Graphite Design

A little something for you to gawp unattractively at. Artist Dalton Ghetti carves minuscule works of art into the lead of sharpened pencils. I would like this kind of patience and accuracy please.

Utter! Fringe

I have spent the last few days up north doing a mini tour or Glasgow and Edinburgh. My friend Paolo and I caught the train up on Thursday and met Fran, who lives in Glasgow. We had a nice evening of large amounts of food at Ketchup in the West End, followed by a fair few drinks around and about the city. At Ketchup they served a selection of fairly mega milkshakes, presenting them in milk bottles with straws. i thought this was a pretty simple but nice idea.

On Friday we caught the train over to Edinburgh to experience a day at the Fringe Festival, something i've wanted to do for a few years now, but never got round to. With two family members having taken part in it  at some point or other, i was quite interested to see if i could find the venues where they'd stood and performed. We saw two shows, both free, one with a bumpy start and turbulence throughout, the second was fantastic. It was a Spoken Word competition called Utter! Spoken Word, and all of the 9 performers were fantastic to listen to. I was one again left feeling largely jealous of all the acts, and their confidence at performing on stage (some of you will know my general fear of being on stage). Below is Clare Whitehead (i think that''s right) mid-poem looking completely unfazed by the room full of critics.

confidence through curls?

Reinventing Letterpress

I bought a book a week or so, it's the sort of book i'd consider to be a 'treat'. The sort that, if it were edible, it would be gooey fudge. It's called 'Reinventing Letterpress' and you can tell just from fondling the front cover that it's going to be lovely inside. I've been so busy doing seemingly nothing for the last week or so, i haven't had the chance to sit down and have a proper look through it. I'm making it my bedtime reading tonight. It's nice to know that having fallen out of favour for some time, letterpress is making a comeback. 

Fruit Picking

Yesterday i picked fresh plums from Rachel's garden, and these apples were grown by her brother. I decided to make a plum and apple crumble which turned out quite nicely, but it got eaten before i could take any pictures of it. I love the idea of growing and picking your own fruit, it reminded me of being young and going out with my Dad to pick blackberries. The plums were just right, a day longer and they would have been too soft. They were so lovely and juicy, and smelt amazing.

Fruit picking is a proper summer activity :)

Birthday Salts

Flavoured salts i made as a birthday present.

Lemon & Thyme

Garlic & Rosemary

Black Pepper, Chilli & Ginger

I got the containers from Habitat and made the labels with hessian, and stamped the letters onto card. I didn't use a recipe for the salts, i just had a morning of trial and error. If i've learnt one thing, it's that a little bit of garlic goes a long way.

Prefab who?

Whilst on my travels up north and east a bit, i came across a screen print twice in the same evening. Once in the living room of some people we were visiting, and then again about an hour later in the restaurant we went to eat at. I asked about it and found out it was from a shop called Electrik Sheep, which was just down the road. I did a bit of snooping around once i got home, and found out the artist goes under the name of Prefab77. This particular piece can be bought either as a print on paper, or for £150 on leather with gold ink. I'd absolutely love one of the leather ones to hang in a frame on my bedroom wall, there's a space just the right size. Don't know if i can bring myself to spend that much money, although i do really love it.

North East Adventure

Please excuse the lack of blogging this last week, i have been exploring the north east of England with the Man Candy and his parents. I have had fish & chips (how they're supposed to be) in Whitby, explored Durham Cathedral and seen where my parents first met, and spent a happy few hours wandering round the Baltic art gallery in Newcastle. There have been a few fairly spectacular meals out and in, and a lot of general fun has been had. Despite only understanding every third word spoken, the Mackems were very welcoming hosts, and i would like to go back soon...especially since the beach is just on the Man Candy's doorstep.

9 to 5 Part 5

This is my final '9 to 5' post, thank goodness. Early starts are not my strong point. Thought i'd leave you with my preliminary birthday list...

9 to 5 Part 4

I had a 'Part 4' all ready to post, but in my early morning bleary eyed state, i deleted it rather than posting it (the buttons are right next to each other). To be honest i wasn't that thrilled with it so i shall see this slight mishap as an oportunity. Today it did a rain, a big rain. It took two hours to do the usual 30 minute drive home after work. Roads are flooded, rivers have burst their banks, and it's generally a bit unpleasent. We had thunder, lightening, hailstones and scorching sun all in one afternoon, it was fairly biblical/ridiculous. Whilst rain and grey was all i could see out of the window, i thought i'd try and find some slightly more attractive images of it.

Embrace this disgusting, soggy weather, and have a splash about in your wellies.

9 to 5 Part 3

Cherries are my fruit of choice this month. I love how rich in colour they are, and how incredibly full of flavour these ones were, when you bit into them. I photographed these while i was visiting my Nana at the weekend, but it's taken till now to post them as i have been rushed off my feet. 

They make me want to bake cherry tarts or crumbles. I love these ideas from Tartelette.

What are your favourite cherry recipes?

Manchester Literature Festival

This year it's running from the 14th to the 25th of October, and is bringing some fairly major names to the city. The idea of having the actual authors read bits of their work to you is something i look forward to with a childlike sort of excitement. I'm thinking of getting a ticket for the 25th to see Monique Roffey, author of one of my all-time favourite books 'Sun Dog' (read it, i dare you not to feel inspired). Seamus Heaney and Carol Ann Duffy are also on the list of who i'd like to see, if only to gain some closure after studying their work to death for my English GCSE and A Level exams. Hopefully the dates won't clash too badly with my new 2nd year timetable, otherwise i might have to suddenly develop a nasty bout of flu for those afternoons.

See who's on. 

9 to 5 Part 2

Today i am finding inspiration all over the place, it's putting me in the right frame of mind for getting started on my summer project.

yellow owl workshop

photographer: Stellan Herner / stylist: Lo Bjurulf / Elle Interiör

yes!

Cannelle et Vanille

decor8

nice colours and layout

mustard & sage

9 to 5 Part 1

All this week i will be doing my best impression of Dolly Parton. I'll be at a desk, answering phones, in charge of a pc and looking busy as a way of helping out my Dad (who's receptionist has gone on holiday). Despite having to concentrate on avoiding double bookings and overseeing emails, One's mind does tend to wander. Today i have been musing over what sort of birthday celebrations i'd like. My birthday's not till October, but it's a big one so i'm allowed to plan this far ahead. Below are a few ideas for my imaginary birthday party.

Start the day with a cold sunny walk in the woods, wrapped up in hats and gloves.

Have a picnic brunch with hot cups of tea and baked potatoes and lots of salady things and cheese. Birthday cake for dessert.

birthday cake bunting, excessive or necessary?

The house will be filled with balloons and flowers, and i will take a well earned nap on a very comfy sofa...

...and wake up just in time to get ready for a huge birthday tea in the evening. Lots of fizzing drinking items in nice glasses and towers of cakes and all things tasty.

Flicks

Without realising it, Sunday night has accidentally become cinema night for the Man Candy and myself. In recent weeks gone by we have been to see 'The A Team', 'Toy Story 3' and 'Inception'. The first two, not overly challenging, and the last, far too challenging, but enjoyable nonetheless. Here are two that are on my list to see soon...

COCO CHANEL & IGOR STRAVINSKY

GAINSBOURG

Have you seen them? What did you think?

Want Their Job: Twig Hutchinson

An interior designer, whose saturated colour palettes and attention to the simple joys of life, leaves me feeling very ready to re-decorate my life. Muse over her portfolio here...

I would have so much fun searching for all the furniture and putting together colour charts and fabrics.