Memories

This price ticket caught my eye tonight when I was baking a quiche. This is my tub of baking beans which I bought from Studio One in the 70s. In those days Studio One occupied the basement of a couple of shops in Stafford Street in the West End.
It was rather more up market than my other shopping heavens of Cockburn Street Market, and the second hand shops of St Stephen's Street and Stockbridge. The only charity shop down there in those days was the Life Boat shop. I bought so many clothes there. I've still got one 1920s full length evening dress which I wore regularly and which at least one of my children has worn it too!
Anyway, I digress, Studio One was a kitchenware and trendy knick knack shop in those early days. I felt it was in many ways similar to Habitat which opened a number of years later, just round the corner. It was more local rather than a national chain and more fun.
They sold unusual toys too, the kind which children loved to browse though or to receive as presents, everything from Individual Marbles to little mechanical monkeys on sticks and designer made continental dolls.
To the back of the maze of rooms, via the soft toy and book area were their kitchen wares.
Once again much of their stock came from the continent, this was in pre EU days, so french and Italian cookware was exotic. This was where I used to buy Alessi jars after I had my own kitchen. They sold Chinese bowls and chopsticks, spaghetti jars and the lovely gold edged green Apilco ware (I've got some of that too) and the white French Arocroc and Arcopal dishes.
Their stock was pricey but always different. When you wanted a paper lampshade, this was where you came. At Christmas time they had unusual decorations and gifts and continental tree chocolates. They also sold exotic and unusual sweets throughout the year, little decorated tins of french dragees , chocolate sardines and mouth fresheners. Latterly they sold larger ranges of individuals designers jewellery.
As it was below ground, from street level you just caught a glimpse of all the goodies in the windows, I found it irresistible. You entered the shop by going down a slippery curved stone staircase into an entry area full of handmade french baskets then on, through the inner door and into the maze through one of the two entries. You discovered different things dependent on which way you turned as you went in the door! Left was toys first, right designer knick knacks, both routes led eventually to the kitchen ware at the back of the shop.
The shop went through various incarnations, before it closed in 2016. Paper Tiger, now in Lothian Road but originally on Stafford Street emerged from Studio One as their card and stationery shop. There was also a furniture shop in Morningside Road.
Anyway, my baking beans have lasted well and helped me turn the left over puff pastry which I found in the fridge into a tasty quiche for my dinner.
I'm wondering if the desire for quiche was triggered by a WhatsApp conversation with Marie Isabelle, Katy's french exchange partner who visited for 6 years when they were in secondary school.
Whatever triggered it, I'm off to eat the quiche now with a lightly dressed salad .