wow

Just stumbled across these amazing tiny sculptures on design sponge, done by carving out pencil lead. I can't even begin to imagine how much patience is involved in doing this. They're done by Dalton Ghetti, see more of his work here.

Bank Holiday!

Am going on a short break to Norfolk for the weekend, will be back on Tues with some photos of the holiday! Have a good bank holiday if you're in England and a good weekend anyway if not! x

(photo above from last August bank holiday, a windy day on Woolacombe beach)

Film Thursday: The Illusionist

Last night I watched a lovely animated film, the Illusionist which is written by Jacques Tati and directed by Sylvain Chomet. It's a story about the friendship between a French magician and a young girl he meets. The film contains very little speaking and the few words it contains are in its own unique language which can be understood anywhere. It is set in Paris, London and Edinburgh (it really made me want to visit the latter!) and the visuals are really stunning.

Calling all book lovers around the world!

Andrea of The Art of Staying Up All Night is writing a series on her lovely blog about the best bookshops from around the world. The first entry is here.. and she's looking for other contributions, so if you would like to send an entry on your fave bookshop just drop her an email! I'm going to write an entry about the lovely Page 45 as soon as I get a free Saturday, a comic shop here in Nottingham.

Draw & Fold it Over!

Here's one I drew earlier (self portrait!)

Do you remember that game where one person draws a head and a neck, folds it over and passes it on? Well you can now try an online version here. I've started mine off and passed it on to a work colleague, I wonder how it'll turn out...

Sampler Inspiration

I really want to sew a little embroidery like one of these for a friend's wedding. Not sure if I'll have time but thought I'd collate a few images to inspire me!

(top to bottom: by kirstenaderrick via daydream lily, tea and scandal by penelope waits, hoops as pinboards via apartment therapy)

My new bicycle!

Here's a couple of Fuji Instax pictures of my new (yet old) red bike! It's lots of fun to ride and it has a cool square basket! Am finding the Fuji instant photos to be a little unfocussed and not quite as good as dear old Polaroids. But they're a cheap and fun replacement for now anyway! (I still have hope that the Impossible Project will make proper colour film thats not uber-expensive at some point!) Will take clearer pics when it's a bit less rainy!

Sushi Saturday

On Saturday me and a friend made some sushi, and for a first attempt it turned out pretty well! Rolling the pieces is actually pretty satisfying and therapeutic! The fillings we chose included asparagus, pepper and omelette (which ended up looking a little like steak for some reason once the soy sauce was added!) and smoked salmon with cucumber. Delish!

Much Love Monday

I love Montmartre.

Bad things v Good things

Good stuff this week:

• The lovely vintage red bicycle I just put a (£5!) desposit on, bought from a local fruit & veg shop! Hurray!
• Sushi-making tomorrow evening
  
• Watching The 'Burbs again curled up with a lovely boy and strawberry trifle (Can't beat Corey Feldman and 80's Tom Hanks!)
• Trip to Manchester this weekend
• A lovely Fajita meal cooked by my housemate on Wednesday
• My Fuji Instax-Mini films arriving finally! Woo! (Will share photos soon..)
• The fact it is Friday!

Bad things:

• Endless rain..
• The end of Summer..?

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend x

Amsterdam!

Some more photos from my holiday, this time from Amsterdam and around Apeldoorn. It's such a pretty country, i wish we had the same enthusiasm for cycling over here!

Pretty bicycles in the Vondelpark

A friendly cat in Amsterdam

A cool cafe in the Jordaan district

Gerdien took us to the outdoor Museum of Dutch life which was fun!

Riding these bikes was really hard! Though the kids around us managed fine!

I want to live here!

Film Thursday: Lars & the Real Girl

Last week I watched this film which stars Ryan Gosling as Lars, a socially awkward man who lives in his brother's garage. His sister in law is worried about his loneliness until one day Lars introduces them to his new girlfriend - a "Real Girl" doll.



I really enjoyed the film as despite its theme it is actually really touching and funny, and is above all a tale about loneliness and how to overcome it.

Patchwork Love

For a while now I've been dreaming of finding a perfect patchwork quilt and now Autumn seems to have arrived early the search continues! I just stumbled across these images of fashion using patchwork on Much Love which makes me think there may be a trend beginning! Does anyone know a good place to buy patchwork quilts? I'd love a handmade one but they are quite pricey.

Quilt from Urban Outfitters

More Photos of Paris..

So below is the view from the apartment we stayed in, found on AirBnB.. it's owned by a fashion designer who lives in Montmartre in the loveliest flat on the top floor of a very Amelie/Science of Sleep type of building. We'd never used the site before; it's a little like couch-surfing meaning you can choose to stay in local people's homes but you pay through the site for your own room. It was definitely a good way to see Paris from the eyes of a local, but it was a little strange sometimes as we couldn't quite relax in case we left anything untidy and her father was actually staying there while she was away and kept talking in French to us which was hard to understand!

Caroline's lovely flat

Yay found a photobooth!

People look like ants from the Eiffel Tower!

I also took some polaroids and made a little travel journal which I'll hopefully scan some pages from soon.