Mixtape Number 3

Whoops, almost forgot to post my mixtape for March! But here it is for your listening pleasure - I really hope you enjoy it!

1. Beat Control - Tilly and the Wall
2. Rise Up With Fists - Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twins
3. Pin - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4. Swallow Tattoo - The Long Blondes
5. Ice Cream - New Young Pony Club
6. Favourite Colour - Tokyo Police Club
7. First Wave Intact - Secret Machines
8. Not One Bit Ashamed - Kin Creosote
9. No Style - The Chalets
10. Nazanin - Good Shoes
11. Something Global - Fight Like Apes
12. Birds - Kate Nash

While you're at it, why not check out mixtape number 1, and mixtape number 2? And if you make your own mixtapes then pretty please do share - I'm always on the search for new music to listen to.

Friday Favourites

1. Penguin Books, 2. fern friday, 3. you just do., 4. follow me II, 5. Untitled, 6. Untitled, 7. Untitled, 8. Hansel and Gretel dolls, 9. cardboard castle #2 back

Stormtroopers in Stilettos

Has anyone else been to see the Queen: Stormtroopers in Stilettos exhibition in East London yet? Now, I like Queen as much as the next person, but the real reason I went to the exhibition was because my Mum is a big fan of the band, and I knew she wouldn't go unless someone went with her! I didn't really have high expectations, I thought there would be some photos, magazine clippings, a bit of a makeshift set up. But it was incredible! I learnt so much about the band, and have found a renewed love and admiration for them as a result.

Freddie Mercury studied at Ealing College of Arts, which no longer exists, but which used to be really near to where I live! Below are some of his drawings from his time there - they also had some of his sketchbooks on show, and his main focus seemed to be women's fashion.

They had television screens and headphones all around the exhibition area, playing loops of Queen interviews, live performances, and music videos.

I honestly did not expect it to be as interesting as it was. Normally when I got to exhibitions I find myself losing after an hour or so, but my Mum and I stayed here for well over two and a half hours, as there was so much to look at, things to read, and things to watch. My favourite part though was right at the end, as they had an area where you could stand together with headphones on and watch a mini Queen set list. Everyone was miming the words, playing air guitar, and really enjoying it. About as close as I'm ever going to get to seeing an actual Queen concert! Check out the website, which has a video tour of the exhibition here.

Walk Like an Egyptian

 Last month I blogged about my lovely blogger friend Emma, and specifically the amazing parcel she sent me. Well a couple of weeks ago I got this beautifully illustrated envelope through the post.... I was still in bed when my Mum brought it into my room, and I don't think I've ever moved so quickly so early in the morning!

 

 Inside was the most amazing print hand drawn by Emma. I'm telling you, this girl is so talented that if she wasn't so lovely I would be incredibly jealous of her drawing abilities! Excuse the creases in the photo - apparently Royal Mail hate me and so they squashed my print in transit. Booooo. But I've pressed it under a big stack of books and it is looking much better! Now I just need to find the perfect frame and a nice spot on my wall....

Thank you to my wonderful friend Emma for making my day so happy. xxx

Baking Up A Storm

Last week I made a cake. Not just any cake. One of my favourite cakes in the whole wide world. It's the Buttermilk Pound Loaf from The Hummingbird Bakery cookbook (get your copy here.) I've made this recipe about 6 times in the last three weeks, which I think speaks volumes about how good it is! Everyone loves it, and it's really easy to knock up, especially if you have a food mixer.

Each loaf makes about 8-10 slices (or 6 if you cut them like I do - I've been raised to serve generous portions!) and it keeps for up to 4 days in an airtight tin. If anyone is interested in the recipe let me know and I will send you a copy of it.

Stephanie Says....

My lovely friend and work colleague Steph (who I mentioned in an earlier post - she made me the beautiful collar)  writes me really sweet notes in the shop and, being the hoarder that I am, I've developed a little stash of them. These are just the ones that were in my bag, as the others are stuffed away in various drawers and boxes...

