Who's There?

I've just discovered the Esty store Knock.Knocking. Some of you may already be aware of the store and it's creator Agnes Blum as she was Etsy's 'Featured Seller' Thanksgiving 2009. But for those of you who aren't already in the loop here are some of the bright and beautiful creations that you can find at the online shop.


There are hundreds of gorgeous wreaths to choose from as well as felt pins and wooden gifts. All the wreaths are so magical that I'm finding it hard to choose a favourite, although this little guy has found a special place in my heart. Isn't he just the sweetest?!

I Have Fallen In Love

As I was browsing Etsy yesterday my eye was drawn to an asymmetric hoodie in their 'Featured Seller' section.

Anna-Marie Cooper aka Minkie of Minxshop is the creator of this hoodie and I have completely fallen in love with her design style. Clean modern lines with a nod to vintage pattern can be seen throughout her collection.

I'm totally in awe and don't mind saying that her clothing is exactly the type of thing I would want to create if I were still working in the fashion industry. (For those of you who don't already know; I actually used to be a fashion designer. Admittedly a jaded one, hence why I'm not one any more but you never forget your first love.)

Minkie has inspired me to think more about the garments that I still create for myself, especially when it comes to material selection (I am rather guilty of sticking to safe patterned cotton,) and embellishment; which for me used to be the most rewarding part of designing.

I urge you to check out more of Minkie's designs and the interview she did with The Storque.

Fanciful Friday

Click Image to Embiggen.

1. Upcycled Modern Stacking Moustache Mugs with Holder in White from UptownAvenue at Etsy.com
2. Heart Repeat Oversized T-shirt from Lazy Oaf
3. Eames Hang-It-All Coat Rack from Amazon.co.uk

Image of Eames Hang-It-All Coat Rack from: Modernfindings.com

Check out these wonderfully creative cakes submitted to the 'Threadcakes' competition hosted by Threadless. Aren't they amazing?!

The idea is to produce a cake based on a Threadless T-shirt graphic design. The competition is closed but you can check out all the entrants and the winner here.

Weekend Treats Photo Dump

I spent the weekend celebrating one of my best friends birthday. Here are some photos from Sat/Sun. I stole them from Kim, they're all in black and white because even though she's 25, she's still a moody teenage Goth at heart. (love yooooou.)

Yummy Welsh Cakes

Ferris Wheel

Cardiff Bay

Too much sugar

White Russians

The Birthday Girl

Fanciful...Sunday?

I have no idea why I didn't remember to post this feature on Friday and it only dawned on me yesterday afternoon that I hadn't. So here it is, better late than never!

Click to Embiggen.

1. Wire Drop Shelf from Urban Outfitters
2. 'The Whitney' Dress from Johann Earl
3. Merry-Go-Round Necklace from Anna Lou of London
4. Poetic Licence Spring Blooms from Irregular Choice

Want

Can someone please crochet me this little guy?! He's just so darn cute. You can get the pattern here. That is all.

Ouch!

I had a lovely evening planned with Sam yesterday. We were going to eat pizza like little piggies and go to the cinema to see Toy Story 3D straight after work.

But then disaster struck. I was trying to direct a pallet truck down a small slope when I lost control of it. The pallet truck started rolling down the slope at an angle and hit a wall of cardboard with my right ankle trapped between the two. Boo Hiss.

pallet truck.

Fatty Leg.

Thankfully there are no broken bones but it's pretty sore. It's a little swollen but not as bruised as I thought it would be. I have to rest it and keep it elevated for 24 hours, so I'm not in work today, but I'm sure I'll be going in tomorrow. And hopefully Sam and I can go for pizza and Toy Story times next week ^_^

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Duvet Day

The last couple of weeks have been crazy, crazy good but still utterly exhausting. So I'm taking the opportunity to do absolutely nothing.

When I say nothing, what I really mean is: read, peruse the net, consider finishing that summer dress (not that there's much point, as summer seems to have been and gone) and partake in some general pottering. Good times.

My copy of Whip It came this morning so I think I shall have a mini movie afternoon and then possibly paint my nails green in homage. I <3 lazy weekends.

Photo from weheartit.com

Fanciful Friday

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1. Coco from Momiji
2. Je t'aime Brooch from Anna Lou of London
3. Pierrot Tiny Necklace in Pink from Tatty Devine
4. All Coming Back to Me Dress from Modcloth
5. Eiffel Tower Table Lamp from Target

Zumba!

The new keep fit craze that seems to be hitting the UK is 'Zumba'. It's like a dance inspired aerobics.

I don't usually get caught up in fitness fads, as I'm just not built for any kind of physical exertion. Even so, I took the plunge and went with Ma to my first zumba class this evening, and guess what?! I didn't die!! Yay me.

I had a great time and I'm definitely going again. The class leader was awesome and her routines were great as there was a broad range of different dance styles. These included: salsa, line dancing, bollywood and dance hall. I fully recommend zumba to anyone as you can have a giggle, get fit and shake ya' money maker all at the same time!

Bag Lady

I've been on the search for the perfect big, black, quilt look bag for months now. I've had great difficulty in finding the perfect one or been able to afford anything that comes close. (I have very expensive taste when it comes to handbags.) But finally my search is over...

I NEED the cream bag that the model is holding in the first pic, except in black. (You can see the black version in the second pic, being held by the model in the background.)

