Back..for real this time!

So, one of my "things" I wanted to improve on in 2012 was to update the blog more....4 months in and Happyy Neww Year!! how's everyone been? sorry for the long absense, seems like things must have got in the way..I don't know where to start. I thought I would update the template of this to feel like a brand new website (its like when you get a new toy!) what do you all think? 

what's new for me is....I got a new pet hamster!!! he's a russian dwarf and his name is Barbosa! named after the pirate from Pirates of the Carribbean. We felt he needed an epic name for such a small guy. i'm so happy we got him, it's the small compromise instead of having a dog!

I have also been trying to spend a bit more time making toys and drawing, been seriously considering possibly selling these in the near future, I will be adding more to the blog, let me know your thoughts on these as they go up, but in the mean time here is a toy I made for my cousin. she's obsessed with pandas.I hope she likes it! 

if you would like to see what else I have been up to, I have been adding pictures to my Flickr account. have a cuppa tea and a cake and have a looksy!

 

Those photos...

I finally got around to making a Flickr account- it only took me being sick and being sent home from work for me to realise I have the time to upload pictures!

If you like what you see and want more then please click here

The pictures were taken various places on my travels around the globe..

in other news..I passed my driving test :)

Olympus Trip 35

Hello there!
I got very excited recently and thought I should share with the world my new favourite present! (apart from the Silly Putty that Mark got me last week- do you remember that stuff?! a.maz.ing.)

The other weekend we went round to see Marks Grandma in sunny Cheltenham, when the mentioning of cameras came up, she had heard through the grapevine that I was interested in photography and casually said " I have a box of old cameras that I thought you might like to look at" - I know many of you reading this are like me, and it felt like Christmas had come early

Amongst some really old slides and manuals for cameras that weren't in her box was this little beauty,it was her little Olympus Trip 35 camera, so pretty in a leather case that was worn away enough for it to have that "vintage" smell (smells like garages!)

I'm so excited to see how they will come out- sure enough I will be posting them on here. There was even a little attachable flash I could use! oohh la laa I feel like the luckiest girl in the planet :)

what's your favourite camera? and do you have any tips on this lil number?

Mr Pigeon

Photo taken using Instagram. Golden Square, Soho, London

At work we used to have a pigeon visit us everyday. We named him Mr Pigeon. I knew it was the same one as he had toes missing from his left foot and had a distinctive beak.
Anyways he was the nicest pigeon and we used to give him cereal to munch on.
One day he brought someone else with him, Mrs Pigeon!!! He was such a gentleman, he let her have the food whilst he just stepped back and watched. Then when they were done he looked at us and they flew off into the sunset

True.story.

I Have moved now from that office

Dear America

Dear California

Thanks for sharing the last couple of weeks with me. You have let me
in and explore your fascinating people and colourful landscapes



Dear Barnes and Noble and Borders,
running around your stores made me appreciate them more since they no
longer exist in UK. I loved my new Bloggers notebook that I lost 5
days later

Dear Santa Monica and Venice beach
Thanks for introducing Bryan to us and him being a real LA boy
showing us the back roots, especially the part where we thought we had
discovered aliens in Venice canals but they ended up being Sea Snails.
Amongst the beautiful houses and the random photoshoots Alee had made
us pose for on bridges, I would love to live here one day.
Also, after viewing where the birth of skating took place, I want my
kid to be like the lil guy with the broken arm skating with crowds of
people watching in awe.

Dear Memorial weekend,
I was touched by the memorial you had put on next to Santa Monica
Pier, I could feel the emotion in the air. Thanks for not letting me
blow off the edge of the pier whilst the guy played Bob Dylan on his
guitar.

Dear Griffith Observatory,
I loved how you have to pass through the tunnel where Marissa Cooper
passed away and made me think of the OC all over again Thanks for the
beautiful scenery of Hollywood at night and the 15 minutes to get all
the way around the museum and learn about our planet. I would like to
visit you again someday and work out how that big ball in the middle
actually moves.

Dear food of LA
Thanks for letting me try the "best tacos in LA" at Cactus cafe and
the "best Cheesecake in Hollywood" at Grand Lux Cafe
I never got to try the "best hot dogs" at Pinks but sure they are amazing
considering the line, but I did try your Corn Dogs and Pretzels shaped
like Mickey Mouse



Dear Disneyland
You are my happy place. Always have been and always will be. I tried
to play your "hidden Mickey" game, alas couldn't find any.
Sorry to Mickey Mouse- I got a bit star struck when I met him and
didn't get to say what I wanted but luckily Alee was on hand to tell
you that Thanks for Having us!
Thanks for soaking us completely on Splash Mountain and making me buy
a souvenir hoody to keep me warm. This ended up being the clothing of
choice to take with me on the rest of the vacation

Dear Ryan,
you're grown up now driving us around San Diego, I like how you have
introduced us into the world of Planking, although I feel that Mark
has set the bar on his picture :P I had fun with you and Alee and Mark
in Rohr park blowing bubbles and drawing. Its not something we usually
do when we come visit you in California. I like how it didn't involve
food


Dear Uncle Putoy and Auntie Yolly's swimming pool,
you made Mark and me feel so relaxed laid out there, I did not
however,not so much enjoy the path full of snails to get there, but
having random rabbits hopping about cheered me up. I'm not too sure
having access to two pools in different locations was so good as we
had Alee crying "where are my Brits" for 45 minutes trying to locate us.


