Starlings in Rome

Images Paolo Patrizi from Fraction Magazine

 

Yes, it's Friday! Even better for me today as I have the day off to prepare for my weekend away to London and start on some serious Christmas shopping. I love 4 day weeks. Who doesn't? I might crack open the Christmas DVDs!

 

We had our honeymoon in Rome and so I will always love the city (and its food, gelato and beautiful architecture. And the light!). One thing we really noticed when we were there is the thousands of birds that fly through the sky at night getting ready to roost. You can't not notice them! Paolo Patrizi has captured these birds in his beautiful series Starlings. The shapes of the flock, with the amazing backdrop of Rome are absolutely incredible.

Some Ladies Dig Tractors

Images from Pia Blair

 

I can't believe that tomorrow is the last day of November! Where did that month go? Crazy. It is now starting to get into that super busy time where you have shopping, work and a lot of socialising to do. I love it though- it's a great time of year. 

 

As you probably know, I am a huge fan of collage work and so this work from artist Pia Blair was love at first sight! The colours used are fantastic. Plus who wouldn't want a dresser stocked with various lovely things (I'll take linen over Wedgewood though!).

 

Luke Tywman

Images from Luke Twyman

 

Winter is coming. It is definitely getting colder, the days are shorter and the air has that festive, freezing feel about it. I have been reading a lot of books set in snowy, wintery conditions, including The Snow Child and The Girl With Glass Feet. I love winter! I think the work of UK artist Luke Twyman is perfect to celebrate the change of season- the atmosphere of the images is pure winter for me.

London in Paper

Images from Famille Summer Belle

 

My husband and I going to London this weekend and I am really looking forward to it. I shall visit my favourite London places and enjoy lots of London-only treats including Borough Market, Monmouth Coffee and the National Portrait Gallery. And of course the Christmas shop in Liberty!

 

So, to get in the London mood I though I would share this amazing London themed laser cut map from Famille Summer Belle. It is based on a hand cut papercut. The detail is incredible- I absolutely love it! More cities including Paris and NYC in papercut form can be found here.

Red Sweet Chilli Jam

This weekend I well and truly got into the Christmas spirit. I went Christmas shopping, watched a Christmas film (Home Alone!) and decided to get into the kitchen to make some handmade Christmas gifts. Bags of sugar, chopped chilli, chopped onions and lots of lovely fresh berries all came together to make jars of chutney and jam. The first one I want to share with you is Sweet Red Chilli Jam- a lovely red, spicy jam perfect with creamy cheeses, cold meats and fresh bread.

This makes a jam with a real kick to it. Perfect for with cheese or with any leftovers. For this recipe you will need:

 

3 large red peppers, 3 red chillies, 1 chunk of fresh ginger about 2x2cm, 2.5 gloves of garlic, 200g chopped tomatoes, 250g golden caster sugar, 120 ml red wine vinegar

First of all, chop the peppers, chillies, ginger and garlic in the food processor (seeds and all!). This creates and amazing red paste of spicy deliciousness!

Add this paste to a heavy bottomed pan and add the sugar, vinegar and tomatoes. Stir. Keep this on a low simmer for approximately 30 minutes until the mixture starts to thicken. After a further 5 minutes, the mix will start to get really sticky- that's when it's done! Take it off the heat and let it cool slightly. Spoon into sterilised jars.

 

This mixture makes approximately 3 small jars (perfect for gifts!) and will keep for 3-4 months in a dark, cool place.

 

Happy Sunday

Happy Sunday! This was the view outside my window this morning- so nice to wake up to sunshine instead of the misty, gloomy, rainy weather I have been seeing all week when I pull back the curtains! It's Stir-up Sunday today. I really don't like Christmas pudding or Christmas cake at all, so instead I will be making some homemade jams to give away for gifts- watch this space! (This is a complete coincidence- I totally forgot it was Stir-up Sunday really).

Here are some fun links to browse this Sunday!

Giant folded paper dresses by Marcelle Crosby

Cat nail art. Yes or no?

A slideshow of one of my favorite foods, macaroni cheese. Or Mac & Cheese. Or carbs and cheese if you want.

Vintage bike cufflinks.

A totally sweet fox and bear tea party.

DIY button tutorial.

I loved these tiny NYC apartments.

Love this airplane window photo series. I love that feeling of looking from above a new exciting place!

Multiple Exposure

Images from Christoffer Relander

Friday, yes! It's a gloomy, windy, rainy day outside today, but it's Friday! What are your plans for the weekend? I am going Christmas shopping tomorrow and then being a good sister and sister in law and going to see the new Twilight film on Sunday, ha!

