The Golden Boot

. . . I admit . . .

 . . . I am introverted.

 

 

(Leslie Supnet)

 

xo

Where have I been??? (down a rabbit hole I think)

Or rather, being distracted by the realm of real life. Part of this distraction was being here . . .

 

 

for Arcade Fire (at Edinburgh Castle). 

 

 

It was an awesome concert . . . even though I was

 

 

very, very, cold!

 

I promise to try and get back into the swing of blogging. I have a busy Autumn coming up, so here's hoping for some organisation and inspiration.

 

xo

 

 

p.s. thanks Jess for your photo's of the night of awesomeness that was :)

Some new books . . .

I have always been a bit of a bookworm (have I ever mentioned this before in this blog? I probably have, does it make me a bad blogger if I forget these things? I don't think so, just means I am emphasizing my love of all thing book-ish, I think). I received yesterday some new books. Have you ever heard of Edward Gorey and Elizabeth McGrath? No? Well here's a taster of their work from my new books! ;)

 

 

 

Edward Gorey

 

(I can see this style translated very well into stitching, I am starting to experiment)

 

 

 

Elizabeth McGrath

 

(As an artist I have always had in mind to explore, creatively, notions of the freak show - particularly in regards to my own experience of living with a physical disability. I really like Elizabeth's play with the macabre, difference, the idea of the freak from a historical context.)

 

I am always inspired by other artists. When I am a little bit stuck for creative juice I flick through my artist books, childrens book, zines, etc, and find ideas dump on me by the truckload. I love being creative and I love being inspired by other creatives, who inspires you?

 

xo

Friday Favourites #17 - the cake in the tiny?!?

Yes, todays FF is about the cake in the tiny, or the miniscule in the food, or cupcake in the small . . . or about PetitPlat in the magical world of miniatures. I stumbled across Stephanie Kilgast's etsy shop when I was looking for gifts for folks . . . (sorry, can't mention any names here ;). However, isn't her stuff just amazing? I have never seen such detail on miniatures like this before.

 

(These macarons are my favourites)

 

I have always loved teeny-tiny things. When I was a child I was so convinced that as I slept my tiny Star Wars dolls would actually come alive and live out their lives in my room. My favourite books were about a tenth of the size of the average book (the books were little picture books about different ballets). I used to make tiny creatures out of polymer clay who lay in little beds of walnut shells. I was so excited when I was about 6 or 7 and the first thing I ever knitted was a purple and gray box dress for my barbie doll. 

 

xo

 

p.s. have you been to my etsy shop dementedsnowflake lately? I have a few things on sale at the moment and more will be going up in the next few weeks (to make room for new stock). So please go have a look and see if you can snap up a bargain!

Will you make do?

I like to make do (and make stuff), do you?

 

Lupin is having a sale.

 

 

Lupin makes do and mends.

 

xo

Friday Favourites #16 . . . a squidy whale . . .

It's that time again (isn't it amazing how quick the weeks go by?) 

 

This weeks ff is a representation of "textile design of mythical proportions." This is a quote from the makers of these textiles of mythical proportions and their name . . . Squidwhale Design. They really are masters of design, just check out some of their stuff!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

xo

A rumbling of thought . . .

In my usual stumbling around blogland I came across this rather intriguing blog - The Happiness Project. The blog is an extension of the book by the same name by author Gretchen Rubin. Now, I have never read the book (though I may have to check it out), and I have only just started exploring the blog, but I am already impressed by Gretchen's ideas and thought process on progressing towards a sense of true happiness (I guess the meaning of true happiness would vary from person to person, but for me in means simple things, like love, family, friendship, alone-time, contemplation, tidiness, and self accomplishment).

 

What struck me first on the blog was a blog post on Tidy Habit as a boost to happiness. I do find that the state of my surroundings can have a huge impact on the state of my mood. When my surroundings are tidy and organised I feel tidy and organised, I feel as though I could take on the world - because I have the physical and mental space to think clearly and act promptly. (When the kitchen is a mess, or the bathroom desperately needs a clean I just feel so tired and put out; that doesn't account though for the sense of accomplishment I feel when I do actually tidy up and clean and walk away from a room that is ready to be occupied and used). For me tidiness equates with creativeness, when there is endless space to experiment and play, as opposed to a fighting for table space to draw or sew. After reading about similar feelings on the The Happiness Project I feel validation in my approach to living.

 

(The Happiness Project)

 

 

Anyone else have any happiness tips? is there a simple ritual that you apply to your everyday living that settles your mind and opens you up to creativity and joy?

 

xo

Friday Favourites #15 (I skipped a week, why yes I did)

I am not well. I have not been sick for ages and then a sore throat and fever just smacked me down yesterday and I have been holed up on my couch (and bed) ever since, with no energy to do anything other than occasionally peruse etsy and change the channel on tv. But, after taking to Panadols and having a nap I am feeling up to a rather quick friday favourites. Enjoy! ;)

 

(maechevrette)

 

 

(diabolus)

 

 

(pouch)

 

 

(tisSewcute)

 

 

(sherrifairy)

 

 

(jarosdesigns)

 

Now off to sleep again, and hopefully be well enough tomorrow to actually do some design work!

 

xo

Stitching Scandinavian Style!

 . . . or my own interpretation, lol. Two new stitcheries are up in my shop - dementedsnowflake. Here they are -

 

 and my favourite (below) . . .

 

I went and saw Slash last night (of Gun's and Roses fame). He is an amazing guitarist, watching him play is truly seeing man become one with the instrument. I want to go and see him again, and again, and again! Who's your favourite musician? What concert is the best you've ever been too?

 

xo

Fascinating earth.

Something perhaps a little more life and a little more learning. Last night my flatmate and I watched a very interesting doco about the way that the earth works. The doco is called Journey to the Centre of the earth and the first episode last night was amazing. What I loved the most was the part about the sea turtles - did you know that they have magnetic workings like a compass in their head and this is how they navigate the world!! (I am no scientist, so consider this a laymans interpretation of the information, lol). 

 

I would recommend watching it (even if your not a fan of Richard Hammond, lol); I can't wait until the next ep! Really, the earth is a fascinating place!

 

 

(Jessica Illustration)

 

xo