a pretty place to play

merry merry christmas...

2011-12-24T14:00:00.000Z

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!

for the first time in as long as i can remember i am excited about christmas :) i will be spending this year in my own home and i can't wait! the dinner is bought, the log fire is down loaded and the tree looks very pretty.

i hope you all have a wonderful festive season

x.

christmas wish list....

2011-12-07T22:39:00.000Z

so, some of these are a little extravagant...but isn't that the point of a wish list?!

kate spade

madewell

kiehl's

gucci (via)

prestat

anthropologie

butter london

what are you wishing for?

x.

it's starting to feel a lot like christmas....

2011-12-06T20:50:00.000Z

in the last couple of days it has got properly cold, hats and scarves have come out, trees have gone up and parties have started. last year i was miserable over christmas and having a pretty grim time, this year the outlook is altogether brighter and (dare i say it) i am quite looking forward to my quiet little christmas.

what are you looking forward to about christmas?

image

on not blogging...

2011-11-08T16:12:00.000Z

i don't believe that anyone should feel that they have to justify why they aren't posting on their blog that often. recently life has been extremely busy, i've written about it before (promotion, long hours, an exam pending and a life offline), but also i haven't been feeling much inclination. i spend all day looking at computer screens (sometimes more than one at once) and once i get home i really don't want to look at a screen and i lack inspiration all too often. i also really quite like spending time with boy actually hanging out with him as opposed to being in the same room each of us on some form of internet device (me: laptop, him: ipad). so rather than me feel that i should be posting more, i think i may just post as i think of things post-worthy, that ok?

guess what....

2011-10-28T12:29:00.000+01:00

it is friday and i am not at work!

in case you didn't know, i have been working a lot of late. at first it was to get a promotion, then it was because i got the promotion, but mostly it is just because my work is super busy at the moment.

i enjoy working hard (heck, i went to law school), but to have a day off is nice, really nice (even if i have to study this afternoon)...no commute, not rushing around, lovely! plus it has been an emotional week, so a rest is needed!

p.s. don't you love this print!

conran for marks and spencer...

2011-10-23T19:32:00.000+01:00

i have a long held respect for terence conran and his impact on british design. to me he is the man who made good design accessible, primarily through habitat, and now marks and spencer.

like any fan of conran i had high hopes. however, as someone who is well aware of the marks and spencer style aesthetic (very middle england, very dull matchy-matchy), these hopes were tempered. looking round the collection it was mixed, there were some really great pieces, and some that weren't quite right...

i really like the look of the nash highboard, it is slick and contemporary with proportions that would suit a modern home. however, i was disappointed in the quality and attention to detail in the design, especially considering the price tag. for a pound shy of £700 i would have expected the doors to open more easily (maybe a discreet little lip or a push spring magnet?) and feel less flimsy. overall it looked good, but was a bit of a let down.

i love this cushion! it felt good quality and offered excellent value for money, a winner in my book!

if i wasn't working on a budget (it is a pricey, but not totally over the top £250) this would be in my living room right now. the lamp is really nicely proportioned and well finished. it would also work well in pretty much any room, making it a great versatile investment piece.

have you seen the collection? what were your thoughts?

a long time gone...

2011-10-16T19:13:00.000+01:00

i have been gone from the blogsphere for a long time, and when i mean gone, i mean gone - lets just say i have a lot of catching up to do!

i have been away for a few reasons, first up was a holiday (which was great!), and then i got a big opportunity at work - so for nearly a month i have been working super super hard (hence the picture of the files) and this week it finally paid off - i got a promotion!

so, fill me in, what has been going on in your lives?!

it may be the hottest october on record....

2011-10-01T11:13:00.000+01:00

...but it is supposed to be snowing by the end of the month, and i need to be cosy! any of these would be perfect...

the last is the best :)

all coats from anthropologie.

phoenix...

2011-09-11T08:28:00.000+01:00

A unique bird that lived for five or six centuries in the Arabian desert, after this time burning itself on a funeral pyre and rising from the ashes with renewed youth to live through another cycle

it is the 10th anniversary of 9:11 today.

i still remember where i was when i found out. it was my 16th birthday and i had just blown out the candles on my cake. i found out quite late in the day as i had been at school all day. i can remember how i felt, but i can't describe it.

since the events ten years ago i have been in awe of people's resilience, whether it was nyc on the day itself, or london on 7:7. one of the most amazing story of resilience i have come across was about cantor fitzgerald, a city brokerage with a reputation for being tough that lost nearly everyone in its nyc office. 658 people died, the majority of the company. those who were left (around 70 people working out of the london office) had a choice, give up or work like they have never worked and look after their friend's families. they chose to keep going, few people expected them to be successful. in an amazing turn around those left have since provided more than £110 million for the families of those who died on 9:11 and a further £40 million for charity. the story of how they did it is here.

in the last ten years there have been thousands of stories like this, of people overcoming the worst atrocities. i would love to hear your stories of people moving on from 9:11.

shift...

2011-09-10T08:00:00.003+01:00

shift dresses are my favorite this season. super easy to wear and totally flattering, these are my favorites...

whistles

french connection
(i have this one in my wardrobe, it is a work favorite!)

oasis

x.

hands....

2011-08-28T11:26:00.000+01:00

i have a confession to make...i have terrible hands and nails, it is my secret shame. you see the thing is i have very delicate skin, it gets dry very easily and when i am stressed i get eczema around my cuticles (yuk), add to that that the damage done by (stress induced) nail-biting and it is pretty shameful. as a result of this i am always looking for hand creams/cuticle creams etc that really work. so, after some extensive testing (like years and years) i now have an absolute favorite hand cream (seriously, if you saw my yukky digits you would be excited too!) - kiehl's ultimate strength hand salve.

ok, so it is a little pricey (£14 for 75ml) but it is good stuff:

it is rich (as suggested by the name salve), but not greasy - i want to be able to put my hand cream on while i am at my desk and be able to type moments later without leaving a greasy trail over my keyboard, and this lets me do that - total win!

it smells good. so many hand creams smell flowery, and the ones that don't tend to be greasy, or thin and 'cheap' feeling - my hands need better, and don't want to smell like a garden! this product has a great minty smell that is just the right side of medicated (a good thing in my book).

it feels like a treat - i'm not talking about the price tag (but at that price it is a 'treat' product), but the feel of the cream, it feels like i am looking after myself, treating my hands to something that will make them happy because the cream is just so rich and smooth.

ooo....shoes....

2011-08-25T22:43:00.000+01:00

it is well known round here that i love madewell and these shoes are just perfect! i love the trend at the moment towards shoes that look like smart slippers, and these are the perfect balance between a street shoe and a house shoe!

in other news, sorry for the absence, as always my work has been going through one of its periodic busy spells at the moment, by the time i get home all i can do is sit and watch keeping up with the kardashians (my not so secret love)!

the last three nights...

2011-08-09T18:02:00.000+01:00

saturday - tottenham, north london

sunday - brixton, south london

monday - croydon

all images via the guardian newspaper

boudoir prive...

