Over this weekend a whole bunch of european and some international bloggers descended on london to attend the meet the blogger event. After a day filled with talks and workshops, it was my turn to design and lead this sophisticated lot around a walking tour of design shops and businesses around portobello and notting hill.
We met at our first destination, the tom dixon shop, where we were each given one of their fluoro bags. This turned out to be a life saver as it was dead easy for me to shepherd them around and quickly spot the whole group.
Next on the list was the eclectic goldborne road, where we visited phoenix on goldborne and les couilles du chien. I want to give a big shout out to ben, who works at les couilles du chien for especially coming in to open up on a sunday (as a favour). I owe you chocolates:-)
Walking down the very long portobello road.
Despite the cold, the bloggers were cheerful, excitable and ready for the next adventures. One of them brought their mum. Now, that’s lateral thinking on mother’s day!
Pedlars welcomed us with open arms. We were given coffee & tea, goodie bags and sophie kindly gave us a talk on the brilliant concept. Thank you so much guys, we had a blast and everyone loved it.
Naughty but nice!
Ceramica blue was another highlight of the tour. Not known to most, the bloggers flocked in and devoured all the beautiful displays. Lindy, thank you for the generous discount and for making us feel welcomed!
SCP was next on the list. A huge thank you to duncan for coming in especially to give us a talk on how it all started. It was fascinating. Thank you also for the goodie bags and nibbles. I think no one wanted to leave. Your shop/showroom is beautiful and cosy.
Our last stop was at made.com Their beautiful showroom on the 9th floor is definitely worth visiting. Thank you james for taking the initiative and amy for the talk. I think everyone was so comfortable and greatful for the drinks and nibbles at the end of a rather eventful weekend. It was the perfect ending!
I would like to thank everyone who attended the design tour for your dedication, high spirits, support and for hanging in there despite the cold. I certainly had a blast and hope you had fun, came away with lots of inspiration and some goodies. A big shout out to all the mummies who somehow managed to free themselves, it’s very much appreciated. I do hope everyone got home safely and that you enjoyed the whole weekend.
Thank you mary-ellen and kelly for your support throughout the weekend and for my lovely flowers.
53 Comments
Tina, this looks like it was a wonderful tour… packed with inspiration, fun and of course color! Your attendees were so lucky! Wish I could have been one of them!
Aww, thanks. Have you dropped yet? I saw that you’re down for the Creche at The Hive:-) will be great to meet your little bambino!
Wow well done Tina, you’re very brave. That was quite a gaggle of bloggers you shepherded around. Bet they all had a great time. What a handsome young man Igor is. X
Thanks Bird! Yep, he is rather handsome!!! x
Lovely to read your report and see a few familiar faces! No idea how you managed to take photos and keep so many people on the move – nice job!
Thanks Rebecca, not quite sure what happened on that day.. it was cold.. brrrrr!!
What a nice event! I was pointed in your direction by Doris from Diary of an Interior Novice and am very jealous. I’m near San Francisco, so I hope there will be a Meet the Blogger nearby in the near future. I just bookmarked your site and will be back!
Hello Cyndi, thank you for stopping by! Oh, yes, the lovely Doris who I met for the first time last weekend.
Don’t be jealous, I’m sure there are blogging events near you. Thank you, look forward to seeing more of you:-)
What a great event! I wish they had something similar in my neck of the woods.
Hey you… thank you for stopping by… I know we are quite lucky in Europe! Hope you’re good!
Looks like it was a fabulous tour! Great location choices Tina. So sad I missed it.
now off to pin your great images 🙂
Xx. Holly.
