Wandering Around London

I found myself in London again last fall, with nothing in particular planned. Cool, clear days made it perfect for exploring so Steve and I strolled through London's always glorious parks, ventured into tiny alleyways and new neighborhoods, and stopped into galleries, shops and museums.

Here, a bench in Hyde Park beckoned us to rest for a few moments.

In St. James Park, early fall colors reflected in the pond looked like a painting.

Somewhere near our hotel we found this shady alleyway made cheerful with bright paint.

 The very elegant Royal Arcade was equally cheerful with bright paint and numerous skylights.

Late one afternoon we crossed Chelsea Bridge en route to Battersea Gardens on the south side of the Thames. I found the amount of construction astonishing, considering the uncertainty around Brexit.

We walked the length of the park, enjoying brilliant sunlit views of the opposite shore,

and crossed back on the very pretty Albert Bridge.

I wandered on my own for a couple of days while Steve was working, stopping in at the V & A to see their new photography center. Here is an 1855 image of Thailand's Thapinyu Pagoda by Linneaus Tripe that has been "digitally reimagined" by Thomas Ruff.

I also stopped in at the National Gallery and was wowed once again by George Stubb's 1762 painting of the horse Whistlejacket.

And, of course, I couldn't resist visiting Liberty of London once again. I think it is the most visually appealing store I have ever been in. It is really more like a gallery than a shop. Their carefully curated collection is always beautifully displayed. Hard to resist these Fornasetti plates!

The Regent Street store, built during the 1920s in the Tudor revival style is dramatic, yet welcoming, with central atria surrounded by smaller, more intimate rooms. I was happy to see that Victoria Findlay Wolfe's quilts were still on display.

Here is a view of one atrium bedecked with the quilts.

Unlike other department stores which have given up selling fabric, Liberty continues to sell fabric, their very own Liberty fabric, which is distinctive and lovely, though not inexpensive.

I picked up two new packs of fat quarters.

I now have a very nice collection.  The larger of these came from a previous visit to Liberty's Regent Street store and the other from Purl Soho in New York.

Now I need to screw up my courage to cut into these beauties and make something out of them!