Beautiful DIY Calander

I love this calendar by Shivani who worked with 30 artists to make this treat, the Owl 2011 Calendar! I'm going to customise mine by saving my favourite designs onto a a USB stick, then take it to a high quality printers, have it bound and give it to my girlfriends as part of the Christmas Hamper I'm making for them! Download yours here!

Birthday Wish List!

I know that it's a bit presumptuous, having a birthday wish list, but by writing them here is a good way of remembering them, (and also a good way of seeing if friends and family really do read my blog!) So here goes....

1) Tate modern wall calender a work of art in itself
2) This waterproof jacket for when I climb Mount Kilimanjaro in January
3) William Eggleston's The Guide, photgraphy book for inspiration, I love his style

Chronicles of Cornwall (Part 1)

Well I apologise for not keeping my Blog very up to date but I've been far too busy having a fab week camping in Cornwall! We stayed at 2 different campsites, the first was South Penquite Farm, it was a gorgeous working farm on Bodmin Moor, 15 miles from Padstow! On the first day my boyfriend and I cycled the 15 miles to Rick Steins Seafood Restaurant where we sank a bottle of wine and enjoyed the three course lunch menu before the long slog home! The mussels were, without doubt the best mussels I have ever tasted! Other culinary experiences involved making our own campfire and cooking the farms own organic lamb sausages and local butternut squash over it-very rewarding!!
In order to get to the showers at the campsite we had to share our route with the chickens, ducks and turkeys that casually walked around, and the sunset from our camping spot beat even the best hotel rooms!
We went body boarding in Polzeath and found the best surf snack shack called "Little Avalon", I'm still fantasising about their chocolate crunch cake, and their strawberry crushes and coco and banana milkshakes are to die for!
I loved driving up and down the winding roads picking up local produce left outside people's houses with an honesty box! We brought some duck eggs and home made jam and honey! The honey is delicious, you can buy it from the lady direct, (01841 521069) her husband is a bee keeper! I'm going to use the honey to make some of the infamous Rosie Lovell's flapjack!

Boom to the Bucket Tree!

I only introduce you to this online shop so you can buy from it too, preventing me from buying everything they have! What unique, so called "junk"! Shown is a 1940's lumiere box camera, 1970's crochet coloured blanket, 1950's basket (perfect to browse the markets with), vintage style kitchen scales and an old worn leather satchel! How I want them all!

What I've been listening to this weekend!

I had a small gathering on Friday night, made some Pimms, had a BBQ and drank copious amounts of wine whilst listening to some electro beats-heaven!! Check this podcast, you'll be sorry if you don't!

Vinyl Butterflies

On the fourth Saturday of every month local designers, from graduates to established artisans, showcase and sell their wares at Sneinton Market, my local market in Nottingham.

I can spend hours inspecting everything and coming back with a bag of unique items with little cost. I bought these vinyl record butterfly earrings and already I've had heaps of comments over them. Each is individually made, as a big Frank Sinatra fan I got "My Way" ones. They also do necklaces and earrings, you can buy online here.

Play on, player!

Estonian designer Pavel Sidorenko has taken old records and made them into of art, from landscapes to chimpanzees and teapots! All for $30 each which can be posted to anywhere in Europe. See them for yourself here!

Learn something new everyday!

Did you know….

that Charles Dickens invented the word “boredom?”

or rockstars are twice as likely to die prematurely than us normal people?

or that scientists have already found alcohol in space?

I didn’t. At least, not until I discovered this amazing site, “Learn Something Every Day.”

Bunting Bonanza

Maybe it's the summer months, the festival season, or just that I'm becoming even girlier but I have suddenly developed an irrational obsession with bunting!! Decorating your garden to your office, put love heart bunting at the bottom of your bed stand, and create a bunting gift matchbox! Try using different materials, newspaper, paper and maps! I just can't get enough of it and will be dragging out the sewing machine and the pinking shears pronto!

Skull and Crossbones Mania!

Knowing what a sucker I am for all things skull and crossbones, my boyfriend bought me this funky air freshener! Everybody has commented on it, and it certainly looks more stylish hanging from your mirror than the usual christmas tree or pair of smelly feet!

Memoirs of a Geisha

I can't stop thinking about this book! I was totally absorbed in it, transported to the streets of Gion during a period when Geisha were at the height of their success. So beautifully written, I just want to read it again and again! Arthur Golden, I salute you!

Danbury VW camper-vans!

It is my ambition to go round the world in a VW camper-van, and, since the likelihood of me ever being able to get on the property ladder are slim to none I think I may just invest in one of these instead! Danbury build old school VW camper-vans with new engines! I know from personal experience how vital this is, as my last experience of a VW camper-van was it being brought back on the back of an AA van when it broke down 9 hours away from home! When I do EVENTUALLY buy one I'm defiantly going to Cath Kidson it up like this person has! Aren't they just gorgeous, although I'd personally prefer a split screen one!

Retro rude girl!

Perhaps this look would not go with my "Oh so Chic" bike, however I thought that these gloves were tongue in cheek fabulous and I may just have to buy them for driving in!!!

Velorbis Bikes

Oh how I have fallen in love!! I am going to start saving for the Victoria Classic Velorbis Bike. If I cut out my daily Starbucks Soy Latte coffee then in 209 sleeps (7th February 2011!), I'll be able to buy one! At £575 they aren't cheap, but oh so Chic!!

Rosie's Deli

Rosie's Deli
Originally uploaded by Lieutenant Tibs

Although TINY (there’s about 5 tables inside and about 4 outside) Rosie's deli in Brixton is perfectly formed, with a whole host of hidden gems scattered around.

You can buy organic olives, cheese and meat, as well as olive oils, sauces, jams, organic fruit juice, etc. It all looks lovely and quaint and tasty but at £3 for a bottle of apple juice, it ain’t cheap. The coffee is served in china cups with saucers. It also sells soups, quiches, meats and ciabattas.

almost extinct
Originally uploaded by vistavision

Rosie's
Originally uploaded by read me...

Rosie's
Originally uploaded by read me...

Rosie's
Originally uploaded by read me...

Work desk havens!

Swoon! I LOVE these work place so much, to me it is a piece of art in itself, filled with so much inspiration! Found via cartwheels in my mind

Escapology!

I had a great weekend celebrating my boyfriend's birthday. We walked up Mount Snowdon and afterwards stayed at Escape Boutique Bed and Breakfast in Llandudno. It totally breaks the mould of Victorian style hotels and old fashioned B&Bs. Sam and Geanor the owners have taken inspiration from individual designers and international design shows, each room is full of fun and humour, with a funky personality and loads of charm. One room even features a red telephone box, others have bespoke headboards, vintage 60s chairs and wallpaper that was designed specifically for the hotel with Swarvoski crystals and LEDs stitched into the wallpaper! We stayed in Room 1, with a 60s electric feel! I would recommend this place to everyone!

Miss Piggy's truly naughty treats!

I used to work at a lovely little Deli in Bakewell where they did the most amazing cakes! Unfortunately the Deli closed but Lesley, the lady I worked for, has started her own business called "Miss Piggy's"! Her range is available in Harvey Nichols and online. My favourite is Delight, but if you can't decide you could always have all three!