New shoes and tube strikes

A little bit obsessed with my new shoes.... I passed time whilst waiting for the bus by giving them their own mini photoshoot.

Ideas Research

Its another grey and somewhat rainy Sunday afternoon, so have been reading, researching and notetaking. Having a browse through some creative literature - one being one of my favourite authors Keri Smith and her 'Living out Loud'! and a Visual Planning Paper by Angus C. Colvin.

For work it is the Economists Guide to Brands and Branding and Art of Storytelling by Nancy Mellon

Will hopefully post any interesting finds!

Second Hand Postcards

The Oxfam book shop on Marylebone High Street has boxes full of gorgeous vintage postcards for sale. I shall be using them creatively at some point in the near future but for the time being I they are purely decorative.

'I gotta brand new pair of rollerskates..'

A spontaneous, yet much loved purchase. They have only had one outing but am keen to get rolling again very soon! Quads are cool.

Cloud Atlas

My current read -another Oxfam purchase. Not too far in yet but am on the 2nd story that is set at Chateau Zedelghem in 1930's Belgium, which is wonderfully descriptive and pure escapism. Just what I need!

Moleskine Notebooks

New colour cahier is out!! A lovely cherry red. (Actually quite excited about this...)

Entitled: Donkeyfish

Here is my boyfriends (very surrealist) collage. It makes me laugh so much!

To Beautify

Whenever I get around to snapping my collages on a. a decent camera and b. one that has a macro setting, Ill be putting them on my new blog To Beautify. Here are a couple of my favourite cards!

At last...

....I have started collating and organising my magazine cuttings and putting them onto record cards!

Vogue Features - July 2009 Edition

One rainy lunchtime, I trotted off to a shabby cafe on Marylebone High Street and went through the July Edition of Vogue. I made some notes on whatsahappening and whosahappening:

- Ageless style

- Timeless pieces

- Juno Temple (NB - smoking on youtube)

- geometry in print/design with North African influences

- evening tailoring with tribal accents

- Dree Hemingway (model)

- Katy Eary (Designer)

- Louisa Gray (Designer)

- Louise Goldin (Designer)

- Topanga, California

- Tomboy Style

- Florence Welch's bedroom

- Walworth Road, South London

- Feather Capes

- Barbie's Style Influences

- 'The Plastic Mind' by Sharon Begley

Fashion Blogs

Whilst going though some of my old magazine cuttings I stumbled across a list of fashion blogs recommended by Juilet Warkentin (Content Director at WGSN) and Penny Martin (Editor of Show Studio):

- http://www.osoyou.com/
- http://www.runway.blogs.nytimes.com/
- http://www.showstudio.com/
- http://www.ashadedviewonfashion.com/

Whilst in Selfridges...

I am always found browsing in the design/architecture/interior section of the book floor. Having finished work early, I killed nearly 2 hours in there! Books I am coveting at the moment are:

- New Vintage Type By by Steven Heller and Gail Anderson

- A Girls Guide to Decorating by Abigail Ahern

- Shop Image Graphics in Paris (and in London) by Pie Books

- FamilyLifeStyle Home by Anita Kaushal and Penny Wincer

The Gallery on Cork Street

On Tuesday I visited my friend Skye's Mums private view. Her name is Mary-Clare Cornwallis and she is fantastic botanical artist. Here is her website: http://www.cornwallisart.co.uk/index.html

The evening was a success, the wine was flowing and there were lots of purchases!

Patch Rogers

We have ordered some Eric Lyons furniture at work and the supplier is a guy named Patch Rogers. He has a beautiful Arts & Crafts shop in Brighton and Hove, which I am dying to visit! http://www.acfc.co.uk/

Everybody Starts Somewhere

I went along to 'Everybody Starts Somewhere' run by the D&AD at UCL last week. Sir John Hegarty, Joel Gethin Lewis and Malcolm Venville discussed their own personal route to inspiration and ideas. Themes that came up were:
- making yourself known and heard
- What is luck?
- Is it Arbitary?
- ad agencies can be conservative
- 'hair is so difficult to arrange'
- creativity is: exposing yourself
- 'When the World Zigs, Zag'

Am looking forward to the next one!

Alfresco

Continuing the alfresco theme; we had our second BBQ to lead us into the week ahead. Taking a look through Ottolenghi and a phone call to Mum I embarked on salad making duty. I have been buying lots of boring grains that are bursting with potential. So I made a greek pearl barley salad and a camargue and wild rice feta salad. At lunchtime I had aleady made my famous smoked mackerel pate so I had the kitchen bug to make more stuff!

DIY flower arranging

Having been totally inspired by the posies at Petersham, I awoke early and sneaked into the garden and picked a few buds myself. Shame we had no proper pots for them! I made do with 2 mugs and a coffee jar.....

Apartamento

Having read about this new 'everyday interiors' magazine, I popped to Selfridges to get myself a copy. When I arrived, there was a cluster of people reaching for it, having a nose and swiftly taking it to the till to take it home. Amazed by its popularity, I followed suit.

I spent the whole day reading it in the garden. What I loved about it, was that all of the over-styled photographs from New York to Madrid - all featured an old school television like my own. I shall now think non plasma is cool.

Petersham Nurseries

Along the river and a blink and you miss it chalk board signpost leads us to Petersham Nurseries. We stumbled down a garden path to get to what was an almost secret garden hideaway. The restaurant and tea-room was delightful. Vintage and shabby ironmongery dotted the patio with all tables featuring a posy of fresh flowers. I had a gorgeous glass of Sancerre, something I have not drunk for quite a while but tasted divine! Also ordered were the mouthwatering cakes. Orange and almond cake and banana loaf were devoured in a blink of an eye. The menu for tea was fantastic and very poetic. Teas featured were entitled Lavender Dream, Starlight Rose and Emerald Sun. A picture of loveliness!

Richmond Green

The Cricketers

It was my Mums birthday last weekend so we decided to take a stroll down in Richmond with the good pub guide in hand. Not only was it a beautiful day, there was a cricket match being played on the Green. Perfect with a chilled glass of wine and the sun toasting our shoulders.

Starting Out

Hello! This is a blog to keep me out of trouble and to visualise my musings, outings and things I get up to in and around London.

It has taken me months to finally sit down, relax and get some time to note down and create. The sky is somewhat grey, there is a stiff breeze and Classic FM is on; a perfect evening to kick start The Sublime.

Hope this will inspire, engage and be enjoyed!