The Winter Entertainments Club

Kites are fun - my new blog!

2010-06-22T15:11:00.001-07:00

I'm happy and rather excited to introduce to all of you my new blog! Kites are fun! I don't want to say to much about my hopes and plans for it but I will say that I hope for there to be regular illustrated articles and a few extras thrown in now and then. I've written and illustrated the first 'article' about swimming in the heat, so please do take a look and let me know what you think. I'd really love for you to follow along. I think it's going to be a fun journey, so do come join me!
Love from Jill x x x

Heavy Pencil - tonight

2010-04-01T04:53:00.000-07:00

Tonight I'll be going to the ICA, here in London, for some Heavy Pencil drawing. The super talanted Marcus Oakley (top picture) has invited our Daniel (middle) and our Colin (bottom) to draw to the sounds of 60s and 70s music tonight. I can't wait to watch them all drawing strange little animals with hats on and people with patterned skin. If you fancy coming along it's free. It would be lovely to see you there. Details of the event are here.

Looking out the window

2010-02-22T10:11:00.000-08:00

On Friday I wrote a little list of little things which would make me feel good that I'd like to do over the weekend. One thing on the list was 'take photos of the view whilst travelling'. I took th epictures of the clouds whilst on the train back to London and the photos of Kings Cross Station whilst on the bus to Euston Station.

Fancy a Match?

2010-02-22T10:00:00.000-08:00

I just had to show this table football which I saw in my favourite Liverpool charity shop this weekend. Look at the label, it say "Derby Match Game". For those of you who don't really know about Liverpool or don't live in England the two local teams in Liverpool wear Red (Liverpool) and Blue (Everton). The best part about this table is that they only want £6.50 for it. If I lived in Liverpool and had a big house with a games room I'd totally buy this and place it next to a duke box.

A pretty little lady

2010-02-19T10:23:00.000-08:00

This is the hand sewn item which I said I was inspired by when making the little acorn purse. My friend Karen made it and I think it's so pretty. She's really very skilled with her neat little stitches. She's going to be starting her own shop soon aptly called My Mum Taught Me To Sew and I can't wait to see what she comes up with. The little lady is now placed on my bedroom door, doesn't she look welcoming?

Things to Make and Do

2010-02-19T09:38:00.000-08:00

This weekend I'm off to Liverpool to visit my Grandma and my Grandad. Grandad will make me eat three almond slices in a row and Grandma will tell me exciting stories. Here's a list of things to make and do this week. My theme this week - Feeling Girly

1. Make your own pretty underwear and make it look elegant like this.

2. Make a bunch of these sweet flowers and hand them to your friends.

3. Brighten your home with cut out bouquets

4. Sort out your wardrobe and your style so you look good in Spring

5. Work out how to fold beautiful star shaped love letters (and tell me if you manage!)

6. Take up a little hand sewing project and make a lovely cushion

7. Make some more pretty hair clips

8. Fill your weekend with cups of tea, reading books, homemade biscuits and a little bit of making and a little bit of doing. Enjoy x

photo by pony tail

Standing at the bus stop

2010-02-17T05:20:00.000-08:00

I was stood at a bus stop over the weekend, after my little visit to the postal museum, when I noticed;

the view to my right and the view to my left
It made me smile. I love how in London everywhere you turn you'll see a different view.

Stamps and more stamps

2010-02-17T05:11:00.000-08:00

My trip to the Postal Museum was a bit of a let down. It isn't the place which has lots of objects, it just has books and photos. Still interesting but not what I was after. The place with objects is in Essex, England and only opens once a month. I'm wanting to do a series of drawings relating to the Royal Mail. Here's a few photos of some stationery I recently made to write a letter to a friend . Like I don't have an entire box of letter writing stationery under my bed that I could have chosen from......

Things to Make and Do

2010-02-12T09:10:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,
Tomorrow I'm spending the day at the Postal Museum in London with my sketchbook and I can't wait to be inspired. I'll be going to see Nowhere Boy tomorrow night and I'm sure it will have me yearning for my home city. Here are some things for you to make and do over the coming week;

Forget making these pretty hair clips for children, I'd rather make them for myself.

Fancy making something very simple? These snowflakes are beautiful and delicate.

Don't forget Shrove Tuesday. If you haven't made the skinny pancakes before (not the American ones) then here's a recipe. Pancake race anyone? See you there.

