Monday 31 January 2011

Sustainability

Well there's just 3 weeks to go until I have to have my work in for this Sustainability project. Stress, stress, stress. But, I'm confident that it will go well and I'll have something by the end of it.
On relating to the subject of recycling and sustainability I thought I'd share a couple of clever little ways to help with certain things.

Firstly there is this little origami, newspaper seed box from Sculpted Light.

Fantastic!
I Think this idea is wonderful. I'd found a small tutorial about rolling paper up and putting it in an egg box but this is even better, it leaves out the egg box and think about how many seedlings you could have growing with the amount of news papers we purchase or receive free throughout the week. Also, it would save a fortune on buying the little pots for seeds to germinate in.

Going along the origami route in a sense again there's something I've come across recently called Furoshiki folding.

The Japanese really do amaze me in the way they think of a brilliant idea BUT also make it look pretty at the same time. It saves having to use that extra plastic bag from the supermarket and comes in handy if you ever have too many things to carry. And it's much nicer carrying around a decorative piece of fabric on you than a horrible branded supermarket reusable bag, not to mention looking a site more appealing.

These were just a couple of things that I came across but I'm sure there's many more clever and good looking ideas for recycling and using less. If you know of any more really interesting ones, please, tell me, I'd love to know!

How do you help to waste less?

Sunday 30 January 2011

Have a little heart

In order to know my deepest secrets, you must break my heart...
 So I was browsing Etsy yesterday and came across this truly strange and fantastic thing. It was a ceramic heart 'Corezone' to keep your thoughts and secrets in and in order to return to those and read back what was there you had to literally break your heart to do so. The concept is brilliant and I haven't come across something like this in such a long time. If only I had enough money I would buy one, although I wouldn't want to break it open as the craftsmanship is fantastic.

 Intrigued, I then searched for some more heart themed things on etsy to see what came up. Well sifting through all the normal heart stuff was both nice and quite tiresome. Was there anyone else that made or sold real heart themed things in such an interesting manner? Well sort of. Towards the limit of my patience of shapes I found pins and necklaces with a real heart on made out of metal with the inscription "You are here" very poignantly punched into the metal.



 Lovely, I knew the wonders of Etsy before but never thought there could be such interesting items on there, labeling it down to crafty people selling craft things of felt and buttons, hammered metals and knitted items (don't get me wrong, I like those things a lot but I like difference too) I really should start browsing the site more, even if I can't afford it hehe.
Anyway, have a nice Sunday, and relax your day away

Saturday 29 January 2011

Lovely

Hey~

Click to go there
I'd like to draw your attention to a photograph blog that I came across recently. I'm surprised it hasn't got more followers yet as the photos are few but lovely, there's this little extra something to them that leaves me staring for a while admiring the lighting and the angles. Seriously, go check it out and admire her photography skills.

Happies today! It's valentines soon! I know it's just a commercial holiday but I still like the red and the hearts and flowers at this time of year. I'm hoping I can print up some small cards in college to give to people with a chocolate heart. Ehehe.

Colour! ♥

Pow! Colour!! Love it

COLOUR!!! I think you got the point that I like the colours lol
Anyway yes, I'm all excited, and I don't know why. Hehe. 
Have a happy Saturday

Friday 28 January 2011

Fill in the blank Friday!

When I get a chance to, I like to participate in the little things we do "Fill in the blank Friday". It's great. Go over and check that out and join in the blanky fun too! :D

1. If my house was on fire and I could only grab 3 things I would grab I really can't chose! Err...My cats, my memory box and my very old bed throw. That throw means a hella lot to me.

2. A smell I really like is the first spring/summer smell in the air and the first frost smell. They really are magic and a real indicator of the seasons.

3. Something you might not know about me is I have depression.

4. Some of my favorite websites to putter about on are Icanhascheezburger, Blogspot blogs - just surfing through blogs for ages, eBay - not that I'll buy anything but I'll look for interesting things for crafts and items for hours heh.

