Leela

Leela Retirement tales of travel, vintage buys, political rants, interiors
shih t’zus and general nonsense. Quality, contemporary, handmade

Much as I am fond of Northern Ireland and enjoy my trips back there, there are reasons why I don’t live there, which I d...
10/06/2026

Much as I am fond of Northern Ireland and enjoy my trips back there, there are reasons why I don’t live there, which I don’t need to go into. It did shape my ongoing obsession with politics everywhere. From growing up in a home where my father was a BBC freelancer; to living in Belfast with actors who did political plays in The Lyric (the best theatre), going to the polytechnic meeting the women who founded the Peace Movement and generally hanging out with feminists, playwrights, punks, hippies, musicians and at times people who would have protected you had you found yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time…

If you want to make some sort of sense as to what’s been happening in Belfast overnight and why it’s different to, but now very much connected to what’s happening here…I recommend watching tonight’s “Newsagents” report/podcast on YouTube. It’s good, factual, unbiased reporting and very scary as well.

It’s time to name my favourite Leela suppliers who qualify because I’m still selling them and have been for more than t...
10/06/2026

It’s time to name my favourite Leela suppliers who qualify because I’m still selling them and have been for more than ten years.I’ve been unable to rank them in order because they’ve all been fabulous for the same reasons so they’re all at Number One.

The reasons are
- great responsive service/communication
- beautiful designs
- skilled makers
- sustainable and/or fair trade
- thoroughly decent people who like to do business differently by supporting their makers and not competing with us, their customers

In no particular order

Weekend365 - all the great local map products - Uk made

Lush Designs - the artists who take maybe up to six months to design the beautiful lampshades

Jarapa - the lovely Spanish recycled glassware

Lunatree silver jewellery

Namaste - classic Indian fair trade including the painted folk art furniture and recycled wreaths

Braided Rug - the wonderful jute baskets and rugs designed jointly in Wales and Bangladesh

Field day soaps and candles - the best scents from County Down

And if you think it strange that Nkuku and Handed By aren’t there, well that’s because there was no attempt to build up a relationship with me and even though I sold a hell of a lot of their products, they hardly knew my name. That ain’t good enough! Business is all about relationships is if not?

I wanted to be an “ethical” business from day one without being precious or preachy about it and I pretty much achieved that to the final week in my own way. At one stage sustainable business was the fastest growing retail sector and then, very sadly, along came Covid, Amazon, Temu and Shein and everything changed.

I did my bit and didn’t change anything whatsoever in the world, didn’t make a fortune (which wasn’t the plan!), didn’t ever lose money or have to have huge business loans, introduced you to some interesting stuff and enjoyed every blinking minute if it!

Here’s a little AI montage of some of our favourites from the list. It is not necessarily a 100% accurate depiction of everything 😩🤓🤨

I did get another item yesterday to go with my Irish linen.This is v much the style I want to focus on when I do more vi...
10/06/2026

I did get another item yesterday to go with my Irish linen.

This is v much the style I want to focus on when I do more vintage selling ie fifties, mid century designs and this is a perfect example from that era. Made even more collectible when Nigella Lawson used it on one of her Christmas shows apparently. The power of celebrity influence is phenomenal and weird.

So it’s a one off veg tureen from
Crown Devon, Staffordshire, and turns out that it sells at between £25 and £40 and this should reach higher end as it’s in excellent condition. I was pleased with that info and it’s just very lovely. And really, that’s the main thing for me.

Now I’m no oil painting….I’ve got to stop playing with AI. Not going to happen is it. Down to more reductions on remaini...
10/06/2026

Now I’m no oil painting….I’ve got to stop playing with AI. Not going to happen is it.

Down to more reductions on remaining lights, half price on Beach Clean products and some baskets and this and that. I think the shop might be v empty by Saturday 🤓 Don’t miss out! FOMO or something like that… no pressure but please do help me completely empty the shop - you’re doing very well so far.

I’m off home now and back tomorrow and Friday from 11-3.

The black shelf units are for sale - probably just one now and I’ve changed the price - I got it wrong…these are now £45...
09/06/2026

The black shelf units are for sale - probably just one now and I’ve changed the price - I got it wrong…these are now £45 each. They can go outside as well.

I picked up the most beautiful set of Irish linen napkins and table cloth today described by AI as a fifties vintage tro...
09/06/2026

I picked up the most beautiful set of Irish linen napkins and table cloth today described by AI as a fifties vintage trousseau set.

I wouldn’t be able to use it. Too beautiful for my mucky dining habits.

£30 if anyone fancies it.

Just unpacked the final ever ever Nkuku order. I’ve been selling Nkuku ever since Morchard Bishop days when I used to go...
08/06/2026

Just unpacked the final ever ever Nkuku order. I’ve been selling Nkuku ever since Morchard Bishop days when I used to go out to their farm barn in Spreyton so it’s fitting that they’re my last order. We started our companies more or less at the same time from India. The only difference is that they sold their company for millions…and I didn’t 😂😂

Anyway, it’s all fab and I’m discounting by approx 20%. I’ve choosen items that I think are particularly and instantly recognisable as their style and they’re items that you’ll never tire of. Most of them would be great for special birthday gifts or, and obviously, yourself. I have put aside one item for me which is the two-level, multi-sectioned jewellery box which is just perfect.

Prices under the images which include the discount.

In time honoured fashion I like to take photos with the Paris shoppers purchasers.As mentioned in previous post, this is...
08/06/2026

In time honoured fashion I like to take photos with the Paris shoppers purchasers.

As mentioned in previous post, this is the very last one and honestly could not have gone to a better person 🥰

Quite sad to be selling the very last Paris shopper which does indeed make it in to my top five absolute favourite produ...
08/06/2026

Quite sad to be selling the very last Paris shopper which does indeed make it in to my top five absolute favourite products.

The second photo is AI so don’t be going asking for the baskets as they don’t exist….

Three in a row - “oh I didn’t know you were going” - this bit was not said out loud “sorry I should have emailed you directly even though I’ve never seen you before.” Second - “who’s taking over the shop” - “no clue, not interested and they’d be mad” - that was said out loud. Thirdly- “I help shops reduce their monthly charges” - “I’m closing” - “so would you like the paperwork anyway” “no”.

Probably best to avoid me today unless you’d like a healthy dose of sarcasm or a new lampshade….which are, as always, cheaper than the RRP.

Good start to the day🧐🤔🙄“There’s no label on these chairs”“The price is there on the label you just looked at ”“But ther...
08/06/2026

Good start to the day🧐🤔🙄

“There’s no label on these chairs”

“The price is there on the label you just looked at ”

“But there’s no fire hazard label”

“I don’t think the French followed those regulations 150 years ago”

“Oh…are they not new. I can’t tell nowadays”

Good job most of us can…

Am here til 2, then the gym, then back from 4-5 to unpack Nkuku.

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