 

Getting in to the shop and finding one of these on the desk always makes me smile. Sometimes it's the little things that make me the happiest of all. I'm making it my goal to leave more lovely notes around for people to find.

Friday Favourites

1. callin' meeh, 2. These chairs, 3. Promenons-nous dans les bois ..., 4. Untitled, 5. Vintage sheet covered binders, 6. week thirty one, 7. Desk, 8. shecouldn'tbeartofaceit, 9. is ours.

Lydia Crook

My love for papercuts apparently knows no bounds. I recently discovered the work of Lydia Crook and fell completely in love. Below are my three favourite pieces... they are so different from other stuff I've seen.

You already knew that the owl was going to be my favourite, right?! Owls, typography, and papercutting all in one beautiful piece. Definitely going to treat myself to that one when I finally get some money!

TWINKIE CHAN!

I am sooooo super duper excited because Twinkie Chan, who is one of my crafting idols, is coming to London to teach a crocheted cake class, as well as to meet fans and sign copies of her new book! Hers was one of the first craft blogs I ever read, and I've always admired her from afar. But not anymore! Not only is she coming to London, but she is going to be at All the Fun of the Fair, the store I have just started helping out at!

Go visit their shiny new blog (which is being managed by none other than me!) and pretty please will you follow it and maybe leave a nice comment? We will be posting lots of lovely stuff on it, including knitting and crochet tips, product reviews, as well as maybe doing a few giveaways!

my guilty little (not so) secret

Anyone who knows me (well, in real life anyway!) knows about my Starbucks addiction. Yes, it's an addiction. I love it so. I probably drink one every day, except for when I'm at home all day as the nearest Starbucks is a 30 minute bus ride away. Some days I drink two. Or more. But the other day I noticed they had rebranded their cups.... not sure why though! These look, if my memory is serving me correctly, more like the American Starbucks cups. Well, the New York City ones at least.

Oh, and see that yummy looking delight in the photo above? That's a rocky road cake pop from their new 'Petites' range. Because I'm special (or because I have a Starbucks card) I got a voucher for a free item from this new range, and that's what I chose. It was yummy, but very sickly. I doubt I could eat two of them, unless someone gave me two, in which case I would eat two.

Learning Japanese

(in my head the title of this post is to be read in tune to The Vapors 'Turning Japanese.')

The other day I realised that I don't think I have ever mentioned on this here blog the fact that I am currently studying a Diploma in Japanese. In fact, that should almost be in the past tense, as I finish the course next week. It's been one of the hardest things I've ever had to learn, as we've covered speaking and listening, as well as learning to read and write Hiragana and Katakana. But it's definitely been a very worthwhile experience, and it feels really good learning something where your progress is easily measurable, unlike in arts subjects!

Japanese seems like an odd language to learn for a Westerner, and it probably is, but I have a slight obsession with Japan and Japanese culture, and it's been a goal of mine to learn Japanese fluently. I'm not quite there yet, but you've got to start somewhere!

A (Belated) Valentine

What with it being nearly a month since Valentines Day I decided to go ahead and show you what I made for my own loves. And by loves I mean friends. And, just in case you're one of those anti-Valentines people, I know it's a completely commercial pile of crap, but only if you buy into it. Otherwise it's just a good excuse to tell the people you love that you.... well, love them, which can only be a good thing, right? Oh, and I know you shouldn't need an excuse to tell your loved ones how you feel but, let's be honest, sometimes we forget and we need a little kick up the bum.

But I digress... I was on a tight budget this year, what with being a student (again) and so tried to only use supplies I already had to hand. The only thing I had to buy was vellum paper for the envelopes, but that only cost me a few pounds.

I found the tutorial to crochet these hearts here, and once I got the hang of it they were actually pretty simple. Then I made envelopes out of vellum paper, which I stamped 'with love' on. I packaged each one up with a folded paper crane decoration and a red heart shaped balloon. Although it wasn't a grand gesture I think my Valentines liked them, and I liked making them.