5. This weekend I will be probably not much. College work, trying to figure out some way of hanging pictures, stuff like that really hehe.

6. Nothing makes me happier than Having a really productive day where I've wanted to get up early and everything has gone really well and I've achieved a lot for that day.

7. A bad habit I have is not keeping up good habits like moisturising my face or drinking enough throughout the day or eating properly. It's not really a habit but the habit is not doing things that I should be doing and that I want to do. Does that count? hehe.

Thursday 27 January 2011

Wednesday 26 January 2011

Coping

Just Breathe...
You'll never live this moment again
- Unknown Source

Tuesday 25 January 2011

Woe

Well I'm slightly ashamed and disappointed, but I guess it couldn't be helped. I couldn't get a blog post out yesterday and I felt so bad about it once I realised. I feel like I've failed my challenge 10-fold.
Sigh, but never mind, yesterday was the funeral, it was a nice service for what it was.
The flowers were wonderful and the place was appropriate.

On a brighter note, I really want a food processor as I've found out the wonders of baking with one. It makes life so much easier, and with less things to clean! And the rate at which I can pump out cakes with it...well, it's amazing hehe.
Amazing Cake
I did want to get a picture before it was eaten, but yeah hehe, it was too scummy. It's not even the hardest recipe in the world.

Cake:
8oz of Butter
8oz of Caster Sugar
8oz of Flour
4 medium Eggs
2 tsp of any flavouring you like (I like to use vanilla extract liquid)

And yeah, that's it. I use that for a base of most cakes or cupcakes I make, just a generic cake mix, which just happens to be very yummy too. It's hard to go wrong really.

So happy Tuesday and enjoy the rest of the day ♥

Sunday 23 January 2011

Cooking for love

Today I've offered to do the cooking as it's the day before the funeral. I'm cooking something warming, loving and filling so there is no need to worry about anything else today than the situation at hand.
I'm making a big pot of Beef & Barley stew/soup. I last made it on Christmas eve and it's so lovely and yum, I just hope they all like it as much as we did.
So, this is my Sunday. I'm hoping you're having a thoughtful day and that the new week brings you good things!

Saturday 22 January 2011

Giant Cupcake!

Well, today has been filled with tv movies, and CAKE MAKING! :D
can you tell I was delighted by this fact.

This particular cake making was a giant cupcake!

I shall get this post done properly soon as I can't get to a computer at the moment. I shall also have an amazing photo for you too.

Have a lovely evening :)

Friday 21 January 2011

One of those...

 
It's been one of those weird days that starts strangely, has a kinda of crappy middle and then ends really nice.
I've spent the day freezing, then playing on the Wii, starting with wii sports, finding out my wii fit age is 39 (lol) and then 62 (LOL) and ending it playing brawl and winning epically.

I am pleased, it was nice. Hopefully baking a huge muffin tomorrow, photos will be provided.

Have a nice night ♥

Thursday 20 January 2011

Happies

 A few things making me Happy:

'The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched, but are felt in the heart.'- Helen Keller


Sunny days in Winter

+ A full tank of petrol in my car
+ Digestive Biscuits
+Tea!!

What's making you Happy?

Wednesday 19 January 2011

Source Unknown

Tuesday 18 January 2011

Where does the time go?

I'm gaining great inspiration from the guest post over at Yes and Yes.
Keeping up the blogging is the key for me, even if it's just posting something that makes me smile if I' stuck for words helps me recover. Maybe it does for others too?

I really need to go buy some black clothing for a funeral. I found that I really don't wear black smartly or formally, if at all really. Most of my clothing is blue or pale colours and some vibrant but no key pieces which are black. Would you say this is a good or bad thing.
At the moment I'm finding it a frustrating thing as I haven't got the money to buy something new just for one day so I'm trying to be wise and buy something that I can wear over and over for everyday wear as well. It's proving tricky. But I've narrowed it down to a couple of things.

