There is nothing more adorable than Valentine's Day ladybirds.
Here are just some of my favourites:
♥ pretty jewellery ♥
♥ cute stuff ♥
♥ cards ♥
♥ nyoms ♥
What's your favourite Valentine's creature?
dress up your roll
Why I have never thought of this, I just don't know...
It is a competition to make the best toilet roll cover.
I'm not even joking.
"The toilet roll is always last to be best dressed. It is often hidden in the cupboard or left bare and exposed on the top of the toilet suite.
I want to challenge all quilters and crafter to come up with some original ideas. Covers are simple and quick to make. They are a great way to use up scraps."
The Rules:
1. Join the Flickr group
2. Make a fabric cover for your roll. Embellishments are permitted
3. Post the picture(s) of your finished project on Flickr. If you wish to write a tutorial for your creation then add the link to the picture on Flickr
4. You can enter has many times as you like
5. Most importantly, don't forget to leave a way for me to contact you
There are a couple of tutorials on the website, here and here, and check out the judges and prizes here. The competition finishes on 1st March 2012 and winners will be announced the week after.
Would anyone like to join me in making one??
must have Monday - a pretty gym bag
Since joining the gym back in the autumn, I have always used the same bag to transport my kit. It's plastic, it's green and white and has nice sturdy handles, but it's basically just a plastic bag. I've been contemplating getting an actual gym bag, one that fits everything and doesn't look as silly as wandering in off the street with a plastic bag, which isn't a great look, but normal gym-specific bags are pretty ugly and are often emblazoned with some sports logo, which just isn't me...
I would rather have something pretty and functional, stylish and big enough to hold all my stuff. I've never really been into bags, I just have my owl bag and that's about it, but I have to admit that all the "research" I did for this post was super-tastic fun!
I would rather have something pretty and functional, stylish and big enough to hold all my stuff. I've never really been into bags, I just have my owl bag and that's about it, but I have to admit that all the "research" I did for this post was super-tastic fun!
Enough of that - let's get on with the bags...
♥ ♥ ♥ cheap chic ♥ ♥ ♥
3. Forever 21 // $19.80 // 4. Gillian Kyle // £12.50
5. Pop Kid // £10 // 6. girls with flaws // €19.99
7. Lapin & Me // £18 // 8. Forever 21 // $10.80
♥ ♥ ♥ very reasonably priced ♥ ♥ ♥
♥ ♥ ♥ I could probably use the money for something more necessary ♥ ♥ ♥
4. Zatchels at Paperchase // £97 // 5. Fifty One Percent // £100 //
~~~~~~~
What kind of bag do you use?
Do any of these take your fancy?
my favourite Etsians - Q&A with Nicola Rowlands
Hooray!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi Nicola! Thanks for agreeing to answer a few questions - would you like to introduce yourself and let Matin Lapin readers know what you do?
I'm a creative person living in Manchester. I have a small studio in the flat I share with my better half in Didsbury, South Manchester. I work as an illustrator and graphic designer and sell my own products on Etsy.
Cool beans. How long have you been drawing/painting/crafting, and how did you first get into it?
I have been creative and bossy my whole life. I didn't realize that I could combine the two until I picked up a copy of Frankie magazine whilst backpacking in Australia and my boyfriend suggested I enroll on a graphic design degree upon our return to England.
Oooh, I love Frankie! And that's such an inspiring story! So presumably you did go on to study for an art degree?
Yep, I studied Design & Art Direction at Manchester Metropolitan. Bought a Mac, taught myself how to use it to my advantage and crammed in loads of work experience at ad agencies, design agencies, and with a skateboarding magazine in London. I've always been able to draw - but formal drawing classes that I took during my American education years really helped hone my skillz.
You have a bunch of different stuff in your shop at the moment - how do you think your work changed since you started?
I think over the past year I've become more confident in not only what I'm good at but recognising what I'm bad at.
That's pretty neat. I'm intrigued to know where you get your inspiration from and who inspires you?
This is always a difficult question because I always end up sounding really cliche... I don't necessarily carry a sketchbook everywhere - I have a page a day Moleskine diary which is made up of lists and notes to myself - I also have a book/folder which I stuff random things/paper that I think could be useful for when I'm stuck. Mostly though something will enter my brain and sit there until I draw it. Right now, it's noses. That's because a very drunk friend of mine over new years said to me, "why do you have to draw animals? Why don't you draw something different... like noses?" (shortly after, she fell off a chair)
That's a pretty original answer! And what is your favourite project or item in your shop, and why?
My cards - because I feel they're most representative of my thoughts and ideas.
Other than painting/drawing/sewing/crafting what else do you like to do?
Read, run, and look at dogs.
Nice. Finally, let's finish off with an interesting fact about yourself...
I was born in Wales, spent nine years (from age 9-18) in the USA, and now I live with a Yorkshire man. My accent is a total mixed bag.
