Snow in a Teapot: Design Blog

Infinity Fidget Bracelet

2012-01-06T18:18:00.006Z

Infinity Fidget Bracelet by Emily L. J. Boyd (Stirling Silver and 9ct Gold)

I made something else over Christmas, for my dad to give gran. The fidget bracelets were actually kind of inspired by gran, and her ability to wear more bracelets than anyone I know and indeed her inability to sit still, so the bracelets I call fidget all have kinetic elements which run around the band.

I've been wanting to do one as an infinity bracelet for a while and when dad asked for a bracelet which was kind of double helix shaped, it gave me the excuse...that or he'd been in my sketchbook or noticed my obsession with infinity scarves. Either way, it's one of the first time in a long while that I knew exactly what and how I would make a piece of jewellery in months. And I know it's a simple design, but the fact that I wasn't completely freaked out by the prospect of it is a really big step forward!

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Listening: My Baby Girl - John Martyn

On the 12th Day of Christmas...

2012-01-05T21:03:00.003Z

...this blog gave to thee...

...twelve drummers drumming...

...eleven days in lego...

...ten tasty tipples...

...nine pins and strings...

...eight resolutions...

...seven shoes to choose from...

...six party dresses...

...five gold rings!..

...four paper worlds...

...three shiny gems...

...two texting whales...

...and a pendant that I made.

Twelve drummers drumming and twelve songs from of 2011...

1. Lippy Kids - Elbow

Not so much the difficult second album, just the one which proved that The Seldom Seen Kid wasn't a fluke. I love Elbow and Guy Garvey's voice.

2. Shake It Out - Florence + The Machine

Florence and her difficult second album. But it's rounder and more flowing than the first and it took one listen for me to become obsessed. And to think I wasn't sure when the first single came out!

3. Call Your Girlfriend - Robyn

Excellent song, but watch Greg James' interpretation of the video on youtube, you won't regret it.

4. Calgary - Bon Iver

Only one thing could make this album better...lucky Bon Iver collaborated with James Blake not long after and an epic single was born.

5. Under Cover Of Darkness - The Strokes

2001 is sound tracked in my head by The Strokes first album. This single sent me scurrying to revisit it.

6. Kanye West and Jay Z feat. Otis Redding - Otis

One problem with this song, they don't let Redding scream "Try a little tenderness!" at the top of his lungs. Instead Kanye yelps it. Poor form.

7. Rolling in the Deep - Adele

Another difficult second album, and a better one than the first in my opinion.

8. Countdown - Beyoncé

First time I saw this I thought Beyoncé had lost it. But it's lodged in my brain now!

9. Our Day Will Come - Amy Winehouse

2011 saw the death of Amy Winehouse, how couldn't I include something when I genuinely loved her first two albums?

10. Bubble - King Creosote & Jon Hopkins

You have to listen to this song with the video, it's beautiful.

11. Nothing's Real But Love - Rebecca Ferguson

Okay, okay, it's an X-Factor contestant, but I don't care, Rebecca Ferguson has a beautiful and old fashioned voice which I loved as soon as she sang "A Change is Gonna Come" in her audition. She reminds me of Billie Holiday and her peers and this song grows on you quickly.

12. A Case of You - James Blake

Did you think I'd forgotten James Blake? I've been obsessed by his album since it came out in February and I'm still playing and replaying the songs without growing tired of it. His cover of Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You" is one of my favourites and this video - with the annoyingly pretty Rebecca Hall - was put up on youtube just before Christmas. What luck!

There were some great ones I missed out, such as Higher Love by James Vincent McMorrow and My Body by Young the Giant, because they featured as musical interludes, others, such as Two Door Cinema Club and The Vaccines because despite how good they were, they've been so over played in the media they've almost reached the tipping point from good to awful. And I won't push them over the edge.

And my Spotify List is called 12 Days 2011.

So that's it, the Twelve Days of Christmas 2011 are over, all the decorations have come down, the fairy lights have been turned off and the house seems rather sad without their glitz and glamour.

Normal life resumes. I hope you all had lovely Christmases and New Years, here's hoping 2012 is a good year and lots of jewellery is made, blogging is done and lovely things happen! That's what I'm hoping for at least.

Em x

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Listening: Our Day Will Come - Amy Winehouse

On the 11th Day of Christmas...

2012-01-04T22:40:00.003Z

...this blog gave to thee...

...eleven days in Lego...

...ten tasty tipples...

...nine pins and strings...

...eight resolutions...

...seven shoes to choose from...

...six party dresses...

...five gold rings!..

...four paper worlds...

...three shiny gems...

...two texting whales...

...and a pendant that I made.

Every day, for two years, Dan Phelps has combined his love for lego and photography by taking daily photos of the figures.

Uploading 365 days a year through his blog, A Lego A Day, Phelps has chronicled the adventures of Indiana Jones, Hiker, the intrepid traveller and the the comedic side of Storm Troopers. As with most bloggers some scenes he plans and take time to construct, others are spur of the moment, figures coming to life within his home and surrounding.

I love lego and loved the comic side of Phelps' work with Stormtroopers which I find really entertaining. Also the fact that he takes a photo everyday (though not always uploads it every day) is something to be admired. I used Blipfoto and wanted to take a photo a day for a year - something I will try to start again this year - and it is incredibly difficult to achieve. A photograph a day seems simple, pick up your camera, point and shoot but even taking photos of clouds for twenty five days was difficult. Twenty-five days of cloud cover... was a series of photos I took every day for the twenty five leading up to my twenty-fifth birthday (being born on the 31st I'd have done a full month but the notion didn't come to me until later, but luckily enough days for my age) and while some days that summer were so cloudy there was no definition to the sky, other days were so clear it was almost impossible to find a cloud to photograph.

There was no need for me to think of an activity for those clouds to perform, so hats off to Phelps and his Lego tour de force.

{a LEGO a day}

{Phelps Lego Flickr}

Merry Christmas. Part twelve tomorrow...

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Listening: Enough Thunder - James Blake

On the 10th Day of Christmas...

2012-01-03T23:16:00.010Z

...this blog gave to thee...

...ten tasty tipples...

...nine pins and strings...

...eight resolution...

...seven shoes to choose from...

...six party dresses...

...five gold rings!..

...four paper worlds...

...three shiny gems...

...two texting whales...

...and a pendant that I made.

It's four days into 2012, has everyone started being good, or have resolutions already been dropped in exchange of a couple of "New Year" drinks with friends? If they haven't I apologise for putting temptation in your way and if they have here are a few suggestions of cocktails which have sparked my interest over the past few months...

1) Pink Grapefruit Margarita

(Serves 4)

1 cup of Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice

1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice

1 cup triple sec orange liqueur

3 cups of crushed ice

1 cup silver tequila

1 lime cut in wedges

Salt

The first drink I remember having bought for me was a classic Margarita. I remember it fondly. We were at a restaurant and before this I had been stealing sips from my mum, but then I was allowed my own. And since it's been my go to cocktail, but this is a twist. Yum. Mix all the liquid ingredients together with the crushed ice, rub the rim of the glass with lime and dip in the salt and serve.

{Source}

2) Summertime in Paris

1 1/2 oz Citrus Vodka

1/2 sprig of Rosemary

1/2 oz Meyer lemon juice

1/2 oz lemon grass syrup

Dash of soda

Meyer lemons are rounder and sweeter than the normal lemons we get in the supermarket, they're from China and difficult to find, so to cheat it, mix 3 parts lemon juice with 1 part orange juice to achieve the flavour, which is meant to be a cross between a lemon and a mandarin. Nom. To make the cocktail muddle together the lemon juice, rosemary and syrup then add ice and vodka and strain into a glass (if you're lucky enough to have a cocktail shaker) and top up with soda. Serve with a sprig of rosemary and try and avoid accidentally jabbing it up your nose.

{Source}

3) Blueberry Infused Vodka Lemonade

Vodka,

1/2 cup of Fresh Blueberries

1/2 cup of Frozen Blueberries

1 teaspoon of sugar

lemonade

lemon slices for garnish

When I was younger, well before I could legally drink, mum made summer fruit flavoured vodka and gin. I'm certain I was allowed to try this, but I can't say I remember how it tasted, however mum always says she must do it again. (Next year I intend to make St. Germaine from our elderflower). Anyway, the way you flavour vodka is easy, in this case you pour vodka over a handful of blueberries in a jar and mash, then leave for 24 hours minimum before straining. Muddle together the frozen berries and sugar in the bottom of your glass and fill with ice, then add your blueberry vodka and top up with lemonade. Simple and I've seen vodka flavoured with herbs, skittles, parma violets and bubblegum. Basically anything you can think of, you can even make your own gin!

{Source}

4) Lychee Martini

50ml Vodka,

25ml Lychee Liqueur,

Dash of Lychee Juice,

1 Lychee

Lychee is one of those odd floral fruits which I love, but most of my family hate purely because of their eyeball like appearance. Perhaps this could make an excellent Halloween cocktail. Shake and serve in a martini glass, garnished with a stoned lychee.

{Source}

5) Lemon-Thyme Soda

1 1/2 oz of thyme syrup,

1/2 oz of lemon juice,

soda water to taste,

It's a mocktail, yes, but lemon thyme is one of my favourite herbs, so a drink which uses it as inspiration is at least worth a try. Make a thyme syrup by combining 1 1/2 cups of sugar and 2 cups of water in a pot and bring to the boil, then throw in 1 oz of fresh thyme and leave to cool. The mix with the lemon juice and water to taste.

{Source}

6) Pear Nectar with Reposade Tequila

1 1/2 oz reposado tequila,

3-4 oz pear nectar (recipe)

dash of cinnamon

one drop of vanilla extract

light drizzle of honey,

half a lemon, juiced,

cinnamon stick garnish, optional

Reposado tequila, is tequila which is aged for less than a year but more than two months in oak barrels. Which I didn't know, though I would substitute in whichever was in the cupboard. And pear nectar is a pear syrup, which is less impressive when called that. I love pears, particularly the blush ones with the ever so slightly pink skin, and so a pear flavoured cocktail appeals. This is made in a high ball glass, into which you pour all your ingredients and give it a stir, using the cinnamon stick as a garnish...which I would then throw away as quickly as possible because I can't stand them. But it does look pretty.

{Source}

7) Italian Greyhound with Rosemary Sugar

Rosemary Sugar (see source recipe)

1-2 ounces Gin

4 ounces freshly squeezed pink or red grapefruit juice

Splash of Aperol

I've never heard of Aperol before, but according to the great wiki in the sky, it's essentially Campari with half the alcoholic content. Which post Christmas is probably very wise. Gin is a favourite of mine, I like the botanic taste, particularly of the gin found in pale blue bottles, but if you're not a fan, a greyhound is often made with vodka. If you also subtitue the sugar dipped rim for a salted one you've made a "Salty Dog". Dip the rim of the glass and pour the liquid ingredients over crushed ice.