I'm wanting to make some cushions and keep thinking of this granny square.

Speaking of granny squares could you make one of these? I know I couldn't.

Some girls carry manicure kits other girls carry crochet hooks!

I keep thinking about making my own clothes and I'm inspired by this shop.

Make someone special their very own charming mail box.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.

Picture from a Royal Mail flickr group

Once I made: a little cat clutch bag

2010-02-06T12:25:00.000-08:00

I made two of these little bags for friends at Christmas. I used handles I had picked up in charity shops and a cream and a blue linen. They were very simple to make.

Wondering to work

2010-02-01T15:10:00.000-08:00

Do you fancy keeping me company whilst I walk to work? I actually took a lot of photos on my way to work this morning but I selected only a few.

The pond was iced over with a light sprinkling of snow on it.

This old shop on the corner of the Lane was being painted today. I snatched a photo before the sign is gone to.

This big old wall would have surrounded the gardens of the house I work in.

We've arrived! There's the house. Thank you for keeping me company :)

One last note, when I was greeting a group of school children who were visiting the House, a little girl of about five said to me 'you have a really nice house and a beautiful garden'. I told her I didn't actually live there but she wasn't interested.

Feeling lucky

2010-01-30T15:22:00.000-08:00

When Emma Bradshaw posted her list of things to do before her next birthday and it included going to the Albion caff and visiting Columbia Road flower market I had to pause and think that I am actually quite lucky to live only a bike or bus ride from both. The funny thing is that if I was to write a list of things to do before my next birthday it would include country pub lunches, bonfires, camping trips and nature collecting ( just a few of the things Emma does often). Oh well, we always want what we can't have : ) These photos where taken on my first visit to the caff on my birthday last July. We went for breakfast which to be honest I wasn't too pleased with. However, we went back for dinner another time and my disappointments where long forgotten, my fish pie with purple sprouting broccoli was fantastic. Also, I agree with Emma, the finishing touches look really great - the knitted tea cosies and beautiful tin lampshades.

A room with a view

2010-01-30T15:13:00.000-08:00

It's a pretty good view from the office window : ) After working there for a year and looking back on my photos of snow and special sunsets I think there's certainly worse places to work. But my favourite part of the day is my walk to work. I was inspired by Stepanie's post and keep wanting to do my own.

Hand made sketchbooks

2010-01-29T10:15:00.000-08:00

I've been busy at work this week, what with making lots of giant fruit and nuts from felt. Ialso had fun teaching Thursday's drawing and painting class. We were making our own sketchbooks and I made these examples to show. The children's own sketchbooks were actually much more interesting than mine but I didn't get good photos to show you. They have now taken them home and their first assignment is 'draw a place which is special to you - real or imaginery'. Lets see what they come up with.

A little acorn

2010-01-29T10:09:00.000-08:00

Whilst making the big acorn I was inspired to make this little acorn purse for my little neice. I have to admit that I took 'inspiration' when doing the sequins from my friend Karen. She sent me a lovely hand sewn sequined item which I will post a picture of very soon. You can see the purse goes round your neck and the lid is attached to the string. I was really pleased with it. I was thinking of making some for my shop. What do you think?

Sewing fun

2010-01-29T09:58:00.000-08:00

Some of you may have seen that I was making a big acorn as a resource for the children I work with. I'm actually making a whole load of different fruit and nuts which grow in the park I work in. These two aren't finished yet, I'll be putting smiley faces on them.

Working With Children

2010-01-26T09:21:00.000-08:00

Here is another little book I've made for a children's workshop. The theme of the workshop is World War II and the class of visiting children will be studying items from an evacuees suitcase. It's not as neat and well finished as the other one but i'm still pleased with it, considering I made it in an afternoon. I photocopied the booklet and each child was given one to work in.

Like looking in a mirror

2010-01-22T09:41:00.000-08:00

I run a drawing and painting class on Thursdays for children aged 7 to 10 years. Yesterday we did self portraits and I loved what the children did. These are some of my favourites. Look at how brilliant they are! I'll take real inspiration from these when drawing people and trying new techniques.

