I ♥ Work Chic

What I miss the most about working in an office...is dressing for work. Having worn dresses or skirts less than 10 times in my adult life, I am a pants girl. Trousers. Slacks. Whatever you call them...I love them. Being an inch shy of 6 feet tall, finding the right fit for my long yet slender frame, isn't always easy in this pear-shaped arena I live in but when I find them....they're good.

 Then they're shirts and shoes. Why go on...I will show you what I mean!

J'adore kimonos

I've always hated my arms....the length of them I mean. I have the wing span of a pterodactyl and have only embraced them recently. Three quater sleeves tend to work well and there are some great kimono pieces out there that will do just that. Here are two of my favs...

I ♥ Old Vogue Covers

I've been reading Vogue Magazine for as long as I could say Prada and while I have the iPad app and I download each issue, there is still something about curling up on my couch with a vanilla latte (home made!) and the latest issue of Vogue. Its like receiving a hand-written letter - tickles your heart. The evolution of fashion can be seen by flicking the covers of this glorious magazine over the years and while sharing all of my favs with you would be impossible as I love them all...these are my pics for today...enjoy!

I ♥ Taking Photos in Clifton!

Clifton Village is perfect for a wander with my trusty Digital SLR. I'm a Canon if you were wondering. Here are a few of my favourite shots of my favourite place!

I ♥ Reg the Veg

You aren't a true lover of Clifton Village, unless you shop at Reg the Veg, on Boyces Avenue in Clifton Village. Reg the Veg is your independant family run green-grocers specialising in the finest local produce and exotics. One day a few months ago, I spent an hour or so taking some photos of what was on offer...here they are.

I ♥ Vintage Typewriters

Growing up in a house run by a PA in the late 70s through to the 80s, there was always a typewriter in our home. As a little girl, I used to love pounding away at the keys, much to my mother's dismay and watching as the mechanisms worked their magic that produced a letter on the page.

A few weeks ago, I went on the hunt for a vintage typewriter to place somewhere in my house. Just wanted to share some of my top picks!

Tiffany's and their Handbags...

I love Tiffany's just as much as the next girl. Albeit I avoid the more popular pieces and go for the unique especially the Torque line for Frank Gehry. Have you seen their handbags? I love handbags and ridiculously expensive ones. Not on purpose I promise. PUt me in a room with thousands of handbags with only one expensive piece and I will find it. It always happens that way. I can never fall in love with a deal...its always the one's that push my husband's financial patience to the limit!

Now handbag purchasing has dwindled since I have Chatterbox Junior but looking is just as fun! Here they are and they're reversible too! And between £3-something and £4-something...that's coffee money, right?

And here's her sister...reversible too!

As for whether it's available in darker colours, ask Jennifer Anniston!

FIRST BRISTOL EXHIBITION FOR ACCLAIMED ARTIST LARA HARWOOD AT SNAP STUDIO

SNAP is proud to present new work by acclaimed artist Lara Harwood in their summer show opening Friday 24th June – Saturday 17th September. More publicly known for her charming Illustration work for London Underground, food packaging for M&S, the identity for Booths supermarkets and a stamp for the Royal Mail, book jackets and editorial commissions. This is the first opportunity to view her hand crafted screen prints in Bristol and the South West.

SNAP will be exhibiting a collection of Lara’s work all featuring a typographic element inspired from various sources.

“Recently I’ve been screen printing using simple paper cut stencils, this approach is direct allowing for more spontaneity and gives a raw edge to the work, the stencils don’t last long so the editions are rather small which makes them more special to me and those who are interested in small editions.” Lara creates iconic images capturing her enthusiasm and love of colour, which keeps her in constant demand. 

Based in London at the fabulous Chocolate Factory Studio (Wood Green), Lara divides her time between commissioned Illustration, exhibiting and personal travel projects. With a Masters degree from Camberwell College of Art, Lara is an accomplished silkscreen printer operating from her own silkscreen studio. Her work can be found in the collections of The V&A Museum and UNESCO as well as numerous private collections both in the UK and abroad.

