Thursday 20 December 2012

Christmas tree cutting

So, today we cut our Christmas tree. Cameron climbed up and took the top out of what was once a Christmas tree itself, which has grown to be about a 40 footer! Cam took the top 15 feet off the top, and I stood as supervision. It is so rainy and gross outside. POO.


Some Jammy dodgers I made a few days ago

Tree before...
....Now with a hefty gap.

Our poor neglected play set. 



Monday 17 December 2012

New Years Resolution

I know it's a tad early, but I've made my resolution; Bake once a week.
Back in 2011, my resolution was similar but more vague; Bake More. I loved this, and so did my lucky friends. A few examples....






So now, for 2013, I've made a list of 52 recipes. I've tried to challenge myself with things and techniques I've never done before. I hope that this will allow me to establish some good recipes to play around with and adapt.

The list includes Chocolate and Raspberry brûlée, Lemon Meringue Pie, Ginger Florentines... beautiful things. I'm just going to have to run more!

And all this is in aid of..... My future career. Yes, I am training to be an architect right now, but I have been thinking about a little bakery for a LONG time. I would love nothing more than to live doing something I love. So I've half made the decision to set up a bakery after I finish my degree, instead of pursuing architecture forever.

I am encouraged by my friend Lilly, who set up a brilliant launderette with her sisters. They seemed to have fun doing it too!


Sunday 9 December 2012

Stockholm Photos

I got my film back from the processors!!! YES!!! I think I used a 400??  B&W film. Never been so nervous to pick up a developed film!

Took photos of the prints on another camera - I apologise for this; the prints are better in real life! Also - sorry for the bad White Balance on a few!









Mum's prezzies!

Money is a little tight, so I made my mum some pretty things this year.

A crocheted twisted headband

A little bit of fun...

and a pic of her flowers on the front of a card.

Friday 30 November 2012

Cakes and Models

So, I've got back into baking this last week, and here are some things I made earlier (excuse crap phone camera skills!)
Victoria Sponge with beautiful Farm Shop
 'Plum and Mulled Wine' jam.

Little model

Cupcake mould working a treat on a birthday cake

The top all iced ' with a cherry on top'

She was very happy with her surprise birthday!


It's been a fun week. For architectural fun times see architectureandi.blogspot.co.uk and for my recent running and fitness adventures check out Every Day is a Good Day when you Run

Ciao Belle!!

Saturday 24 November 2012

Creativity


This was emailed to me from my mum - I have no idea of the source!

The Six Enemies of Greatness (and Happiness)These six factors can erode the grandest of plans and the noblest of intentions. They can turn visionaries into paper-pushers and wide-eyed dreamers into shivering, weeping balls of regret. Beware!

 1) Availability
We often settle for what’s available, and what’s available isn’t always great. “Because it was there,” is an okay reason to climb a mountain, but not a very good reason to take a job or a free sample at the supermarket.
And sadly, we'll never know everything.
 2) Ignorance
If we don’t know how to make something great, we simply won’t. If we don’t know that greatness is possible, we won’t bother attempting it. All too often, we literally do not know any better than good enough.
 3) Committees
Nothing destroys a good idea faster than a mandatory consensus. The lowest common denominator is never a high standard.
 4Comfort
Why pursue greatness when you’ve already got 324 channels and a recliner? Pass the dip and forget about your grand designs.
5) Momentum
If you’ve been doing what you’re doing for years and it’s not-so-great, you are in a rut. Many people refer to these ruts as careers.
6) Passivity
There’s a difference between being agreeable and agreeing to everything. Trust the little internal voice that tells you, “this is a bad idea.”

Monday 5 November 2012

Feathers and Bleach

I got back from Stockholm Saturday night, and have spent a couple of days at my home with my family. 
It's been great. We had a mustache dinner last night and I painted some feathers on my wall this morning instead of doing the work for my deadline tomorrow... ooops! 





Cannot remember if I uploaded this before?
Bleached fabric and recon.


Friday 26 October 2012

First successful film!

I've been testing my cameras one by one, and, folks, we have our first winner!
Here are some of the shots (any blurryness is from my phone camera, not the photos them self - They are crisp as!)







I'm off to Stockholm tomorrow, so I'm taking the camera that gave me these beauties (plus digitals for safety!), so make sure to check them out in a week or so!
x

Sunday 5 August 2012

Olympic cheer

Hello!
I know I need to be more regular with my posts, however - I've been in renovating for a while!

Just a quick one to say that my sketchbook project sketchbook has arrived, and that I did a string art olympic piece for the opening ceremony (friday before last).




Keep your peepers peeled!
Abi
x

Wednesday 25 July 2012

Home - String art

I found myself not wanting to go to the gym this morning, so instead I found inspiration from College Life DIY 's fantastic string art typography. I didn't know what to put on it really, so I trawled the quotations page until I found this:

Home is where the heart is, so your real home's in your chest. 

Joss Whedon, Zack Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, and Jed WhedonDr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, 2008
This appealled to me on a few levels

  • Word Play - for other great puns see my favourite illustrator Gemma Correll 
  • I'm at a stage right now where my home, friends, possessions and life are split and displaced, so this quote just shouted at my soul.
  • It's slightly morbid and overly practical - reminding us that we are human. 
Any way, I took the last four words, Home's in Your Chest, and hammered into a plank the outlines of the letters, then went crazy with cotton thread.

The nails in the board, before string, making no sense at all.

The 'finished' product. the 'IN" worked the best I think.
 Some of the letters were off, and maybe I should have painted the board first, but I was in one of those passionate desperate rushes to get into it, so I didn't want to wait for paint. I think I will add some more colour to it by going over the string again with some different coloured thread.

I might try to do the olympic rings in this fashion - how cool would that look?

Hope everyone's enjoying the sun!



Monday 4 June 2012

Happy Jubilee Weekend!

This weekend, I have not really done much in the way of celebrating the queen's jubilee.
However, I have had some laughs.
I had the architects summer ball on friday, went for sushi on saturday, and had some folks round mine for dinner last night - Pasta bake and rhubarb crumble.

In terms of making things....

I made some egg box mice!

Ta da!
 Happy bank holiday everyone!


Sunday 27 May 2012

I am forever making lists.

This summer, I have the time to create, the time to explore. And so I shall.
My list of demands is long.


  • Re-Kindle my Etsy account and try to get myself established.
  • Oven Mitts
  • Knitted tea cosies 
  • Summer Wreaths
  • Stamps 
  • Cut Paper art
  • Dream Catchers
  • Washer Necklace
  • Tea Cup candles
  • A painting Jewelry case 
  • Use all the plastic bags in this house - plarn or melting. 
Keep your eyes here to see all this spill out!

Abi
x

In the end, it's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years.

(Abraham Lincoln)

So I have finished my first year of university, and, my, how the time flies! All those late nights, early mornings, tears, stress and laughs all came down to a crunch and a few deadlines. I've had a great 'year' at uni, and I'm awfully sad to have said goodbye to it.

The outcome of Project 7 - full write up here
And now that my life is much emptier, I can move on to make all the things that I've been wanting to all year. I've been shopping at the charity shop a fair bit, and I've managed to pick up these beauties.


A very old, but still beautiful, tin - originally a toffee tin.

A great typewriter.
Apologies to housemates and neighbours for the noise!


A sewing box



And whilst I was tidying my room,
 I made good use of the bird cages!

... And my German muss glass