2011-08-07T09:42:00.001+01:00

so, for the last few months i have been very very envious of all of you people stateside who get a birchbox delivered each month. you see, i am a sample junkie and the idea of getting new samples each month was very exciting! sadly, birchbox don't deliver to the uk, so for awhile i couldn't join in the fun of getting a box through the door each month :(

however, just this morning i discovered boudoir prive, and was very excited! boudoir prive follows a very similar model to birchbox, for £10 per month you receive 5-6 deluxe samples that come beautifully wrapped in a pink box (i am a sucker for presentation).

as you can imagine, having found this gem i am very excited! it is indulging my inner beauty junkie who loves to try new products, but who hates beauty counters. i like the idea of finding a new product that i would never have otherwise stumbled across and trying it out in my own terms before blowing the cash! what is a shame is that there is currently a waiting list for boudoir prive, so if you want a sign up link let me know!

stuff....

2011-08-06T12:30:00.000+01:00

i spend a lot of time on this blog writing about stuff - buying stuff, wanting stuff, posting pictures of stuff. over the last couple of days it has troubled me a bit, am i too focused on stuff? is my attitude right?

my relationship with stuff is something i have thought about for a long time about my relationship with stuff. as a child i was a hoarder big time! i recall my glamorous french aunt thinking all my stuff was delightful and creative and commenting how spontaneous me and my brother were (a complement my mother holds close to her heart to this day).

i have always been expert at collecting things up and turning a room into a home very very quickly.

when i was 17 i moved to africa with my life in a suitcase, and i managed to somehow fill my room with all sorts of stuff, but it was always a place that people wanted to hang out and i liked that it was cosy. after two years i had an awful time parting myself from some of the random tat i had accumulated, shipping a lot of it back only to wonder why i bothered when i unpacked a month later!

over the last few years i have been shedding some of my stuff and moving on to the next stage in my life. i regularly find myself thinking if i had to choose, say if i was emigrating, what would i keep and what would i pass on? i guess i feel more secure these days so i don't feel the need to surround myself with stuff and hoard stuff to make myself feel at home. it is a nice feeling really, liberating. i am not going to give up having stuff , but i want my stuff to be meaningful and well chosen, beautiful and functional, and i have to say most of my stuff is just that (or very sentimental!).

i still like stuff. i like design, i like things that i need and that function and look good. so i am not going to stop writing about stuff and appreciating it. i guess i want you to know i don't feel the need to have everything i post about, i post about it to appreciate it and to think that it is nice (and maybe save it for future reference!).

how do you feel about stuff.

p.s. i took the picture out of an open train door while traveling in india, i love how lush and green it looks.

caravan style...

2011-08-05T17:00:00.000+01:00

this week i stumbled upon the lovely caravan style...trust me, you will love it too!

these lamps come in some fantastic colors, and i love the industrial style which complements any work space.

if i had a balcony/patio/yard/outside space of any description these would be mine!

american glassware....

2011-08-04T21:07:00.000+01:00

i love the pretty american glassware from fish eddy.

blue glass has been a favorite of mine for as long as i can remember, i used to horde blue glass wine bottles (when i was very underage - don't worry, my parents did the drinking!) because i love the way they look when the light reflects on the colored glass. this would look pretty with drinks or flowers in it.

every house should have a cake stand, and we don't have one so i think this milk glass version would fit the bill perfectly!

finally, these sweet glasses are so cute and i could think of a million uses (drinking - obviously, in the bathroom for toothbrushes, with flowers looking sweet...)

happy feet....

2011-07-30T13:09:00.000+01:00

i love glittery shoes.

work hard...

2011-07-28T22:23:00.000+01:00

i believe in hard work.

this week i am making opportunities and working hard.

(print)

polka dot bikini....

2011-07-23T17:55:00.000+01:00

i just bought this...isn't it awesome!

day off....

2011-07-22T13:00:00.001+01:00

yay, for today work is cancelled!

you cannot believe how happy i am to have a rest. as you might have guessed from my recent absence from the blog life (um mostly work) has been a little (a lot) busy, last week i had exams followed by family stuff, followed by a gig, followed by some very draining work and a strict warning from those i love that i was tired and needed to rest or be signed off (where a doctor decides that you need to take time off). so, i have taken today off as a rest day :) that isn't to say that i don't have big plans! this morning i hung out in bed, watched tv and planned a holiday (tunisia here we come!) and ate cake, it was pretty awesome! this afternoon i am off to spend my (very) hard earned bonus, i am very excited and have all sorts of ideas how to update my wardrobe, make up and scent for the coming months! and then (yup, there is more) it is dinner with my friend r. which is always lovely. i cannot say how much i love this girl, she is so sweet and kind and looks after me so well when i am stressed, she just listens, never judges and always has the positive outlook i need, she is great! plus i think we are going to my favorite pizza place so it will be a good night!

so that is my restful day off....i am starting to think i may not be that good at resting! however, being away from work and having a little 'me' time will be a good thing.

how do you rest and unwind?

shoes shoes shoes..

2011-07-14T16:59:00.001+01:00

normally i find l.k. bennett a little stuffy, but as i was walking past on my way to work on monday (my route takes me right through jubilee place...bad for my bank balance) i noticed these...

now normally i don't wear heels (i am breaking a lot of habits in this post!), but i do love these and my friend s. swears that l.k. bennett wedges are super comfy, so i may just have to give them a go...oh, and they are on sale!

in other news, i had my exam today! after two and a half days of cramming and going a little loopy due to stress and lack of sleep (apologies to boy, i can't have been nice to be around) i can go back to being a functioning human who eats and isn't channeling gollum in style and attitude!

keeping busy...

2011-07-12T08:17:00.000+01:00

i have been spending rather a lot of time here lately...the library!

once again i am doing exams (i have no idea why i keep doing this to myself, i just can't help putting myself through it all!), but at least this time i get to study in one of the most beautiful libraries i have ever been in.

the british library is the national library, and its st pancras site is amazing, a beautiful and inspirational space with lots of nooks for studying (unless you have a reader pass - i.e. a good reason to be there, like research - you can't go in the main libraries, so i have been studying in the hushed public areas) that are very popular with london students.

it has been nice to be studying again, i get satisfaction from it. however my exam is on thursday, and busy busy work has left me little time, so it is head down for the next couple of days!

choices...bags...

2011-07-03T20:02:00.000+01:00

i love bags, and a new one is calling my name! but i just cannot choose...

vanilla paris

this one is a total classic, which really appeals to me, plus it would be nice and roomy and i love the color!

modalu

another classic, black leather and chunky gold hardware would give a tough edge yet ladylike edge to an outfit.

nica

the softer and more casual option, you can tell this one would get better with age.

so, which one would you go for?

wood is good....

2011-07-01T19:20:00.000+01:00

how cool is this unusual clutch bag.

bills...

