Cut out and keep

Ye Old York

2012-02-06T13:43:00.003Z

Last week, Leah and I set off early in the morning on our adventure to York. We wandering round the museum grounds, found many squirrel friends, bought jam and chutney at the market, were awestruck by the (foyer of) Minster, discovered the quaint Shambles and drank tea and ate cake in Betty's. All in all a brilliant day, and makes me think how much we're gonna miss our Aussie.

Luxury?

2012-01-31T23:10:00.000Z

Yesterday, the girls and I went up to New Islington to check out one of the two sites which we will be using to investigate our architectural ideas this semester. The one here in North Manchester is the quasi-urban site. It has been the subject of much debate in relation to the regeneration of this part of the city. I don't really understand the place in itself; as you step further and further away from the bustling city centre you are met by a quiet graveyard of red brick warehouses. Past is this developing wasteland, which, though full of potential, I don't see quite working in its current state. Where are the small shops and businesses, the village heart? Anyway, let's see what our investigations bring up. Here's our unit blog: Architecture as Urban Catalyst.

They're Alive

2012-01-30T20:50:00.002Z

Fiona came to visit this weekend and on Sunday morning we made a cultural trip to the Manchester Museum. It was literally stuffed with taxidermy (!) but also had a small collection of live creatures in the vivarium. Chameleons, bright orange frogs, snakes, iguanas! Well worth a visit!

Also check out Fiona's blog of her time at an orphanage in Cambodia - her photography is ace!

Australia Day

2012-01-29T16:53:00.000Z

Lamington's by me. Anzacs by Leah. Vegemite and beetroot cob. Curried egg on bread. Our Australia day feast!

That Life

2012-01-24T22:35:00.000Z

This evening I watched a BBC4 documentary America in Pictures: The Story of Life Magazine, a story told by the photographer Rankin. They were the ones to coin the "photo essay" - the telling of a narrative with pictures and minimal words. As well as showing the public what was going on overseas, the importance of the magazine remains with the tales of ordinary Americans and the issues that effect them. After all a picture paints a thousand words.

Images from Life

Cold Hands

2012-01-23T18:07:00.002Z

... no longer! After a really mild December, it's pretty chilly out there. (Braving the park to eat our sandwiches at lunch today was... brave!) A pair of these lovely mitts by Klara Bothen would do the job.

Image from Bergslagsgatan

Urbanized

2012-01-21T11:23:00.003Z

On Thursday night we went to see a screening of the Gary Hustwit film documentary, Urbanized. I haven't (yet) seen his other two films, Helvetic and Objectified, but having read reviews about this one and seen the trailer, I was really keen to go. The film presents case studies of different cities who have input different ideas to solve the problems caused by the mass urbanisation of our planet.

The mayor of Bogota was fantastic, so enthusiastic having taken his position in office to bring in a super bus ways and ignore cars to focus on cycle and pedestrian networks. My ears pricked up about Detroit, who's population has decreased from 2 million to 700,000 in recent years, as the communities have started up urban gardens in the plots of lands where houses have been abandoned.

In a debate after these issues were discussed in relation to Manchester and what I concluded is that it is all about deeds not words. We, the individuals, need to get of our bottoms and make a different.

All in all it was a truly inspiring film.

Trailer from urbanizedfilm.com

Charles & Ray

2012-01-15T13:35:00.000Z

There is a film out about the design duo Charles and Ray Eames. They didn't have a profession as it were, it was a Jack-of-all-trades philosophy. That's how I'd like to be. Here is the documentary trailer.

Images from First Run Features

Food Futures

2012-01-11T21:22:00.000Z

So I'm supposed to be packing. After work tomorrow, I'm heading back up to Manchester for the next semester of study. I really need to get back into my dissertation reading, so this distraction is valid. I've just received the current issue of Icon magazine and it's called 'The Future of Food'. Just up my street and they have an article on my favourite architects, Work AC. I must keep packing, but I'm looking forward to sitting down and having a read of this when I get back up north!

Image from Icon

Cups or Bowls

2012-01-08T13:28:00.001Z

We (including me!) did a lot of coffee drinking!

Hello 2012

2012-01-08T13:23:00.001Z

Seeing in 2012 I was in Strasbourg visiting Lauren with Craig. We slept in so late everyday, wandered into town and generally just enjoyed each others company. It's so nice to do something different with a couple of your best buds and not make a big deal out of NYE.

Let's Build

2012-01-08T13:09:00.004Z

Wow. It's 2012 already! December flew by in a flash, I barely had time to look back over the end of term. It was all pretty hectic but one day was spent with the great gang of first years that I teach on a Wednesday morning. This day, however, was much more hands on creating 1:1 models. It was a really fun day, getting away from the computer and doing what we're supposed to be - building!