{Source}

8) Vodka Bramble

2 Parts Vodka,

2 Parts Lemon Juice,

1 Part Crème de Mure

1 Part Sugar Syrup

2 Whole Blackberries

This is my kind of drink, I love Crème de Mure (a blackberry liquor) and drinks which aren't too sweet. Serve over crushed ice and garnish with the blackberries. Nom.

{Source}

9) Thai Basil Gimlet

60ml Rum

25ml fresh lime juice

30ml Thai Basil Syrup (see recipe via source)

4-5 Basil Leaves

Herbal cocktails seem to have become a theme, but they're the ones which have appealed to me this year. A Gimlet is traditionally made from gin, lime and sugar, this recipe is for rum, which I dislike, so I would revert to the traditional, but again vodka could also be substituted. For the syrup combine the sugar and water in a pan an boil for 3 minutes until the sugar's dissolved. Add he Thai Basil and allow to cool, strain and leave in the fridge overnight. The next day - if you have the patience - mix all the ingredients together over ice and drink. Will Basil work in a cocktail? Who knows, it may end up tasting vaguely of pesto, but I'm willing to give it a go.

{Source}

10) Rosemary Gin Fizz

3 One inch sprigs of fresh Rosemary,

1 small lemon, juiced,

1/2 teaspoon of honey or sugar

1 1/2 ounces of gin

3 ounces of soda water

A Gin Fizz is probably the best known of the Fizz family, and essentially gin, lemon, sugar and fizzy water are all you need, but then there are always variations. One of which I fancy being a Gin Cassis Fizz, with creme de cassis. Om nom nom. In this variation we're back on the herbal theme. Muddle together the Rosemary, lemon and honey, the fill the glass with ice. Pour over the gin and soda and give it another swirl.

{Source}

Mine's a Bramble.

Merry Christmas. Part eleven tomorrow...

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Listening: Hurricane Drunk - Florence + The Machine

On the 9th Day of Christmas...

2012-01-02T18:32:00.003Z

...this blog gave to thee...

...nine pins and strings...

...eight resolution...

...seven shoes to choose from...

...six party dresses...

...five gold rings!..

...four paper worlds...

...three shiny gems...

...two texting whales...

...and a pendant that I made.

String art is fascinating. It's three-dimensional dot to dot and distinctly reminds me of doing continuous line drawings at uni where there would be slapped wrists if your pen left the page. If someone had suggested hammer pins into a canvas before winding metres of thread between them, I would have probably thought they were insane, but since these images have been popping up on my Pinterest stream, I have become obsessed with the idea.

1) I Am Thread by Debbie Smyth

2) Pins and Needles by Martin Pyper

3) Untitled by Catherine Thomas

4) Mixed Media Nail & Metallic String California by AsULikeIt on Etsy

5) Pins and Needles by Martin Pyper

6) Photobooth by Kim Kamens

7) Needle Body Mapping by Katie Lewis

8) Fly Away Home by Debbie Smyth

9) Pins and Thread by Debbie Smyth

These artists have created text, illustrations and spirograph vortexes on both small and grand scales and much like most other art forms, you can DIY it. Someone has created a DIY String Art and into your walls, you can bash a few nails and create a thread by numbers interpretation of a masterpiece {by Monmantai Design}. Or you could go made and express yourself in your own freestyle masterpiece...though having some polyfiller and a spot of your wall colour paint handy might be a good plan.

{Sources: Various, but if you click on the image it will take you to pinterest and then to the site the image was originally found on.}

Merry Christmas. Part ten tomorrow...

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Listening: Nothing's Real But Love - Rebecca Ferguson

On the 8th Day of Christmas...

2012-01-01T01:46:00.006Z

...this blog gave to thee...

...eight resolutions...

...seven shoes to choose from...

...six party dresses...

...five gold rings!..

...four paper worlds...

...three shiny gems...

...two texting whales...

...and a pendant that I made.

If I'm honest, I was struggling for an idea for today, which is why I'm writing this at 01:49 in the morning after being thoroughly disappointed by this years Hogmanay film, Cowboys and Aliens.

I'd half decided not to write any resolutions, especially as last year - as part of the 12 days - I wrote eight resolutions. I read them back a few days ago and I haven't achieved a single one. So this year I have one, with a few sub-resolutions, which - completely and utterly accidentally, of course - number eight.

So the big one is first, obviously, with which I shall add seven sub-resolutions to try and get me to being a bit more myself:

1) Try and be happier:

2) get back to work and make something, I enjoyed it over Christmas!

3) get my jewellery mojo back by making something

4) stop feeling like my designs are crap, paranoia and envy are not good

5) get a haircut, while I like it long, cave girl style is not good

6) keep waking up early, I used to be a very early riser, not so much now and I'm wasting the day.

7) keep taking my 5 htp etc, because I feel better when I do.

8) reconnect, as cutting myself off from people is only making things worst and so, with a new phone number to send out, now is the time!

So there are 8-ish resolution, and now for sleep...which is a good way to start 2012.

Happy New Year, I sincerely hope that this is a good year for everyone.

{Image Source: Ruffled Blog Tutorial via Pinterest}

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Part nine tomorrow...

NB: Apologise that this appeared late, I didn't press publish. I blame drink. :)

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Listening: Wayfaring Stranger - Jamie Woon

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000Z

It's 2012, everyone still okay, has the world ended? Well, if it here's hoping everyone's got a drink in their hand and a smile on their face.

Happy New Year everyone, from me, my blog and this banner...which is giant if you click on it, but blogger has shrunk too a minuscule size. Silly blogger.

{Source: Lokal 54, New Years Garland}

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Listening: It's Been A Year - Greg Laswell

On the 7th Day of Christmas...

2011-12-31T09:00:00.001Z

...this blog gave to thee...

...seven shoes to choose from...

...six party dresses...

...five gold rings!..

...four paper worlds...

...three shiny gems...

...two texting whales...

...and a pendant that I made.

So with your manner of dress decided on for the New Years festivities, next you've got to choose shoes right? Well, here is a selection of heeled beauties which I thought could either go with the dresses from yesterday, or were far too pretty not to post even when completely out of range for any sane persons price range (...I'm looking at you number six. Stop sparkling at me and go change into a high street equivalent!)

1) ASOS Poison Platform High Shoes, from ASOS - £65.00

2) Fashion Majorette Heel by Poetic License, from Modcloth -£108.99

3) Elizabeth, from KG Kurt Geiger - £69.00

4) Dune Hotty D Platforms Heels, from Javari - £90.00

5) Fushia Glitter Pumps, from Miu Miu via HuggyMonster - $650.00

6) Christian Louboutin, Bianca Sequin-coated Pumps, from Saks Fifth Avenue - £1,157.72

7) Stare2 Platform Pointed Courts, from Topshop - £50.00

I have to admit to being completely in love with all of these and the majority of them are within a manageable price range, which is nice. Though I haven't exhibited my undying love for the brogues and Oxfords, so as a hidden track: {brogue love} & {Oxford love}

It's funny looking back at last years 7th day, the silhouette and style of shoe I like hasn't changed that much, I definitely have a type. But things are a lot brighter in colour and more encrusted with sparkle. Sparkle makes everything better, but my brain may still be riddled with the stuff after the tonne I inhaled whilst making the Christmas windows. I'm not even joking.

Enjoy the shoes and have a very happy New Year, whether you're out partying or having a quiet one.

Merry Christmas. Part eight tomorrow...

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Listening: Bye Bye Blackbird - The History Boys and Richard Sissons

On the 6th Day of Christmas...

2011-12-30T09:00:00.000Z

...this blog gave to thee...

...six party dresses...

...five gold rings!..

...four paper worlds...

...three shiny gems...

...two texting whales...

...and a pendant that I made.

Part two of party season is about to strike, good old New Years Eve...a time where lots of people will be braving the cold and the crowds for the festivities of Hogmanay and I will yet again be being boring and sitting watching Cowboys and Aliens with a glass of something bubbly.

(Yeah, still a hermit! Come you, it's only been a year, you can't be that surprised!)

...this doesn't however mean I don't like looking at party dresses!

1) Embellished silk-chiffon bustier gown by Robert Cavalli, from Net-a-Porter - £5,290

2) Shimmering Star Dress, from Modcloth - $124.99

3) Alberta Ferretti Sequin and Bead Embellished Dress, via Pinterest - £1,667.75

4) Ozlem Sequins Dress, from French Connection - €198.00

5) Red Peplum Ponte Dress, from Dorothy Perkins - £30.00

6) Silk Faille Embroidered Dress by Oscar de la Renta, from Net-a-Porter - $4,990

Surprised by my choices? I am! I can't believe I picked such expensive dresses! Let's all just be glad this is an imaginary list and not a shopping list! Though give me the money and make me choose...I'd wear 1, 2 and 5 in a heartbeat. And I could afford 5, so all hope is not lost!

Hope you're all kitted up for the festivities, if not...shoes tomorrow!

Merry Christmas. Part seven tomorrow...

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Listening: Here Comes Your Man - Pixies

On the 5th Day of Christmas...

2011-12-29T13:48:00.005Z

...my blog gave to thee...

...five gold rings!..

...four paper worlds...

...three shiny gems...

...two texting whales...

...and a pendant that I made.

And for this years five gold rings we are focussing on the myriad of gorgeous blue jewellery I have been being exposed to this year. It may be a fashion colour in jewellery, or purely coincidence based on the fact that I follow a jewellery who pins to a board all about blue jewellery, but never the less, with gold it is an incredibly beautiful combination.

1. Untitled by Jacqueline Ryan

2. Untitled by Valentina Caprini

3. Gold Dandelion by David Neale

4. La Belle Adormentata ("The Beautiful Fall Asleep") by Lucia Massei

5. Whispering Loud by Rallou Katsari

That vivid lapis blue works particularly well alongside matt gold. One seems to set the other off perfectly. I really do love jewellery. Finger crossed 2012 won't be the end of the world, but instead will be the year I get my jewellery mojo back!

Merry Christmas! Part six tomorrow...

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Listening: Ingrid Michaelson - I Want The Snowfall Kind of Love

On the 4th Day of Christmas...

2011-12-28T21:35:00.000Z

...this blog gave to thee...

...four paper worlds...

...three shiny gems...

...two texting whales...

...and a pendant that I made.

I've been wanting to blog these for a while, and there are more by each artist which are so wonderful I will post in the New Year. But for today, a sneak piece at some wonderful paper art.

