Germany were a hit! All very busy, lots more pics on Room 9′s facebook page.

We keep seeing all sorts of other stuff, jewellery on tv etc. Best check our facebook page for all that.

Anyway, maybe we’ll see you at one of our events soon.

All at AMHQ.

Hooray, I’m going back to Germany next week. And it’s not minus 15 this time (Brrrrrr. Berlin in January….). No, it’s springtime in Bonn and we’re doing a lovely event in the fabulous Room 9. (Room Nine Conceptstore Sterntorbrücke 9 53111 Bonn 0228 9814730.) on 24th May from 5 to 9.

I’m flying to Dusseldorf to see our lovely agent Kristin from Adamski & Caramia, then we’ll potter over to Bonn, meet and greet and have a glass or two, then back to Dusseldorf for a look round and a meeting, and then I’m back home on good old eastjet (ah, the highlife).

Anyone in the area do come and say ‘auf wiedersehen’! They just have the lovely ‘Picnic’ collection in.

Here’s their cute flyer…..

Just had a wonderful week-end back in the old country (Suffolk, that is. It’s where I grew up). We drove down on Saturday, had supper with my sister, stayed the night, then up at 6 for the Suffolk Sunrise 100; the most beautiful morning cycle ride through the back roads of Suffolk. We chose the 100k route because we were due at The Station in Framlingham for lunch with my Mum on her 80th birthday! (Plus the 100 mile route did look a little tiring!)

A very nice week-end too.

Denise, Alex, Lloyd, Sonia

My Mum and my Sister