Christmas Trifle

2011-12-26T13:03:00.001Z

For Christmas lunch, I was in charge of a couple of puddings including the Trifle (yes, capital T is required!) It's a Nigel Slater recipe that Ma had seen on TV a couple of nights before, which caused me to rush along to the supermarket to buy some physalis as other people would have seen the programme too and now they might sell out!!

It's Mincemeat Trifle and, though it took some time to prepare, it was enjoyable to make and those who tasted it liked it very much. It had a mincemeat and orange sponge base, custard, orange and lemon curd, topped with whipped cream, physalis, chopped pistachios and orange zest. I was very proud, quite a spectacle to behold!

Home Lands

2011-12-21T13:44:00.000Z

I'm back at home for Christmas. As much as I enjoy being in Manchester, it's so good to be back on familiar territory. I did some searching on Digimap recently and found some old historic maps of the estate where I live here in Surrey. From top to bottom, 1860s, 1930s and 1950s, you can see how the land has been developed and our house pop up during the 30s!

Images from Digimap

Art Gallery

2011-12-15T09:00:00.002Z

On Tuesday afternoon I met Helen and Christina to have a wander around the Manchester Art Gallery. I loved seeing the Lowrys and above are a few more of my favourites.

Found You

2011-12-15T00:14:00.001Z

A couple of years ago I came across Frankie magazine, and loved reading it's articles and blogs online but was so disappointed that they no longer exported it to the UK from Aus. I actually let out a gasp when I saw it one the shelves in Magma this afternoon! Without thinking I bought it and though I haven't sat down and read it yet, I will and will enjoy it! Finally!

Image from Frankie

Guy Stuff

2011-12-09T20:51:00.001Z

Life on Sundays is a cool, man-blog I just came across. It's got great images and I really like this one, its illustrative quality and maybe also because of its architectural thing. Which reminds me the hand in has past, and now we can relax (a bit!) Roll on Christmas!

Image via Life on Sundays

Hand Bound

2011-12-06T08:27:00.001Z

Work work work work work work! We have a portfolio submission on Friday, and therefore I have started dreaming architecture, sections, people, walls... standard pre-deadline sleep pattern! Another part is our environmental report so yesterday Helen and I printed and hand-bound our book, and we're really pleased how it has turned out. Of course when the going gets tough, the tough eat a raspberry tartlet from Patisserie Valerie!

Cabin Fever

2011-12-06T00:50:00.001Z

A house within a home, by design and research collaborative, KatzChiao. It's called 'A Cabin in a Loft', a one-room bed and breakfast in Brooklyn, NYC.

Image from KatzChiao

Ginger Snaps

2011-11-28T19:45:00.001Z

The other day I decided to bake gingerbread biscuits. Every Friday we have studio day, so I thought it would be nice to take them in for the gang to eat while we work away. They were going to be in the shape of courtyard houses. Needless to say, these said gingerbread biscuits didn't quite go to plan. They were more like slabs of dry ginger bread, and that is even giving them a title they don't deserve. These ginger snaps on the other hand look highly edible. If at first you don't succeed...

Image from smitten kitchen

Spontaneous Peripatetic

2011-11-21T11:24:00.001Z

Sometimes it's just good to go on a whim. Jump on a train. I love to find myself wandering around London town, out with the gang and catching up over a freshly baked scone.

FYI

2011-11-15T21:18:00.001Z

...Christmas is coming! I have a lot of love for these!
Image from Anthropologie

Old-Book-Smell

2011-11-13T13:26:00.001Z

Studying this year so far has been so much more about research, though soon we'll be getting stuck into design. I've really enjoyed searching for sources to go along with our work and the other day I came across this old French book Le Maroc, by Jean Louis Miege. It shows Morocco in the 1950s and having been to Fez just a few weeks ago, the past 60 years doesn't appear to have changed the city much at all! The donkeys are still carrying impossibly heavy loads, men still dress in long, hooded gowns and the streets are still teaming with people.

Images from Le Maroc by J-L Miege

Heat Sources

2011-11-07T00:37:00.000Z

One. My electric heater. Two. Saturday night's bonfire.

At Night

2011-11-06T18:27:00.001Z

Computer rendering is something that's taking architectural design onto another level, something I've yet to get my head around. Jack, a fellow Manchester architecture student, has entered one of his MA project renders into the 4th Advanced Architecture Contest. Please 'like' the image at the link here and share it too!

