New Years Eve, Bill Brewster, Designers Block

What are you doing for New Year? I am going to this! The dress theme is London sub-cultures. Eg punk, goth, rave etc etc. I plan to do the goth thing of course! The party is in an old crumbling pub, just outside Hoxton overground. It wont be there for much longer as a venue so it's a great opportunity to give the place a big send off, with Bill Brewster playing till late!

I also designed the flyer. Rushed job but turned out alright.

Tickets available from here.

Read more about the old pub, the Marquis of Lansdowne, and the petition to save it here.

image from Spitalfields Life blog

Floating houses

Perhaps inspired by the Pixar film, Up. Photographs by French photographer Laurent Chehere.

Japanese Love Hotels

I am a big fan of the author Haruki Murakami and have read most of his books. Often strange, and surreal stories set in Japan. Many of the books mention love hotels. In the hope of finding some amazingly kitsch images,  I did a bit of googling and was not let down! There are Hello Kitty themed rooms, doctors surgery style rooms, full on S&M dungeons, rooms with waterfalls, rooms made to look like the stationary cupboards, or perhaps a train carriage is more your thing?! My favourite are the old school 70s ones - lots of images of those on this site.

left source, right source

boat hotel, source, right source

source

pick your room, source

source

A pretty gif

I can't resist turning something into a gif, a bit too pretty for my liking, but I thought worthy of a blog post. Art nouveau styley.

Blog recommendation part III

Fun pyjamas from Avenue 32, wear the top outdoors to get the most of your money! Discovered through a favourite blog of mine: The Terrier and the Lobster. Updated regularly with lots of fashion editorials from magazines around the world. 

The Inspiring Art of Collecting

I really like the way these collections of objects have been shot for Cos Magazine, shot by photographed by Maurice Scheltens & Liesbeth Abbenes. I quite fancy starting a collection of my own. Any suggestions?! I have already done bottles (mostly alcopops - remember them!) and Smash Hits of the 90's...!

Jigsaw Advent Calendar

Have you had a look at the the Jigsaw Advent Calendar yet?

One of my freelance jobs at the moment is working with Jigsaw, and luckily for me it involved creating loads of animated gifs! Go check it out here. It was also turned into wrapping paper which you will find in stores around the country.

DIY Christmas decorations

These look like a great DIY project for decorating the tree this year, if skint after all the Christmas shopping! Although, I'm thinking that perhaps they are much harder than they look. These were created by Jasen Melnick, a graphic designer from the U.S who made these to give as presents last Xmas. Check out his Behance profile here.

 

Blog Recommendations Part II

Backyard Bill is a blog, or perhaps more of a gallery, full of lovely photographs of unique people that live in the Brooklyn area. A lot like The Selby, but with more of a focus on the individuals.

Jake Phipps Mirrors

Jake Phipps, a british furniture designer, created these stunning mirrors, that look even better when photographed in this crumbling ruin of a room. Check out more of Jake's creations here. 

Outfit posts

I like to think I'm OK with a camera, however, I have never bothered with outfit posts. Partly because a lot of clothes I wear day to day aren't worthy of a post and partly because I don't really like/want to have my picture taken. When I do, they often end up like this, or worse. I bet pro-fashion bloggers don't fall over in their heels as often as I do either.

To see how it's done properly have a look at hugely successful Rumi, below from Fashion Toast.

Big fat scarves!

...and other neck warming accessories. One of the best things about winter, especially these days as it seems to be socially acceptable to go out with a blanket on!

top left image from here.
top middle image from here.
top right image from here.
middle left image, Nina Ricci Fall 2013 from here.
middle image, orginally from Etsy
middle right, from here
bottom left, from Craft & Culture
bottom middle, from here.
bottom right, originally from Etsy

Paper jewellery

Jewellery by Central Saint Martin’s graduate, Caroline Kernick. She copies jewellery from around the world but only using the materials gouache paint and paper. See more on fashion156.

Half painted nails

Easier, less painting and less nail varnish remover (which I hate) thoughts?

nails belong to Ivana Carpio

nails belong to Liza Chloe

nails belong to stopitrightnow

Rainbow churches

As you may have realised I do like a bit of colour to brighten up a dreary urban space now and then. Especially in a grey cloudy environment. This derelict church in Washington has been tarted up (as we say in the UK!) by Alex Brewer or Hense as he also goes by. Alex is an artist who was hired to paint the mural on this church. Lots of other bright colourful images here including more about this church.

Fairy light tunnel

London needs to get a fairy light tunnel! maybe the annoying walk way that connects the Bank and Monument stations, then you wouldn't mind getting stuck in the human traffic. This tunnel is in Nabana no Sato, a botanical garden, Kuwana, Japan. More info and pictures on MyModernNet.

Gifs of the day

Love these!

from drippyjam

from OZNEO

Chimney Pot Park - Salford

Whilst looking for images of chimneys on google image, I came across a picture of this place in Salford. The tiny two up two down terraced houses in the north were not really designed for modern living and so these were left to rot until redesigned. The living space is on the top floor, the new roofs incorporate 'chimney roof lights' providing extra light. Read more about it here.

before (image from national archives

Tiles!

A lovely way to bring colour and personality to a home.

image from here

coloured chevron tiles image from here, blue tile image from here.

from the style files blog

image from here

from apartment therapy blog

Stone & Honey

Jewellery by Portland based designer Teresa Robinson of Stone & Honey. Loving the Arcos range on their site.