2011-06-23T20:32:00.001+01:00

i love bill's. it is quite simple really, i love it so much that i went there twice in one week (once for dinner, once for brunch, both delicious). the food is wholesome (i loved that my panna cotta looked a little 'rough' round the edges!) without being boring and the atmosphere is fantastic and the staff really friendly. what also really appeals to me is the portion size, they are just right for me (i hate huge portions, mostly because they are wasteful and encourage over eating). i love the cafe feeling and the fact that if you like something you can take it home (even their cute enamel teapots that my friend b.d. fell for!). the folksy, laid back atmosphere and food really appeals to me and i love the location of the london branch is the lovely st martin's courtyard, which really is an oasis in the middle of the busy west end (no wonder that bill's was rammed with londoner's trying to get away from the busy tourist areas around leicester square!)

if you are in london (or any of the other locations where you can find bill) i would more than recommend that you drop in, in fact, can i come with you?!

where do you love to eat in your town? i would love to hear!

image.

dear madewell...

2011-06-19T19:50:00.000+01:00

please can everything in your collection magically appear is my wardrobe?

thanks!

stuff i like this week...

2011-06-17T18:50:00.001+01:00

at the moment the weeks seem to fly by! as i haven't had time to blog much of late (sad face) i thought i would do a post with all the things I would have blogged about during the week...

this picture, it is so surreal

this letter, and the sweet response (some context, sainsbury's is a UK supermarket chain)

the united states coast guards are currently docked below my window - it is always fun to look down on a ship!

toms new sunglasses range

i went to bill's and it was fantastic!

this book, i even highlight sections

getting london reading - a really exciting and vital campaign

that it is friday! yay! what are you up to this weekend?

p.s. don't you love the picture boy took on his diana f+? it is of a street in chelsea.

p.p.s i know i have featured this shot before, but i really do love it!

my first love...

2011-06-11T18:22:00.000+01:00

i love stationary. ever since i was a small child i have loved pens, pads, post-its, the whole lot! i remember my dad returning from a work trip to nyc with stacks and stacks of stationary just for me, i was so excited (and almost more excited by the idea that you could pay $5 to go to a fair where they dispose of unwanted corporate stationary!). my love has continued, university career fairs mean that i have more corporate post-its than you can shake a stick at and studying law was like a dream, i had a purpose for buying tabs and highlighters!

my favorite place to buy stationary has to be paperchase, it isn't the best for practical stuff, but it is very pretty and their notepads make great gifts (actually so does most of their store!). muji is fantastic for simple everyday stationary that also looks very cool. i also love moleskin diaries, i love that mine came with little stickers for when i have doctors appointments and parties to attend :) i also love that boy's brother got it for me, he had only met me one time and managed to give me one of my favorite christmas presents.

given my love of stationary, you can imagine how excited i was when i stumbled across lost crates! you complete a personality profile quiz and they create a box full of stationary just for you based on your quiz! and it comes once a month - imagine a brand new box of beautiful stationary landing on your stoop once a month, it is the stuff of my dreams! the crates are packed with stationary from big brands (moleskine, keels, field notes etc) as well as little unknown companies - i love an opportunity to find something i never knew i needed!

image.

wow...

2011-06-03T22:08:00.000+01:00

how amazing is this dress?

letters...

2011-05-29T20:14:00.000+01:00

anthropologie

edieslab

yellow settee....

2011-05-27T18:32:00.000+01:00

i am no fan of david cameron (total understatement) but i do like the sofa in this shot of his wife samantha and the wonderful michelle obama (who i love for how she is inspiring girls to aim for success).

image.

love city...

2011-05-26T19:31:00.000+01:00

do you like boy's birthday present? it is from yumalum, a fantastic little etsy store that i cannot recommend nearly enough (they even put a little personalised note in the package, i love stuff like that!)!

i feel i have been a bad blogger of late, real life has been so busy what with super long days at work and fun nights out i haven't retrieved my laptop from under the chest of draws (what, you don't keep your laptop under draws?!) for a whole week! this is nearly unheard of, i have so much catching up to do, are there any posts of note i just have to read? please let me know!

so, what have i been up to? well, there was boy's big birthday day - we went to the natural history museum in london, they are currently holding an exhibition called 'age of the dinosaur', and dinosaurs happen to be one of boys favorite things, so we had to go! in the evening we went to the lovely french table for dinner, a lovely restaurant in the town that we live, it featured on gordon ramsay's best british restaurant, and it is easy to see why, i wish i could eat there every night! last weekend was spent celebrating family birthdays (there are a couple that fall in the same week, which is handy!), and eating so much food! seriously, burgers and chinese in the same day, i had some serious food baby going in! this week has been just as busy, last nght i had another great meal (it is all about the eating!) at browns (this time in covent garden) and a catch up with a friend, which was so nice.

i love this time of year (although maybe not the rain i got caught in on my way home today), the days are getting longer and longer, the temperature is getting higher and higher and all my friends come out of their winter hibernation and are up for long evenings of hanging out here. so if i don't write quite so often please don't hold it against me, i will be out having fun with people i love, and i will always come back and tell you all about it!

what have you been up to lately?

happy birthday...

2011-05-17T10:00:00.000+01:00

it is boy's birthday today :) i have all sorts of treats planned, it is very exciting!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

etsy loves...

2011-05-15T11:57:00.000+01:00

i have got really into etsy recently. there are so many cute, individual finds and i love that you buy direct from the person who made it!

here are some of my favorite finds right now...

print for love of wood

bailey doesn't bark

kerenasaf

mirta

niki milns

busy, busy, busy...

2011-05-12T19:53:00.000+01:00

i have been a little absence from the blog-sphere lately, life has suddenly exploded and i have been unbelievably busy. all at once my work and social life have kicked up a gear, this is the first night i have been in this week (and i am sitting typing this in my marmite apron while dinner is cooking!) - monday i stayed late at work, tuesday i went to see the awesome band the joy formidable at koko which was one of the best gigs i have been to, there was so much energy, i have never seen a band so excited about playing somewhere! finally, last night it was a trip to browns with my friend e. if you are looking for a real bargain in london join friends at browns - £30 for two courses and wine in a lovely restaurant with great service :)

so, what have you been up to lately?

playing cards...

2011-05-02T21:30:00.000+01:00

i love these vintage playing cards.

dream dining room...

2011-05-01T19:33:00.001+01:00

boy and i are a little in love with this room...all of it is perfect - the table, the eames chairs, the print, and especially the bookshelves in the rafters :)

via: apartment therapy

blabla...

2011-04-29T09:26:00.000+01:00

i love these birthday cards from the kids store blabla...

blabla have a great range of cute gifts and paper goods, i love their knitted toys and cute knapsacks :)

get ready set go...

2011-04-23T17:56:00.000+01:00

how cool are the vintage and upcycled travel bags from get ready set go?!

bank holiday weekend....