 

Christoffer Relander has created these amazing multiple exposure photos. I love multiple exposures, I always think there is something other-wordly about them.

 

Colour and Pattern

Images from Greg Tririan Keenlight

When I woke up this morning it was pitch black, freezing and absolutely pouring with rain. I always open the window and look outside (I have this hobby of taking a picture of the sjy each morning!), but it was hard to see anything this morning! So, this colourful work from Greg Tririan Keenlight is an absolutely perfect antidote to the November gloom. Pattern and colour overload!

Super Stitch

Images from Miniature Rhino

 

Stitched colourful arrows, embroidered, magical constellations and personalised, beautiful wedding samplers- as soon as I saw the work from Jessica Marquez and her shop Miniature Rhino I was in love! I have a huge thing for embroidery at the moment and I love modern updates on traditional crafts. I now really want one of the contellation kits! Beautiful.

Marise Maas

Images from FLG c/o Marise Maas

Marise Maas is an Australian artist from Melbourne who celebrates the 'mundane'. Everyday things such as chairs, horses, tents, houses and clothing all take centre stage in her beautiful, figurative work. I love the colour and line work especially.

 

Happy Sunday

Image from Three Nations Blog

 

It's Sunday! And it's a cold, frosty Sunday here which makes it feel quite festive. How is your weekend so far? I have been ill, so have been cooped up inside with a massive stack of tissues and a box of Lemsip by my side at all times, ugh.

 

On the plus side, being forced to stay inside makes it ok to read blogs and books. Here are some great links for your Sunday!

 

If you like Scandinavian design, you need to check out this Danish apartment

 

Beautiful painted cookies

 

These stitched snowflakes are exquisite!

 

There is nothing peanut butter can't fix

 

The Paris Colour Project is one of my favourite things to browse through

 

Brunch is my favourite meal. I love this Mexican brunch list

 

For someone who loves paper

 

Homemade, delicious Pop Tarts!

 

Candy floss should be used more often

  

Scandinavia

Images from Lea Groeliker

 

Yes, Friday! How has your week been so far? I think mine will be a lot better when it gets to 5pm today!  I know I've said it before, but I love putting together my Friday photography feature- the amount of amazing work out there it is staggering, and it's one of my favourite things to search for it all.

 

These images of Scandinavia from Lea Groeliker are just beautiful. The Scandinavian landscape is stunning and the colours in the sky are incredible. Scandinavia is on my ever expanding list to visit. These images just make me want to get out the credit card and book some flights immediately!

Edible Cookbook

c/o Korefe images from Julie Digs Design

Two of the (many) things I love in life are books and food. There's nothing better than a good book and some great food in my eyes. So when I saw this edible cookbook from Korefe I was over the moon! The detail in the pastry (I think it's pastry) is incredible! I would have a hard time cutting into it that's for sure.

Travel Threads

Images from Anne Ten Donkelaar

 

I have a permanent wish list of places I want to visit. My favourites folders are always full of cool links and I regularly cut out scraps of information on certain cities and countries. On my list right now are Copenhagen, Argentina, Prague and Istanbul. I just need that winning lottery ticket and I'll be set. I also love looking at maps and picking out new places to research and plan to visit!

 

These embroidered maps and atlas from Anne Ten Donkelaar are absolutely beautiful. I love the detail and the wanderlust it seems to capture.

 

Do you like travelling and visiting new places?

Making Chocolate Truffles

Homemade chocolate truffles make a great gift- for Christmas, birthdays and any Tuesdays. It's that time of year when I start to think about handmade Christmas gifts and these will definitely be on the list. These chocolate truffles are extremely rich, full of chocolate flavour and also very easy to make!

 

Take 225g of good quality, dark chocolate and 135g single cream. Oh, and some vanilla.

 

Chop the chocolate. Heat the cream slowly in a heavy bottomed pan with the vanilla added in (about 1tsp of extract or one vanilla pod). When the cream is heated but not boiling, add it to the chopped chocolate.

 

Stir the chocolate and heated cream together until the chocolate is all melted. Spoon this mixture into another bowl and leave the mixture to cool for about an hour in the fridge. Look at how shiny and delicious this mixture is!

   Once cooled, scoop out a small ball of mixture and roll into a nice round ball. Roll this ball in some cocoa to frost the truffles.

Lick the spoon! You'll want to.

And there you have it- a lovely homemade gift of the chocolate variety. These truffles will last for about a week kept in the fridge. For some variations, try adding some rum, cinnamon or coffee in the cream heating-stage.

Room of Post-Its

Images from I never kissed a dog

It's Monday! Did you have a good weekend?  Monday means back to working in an office, surrounded by post-its, paper and pens. How cool does this pure white post-it room look? I probably get through this many in a week!