From Next

Now I like this but does it seem a bit too showy? I would wear it with black trousers and a black coat/lose cardigan.

From Next

Or perhaps the second one which looks a bit more formal but it might be too clingy.Although I could wear this with tights/leggings and heels with a black coat. I really don't know but both are at the limit of my budget, if not over it.

From New look
This seems a lot more workable and a bit cheaper. But is it a bit boring? And I'm not sure which size to get. This too I'd wear with trousers because I think it's length is shorter than it looks.

Sometimes I wish I was a bloke so I could wear a suit. Still. I wish I didn't have to think about these sorts of things. It's not something I should be thinking about right now. But in blogging it it's helped me to decide a bit more. I shall have to take the plunge and probably get either the top or the bottom one as they seem more appropriate.

Anyway, check out that guest post on Yes and Yes, it's great if you're in a rut. Have fun today and take care.

Monday 17 January 2011

Sunday 16 January 2011

Ghrr, Arrgh

Omg isn't is cute?! Click for the story

So, I'm not pleased. I drove round to the car boot sale site to find a sign saying:

Car boot sale cancelled due to poor planning

I mean really? What a waste of time. I'm only so annoyed because I really do love the car boot sales and was hoping to get some interesting things. Disappointment :(

Anyway, my plans for today are to try and sort out some boxes now that the house is just about finished. I need to find all of my books and my sewing machine. I don't think I can last much longer without it after this coming week so it's getting desperate now. Also, I know I have a decent little notebook somewhere that I can use, I just need to find it.
I miss my books.

Have a nice Sunday!

Saturday 15 January 2011

Whoopsie

Well I've been so busy for the past couple of days that I've fallen behind a bit but never mind hehe.

Though, today has been a day of thinking, contemplating things that could drastically change my life because of a silly mistake, stuff like that.
And also things that act as an advantage to life, planning a career path, how to support myself and possible more than myself in the future. Who knows.
We've been busy trying to do the food shopping on a budget today too, we're not as well off as we used to be and tightening the belt is difficult when there are people in this household that can't seem to understand the meaning of "No, you can't have that" and addictive personalities.
-Le sigh- But never ind, another day rolls by.

There's a car boot sale on tomorrow and I really want to go and see what it's like. I'm an avid car boot sale person and love every aspect of them, they seem so British and country-side-y.
Also, I've noticed I'm not making as many spelling mistake in my blog now that I'm writing more frequently. When I press the spell check, only a few words where my keys aren't working properly (Like my G key for example) come up as wrong. This pleases me so much as I've always thought I've had terrible spelling.

Also, I have the list of 100 book in a link at the top of the page if anyone is interested how I'm getting on with it. I'm currently reading "The Hobbit". It's shameful that I haven't read it yet, but it seems lovely so far. I heard a rumor that they're going to make it into a film too, whether this is true or not is another thing but it'd be lovely if they do.

Anyway, hoping for tomorrow, I'm going to have to prepare next weekends blog posts as I won't be around.
I'll see what inspires me in the next week to come.
Toodles ♥

Thursday 13 January 2011

100dth Post!

Yes! Finally my 100dth post! It is monumental. Well, not really but woohoo hehe.

Anyway, I thought I'd share the things that are making me happy at the moment.

 My Profile view
The Rain 

Print work

My silly wet cats coming in 
and washing their feet in the bath

Painting my nails

My Frog broach from my boyfriend
Making people smile with silly jokes

Listening to the radio

Sunrises

What are you enjoying at the moment? ☺

Wednesday 12 January 2011

Thankful



I thought I'd take the time to write about what I'm thankful for recently and not so recently.

I'm Thankful that I have a roof over my head, even though what goes on under this roof may stress and depress me at times I'm still greatful for it.

I'm Thankful that I get to eat and drink to the point where I'm fulfilled and happy. There are places in the world where that is a luxury even though it's a basic human right.