2011-04-21T18:57:00.000+01:00

in england today marks the start of a 4 day weekend, there was some serious end of term excitement in my office this afternoon, especially as we have another 4 day weekend next week (thanks to the royal wedding) so a lot of people (including me) are taking the whole week off for a well deserved break! i cannot wait, a whole week without getting up super early, cramming myself on to the dreaded jubilee line and being responsible! what is even better is that the weather is predicted to be beautiful!

obviously, such a great week ahead deserves at least one good outfit...

urban outfitters

topshop

american eagle

and of course, it would not be complete without a new camera! i just got a panasonic lumix tz10, it is very exciting. i haven't used it yet, but i am hoping the pictures come out better than my last camera (actually, they can only be better! my previous camera is why they are not a lot of my own pictures on here - they came out so bad!)...so pictures soon!

wellbeing...good stuff....

2011-04-12T19:27:00.000+01:00

i think it is so important to celebrate the good stuff that is happening in our lives. even a little thing can make you feel great, and i writing it down makes me appreciate it so much more.

things that are making me feel good at the moment:

my boy being happy

getting to hang out with awesome people who care for me no matter what, i have had some lovely conversations with friends lately, i am amazed at their kindness and i hope i can return it one day.

i went for my first run in years (admittedly it didn't make me feel good at the time, but i am proud i did it!)

work is really satisfying at the moment, plus i got a promotion :)

it is sunny, that puts everyone in a good mood!

there is a tall ship outside my office! i love how there is always something interesting outside my window (sadly, the pictures i took came out bad)

there is blossom on all the trees, it is so pretty :) london is pretty awesome in the summer!

not having to wear socks any more! my toes like fresh air!

that after two week my yoga class is back on, i cannot wait, i need to stretch soooo bad!

what is making you feel good at the moment?

olympics...

2011-04-10T11:33:00.000+01:00

it is hard to avoid the olympics in london these days, after all it all kicks off in 474 days! i've seen a lot of merchandise around, but most of it is either very sporty or for kids. however, these vintage style t-shirts from next are pretty cool, and a little different!

cameras....

2011-04-07T20:43:00.000+01:00

i like shooting with film and i like things that look cute, so it is only natural that i like anything lomography!

diana f+ cmyk

diana mini wonderland

fish eye 2

a new way to follow...

2011-04-04T11:21:00.001+01:00

you can now follow me on bloglovin...just hit the link in the side bar ->

julez for japan...

2011-04-03T11:04:00.002+01:00

yesterday, dulci of la dulci vida posted a great piece about julez for japan.

julez for japan was born when solange knowles' son julez saw devastating footage of the earthquake and tsunami in japan and really wanted to do something to help out. julez came up with something pretty fantastic and creative, he designed a t-shirt inspired by the japanese flag, and get this, he did it all by himself! pretty impressive for someone who is six!

shirts were donated by american apparel and distributed via big cartel. you can get yours here.

birdies...

2011-04-02T14:28:00.000+01:00

i love birds, and wall stickers from ferm living :)

anthropologie sale edit...

2011-03-30T20:10:00.000+01:00

cherry-trimmed bag

acrobatics necklace

vibrant vibrations serving bowl

layered damask rug

sunspel....

2011-03-29T21:58:00.000+01:00

sunspel is launching a womenswear line, and from what i have seen so far it shows promise!

i dress like a boy...

2011-03-27T20:15:00.000+01:00

these shirts may help girlie it up...

topshop

madewell

emersonmade

letters...

2011-03-26T18:15:00.000Z

there are very few real female role models today, but maya angelou is definitely one of them. letters to my daughter is maya angelou's offering to the daughters of the world...

I gave birth to one child, a son, but i have thousands of daughters. You are black and white, Jewish and Muslim. You are fat and thin and pretty and plain, gay and straight, educated and unlettered, and I am speaking to you all. Here is my offering to you.

this book is for every woman and it is part guide, part memoir and part poetry presented in beautiful and digestible essays. i read this book at a tough time and it felt like a wise and loving aunt comforting and guiding me, and i like to think that was maya angelou's aim. it also gave me a glimpse in to the tumultuous life maya angelou has led and the lessons she has had about compassion and fortitude.

who is your role model?

BrickBox...

2011-03-20T20:31:00.000Z

how cool is this shelving system by BrickBox? it is a diy custom design shelving unit that boy stumbled across while browsing design milk this evening. designed by industrial designer antxon salvador, BrickBox consists of large, sturdy boxes with handles that fit together (so the shelf is nice and secure, always a good thing!) made out of birch plywood and laminate (a look that i really like as it is clean and modern). people have been getting creative with creates for years, and i really like how the BrickBox takes that practical idea and refines it further. i also like how it is a solution - imagine how well you could deal with an awkward space, or divide a studio apartment? plus i am sure it would make moving easy, you wouldn't have to pack up your shelves!

all image via design milk - i suggest you check it out!

all saints...

2011-03-17T19:03:00.000Z

all saints is somewhere i don't normally shop, years of student life have trained me not to even look in the window of anywhere expensive - but how awesome is this skirt?!

liberty love...

2011-03-10T20:49:00.000Z

isn't this notebook lovely?

p.s i have had a hectic week at work, so more substantial posts will have to wait until the weekend :(

cosy cosy...

2011-03-05T18:24:00.000Z

i like...it is a shame i have too many chunky cardies to justify another!

yellow...

2011-03-04T18:04:00.000Z

right at the moment i am feeling really drawn to yellow. maybe it is because it is march and spring is well and truly on its way!

heals rules...

2011-03-02T16:27:00.012Z

i love heals, so any rule they lay down is fine by me!

heals rules is a collaboration with a young designer (their former artist in residence, and ucl slade school alumn) which is based on a really simple and honest concept - that every corner of the british home is governed by rules, a kind of dictatorship with every household item telling you how it ought to behave - so each item in the collection really does tell you how to behave. i love the simplicity of the design and the attitude of each piece!

shoe post...

2011-03-01T19:02:00.000Z

i couldn't do a bag post without following it with a shoe post!

these are from kate kanzier and i love them. if you are after cute, affordable shoes this is the place to go!

i also love all the comments at the moment! i love hearing from you all :)

bag post....

2011-02-28T17:05:00.000Z

i promised krystal a bag post, so here it is! it isn't the best shot ever (you can see my towels hanging in the background, and the top of my hoover!), but this is my favorite bag, it is from banana republic and was an absolute steal (like £100 off) in their sale. i love it and it brings a pop of color to my normally dark wardrobe.

spring...

2011-02-27T14:13:00.000Z

look what has popped up on my street in the last week! they make me so happy :)

saturday....

2011-02-26T20:01:00.000Z

look what my friend made! they were delicious and the ingenious 'plate and candlestick' cake stand made everything more special! i was so spoilt :)

how was your saturday?

wellbeing...good stuff...

2011-02-25T10:11:00.001Z

i have a lot of things that are making me feel good at the moment:

i have the day off, all on my own, to do whatever i want!

boy brought me home a burger for no reason last night, and i had got him jelly worms, so we had an impromptu snack picnic.

boy got all excited because of all the sugar in the jelly worms and was all funny.

tomorrow i get to hang out with my bestest friend in camden.

there is a great big warship parked {?) outside my office - it makes the day more interesting, although disconcerting with all those guns!

it is steak night!

i have new followers! i love new followers and when new people comment, all pitch in, i love to hear from you!

yoga is making me feel so well.

boy made me breakfast, i liked it.

my dad has taken to sending me some very random text messages, they are very amusing.

i get to hang out with someone i really love every day.

it feels like such a positive step forward to be able to see all these good little things in my life.

what is making you feel good at the moment?

can i have this...

