Monday Mood Board: Fields of Gold

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

Monday Mood Board: Summers Lease

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

Monday Mood Board: Rust & Green

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: Sunshine & Rain

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

Monday Mood Board: Macro Snowflakes

Row 1: Snow flakes BW by Yamiyalo, Snow Macro by Shannon Bjorgaard,

Macro Snowflake by Kitty_and_Bear

Row 2: Snowflakes by Sindarelf, SnowFlake by Karl Wagner, .snowflakes. by Candymax

Row 3: Fresh Snow by Sam Javanrouh, Single Snowflake by Erica Marshall

It still amazes me that this is what snowflakes look like close up. I even read how to preserve them using microscope slides and superglue. [Tutorial]

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Listening: James Blake - Limit To Your Love

Monday Mood Board: Star Light

Row 1: You were brighter than the stars in the sky: explored! by Kelly Webster,

Sequin Wallpaper by Tracy Kendall, Stars by Gaiakiyarae

Row 2: ! by Bonjour Celine!, Stars...Stars...Stars... via Pinterest, Glass Glitter Stars by MemrieMare

Row 3: Star Gazing by Kittyrogers, New Years Eve Glam via Pinterest, Hanging Stars via Pinterest

Had an odd thing happen last night. I was lying in bed, trying to get to sleep and noticed that the little battery operated star lights I bought at Christmas were randomly flashing on and off. It was only very dimly, but I swear they were off and still flashing. It's very distracting watching for little stars flashing in the dark as you try and sleep...which means I keep glancing up to see if it's still happening.

I'm going to post two boards tonight, the reason being as I was looking for star imagery I kept coming across pictures of snowflakes and since we've got more looming overhead I thought I'd throw something together as they do have a very star-like quality.

Doubt we'll be seeing stars for a while.

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Listening: Alexi Murdoch - Orange Sky

Monday Mood Board: Creams, Golds & Whites

Row 1: . by Anne Acaso, CUTMR-26 by Toronto Craft Alert, Glowing by Gigjae

Row 2: Racing Pigeons by Library Man, Nuevo Estilo via Dress, Design & Decor

Row 3: Boutons-detail by Dodi Doune, Spirit Week by Jordan Tiberio, Numo052005 by Loose Tooth

Final back logged mood board for today, and we have a plethora of creamy golds and whites to go along with our snow day.

Only seems appropriate to end with a snow inspired board, without the need for snow.

Hope everyone had a good day, snowed in or not.

Em x

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Listening: Ryan Adams - Answering Bell

Monday Mood Board: Green with Envy

Row 1: Untitled by Marija Strajnic, la lalala la la la by Ambur D.

Row 2: The Princess & The Pea by Roxanne Parker, Interior by Rachel Whiting,

About the End of Childhood by Marie Hochhaus

Row 3: Untitled by Poppy Cockburn, Pears by Suzette McGrath

Still no plough. Louise & I have been up collecting more grit from the bin up the road and the snow got in my wellies...I don't like having snow in my wellies!

I also can't remember why I had a pale green mood board...I think it was to do with thinking about redecorating my bedroom, but decided it was costly and ultimately pointless. Plus I couldn't think of a colour which could trump the pink it currently is anyway. Penultimate board, then bed methinks. Need to be up early to try and dig out the rest of the drive and hopefully get out of Blair long enough to do a proper shop & get something for dad for his birthday! Fingers crossed!

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Listening: Biffy Clyro - Many of Horrors

Monday Mood Board: I Can See A Slight Muted Rainbow

Row 1: Untitled by Rahee Nerurkar, I Can See A Rainbow by Cassia Beck, A Fairytale Family by Mario Testino

Row 2: Untitled by Cassia Beck, The Longest Day by Lieke Romeijn

Shopping done, gritting done, more grit to get and the plough is apparently arriving tomorrow first thing...keep all your finger crossed that they decide not to push all the snow up our drive like they did last year! Or I'll be out there all day clearing it again.

A muted & slight floral rainbow for another of todays mood boards, mostly inspired by the Mario Testino & Cassia Beck photographs from above...

...and as an extra just to make you laugh. Snow + rainbow + cat =

Nothing Like a Cat with a Rainbow Snowcone To Make It All Worthwhile via Bullet-proof Glace

Hehehe...love it!

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Listening: The Bees - Punchbag

Monday Mood Board: Autumnal Greys 2010

Row 1: Bridesmaid Dress by Sarah Seven, Grey Pumpkins via Lynn Goldfinger Abram

Row 2: Beauties Cottage by Helen Musselwhite, Untitled by Nikolinelr

Row 3: SHED & jewellery by Artemis Russell

While I don't tend to follow trends, occasionally one will catch my eye and this year one has. Guess what it is? Yep. Greys.

This is partly due to the fact that grey is probably my most frequently worn colour, one I'm told i do actually suit and I'm obsessed with Nail Inc. London, a brand which names every colour after a different London street and has embraced the Autumn/Winter grey trend.

Aren't pretty in their monochromeness? I think my nail varnish obsession of November may have subsided now luckily or I might be tempted by these, but all my nails have broken, split and been gnarled back down to the quick. I wish I had stronger nails, or never started biting them - a habit which I am also grossed out by - because they're very weak now and never stay long very long...and usually when I've managed I either ruin them by being in and out of a washing up bowl every two minutes or by filing, polishing & chipping them down in the workshop.