Image by Jack O'Reilly

Los Organopónicos

2011-11-05T16:28:00.000Z

My love for Cuba - even though I have never been there - gets stronger every time I read or watch something about the country. I'm able to write about my wildly keen interest in urban agriculture for my dissertation, and I'm currently thinking about doing a comparison between Cuban and British food production and in the city. The situation in Havana and other cities on the island has stemmed from the end of support of the Soviet Union - a case of having to grow your own. Yet it has gone from strength to strength and now is a part of the everyday cityscape and daily lives of the people with strong support from the government. In the UK, on the otherhand, there is no such encouragement and urban farm schemes rely on associations lacking in funds. We still rely on the supermarkets and the food that has flown thousands of miles to get to us. So let the investigations commence!

Images from Sustainable Cities, Denmark and video from 'Around the World in 80 Gardens' (BBC 2008) on YouTube

Film Fun

2011-11-03T09:52:00.000Z

I got snapping away with my old Praktica film camera when we were away in Fez. Embarrassingly I'm still a complete novice when it come to old school technology. First I thought there was already a film in so some images dissolved into nothingness, next I couldn't work out why the camera wouldn't take with a new film in (the shutter lock was on) and lastly when the film was finished I forgot to wind it back and opened the back up and exposed the film. Phew! Nevertheless I got a few good snaps, most importantly the ones of site for our project. Here's a few of the others.

Soft House

2011-11-01T23:37:00.001Z

Cosy architecture. Buildings you can hug. These are Pillows by Poppy and I wish I could turn up to studio having created something like this and be taken seriously. I wish!

Images from Pillows by Poppy via rockstar diaries

Funky Fez

2011-10-31T12:51:00.000Z

For our studio study trip, last week we flew to Fez in Morocco. We've been studying the courtyard house typology and went to see it first hand. Fez has a dense urban fabric: it's like a labyrinth and many times we got lost, had no idea which direction we were going in and had to dive out of the way of the donkeys and carts flying down the narrow streets. Being in the medina is like stepping back in time - the historic architecture, being car free, the markets for shopping and the crafts people working on the street. It's the latter that intrigued me the most. There are silk weavers using the street as their workshop, men banging copper into shape in the square.

Seeing Fez was an intriguing cultural experience, whether I could live there myself is doubtful - being back in the hustle and bustle of London was oddly calming!

Smashing Quilts

2011-10-31T00:06:00.000Z

Mrs Welch, my cousin's lovely wife, has started making some amazing quilts! She's now branching into hot water bottle covers and I am a massive fan. Check it all out at Smashing Quilts!

Image from Smashing Quilts

Insta Gram

2011-10-20T23:30:00.002+01:00

Clockwise from top left: inside/outside warehouse/striplight; choco pud from our dinner party; sunrise in Hulme; Delilah the orchid; tonight's fish pie; funky lampshade. Life in Manchester is good, especially with Instagram in tow!

Men's Clothes

2011-10-17T10:38:00.004+01:00

Lucy and I reconvened in the Northern Quarter for lunch on Saturday and on the way to an art shop, our eyes were caught by a lovely wooly hat! In Oi Polloi they sell menswear though the man inside assured us girls could wear them too. The hat's by Howlin' by Morrison, knitted in Ireland. I'd like one for the winter approaching!

Images from Howlin' by Morrison

Abandonment

2011-10-17T00:50:00.003+01:00

In parts of North Dakota, people have moved on and moved away. Barns and farmhouses sit empty in the vast, endless landscape, crumbling day by day. This evening, I came across these photos by Rick Craig, who captures these incredible scenes. This is the America that I am fascinated by and would love to explore. It's a place with some kind of personality, but with no persons there.

Images by Rick Craig

Roof Tops

2011-10-16T13:06:00.000+01:00

Jaisalmer roof tops. We've been studying the courtyard house and the organic, yet organised, urban forms of North Africa, the Middle East and India. This time next week we'll be on the way to Fez, so I can get get snapping too. As well as my DSLR and film camera, last night I discovered the joys of Instagram - so much better than Hipstamatic and free too!

Image by Doctor Casino

Map o' Harmony

2011-10-14T00:12:00.001+01:00

Housing, mapping, drawing... here is the Map of New Harmony, Indiana drawn by Wallrath Weingartner in 1832. On each block the houses are drawn with their facade facing the street. Even some of the trees are upside down! It appears to be such a naive diagram, yet show all the necessary components of an urban plan.

Image from eril kent

Farm Yard

2011-10-12T13:43:00.001+01:00

Architecture is back in full swing. CAD, modelling, reading, research, teaching even... there's no rest for the wicked. I'm collecting together sources for my dissertation and I think this video might just be useful. I think I'm going to look at urban agriculture and food production in the city, so I've been saving videos on Vimeo to get started.

Video from chow.com

Now & Then

2011-10-06T23:11:00.005+01:00

A few of these concepts have popped up in recent times but I love the idea of rediscovering the locations of days past. Using vintage photos, is it difficult to find the original locations I wonder?