2011-02-20T12:55:00.000Z

it is from the kooples and i like it.

new reads....

2011-02-15T18:41:00.001Z

i am always on the look out for new blogs to read and was wondering if you had any hot tips?

like it....

2011-02-14T22:31:00.003Z

do you like the new look?

emersonmade...

2011-02-12T11:17:00.000Z

i like emersonmade alot.

out of print...

2011-02-10T21:23:00.000Z

melissa at 'oh, my darling' featured a great catcher in the rye sweater recently by out of print, i loved it so much that i visited their great store and found all these wonders...

whats more, for every shirt sold a book is donated to a community in need through books for africa.

dino might...

2011-02-06T19:16:00.000Z

here and here.

the year of the rabbit...

2011-02-05T10:24:00.000Z

happy new year!

(a necklace for all you rabbits out there)

wellbeing...yoga...

2011-02-03T19:07:00.000Z

one of my favorite (repeat) anecdotes from my childhood/adolecence is my dad (who is sports mad, and not just watching it) informing me every time i felt down, or ill, or tired i should 'go for a run' (or some variation on this). now, i was a kid, and he is my dad, so i generally just ignored him. i was absolutely convinced it would not help!

however....as part of my quest for wellbeing i decided to take his advice (maybe i have matured...) and try something a bit more active. now, i'm not totally starting from scratch, as a teenager i was pretty active - i trekked across ecuador and played rugby at school - however, in my early twenties i faced real problems with my joints and muscles so had to stop everything (except under the supervision of a very scary physio). so, for the last few years i've done very little. i needed to think of something that wasn't too intimidating and that wouldn't trouble my lungs (asthma, yet another excuse for a slothful few years) and that wasn't too pricey...thankfully my workplace runs a yoga class once a week, so i took a deep breath, dug out some leggings and took on the challange.

i love it! it makes me feel awesome, i feel energised and strong and calm and refreshed! i also feel pain (quite a lot of it today), but a really good, satisfying pain, the type of pain you feel when you achieve something. plus, as a bonus, the exercise is toning up my tummy nicely :)

i tend to just wear leggings and a t-shirt, but these are the dream...

yoga mat bag

top

capri

plus i need some great, soothing, relaxing bubble soak for after class, i hurt so much today that the only solution is a very hot bath!

top image.

wellbeing...

2011-02-02T21:26:00.000Z

...this sums up my new years resolution.

just before christmas i was just not myself, i'm not even sure why, but i really was not myself. as a result christmas wasn't the best, and i had a negative impact on those i love. not feeling myself is not something that i am new too, infact i started this blog as a way to find something positive during a difficult time a couple of years ago...however, i'm fed up of it (how's that for assertive!). i'm fed up of the times where i'm just not me and i am fed up of it bothering those around me. so i have decided to take myself in hand. i have decided that this is the time i should focus on my wellbeing. i'm not looking to feel 'happy' all the time, that would be unrealistic, but i don't think that content is a bad aim! this is one of the reasons that i took my little haitus, to work out how to achieve this, and i'm getting there bit by bit (that's why i am sitting here with aching legs following a yoga session...more on that later...).

so, what makes you feel well/whole/good?

p.s. check out the guardian's series 'start happy'.

a new month....

2011-02-01T18:32:00.001Z

january is finally over...january has to be my toughest month. it is so cold, and dark and damp. it takes all of my energy just to get through it all. all month my time just seemed to get sucked up by other things and there were lots of highs and low all month. so blame january for my month long haitus. and don't fret it wasn't all bad, i did a lot of renewing...so here's to the new year!

good things that happened in january:

1. it was a new year, ergo a new start

2. i finally took up yoga, and it makes me feel good

3. i scored a great bag in banana republic (more on that later, just for Krystal)

4. i have been spending lots of great time with my friend R. which makes me happy

5. i finally started a craft project (more on that later too)

6. i get to hang out with someone great every day

7. i have got back into work after the holiday break (there were doubts at times!)

8. i started looking after myself a little bit better

anything good happen to you in january?

p.s. i am glad to be back!

bags....

2010-12-30T21:54:00.000Z

have regular readers guessed that i like bags yet?

this one is great (and it matches my couch!)

p.s. will do a little holiday update in the new year

christmas...

2010-12-20T18:57:00.000Z

so it has been pretty quiet around here, i apologise. i find winter a little tough - it is dark, cold and damp - so i tend to go to ground a bit. i have to admit that i find christmas much the same, every year i hope i will enjoy it, but i just find the whole thing hard. so if i don't dwell on the christmas cheer, please don't hold it against me (unless i get luckly this year and suddenly become full of it! oh i wish that would happen, i need it).

however, i do have a favorite christmas song to share (along with a picture of my tree), it kind of sums up my feelings.

x.

havey nichols...the best christmas ad ever...

2010-12-19T18:30:00.000Z

liberty...a london christmas...

2010-12-12T15:51:00.002Z

i have mentioned before how much i love liberty, and this christmas their christmas shop is the best in london (they have life sized donkeys displaying baubles!). i love these london themed decorations as they are so quirky and unusual, i would bet that not many people have a copper (aka a police officer) decorating their tree!

gone rural...

2010-12-06T19:08:00.000Z

when i was seventeen i got really lucky and got to go and spend two years living in swaziland, a teeny tiny country sandwiched between south africa and mocambeque, it was amazing! it is such a beautiful and interesting country, i love the place. while i was there i became aware of gone rural. gone rural design and make beautiful craft products, everything is handmade by 700 swazi women who live in rural communities and the focus is to improve these women's lives by providing a regular source of income. i think that it is pretty great, plus i love the products (i even have gone rural christmas decorations!)

pigeon....

2010-12-03T20:39:00.000Z

i love a good tote

yum....

2010-11-28T21:41:00.000Z

i could eat this body creme!

on the hunt for inspiration...deer sweet images by kristi mcmurry...

