May 8th, 2011
Spring/Summer Accessories from Dainty Dora
Striking new designs spanning elegance, sophistication, bridal, pretty, sweet and fun from the Dainty Dora Shop in Folksy. A pick of the favs:
May 7th, 2011
The Umbrella Connection
Now the magnificence of beautiful sunshine has broken; dribs and drabs of rain and oppressive cloud hovering and ready to strike, it seems like the perfect epoch to diatribe about umbrellas.
I have had a turbulent relationship with umbrellas in the past, and for the last year or so, have shunned their brittle frames and inadequate waterproof canopies for the reliable services of my trusty black trilby. Oh yes, as others struggle to keep their brollies right-side out, buffeted by high winds and dodging other umbrella-flaunters with their lethal spokes, I stride purposely, unhindered, hands free and just a little smug.
Cutesy-Whimsical from Paperchase
That was until I visited Paperchase in Waterstones. It had been a while, so instantly I fell in love with their delightful, quirky designs and needed a reason to buy. Function perhaps? Then I saw it – transparent stick-together vinyl with a red plastic handle, red edging and cutesy Japanese print. It’s really a child’s umbrella but then I think of myself as a bit of a child. Their stuff appeals to me, despite being rather giraffe-like; I love small things. Teensy teapots, children’s books (and umbrellas!) and I always eat with a small spoon. It makes things last longer. Only nice things. Like ice cream, jelly and multitudinous desserts. Mmmm.
Anyway, so I’ve not had an umbrella for a while but I just had to have this one. It is a long-handled affair, the kind you take out on a day when it is already raining otherwise you just end up looking like a buffoon carrying a long-handled umbrella .The kind of day you might leave it on a bus? Read more …
April 14th, 2011
A slice of white bread sums up the iniquities of life
Now I know this train of thought is a little over the top, but a few weeks ago sitting in Morrison’s Cafe down the road, it is how I felt. Don’t get me wrong – the cafe is great. The perfect hangover cure, they do all day breakfasts, their prawn salad is spot on, generous portions, speedy service as you would expect. But somehow, when my Husband decided to buy a packet of pre-buttered sliced white bread to accompany his breakfast, I felt an incontrollable Look Of Disgust creep across my face.
I tend not to eat white bread myself, seeing as it makes you tired via the spiking of blood sugars and all other manner of digestive ills. Now and then I don’t mind it toasted if it’s there, in front of me. Buttered and warm and smelling that delicious buttered toast way.
But this sad little packet seemed to stand for all that is wrong with the world – war, famine, fraud, lying, cheating, alcohol abuse, pet abuse, terrorists and all manner of other terrible iniquities. Perhaps the beige-gray marble effect of the plastic table didn’t help. The bolted down picnic-style seats. Is it just me? Maybe I was having a bad day.
*NB. I still LOVE Morrisons Cafe and Husband enjoyed the bread tremendously, and will likely buy it again. It was fresh and tasted nice. “Leave my bread alone! There’s nothing wrong with the bloody bread!”, was his only defence.
April 11th, 2011
A dog named Taj Mahal
I just finished reading a beautifully written book, which I must admit took me a few nights to get into. Sometimes I put this down to being distracted, tired or just not in the mood for reading, but I’m so glad I persevered with this one.
Titled ‘As It Was Written’ by Sujatha Hampton, it is a love story above all else with a mystical family folklore feel. Based around an Indian-American family, it celebrates the sumptuousness of the larger female form, and prizes radiance and character above simple beauty. Some of the descriptions are so magnificent they take your breath away. I wanted to share this wonderful passage (pg 153/154) about the boisterously animated and welcoming dog of Dr. Raman Nair, Taj Mahal:
“Gita and Manoj opened the garage door, and there he was, already reared back, smiling, panting, one bark for hello and up he stood, taller than even Manoj, arms spread wide. They held their arms out and yelled, “Noooooooooo!!” But he held nothing back. His love was absolute. They were sucked into dog kisses that almost vacuumed their heads. They were enveloped in a humid miasma of gleeful dog breath. They were pummeled with dog fists, they were mauled with dog love, they were knocked to their haunches, and when the great Taj Mahal looked down at them both curled into balls offering nothing but possum play, he whined and cried a little, and when poking them in the shoulders did nothing but make them curl tighter, he humphed and went to the driveway and looked right and left. These were not his favourite ones.”
He makes various appearances amid serious family business, and for me worked so well to bring this vivid and exuberant story to life. Perversely, I am not a dog-lover, in fact I am quite averse to dogs and their dribbling saliva-smeared snouts, but this just struck me as such a laugh-out-loud depiction of a welcome home. Read more about the author and the book.
March 21st, 2011
B&Q Bathroom Debacle
It all started with an orange Ikea bathmat imprinted with a sodden caveman-style footprint. My first thought was “Men – why are they so clumsy?!”
