the conran shop book signing day…

Nerves and excitement are a funny combination. I really couldn’t tell which was winning the race leading up to the book launch on Saturday May 26th at the fabulous Conran Shop in the Michelin building on London’s Fulham Road.

I was excited to see the amazing shed window displays in the shop with their contrasting black and sharp ‘Granny Smith’ apple colour scheme. A gravel path weaves its way through the sheds, taking you on a trail through a garden shed, ‘lounging’ shed with a wood burning stove and a dining shed, with one side open to the elements. Each end of the path has a little garden seating area set up. It’s just lovely, please go take a look if you can. You’ll go home with a head full of inspiration!

In the week previous, I wrote a guest blog post for the shop, which tied in with a competition for ‘what would you have in your cool shed?’ There were some fantastic responses! A few of the entries:

‘All (fireproofed) sheds need a wood burner like the one above. Perfect for mulling some wine for those frosty days in the garden. Gardening should be a pleasure after all!’

‘I always think of a shed as a magical place to get away from it all. I’d like to combine childhood memories of the smell of apples in storage and holidays in Hastings. There would be Victorian seaside prints on the walls, driftwood and pebbles, carved wooden bowls full of apples and the soft, faded colours you get by the sea. I draw the line at deckchairs, but maybe a more comfortable chair in stripy canvas. A flask of coffee, sandwiches and ice cream – what more could you want?’

‘I have a new allotment shed – I painted it lavender, built a raised deck out front and sit in an old rattan chair with my beautiful 9-year old daughter Daisy, contemplating the world and trying to be a decent dad!’

‘Crisp and bright with lots of light, books to read and food to feed, logs to heat my chilly toes, a cosy daybed to forget my woes. Almost monastic though calm and serene… don’t wake me up, a girl can dream!’

Aren’t they great?

Now, back to the nerves - or excitement - or both… In truth, the book signing day felt a bit like my wedding day. I’d got myself as presentable as possible, it was fun to see so many lovely people, and to have a good chat with all.

We even made a short film, of me talking sheds with my friend Matthew Cain from C4. I’ll be able to share that with you shortly. The film is to be a short piece about the sheds in the window, all things cool, and of course my cool shed. The clever Ian Anderson kindly shot and directed it for me. He is the director that I also worked with on the ‘Mr Baldwin’ trailer for my cool campervan.

Also, it wasn’t just about me being there and signing books. This was a celebration of all things outdoor and stylish. Being the last day of Chelsea Flower Show, Conran-themed, floral rickshaws ferried folk to and from the show. The gardener James Aldridge was on hand, planting beautiful, tiny succulent plants in handmade Victorian terracotta pots, for guests as take-away gifts.

I loved every minute of it! And if you fancy it - those fabulous window display sheds are up for sale.