2010-11-22T19:11:00.000Z

kristi is a very cool lady, she always seems to be doing awesome creative things and then writes about them on her blog kristi mcmurry (which is great!). kristi is a very talented photographer, shooting everything from etsy seller's wares to weddings to teeny deer, and her shop deer sweet features her fantastically creative prints of all things miniture! added to this, kristi is also my pen pal! how could i resist featuring someone so cool and creative?!

how and when did you get into phtographic illustrations?

my photographic illustrations started as a photography project in college. the professor said our assignment was 'nature'. he didn't give us any boundaries or guidelines...typical of his teaching style. well, i was not a fan of nature photography at the time, and it's still one of my least favorite genres. so i decided to push it a little and shoot a nature shot without any nature. popsicle pond was one of the photos i turned in...the other one wasn't good :) haha. i really liked doing that type of work so i just kept it going. that was about 3 years ago!

how did your shop come into being? why did you start it?

i think i was just online one ay and saw an etsy shop. i looked around the site and was intrigued by the venue! i decided to get some prints made and try it out. the firsts prints i got were AWFUL! but i finally found a good printer, listed some images and that's how it started. i got a good response from the beginning, so it was a really encouraging adventure!

what is your inspiration?

i find inspiration in everything around me. blogs are a big source of inspiration...something random and completely unrelated to art or photography can spark an idea for me. i love being able to just explore and see creative things! my friends are also a source of inspiration...i've come up with several ideas based on things my friends have said. and their encouragement always keeps me going!

what is your favorite piece?

that's a hard ne? i think if i had to choose to hand one in my own home, I would choose honey bear (above). it hasn't been one of my more successful pieces, but there's something about a very simple idea and a very simple execution that just appeals to me. lollipop forest (below) has definitely gotten more responses from people than any of the other pieces!

what is your favorite etsy store (other than your own!) and what is your favorite piece in that store?

another hard one! i think i would have to say MableMae. she approached me when she was pening shop and asked about my photographic service. we've been working together since the beginning of her shop! i guess i have an advantage with her own work because i actualy get it see it in person before it is listed! the fact that the owner is a fantastic individual also infulence this decision :) haha. my favorite from her shop isn't listed yet, but from what's listed, i love this handmade ring called quinta (oops, it's now sold!).

why should we all visit (and shop at!) your shop!

you should visit because i'd love for you to see the work and tell me what your think! any you should shop there if you need some fun, quirky, and colourful artwork in your home :)

is there anything else we should know about your shop/work?

10% of my sales going to a fantastic organization called shepherd's haven, which ministers to adults with special needs, i'm closely involved with this organization and i love it to pieces! i run their etsy shop as well!

help wanted...turkey day....

2010-11-15T18:37:00.001Z

this year my mum has decided to host thanksgiving! you see, my brother and his american girlfriend live with my parents and my mum likes to make people feel at home, plus it sounds pretty fun! but, due to being british, we have no idea what we are doing (barring needing a turkey!)...so is there anything that i really need to know about thanksgiving? any foods that the day just wont be right without? and what about decorations? oh and drinks, what do you drink at thanksgiving?

all help and advice is greatfully received!

get happy and be inspred...the love shop...

2010-11-10T09:32:00.000Z

when i interviewed gracie last week she told me that the love shop was one of her favorite etsy shops, obviously i had to have a look, and i love it! the prints truely are inspirational, i love them all, so it was hard to choose just a few!

i feel the load lightening already!

book (swap) review...can you keep a secret?

2010-11-07T11:28:00.001Z

another book swapper has sent in a review! woohoo! this book was a firm favorite of mine in high school, me and one of my friends would pass it back and forth every term, so i am so glad melissa got to read it, enjoy it and write a great review!

i was paired up with elsie from little sprout growing, and i anxiously and excitedly waited for my book to arrive.

the book i read for the swap was can you keep a secret? by sophie kinsella. i hate to admit this, but i am going to start off by saying this: i was very, very nervous when i first opened the package and saw this book. my husband had bought me confessions of a shopaholic (also by sophie kinsella) a few years ago- and i read it and i really didn't like it. it was supposed to be a cutesy story, but i found myself absolutely loathing the main character- i was totally unsympathetic to her plight and it ruined the entire book for me. i dreaded i would feel the same way about this book..

about the book: can you keep a secret centers around the main character, emma corrigan. emma is single (but with a "perfect" boyfriend), working for a marketing company (hoping to get a promised promotion), and always living in the shadow of her cousin. after blowing a big presentation on her first solo business trip, she boards a plane back home, feeling pretty dejected. fate finds her bumped to business class- and when the plane experiences turbulence, feeling that she's going to die, emma shares every last secret from the funny to the serious with her handsome seatmate. emma's world is turned upside down when that stranger turns out to be the ceo of her company.

my thoughts: i needed this book. i have acquired a lot of books about babies, and my rule has been to alternate those books with books of my choice. my last 2 personal non-baby/parenting picks have dealt with really serious subject matters, and i needed something light. i also enjoyed that it was a quick, easy read (it took me a week instead of months to finish). once i started, i had a hard time putting it down! i found myself reading a couple nights after 1 am... oops. i thought the book asked some good questions- what would you do if someone divulged every one of their secrets to you? would you tell all your secrets to your spouse/best friend/significant other? do you keep secrets from your spouse/bf/so? is it safe to keep secrets like emma kept because she knew that telling the person would hurt their feelings? is anyone without secrets? while i can only answer these questions for myself- i do think that everyone has different answers to these questions. i don't think that anyone can ever be "secret-free" for too long.

so to elsie, thank you for sending me this book! i really enjoyed it... and i learned (again) to not judge a book by its ~~cover~~ author!

clarks...

2010-11-03T20:52:00.000Z

clarks shoes don't have the best reputation for style, they were where your mum would take you for school shoes (unless, like mine, she was a start-rite devotee!). however, when running to the station one morning these lovely boots caught my eye! they look cool, i bet you they are comfy and they come in a half size! maybe i can get over my preconceptions...

on the hunt for inspiration...gracie bella butterfly...

2010-11-01T20:53:00.001Z

i first 'met' gracie when she participated in the book swap, she is such a sweet girl and her shop is so pretty and girly!

how did your shop come into being? why did you start it?

i guess it started with my love for making mini note cards and enveloped. i'd been a long time fan of etsy and decided to start my own shop. i thought it would begreat to have a little side business and creating makes me happy.

what is your inspiration?

all types of things. it can be pretty paper, or lovely images. it can be a specific colour combination that i love and just seems to work in my head. i just get inspired in general by blogs, magazines, books, other pretty items etc.

what is your favourite piece?

i do like my mini note cards with the tiny note card on the front, where you can personalize it yourself with an inspirational word or small qute or whatever you like.

what is your favorite etsy store (other than your own!) and what is your favourite piece in that store?

I have a lot of favourite etsy stores, it's kinda hard to choose one :) I do like the little fox - she has some really adorable illustrated prints. the love shop - she has the most inspirational prints, i like the 'it always seems impossible until it is done' print. i also love tabitha emma - she has sweet illustrations and the cutest brooches. i have many more that i just adore!

why should we visit your shop?

my mini note cards can be used for any occassion. i can mix and match and make custom mini note cards. i have some sweet little stud earrings for sale too. it's just a cute, sweet shop that i hope that you will enjoy.

is there anything else we should know about your shop?

i'm going to be adding some pretty head bands soon. and i would like to have gift packs (have mini notecards and earrings together so it can be a gift). i have plenty of other ideas so definitely look out for them :)

thanks for letting me share!

x.

madewell...

2010-10-26T09:02:00.000+01:00

oh i wish i could get madewell in the uk, if only for the accessories!

on the hunt for inspiration - rebekka seale art and illustration...