Biblios (image 1) by Guy Laramee. Laramee creates these incredible depictions of mountains, valleys, temples and caves by carving them into the pages of the encyclopaedia's these icons were described. They are, without doubt, spectacular pieces of paper art. {Artist's Page}

Teacup Island (image 2) by Helen Musselwhite, who creates beautiful and fairytale designs. Each hand crafted using paper cut, folding and scoring techniques to building up three dimensional scenes. With a strong graphic bent, these nature inspired illustrations are fascinating as each layer builds up to tell part of the story. {Artist's Page}

The Woodcutter's Hut (image 3) by Su Blackwell. This paper artist works are based primarily on the narrative of fairy-tales and folklore, her book-sculptures transform the telling of a story from the flat lifeless page to the three dimensional fantasy. They are fragile and delicate, yet you could imagine the books characters having wonderful adventures through its staging. {Artist's Page}

Castle on the Sea (image 4) by Wataru Itou. An art student from Tokyo, Itou took four years to create this paper landscape, cutting and folding each piece by hand and carefully crafting the installation, which included moving trains and Ferris wheels and working lights, which bar the electronics were all made of paper. This majestic city was part of the Castle on the Sea Exhibition, in April 2009. {Source | Exhibition | Source}

{Source: It's Only a Paper Moon}

Merry Christmas! Part five tomorrow...

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Listening: It's Only a Paper Moon - Ella Fitzgerald

Musical Interlude: "O Holy Night"

2011-12-28T17:36:00.005Z

A beautiful, beautiful jazz rendition of the Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam. This is taken from the Christmas episode of Aaron Sorkin's ill-fated TV series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. The episode focuses on the production team of Studio 60 attempting to make a Christmas themed show, without becoming too phony-LA. During the episode, which is set just a few months after hurricane Katrina, the in house band call in sick, allowing the musicians of New Orleans to take their places at a time when they need work the most.

Unfortunately for Sorkin, the series was cancelled after it was plagued by a mid-season slump in rating and , but it has always been a favourite of mine

This is one of the most moving moment in the show and beautifully executed. Even with dessicated coconut snow.

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"O Holy Night" (A tribute to the city of New Orleans)

Arranged by W.G. Snuffy Walden, Patrick Rose and Randy Kerber.

Performed by members of Tipitina's Fondation and led by Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews.

On the 3rd Day of Christmas...

2011-12-27T22:52:00.007Z

...this blog gave to thee...

...three shiny gems...

...two talking whales...

...and a pendant that I made.

Recently, I've become slightly more obsessed with gemstones.

{1) Fluorite, 2) Zoistite var. Tanzinite, 3) Opal.}

When I was a kid, and we visited my grandparents in Glasgow, one of my favourite past times was searching through my grans box of polished stones. There was something about the way shininess and they way they felt in your hand, but I blame university for the furthering of this obsession. Nothing brings out the magpie more in me than the stone merchants visiting the university to sell their wears to jewellery students who are lured in more by the shine than the prospect of what you could use them for.

I haven't been to the uni fair in a couple of years, but I save my pennies to go to the Bead Fair in Perth every year. A place where I have to forget to bring my bank card and limit the amount of cash I bring. It's that or go broke within the first two stalls!

For your enjoyment I've made a board on Pinterest dedicated to the wonderful minerals and gems, cut and uncut which I have been collecting together. If only they weren't just pictures!

{G e m s t o n e s}

Merry Christmas! Part four tomorrow...

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Listening: O Holy Night - Performed by Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andres and members of Tipitina's Foundation

On the 2nd Day of Christmas...

2011-12-26T21:03:00.000Z

...this blog gave to thee...

...two texting whales...

...and a pendant that I made.

Perhaps not the most Christmassy, but the text based whales tickled my funny bone. Stemming from a iPhone chat conversation, this screenshot was originally posted by Eleni via her tumblr, Daring Catastrophe. This was in September 2011 and has since been bouncing around the interweb being posted and re-post on sites including pinterest, where I first discovered it.

It has sparked its own dedicated tumblr, iPhone Whale, which focuses on other peoples attempts at creating text whales, these include Marilyn Monwhale, Princess of Whales and Cullen Whale...but personally, I love Potter whale!

{Source: You Know Your Meme}

Merry Christmas! Part three tomorrow...

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Listening: Shanty Town - Mr. Scruff

On the 1st Day of Christmas...

2011-12-25T23:41:00.004Z

...this blog gave to thee...

...a pendant made by me.

You know I've barely made anything this year. My brain being all over the place, but last weekend was my grandparents Diamond wedding anniversary, they've been married 60 years and my grandpa commissioned me to make a pendant, a slightly terrifying challenge, with a peridot - this being her favourite stone.

It's mostly silver, though there are three gold spots remaining after a few failed to fully fuse and I decided it was better to drill some out and change my design than risk the joints running because I over heated it.

The main thing is...I made a piece of jewellery!

And I've been back in the shed. Which is a good step forwards.

Merry Christmas! Part two tomorrow...

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Listening: Smith & Burrows - When The Thames Froze

Musical Interlude: "Merry Christmas Everybody"

2011-12-24T09:15:00.001Z

As a precursor to the 12 Days of Christmas, I want to share a family tradition. Well, one between me and my sisters, which is, it's not officially Christmas until you hear Noddy Holder screaming IT'S CHRISTMAS! at the top of his lungs during the Slade classic...and there are rules about this:

1) It has to be on the radio (TV radio counts, though not the myriad of Christmas based lists on music channels.)

2) Radio being played in shops counts, however only if you hear the IT'S CHRISTMAS! part.

3) Basically, you can't play it, someone else has too.

So basically, the youtube clip doesn't count for me, but it will count for you as though you may have to press play, I'm responsible for it being there. (In my head that's how I'm justifying it!)

Luckily I heard it last Sunday.

So Merry Christmas to all the lovely people who follow my blog, read it whilst lurking or stumble upon its pages. I hope you all have a lovely Christmas Day and hopefully, depending on whether I've put the time codes right, the 12 Days posts should begin uploading at some point today.

Merry Christmas,

Em x

Christmas Window 2011 x 3

2011-12-04T09:51:00.006Z

It's that time again. Christmas is fast approaching and the first snow has fallen, so the java script has returned to my blog. That and I've been spending weeks working on the Christmas window display for work. One change this year, we did all three practices, not just Blair.

This years idea was all my little sisters, though most of the execution was mine, and is based on the idea that in the clouds there are snow mills (also a picture house and church) which produce snow to fall on the trees and houses below. It went in two weeks ago today and had been driving me insane up until the day or two before because I had to work out the nets for the buildings, then cut them, build them, tile them and smother them in glitter...I liked that bit.

The Picture House is based on how the derelict building in Blair looked in the 1920's when it opened. Quinns Picture House is one of my favourite buildings in town, it's falling to bits and it has had its death warrant signed, to be demolished and turned into flats, so I wanted to honour it before that happened. So I've spent a lot of time researching and trying to make it as accurate as possible - though I now notice I forgot the lanterns and the side gates, which is annoying. I will have to add those if I get time. Inside the theatre though, through the windows, backlit by a battery candle, you can just see a still from The Great White Silence, the first film to be shown there.

The mills are also based on derelict buildings in Blairgowrie. The larger, wider building is based on Oakbank Mill, one of the remaining derelict jute mills along the Ericht. While Keithbank Mill, which sits on the opposite side has been turned into posh flats, Oakbank has been left empty.

The Church is not based on any in Blairgowrie, it's in fact a (slightly embellished) paper version of a matchstick church my grandpa Charlie made before he died. I have two of them, a little church and a jewellery box, both of which need repaired, and while there are plenty of churches in Blair and the surrounding area that would have worked, those little matchstick churches have more significance for me than any other.

Anyway, Blairgowrie's window went in first and is the most elaborate. Then the following Friday, we added a snow covered mountain to the Broughty Ferry window, complete with glitter covered trees and a icy looking pool at base for glasses. The posters etc have probably been taken out now because they were putting different specs in.

Carnoustie was the most awkward, we hadn't made enough pom poms and had no clue of what the window was like - I've only been in once or twice and didn't have measurements. This meant a whole Sunday sat making pompoms and working things out as we did them.

It's the first time we've done all three, and I'm happy, plus we know the lay of the land now and can plan ahead a little more for the windows which will stay up for the start of the year.

All the windows were handmade by myself and Louise, from the houses and pompoms to the trees, stars and snow.

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Listening: One EskimO - Kandi

All Photographs taken by Emily Boyd.

Musical Interlude: "Higher Love"

2011-10-14T09:41:00.003+01:00

Seeing I'm in another blogging lull - or rather I'm not in a blogging lull, I'm in general lull because of depression which means I'm unintentionally avoiding blogger again, along with bloglovin' and the thousands of blog entries it's saving for me and the ongoing avoidance of Facebook and the friends who are wondering where the hell I am and what's wrong...

Anyway here's a song which I am currently obsessing about, James Vincent McMorrow's version of Higher Love by Steve Winwood. It's beautiful and I love McMorrow's voice.

If you haven't heard it but think this version is familiar, for those in the UK it might well be. It's currently being used on the Love Film adverts, which is how I discovered it - though I've been meaning to buy his album since it came out, after he was interviews on BBC2 and covered Wicked Game and I was sold.

Now, I know I'm not around much right now, but I'm still picking up messages and checking in on a obsessively frequent bases, so I will be back, hopefully soon given up until today I couldn't even post this. Feel free to comment, suggest blogs or pieces of design etc that you've seen and I could blog about. The joy of not reading blogs at the moment is I'm out of the loop, so I can't really just post copycat blog posts. Yay!

Back soon, Em x

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Listening: James Vincent McMorrow - Higher Love

Thermochromic Blooms

2011-09-01T12:43:00.004+01:00

Source: openmaterials.org via Emily on Pinterest

In the early nineties, Hypercolor t-shirts were popular. I was probably six or seven when I had one, which turned from green to yellow with body heat. I remember loving it, the mere act of creating and leaving a hand print on your clothes was a wonderful novelty to a kid, but the transition of colours eventually wore off the more frequently the t-shirt was washed and it was eventually rendered unworn and was discarded. Mood rings on the other hand, which apply the same technology - still linger in my old jewellery box, even when the colour change has pretty much ceased.

The thermochromic technology was flawed because it was easily and irrevocably damaged by washing at too high a temperature, ironing or tumble drying. Or in other words, overheating would kill your t-shirt. Yet somehow thermochromics are back and are being re-introduced by designers into clothes - as with my friend Jo, who is researching her PhD - and into conceptual wall papers.