I'm thankful that I have people who love me, even when I'm an arsehole.

I'm thankful that I have people to love in return and to show my affections to.

Lastly I'm thankful for everything advantageous in my life; My college placement, my job, everything. It all helps to make my life what it is and keep it ticking.

What are you thankful for?

Tuesday 11 January 2011

Touching


While doing a browse on facebook I noticed someone had linked to a rather interesting site. At the time I thought, 'Should I bother?' But I'm glad I did. What I came across was imagery of many women, some holding scars, others smiles, some not. They seemed raw and true. What I came across was a project held in a Romanian Women's prison in which the cell mates were given a camera for a period of time and they were told to take pictures with two rules: They were not allowed to use the flash, and they were not allowed to use the zoom. There is more information surrounding the project on the site, if you scroll down there is a section about it in English.



Once I got onto the site I clicked through every image there was, I was curious, very much so and managed to look through all of them without noticing till I jumped back to the beginning quite suddenly. I thought they were wonderful and very touching and more to the point, truthful. It is not often we see imagery which looks like they're going about day to day things but they're imprisoned, the only clue to this is an image of two of barbed wire and bunk beds. Why were they there? What had they done? Just two of the questions that ran through my head.

So this is what I'm thinking about today, I'm glad I'm free, I get to live my life how I chose. And yet, there is a small part of me that can't help but wonder what it is like to live in that small community of women all sharing one common trait: Prison.

Monday 10 January 2011

Motivation

Angry bread is angry

So we've finally got the extension just about finished, the carpet (which is totally the wrong colour but we can't afford to change it now) is down, some furniture is in there, all we have to do is start cleaning up everywhere properly and fixing and finishing other little bits like skirting and floor tiling in the kitchen/utility room.
We've come a long way since June and it's pretty impressive with what you can do to a house in that amount of time.
I'm finding this 365 blogging hard already, aren't I a fail? :( Most days I forget to write down what I mean to say on my blog, because I usually get an idea during times when I can't write about them. I'm going to have to start using a notebook or something. I thought that blogging every day would be a good thing and help me get more motivated, but when my time slowly caters for my college work and such, I tend to not think about the other things in life (other than going to work as that is a must hehe).
So, how can I battle this? How do I get home and begin to write about great, inspirational things like I so want to? I have no direction with this blog yet and it's partially frustrating but I just haven't the time to think about a direction with college themes to trying and think about and with an Art & Design course, it's 24/7. The work doesn't end after a quick homework task.

So yes, whine whine, whinge whinge, I'm sorry hehe. It's actually helped a little to write about this, it made me realise I should have a notebook specially and only for blog stuff and that I should probably make time for this blog, more so than I am at the moment if I want to succeed at this 365 challenge thingy.

How do you tackle blogging? ♥

Sunday 9 January 2011

Sex in the City

So, I've just finished a big sex and the city marathon. I've watched series 1 - 6 and the first movie, but I don't own the second movie, booo :( Although from all accounts the second movies is disappointing)

When I've spoken about it over the last couple of weeks people have said "that is such an un-Holly like thing to say/do" but why? Why should something be unlike a person just because they don't share it with the world? I appreciate the clothing and the talking and the funny moments in the series, it gets me more in touch with my girly side, as sad as that may seem. Lets say it's a guilty pleasure.

Anyway, I thought I'd post a poem, as I think it is sweet. It doesn't really have anything to do with my mood or such but I just like to enjoy something just because.


When I was one,
I had just begun.
When I was two,
I was nearly new.
When I was three,
I was hardly me.
When I was four,
I was not much more.
When I was five,
I was just alive.
But now I am six,
I'm as clever as clever.
So I think I'll be six
now and forever.
-A.A. Milne
♥ 

Saturday 8 January 2011

Blogs

I realised today that I hardly read many blogs, and though I try to read more, I just can't seem to find many more that inspire me daily.