A little postal exchange

2010-01-22T09:15:00.000-08:00

Before Christmas, I took part in the Seasons Round Exchange for the first time. My partner was Melissa who sent me a wonderful package. Here are some photos of what I sent her. A little pinecone which I embroidered

A candle holder I made from copper and sea glass

and a brooch I made from drift wood. It matches my Summer's End collection .

A little book

2009-12-16T09:57:00.000-08:00

As some of you may know my full time job is working with children. I'm based at a historical house in London which is set in a picturesque park. The children visit the house and the park and part of my job is to create educational and fun activities for them. Earlier this year I made this little activity book for the children. I was really pleased with it and it's inspired me to think about making some zines in 2010.

party time

2009-12-04T07:30:00.000-08:00

Daniel and I are having a little party this weekend so we spent last weekend putting up paper garlands. This is a picture of my friend Joseph and I. I made him make minature decorations for our tree. I plan to post about all my green decorations, I'm very pleased with them. Have a happy weekend all.

In the park

2009-12-04T07:16:00.000-08:00

One thing I do as part of my job is the annual Tree Dressing. Nine primary school classes took part this year and I spent all of yesterday, in the rain, putting their artwork in the trees. Today the rain had cleared and all the school children came to see their work. I've been so busy with the project but I was so pleased with how today went.

Happy 1st December!

2009-12-01T09:57:00.000-08:00

This morning I quickly filled the advent calendar so that Daniel could open number 1. I made him share the treats with me and ate my chocolate straight after breakfast! Remember when I made the advent calendar? I was so proud.

Fantasy Zoo

2009-11-25T07:13:00.000-08:00

I don't remember being in a group exhibition before. I think this must be my first. Here are a few of the little caged creatures I've been making. I'll tell you more about the exhibition soon.

Through my Letterbox

2009-11-25T06:12:00.000-08:00

I've been getting some really nice things in the post lately. Here they are:
Jamie Shelman who lives in Martha's Vineyard was really generous and sent me two prints of her work. I was so pleased.

Ingrid Gomez who lives in Chicago sent me a really sweet painting of a tree in Autumn

And Emma Bradshaw sent me her families version of a TODAY I SAW

When Daniel saw this one in the letterbox he said 'ahhhhh'. I think he pines after the Lake District, where he's from. Thank you for all my lovely little postal treats! x

The styles

2009-11-09T10:56:00.000-08:00

Have you seen the new group 'What I wore today' on flickr. It's brilliant. I've done two drawings for it so far. Here they are

A little inspiration

2009-11-09T10:48:00.000-08:00

I thought it would be nice to share with you some of the pictures which inspired my Summer's End collection. I liked the way this lady would hang her pictures on a wire and so thought I'd do the same. It really helped to have a constant referance when I was making the items for the shop. If you like, you can see more of the pictures here.

Autumn Leaves

2009-11-09T10:43:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share with you a sneak peak at my new collection for the shop. It's called autumn Leaves and will be a mass of oranges, reds and woody browns. It will be going on sale this coming weekend. There is going to be hair pieces, brooches, necklaces and pretty bobby pins. If you haven't already seen the shop take a look, I'd love to know what you think. I'm excited to be adding a new collection of seasonal goodies! x Hide all

Summers End

2009-09-25T13:19:00.000-07:00

I'm so pleased to share my new online shop with you. 'Summers End' is my first collection of accesories and I've just put it into the shop, Mermaids Purse. I'd love to know what you think.

Happy First Day of Autumn!

2009-09-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

Daydream about autumn here and here

This drawing is by me.

Mermaids Purse

2009-09-17T10:48:00.000-07:00

I'm really excited to tell you all about my newest project. Mermaids Purse is my first online shop. This is a project I have spent months working towards. You may know my drawings but not my craft work. My inspiration is nature I see on walks, daytrips and holidays here in the British Isles. Whether I collect shells and pebbles from a sunny beach or moss and heather from misty moors it is always these little findings which inspire me. I will be creating themed collections of small accessories every two months. My first collection is called Summers End. It’s a collection about seeing the crisp, orange leaves on the ground at this time of year and thinking of the fun summer gently coming to an end. Walks along beaches, swims in lakes, sunsets and picnics have all been turned into hair pieces, necklaces, brooches and ornaments. Some of which you can see above.

I’m really looking forward to seeing what you think so please do let me know. The whole collection will go on sale on Friday 24th September. You can view the shop here. Thank you for stopping by.