Images by Guiseppe Savini via Miss Moss

Lights

2011-10-03T17:12:00.002+01:00

Photos from recent times: candle at Fish in a Tie and lights in Hulme.

Glorious Grub

2011-10-02T22:10:00.000+01:00

I've really enjoyed getting back into cooking since moving into the flat. I baked honey cake and Emma made us a delicious vegetable and noodle soup. Don't worry mothers, we're eating well!

En Pointe

2011-09-26T22:56:00.000+01:00

I haven't danced for about 6 years but I've recently taken in up again. There is something about prancing about that makes you feel so good! On at the moment at the Royal Academy is an exhibition of Degas' fascination with movement of dancers.

Images: 1. Edweard Muybridge from RA 2. Dane Shitagi

Winding Souk

2011-09-26T22:09:00.000+01:00

It's incredible how much we rely on the internet. Since moving up to Manchester we've only been able to get online here and there, but today we got connected!

It's been a busy week since our course has started. I picked a unit where I can continue studying my interest in housing by looking at courtyard housing around the world. There'll also be a study trip to Fez in a few weeks, so I can go and discover another North African city.

Image by tkarty

Macaroni & Tea

2011-09-15T19:17:00.001+01:00

We've been exploring Manchester alot since we moved up. I've already set my sights on doing a ballet and jazz dance class on Mondays (I forgot I even had muscles after this week's class!) Luce and I stumbled across Sugar Junction in the Northern Quarter, a cute little tea shop on Tib Street. We were served a delicious macaroni cheese and I'd definitely like to go back for an afternoon tea.

Nasturtium Seeds

2011-09-11T16:25:00.000+01:00

This weekend I moved up to Manchester. Lucy and I have a week of getting sorted and exploring the city before the work begins on our Part II course. Today we went for shop and came across the Hulme Community Garden Centre not far at all from where we live. The enthusiastic people there gave us some nasturtium and calendula seeds and a choice of fruit and veg for a small donation. It seems like a great community hub in an area that has been regenerated in recent years but, at first glance, lacks some personality. They do courses and encourage volunteers so with my current enthusiasm with urban agriculture it could be something great to be involved with.

Leek Soup

2011-09-08T12:48:00.003+01:00

There's quite a bit to eat up from the veg box so I thought I'd have look for a leek soup recipe. This one from 101 cookbooks - which always has such mouthwatering photography - looked pretty quick and easy. So as I type the leeks are sweating away! Will have to see how it tastes...
Image from 101 cookbooks

How Retro

2011-09-07T18:09:00.000+01:00

I've joined the real world... and got me an iPhone! Gone are the days of the camera-less brick (having said that, this phone is certainly bigger!) Here are some snaps from my Hipstamatic, including my newly completed cushion covers!

Move Places

2011-09-07T09:37:00.000+01:00

Another day, another video. Fiona showed me this yesterday and I can't say anything more than it is SO good. The places depicted and the slick interchange makes it a great short film.

Video: MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

On Film

2011-09-05T22:36:00.000+01:00

Ethereal short films, clips moving in and out of focus. Recently I've come across some great videos and it's got me thinking about exploring this different medium in my studies. Plus it's another Kinfolk project!

Video: ribboned asparagus salad from tiger in a jar on Vimeo discovered via Village

Woman's Day

2011-09-02T22:31:00.000+01:00

Today I found a bag of the embroidery that my great-grandmother did; some aren't finished (maybe I'll complete them one day), others could be framed. Alongside was a copy of Woman's Day from February 1960 - what a trip back in time! The women were just so glamourous and the articles so hilarious:

Miss Ann Carrick says... "What should I do about hats? My boy-friend likes me to wear a hat, and I agree with him that I look better-dressed with one than without. But, perhaps it's because I'm a teen-ager, most of the styles I try on seem to be years too old for me, and I can't ALWAYS wear a beret, even though I know they suit me."

What dilemmas there were for young girls in the Sixties! Still trying to impress the boy-friend!

Chicken Coop

2011-09-01T22:56:00.002+01:00

I am a big fan of chickens and innovative design, so I am in awe of the outcomes of these chicken coops, designed and made by high school students. Arranged by Project H, the organisation "uses the power of design and hands-on building to catalyze communities and public education. I makes me so keen to get back into the studio designing again! See more of their videos here.

Video: Studio H: Design. Build. Transform. (Promo #2) from Project H Design on Vimeo.

Lucy Rose

2011-08-31T19:03:00.000+01:00

After seeing recommendation on my news feed, I had a listen to the music of Lucy Rose. She has a great voice; soft like Laura Marling, another of my favourites. Check out her music here and videos here.

I've also popped this image onto my Style pinboard on Pinterest. I resisted to join so far, but it's just such a great idea and will be so helpful to group together ideas and inspiration when I start back studying architecture in a few weeks!