Shi Yuan’s creative wallpaper (above) incorporates thermochromic paint that changes colour as the temperature from heating appliances rises. This allows the somewhat chintzy floral design to gradually blossom with pale pink flowers across your walls, then gradually fade as the heat source returns to a cooler ambient temperature.

Source: elisastrozyk.de via Emily on Pinterest

Thermochromic technology has also been used in wallpaper by Elisa Strozyk, who's designs look less at the evolution of a wallpaper pattern for aesthetic reasons and more at the increased awareness of the occupants surroundings. A change in colour allows you to know when your radiator has begun heating the room, and the progression of the pattern and it's vibrancy indicates where heat is now reaching. Strozky has also experimented with applying the same thermochromic paint to the radiator itself, allowing it to disappear into your wallpaper pattern as the temperature increases, thus letting you know visually when a radiator is either on or off and hopefully act as a reminder to turn them down when you aren't in the house in order to save energy.

In the nineties, thermochromic technology was flawed because its inability to withstand even short exposure to high temperatures. If their now being applied to radiators which are intentionally and repeatedly exposing the paint to high temperatures, does this mean that they are now, in the naughties, more stable? Or have we simply forgotten about the discarded t-shirts?

Is it nostalgic novelty or viable design concept?

Ideally the latter, but only time and further experimentation will tell.

link - Shi Yuan
link - Elisa Strozyk
via - Open Materials
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Listening: Ray LaMontagne - How Come

Beaded Pixie Sticks

2011-08-31T12:27:00.000+01:00

My love of glitter scares my sisters. I'm a bit of a magpie. But I'm a jeweller so I think a love of glittery things is probably necessary. Though even before that, I was collecting beads and stones, because until the end of first year uni, I was convinced my path was destined to be in textiles.

Now, I could be completely anal and buy lots of matching containers to store of all these, but that would be expensive, so I found a very cool storage solutions for a grand total of 12p.

Clear drinking straws. Yeah, I know that sounds mad, but I bought 100 straws for 12p in a local (but despicable) supermarket, and I have managed to get nearly all my seed beads in them. Because essentially what you're doing is making sherbet straws, a.k.a. pixie sticks, full of beads.

How to:

Using a pair of pliers to pinch closed one end of the straw, you then gently heat this clamped end with a lighter (parental guidance if needed) to melt closed the end of the tube. Fill them with beads and seal with a stopper.

According to the tutorial I found, you're supposed to use packing peanuts to create stoppers. I didn't have any, so I tried cutting the ends off a cotton bud, which worked well but I decided to try and make a sturdier cap which wouldn't gave the potential to get stuck in the straw.

To do this, I used a few straw coloured straws cut into 1cm sections and repeated the sealing process. I then gently stretched the open hole out using the pliers so that it fitted snugly over the open end of the straw.

Now I have a two tin cans full of beads and have rid myself of loads of mismatched containers which had a tendency to open themselves. Generally, most packets of beads needed two or more straws, but I even went through my box of mixed up beads and separated them out. It's a strangely hypnotic process to sort them all out.

But that might just be me.

Here is the full tutorial: Bead straws on Wiki How

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Listening: The Strokes - Between Love & Hate

Musical Interlude: "Fall Creek Boys Choir"

2011-08-25T11:27:00.002+01:00

James Blake & Bon Iver -Fall Creek Boys Choir

I had to share this track today, James Blake and Bon Iver's duet. Two of my favourite musicians teaming up! It's amazing and the pair's musical styling just seem to work beautifully together and I am now officially obsessed. I think I've listening to it about twenty times and I was only made aware of it existence yesterday evening.

These two guys are responsible for some of my favourite music and Blake for my favourite album of the year. I am positively giddy at the revelation that there's a duet! Could you tell?

Enjoy!

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Listening: James Blake & Bon Iver - Fall Creek Boys Choir

Get on your dancing shoes...

2011-08-24T13:05:00.000+01:00

In fashion, we're always being told that having a capsule wardrobe is a wonderful idea. Limiting ourselves to a few interchangeable pieces of clothing which we can mix and match and allows us to save money and remove the detritus which lurks within our wardrobes and chests of drawers. Years of spur of the moment buys, or long lost loves which no longer fit or have seen better days - as a jeweller all my clothes have acid burns and the rest have pulls from ill-placed cat claws - which we keep for years on end.

Same with shoes.

In the ideal capsule wardrobe, you should - apparently - have four pairs of shoes. I assume this means, for women, one pair of flats, boots, heels and I suppose trainers, or a variant of that based on casual or formal and indeed your preference for heel height. But could you limit yourself to four pairs of shoes? (I couldn't, for a start there are simply too many different colours of Converse Sneaker and secondly they're just too pretty!)

I bring this up, because of a design I saw recently by Israeli designer Daniela Bekerman, who has created a modular shoe which has it's own capsule wardrobe.

Ze O Ze, which means 'This or This' in Hebrew, is a shoe created by Bekerman with an interchangeable heel. Thus allowing the wearer to go easily from high heel to flat, from Mary Jane to Oxford by simply slotting the modular heel into the sole of the shoe. One shoe, the basis of your feet's capsule wardrobe, given endless possibilities by the simple exchange of a heel and ankle support.

Now think about how convenient these would be after a long day at work, or a night out. No more spare shoes in your bag, or under your desk, or walking home in bare feet. Just change your heel and save your soles.

link - Daniela Bekerman

via - Design Milk

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Listening: Arctic Monkeys - Dancing Shoes

Monday Mood Board: Fields of Gold

2011-08-23T11:35:00.010+01:00

Row 1:

Doucer - 13 by Sophie Cagnac

Invalid Ticket by 5Letters

Row 2:

Doucer - 15 by Sophie Cagnac

Land..... by Mustafa DedeogLu

This time last year, it was sunny...I think. Certainly sunny enough to ripen the Victoria plums in the garden, which this year are weighing down the tree to the point where its branches are almost reaching the grass. I know it was nicer this time last year because I have a cupboard full of plum jam dated for August which was made because it was that or let the fruit go to the wasps. Turns out none of my family like plum jam, including me. So lesson learned.

Everywhere still seems so green, the lack of sun and warmth and all the rain keeping the majority of this years crops in Scottish fields because they're not having the opportunity to ripen. I was in Perth on Sunday at the Scottish Bead Fair - where needless to say I spent way too much money - and after I was thinking about how much I enjoy the back roads home, where normally at this time of year, fields are either full of bales or creating waves of gold as the wind rushes through the stalks.

Anyway, that explains the board, which features three - in my opinion - of deviantArt's best photographers.

As for the bead fair, it was great. Mum and I took gran so we could buy her some beads for her birthday and I could look for inspiration. There weren't as many semi-precious stalls as last year, and certainly a stronger leaning towards the pearl and crystal type which are really not my thing. That didn't however stop me spending all the money I brought with me! Thank God the majority didn't take cards, or I'd be seriously broke! I like beads, what more can I say?

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Listening: Greg Laswell - It's Been A Year

Musical Interlude "Come Talk To Me"

2011-08-18T12:48:00.000+01:00

Come Talk To Me by Bon Iver

Bon Iver covering Peter Gabriel in a collaborative project which meant we got this lovely cover. And I do like a good cover - good being the word, can't stand a bad cover!

Trying to easy myself back into the blog little by little.

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Listening: Bon Iver - Come Talk To Me

Monday Mood Board: Summers Lease

2011-08-16T11:34:00.005+01:00

Row 1:

Douceur - 01 by Sophie Cagnac,

Unknown via Pinterest

Row 2:

From Bloom Magazine via Pinterest,

June Garden by The Beautiful Things

Row 3:

June Garden by Loreta of All The Beautiful Things

Douceur - 02 by Sophie Cagnac

Hasn't the summer been a wash out? No pun intended. And now everyone is saying it's well and truly over and we're going to be quickly descending into Autumn and then Winter again. Though please could we not get quite so badly snowed in this year. Just that pretty, manageable snow we normally have, that would be nice.

Now, I know I've been M.I.A. again, I've been having a bad few weeks interspersed with work, DIY and the obsessive making of jam and I wish I could say that I've just been too tired to blog, but actually I've just been too depressed to write anything decent. So if I'm not around much for a little while longer, don't worry, I'll rally and get back on with jam recipes and design fun.

Head's just not quite in the right place to blog properly and that's not fair to you guys who actually read it!

Back soon,

Em x

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Listening: David Gray - Say Hello and Wave Goodbye

Recipe: Elderflower Cordial (Revised)

2011-07-02T11:46:00.004+01:00

Elderflower by Me

I've made more elderflower cordial this year, and I have to say, I think it's a lot nicer than last years. It's sweeter and not quite as earthy tasting. Now this could simply just be because this years elderflower is sweeter and not quite as earthy tasting, but I'm putting it down to having changed the recipe.

Ingredients:

- 30+ heads of elderflower

- 50g citric acid

- 2 unwaxed lemons

- 2 unwaxed limes

- 1.8kg caster or granulated sugar

- 1.5l of water

Method:
- Place sugar into a large pan & cover with the water, bring to the boil and leave to cool.

- Shake out the elderflower to get rid of small bugs & beasties & remove as much of the green stalks as possible, placing the flowers into a colander, rinse & put into a large bowl

- Peel the skin from the lemons and limes and slice before placing into the bowl along with the elderflower.

- Pour the more or less cooled stock syrup over the flowers and the lemons. It doesn't need to be cold, but it shouldn't be boiling or it will scald the flowers and taste bitter.

- Add citric acid* & stir the mixture.

- Cover in cling film making sure that it makes contact with the surface of the mixture, thus removing most of the air around it.

- Leave to steep at room temperature for two days, stirring from time to time.

- Strain through a sieve to remove larger pieces of fruit and flowers, squeezing out as much of the liquid as possible. Then strain through coffee filters to remove the smaller particles. You could use a fine mesh sieve or sterilised muslin but I don't have any and coffee filters will do the job just as well and can go into the compost bin. It also means you get a really clear cordial.

- Pour into sterilised bottles. (To sterilise place clean, dry bottles into an oven set at 50C for 20 minutes, then turn off the over and leave the bottles until you're ready for them.)

- Dilute in sparkling water to taste.

To be honest, I didn't intentionally change the recipe. I kind of forgot to buy enough citric acid from the chemist (it comes in 50g packs), I increased the number of flower heads because some were crammed with flowers, some weren't so much and I am almost certain I put limes in last year, but forgot to write it down. Anyway, this revised list makes a cordial that is much more akin to the ones you can buy.

Almost certainly I'll end up changing it again next year!

Give it a go, but be quick, before the elderflower's gone over!

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Listening: Bon Iver - Blood Bank

Something's Sprouting...