Sea shells

2009-09-16T10:07:00.000-07:00

I'm excited that I've been asked to create and host craft activities for this Folk Music Fair. See the bit which says 'craft activities', that's me! The best part is that it's held at Cecil Sharp House, home of the English Folk Song and Dance Society, which I have wanted to visit for a long time. We'll be painting shells, twigs and pebbles from the British coast to make pictures, necklaces and brooches. I'm hoping to share some DIY posts showing how to make these simple and effective treasures. If you fancy coming along it'd be wonderful to see you.

Island Life

2009-09-08T10:32:00.000-07:00

My recent holiday on the Isle of Arran, off the west coast of Scotland was a chance for me to do some drawings in my sketchbook. The idea of being on an island rather than the mainland felt calming. These where all drawn over the week (except for the picture of cakes at the end, which I drew when I got home to London).

Old North.....I mean Midlands

2009-08-21T06:01:00.000-07:00

After all my posts about Belgium it's time to return to England. The North of England. The other week Daniel and I watched Saturday Night Sunday Morning and I can't stop thinking about how absolutely lovely the character of Doreen was to watch. If you haven't seen it it's well worth a look.

Update: I looked at a map and realised Nottingham is in the Midlands, not the North. Woops!

This museum is in my top five ever.

2009-08-21T05:47:00.000-07:00

I usually don't put quite so many photos as this up. And I try to write about mainly traditional Britain but I couldn't resist putting up photos of the Royal Africa Museum in Belgium. It was one of the best things we did whilst there.

First of all look at the cafe. It looks like it's straight from a Wes Anderson film. Those nuns, all in blue, I posted yesterday, they were sitting in the garden.

and now enjoy the displays..........

oh and these guys were at the front. I love that I look like I'm on safari.

Lovely Lettering

2009-08-20T10:11:00.000-07:00

Whilst in Belgium I noticed most of the old cafes had hand painted lettering as their signs. So pretty.

Also, I much prefer this lovely etching to tell the public to keep their dogs on a lead.

Whilst wondering

2009-08-20T10:02:00.000-07:00

Some pretty sights from Belgium earlier this summer

In London

2009-08-20T05:42:00.000-07:00

car envybike envy

Collecting

2009-08-20T05:39:00.000-07:00

Some of the materials I'm making work from at the moment. Still not ready to show off the work yet but once I am I'll post about it. Soon. Soon.

What a nice surprise

2009-08-19T09:26:00.000-07:00

I'm so very pleased to see that this lady has had a go at making her own TODAY I SAW. It gave me goosebumps when I saw it. What a lovely thing to draw and write about.

Lines and Shapes

2009-08-19T09:16:00.000-07:00

Having fun painting with children at work today.

How does you're garden grow?

2009-08-18T09:38:00.000-07:00

Daniel waters the plants on our window sill every evening with a little purple watering can. Finally we have been rewarded! Although, the leaves are looking a little dry in this picture after the weekend away. Very tastey indeed.

Picture this

2009-08-13T05:53:00.000-07:00

I'm still working hard on this project but having a full time job makes it difficult to get a lot done. I wanted to show my little line of pictures which I've put up in the living room. I was inspired by these.

Lovely London Ladies

2009-08-13T05:32:00.000-07:00

I finished my invites for a new little project of mine. I'm going to have a ladies evening at my flat once a month. I've called it 'Lovely London Ladies Social Evening'. I want it to be low maintenance, so I've asked all the ladies to bring their own sweet or savoury treat and something which they want to work on. I even had a go at calligraphy, which I've been trying to teach myself. Take a look at the pictures and tell me what you think.

I was so inspired by these invitations and craft club

Thank Heavens....

2009-08-12T07:45:00.001-07:00

.......my good friend Vanessa has started blogging! Now I can get a little chunk of her witt, charm and humour without travelling to the North of England. Take a look at her new shared blog Heavens to Betsy and find out more about Eggy Weggs.......intrigued? : )

doodle happy

2009-08-12T07:32:00.001-07:00

Take a look at the work of Gemma Correll. It's refreshing to see a British illustrator not based in London. I absolutely love her travel journal pages which you can see here on her flickr.

Pot of tea for two please

2009-08-05T06:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Daniel and I went to High Tea of Highgate.

