Happy

It's impossible to watch this and not feel happy! Stop motion at it's best I'd say ...

Clever

I have been known to dabble with sewing, particularly when it comes to bags (more of that later). But no way do I consider myself a pro! For the self taught, the "blogosphere" is full of handy tips, patterns and tutorials should you wish to give it a go. Recently I have been following Tilly and the Buttons "Learn to Sew", I'm also often perusing the pages of Colleterie, which is full to the brim with clever techniques and how-to's. Purl Bee - despite it's namesake is a definite go-to for ace sewing projects too ... where do you go to be learned in sewing?

Fragrance & Loved

To make up for my absence yesterday ... I'm going to (spuriously) merge two prompts together! Is this against the rules? Hmmm.Well, anyway, at the top of our road there is a great florist and a couple of days ago, J returned  bearing a beautiful bunch of roses. The colours are ace - reds, oranges, pinks and yellows. And they smell gorgeous, so once they start to wilt I'm tempted to make this rosewater spray. Around the time of the flower buying it also happened to be my Mum's birthday - so perhaps inspired by the recent trend for simple geometric jewellery and  the bright hues of the flowers I put together this necklace ... Hope she likes it! (P.S apologies the images are a little grainy - natural light has been in short supply of late)

Horizontal

So ... whilst I linger in the confines of my bed  (a little longer than is acceptable for a Sunday); I give you two artists, renowned for working on the horizontal! The first is Patrick Heron, I love his rough brushstrokes which hint at dusky skies and wild gardens. And OK, perhaps a little debatable on the planar front (but squares are kinda horizontal right? Albeit in an abstract way - hoho); we have Mr Mark Rothko. There's something eerie but comforting in his work I find - what do you think?

1. Horizontal Strip Painting (1957-8) by Patrick Heron
2. Grey and Black Stripes (1958) by Patrick Heron
3. Black and Blue Stripes (1958) by Patric Heron
4. Light Red Over Black (1957) by Mark Rothko
5. Untitled (1952) by Mark Rothko 

Icy

 

The daily prompts I've been following seem to be rather apt and predictive. I suppose this is how horoscopes work? Anyway, today's prompt is icy, which is quite fitting considering the UK has been snow filled since Friday. Here are a few snapshots of one of my favourite things to do ... a wonder in the snow at noon. Due to lack of batteries, I had to commandeer J's camera so a few are his handy work too (Thank You!).

Delcious

 Hurrah! exam number one is out of the way so my mind can rest on more creative things. Sorry for the brief hiatus. I'm not sure about you, but the revision period for me involves lots time spent in the kitchen of an eve. It's here I can relax, take my time and try out something new.  Here is a round up of my favourite go-to foodie blogs, pleasing to the eye as well as the stomach! (why am I talking in slogans?).

1. 101 Cookbooks 
2. Coco & Me  
3. Smitten Kitchen
4. Nectar

Quiet

A nod to being a quiet revolutionary through the means of a TED talk by Susan Cain!

Pretty

I have been lamenting over a lack of green space lately (though this does seem a little glass half-empty when I am lucky enough to live a stones throw from the sea). There is something about having your own plot of land to experiment with and attempt growing things in. Until I can afford a house with a back garden though, these are pretty neat ideas with which to (as I imagine many a day-time DIY programme would say) bring the outside, in! Not that I'm suggesting you should stop going outside of course ... that wouldn't be neat at all ...

1. Wallpaper, by Tensta Konsthall
2. DIY Hydroponic indoor garden, by Antonio Scarponi
3. Wall Planter, by Urbio 

Early

During my 1/4 of a century, I have witnessed surprisingly few sunrises.The first was sat talking into the early hours at Secret Garden Party, a few years back. It just got lighter - we were too busy talking in  that reflective and philosophical manner only achieved from too much liquor and a lack of sleep to notice the sun rising through the clouds. The second, was altogether different. Shortly after relocating to the South J convinced me to roll out of bed one Sunday morning to watch the sun rise over the sea. Despite being bleary eyed it was beautiful - we climbed to higher ground to get a better look. Little did we know said higher ground was part of a golf course, lined with sprinklers which, after hearing a bizarre noise above the silence of 5am revealed themselves one-by-one. Refreshing is an understatement.
The Goodbye Summer Collection of textures by Lost & Taken portrays the majesty of sunrises I imagine in my minds eye ... how do you picture it?

Wordy

 

 

The first slogan t-shirts appeared in 1983, designed by Katherine Hammnett. Is it just me, or do the fonts and the messages portrayed within the animation 7 Billion by National Geographic, echo them somewhat?

Pattern

 I remember avidly colouring in books of tessellated patterns as a youth. Indeed, it's likely that my love of anything geometric stems from this habit. Sadly, I no longer have pencil crayon sets nor such books to fill. However, it is becoming increasingly easy to surround myself by all things geometric ...

Clockwise from top left ... 
1. Geometric Sketchbook by Happy Dappy Bits 
2. Blaze (1964) by Bridget Riley
3. Silver & Neon Geometric Necklace by LiKeGjewelry
4. Geometric Abstract Oil Painting by Rhyming Scapes

Poignant

There's something ghostly and poignant about Max Wanger's Polaroid photography that I love.His website is rather beautiful on the layout front too. Oddly, though, I now have the urge to go make some pom poms ...

Quick

A round up of my favourite tutorials for instant handmade gratification. Perfect for a crafty fix whilst life is busy with newly made resolutions and the shock of going back to work ...
1. Geometric Lanterns by Oh Happy Day
2. Chanel Pearl Hairpins by Honestly WTF
3. Rope Necklace by Ching Makes Things
4. Rhubarb & Rosewater Syrup by 101 Cookbooks 
5. Leather Key Chains by Design Love Fest

Prompt

I stumbled upon this via  Meet Me At Mikes and figure it could be fun! Admittedly I'm joining the party a few days late, but I guess better late than never is an expression I adhere to! Anyway, I'll be in the kitchen (where all good parties exist) on the 5th starting with something gathered .. because I mean the 4th would be a weird number to commence with ... right?