Where do I find blogs to read?
Really? Hehe

Anyway, here's a couple of things and images that are inspiring me lately:

Seems to be a neat tutorial on this site too

Frost and snow

Arm Warmers

  •  Sex and the city boxset ♥
  •  British winters
  •  My charming city of St. Albans
Have a lovely weekend ☺

    Friday 7 January 2011

    Fill in the the blanks!


    Inspired by the lovely Lauren over at the little things we do. Give it a go too!

    1.   Winter is Full of sparkling frost and heart warming meals. Crunchy grass and birthday, Christmas, new years! Wear cute big scarves and wrapping up warm.

    2.  Summer is Sticky, sun tans, flowers, and coca cola! That smell which is so lovely on a beautiful cloudless morning.

    3.  If it were summer instead of winter right now I'd be finding out when the next car boot sale is and trying to find new interesting things to buy for hardly a £1. Having barbeque's and spending time with neighbours.

    4.  My favorite thing to do in winter is  Cook a nice hearty meal and feed everyone and Wrapping up from head to toe in warm fuzzy things that look cute.


    5.  My favorite thing to do in summer is watch hopefully as my plants try and grow and attend car boot sales.

    6.  The ideal outfit for a sunny summer day is  pulled up leggings, strappy top with a billowy lose thing on top of that and some sandals. So comfy. 

    7.  The ideal outfit for a frigid winter day is  Jegging's, big woolly socks, my sand boots, long  hugging dress top under a nice big jumper. 

    Thursday 6 January 2011

    One of those...

    Catnip Plant


    It's been one of those days where the early darkness is getting me down and I just can't be bothered with the responsibilities of life.
    Anyone else getting tired of winter and the dark?
    At least it's gradually getting lighter now rather than getting darker, we've got spring to look forward to, growing plants, and fresh mornings.
    Also, I bought some catnip seeds. I plan on growing a couple of plants for our kitties. If we put them in some pots we can dot them around the garden and have one in the house for when they want a silly moment. I hope they grow, and by all accounts the plant is part of the mint family, so I'm definitely not planting them in the ground around the garden like I first planned. Apparently they grow like weeds in some countries, and I'm not surprised considering mint.
    So yes, I'm going to try growing them once I've researched the right time to grow and I'll probably update on all of that at some stage hehe. -vague Holly is vague-
    Toodles ;D

    Wednesday 5 January 2011

    Mmm print


     Mono printing with black ink and white spirit to try and create bubbles
     (Click the images for a closer look and more detail)

    I now dub Wednesdays my favourite day of college. Going from hate to love of print and having tutorial in the morning and print for the rest of the day. It's rather nice a relaxing, and at the moment I'm going along my oil spill route and experimenting with mono printing and marbling. Yup, marbling. It's truly amazing to do and it's such fun. Also, it feels so retro hehe.

    Marbling with yellow and black for petrol-y type look

    Some of my favourites, the flash really does them no Justice.
    But with the black and the yellow, I really feel like it's getting to the point where I'm happy with what I'm portraying for this oil spill thing, it's a technique that really is perfect for the swirls and dirtiness of oil on water. I tried some different colours because it was so fun and yeah, those are the outcomes. I really recommend doing this as it's such fun and creates pieces with a certain oddity. I would have taken better pictures but I'm in a bit of a rush as I need to do some homework and make some dinner.

    Experimenting with different colours
    So yes! Toodle pip!

    Tuesday 4 January 2011

    Ehehehe

    Every now and then I come across 'The daily What' with it's wonderfully strange things that are sure to create a "lol" or "lol wtf?!" But I've come across this one today and it's uncanny.

    Enjoy ;D

    Monday 3 January 2011

    Blowing Smoke

    So, I've been trying to get some college work done one day before I go back, this is not a good plan, I felt like I had all the time in the world last week but when it comes down to it I had hardly any at all.
    It's only research work and I've done plenty of looking up people and I think I've chosen what I need to do for this unit but hm, the subject isn't the most inspiring in the world...