Just look at the lovely illustrations on the wall. It's well worth a visit.

Rock your baby all night long!

2009-08-04T09:25:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago Daniel and I went to the Rivoli Ballroom in Brockley for their jive dance night. The interior is to good for words.

2009-08-04T09:15:00.000-07:00

Daniel and I went for a walk at the weekend. We walked along the 'Parkland Walk' in North London. I hadn't expected there to be so many blackberries. Quite a few people were picking them so we did to! I made a crumble. Also I was rather pleased to have Paul's facebook album dediacted to me!

Pretty pretty

2009-08-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

I just keep kicking myself - why didn't I buy some of these linens at the Brussels flea market!

Two little days

2009-07-27T09:43:00.000-07:00

Even in the long summer days those two little gems which come after Friday never seem to last long enough. I never seem to do evrything I want. However, this weekend I managed to;

go for drinks at Somerset House

Go for a long walk round Richmond Park as part of my 'visit all the Royal Parks'

and I even managed to fit in some making for a new little project of mine (all to be revealed soon).

A very satisfactory weekend I must say.

Love music

2009-07-24T08:58:00.001-07:00

I've released a 7"

Side A 'Lets Go Dancing'

Side B 'Fuck This I Just Want to Dance'

Daniel made it for my birthday. Isn't it wonderful!

It reminds me of this.

Mending, fixing, dancing!

2009-07-24T08:49:00.000-07:00

It was my birthday recently. As a gift, Hatty stole a pair of my shoes (with the help of Daniel). She then spent rather along time fixing them. They had completely fallen apart - there was holes in the soles, the leather had come unwoven, the heels completely worn out and she made them look brand new. I'm so very pleased! Talk about make do and mend! The top picture is a card she made me from her shoe fixing packaging ; )

1940s Victoriana

2009-07-23T06:10:00.000-07:00

I found this charming little book whilst clearing out. It was printed in 1947.

This pull out print was inside, I think I'll put it in a frame. The colours are brilliant.

My latest project.

2009-06-19T09:55:00.000-07:00

I haven't been keeping up with my commitment to the blogging world. However I have started a new project which I am enjoying called TODAY I SAW. Each day I have been trying to do a drawing on a blank postcard of something I see. I then send it to someone I know. Please do take a look here.

Pretty Papers

2009-04-17T05:48:00.000-07:00

Been working hard, printing and painting papers for children's projects. Gives me ideas for my own work. Daniel and I are planning to have an exhibition in early June, so I'd better get making. Got lots of ideas though.

I was lucky

2009-04-14T06:24:00.000-07:00

I got to see this robin's nest up close. The little pair of robins have been nesting in Pat and Peter's garden. Their bird expert friend told them they can sneak peeks for a few days whilst the birds eyes are closed, but once open, the birds may jump out the nest with freight! I was lucky enough to be visiting during the closed eyes period. They were opening their mouthes to be fed. Cute! Cute!

Let me explain...

2009-04-06T05:13:00.000-07:00

I've been a little busy. My friend Matt from Chicago came to stay. Daniel and I moved house and have been unpacking all week. Below; with Matt looking at the river, which has been drained in St James Park, Daniel's packing, Saying goodbye to the friendly faces in my flat, Taking on the kitchen and Managing to find the time for tea and homemade Easter Nests.

Book worm

2009-03-23T06:18:00.000-07:00

This Thursday evening there's a little event about books run by our friends at the Ragged Canteen. People saying their bit about books include Matt Kestler from eyerocket, and Chloe Luxford, a paper engineer extraordinaire, who makes wonderful pop-ups for Dorling and Kindersley and Mike Topping, illustrator of the covers for Penguin's recent series of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes books. I'm moving house on the same day but I'm really going to try and get there. I want to here what all these wonderful people have been up to. Ragged Canteen is at the Beaconsfield Gallery. Hope to see you there!

Picture of eyerocket's latest masterpiece.

Friday Colour

2009-03-20T11:34:00.001-07:00

Here's your Friday colour.

My computer has been broken since last Friday so I haven't been keeping up with blogging at all. Hopefully the situation will be sorted soon and I'll be back on it. I have so many nice things to post about. I've seen so many things this week. Maybe the sun being out makes everything look better.

blossom everywhere,

a fox tip toeing down a railway track,

a colleague caught a newt,

a cat ran away and it owner chased it,

wine gums all over the street.