Dear Shamu,
Thanks for inviting us for breakfast. Its one of the best meal experiences I have
had in my life, I didn't know whether to eat my bacon,or watch you, or
order my drink or take a million photos. It was such an experience and
will never forget it. Thanks also for introducing me to your dolphin
friends and giving them a rub on the nose. We brought with us my
nephew Matthew- he's 4 years old and watches you everyday on Shamu-cam
on your website. he loved how you always came near him when he was
watching you whilst eating his breakfast. He wants to be a Shamu trainer when he is older



Dear La Jolla Beach,
it was great staying over in your hotel whilst we celebrated Caylyn's
birthday. It wasn't so great when the Kayak hit Ryan in and sliced his
ear that we ended up going to hospital for him to get stitched up. You
also managed to scare me so much when the dolphins swam next to us in
our kayak and I thought it was a shark, you sneaky beach La Jolla.

Dear USS Middway Navy Ship
Thanks for letting us on board and having Uncle Putoy show us where he
used to work. I could tell by his face that he really enjoyed having
his family there. The whole day was so much fun and even all the
adults looked like they were laughing a lot jumping about in the sand.



Dear all the new friends I have made
you all rock! I love the vibe and personality you all have and the
positive attitude you guys give out in your American ways. love how
you all want to imitate the British accent :)

Dear Tim Burton,
thanks for sharing your artwork at LACMA. You have a lot of influence
on me in your art work and could stare at the Edward Scissorhands for
longer than I was. Every single drawing and painting that was on show
enlightened my fingers and eyes and made me want to get back into
drawing.


Dear family,
I can't describe how much i love and appreciate all of you, making me
feel so welcome every time I am over there and spoiling us rotten, I love meeting
all the new additions too. It saddens me that I can't see you everyday.
Alee- #meeh.

Dear America,
I will be back again soon :)

Weddings and Ukuleles

At the weekend my amazing boyfriend Mark had the honour of being Best man to John in his wedding to Kathy-Ann

a few reasons what made this wedding so special

*They used bubbles instead of confetti. I forgot how beautiful and fun bubbles are

*Mark sang his best man speech with the help of a Ukulele

*Kathy made her Bride dress and also her bridesmaids!

*The sun was shining and everything ran smoothly- there was even a dog there - Miss Boo

* a lady was wondering around in a bright yellow boiler suit

* there were as many sausage rolls as you wanted.

* I spoke to a few older couples who told me they are still in love after 40+ years together

* the DJ had a friend who fell asleep on the chair all night

*disposable camera fun

*Kathy changed into white wellies so she could dance :)

I love weddings! who's next??!

love for Sundays

I love Sundays when the weather is as brilliant as it has been this weekend! a few of my school friends and I headed east to Spitafields market and a browse around Brick lane




Although I walked away with no purchases I got to take more photos and be out in the sunshine
hope ya'll been out having fun x

getaway

I love my life in london, but every once in a while I get the need to escape and go breathe in some sea air or forest mist, and this calling came two weekends ago.
I have a close group of university friends and a couple of themlive in good ol Bristol, that city is full of creative talent and quirky people.
Everytime we visit I find myself more and more wanting to pull out my pens and start

drawing or make something. Especially as Dave showed us his very amazing studio where he works as a freelance story board artist. It's such a good idea if you are freelance to surround yourself with such talent like others-keeps the ideas bouncing and plus you're constantly inspired by what's around you.. As soon as we stepped into the studio my face was in awe at

everyone's personality coming out through their art work.

Next was a visit to a simple yet stunning little vegetarian restaurant called Kino. I had the root vegetable pie- twas delicious! In the evening we ended up at the club Firestation where randomly another old uni mate seemed to have a gig. Of he wasn't my friend I would still love their

music as much as I did. Could not stop dancing plus they had a bonfire in the middle of the outside part to keep us warm.



The next day we went to Wales! To a place called Abergavenny where we drove up to a huge oak tree forest. It was beautiful being surrounded by friends and trees. Such a rare treat and a perfect reason to the camera(s) out! had so much fun. The weather was pefect and even stroked some horses on the way back down!

I love weekends where I get taken out of my London life. Can't wait
for my next one..
let me know if there are any places that you know which are great for
weekend getaways!

surprises!!

It felt like Christmas

The other day, unexpectedly I received two presents!! I'm sure like most people they love unexpected gifts and when they are from such lovely beautiful people it's even more special

First I got mail sent to me through the post to work... and it was from the amazing Sophie with... Stickers!! Sophie and my relationships started from way back when she was a receptionist and I was a runner, many passing by's, exchanging gossip and love for cheesy rock brought our friendship close. Then Sophie, being one to chase her dreams got her golden ticket in the form of a Canadian visa and was whisked off to fulfill her rotoprep life with some weekend snow boarding built in.
Now she is out there I miss her dearly and was having a bit of a rubbish week so she definitely knew how to cheer me up! these stickers are ust my style :)

secondly were presents personally delivered to me by my good friend Alana.
We met back in 2008 when we ended up as housemates in London and spoke of dreams of going to Japan.
luckily for Alana, a brilliant opportunity came up for her to go work in Tokyo for 6 months! which also meant I HAD to pay a visit to the beautiful city. It was one of the best times of my life out there and fell in love with the shop The LOft. Unfortuntately you can't buy anything from this shop online so if you're ever in Japan I strongly advise you to go there. It's full of the BEST stationary I have ever seen! Alana knowing me so well brought these back with her. Cute chopsticks that look like pencils, an all in one rainbow crayon pen and fun fun Japanese food style erasers!
love them all!!! Thank you sooo much guys!! you rock x