For those of you that know me, you know I am an avid fan of Chanel items…yes I know…I know..she was FRENCH!

My chanel collection..just a little peek. I need to replace some missing stones 

   
 Coco Chanel opened her very first boutique in England in the fancy smancy area of Mayfair in the 1920’s…and there was a “man” behind her opening up that boutique. Many aren’t aware she got her start making hats. The man that admired her fell in love fast.  

   
 “He” bought her a home in the Mayfair area. His name was Hugh Grosvenor (yes, he owned the land that the Grosvenor hotel is  located) Grosvenor was also the 2nd Duke of Westminster….and so the legend goes.

Grosvenor met “Coco” at a party in Monte Carlo and was smitten. He fell fast…and the rest…well theres lots of “mystery” and speculation. He built her a massive villa in France on land that he bought just for her. He opened her boutique in his “area” of London which was Mayfair. During her involvement with Grosvenor, she began her design of her now famous tweeds which originate from the English influence. 

Legend has it that the city light poles in the Westminster area of London have the “W” logo for Westminster, along with the double C…which as we all know is the chanel logo. Many deny this saying that the poles weren’t put up until the 1950’s…but do we know if they were actually MADE earlier than that??? I thought this the other evening..just because something is INSTALLED on a certain date  doesn’t mean it wasn’t made earlier…years earlier…it sure would save them money to put up poles that were made years ago rather than pay to have new ones made.

They LOOK OLD…THEY ARE OLD…so thats my theory…a mystery with a hidden meaning of love behind the CC logo and the Westminster logo. Only Coco and Hugh know.

What does the city of Westminster say about this legend??  They claim the CC logo stands for CITY COUNCIL…hummm….okay…I get that…but it is the classic trademark of chanel…isn’t there a trademark law against that??? And I can’t find ANYTHING with the double c logo on the city council of Westminster! EVER! 

To think Mr Grosvenor was in love with Coco and had the poles made as a symbol of his devotion to her is more the story I want to believe and one that I “choose” to believe….you be the judge…TO CC or not to CC….only Mr. Grosvenor knows for sure…and probably Coco…and I have a feeling the city council does too, maybe those from years ago on the council……Love..it makes the world go around…and around…and around even on a pole!

I  have to admit..i wasn’t a big Beatrix Potter fan at all…I think because I’ve seen those rabbits and such all over every department store and I am not one to like having what everyone else has…although I know when my daughter was small, someone did buy her the set of books…which we never read! I judged a book by its cover ….I LOVE THIS WOMAN NOW!  And it all stems from visiting her home, her village, walking the road she walked and seeing the land she donated to….THE LAKE DISTRICT!!  The lake district in England exists because of this woman! We stumbled upon a lovely looking tudor hotel. Her mothers home where we stayed    Come to find out it was the home that Beatrix Potter had bought for her mother..the charming man told us the entire story of her mother living there and we then soaked in the history! Helen Beatrix Potter was born into a very wealthy Family in Kensington..(this is the area we stay when we are in London..MY FAV). Her father was a barrister, and was an avid photographer on the side. She was taught by private governesses until the age of 18. This woman was a mere genius. She loved drawing, favouring watercoulors, but spent numerous hours studying fossils, insects, and archaeological artifacts…she was intrigued by these things. Her family spent their “holiday”time in the summers visiting Scotland and the private lake district in England. She had numerous pets. Mice, rabbits, hedgehogs , bats and butterflies…her one rabbits, “Peter” would accompany her on the train to take trips..she led him by a “leash”…I’m not kidding! She was engaged once but called it off due to her family did not approve of the man…he was her “editor” ..she then married later in life at age 47 (!!!)  to a respected solicitor.  They were married for 30 years. She used the proceeds from her books and an inheritance from an aunt to purchase  a farm called “Hill Top” and didn’t want to give up this small cottage once she was married…so instead she and her husband bought a larger home down the road and she “kept” the small cottage to be her “getaway office”  Many of her “writings” took place here.If you visit Hilltop, (It just within the past few years became open to the public) upon entering you’re given a lecture on not to take photos…take it from me..don’t take photos..i just couldn’t resist and I got caught…embarrassed yes, regretful, no.  Photo I wasn’t suppose to take!   Beatrix left her entire cottage to the National Trust with instructions to not move or change a thing inside…this is why I wanted the pictures!  Its a very small dark cottage..yet charming..creaky and real to its authenticity. Beside each window lies one of her authentic books…we were told she would look out the window and whatever she would see would inspire her to write a story…thus the story of her animals. She was a lover of sheep and raised them. She became the first woman president of the Herdwick Sheep Association but passed away before she could serve. Her family would rent Wray Castle near Ambleside in the Lake District when she was young…we went there too!  I fell in love…it wasn’t your “normal” castle..it was “normal”…you could touch anything you wanted because its almost empty..there was a huge room that children can play dress up and color on the tables and make crowns..theres a small deli downstairs to grab some crisps…its large, but not stuffy..it overlooks the most beautiful setting with all the sheep BAHHHHHING in the background.  Wray Castle the castle was lovely, not stuffy!children making paper crowns i’ve sold TONS like this!we have furniture like this all the time!  grand staircase We hiked the trails…lovely..hiked past the lake…breathtaking. Wray is very comfortable and family friendly unlike most castles that are open to the public…its like a “small town castle”!! In 1895 Beatrix developed her own theory regarding fungus spores and their germination…nobody would give her the time of day….in those days, women played no role in that type of position and research..think what she could have done in todays world!  in 1997 she received  an apology from a professional science group in England (yes after she had passed away) saying how they were deeply sorry for the sexism displayed in her research….a little late people!  But they had found out all her research was indeed correct! Beatrix was a very interesting woman, kept to herself and her animals much of the time, wrote, did research and loved the English countryside. She passed away in 1943 on a very cold snowy day in December from pneumonia and heart complications due to the village doctor couldn’t get to her in time because of the weather.  Her legacy lives on even today with her books and all the memorabilia. She left over 4k acres to the National Trust and it preserved what is called the Lake District today. More women need to be like this woman and what a wonderful world of passion, art, and legacy left to others would be felt in the world today. Below are photos of the Wray Castle “in the time period” that Beatrice would visit with her family. Cheers to Helen Beatrix Potter…now go out and buy your child/grandchild a Peter Cottontail stuffed animal tomorrow!