2011-06-29T21:15:00.000+01:00

Sprout the seedling inspired bookmark by Connect Design.

This would be a nice enough design if you simply left the seedling peer out from the top of the pages of your book. However, because the rubber allows the leaves to bend and fold away in between the pages and sprout from where you finished your last chapter, that just makes it better.

Seedling on the brain today.

{via} - Design Fetish

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Listening: Fleet Foxes - Lorelai

You eat my seedlings...I drown you in beer!

2011-06-29T10:09:00.011+01:00

I'm slightly gutted this morning. I've been growing a lot of plants from seed. I popped them in the cold frame thinking that this would keep them safe from the birds who had dug up my spinach a few days earlier...nope. To be fair, it's not the birds now, they've settled down and left my seedlings alone, now it's slugs and I'm really getting annoyed. First they munched their way through a tray of fennel...then the slugs moved onto my rescued coriander plant - a sad supermarket plant.

At least they were relatively established plants, they're bound to come back with a little TLC, especially now I've smothered the gravel in egg shell and put copper rings around everything. Last night, I even put out beer traps to gently sozzle the slugs. (Well, if you're gonna kill them at least let them go out in a drunken haze). Except, no one touched it and instead of heading to the slug pub, they've eaten my lettuces. The top photo is them yesterday, and now all but about five left.

Now I'm off slug hunting!

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10 minutes later...

So I decided to start, quite logically, in the cold frame, especially in the old pots and crock pots I keep in the bottom....3 pots in, look who I found!

Three inches long, an inch wide, it's no wonder my veggies have been going the way they have given the size of this beast and the half dozen cronies it had in tow! In fact, I'm surprised how few things have been chomped!

They've now gone to the slug pub in the sky.

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Listening: Burl Ives - Ugly Bug Ball

Monday Mood Board: Rust & Green

2011-06-27T23:00:00.005+01:00

Row 1:

Doctor Robert by Emily Boyd (Me!)

Untitled via Pinterest

Row 2:

Sunday Morning Wonder by Andrew Pearce

Untitled by Gemma Booth via Pinterest

Green and rusty, burnt orange colours, difficult to pull off, but excellent when done right.

I find it funny how much I love colour and that I end up rarely using it in my work. Anyway, green to ease us away from yellow.

Hope everyone had a nice weekend and didn't get too drenched during the epic downpour today. Fingers crossed tomorrow will at least be slightly more summery!

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Listening: City & Colour- Waiting

Monday Mood Board: It was called 'Lellow'

2011-06-20T10:42:00.003+01:00

Row 1:

Jonathan Saunders Dress?* via Elements of Style

Ieva Laguna in True Colors for Russh by Will Davidson via Stylizta Stockholm

* I've tried to do reverse image searches and can't find the original but one blog suggests that it's a Jonathan Saunders and that seems feasible from the design.

Row 2:

GLAM by Pam Sattler

My boards of late seem to have gone all yellow. Not surprising, it's been one of my favourite colours since my grandpa Charlie used to sit trying to get me to say "Yellow" and not "Lellow". I must have been four or five, so twenty years later it's still a favourite.

Funny how things like that stick with you.

Hope every had a nice weekend!

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Listening: Coldplay - Yellow

Thistles and other garden treats

2011-06-13T17:18:00.006+01:00

This weekend I have mostly been crocheting thistles for the window.

We're still persevering with the woodland window and we've added alliums, a canopy of leaves and some grasses. But next is some more alliums, daisies and thistles. Which will hopefully go in on Thursday depending on how quickly I can get them made up.

I'd have done more this weekend, but I've been out in the garden planting up the herbs the girls gave me for my birthday, including an orange thyme and a chocolate mint, both of which smell phenomenal! Also put in a load of sweetpeas and veggies which have been in the cold frame too long and today I planted our potatoes. It's only the second year we've done them, but hopefully they'll be a little more successful than last years.

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Listening: The Coral - Waiting for the Heartaches

Monday Mood Board: Golden Light

2011-06-13T14:02:00.003+01:00

Row 1:

{untitled} by Elle Rowles

Stay Gold by Amy Renee

Row 2:

Dree Hemingway by Tom Craig for Vogue UK June 2011 via Pinterest

Autumn Leaves by Michael Yamashita

October by *Floriandra

Row 3:

Pickering by Simple Tess

For anyone and everyone who's missing the sunshine.

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Listening: Brendan Benson - Cold Hands (Warm Heart)

Recipe: Empire Biscuits

2011-06-11T11:17:00.006+01:00

Yesterday I decided to make Empire Biscuits. Which I haven't done since my Masters when we were asked to bring in a traditional dish from our country of origin. This was my contribution, though apparently, despite being a very Scottish treat, they're originally German and were called Linzer biscuits, then German biscuits and then at the out-break of the First World War, they were rechristened Empire Biscuits.

Learn something new every day.

This, however, is based on my granny Betty's recipe, which has always been one of my favourites. Plus I got to use jam I made last year and gluten free flour because my little sister's avoiding wheat for a while. Which, actually makes very light cakes.

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Ingredients:

6oz butter (or margarine if you prefer)

2oz icing sugar

2oz corn flour

2oz plain flour

Method:

Cream together the butter and sugar, then mix in the cornflour and then the flour. Start off using the back of a wooden spoon, then once the last of the flour is added switch to using your hand, it's easier to get it to form your dough that way. Once it's smooth and not sticky, wrap it in cling film and put it in the fridge to firm up for five to ten minutes, this will stop the biscuits spreading as much.

Roll out the dough onto a floured work top to a thickness of approximately 5mm (half a cm). I'd go for the thinner side because you'll sandwich the biscuits together. Then I used a 48mm cookie cutter, which is the smallest I have in my set, to cut lots of rounds. The number you get depends on the thickness of your dough, I got 20, but just make sure you have an even number - though an extra is useful, just in case one broke or burnt. Lay them on a baking paper lined tray with a centimetre or so between each.

Place the tray in a preheated oven at 180C until they're golden around the edges. The recipe says 15-20 minutes, but mine were in for 12 as our over runs hot, but even that was a little long. I'd recommend cooking them for ten minutes, then checking as they go from under to over within seconds.

While they cool, make water icing. Mix approximately 3oz of icing sugar and two teaspoons of milk stirred together to make a smooth, slightly thick paste. I didn't measure it properly, but just add more sugar and/or milk until you get the right consistency.

Once the biscuits have cooled down, sandwich them with a little jam in the middle and put a small puddle of water icing on the top, then before the icing sets, finish with a Jelly-tot or glacé cherry.

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They're yummy. One problem when it came to taking a photo for sharing though...Misty.

Yep, apparently Empire Biscuits are like crack to my dotty old cat. Who went from asleep to wide awake within seconds of realising there was a plate nearby. This is seconds before she lunged at the plate in a bid to give my biscuits a try. Also seconds before I pulled it back and almost dropped them all. Not clever.

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Listening: Arctic Monkeys - Black Treacle

Little Boxes | Ticky Tacky

2011-06-08T23:47:00.001+01:00

I havent posted anything of my own for a while. Mostly because there's been a lack of anything to actually post. There's a couple of other pieces from this series, but they're not completely finished. I've been stuck with them, so maybe I'll post them another day.

These earrings however, were part of the Christmas gifts for the girls at work, thankfully, both liked them. They're are made of silver, ophthalmic lenses and Amazakoue. Amazakoue being a gorgeous hardwood which I used for one of my degree show chess sets and have had so many chunks lying around the workshop. I keep battering myself with them - as well as branches of thorny rose wood, maple, buddleia, rosemary, lilac, elm, cherry and pine from the garden, which I've been seasoning for the past year and a half. They should be good to use now I think.

Have been having a bad day today. Which is annoying as I'd been feeling better about things lately.I feel like the herbal concoction has been helping and I've been thinking about getting back in touch with friends, thinking about designs, thinking about ordering some silver, thinking about going sorting out the workshop...I couldn't get to sleep two nights ago thinking about a design, but today all I want to do is stay in bed and either have a cry or go back to sleep. I'm not even feeling very bloggy, but I'm pushing myself to try and post more frequently and I've been meaning to post these earrings since Christmas.

Anyway, think it's time for bed. Sleep tight.

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Listening: Scott Matthews - Elusive

Disassembly

2011-06-08T22:11:00.006+01:00

Disassembly, by Canadian photographer Todd Mclellan, is a series of photographs which depict items of our technological past, typewriters, rotary phones and wind-up clocks, which have become outdated by the introduction of new technologies. These items have been painstakingly dissected from the items so that every component is revealed. Mclellan then carefully arranges the pieces into a pleasing design which shows how much design and technology was already needed for items we now consider archaic.

link - Todd Mclellan

via - Total Inspiration

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Listening: Regina Spektor - Düsseldorf

Gumball Wars

2011-06-07T16:18:00.000+01:00

Gumball Wars from Scott Thierauf on Vimeo.

One of my favourite pieces of animation is Pixar's Luxo Jr. which features the antics of an anthropomorphic anglepoise lamp and it's son. The reason I love it, is that the animators have managed to successfully humanise an inanimate object to the point where, with a tip of its lamp shade, or a wiggle of the stand, you can tell what Luxo Jr. is thinking and feeling.

In Gumball Wars, animator Scott Thierauf has managed to successfully create a similar anthropomorphic relationship between two gumball machines. The two childlike characters portrayed by the red and blue gumball machines have quite different characters, one teases, taunts and sniggers its way through the short and the other stoically takes it, until it's his turn to have a giggle.

As always, good things come to all who wait.

via - Kuriositas

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Listening: Jack Peñate - Spit At Stars

Monday Mood Board: Rainbows On Dreary Days

2011-06-06T12:12:00.005+01:00

Column 1:

Bronson Caves by Brice Bischoff

Column 2:

Anthology: Issue Three by Aubrey Trinnaman & Jordan Ferney via Oh Happy Day!

Colors by Justin Waldron

Column 3:

Untitled by Inoka Chui

Anthology: Issue Three by Aubrey Trinnaman & Jordan Ferney via Oh Happy Day!

It's cold and grey this morning and I feel the need for a few rainbows to brighten everything up.

That or for Scotland to stop having such typically Scottish summer weather and let through a bit of sun. If only to save me from putting on the heating! It is June after all!

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Listening: Erik Mongrain - I Am Not

Childhood Confessions

2011-06-06T11:45:00.000+01:00

Milk by Milla, a design concept by Christy Srisanan and Erick Barrios gives you a chance to fess up for those childhood misdemeanour's which still linger decades after they happened. Everyone has one, a confession from their childhood, whether it's cheating on a test, or behaving badly because you liked someone, it stays secret, not necessarily because it's too horrendous to tell, more because the time has passed.