I am so in love. Swoon. It's by Orla Kiely for her A/W 10 range. I think I'd better start saving my pennies.

Also, isn't this presentation set amazing!? I could live in it!

Photos from retrochick.co.uk

Sports. Yeah!

I pretty much detest sport and anything sport related... until yesterday that is, when I went to my first ever real life Ice Hockey match.

It was a charity event held at the Cardiff Bay Arena and two of our friends were competing (in different teams.)

It was a round robin tournament with four teams representing four different charities. Those being:

Dreams Come True
Breast Cancer Care
Cardiff Devils Foundation
Marie Curie

It was a great afternoon out and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I'd really like to see a professional game because I found myself getting very excited about the intensity of it all!

So there we have it, I actually like a sport. Time to get myself a flag I think.

Been There, Done It, Got the T-shirt.

We went on a family outing to the Eisteddfod on Friday. We all had a great time. Here are some photos from our day on the Maes.

We watched my work colleague Neta and her Belly Dancing troop 'The Aber Belles.' They were fabulous.

We saw some robots 'warming up' before their match in the Robocup

Ma and lil' bro' preparing for the 5D cinema experience. Which was ace.

Hufen ia (Ice cream.)

We managed to get into the Pavilion to see the 'Chairing of the Bard.' Which is the most important ceremony of the Eisteddfod. I didn't totally understand what was going on as it was all in Welsh but I had a pretty good idea.

Tudur Hallam from Carmarthenshire was crowned chair of the bard at this year's Eisteddfod.

One of my favourite pieces from the Art Exhibition at the festival. I unfortunately cannot remember the name of the artist.

My brother very happy about his new T-shirt (he could have had a navy one but insisted on the pink - 'To match the pavilion.') I bought one too ^_^

Fanciful Friday

Click Image to Embiggen

1. Red Double Ruffle Dress from Miss Selfridge
2. Print Tea Dress from Miss Selfridge
3. Frill Seeker Skirt from Johann Earl
4. Damson Tights from ASOS.com
5. About the Benjamins Heels from Modcloth

R.I.P Little Ralf

Today is a sad day.

I was very excited about updating you all on how Little Ralf was doing. He had grown magnificently tall and was starting to flower. I was pretty confident you'd all guess that he is in fact a Sun Flower, but then disaster struck! I tripped over his pot sending myself and Little Ralf flying. I heard him snap under my knee as I hit my chin on a chair (ouch!) His head had come clean off as well as the stem snapping at the base.

I'm trying to do the best I can for him so that he may reach his full potential and flower, but I'm not holding out much hope.

Does anyone know if putting him in water is the best plan of action? Also, does the same sun flower plant flower every year?

Eisteddfod

Here are some (really crappy) photos from the Eisteddfod.

The Pink Tent is the Main Pavilion.

I don't know who these guys were but the bassist thought he was a dude.

You can just about make out a circle of stones behind the picnic tables. These are the Gorsedd Stones which play an integral part of the Druidic Gorsedd ceremonies, one of the most important being 'The Crowning of the Bard.'

The 'beach.'

It was a bit wet and miserable today and I didn't have much time to take any decent photos whilst on my break but hopefully I can rectify that when I go as a paying visitor on Friday.

Feisty

Sorry I haven't been a great blogger lately, I've been a bit neglectful as I've been very busy and quite disorganised.

I went to a wedding in Devon over the weekend. It was marvellous. I had a tremendous amount of fun, ate humongous amounts of delicious food and drank what is an impressive amount for such a light weight (and here's the best bit) without even getting a hangover! Hurrah!

The lovely couple

Wedding Cheese!

'The Welsh Lot.'

I'm going to the National Eisteddfod tomorrow, where I shall be promoting the Gwent Record Office (where I work.) For my non-Welsh readers, an Eisteddfod is a festival that celebrates literature, music and performance. The Eisteddfod tradition dates back to the 12th century, when a festival of poetry and music was held by Rhys ap Gruffydd of Deheubarth at his court in Cardigan in 1176.

The National Eiseddfod focuses particularly on Welsh poetry etc. and promotes the use of the Welsh language in the attempt to keep it alive. It travels the country, alternating between North and South Wales every year. The last time it came to my town was in 1958 when my Pa was only 7 years old.

I'm very excited to be attending as I've never been to the National Eisteddfod before. I just cannot wait to get into the Craft Tent! But I would also like to point out that not everyone is as enthusiastic as me about the event coming to my town. Some because it's a Welsh language festival (the area in which I live is on the whole English speaking) and others because they think my town cannot put on an event as large as this as it's not an affluent area and there's no point in 'tarting it up' because it's a 'tip' and we'll only fail to make a good impression.

To those people I say; how can we ever better ourselves if no one will give us the chance? We need an event like this to showcase the positive aspects of our surroundings and residents; like our beautiful countryside, our industrial past, our welcoming friendly nature and artistic talents. We may fall short of some peoples expectations but we are doing our damned well best in times of great hardship and I for one believe this is a great opportunity for the regeneration of my town and the surrounding vallies.

Sorry to get all political on your ass, it's not something that I would usually do, but I'm proud of where I come from and I feel that it needs to be said, even if the nay sayers will never read this.

Anyway, I shall take lots of pictures of the Maes (Welsh for field and traditionally the area in which the whole event is held.) And let you all know how I got on tomorrow.