Image from Lucy Rose Music

The Carnival

2011-08-30T14:21:00.000+01:00

Yesterday we joined in the street dancing, music and colour of the Notting Hill carnival. When there were questions of whether it would go ahead, it was great to see people there from all walks of life .

Tunisian Tales

2011-08-30T00:23:00.000+01:00

Lou, Fi and I spent a lovely, sunny week in the Tunisian sun last week. It was just so relaxing to be laying in the sunshine, chilling by the pool... As a souvenir I brought back this hand woven rug to pop in my new room in Manchester.

In Love

2011-08-29T00:51:00.000+01:00

We walked into the shop and fell in love. I have read alot about Anthropologie on many blogs, so when Emma and I wandered in to the Regent Street store yesterday, I was expecting something good. But not that good! I could have bought everything! With it's green wall and hanging chairs, alongside the beautiful clothes and quirky crockery, it was all so pleasing to the eye. I splashed out on the jumper, and Emma bought me the plate as a uni present (now what shall I do in return!)

A very dangerous place is Anthropologie. Bank account - watch out!

Images from Anthropologie

Snug Rug

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

The jet setting is over and now it's all hands onto move to Manchester. I mean, who doesn't love an impromptu trip to Ikea? I spotted this rug by Barefoot Kitchen in the Telegraph magazine, and it's just £20! Made from wool offcuts, I definitely want to make a purchase. It'll be great for those cold, rainy, Mancunian winters!

Image from Barefoot Kitchen

Sixties Seventies

2011-08-16T23:56:00.001+01:00

To feel like we've jumped back a few decades, these are two outfits from the MiH Jeans S/S 12 campaign shoot by Vanessa Jackman. I especially love the stripey top!
Images by Vanessa Jackman via Miss Moss

Falling Slowly

2011-08-16T16:12:00.002+01:00

A visit to indeed any exhibition has been long overdue. Even though I worked in London over the past year I "never had the time" to pop along to any. All that has changed!

On Sunday I went on an annual trip to the Royal Academy to see the Summer Exhibition with Lauren. It had a different layout this time around, but I've started to recognise my taste in art as I am always attracted to the same especially the etchings of Norman Ackroyd which show so much movement. Otherwise I gained inspiration from the architecture room where I really liked Dean Pike's The Labyrinth Plan and Marialena Tsolka's Bensalem's Hydra.

On Monday Ma and I saw the BP Portrait Awards at the National Portrait Gallery. I think it's my favourite gallery in town and this exhibition always shows some incredible pieces. It is staggering to see how realistic the portraits are painted. My picks are above:

1. Thread of Light (Portrait of Glen Hansard) by Colin Davidson (plus I have been listening to Hansard's music with The Swell Season on repeat for months!)

2. R.H. by Isobel Peachey

3. Abi by Nathan Ford

Images from: 1. Colin Davidson 2. BP Portrait Awards 3. Nathan Ford

Big Beads

2011-08-11T23:46:00.001+01:00

I'd like one of these please. A beautiful, ceramic bead necklace by Juliet Gorman of Digoyo. And it quenches my thirst for mustard!

Image from Digoyo at Etsy via Lena Corwin

C'est Chic

2011-08-09T14:01:00.000+01:00

Everyone cycles in Strasbourg. I loved it, jumping on the town bike and heading into the centre.

Pie Dish

2011-08-08T22:38:00.000+01:00

I'm moving into the Manchester flat on Wednesday and so tomorrow will be a big packing day. Pots and pans will be collected up but I really like the look of these Falcon enamelware... maybe I'll make a purchase as a moving in gift. For myself!

Image from Falcon via Miss Moss

Light Show

2011-08-08T21:38:00.001+01:00

On my first night in Strasbourg we lay down on the cobbles and watched the light display on the cathedral. It's a gothic beauty, enhanced even more by the light display. At the weekend I went to my cousin's band's gig at a festival called Rock am Wald in Eggenstein, near Karlsruhe and had a great time rocking out with the Germans!

Al Fresco

2011-08-03T17:56:00.000+01:00

Sitting outside in Lauren's garden last night, it made me think how much I love summer dining in the open air. Here in Strasbourg everyone sits out at cafés sipping on an expresso or a glass of wine, nibbling on cheese... okay okay, that stereotype went too far! I want to do a breakfast, as I mentioned here, but also an al fresco dinner party before I head up to Manchester in September. Kinfolk has some brilliant ideas and beautiful images too - fairy lights and candles, under the stars, drinking out of jam jars, with a group of great friends.