"There's nothing purer than a child and Milla knows it. That's why they built their brand upon this truth. This packaging shows childhood confessions and makes us go back in time. Milla brings back the pureness by encouraging people to go to millaconfessions.com and share their innocent memories." (C. Srisanan, 2011)

I've thought of a couple of childhood confessions, then again I'm 26, childhood wasn't that long ago. But if you like this concept and feel the need to confess to something from your childhood, I'd suggest going to Post Secrets. It was the first thing that popped into my head when I saw this design and it's equally anonymous and not a concept design.

Link - Christy Srisanan & Erick Barrios

via - The Dieline

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Listening: Blur - Coffee & TV

An Epic Birthday Cake No.2

2011-06-03T10:20:00.003+01:00

I was berated by my sister for not posting enough photographs of my birthday cake after it took her so long to make. I apologise, but I've have to edit all the photos to get the colour right since the kitchen insists on being so bloody orange. Plus I was planning on posting more once I'd done that. Therefore, when I see you next, there's a giant raspberry being blown your way.

Anyway, to satisfy my sisters need to photographic proof that she made a good cake, here are some pictures from during its creation...

Vanilla icing with real vanilla paste, so it was lovely and speckled

Raspberry icing which had fresh raspberry purée mixed through it.

I have to say the layers with pink raspberry icing & the jam were really nice together, it helped to knock the sweetness, which should, I think have been dampened by the lemon which was meant to be in the cake. I'm not keen on lemon in cakes, so Sarah left it out.

Have to say this definitely beats the traditional Vicky sponge we normally make for my birthday...though mum making one into a giant butterfly cake full of summer fruit, was also immense.

Enough photos? If not, blame your own photographic ability, not mine. There's only so much editing photoshop can do! :P

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Listening: OK Go - Love Cats

"I'm vibrating!"

2011-06-03T00:14:00.000+01:00

This is how I felt after eating my birthday cake. It was absolutely fantastic, but oh my God, so sweet I could feel my teeth going into shock!

Incidentally, this is an early 90's kids program I watched when I was little called - obviously - Dinosaurs. It was a Jim Henson Production and it was your basic sitcom based around the Sinclair's, an anthropomorphic family of dinosaurs.

This clip also shows a running joke which has permeated all our brains at home. When there's been deadly comestibles made which could lead to a sugar comma, or someone has been over indulging in caffeine...generally any hyperactivity ends with someone remembering the quote, "I'm vibrating!"

Well, my 26 birthday cake definitely warranted it!

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Listening: The Supernaturals - Smile

A Epic Birthday Cake!

2011-06-02T23:20:00.005+01:00

My sisters made me a completely, and utterly epic 26th birthday cake...with buttons on it! It was a masterpiece of raspberry & vanilla icing, pink sponge, home made raspberry jam and coconut. And oh, my, God, it was possibly the sweetest thing I've ever eaten!

Thank you Sarah & Louise for a very lovely birthday cake and for all the effort that went into making me a fancy birthday cake...your do realise we're going to have to trump this for your birthdays now?

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Listening: Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way

Birthday Board No.1

2011-06-02T18:38:00.007+01:00

Row 1:

Painting Flowers All Time Low by Whenchemicalscollide via Pinterest,

Day Fifty Two by Big Fat Grey Cat

Row 2:

Balloon House by Tim Walker via Pinterest,

Funambula8 by Chick Named Hermia

Rainbow birthdays. Full of party balloons and festivities.

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Listening: Supergrass - Pumping On Your Stereo

Birthday Board No.2

2011-06-02T12:48:00.010+01:00

Row 1:

Untitled by Rawrrxamanda,

.birthday wishes. by Amanda K

Row 2:

Ghosts by Emma Freemantle,

Cake by Paul Barbera via Pinterest

A relaxing birthday, with a good dose of sparkle. This looks like a pretty good birthday to me!

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Listening: Death Cab for Cutie - You Are A Tourist

More Birthday Treats...

2011-05-31T16:59:00.002+01:00

Source: diamondsandtulle.blogspot.com via Emily on Pinterest

Cupcake pops!

Though my birthday cake promises to be epic since my sister's been working on it for hours! I didn't help...I asked her to take lots of photos so later on I can blog it...I meant of the finished cake, she thought I meant of the whole process!

Sorry Sarah! Bet it'll be stonking!

(Incidentally. Fours hours until I'm officially 26!)

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Listening: OK Go - Crash The Party

Birthday Treats...

2011-05-31T16:51:00.003+01:00

Source: creativeinspiration.tumblr.com via Emily on Pinterest

Blackberry Jello Shots.

Nom.

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Listening: Aloe Blacc - I Need A Dollar

Growing up...

2011-05-31T10:57:00.000+01:00

Source: etsy.com via Jasmine on Pinterest

...is optional :)

Musical Interlude "Birthday"

2011-05-31T10:30:00.002+01:00

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Listening: The Beatles - Birthday

Today is my Birthday!

2011-05-31T10:19:00.005+01:00

Source: angelahardison.blogspot.com via Mary on Pinterest

Today I am this many years old. And that's okay :)

Em xxx

DIY Day!

2011-05-27T09:37:00.000+01:00

I love a bit of DIY, my sisters would tell you that they run screaming as soon as they see me with a power tool or the words DIY are uttered, but that's because I can - and I admit this - be a complete cow when we're doing things. I think they'd also tell you that of the three of us, I'm the one you'd want doing the DIY, but I do get irritable.

Anyway, here are some DIY tricks and quick crafty projects I've been hoarding away on Pinterest for months, waiting for an opportunity to share them with you.

DIY Tricks:

Paint Can Trick...

Source: inmyownstyle.com via Emily on Pinterest

Use a rubber band to remove drips and save yourself from grotty, paint encrusted and unopenable paint tins.

Christmas Baubles Trick...

Source: re-nest.com via Emily on Pinterest

Use egg boxes to store delicate glass Christmas decorations, makes sense when you think about it.

Debris Catcher Trick...

Source: cache.gawkerassets.com via Emily on Pinterest

So, so simple and yet genius. Before you start drilling stick a folded post-it note under the hole and prevent all the dust and dirt falling from your newly drilled wall and onto your floor. Save yourself the extra clean-up.

DIY Treats:

What to do with empty tin cans...

Source: cfabbridesigns.com via Emily on Pinterest

Plant them up with grasses, herbs or lettuces...

Source: pinandpaper.blogspot.com via Emily on Pinterest

Then tell what your plants in the ground are by stamping the names on the lids and using old forks to keep the visible.

What to do with old corks...

Source: dailydanny.com via Emily on Pinterest

Collect together all the corks you remove from bottles of wine and arrange them in a large shadow box to create an upcycled bathmat. And, unless you're planning a mad binge, party or simply have an obsession with keeping corks, you could always go to your local and ask for any they have going.

What to do with your makeup...

Source: laurathoughts81.blogspot.com via Emily on Pinterest

Attach magnets to the underside of your eyeshadows and attach pill bottles to attach to a home made magnet board (a photo frame with the glass replaced with a sheet of metal, then covered with a sheet of fabric).

What to do with brown bottles...

Source: witandwhistle.com via Emily on Pinterest

Fill them with battery powered fairy lights and create a lovely little display in your house - I have a couple of these by my mirror filled with orange LEDs and White star lights and they are pretty through the brown glass.

What to do to decorate that boring wall...

Source: u-createcrafts.com via Emily on Pinterest

You can buy flowers this shape as of plastic wall decorations. Instead print off these flowers and save yourself some money, plus you can choose your colour and pattern to suit your home.

What to do with your old tatty teapots...

Source: wedding-diy.tumblr.com via Emily on Pinterest

Well, you could wait for the snow and fill them up to make my blog or you could upcycle old teapot which have see better days into hanging planters.

And that's it for now!

Like I said, I have been hoarding all of these on Pinterest, so, if you want to find the original source all of them are either mentioned below the images or linkable via my board, Craft is not a dirty word.

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Listening: Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Nowhere To Run

Musical Interlude: "My Body"

2011-05-26T13:44:00.004+01:00

"My Body" by Young The Giant

I'm slightly obsessed with this song and yes Louise you found them first.

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Listening: Young The Giant - My Body

Straight From The Dinner Table

2011-05-26T12:20:00.000+01:00

See this scenario? Not good. Cat eating grass always leads to barfing. Which when on your dining room table is not a good thing.

That small piece of negativity aside, I do admire this piece of design. Planter Table by Brooklyn designer Emily Wettstein, I think is a stunning and beautifully executed piece of furniture design. The table is made from steel and reclaimed slices of walnut, which with the natural edge left running down the center of the table allows the wheat grass in its removable planter to sprout through in an irregular, naturalistic matter.

I love plants in the house. Currently I'm trying to keep a host of gerbera, african violets and geraniums alive for various members of my family and the wheat grass is really attractive, but how wonderful would this be filled with herbs? Thyme in its many forms or lemon balm with its citrus tang, chives with their purple puff of flowers or oregano, whose smell lingers when you brush by it. Or you could even plant a mix of lettuces to pick for your dinner.

Wettstein's design for the table would actually be fantastic in the garden, especially in those where space is at a premium, and since we are all being encouraged to 'Grow Our Own' we should be looking for every opportunity in design to encourage it.

Which reminds me. I need to go strip some bamboo canes for our runner beans to grow up. They're trying to escape from the cold frame.

link - Emily Wettstein

via - Design Milk

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Listening: The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition

Sweet Dreams Interupted With Random Thoughts

2011-05-26T10:41:00.003+01:00

Don't you hate it when you either can't sleep because there are ideas whirring around your head like an obnoxiously hyperactive toddler, or you wake up and need to write down something before you forget it. I used to keep a pad and a pen with a light in it by the bed, until the light died, now I just keep a big pad with a marker. But you can probably imagine the state of some of my notes since half the time I don't put on the light.

Post My Pillow by Veinticuatrodents takes the appearance and function of a post-it note and keeps itself convientiently close by for those night time notations. Add a light to the pen and you'd have a winner, otherwise prepare to put on the light and wake up enough to note things down. That, and don't just reach out for your cushion and start writing, God only knows what pieces of your bedding you'd be ruining!

The ink, fortunately is water soluble for repeat uses, simple rinse it off using cold water (no soap) and there you go, more space for more night time notes.

link - Veinticuatrodents

via - Lost At E Minor

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Listening: Yoav & Emily Browning - Where Is My Mind?

Overdue

2011-05-26T10:19:00.002+01:00

Personal Library Kit from Fred Flare

I'm not alone in thinking we need this in our house. With five of us, there are a lot of books, CD's and DVD's floating about and there's also a lot of borrowing.