    Recycling - Your future in your hands

    Help. I'm trying to twist this into something enjoyable but I'm having a few clicks along the way. Never mind, hopefully once I get into it more I'll start to let the experimentation grow into something fantastic (And hopefully sell-able at the end of unit show)


    So, into this theme I've gone down the route of Oil spills, cutting down forests, carbon footprint, water conservation and nature preserves/extinction. I'm trying to keep this as openly accessible to natural stuff as possible because I like those sorts of things, and I should be creating pieces that I like and enjoy doing right otherwise there's no heart in it. Or is this wrong?


    Never mind, I'm sure I will be able to develop print more than textiles but I hope to develop them into something that clashes but in harmony, perhaps in colour or texture, etc. And all of this has to portray our rapidly changing world. Joy


    Ah well, the books that are inspiring me so far, (and I recommend looking through for some really awesome work) are:

    Beautiful prints
    Inspirational footprint prints

    There was this other book, but I can't remember it now, I'll upload a link back an image when I'm back at college and can find the book again, it's got a lot of interesting textiles in it.

    But yes, that's how my life is going right now, work tomorrow, yay.....

    Sunday 2 January 2011

    What do you Resolve to do?

    icanhascheezburger.com


    Resolutions...


    I really don't like the word. Why do we need to wait for a new year to start doing something?
    Putting that aside we are into a special year, it is the start of a new decade, we have successfully lived through 10 years of the 2000's! Isn't that a lovely thought? Although we're all apparently going to "die", "Have an Apocalypse", "See new beginnings", "experiences a change of calender" (That last one is the most likely) In 2012 on December 21st. I look forward to it. It's such a shame that everyone hypes up these sorts of things because it could have been embraced as a turn of a calender or something better and exciting other than "We're all going to die! Oh my, Oh my, Oh my!!!" -Sigh-

    Anyway! Heh, enough on that weird note, What do I resolve to do then?

    1. Typically - Lose weight. 
    Ok, So I know everyone puts this, but I really do need to lose the weight I gained while we moved house, I may be happy with my body but this extra weight is really making me feel odd as it's come on so fast :S

    2. Give more
    Sad to say, I'm one of those people that doesn't really give the time of day to those poor people who are just trying to get their message heard for a charity or earn a few pounds doing surveys or selling the 'Big Issue'. I tend to be very cynical about it and really, lessening that cynicism would be a big bonus for a more positive year.


    3. Show more gratitude!
    Sending more thank you notes to people after I receive gifts, hugging people, thanking them for doing a good job. I am polite and say please and thank you for normal things but I don't say hank you properly when it really matters as I tend to get caught in the moment.

    4. Smile more
    Apparently I'm grumpy a lot. I try stop this now, k? :P

    5. Clean through my PC properly
    As in, go through every file I have and delete all the unnecessary naff that's in there. File photo's, get some printed off and framed, sort out word documents. Just general backing up and cleaning out.


    6. Develop more Art
    For my blog, for the art communities that I neglect, for everywhere!


    7. Drink more water!
    And be more healthy in general. This is a pretty hard one as no one else in my family will even bother trying to be healthy but I shall try extra hard this year to get myself and everyone else eating better food.

    That's all that really sticks out for me. What are your new years resolutions?

    Saturday 1 January 2011

    Bring on 2011

    London fireworks 2011 (Click for article) 





     Happy New Year Everyone! 

    So, true to form, we watched Jule's at midnight, but the programming was a tad behind, someone must have been fired last night hehe. Despite that, the fireworks in London were a real treat and they seem to have outdone themselves this year. It was fabulous watching them on a big TV with the music up loud and singing along to Auld Lang Syne with the girls.
    I hope everyone had an enjoyable New Years and one to remember and let 2011 be better for everyone.  
    Good luck,

    Be Merry, 

    And make the most of 2011! 


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