Images from Kinfolk

Sheep Shack

2011-08-02T22:41:00.000+01:00

I've been designing houses for people for the last year, and it's something that I am really keen on and want to do in the long term. Having watched The Secret Life of Buildings last night on C4, it got me thinking again about housing and whether what we're currently designing is up-to-scratch and how we can make it better. It's also about looking at the wider community and how we sustain ourselves. Through my web-wandering I came across this petting farm by 70f. They seem to do a few buildings for agricultural animals, and after all farming is something else I am interested in. So designing homes for creatures on all fours: this could be my calling!

Images by 70f

Something New

2011-08-01T19:13:00.000+01:00

Last week was my last at work. It was my first "proper" job so I guess it'll stay pretty special in my mind. I feel as though I have grown in confidence in many ways, having gradually gained more responsibility and knowledge. I have met some incredible people from all over the world, hopefully friends for life.

Last week we went for Japanese, enjoyed jazz, played softball, went to the Eagle, but the epitome was our leaving party on a London roof terrace. Evening sun, take-away pizza, Pimms and wine, friends and the most incredible panoramic view of the city over the chimney pots. Will remain with me long time!

Brighton Beach

2011-08-01T16:19:00.000+01:00

How the weather has perked up! We popped down to Brighton on Saturday for fish and chips on the beach and a wander around the pier.

Train Travel

2011-07-31T22:04:00.002+01:00

Brother Dowle is currently inter-railing around Eastern Europe. He flew into Budapest and has since been to Sarajevo and is now in Mostar, Bosnia Herzegovnia where he snapped this. To me it seems like these places are so unlikely to be visited, but from what I have now seen they are beautiful and I would love to go myself. He's keeping us update on Twitter here.

Image by alexdowle

Prune Conserve

2011-07-24T16:20:00.000+01:00

Today we popped along to the car boot sale at Epsom Hospital where Ben Smithers was selling his childhood for a bargain. I was enticed into buying an old Kodak camera for £1, which I've given to Brother Dowle to add to his collection, and bought these sweet jars of homemade jams. It's such a beautiful day, fingers crossed that it'll last for my last week at work!

Wear Colour

2011-07-18T22:52:00.000+01:00

I don't understand how the weather in July can be so miserable! To counteract it we should all embraces brightness and wear a lot of colour and maybe the sun will follow suit...

Images from: 1. cuillère à absinthe 2. bekleidet 3. street style aesthetic, all via wear color

Up Norf

2011-07-17T13:55:00.001+01:00

This weekend I popped up to Manchester with my friend Lucy to go flat hunting. From September, it will be my new home for two years when I go to do my Part II in Architecture. We loved the city and its red brick and old industrial buildings. For lunch we went to the Cornerhouse, which also has a cinema and galleries. Upstairs we saw Crazy Mad, an art exhibition by Magda Archer (who I have just found is married to Harry Hill!) which shows collections of toys and 1950s paraphernalia and artwork with a humorous twist. Plus I'm really into HP sauce at the moment.

We had success with the house hunt, so soon will start a new adventure!

Finnish Brunch

2011-07-12T22:59:00.000+01:00

Although I can't read a word of Finnish, at the moment I'm really enjoying looking at Kaikki mitä rakastin. Eeva's photography is great, especially with a warm tones to it. The other day I spotted a brunch she did, and it has got me wanting to do the same for a bunch of my friends. So guys - watch this space!

Image from Kaikki mitä rakastin

Cake Tower

2011-07-10T22:21:00.000+01:00

During a quiet and relaxing weekend, I often get the urge to bake something. Today I felt like a bit of experimentation, so I made up this recipe for chocolate nutty cupcakes. They're very basically:

4oz sugar creamed into 4 oz marg, pop in two eggs (from the chicks) and then mix in 4oz self raising flour. For the flavour stir in 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder, 2 tblsp of shredded coconut and a small handful of chopped mixed nuts (I used almonds, pine nuts and hazelnuts). Spoon into cake cases and pop in the oven for 15-20mins. Easy!

The pictures are taken with the cake stand which Steph and Lou gave me for my birthday!

Ding Ding

2011-07-10T21:04:00.002+01:00

...is the sound my bicycle will make as a peddle around town. This morning I went for a cycle with Dad and Brother Dowle and the latter definitely was like my personal trainer. When I was so ready to give up, he said NO! Once you get up to the Downs there are some great views of London: Wembley, Canary Wharf and the Shard. So I'm thinking of what bike to get when I go to uni - something town bike-like but also practical for these family outings. Any ideas? I seem to be drawn to black bikes with wire baskets and bells - ding ding!
P.S. So true!
Images: 1. Anna Yausheva via Miss Moss 2. The Sartorialist 3. Shannen Norman via Cup of Jo + Wiksten 4. Cup of Jo

Book Club

2011-07-03T18:17:00.001+01:00

Friday was my birthday which was just another day at the office but with salmon and cream cheese bagel for breakfast and home made cake after lunch. Last night was the birthday outing and I had a great time here at The Book Club with a great group of friends from home, uni and work. It's such a good venue, with table tennis and pool but also cool design such as the lightbulb ceiling and random holes in the walls. Definitely go and try a Grown Up Lemonade!
Images from The Book Club

Wowee Weather

2011-06-27T22:09:00.000+01:00

Raining, scorching... the British summer has gone mad! The veg are liking it in the garden though and the chickens are as boisterous as ever.