Usualy things which we borrow migrate back, but not always that quickly. In fact some things magically take up residence in someone elses room.

And then the word "amnisty" is batted around and suddenly there's a pile of CD's, teetering on the edge of your chest of drawers looking at you to return them to their old home.

This is when a library lending system seems quite sensible.

link - Fred Flare

via - Oh, hello friend: you are loved.

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Listening: Ingrid Michaelson - Be Ok

Isn't it always the way?

2011-05-26T10:09:00.002+01:00

Why is it the day you feel like blogging, Blogger's down? It was like this the week before last, I started blogging again and then not only does it go down but they delete the post? I don't think I'd mind if there were any obvious changes to Blogger afterwards, but there never seems to be. Although, this seemed easily remedied - if not obviously advertised - that simply deleting your history/cache/cookies would sort it out.

Anyway, this means that I was sat in the kitchen yesterday drinking my evil herbal concoxtion, a cup of coffee and crackers that taste like buttered popcorn - which is nicer than it sounds - all whilst typing up some blog entries sans pictures in Notepad. Notepad as whenever I've attempted to write things up in Word it has resulted in bizzare coding when it's transfered.

Blogger may be my prefered platform for blogging, but seriously sometimes it's just annoying.

Right so today we shall be having some normal blogging of things which were put on hold last week, including a hopeful revisit to DoJ's Degree Show towards the end of this week or start of next, as I didn't make it all the way round and there are more postcards to be collected and art to be seen. Then next week we shall have some special birthday blogging!

I haven't quite worked out what special birthday blogging is, but I'm thinking that there should be music, decorations, cake and presents. And do I dare write a "things to do in my 26th year" list? Probably and indeed probably not. We'll see how I feel once I actually am 26!

Em x

PS: I hate posting without a picture, so the image above is an illustration I did for uni. He's called Bates. Don't piss him off. He's a bit of a nutter. Bad experience with a red sock and a washing machine. One day I shall post the story I wrote to go with him.

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Listening: Lady Gaga - Judas

Monday Mood Board: The Wind

2011-05-23T21:55:00.006+01:00

Zephyr of the Bay by Elise Rasmussen

Is it just me, or has it been a little bit windy today?

..................................................................................

Listening: Cat Stevens - The Wind

Every cloud has a neon lining...

2011-05-22T01:02:00.000+01:00

Photograph by Eric Laignel via Jennifer Nicole

Well hello everybody who thinks they're suffering from deja vu, don't panic, you're not. I finally found a version of the post Blogger deleted during their outage by subscribing to my own blog via Google Reader. Yep, I might like Bloglovin' but it was good old Google Reader that saved the day by keeping a full version of the RSS feed post on their records rather than a fragmented first few lines. Since no post has reappeared 11 days on, I'm guessing it's a loss, especially as no on has answered my question on the Google/Blogger help forum. Thanks guys.

Bright side is I get another chance to do a bit of editing.

Anyway, my original post was about how much I love these neon cloud lights, they were designed by Ghislaine Viñas. They were included as part of a 15,500 sq. ft interior design project for the home of New York Gallery owner Paige West. Viñas took the once crumbling building in Tribeca, New York and created a modern living space which is colourful, functional and wonderfully whimsical.

Bar the clouds I particularly like the sheep grazing in the library...

...because we all know what avid readers sheep are...

...and that all kids want to do in their Disney Western inspired bedroom is chop wood...

...that bad muppets get turned into giant, slightly random, blue feathered lighting systems...

...and jail strip wall treatments actually look kind of fabulous when teamed with green accessories.

Now, while I'm not sure I could live in house with a giant blue feathered light shade, if you're going to go kooky, you may as well go all out! And you should definitely have neon clouds adorning your bathroom where you can lie and relax and stare up at the clouds.

If you'd like to see more images of Viñas's Interior Design treatments for West's home go to Jennifer Nicole's blog or visit Ghislaine Viñas website.

via - Pinterest

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Listening: TLC - Unpretty

Degree Show 2011: Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design

2011-05-21T10:24:00.005+01:00

Saturday 21 - Sunday 29 May 2011

Dundee’s largest art and design show

www.dundee.ac.uk/degreeshow

Monday - Friday 10am - 8pm

Saturday - Sunday 10am - 4pm

(Admission is free)

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design,

University of Dundee,

Perth Road,

Dundee DD1 4HT

Hey guys! Guess what time of year it yet? Yep, degree show time! And for anyone who can make it over to Dundee I always highly recommend you going, it's always a great show.

I was at opening night last night, after hemming and hawing about whether to go - I was scared about seeing people because seeing people means explaining why I've been M.I.A. and that I've been suffering from designer block & depression. Truth is it's always the thought of it that's worst than the actual event. As soon as I'd gotten myself not lost - jewellery design has moved to a completely different part of the uni - I walked in the room and got a huge hug off my friend Kate who said she'd been asking people if they'd heard from me and was worried. Nice to know. So I saw a bunch of the students I know and a few of my friends, which was nice. Now just to get myself back on Facebook and get back in touch with everyone else.

Anyway, my brain's hurting after last night, I didn't have anything to drink as I'd barely eaten and was driving, but I had a long day at work and then did the shopping, then rushed home to change and then over to uni...and the giant drums didn't help. Though they were entertaining.

I'm going to go through during the week and have another look around, I only got through jewellery, textiles and some of fine art before my brain felt like it was going to explode and I decided to bug out. So, when I go through I shall upload some images of my favourite pieces, there's definitely some from jewellery and textiles!

Now, again, if you can get to Dundee this week, get your butts over because DoJ Degree Shows are always brilliant!

Oh! And congratulations to this years 4th year, especially the lovely jewellers! Amazing show and well done on getting your degrees!

Em x

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Listening: BBC Six Music - Adam and Not Joe (Garth Jennings is sitting in for Joe)

Monday Mood Board: Mirror Ball Glitter Board

2011-05-16T12:54:00.001+01:00

Row 1:

Nathalie Edenberg by Isabel Garcia for Marie Clair e via Tig-fashion,

All that glitters is not gold (2) by Kaitlyn Baker

Row 2:

Castle Leslie: Boom Boom Bathroom via Apartment Therapy,

Untitled by Look Left and Look Right

I'm feeling the need for a little bit of glitter.

Maybe it'll act like magic!

..................................................................................

Listening: Cat Power - Speak For Me

Dear Blogger...

2011-05-16T12:26:00.003+01:00

Please can I have my last post back?

It's title was "Every Cloud has a Neon Lining" (posted Thursday night I think) and I don't mind waiting, sometimes software & updates go wrong, I understand that. However, two days ago you claimed nearly all the lost posts had been returned and 5 hours ago you said things were pretty much back to normal for everyone, but my post & comments are still MIA.

It's not a big post, a hundred words or so at most and three or four pictures, but it would be nice if it was returned since I've been patient about it.

So, if any of the blogger staff notice this, can you at least tell me if it's out there, or do I have to go through my history and find all my links again? Please. I really don't want to have to search through my history, it's confusing in there!

The posts safe return would be very much appreciated.

Emily

Monday Mood Board: Sunshine & Rain

2011-05-09T22:32:00.006+01:00

Row 1:

Freshly Squeezed {15/52} by Sarah Ann Wright (via Pinterest),

Clouds Will Clear by Mike Bailey-Gates

Row 2:

Untitled by Stacey Van Berkel Haines via Dress, Design & Decor

Row 3:

Thunderstorm near Ais-Ais, Namibia by Paul Perton,

Rain Cloud Decal from Love Mae

Rain = inability to hang out washing = less washing = less folding = happy.

Except...we've had a moth problem at home...so there's extra washing to do and I have to clear out my wardrobe. Which isn't going to be fun. It lives in the spare room (no room in my room) and I haven't been able to get into it in a while. And I mean literally, there's been too much stuff in front of it for the doors to open!

Luckily there's nothing I wear a lot in there, but I do hope my nice - though rarely ever worn - dresses & winter coats are okay. I will be gutted if they're moth ridden!

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Listening: Bonnie Somerville - Winding Road

Bloglovin'

2011-05-07T10:56:00.002+01:00

(Logo from Ladygadgetblog)

Hi everybody, just a quick note to mention that I've decided to make myself a Bloglovin' account!

Follow my blog with bloglovin

It's in order to keep track of the blogs I read. I noticed over Easter that my reader in blogger wasn't picking up all the posts from blogs (such as Design Crush & Abigail*Ryan), it meant I was missing lots of interesting posts and only seeing them when I went directly to the site. So, I'm hoping bloglovin' might be help keep me more up to date. However, you can also follow my blog that way!

Which is actually why I'm posting, in order to claim my blog as my own, I need to post a link to it so it can connect.

Hopefully it will be useful!

Have a lovely weekend!

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Listening: Emmy the Great - Iris

Everything Will Be Ok

2011-05-07T00:05:00.001+01:00

These lovely little treasures were made by illustrator and designer, Kim Welling, at a time when she herself was having an off day.

(I wish my off days were this productive!)

Instant Comfort Pocket Boxes are matchbox sized 3D illustrations for those days when you're feeling down in the mouth and need something to pick you up. Open the drawer and receive just that. The boost of someone telling you, everything will be ok or that you look wonderful today.

These are just so sweet, and perfect for giving to a friend when they need cheering up or yourself on a down day. This is the sort of strange trinket I would keep in my bag, bring out when I was feeling blue...that I would have brought out when I was panicking, waiting for my interview for my final degree show or before exams and assessments, just to give me that little bit of a boost.

Everyone needs that little boost now and again.

For more Kim Welling illustrations and wonders here are some links:

Blog | Website | Kim's Little Monsters on Etsy

via - Design Crush Blog

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Listening: Adele - Don't You Remember

Musical Interlude "Even Your Friend"

2011-05-05T17:54:00.004+01:00

"Even Your Friend" by The Chap

Adam & Joe led me to this song and I love it, if only for how much the woman singing sounds like Joe Cornish singing for Song Wars. If you don't believe me go to Adam and Joe "Itchy Bum".

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Listening: The Chap - Even Your Friend

Monday Mood Board: Ode to...

2011-05-02T12:06:00.008+01:00

Row 1:
Bobbin Lace Pillow by Me,
Colorful Wind by Hannah Khymych

Row 2:

Bloom: At The Farm by Marie Taillefer,

Succulents by Polly Eltes

Inspired by my great grans lace pillow (above). Last week I decide it was time to start using it and that started by removing granny grans last piece of lace, all her bobbins and recovering the pillow. All of her coverings are beneath it (bar a piece of stick on lino which was a little ragged) but I used the push-pins that were securing that to secure a piece of thick denim over the whole pillow, which I'm hoping will be nice and durable. The stretched a piece of green velvet ribbon I've been hoarding for years at the opening for the roller to keep the edge from pulling up. The roller's still granny grans red paisley pattern fabric, I can't decide what pattern to recover it with. I need to find something a little bit special, maybe a fat quarter of some pretty fabric.