Other good news. My friend Matt of eyerocket, is visiting from Chicago and Daniel and I have booked to have an exhibition in June.

picture from unruly things

INTERIOR POST! There I said it.

2009-03-13T10:36:00.001-07:00

I'm not going to keep apologising for my interest in interiors. 'It's nothing to be ashamed of'' I tell myself : ) So here's a pretty picture from todays you are my fave from sunset magazine. I like the bits of colour that aren't overbearing.

Friday Colour

2009-03-13T06:19:00.000-07:00

This lady, Toriot, has photos of her awsome knits on flickr. She lives in a 'small Norwegian town' and knits. Sounds peaceful. Found them whilst browsing the web for flags. I've noticed all the ones I like are from Kaffe Fassett's 'Family Album' Book. If only I could knit. Being able to knit garments is an ambition of mine.

Sweet Pea Perfect

2009-03-13T05:02:00.000-07:00

After talking about tiny gardens I came across this delightful little arrangement on Black Eiffel via little brown pen. Surely they're just for show! They can't have grown so perfectly, can they?

Daydream Gardening

2009-03-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

Moving house is making me think about interiors even more than normal. Daydreaming of new habits - making packed lunches, baking cakes, gardening, having dinner parties, tidying......hmm we'll have to see. At the new place we only have steps and window sills to turn into a garden. Here's a couple of nice window boxes...
pretty colour, 0rchids,

Pia Bramley Apple Pie, i like you.

2009-03-12T07:04:00.000-07:00

I first found out about Pia Bramley on It's nice that. She doesn't put thing on her blog that often (like I can talk) but when she does they are so very charming. Well worth taking a look at all her beautiful drawings.

Cutting out and sticking up.

2009-03-12T06:55:00.000-07:00

One of the main parts of my job is making art work with children. I am currently completely inspired by these people who do amazing things with cardboard. So wonderful.

Vintage Utensil

2009-03-07T01:28:00.000-08:00

My latest favourite hobby is going round charity shops trying to find lovely vintage kitchen ware. I'm currently on the look out for one of these old fashioned whisks (they make baking easier without buying an electric mixer) except Id like one with colourful handle....

Give me one of those

2009-03-04T14:05:00.000-08:00

Keep seeing these little beauties around the world wide web. There's so many lovely things on this clever ladies blog. Well worth taking a look.

sweetness

2009-03-04T13:58:00.000-08:00

Three Potato Four - Sweet online vintage shop which sells very cool yet unaffordable children's chairs.

via unruly things

Moving About.

2009-03-01T03:28:00.000-08:00

I like this post on wikstenmade about homely daydreams. I to am thinking a lot about homes at the moment and looking at new flats. To try and stay calm about the whole thing I like looking at interiors online and in magazines. My friends think it's funny, I don't think any of them are quite so into interiors.

Picture from Grass Doe

Day tripper! yeah!

2009-02-22T14:33:00.000-08:00

I told Daniel I wanted to leave London for the day and he arranged our day trip to Whitstable. We took the train, ate oysters, wandered along the beach, had fish and chips, collected shells, went charity shopping and got ice cream for the walk back to the station. It was such a beautiful day. See the blue sky!

Near the harbour I saw a sign 'Save our harbour. Shipping not shopping.' I could see their point.
'Hello new house'. I wish.

A patriotic mural outside a really good charity shop where I bought a sweet suitcase, a cute umrella and some measuring spoons.

I managed to find a lot more treasure than just this!

The beach

Me with the sweet suitcase.

On the train home the sunset was really nice.

Pretty Fry

2009-02-22T14:18:00.000-08:00

Daniel and I had a nice fry up one morning. I'm getting back into two good habits; laying the table out nicely and eating fry ups.

Day trip in London

2009-02-22T13:45:00.000-08:00

My friend Laura and I met up to visit the Royal Horticultural Society Flower Show. It was in this really nice RHS 1930s building.

A London house had been built in the middle of the room.

There was a section which was just species of garden plants which are dying out. Gardeners from around Britain showed off ones they have been trying to keep alive. Lots of plants on show were from Buckingham Palace, which I liked.

Afterwards we got on the tube to go to one of my favourite chippies in London. It's called The Fryer's Delight near Holborn.

