Making Me Happy...

~ My new Blackberry. It's wonderful. It doesn't seem like five minutes since I went and bought my first mobile phone the size of a brick and thought it was about the most exciting thing in the world.

~ The BBC's new two part drama A Passionate Woman. I thought it was beautifully done and Billie Piper was a revelation. I was particularly taken with the ubiquitous mustard yellow dress worn with the utilitarian blue, wool coat or jacket. It captivated me in the trailers and didn't disappoint.

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~ I am in a real horticultural/ethnobotany phase at the moment. I've become interested in making my own make up and body care products without all the nasties in and so James Wongs' Grown Your Own Drugs on BBC2 is fitting the bill perfectly. This week it was Honeysuckle & Jasmine Jellies to cure sore throats, and Rose & Clove Sugaring for painless hair removal. Seeing as I have an awful sore throat at the moment, I'm wishing I had a garden more than ever.

~ The smell of my bergamont oil in my oil burner. Like walking into a Sri Lankan dream.

~ Finally having time to catch up on my scrapbooking.


~ Blanket Magazine. A gorgeous art, design and photography online magazine for the great value price of $2. This is new to me, but I am loving it. It feeds my magazine addiction quite happily.

1940's

I wish I had the confidence/physique to wear what I really want to wear. Alistair, 23 from London does. And he looks amazing. I wish men still dressed like this, I don't think any man could ever look bad in a well made suit and trilby hat.



from: The Guardian & Face Hunter

Easter & Who?

I love Easter, probably as much as Christmas and maybe even more so. There's less pressure to create the perfect atmosphere and 'have' the experience. It has a freshness and a rejuvenating feeling (despite the horrible cold, overcast weather here). We have traditions in my family that mean a lot to me. My Mum bakes her delicious hot cross buns from the same book which I have gazed on since childhood (the painted eggs were an early design inspiration for me) and our neighbours come over for tea and buns.

To add to the loveliness of the weekend, there was some much anticipated television, most notably, the return of Doctor Who with the 11th Doctor and my childhood hero as the writer/Exec Producer. Verdict? LOVED IT. Loved it in all it's quirky, magical glory. There were old skool red wellies and a duffel coat, tweed and bow ties and tech. geekery. Glorious.



Wishing anyone who stops buy a very Happy Easter.

icon by thunderdust

Wishful Wednesday

1. My one weakness (Miss Lane), is vintage inspired/styled bags. I am forever searching for the perfect, soft brown leather, well loved rucksack. So until then, this is brand spanking new, but as it comes from the fabulous Cycle Chic and it's a fabric design by Kate Sheridan, this will do nicely.

♥

2. I have never, ever liked purple. Suddenly, I love purple. Maybe I'm just a hopeless victim of fashion, but purple is everywhere and I find myself smitten. These shoes in particular with their little ruffle are divine.

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3. How wonderful! And I love the font, too. This might make me enjoy washing up for once.

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4. I've always loved shoes that look like they've been sitting in a wardrobe since the early 1930's. I've not yet found the perfect pair of oxford brogues, but there's something about these boots that says 'team me with a pair of cuffed flannel trousers and sip a cocktail'.

♥

~

icon by straw bonnet

My M&S

There is a dress I have loved. I have loved it for months and after refreshing the website and trying to get it on order, today saw me just browsing in M&S and looking lovingly at THE DRESS knowing they would only have that one renegade size 8 there as always and low and behold, but they had a few more there and one was in my size and I *have* it and it's *gorgeous* and weeeee!

It's from the Marks & Spencer 125 years archive collection, and is a 1940's tulip print dress. I plan on wearing it with my seamed stockings and fascinator to a Christmas wedding and pretending it's 1945. The picture or the rather stern looking model don't do it justice, but it's all the joy of having a vintage dress with all the modern perks and the fabric is dreamy.

♥

Marks & Spencer also have a fabulous website up to celebrate their birthday and coincide with their exhibition in Leeds, and I've spent a good half an hour browsing through all the pictures, vintage advertisements, facts and it's been so well designed and put together that I'm smitten with it.

http://marksintime.marksandspencer.com/Welcome/