Muted Tones

2011-06-20T22:52:00.000+01:00

I think I'd like to get some succulents or cacti to have as plants which perhaps need less care and can be left to their own devices? I love the pale colours of these ones. I've also been having a play around with iPhoto, getting my Brighton photos looking a bit old and faded.

Top image from Old Brand New

Brighton Rock

2011-06-19T22:09:00.000+01:00

Dad did the London to Brighton cycle ride again this year, so we popped down to Brighton to see him cross the finish line!

Confetti Split

2011-06-19T19:44:00.001+01:00

I'd like to knit me one of these! They're designed and created by Annie Larson using a knitting machine. After buying this book a while back, surely I have no excuse!

Image by Annie Larson via Miss Moss

Archaeological Resuscitation

2011-06-18T22:26:00.001+01:00

In May we entered the RIBA Forgotten Spaces competition, to present a proposal to improve a forgotten space in a London borough. We chose Croydon and above is our idea to excavate the ugly underpass which links two sides of the town cut apart by a major through road and create a meeting place, an amphitheatre. Next to the community hub of the parish church and representing the uncovering of a buried river, our proposal provides an urban space to meet, sit, contemplate or simply to pass through.

Here is the AJ article!

Work Space

2011-06-13T12:00:00.025+01:00

From the patchwork of frames to the patterned rug and the wooden desk to the dog basket, I really like this studio space belonging to New York designers Shipley and Halmos. Founders & Followers sell at and fashion but also do little tours of the designers' workspaces.

Image from founders & followers vis Miss Moss (great site!)

Cut & Stick

2011-06-12T12:58:00.000+01:00

Today is going to be one of those potter about, cut and stick, tidy, crochet, lazy kind of days.
Collage by amy ellenbogen via Miss Moss

Technology & Gardens

2011-06-11T19:11:00.000+01:00

Today Claire and I went for a wander around London south of the river. First we saw my friend Nick's final year exhibition, Made In Brunel. In the Bargehouse warehouse under the Oxo tower there was some fantastic work from all realms industrial design, engineering, futures - there was both simple and ergonomic design as well as innovative industry specialist work. After lunch we wandered through Borough Market, I bought some gooseberry and elderflower jam and spotted some mini gourmet radishes! Lastly we headed to the launch day of the Urban Physic Garden on Union Street, were we sat and sipped at cider in the sun and absorbed to beautiful smells of the medicinal plants all around us.

Our Town

2011-06-09T23:05:00.000+01:00

This evening I went to see the RADA current finalists in Our Town by Thornton Wilder. Fran designed the set which was simple and beautiful, with hanging elements for different weather and time of day. The actors are the next generation which will be coming to our screens and theatres in the coming years. I thought it was so well performed (as very much a theatre layperson) and the play set in middle America at the beginning of the last century, had a story of the life, love and death of the people living in a little quiet town. Thumbs up!

Image from here

Physic Garden

2011-06-08T23:40:00.001+01:00

Last summer I was really really keen to go and visit the Union Street Urban Orchard which I did towards the end of its stint. I thought the idea of using an undeveloped space to grow fruit and veg, collect seeds and brew cider was great and I was so keen to get involved. Unfortunately it looks like I have missed out on helping out at this years Urban Physic Garden looking more into the medicinal side of plants. I'm definitely going to go along to visit!
Image from Urban Physic Garden

Daisy Chain

2011-06-07T21:04:00.000+01:00

I dream of one day having a cottage where I can paper the walls in incredibly kitsch, over-the-top wallpaper like this.

Image from Fine Little Day

Camp Inside

2011-06-06T22:56:00.004+01:00

Berlin is one of my favourite cities and if I go anytime soon for a visit I'd definitely stay here at the Hüttenpalast. You get to stay in an caravan instead of a room!

Image from Hüttenpalast

Trot Trot

2011-06-05T22:41:00.000+01:00

This weekend Louise and I popped up to Warwick to visit Fiona. She's taken up polo at uni so we went to watch her playing in the nationals. I knew nothing about the sport before but now I wouldn't mind a horse riding lesson myself (wish list!) The horses were gorgeous, I fell in love with a dog - a Patterdale originating from the Lake District - and I thought an old barn converted into a club house was very sweet and rustic.