Laura.

Laura's chips.

I bought these flowers at the show and took this picture when I got home. They were my favourite flowers of the day. I love the way they look like they're drawn with biro.

Thanks for a fun day trip Laura.

Out and about

2009-02-22T13:35:00.000-08:00

I've had a week off work and I got up to some nice things. I'm going to post about the different things I did including my day trip with Laura and my day trip with Daniel. My week off started nicely with these pretty flowers from Daniel. They reminded me off that photo by Tim Walker.

Biscuit anyone?

2009-02-12T05:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was given a small publication about a reminiscence project by Coleman Project Space. The book tells me all about Peek Frean's Biscuit Factory in Bermondsey, South London. The factory was the centre of that community and the project has brought together people who used to work there. It takes me to another world, where people didn't lock their doors and everybody knew each others business. Well worth a look.

Lets make furniture.

2009-02-11T13:40:00.000-08:00

I'm moving house soon and I'm becoming pretty obsessed with looking at interiors. I always love interiors though. Making furniture from scraps like these people would be my ideal. They make it look so easy!

via fine little day

Did you know...

2009-02-11T05:44:00.000-08:00

...That Queen Elizabeth I's coffin was carried down the Thames River by a barge lit with torches. Since I found out a few months ago I keep thinking about it and wanting to paint a picture of it.

Also, due to my new job, I've been finding out a lot about Tudors. Its fascinating stuff.

Cosy.......

2009-02-10T10:11:00.000-08:00

I'd like to make birds nests. I've collected lots of materials to make them but I've only made one. Maybe I'll post a picture of it soon. These pictures of birds nests are wonderful.

Via Cup of Jo

Glasgow! again!

2009-02-05T10:27:00.001-08:00

I really want these. Thanks to Judith for letting me know about all this. Glasgow again! These plates are from Narrative which used to be Hitherto in Glasgow. Look, it's a shop which is a shed. I want to go! So, so very fun.

Stop frame beauty

2009-02-04T14:27:00.000-08:00

Taller Than Trees from Joseph Mann on Vimeo.

I just discovered Joseph Mann's work through the brilliant blog it's nice that. His work is so wonderful! He's in his final year at Glasgow School of Art and once again I'm left thinking about Glasgow and the way creativity pours from its grey sky. What a wonderful city and what beautiful work. Fills me with joy.

How to be a young woman in 1964

2009-02-04T09:48:00.000-08:00

Got this brilliant book from a charity shop for 50p. Thought it looked funny. Was so surprised and happy when I discovered it was illustrated by Quentin Blake.

'The object of every woman should be to do the work with the lowest amount of effort, in the minimum of time.' Ha! Love the early Blake illustrations, though.

I always wanted to know the correct way to lay out my fridge.

And I was genuinely pleased to know how to lay the table correctly. Those of you who read this blog often, know my new years resolution was to 'set tables and trays nicely'. And I'm obsessed with keeping them.

Old photos

2009-02-04T05:35:00.000-08:00

This is the wall which inspired my wanting to collect old family photos. Taken at Daniel's friend, Damian's family home in Ireland. Such brilliant decor in that big house. I loved visiting last summer. (I'll post some pictures soon).

I love my Grandparents

2009-02-04T00:20:00.000-08:00

I decided I want to have a wall of black and white photographs. My Grandad has three suitcases of them. I went to visit him and we went through one of the suitcases. I picked out about twenty pictures I'm going to get copied. Here are a few:

My Gran when she was about 14. She passed away in December so I can't stop looking at this picture. She's so beautiful.

My Grandad. I knew he was cool, but not this cool.

My Grandad's parents.

Patch it up

2009-02-03T10:17:00.000-08:00

I love these drawings by patch nyc which I saw on this post.

Pretty snow

2009-02-02T08:11:00.001-08:00

I keep looking at this image from the mociun website. I think it's beautiful.

It's snowing!

2009-02-02T07:48:00.000-08:00

It hardly ever snows in London. But today it was so heavy I got the day off work, went the park with friends, had homemade soup, cookies and chocolate. What a brilliant day!Everyone was building snowmen in the park .

Gingerbread Church

Daniel was about to throw a snowball at me.

icicles!

two shoppers carrying their giant snowballs home!

A book or two...