2010-10-22T18:52:00.001+01:00

a few weeks ago I was lucky enough to have rebekka seale comment on one of my post, i always try and visit the blog of every person who comments on or follows a pretty place to play, and i am so glad that i do! rebekka's comment led me to her blog dear friend, and meant that i discovered her awesome illustrations! obviously i had to interview her....

how and when did you get into illustration?

well, it's kind of what i've always wanted to do. when i was little, i obsessed about illustrating children's books, and i studied art in college, but the i just kind of clammed up after that. for me, pursuing art can be a fearful endeavour...there's something really scary about putting yourself out there in such a visual way. i decided to pursue the culinary arts instead, deeming it a "safer" option. for about five years i worked as a pastry chef. but ultimately, i knew i would only ever be completely happy as an artist.

i love illustration because it (more than any other form of art in my opinion) allows you to really see the world through the eyes of another person. you could ask five artists to illustrate a new york city street scene, and get five strikingly different images, five different world views, really. it's fascinating.

how did your shop come into being? why did you start it?

i just started my etsy shop this summer. my husband and i are in the process of adopting a little girl from ethiopia. its SO exciting...and SO expensive! i started selling prints of my original illustrations as a way to offset the cost :)

what is your inspiration?

oh my! i draw inspiration from so many places. I love colour with all of my heart, and adore the washed-out ice-creamy pastel shades of vintage linens, especially cotton bastiste baby dreses. i grew up in the deep south, so i have an affinity for old southern homes, front porches, spanish moss, and the sothern gothic mystique. Antique appliances make me very happy. things used to be so pretty. i am always inspired by desserts, especialy layered, fluffy-buttercream-topped confections. seasons and holidays. victorian photographs, blogs.

what is your favourite piece?

probably this one, "mr and mrs"...

it's an "illustrated portrait"....i think i may have made that term up...but it's how i describe the custom portraits i've been working on lately. i love this one because it's two of my very best friends, who are married to each other. they are incredibly fabulous and it was so fulfilling to be able to capture tehir personalities on paper.

what is your favourite etsy store (other than your own) and what is your favourite piece in that store?

oooooh, that's hard....i have so many! but i have to say I LOVE pittsburg-based moop and their handmade bags. i have carried the market bag in slate for three years and it's so gorgeous and durable. they are really, really well made.

why shuld we all visit (and shop at!) your shop?

because your purchase helps us adopt a precious, wonderful, ethiopian orphan!

is there anything else we should know about your shop/work?

i think i'm about to start doing some fun commissioned home and pet portaits, and sell them through etsy. folks will be able to email me photos of their houses and pets to be turned into custom illustrated portraits. i think it will be great fun.

thank you so much to rebekka for joining in and sharing some wonderful insight into her awesome work!

are you an etsy seller? are you totally awesome and want to share that awesomeness? tell me, i'd love to know all about it!

pumpkin pumpkin...

2010-10-21T19:14:00.002+01:00

how good is the jack skellington pumpkin that boy made?! i am proud!

thank you....

2010-10-19T19:31:00.000+01:00

for all your kind words :)

image.

you are looking at....

2010-10-14T18:40:00.001+01:00

a law school grad!

liberty...

2010-10-11T18:54:00.001+01:00

ever since i can remember i have been aware that liberty is a pretty wonderful place...however, more recently i have fallen head over heels...

how cute is this fabric knot watch...it is very high on my wish list!

i really like the classic 'liberty' design embossed on this pochette

scarves from liberty are iconic

this bag is high on my 'to buy' list!

there are so many amazing things that it's hard to choose favorites! as well as their own products. liberty stock an amazing array of designers - my mum got her 'significant birthday' marc jacobs handbag from their beautifully appointed accessories department - and many of these are exclusive to liberty! plus they have a lovely beauty department, a fantastic selection of shoes (not the biggest in london, but one of the best chosen and displayed) and an insane christmas shop (there are life-sized donkeys and reindeers displaying baubles!).

however, what really makes the experience are the staff. recently i have been finding that london is overrun with unhelpful, indifferent and sometimes down-right rude shop assistants. shopping at liberty is a breath of fresh air, the staff are knowledgable and helpful without being too full on, it just makes the whole experience special, and to me shopping should be a special experience!

book (swap) review,,,after you'd gone...

2010-10-08T17:48:00.001+01:00

when i came up with the concept for my book swap i dreamed that, once they had read their book, those playing along would write me a little review. well, the first review is in! it is a special one as it is all about the book i sent to the lovely alice as part of the swap, and it is a book that really means a lot to me.

over to alice....

i'm alice from niceties. i was lucky enough to be the assigned partner of the host of this bookswap. b. sent me the most amazing book, all beautifully wrapped. i finished reading it within about three days (while working full days and other activities...there were a couple of late-reading nights!). the book is maggie o'farrell's debut novel after you'd gone. it opens with a vague introduction to the main character, also named alice, focusing more on what she is doing than who she is. within a few pages, we learn something terrible happens (but not what it is) and soon she is struck by a car and comatose in a hospital bed.

after this dramatic introduction, the book flashes back and forward all over the place. we quickly learn that alice is pretty much a drop-dead-gorgeous, intelligent and independent bombshell of a brunette. flattery will get you everywhere. the book switches between the first and third person, but i didn't find it difficult to follow. it is very fragmented with a lot of loose ends and questions that aren't answered until the conclusion, which sounds complicated, but as it's very well structured it's not a problem to keep up with.

i think it would be quite difficult to elaborate on the plot here without giving too much away. the book maining explores alice's relationships with her family members and boyfriends, and includes memories and events from her childhood right up to the present day.

i am a total crier when it comes to books (don't even show me a copy of the time traveler's wife when i'm feeling emotional) and i'm not ashamed to say i bawled for the last 30 or so pages of this book. i can draw many similarities between this book and one of my all time favourites willow tree and olive by irini savvides; both in terms of the writing, narrative structure and persona of the main characters.

after i finished the book, i read a few articles and review online about it. many mentioned that after you'd gone was their least favourite of o'farrell's novels, so i'm definitely going to be keeping an eye out for her other books...though if they're even better than this one i guess i'll be needing a LOT more kleenex.

thank you so much to alice for her wonderfully thoughtful review. i am horribly bias (in part because the book was set in the town where i spent my childhood) but i love this book and would recommend it to anyone.

to all other book swappers out there, i would love it if you wrote a reveiw/reflections on the swap...just email me with it! and this is an open ended invite, i know a lot of you don't have a lot of time to read, so no deadline for posts!

my review is following soon, alice's choice for me is heaft and thought provoking, so i'm going to need some time!

on the hunt for inspiration - antika moda...

