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?

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

Gathered

Before the evenings got colder, I spent a night in the woods making charcoal. We gathered wood, layered it within a kiln before setting it alight. There was something oddly majestic about watching the smoke at dusk. The dark bought fireworks and campfire based shenanigans. It was ace ...

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?

Font

I'm busy writing my first few essays of the year and it's got me daydreaming about fonts (as you do). These picks are inspired by etsy's blog post on Inspirational New Years Prints along with a couple of blogs I find myself reading daily ...

1. Roald Dahl Poster by Kensie Kate
2. It’s OK Banner by Secret Holiday & Co.
3. Photo by I Screen You Screen
4. Dreams of Yesterday by Sandra Arduini
5. Weekend Wanderings by August Empress
6. Top Notch Type 26 by Emma Dime

Everything Became Electric

Hello! Apologies for the lack of communication of late. My studies have kept me more than occupied over the last little while. I hope you have had a rather splendid Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year. This post is for anyone back at work, or attempting to will their brains to write essays amidst festivities!

A series of  photographs released by Life Magazine,  referred to as  Light Drawings, were the result of a collaboration between Picasso and Mili back in 1949. As aptly put by Life Magazine, though the images vanished instantaneously, they still exist six decades later in Mili's playful images ... I can't help but think of bonfire night, sparklers and writing hello over and over ...

Brighton Photo Fringe

Photos of Photos: clockwise from top left: Louise Maher, Make and Do,  A to Z map, Photofringe programme, Michael David Murphy, The Entente

There is a festival of sorts happening in Brighton at the moment - The  Brighton Photo Fringe. J and I headed over to the Phoenix one lazy Sunday to amble around a few of the (MANY) exhibits. I lingered in front of Michael David Murphy, The Entente, after which we found ourselves part of a tour, visiting shop windows dotted across the city displaying an array of work including that of Louise Maher pictured above. Head over here to find out more. 

Back to School ....

Hello! Apologies for the silence of late. It has been a busy couple of weeks morphing into the student commuter I now am! Life as a serial student has been good so far,  especially as I've had the excuse to read ANORAK on my morning train journeys!


Who needs a degree to start making publications anyway? Not my nephew ... check out this months Circus issue for Dexter's masterpiece, "Invasion of the Blobs" with illustrations by James Clapham. It's ace!

Smoke House

Wise words about food said by Rohan Anderson, in a short film shot by Smith Journal are making my Monday so far ...

Hardware

(photos taken from the linked tutorials) 

Clockwise from top:
 1. Washers & Macrame 2. Bungee Cord Bracelet  3. Braided Hex Nut Bracelet


I'm liking all the DIY hardware jewelary that's about at the moment, though it does make for an odd sounding sentence. I'm sure all my plumber and garage (building not music) liking friends will shortly be lecturing me on the correct use of  a washer, but until then - here is my pick of the tutorials I've spied over the last little while.