An hour or so later the footprint was dinosauring out of control, requiring more than a bit of fresh air to solve the problem. In fact the whole mat was dripping, water seeping up between the tiles and pooling under the toilet. Crap.
My plan was to delegate the resolution of this task to my husband, who promptly ignored it for four days. Moving swiftly on to Plan B, I dressed in my ‘dirty job’ joggers and protective gloves, covered the area with newspaper to soak up the worst and cleared the area of bathroom paraphernalia. I was about to set about lifting the (cracked) and waterlogged tiles when said-husband swooped in all dramatic to take over, finally realising the extent of the issue.
Chiselling up the tiles after smashing them with a hammer, the leak was exposed and was in fact emanating from the toilet. Being Sunday, it was another day before I could call someone in, so we set off for B&Q to look at new bathroom suites – isn’t that what everyone does when they spring a leak?
February 27th, 2011
Zebra Eyelashes Rock the Party
Just had to share these amazing eyelashes with one and all. They are made of paper and come in an array of intricate designs, all with a symbolic Chinese meaning. I’ve been talking about them for weeks, but I had to keep my sources secret until I had stolen the show at my party of course. I saw them months ago, featured in Stylist magazine, and ferreted the details away for just the right opportunity to dazzle. Like my 30th birthday party.
February 16th, 2011
The Perfect Smudger Pencil
When I woke up panicky from a dream about losing my Rubie & Millie eye smudger pencil, living in a famous ‘design’ house as seen in a magazine, and having a colonic, I knew it was going to be a crazy day.
It all stemmed from my Mother asking me if she needed a smudger pencil to create the always-on-trend ‘smokey eye’ effect. Now, not being one for a lot of make-up, this was a surprising question from the-one-who-gave-me-life. She gets years out of a single mascara, using it only for really special occasions – weddings, christenings, funerals. For my wedding she invested in a whole set of Mineral make-up before it was really ‘out there’, and of course the devastating array of professional brushes to accompany said make-up. She hasn’t used it since.
February 6th, 2011
Dress of My Dreams
Totally LOVE this dress – where can I get it? Why are there no UK stockists for a designer who studied in Glasgow and London?! It’s Louise Gray, Spring/Summer ’11…
(ps. stole this pic from the Louise Gray website oops)
February 1st, 2011
Make Do & Mend #2 – Saturday 5th February ’11
When the email announcing the second Make Do & Mend event popped into my inbox, it brightened my whole day. I think I literally squealed with delight!
With a vague Valentine’s theme this time around, it is a fantastic opportunity to buy second hand, vintage and have a go at knitting or sewing on vintage sewing machines – wow.
The ‘Clack & Yak-ers’ masterclass sounds like a real winner!
There is a lovely sleek cafe area, mountains of inspiring items from crockery, candles, jewellery, bags, clothes, and random findings galore that you just couldn’t get anywhere else.
I know where I will be this Saturday 5th February. My stall will feature handmade fabric necklaces – lace, tulle, satin – and an array of corsage brooches, some with ceramic heart centres. Expect some pristine, second hand Vogue magazines, vintage books, bag-making equipment and of course, the infamous vintage domino brooches.
Come along from 11am – 3pm, Platform, The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Glasgow G34 9JW
January 24th, 2011
24 things that make me happy…
In the thick, barbarous fog of deep pre-pay-day January, everything is a little bleak. Bleak and dark. I’d go as far as to say depressing: getting out of bed, doing the dishes, paying the tax bill… So I thought it would help to meditate on some happy thoughts of simple things that can be enjoyed, mostly for free:
- Shiny rows of glossy magazines. Especially the ones about glamorous interiors. Wow.
- Flowers – fresh pinks or bright lemons
- Clean bed linen (preferably new, with packaging wrinkles intact)
- Synchronicity
- Tins and boxes with lovely prints
- Haberdashery - Liberty’s springs to mind but Mandors will do…
- The scent of Rose – for everything – but I love my Neal’s Yard Rose Facial Oil
- Sleeping in the afternoon
- New carpet – texture, smell
- Cold, crisp sunny days
- The quiet tranquility of very early morning (not when I have to get up for work)
- Ticking things off my to-do list
- Writing a new to-do list on a fresh, clean page
- Fabulous stationery. This can be pored over in a shop to get the same frisson
- Day-dreaming
- A grande signature hot chocolate from Starbucks (mostly without whipped cream)
- Staying up late reading a great book
- Waking up inspired from a fantastical dream
- Freshly painted nails in scarlet/emerald/fuchsia
- A compliment from a perfect stranger (like that time a man I didn’t know bought me a cocktail in a bar because “I was too beautiful to pay for my own cocktail”! That was a buzz!
- Sunlight streaming into a room (any room, anywhere – this is such a universal joy)
- My bright orange bag from Kitsch Kitchen in Amsterdam
- Having a good cry over nothing in particular
- Listening to the ‘upbeat’ playlist on my iPod – 60′s, 90′s, random downloads…
Oh yes, I feel better already. Let happy thoughts rule in 2011!