For now I'm trying a slightly more elaborate lace ribbon, which after spending hours winding my bobbins with 70+ metres of mercer crochet cotton and getting half a dozen pins down, got stuck because I had to change stitches and the photo looked like one, but claimed to be another. I'll work it out, but I'm definitely confused.

Now, the sun has finally come out from behind the clouds, so I'm off to plant begonias in window boxes.

Have a nice May Day Bank Holiday!

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Listening: Mint Royal - Blue Song

Strike a Pose...

2011-05-02T12:00:00.000+01:00

Vogue Japan, 2010

Vogue. Whenever I see a cover I'm attracted too, I buy a copy. It doesn't necessarily mean I'm getting the best issue. I usually flip through to see if there are any good photoshoots to be had, but at over £4 a pop...well, it's pricey for a magazine which is more advert than magazine and I'm not exactly loaded at the moment.

Plus there's only so many times I can look at Kate Moss smugly staring out of the cover.

Fortunately Moss's image has little impact on the outcome of the following artworks by Live Journal user Shrubrub, who has taken ever edition of Vogue for 2008, 2009 and 2010 and digitally collaged together the covers to create these wonderful Vogue Rorschach Tests.

Vogue Mexico, 2010

Vogue UK, 2010

Vogue US, 2009

Vogue Australia, 2010

Vogue Brazil, 2008

Vogue Italy, 2009

Vogue Germany, 2008

Vogue Rorschach Prints 2008, 2009 and 2010

I think they're fascinating. Especially the covers for Japan and Australia (above) with their predominantly white backgrounds and full figures. Overall this creates a much more striking images than the editions who drastically change their cover design month by month.

Maybe one day, this will be on the shelf at the news agents. A years round-up edition with fewer adverts and just the wonderful photoshoots for the year...that Vogue might be worth the money!

Link - Shrubrub's Live Journal

Via - A Daily Dose of Design

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Listening: Madonna - Vogue

I'll have hot water and a stick please!

2011-04-30T11:49:00.000+01:00

Do you guys know that I love coffee?

I wouldn't say I was addicted.

I can go days without it and it doesn't bother me, but it's part of my morning ritual too. Has been since uni when I'd be up by 6.55, in uni for 8.30 and caffeinated about five minutes after that. Whenever I'm in the workshop now it's still the first thing I do. Even if I don't drink it until it could be classed as 'iced' coffee.

This brings me to the concept design by Heo Jeong Im who brings us Coffee on a Stick.

Boil the kettle and fill your cup, then pick your poison (cafe latte, cappucino, caramel acchiato, mocha latte or americano) and simply stir. The coffee coloured portion melts away and the white portion becomes your spoon. Couldn't be simpler! And how elegantly designed.

I can think of one very, very good reason for a design like this. No more bad cuppa's! Admit it, we've all been made a bad cuppa - in my house, my tea making skills are notoriously bad, but my excuse is I don't drink tea, so how am I supposed to know how to make it?

The art of coffee/tea making is a really personal thing. If you're anything like me, in order to make your cuppa just how you like it, you have a system, be it a particular cup, spoon or order in which coffee, milk and/or sugar are put in the mug. That system leads to the perfect caffeinated beverage for you.

A design like Heo Jeong Im's means, no messy coffee grounds or instant coffee accidentally sprinkled over the worktop; no more carefully measured out spoonfuls of coffee and perfectly packaged for carrying around with you for a mid-afternoon fix.

I was sold when my freshly caffeinated mind heard the word coffee.

via - Design Fetish

via - Yanko Design

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Listening: BBC 6Music - Adam & Joe

Pot Holes

2011-04-29T20:32:00.000+01:00

Last March I posted about Pete Dungey's amazing Pothole Gardens. Needless to say, I think this winter beat last winter hands down. So much snow! I wonder how long it will take us all to be idolising snow again? Willing for it to fall from the sky and make everything beautifully dusted with white...

...yeah, falling for it already I'm sure. Don't be fooled by it, just remember the pot holes...oh the potholes!

So now another artist has taken these malformations of the road and found her own unique method of fixing them. Juliana Santacruz Herrera has decorated the streets of Paris with pools of brightly coloured fabric braids.

Santacruz Herrera's Pothole project creates a colourful regrowth where the roads of Paris have become cracked and gnarled, which, alongside Dungey's Pothole Gardens, are definitely making the damaging potholes more festive!

Via - Design Milk

Via - Design Boom

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Listening: The Chap - Even Your Friend

Royal Hoo-Ha

2011-04-27T14:51:00.004+01:00

Right, so I promised no Royal hoo-ha on my blog, there's enough of it in the actual press without every blog going nuts over it. However, I had to post this and break my promise.

You can, from the jewellery makers supplier I use most frequently - Cooksons Gold - buy a five gram bar of either fine silver or nine carat gold to commemorate the auspicious event.

Now, good luck to Will and Cate, I hope they have a very happy wedding day and they have a wonderful life together, but seriously? Am I the only one thinking this is all a little bit insane? Has everyone gone a little loopy with wedding fever?

Over the weeks leading up towards the big day we've seen commemorative plates; cups; tea; gloves; sticks of rock; pez dispensers; dolls; fake videos; Hollywood Telly Films; nail art; biscuits; cakes; stamps; bags; fridges and artwork from people like Willard Wigans (who I blogged about last year) and paper artist Rob Ryan. You name it, there will be someone making a quick buck out of this Royal Wedding. But Cooksons, really, a commemorative gold bar?

Now the silver bar, that's a not unreasonable £9.80. You could almost say that would be a nice gift for someone who's really very into the Royals. However, as a jeweller, how many more pieces could you make out of the £69.60 you'd pay to buy a nine carat gold bar to celebrate the marriage of people you don't know? Translated into silver. That's a 10cm x 7.5cm piece of 0.7mm thick, which is what I would normally work in. I could make so many things out of that piece of silver!

Stamped with Prince Williams coat of arm, inscription and hallmark, this ingot measures in at a whopping 14.5mm x 25mm x 1.4mm thick...that's about as big as my Caps Lock key.

If you're a jeweller and wish to commemorate the wedding by spending £70, spend it on materials and tools. You could even buy a commemorative pack of biccies with the change, or have hours of mindless fun getting sweeties out of Cate and Wills Pez Heads!

For more insane Royal commemoratives head over to Susan Leahy on Pinterest, who has a board dedicated to all the ones I mentioned above - Link

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Listening: Barenaked Ladies - If I Had $1000000

Monday Mood Board: Our Garden 2011

2011-04-26T12:46:00.006+01:00

Row 1: Forsythia, Dicentra aka "Bleeding Heart"

Row 2: Azalea, Dandelion

Row 3: Honesty, Hosta, Apple Blossom

All by Me.

Well did we all have a nice long Easter weekend?

Hope it was at least better than mine. Generally it was fine, bar another bout of earache and being pretty depressed. At least the depression I can do something about, but the earache! I've spent the entire weekend in pain and completely deaf on my right lug hole. Which means I've gone around all weekend saying"wat!" like an old granny every two seconds.

It seems to be easing off today, so I can at least hear again, which is nice, got to love that my body deals with stress and depression by giving me earache which sparks off tooth ache in my wisdoms and migraines.

Never mind. Most of this weekend was spent in the garden, including chopping down trees all over the place. Would you believe that a jeweller would enjoy wielding a saw in the garden more than weeding? Nah, I wouldn't have either.

Here are a few of my pictures from this weekend of what's been growing in the Boyd garden.

Oh, incidentally, I had posts to be auto published this weekend, which apparently didn't, so I'll post them today either before or after this depending on the date stamp. Think I pushed save and not publish.

Me, dim? Nah!

Enjoy the sunshine!

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Listening: James Blake - CMYK

Egg-bot

2011-04-24T10:47:00.003+01:00

Crate by Windell Oskay

ON Easter Sunday those of a religious nature celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Personally, I'm not religious, never have been, but we all have different beliefs.

However, everyone seems swayed by the giving of Easter Eggs. Originally symbolising new life, now it's more an excuse to eat chocolate without guilt.

Anyway, I've had this next design delight squirrelled away for such an occasion, an Easter Egg from me to you.

For Easter Sunday we have Egg-bot!

Eggbot was designed by Bruce Shapiro in 1990. The original design was based on Shapiro's interest in controlling stepper motors via his computer and came to life as a means of helping his children decorate Easter eggs.

Since then Eggbot has been developed by Shapiro, his son Ben Trombley and Brian Schmalz into a kit which they hope helps to teach people "about the electronics, mechanics, and software needed to build your own motion control projects. We hope this project inspires you to explore the emerging field of home robotics as a medium for teachers, artists, and makers." (Eggbot)

Once you've assembled your Eggbot you design your pattern using a piece of software called Inkscape then print onto eggs; Christmas baubles; pumpkins; light bulbs; golf balls; ping pong balls; large marbles; stones; wine glasses and just about any sturdy, spherial or ellipsoidal object (with a relatively smooth surface) which will fit into the robot.

I love this piece of design, it's so simple and yet in many ways sometimes the best pieces of design are. An egg printer which you have free reign to design any pattern onto a multitude of objects...might seem silly, but I can see applications for it in what I do.

For more images of the designs made using the Eggbot visit the Egg-bot Flickr Pool

Available from Evil Mad Science for between $195 and $220

Link | http://egg-bot.com/

Happy Easter!

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Listening: The Strokes - Someday

Hop It

2011-04-23T15:31:00.000+01:00

Happy Easter!

2011-04-22T23:21:00.000+01:00

Happy Easter everyone, hope everyone has a nice weekend (religious or chocolate led). I have a few Easter related posting for you over the next few days... and none involving the Royal Wedding!

First are these funny and brilliant birdie illustrations by Kate Wilson of Little Doodles. I'm absolutely smittened with them and as soon as I saw this one, I had to post it!

For more of Little Doodles work, head over to her Flickr account, or to her blog.

Against, have a Happy Easter and a great weekend, for anyone in Scotland with those ominous clouds hanging over our heads, fingers crossed they clear off and give us a sunny weekend!

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Listening: James Blake - Why Don't You Call Me

Musical Interlude: "The Look"

2011-04-16T13:03:00.003+01:00

The Look by Metronomy...one of the very good songs I'm obsessively playing. It's in a bid to keep the Bieber out! Damn you Glee!

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Listening: Metronomy - The Look