2009-02-01T11:28:00.001-08:00

Joseph gave me this brilliant 1946 Hat book for Christmas. I love the way it tells me in capital letters to 'START YOUR OWN SCRAPBOOK OF HAT STYLES'. erm, ok. Apparently Miss Vee is quite the hat lady and wrote another book called 'How to make and trim your own hats'.

Patchwork cool

2009-01-30T09:48:00.000-08:00

A while ago Daniel painted his skate board with a harlequin pattern. He should totally paint everything in his flat.

Kitsch Kitchen

2009-01-30T09:46:00.001-08:00

A nice display of art on our fridge.

Traditional Breaky

2009-01-27T05:24:00.000-08:00

Got two varieties of Frank Cooper Oxford Marmalade open at one time. Having 10 different jams and marmalades on the table to choose from is my ideal. Oooh the luxuries. And this is meant to be a time of saving pennies.

An organised typist.

2009-01-27T05:16:00.000-08:00

Another little filing system which I love is this one which friends brought back from their U.S. Coast to Coast trip. Someone has lovingly typed up all the recipes they have come across. Written who the recipe is from, where they are from, ingredients, and instructions. My favourite is 'Tomato Soup' by 'Hurried Hostess, Anytown, USA' (see above). Makes me laugh so much, 'Anyone for bridge?' : )

Strangely organised

2009-01-27T00:58:00.000-08:00

This is a little file I have been keeping, of all sorts of places. Whenever I go somewhere I try and remember to pick up a business card so that I can write it up in my filing system. I'm not actually organised but i like the idea of having a collection of places. Book shops, restaurants etc.

Luncheon date

2009-01-26T14:43:00.000-08:00

Today at work I went out for lunch in the park. It's so nice. Much nicer than sitting at my desk. I saw blue tits, coal tits, blackbird, long tailed tit, sparrows, and lots of different shaped dogs. I like grey hounds. I saw a miniature grey hound, unless maybe it was a puppy. I'm glad to be keeping to some of my new years resolutions. Also I made a super nice lunch with rosemary cake so that's two. Picture is of a Christmas lunch break.

Pencilcase please.

2009-01-25T03:16:00.000-08:00

Daniel showed me this photo he took in a fenchurch shop window. It's a design he did for them a while ago and now it's turned up. I totally want one! there's a track suit top in the same pencil crayon pattern too.

Here in London

2009-01-23T09:36:00.001-08:00

I got sent an email from a mailing list about this project. Pilot Publishing have created this funny little eco cafe in Gunpowder Park. They've got all sorts of events going on throughout spring including:

'February 14th Crititical Mass Food Search within 6 mile radius 10.00am - 3.00pm Meet at Energy Cafe with your bike, maps provided. Aim is to source as much locally grown food as possible, including wild food, and gather back at the cafe with findings to cook up a sunset dinner.'

I like the sound of that one. See more here

Ice cold beauty

2009-01-23T09:17:00.000-08:00

Had lots of post planned this week but didn't manage to do any. Oh well, hopefully I'll get some up over the weekend and next week. But for now I love these pictures by GrassDoe. Documenting such a simple, traditional and beautiful life style, leaves me wondering who is taking the pictures and where.......Scotland? Alaska?

Sold!

2009-01-21T04:53:00.000-08:00

Today is Bonhams Anual Gentlemen's Library Sale. A selection of library furniture, taxidermy, science curiosities and eccentriciries from around the world.

See more pictures here.

Have you heard.....

2009-01-19T04:39:00.000-08:00

Poloroid is going to be saved! A business man is going to save the company for the sake of art. Thank goodness! Also check out our caring business man's polaniod.net, apparently its the largest online poloroid gallery. I had a look and there's a tonne. Wow, he really loves poloroid.

picture from polanoid
via unruly things

Twittering about

2009-01-14T05:18:00.000-08:00

Not meaning to keep going on about birdspotting but........today I saw a Goldcrest in the Park! Yipee! picture by Camilla

New hobby: window bird watching

2009-01-13T04:45:00.000-08:00

Today I found out that Redwings visit the park which I look onto from the office. They visit from Denmark for 5 weeks about this time of year. I'm so going to keep my eyes peeled. I've already seen a Goldcrest (my favourite) and a Jay. Thats two posts about seeing birds from windows.

picture by abby