2010-10-04T17:30:00.003+01:00

so, a few weeks ago i appealed for inspiration. britni at the wonderful antika moda really came through when she sent me a link to her lovely etsy store...i loved it so much i just had to do a special little post all about it!

so, over to britni...

first of all, i just want to say that i'm so thankful and honored to be featured on b.'s beautiful blog!! [aw shucks!]

how did antika moda come into being? why did you start it?

i've always loved being creative and for a long time i couldn't really find my 'niche'. i'm very attracted to the idea of being self sustainable and learning the trades of our grandparents & great-grandparents. there's something to be said of making the things that you need with your own two hands. i picked up knitting about a year ago, i asked my mother in law (who is a talented knitter/seamstress) to teach me the basics and the rest i taught myself via books & the internet. i picked it up very quickly and really enjoyed the process of selecting the yarn &; colour, designing and the gratification of the finished product. i had finally found a hobby that allowed me to be creative, productive and constantly learn new things...i discovered my 'niche' :) i started my etsy shop as a way to essentially fund my hobbies: knitting & antiquing. both can be rather expensive! haha. I really love sharing my knits and antiques with the world, i get great enjoyment from running my shop!!


so unique!

what is your inspiration?

my family is from greece, the name 'antika moda' comes from two greek words 'antique' and 'fashion'. i'm an old fashioned sort of girl, so a lot of the time my inspiration comes from the generations past. i try to tie in the old with the new to make an item that people of all ages can appreciate. i'm also very inspired by nature. i mostly use bamboo knitting needles, wool blend yarn, wooden buttons, and i like to use colours that are found in nature. i adore simplicity, which i feel is evident in my designs.

my favourite of all of britni's pieces!

what is your favourite piece?

that's tough, i really do like all of the items that i make, it's always hard for me to sell them, haha! since fall is my favourite season i'll have to go with the 12" black cherry pillow with the vintage brooch because of its deep rich colour (perfect for fall) and i adore brooches! :)

everything is just so cosy!

what is your favourite etsy store (other than your own!) and what is your favourite piece in that store?

oh my! i honestly can't choose; there are SO many shops that i love. i could literally spend my last penny on etsy :). here are some of my current favourites:

coffeeandcream, the lockets are so charming

darlingtonia, love all he moccasins

prettythingsbymeg, vintage style turquoise earrings

andemonster, the vintage dresses

bindingbee, the tiny bound book necklaces

yvetteinufio, love the colouring of each photo

outofline, the a-line dresses are so beautiful

laurafauna, such cute bow shirts

why should we all visit (and shop at!) antika moda?

i take pride in my work and i pay close attention to detail, it's these details that make each item unique. nothing is done half heartedly, i take time designing my knit pillows and accessories and ensuring each one is made to the highest possible standard. all vintage items in my shop are hand selected by myself, and are chosen with great care. i appreciate each person that visits and purchases from my shop and i strive for excellent customer service. i love to make you happy! :)

so snuggly!

this would make morning tea so special

is there anything else we should know about antika moda?

i'm very willing to knit custom pillows and accessories, so if you have an idea in mind, just contact me and together we'll make it happen :) !! [how can you resist an offer like that?!] you can also find me on twitter & facebook; become a follower for the latest shop/sale announcements!

thank you so much to britni! if you have a store, and you would like to share it please let me know :)

frye...

2010-10-03T22:43:00.000+01:00

i really do love frye boots.

i love bags...

2010-09-30T19:11:00.000+01:00

especially this one.

bad hair day...

2010-09-27T18:58:00.000+01:00

last week heralded my first pay check from my new job...it was very exciting, especially having been a mildly impoverished grad student for longer than i can recall! so, in order to celebrate i did what any self respecting young woman did, i booked a hair appointment at a reputable salon...big mistake. i should have known things weren't going well early on when the stylist started chopping away and talking incessently...to me you need to concentrate to give a good cut, it's a skilled art! around half way though it was sporting two different styles, a bob with a layer about 4 inches longer underneath...its a good look! now i don't like to pick at an artists work, but i mentioned the two style issue and was promised it was sorted, and some clever smoothing did sort it, so i left the salon assuming that after a wash and diy style all would be good. oh no. new problems were revealed, i am still sporting two distinct styles, and the bob bit is asymetric...i could cry. i know it's vain but i really could!

i feel awful for ranting, it seems so shallow and vain and people have bigger problems. you see to me my hair defines me, i have this big firey mane and to have it in a state where i feel it looks awful is making me somewhat sad.

however, to every problem there is a solution, my solution is that i have to let it grow out...so i need some hints and tips from all you lovely ladies;

any suggestions of where i can find pretty and unusual headbands/clips/slides to do up the updo i will be sporting for the next 6-8 weeks?
any suggestions of good, trusted (and ideally independent) london based hairdressers, so this never happens again

aside from that, isn't the image cool? it's by tae querney, a new york based illustrator, i love a good line drawing :)

also, thanks to eleanor at the burning ham lite for her mention of the book swap! i hope the rest of you are starting to receive your books and enjoying reading them :)

image.

book swappers....

2010-09-22T18:20:00.000+01:00

hello to all the wonderful people who are participating in the book swap! thank you so much for joining in, it really means alot to me :) just a little reminder that your book should be sent to your swap buddy by the 30th september!

also, i would love to invite all of you to write a little review of the book that you have been sent or maybe a little bit about the experiance of swapping a book with a stranger and share it right here! if you are up for it send me a little email at the usual address - aprettyplacetoplay[at]gmail.com

i really hope that everyone is enjoying the swap!

comfy comfy...

2010-09-20T18:38:00.000+01:00

i recommended these 'legging trousers' to ms bright when she was wishing that lounge pants were appropriate work atire...a dream i too share! these pants fill the gap nicely, you see they are extra strechy, so super comfy - even the waist band - and unlike a lot of 'jeggings' they actually look like trousers, so mean you are decent for the average office! oh, and they are dirt cheap - i already have two pairs! buy of the season in my opinion :)

on the hunt for inspiration...

2010-09-14T19:32:00.001+01:00

i'm on the hunt for things that are new and interesting and that little bit different and special...things that i can get excited about and feature on the pretty place...

i'm on the hunt for people who make special, beautiful, creative things...things that they are passionate about and that are made with love and care...things that more people should know about.

these things could really be anything, my only proviso is that they are pretty!

if this is you (or someone you know), and you think i would just love your products, i would love to know about them!! please let me know either by leaving a comment or by emailing me at - a prettyplacetoplay[at]gmail.com!

i can't wait to hear from you :)

prague - love padlocks....

2010-09-13T18:34:00.000+01:00

while walking around prague (a major feature of my trip) we came across a bridge where the railings were covered in padlocks. as you can imagine this provoked a great deal of curiosity and a google search...they were love padlocks!

turns out lovelocks are a custom whereby sweethearts attach a lock to a fence or similar public fixture as a symbol of the strength of their love. apparently there are similar railings all over the world! all the locks do look pretty cool, especially as they are just round the corner from lennon wall. lennon wall is discreetly hidden off the main drag and is covered in graffitti dedications to john lennon and beatles quotes! originally a source of communist irritation and youthful rebellion the wall is constantly changing with the original portrait lennon gradually disappearing. today the wall mostly contains declarations of love and hope...plus it makes a cool backdrop for a portrait....

photo courtesy of boy :)