Harrods magazine

So happy to see Anzu is in the Harrods magazine this month (see the diamond necklace illustration below), and very excited about our exhibition tomorrow! Do come and visit it!

Artistic mess

Very busy at the moment so things are getting a little messy! How come some people manage to make mess look so good? When I'm untidy, it just looks messy not good!

Anzu Pick Of The Week: by Jasmine

My pick of the week is the Anzu heart locket notebook. I guess I'm a romantic at heart and this is such a magical image. Jasmine x

Disruption

There is somebody naughty but rather cute in the office. She seems to think computer keyboards are a great place to sit, pens are to be knocked on the floor and all paper must be chewed. But we struggle on nonetheless!

Hatfield House

Continuing with the long current search for antiques and bits and pieces for the new Anzu office, I happened to stop by Hatfield House. The house is a fine example of Jacobean craftmanship, and was the home of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury and the man who suppressed the gunpowder plot. The whole place is stunning with the most amazing Elizabethan portraits. Above is the famous Rainbow painting of Queen Elizabeth I.

They also have the famous Hilliard Ermine portrait of Queen Elizabeth I. Ermine is a traditional symbol of purity and chastity.

The library was beautiful and looked like a wonderfully cosy place to snuggle up and read before cocktail time!

I also liked the idea for this cover, where guests sign their names to be embroidered later. I would love to do this for a tablecloth. Aside from the Elizabethan portraits, the other highlight of the house was the Armory.

The almost modern style stone windows with the flower pattern, the chequered floor, the impressive armoured knights with their red lanterns which was then

combined with portraits of glamorous women and handsome men swathed in red and blue-grey echoing the colours throughout. It perfectly combined masculine and feminine, simplicity with decoration and was just stunning.

To find out more or to visit click here.

Anzu Pick Of The Week: by Saffiah

We thought it might be fun to pick one of our favourite Anzu goodies each week. This week I’m choosing our fabulous ‘jewelled bangles’ card decorated with colourful Swarovski crystals, because I’m attending an Indian wedding and am on the search for lots of sparkly bangles!

Image: Anzu

The romance of Valentino couture..

I think these photographs taken backstage at Valentino's Fall 2011 couture collection have such an old-fashioned romantic and ethereal quality about them. They are almost like paintings.

The one below is slightly different, but I just love the coat.

Images: Valentino

Royal crowns

Visiting the Tower of London and seeing the crown jewels as a child was definitely something that had a big impact on me as a child, so it's probably no surprise that I painted this for one of the Anzu cards! Like all our bejewelled collection we hand-decorated the card with Swarovski crystals to create an extra sumptuous look.

When I visited Moscow some time ago, I was also amazed at the incredible things in the Kremlin Armoury, particularly Catherine the Great's robes and these medieval crowns.

Catherine the Great's Imperial Crown made for her in 1762, which has a staggering 4,936 diamonds.

The Holy Roman Emperor's Crown, which is ornamented with 144 different kinds of precious stones including sapphire and emeralds. Isn't it stunning?

The German Kaiser's crown

I like the different style of this Kiani crown, from the Iranian crown jewels. It has 1800 small pearls, 300 emeralds, and 1800 rubies.

Alternatively, you could get this aluminium crown from Lassco !

Images Anzu, via lonely planet, via smart moscow, via ferrebeekeeper.wordpress.com, via asia-europe.uni, , unknown, www.lassco.co.uk

Antique finds

The decorating and antique finding commences in earnest now as we try to get the office done as quickly as possible. So of course, there had to be a visit to Kempton Antiques market. A lace tray, a silver plate holder to put all my paintbrushes in, a shantung silk travelling frame, a gold leaf and crystal sconce,and two chandelier sconces from an Edwardian hotel were our finds. I also made a sneaky purchase of a rhinestone bracelet for me. Now we just need some furniture, a bathroom and a kitchen!

London riots

This image just seemed appropriate today somehow. Unbelievable what has been happening across London - just so sad.

Guest blogger: Saffiah on Vintage style weddings

Hi, my name is Saffiah and I work for Anzu and will be doing some blog posts this month. We were delighted to see the lovely Harrods buyer, Cecilia, in this month’s edition of Brides Magazine.

We particularly liked the Victoria sponge wedding cake, she and her husband chose for their traditional wedding,which was English but with a Scandinavian touch.

The bright petals and catkins decorating the cake look lovely, as do the vintage colour flowers, the hand ties and the table decorations.

Cream and dusky pink roses, lavender, and dried hydrangeas were used along with script writing on the place cards adding a romantic touch.

This got us to thinking about vintage themed weddings. Here are some other images that we love…

Old keys used for place cards.

Another Victoria sponge served on lovely china.

Brooches and lace used to make romantic hand ties.

Images: Brides magazine, weddinggawker.com, country life, love-of-fair-events.blogspot.com,

Perfect day for this

Image: unknown

Concours d'Elegance

During the week, Anzu was invited to view a luxury trade show. Well really it was more of a vintage automobile rally with some aviation, boat and other luxury stands selling jewellery and holidays. It all took place in the quintessentially English Hurlingham club.

With the absolute best of vintage cars, tennis courts and croquet lawns,

secluded spots to sip champagne in courtyards full of overbrimming flower beds,

yet more stunning vintage vehicles (this was my favourite),

beautiful areas to sit and have a spot of lunch, views of the river

and a bridge over a lake with swans and newly hatched ducklings who could fail to smile?

Tablescapes

Just some lovely little corner details...

Vanity Decorista, Unknown, Michelle McCormick, Unknown, Unknown

Some stunning couture

Givenchy. Really like the photo shoot as much as the dresses.

Alaiia's first couture show - say no more!

Mary McDonald

I am absolutely loving the new series of Million Dollar decorators! Really funny and just entertaining. It has also introduced me to Mary McDonald's interiors.

The mirrored dressing table above was originally from Buster Keaton's estate, which makes it even better.

I like her vibrant use of colour and pattern.

I have admired this office for some time, but didn't know who it was designed by. Most people would never cover such beautiful wallpaper with photographs but Mary McDonald does it nonchalantly and it works.

I also like the way she has decorative bowls filled with jewels.

Her book is gorgeous. Click here to get it on Amazon, or click here to visit her website.

Images: Mary McDonald