Thanks love! I know, it would have been so great for you to join us… but May is in site and I can’t wait to give you a massive bear hug! xx
How cool..I was hoping to see a photo of you leading the tour! Well done on such a fantastic event Tina, looks like everyone enjoyed it immensely. Would love to have been part of this. xx
Ha. Yes, that would have been fun I guess… thanks love! One day, I’ll be your personal tour guide! x
Well, it looks like I definitely missed out on some great spots!! But I’m so glad I was at least able to attend the event on Saturday, as I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lovely to see you and hopefully see you at the April meet up. Trinske x
Yes, it was great to see you on Saturday and see you at our meet ups x
I so would have loved to attend..
Looks absolutely FAB!
Bravo Tina!
cheers carolg
Shame you didn’t make it…. thanks Carol or should I say: merci?
What a beautiful capture of the day. Thank you so much Tina, I love you xox
Ha. Thanks you fire cracker.. it was great to have you with us. xx
CONGRATULATIONS TINA! I HEARD IT WAS A GREAT TOUR!X
Caroline, you are so funny!! Are the Caps meant to make the comment more potent??? Thanks, it seems you had a lovely
time with the boys the next day xx
Well how did you guide that lovely bunch around and take photos… quite a feat my dear.
Harking back to one of my blogs last week, I’m glad to see Igor & Will there working it for the boys. Were they the only guys in attendance? I’d like to have been there too.
It’s interesting – and good – that so many of the shops were willing to be involved. I’m guessing that more and more stores are realising the power and potential of blogging and can see the benefit to their brand. I know I’m more likely to pay attention to a shop that has a blog written about it than some featured ad/article in a run of the mill magazine.
Well done on the tour! Gxx
Yep, they were great troopers and Toby was there too.. so you guys were represented!!
Aww, yes, you would have complimented the tour..:)
Well, yes and no. It took a bit of work to convince some of them. On the whole, I think shops are realising that bloggers are not to be underestimated.
Thanks G xx
Hi Tina,
Thank you so much for a wonderful tour on Sunday. It was an absolute triumph especially given the cold weather (not that I noticed – I was boiling most of it, fever + mild hangover maybe?! Oops!)
Anyway, it was totally brilliant fun and so inspiring and interesting to see shops I have not seen before and learn a little bit about them. It was lovely they were all so welcoming to us, the coffee at Pedlars was particularly lovely and I had fun rummaging through my goodie bags on the way home.
I’m only sorry that mr pug did not make an appearance! His eye (touch wood) looks like it might be on the mend, I will be very happy to see the day this saga is over.
Well done on a brilliant tour, perfectly fabulous attitude and getting these fantastic businesses to open their doors to us and let us into their world for a little while.
Best wishes,
Louisa
PS: Love that you splashed my mug over this blog post, look at those bagsssss! Omg.
I can’t believe you came despite a fever.. that’s true dedication and true support, thank you!!!
I know, I wish Mr Pug would’ve been there… I so hope this eye saga will go away quickly so I can see and hug him.
Thanks honey, you go and have a smashing time in New York…go and get them!
Love that pic of you xx
PS Your workshop on Saturday was brilliant – learned tones!
What a great day you had. I’m very impressed that you managed to take so many wonderful photos, as well – love the satchel one
The Satchel one is probably my fav as it’s full of colour, right??? thanks Alison.
Wow! Stunning pics, Tina! Looks like you all had a fabulous day. Was wonderful to meet you at Meet the Blogger and I look forward to running into each other again soon xxx Holly
Thanks Holly. Yes, no doubt we’ll see each other again soon…
Now, let’s get this straight Tina. You organised this excellent tour, took a large group of lovely people around without losing anybody and at the same time, took excellent photographs and blogged about it? Is there a word for superwoman extreme? xx
Haha, You are always so funny and so complimentary. Thank you N.
Not sure how that happened, but somehow it did! I was just happy it didn’t pour down with rain x
Hi lovely lady, looks like you guys had a FAB time. I’m sorry I missed it , looks like so much fun. Was SO lovely catching up on Saturday – look forward to Berlin. Take care and speak soon:)
Axxx
Yes, was lovely seeing you on Saturday. See you at The Hive!
