I finally made the move

My site is all done and dusted, and since then I have been crazy busy with not much time to blog. However, what with Christmas just around the corner I am hoping things will be winding down and I get the chance to rest my head.

Go check out the new site and blog and find out why I made the sky pink!
I hope you like it, feedback welcome. Don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin.

Can't afford the real thing?

Love architecture but know you will never get to live in your dream house? What about a mini house instead to sit inside your own place? As a child I was fascinated by the dolls houses in the Museum of Childhood which perhaps explains why I love these.

I discovered them on this American site The Future Perfect. Which led me on to their own site Chisel & Wood. Each "building" is hand made with strong plaster and can be hung on a wall. I think my favourite are the ones from around the 1920's. Arsenal stadium would be a no-no due to Spurs supporting boyfriend.

Also loving the Curiosity Monkey by Committee below these - just the right side of kitsch and would look great on my new (imaginary) dressing table.

My new site - almost finished!

I haven't updated on here much recently, or checked out other blogs. I have been so busy trying to sort out my new website. So much so I have been getting face ache - yes really! Have you ever suffered from this?! I think I need to sort out my computer set up - get a new chair and some new glasses.

I have found freelancing causes me to spend more and more time at my computer, and as I'm working from home quite a lot more, I feel I have to get more work done in a shorter period of time and so concentrating a lot harder than I might if I were working for a company in house.

Here is a quick look at my soon to be finished site. I will be taking my blog over to that as well - so I hope you will all follow me over and show your support. I would appreciate any feedback once it's live as well.

Grunge meets Sequins

As a typical Londoner when it comes to dressing, I like to dress things down. Tailoring with boots, pretty dresses with messy hair, and now - sequins with grunge!

The Ashish AW14 collection combines the two, sequined sportswear style clothing with rips and tears, to reveal more sparkle. Coke and Tesco style "carrier" bags and the grunge staple - the check shirt.

More images from IsMental blog.

Poster love

Like the title of this post suggests, I am loving this poster advertising a night at Baby Juniper Bar in Leeds, no idea if the bar is any good - but judging by the poster I am going to say it is.

Moth obsession meets pattern obsession

Whilst hanging out in the French Chateux on holiday I noticed these pretty moths chilling on the chandeliers. My boyfriend can't stand moths and hate the way they fly around no real purpose, and for another good reason, they keep eating his fancy jumpers!

The prettier french moths inspired these patterns below.

Oh and I updated my twitter background as well! 

3-D Printed Hermit Crab Homes - Whatever next?!

Whilst most ordinary folk are trying to figure out exactly what 3D printing is and how the hell it works. Others are already coming up with extraordinary ways to utilise this technology.

These shells are the creation of Japanese artist Aki Inomata. With the use of a high accuracy 3-D printer, she created crystalline skylines famous places. Her first models weren't too popular with the crabs, having thought that crabs would be interested in all kinds of shapes (apparently they like plastic water bottles) she realised that the inside of the shell had to be a certain way, and so used a 3-D scan of hermit approved shells - to recreate.

You can read more about the ideas behind her project on Wired.com

I fell in love with the humble hermit crab after watching a brilliant scene on the BBC's Blue Planet series, featuring 2 crabs fighting each other for a better shell.

Autumnal purchases

Basically another excuse to put an infinity picture up! An image or rather a few hundred images of me wearing my newly purchased coat from ASOS. I was actually trying on the Monki leopard print dress that you can see on the bench. Unfortunately it made me look more Bet Lynch than Dita Von Tease!

I also treated myself to the Lancome Artliner - I have read some great reviews about it. My once trusty Rimmel liquid liner has been letting me down of late. I am a big fan of fat black flicks!

Healthy eating and exercise

After a week hanging out in France in this big Château with lots of friends, in the Langedoc-Roussillon region of France. Consuming copious amounts of cheese, wine, pastries and butter. It's now time to get back to reality. See my diagram / pattern below to demonstrate!

the Château - table set for dinner before the big party

Laura Callaghan: Illustrator

I love all the illustrations on Irish born Laura's site. The imagination and talent to mix and match the patterns, colours and details is brilliant and the personalities she creates are amazing. Every time you look at the illustrations, you see something new - such as the label sticking out of her dress on the first image.

She is also the current Illustration editor of Oh Comely magazine.

The original Moulin Rouge

Photographed by Albert Kahn 1914 - the year before it burnt down. Discovered this picture on a favourite blog of mine - Vintage Photography.

Let's marble everything!

Cushions, blinds, wallpaper, lampshades, chairs and more - all found on Kerrie Brown's site here.
I have a feeling marbling is going to be everywhere next season.

A mystical wedding

This is a picture I made for some friends as a present. I think I printed it too large though and it would have looked better postcard size. Too late now anyway. Still the time it took me to make - I think it deserves some webspace - so here it is!

Downers and Uppers

One tune and video to get you pumping and make you feel slightly neurotic and then another to chill you right back down to normality!

Pattern calendar gifs

I haven't blogged about animated gifs, or patterns in, well at least a week or so - so to rectify this - I have a post that includes both very nicely. This is from the site Pattern Matters, which is a graphic design project that aims to look at pattern in very possible angle.

Olden Days Tube

An incredible collection of old tube pictures by photographer Bob Mazzer. Born and bred Bob has an affection for tube life which comes across in these images. In some ways nothing has changed - in others - so much. Fascinating. See more pictures and info on Spitalfields Life blog here.

Marbling Madness

I am mad on marbling at the moment. I have seen it appear online more and more. I had a go at home but never quite got it to work. I bought some marbling inks, which did the job, but I prefer the more vibrant colours that acrylic paint creates. A lot of sites say to use liquid starch to get the paint to float, which is not available over here. I tried powdered and spray - but this didn't do the job. I now have a cupboard full of starch! There are some more possibilities to try so perhaps I will have another go soon.

There is a good tutorial here on how to marble on fabric.

image from here

left image from here plus good tutoral also, right image from here

images from here

I love the marbled leather purse on a favourite site of mine, Scout & Catalogue. 

A barn conversion with a difference

Love this barn conversion in Connecticut. The actual barn itself is pretty young for a conversion - created in the 60's. Which is perhaps partly why it seems so unique. The wall of windows is stunning. Plus the repeat of all the smaller windows running down the side. I love how they have added the 'cob' style elements inside. It seems like a really nice way to create a cosy environment in what otherwise might have been an open, minimal, and perhaps cold feeling space.

Discovered on the Urban Addict where you can view more images.

PRINT PARTY MADNESS

A flyer (or rather invite) I created for the Boyfriends big 30. The theme is print - so everyone has to wear their most outrageously bright and printed clothing - preferably all at once!

I wish all my graphic design work was THIS MUCH FUN!!

Animal Orchestra style

I like this look from Nadia Bailey, an Australian fashion blogger I follow. I am particularly into the Yves Saint Laurent necklace worn with the all black outfit. However I'm thinking for ordinary folk, there must be a curtain tie or DIY project that would better suit, rather than paying £310.12 + P&P for the privilege. Let me know if you know of any!

Another drippy eye...

I made, I have also used it as my twitter background (why don't you follow me?) or on tumblr - I am making an online scrapbook of patterns. Just for fun!