Incidentally, we aren't mentioning the workshop at the moment, I've not been in for months and I think I'll cry & have another flip out if I talk about it. Designers block is really getting ridiculous and making me even more hermit like, so if you're one of my friends from school or uni & haven't heard from me in months, please, please don't write me off, I really just don't know what to say to anyone without feeling like a desperate loser.

Doesn't explain how I can write in on my blog however.

More mood boards to come, I'm off down the shops in the snow...fun!

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Listening: Regina Spektor - 20 Years of Snow

Monday Mood Board: The Masks We Wear

Row 1: CatBand-120 by Kyle Johnson, Burning Bright by photopunx2, Undergrounds by Adenomay

Row 2: Mison Michel by Karl Lagelfeld via Outi Pyy

I had planned a week of pumpkins and costumes and Halloween related magic leading up to Sunday the 30th, but time was against me, so for the first of the backlogged mood boards, we have masks and because the first mask I remember was a cheapy cat one, we have lots of animal inspired masks.

I particularly love the Mison Michel animal ears as photographed by Karl Lagelfeld, aren't they gorgeous? And I guess they're not really masks, but I'm in a lacy mood at the moment. Speaking of which, I picked up my great grans lace pillow a couple of Sundays back and I've still not had the courage to remove my granny grans last piece of lace from it. I might also recover the roller & sides etc to make it a little tidier and more me, which gran has suggested - though again it feels weird. It was my great grandmothers after all and she was still using it into her 90's (she died aged 99 only a few months away from her hundredth year.

Feels lovely to be gifted & trusted with such an heirloom.

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Listening: Arctic Monkeys - Fluorescent Adolescent

Monday Mood Board: Winter Whites

Row 1: Sister Winter by Simon Filip, Revelry by Beesknees67

Row 3: Pt. 13 by 5letters, Winter Fairy Tale by Loretablog

Plus side: snow is pretty; snow is cold; snow feels Christmassy; snow makes people feel & look (even only briefly) like children again; snow makes everything look more beautiful; romantic interludes in films without doubt happen in the snow; snow gives us an excuse to stay inside, with a warm drink and a film, under the duvet, without guilt...

Downside: snow causes chaos; snow causes damage and snow makes the council hate cul-de-sacs even more than normal; snow may bring a little business to this Glenshee adjacent town, but it also kills small businesses until the plows have been around; snow turns into slush and slush is just horrible; slush turns to ice and ice makes you slip, hurt yourself and makes you cold...

...snow is without a doubt, much, much better when you're a kid!

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Listening: Clayhill - Please, Please, Please (Let Me Get What I Want)

Monday Mood Board: Berry Reds

Row 1: Emily & Zooey Deschanel via l'atelier, Amelie Poulain. by *t0x1c-doLLy,

Red Trip by ~perhydrol

Row 2: Daisies by RayznPhotography, You Must Remember This [...] by ImagineCreate

Louise & I went shopping last week, I was in desperate need of non-holey jeans and a pair of scuffing about shoes that didn't have a hole scuffed in the toe, which would then let the rouge from polishing through to my tootsies - teach me to buy cheapies which don't like getting rained on.

This is the season I like shopping for clothes, when all the autumnal colours come in to the shops along with the Christmassy reds and greens. The fair-isle comes out and the boots and long jumpers appear. But other than in winter hats and one t-shirt, I was at a loss to see anything in the beautiful berry reds that I love. Maybe it's just that I didn't notice them, or didn't go into the right shops, but I am hoping more comes into the shops, it's such a pretty colour.

I'm a little obsessed with this colour for a few reasons, firstly, it's a colour I get told I really suit, which is nice. It's also one that I'm always looking for a lipstick in the right shade and it makes me feel all autumnal and in desperate need of a change. I've been thinking about changing my hair colour and I've been loving the colour of the girl in the photo above (Daisies). So this morning I went from my normal brunette to a dark cherry red which other than being a little darker and having a nice red sheen isn't that much of a difference.

If I'm honest, I'm just filling time until I get my hair cut, it's been two years since I had it chopped - I know, shocking isn't it? Last time I had it chopped it was as short as the girl in Daisies, now it's about as long as the Deschanel girls. It has also been 3 since the last of my pink streak got cut out. So, next time I get it cut, I'm planning on bringing back my streak. Can't wait!

Might even go Berry Red...

Hope everyone had a nice weekend!

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Listening: My Vitriol - Ode To The Red Queen

Monday Mood Board: Grey Days at the Beach

Row 1:

Untitled by Rosie Hardy

Untitled CXI by *acqueous-sun

Row 2:

The Eternal Optimist by kilted1ecosse

Spring 2010 by Fischer Clothing

Glasses to Limit Your Beauty by Julien Haler

Grey days at the beach, I remember them fondly from holidays on the west coast of Scotland as a kid...why we went to the beach in the wind and the rain and sat freezing on the sand I'll never know.

Today I feel like a mood board of beautiful grey tones after watching Coco Before Chanel and scribbling in my sketchbook. Almost finished a new piece...or I would be, had I not cracked the lens I was drilling. Truly very annoying.

Incidentally I think I'm going to keep up the mood boards, they were the most fin and I really enjoy filling my flickr favourites with new found delights. We'll see what from last weeks post sticks and I'll start posting the back log I've been hoarding for weeks!

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Listening: Ryan Adams - Rescue Blues