Tina, I too am impressed that you managed to herd us all along the tour and still take fabulous photo’s along the way! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it was a wonderfully well thought out, fabulous and interesting tour. I hope that you managed to enjoy yourself also. See you again soon. xD
Thank you Doris. It was so nice to ‘finally’ meet you! Long overdue!!
I did actually manage to enjoy myself, surprisingly!!
Thank you so much for coming, although it was Mother’s Day x
Great post! I would have been along documenting the tour with my camera but had another project deadline on Sunday.. this should be an annual event, maybe closer to me East London next time? 😉
Oh, what a shame you couldn’t make it on Sunday, but then you would have put my photos to shame:-)
Originally the tour was meant to be in the East End!
It was a really great day and you did a perfect job at ushering us around! I don’t know when you took all those lovely photos. Thank you! (I know I’ve said that a hundred times but you totally deserve the praise!).
Hopefully see you at March meet up if not May hopefully. Ax
Ha. Thanks Anna:-) you are sooo kind!
Yes, hope to see you real soon AND I’m delighted you can finally access my blog. Did you ever get to the bottom of this? xx
And just realised I managed to access your blog finally without any probs!
Tina, so sorry for being late to comment here. I had a wonderful time on the design tour. It was so lovely of all the shop owners to make the effort. You did well herding us along 🙂 Thanks so much lovely. Big hugs and see you soon. x
Please don’t apologise for being late. It’s always a pleasure when you comment:-)
Yes, I also rather enjoyed herding you guys along. You were all really well behaved and everyone helped!
Thank you for coming along AND on mothers day… much appreciated xx
Tina, this looks like so much fun!! You are quite amazing (and humble) what a fun adventure. Your pics are great! hope all is good honey xx
Wow! Am I really humble? Interesting and nice! Thanks love.. at least you were there in spirit xx
Wow Tina – you so popular! I think by the amount of comments you’ve got for this post, your tour must have been a massive hit!! I love all the stores you mentioned (and how much would I really like to own one of those Tom Dixon copper pendant lamps). I didn’t make it as per usual, but when there’s another one I’m going to try harder to get to it!!! i can feel a sick note coming on already – ahem! 😉 xx
Haha. No, I think people were just excited.. it’s fun traipsing around shops with fellow bloggers and there was a good atmosphere!
Don’t start me on the TD copper pendant lamps… so amazing!!
That’ll be the day:-)) Do I ever get to see your face???? xx
Tina, my sweetheart! Thank you so much for a wonderful & eclectic design tour through London. I don’t have to tell you how much I enjoyed it!!! My personal favorites were Pedlars, Ceramica Blue and SCP – I must get back there soon! Oh and I love that funny shot up there…you know:-) Big hugs my friend from Munich!!
Igor, the pleasure was mine. I can’t believe it’s 6 months since we saw each other…. AND I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Can’t wait to see you again, hopefully at the Hive:-))
It looks/sounds amazing, Tina – I’m truly sorry I missed it! 🙁
Judging from the many compliments here everyone had a super time, a wonderful education and goodies to boot – a triumph indeed. I’m so happy it went so well!!!
I’ll phone you soon for more deets! 😀 xo
Aww, thanks darling!
I’m glad that so many people liked it and got something out of it… was a little worried that the London lot wouldn’t, but they truly did!!
Look forward to one of our chats:-) xx
Looks like you guys had so much fun! Sorry I couldn’t make it along, but glad it went well and you all had a blast!
[…] Then on Saturday, I attended the Meet the Blogger event in London which was an inspiring day jam packed full of learning, fun and chatter. On Sunday was Mother’s day where I spent the morning with the family. Big J, went out and got us all a McDonald’s breakfast which was a special treat. It’s the simple things :). Then I went on a lovely design tour that the ever knowledgable Tina from ColourLiving planned. You can read more about the tour on her blog here. […]