SNAP was set up in September 2007 and is an artist run co-operative in the centre of Bristol, which consists of a gallery with attached studio and screen printing workshop. Most of the artworks sold in the shop are produced on the premises. The SNAP artists regularly undertake commissions for design and illustration and have exhibited their work throughout the UK.  The gallery sells an exciting collection of items from cards and bags through to artist books and limited edition screen prints. SNAP also runs workshops in screen printing and bookbinding which are taught by the SNAP artists. Workshops cost £60 for six hour course and £45 for students with a valid NUS card.

Exhibition Preview Thursday 23rd June 

Exhibition Friday 24th June - Saturday 17th September 10am - 6pm

Can't wait till then....check out her website. And look out for an interview with Lara soon on Clifton Chatterbox!

www.laraharwood.co.uk

Happy Tuesday!

Tuesday is the day I start planning for the next issue of Clifton Chatterbox. With so much to write about in Clifton Village, I am wondering if I need to do two issues each week. Mr Chatterbox says I always bite off more than I can chew...so let's see how we go with one issue a week.

One thing I can promise is that it will be Pippa-free.

What is the big deal about Pippa Middleton? Your sister is a Princess. Not you. And yet, magazines, blogs and newspapers are publishing snaps of her pre, during and post-wedding. Then today's Grazia leads with Harry and Chelsea calling it quits and then of course there's the fuel to the rumour that the sisters have been gigling at the prospect of another royal wedding in the Middleton family.

Pippa please? No one wins the lottery twice. But then again, stranger things have happened? Example? Me liking Lady Gaga. Watched her on The Graham Norton Show last night and I was impressed with her coyness and two costume changes, or as Norton put it, "she has an outfit for talking and another for singing".

I still think she's a little weird or maybe too much weird but people will be people.

Which brings me back to our business - Clifton Village.

Had a wander this morning - as I always do. Butchers, then Coffee #1, then Boston Tea Party for a West Country breakfast for Mr. Chatterbox. As Cliftonites, we're people. Beautiful people. I love watching the various huddles in the village shops and cafes. Mums and daughters having a browse at the dresses in Maze or the new parents having a baby free coffee in Boston Tea Party. The yummy Mums having a browse around Arch House Deli looking for inspiration for a meal for their baby-free dinner party with the girls that weekend. So much going on!

I am off to Papadeli's cooking class on Thursday and will report in the next issue. Also off to Goldbricks on Wednesday for some champers with Gail at The Mews Bridal and other wedding peeps. Need to meet with the people at 194 Fahrenheit to see what they're up to. Need to give Emmeline Simpson a ring to feature her as the next, "Our Very Own...". Have you seen her Sion Hill Mug in the current issue? See it here with other cuppas available at The Pod Company. Have a look here: http://bit.ly/ivGzOb

I have so many ideas but I want to hear from you? What would you like to see in upcoming issues in Clifton Chatterbox?

Chat soon!

Toodles!

Michelle x

And we're off...Clifton Chatterbox is now real!

After two delays and a near nervous breakdown with proof reading and last minute hyperlinks...I am proud to say the Clifton Chatterbox is now alive and kicking.

A few major mentions...firstly to God for putting me on the path I was meant to be on. To my husband of 10 years and designer of the site, Sean Farrell. To my son Clark for being the funnest interruption ever and to Gail Crispin from The Mews Bridal and that dress.

You never know where a chat in Clifton will take you!

Toodles!

Chief Chatterbox!

Wishing I was in Cannes...

My blog background is dedicated to the Cannes Film Festival taking place as we...blog. 


Here are the films competing this year:

• BIR ZAMANLAR ANADOLU'DA (ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA) directed by Nuri Bilge CEYLAN
• DRIVE directed by Nicolas WINDING REFN
• HABEMUS PAPAM directed by Nanni MORETTI
• HANEZU NO TSUKI (HANEZU) directed by Naomi KAWASE
• HEARAT SHULAYIM (Footnote) directed by Joseph CEDAR
• ICHIMEI (HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI) directed by Takashi MIIKE
• L'APOLLONIDE - SOUVENIRS DE LA MAISON CLOSE (HOUSE OF TOLERANCE) directed by Bertrand BONELLO
• LA PIEL QUE HABITO (THE SKIN I LIVE IN) directed by Pedro ALMODÓVAR
• LA SOURCE DES FEMMES (THE SOURCE) directed by Radu MIHAILEANU
• LE GAMIN AU VÉLO (THE KID WITH A BIKE) directed by Jean-Pierre et Luc DARDENNE
• LE HAVRE directed by Aki KAURISMÄKI
• MELANCHOLIA directed by Lars VON TRIER
• MICHAEL directed by Markus SCHLEINZER
• PATER directed by Alain CAVALIER
• POLISSE (POLISS) directed by MAÏWENN
• SLEEPING BEAUTY directed by Julia LEIGH
• THE ARTIST directed by Michel HAZANAVICIUS
• THE TREE OF LIFE directed by Terrence MALICK
• THIS MUST BE THE PLACE directed by Paolo SORRENTINO
• WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN directed by Lynne RAMSAY

Here are two of my favs star sightings at the Festival so far:

Gotta love Tilda!

Credit: Francois Guillot/AFP/Getty

Credit: Matt Baron/BEImages

Skirts weren't that short in Harry Potter! Clemence...you look good!

Who am I? Just call me Chief Chatterbox.

34 year old lover of all things lifestyle and luxury. Moved to Clifton two years ago from London after a five year stint in the Big Smoke. Churned my butter in the Telecommunications events industry and during that time I was privileged to meet some of the most important people in the world responsible for keeping us connected.

Travelled the world with my job to Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and more. Networking is my speciality and Clifton Village is a great place to network with "the beautiful people" and I hope that Clifton Chatterbox will be a big part of the Clifton Village network.

I adore chatting with people as much as I love well the finer things in life. From high heels to high tea - I love it all!

Married for ten years, I am lucky that Mr Chatterbox is a seasoned Graphic Designer with over 20 years experience under his belt. He's for the world's top brands - Tesco, M&S, Citigroup, Volkswagen, Subaru, Nabisco, Neutrogena...need I go on! My husband, the overachiever! We combined our genes and had the boy almost three years ago, Chatterbox Junior.

But before all of this, I was on my little island of Trinidad where I began my career as a writer and then jumped into copywriting, marketing and advertising. Got bored of the island lifestyle (I know I'm crazy!) and jumped over to God's country as my Welsh Grandma would say.

So having just entered my 34th year on the planet, Clifton Chatterbox is my new baby...and it's all been a bit hectic here trying to get her launched. Today is the day...I promise!

My real name? Michelle!


From the Chief Chatterbox on her trusty iPad

Chanel....J'Adore!

Everyone's talking about Chanel's Cruise Collection 2011 Fashion Show under the fashionable wing of Karl Lagerfeld on the French Riviera. A mere two days before the Cannes Film Festival, Uncle Karl didn't disappoint!


Any Gossip Girl fans out there? Blake Lively was named Chanel's latest darling earlier this year as the new face of the company’s latest handbag collection, Mademoiselle. The new campaign has been photographed at the historic Paris apartment where Coco herself launched her collections. Of course she was spotted supporting the show.

The show itself unleashed some amazing pieces.  Here are a few of my favs...

Isn't he a legend?!?!

Launch smaunch!

So we've launched.....NOT!

Why did I say I was going to launch on my birthday? Oh well!

Working working working...final steps though. Spell checking, last minute insertions!

Soon come people!

Toodles!

Chief Chatterbox!

I ♥ Anthropologie!

Adored them in my days of travelling to Florida frequently...a mere 3 hrs and 45 mins flying from Trinidad. Now they're in London and have a great online shop!


What I love the most is their home decor section and here are a few of my top pieces at the moment!

Linocut Curtain

Diamond Cut Measuring Cups

Nimbus bedding

Birthdays and things...

We all love receiving beautiful presents on our birthdays! We like giving them too!

Found this gorgeous shop online with the most amazing bits and bobs! Very Cliftonesque this shop. But if like me, you've got to get your Clifton VIllage fix today...get your flip flops out and have a wander. the sun is out!

Look at these gorgeous bottles!

Gorgeous recipe book from 1840s and silk screen print heralding tea! Don't you just love online window shopping!

this is coming to my house for sure!

and some more beautiful stuff from...Willow and Stone in Cornwall