Orange House

2011-06-04T10:30:00.002+01:00

A modern, rust steel box sits snuggly in the ageing, red-brick ruin. The way just a subtle intervention has been made yet it creates a really punchy little building. Here are more images of this studio space by Haworth Tompkins.

Image from Haworth Tompkins

Funky Field

2011-05-31T21:39:00.000+01:00

My book [on farming] arrived last week and since I have been reading up on poplar farms in Oregon, food matrixes, landgrab cities and art farms. I'm not sure if it's the food cultivation, sustainability or land preservation which evokes the most in me but I feel like I'm starting some good research before I head back to uni in September.

Images from Ruche

Style Influence

2011-05-25T22:04:00.000+01:00

When I'm having my hair cut I always take a picture of this lady because she's always had such a cute short crop. I love the colours in this image; the clashing patterns of her outfit. I've never seen an image of her on The Sartorialist wearing heels which is another reason as to why for me Eva Fontanelli is a style influence!

Image from The Sartorialist

Colour Wheel

2011-05-22T17:36:00.000+01:00

I've crocheted eight squares out of a possible 225 that I'd like to make a good sized blanket. I'd need to do... it's going to take me longer than planned, but hey I can bust out my hook on the train. The other day I misplaced said hook so proceeded to untangle my wool collection, and here we have the colour coded result!

Sprouting Drawers

2011-05-19T22:51:00.000+01:00

I just think these one off pieces of furniture by Peter Bottazzi and Denise Bonpace shown at Milan are incredible. When I was reearching my chair project last term this series called Da Morto A Orto would have been fantastic inspiration!
Images from dezeen

Farm Yard

2011-05-19T20:25:00.000+01:00

The other night, just before I went to sleep, I had an epiphany. Whilst studying I had really got into urban agriculture and "food architecture" but looking back to my design outcomes, I'm not entirely satisfied. So I decided at this late hour, that I'm going to get back to my research and continue to develop my ideas.

As my searches started I came across BRACKET, a design collective who produce topical publications the first being [on farming]. It's a collection of essays and investigations by various people. There are some great images and once I have got my ethos, I hope to make some fab images of my own.

Image of Art Farm from BRACKET

Slow Wood

2011-05-18T22:37:00.001+01:00

More handmade furniture - I really want to get my hand saw out and get making!

Images from slowwood via bloesem

Back Drop

2011-05-18T21:02:00.001+01:00

As much as I like the outfit, there is something so animated about the New York skyline!

Image of courtandhudson via chictopia

Hand Made

2011-05-16T20:01:00.001+01:00

I love the bursts of colour in an otherwise simple and natural interior. It's Ashley Helvey's Seattle apartment at Design*Sponge and the furniture is handmade.

Tonight we're having Fisherman's Pie for dinner! And soon I'll be time to make some of this...

Images from Design*Sponge via Lena Corwin

Old Fashioned

2011-05-15T21:38:00.000+01:00

Yesterday Lauren and I had an adventure around London. Our main aim was to visit the London Street Photography exhibition at the Museum of London, which we really enjoyed.

We then walked along to Spitalfields where we popped into a sweet sweet shop, A. Gold Tradition Foods of Britain, where you can buy lemon curd or traditional lemonades, or purchase a sandwich for lunch. I love the bunting hanging outside! We had a drink and a slice of treacle tart at the Market Coffee House just along the way. It was like stepping into an English restaurant in the early 1900s, which we loved. I spotted one of the winning team from this year's University Challenge (the one that looked like Napoleon Dynamite!) in there which excited me greatly!

Crochet Squares

2011-05-08T19:34:00.000+01:00

It's the crochet hook that I've grabbed. Current project - granny blanket!

Long Skirts

2011-05-07T17:09:00.000+01:00

I love all these mid length skirts for summer, but looks like I'm going to have pull them off with a pair of heels... wedges are needed me thinks!
Images from butter and brass

Vogue Dictionary

2011-05-02T11:02:00.000+01:00

This dictionary of knitting stitches found its way into my possession this morning. I think it must have belonged to my nanna. Now I have no excuses!

Knit Chic

2011-05-02T09:32:00.000+01:00

I haven't done any knitting in a long time, but this snap makes me want to change my ways. Hooks and needles at the ready...!

Image from The Sartorialist

The Big Day

2011-05-01T18:34:00.000+01:00

What an incredibly wedding it was! I watched the arrivals and the service with friends and family and to this moment can't believe how beautiful the day was, especially the bride! What a dress! We had a barbeque in the afternoon and across the country (and the world) so many people were celebrating in different ways. I love the official wedding portrait and here is the British Monarchy Flickr page. So now one more day off, and then back to normality...