Thank you so much for all that, Nicola!
If you would like to see more of Nicola's work, check her out here...
bathroom libraries
It has always interested me what kinds of things people keep in their bathrooms. Bath stuff and toiletries go without saying, but as a kid I remember that the bathrooms or WCs of my grandparents, uncles or aunts, family friends and most other adults I knew contained a bookshelf, or at the very least, a pile of books on a chair. Perhaps it's a little crass to keep books in your bathroom, but it's something I have always just expected...
Generally, it tends to be books that one can just dip into - books containing lists or other factual books, encyclopedias or pub quiz trivia. Having said that, I don't think I ever went to the bathroom in my grandparents' old house without there being a Farside Gallery book, a Calvin & Hobbes book and the newest edition of Private Eye magazine.
My maternal grandparents' house only rarely contained a magazine or newspaper, but on the back of the door was a huge poster detailing the history of the British monarchy, so that was more than enough information to attempt to absorb. I love the idea that bathroom time shouldn't be wasted time - that it should be used as a further opportunity to learn!
The walls of my own WC are currently covered in posters - one details cloud names, types and formations, another pictures shows British birds, another the flags of the world and the last is a detailed map of the moon. A nice selection, I thought, and rather necessary since a lot of people think it odd to keep books in there. Despite this, there is also a book of British words and sayings and yet another history of the British monarchy. Quite a theme there, methinks.
Generally, it tends to be books that one can just dip into - books containing lists or other factual books, encyclopedias or pub quiz trivia. Having said that, I don't think I ever went to the bathroom in my grandparents' old house without there being a Farside Gallery book, a Calvin & Hobbes book and the newest edition of Private Eye magazine.
My maternal grandparents' house only rarely contained a magazine or newspaper, but on the back of the door was a huge poster detailing the history of the British monarchy, so that was more than enough information to attempt to absorb. I love the idea that bathroom time shouldn't be wasted time - that it should be used as a further opportunity to learn!
The walls of my own WC are currently covered in posters - one details cloud names, types and formations, another pictures shows British birds, another the flags of the world and the last is a detailed map of the moon. A nice selection, I thought, and rather necessary since a lot of people think it odd to keep books in there. Despite this, there is also a book of British words and sayings and yet another history of the British monarchy. Quite a theme there, methinks.
How about these immense bathroom libraries! Jealous much? I certainly am!
What do you have in your bathroom? Any books?
Boom Boom goes my heart
I woke up at around 5am this morning with Armenia's 2011 Eurovision entry buzzing around in my head. It's pretty awesome so I thought I would share:
I've never been to Armenia, but it's on my 'Eurovision Nations To Visit' list - which I am hoping to complete in the next few years. I've been reading up about it, and it's a pretty interesting nation. Here are some factoids:
And just because it's the kind of thing I like to do, here's an Armenian-themed treasury. There don't seem to be many Armenians on Etsy, so it's kinda only loosely themed...
I've never been to Armenia, but it's on my 'Eurovision Nations To Visit' list - which I am hoping to complete in the next few years. I've been reading up about it, and it's a pretty interesting nation. Here are some factoids:
- Armenia lies in the highlands surrounding the Biblical mountains of Ararat, where Noah's Ark is said to have come to rest after the flood.
- The world's earliest leather shoe was found in Armenia, dated to about 4000BC.
- Armenia became the first officially Christian state in AD 301.
- The pomegranate is the national fruit of Armenia.
- Cher is of Armenian descent, as are the band System of a Down.
And just because it's the kind of thing I like to do, here's an Armenian-themed treasury. There don't seem to be many Armenians on Etsy, so it's kinda only loosely themed...
Have any of you ever been to Armenia?
P.S. only 122 days until Eurovision!
always sunny in the rich man's world
Money. Dosh. Wonga. It's something most people have and yet no one talks about. As a culture, the British, especially, tend to find it difficult to talk about money. Whether it's because it's seen as a vulgar thing to do, or simply because all of us are far too reserved, it seems I'm never able to discuss any financial issues in a social context. So I'm going to do it here.
Let's start here: when one leaves university it is expected that one will find a job and a house and take the first few tentative steps along the path towards adulthood; part of that involves earning money. Almost everyone does it.
As a child my family didn't have a lot of money. I never went without, but nor was I given every single thing I asked for. If I wanted something badly enough I was taught that I should save up for it myself. Sometimes I may have wanted things just because they were pretty, but other times it was completely worth going without trinkets at the weekend if it meant a bigger gift at the end of it...
The first big thing I ever saved up for was a Sylvanian Family windmill. It was so expensive that I couldn't possibly have asked for it as a birthday or Christmas gift, nor even as a joint birthday and Christmas gift. There was only one thing for it: saving up my pocket money week after week, not spending any of my birthday money and hoarding away, like a magpie, any shiny coins I was given by the ladies at church.
It was so worth saving up for - it was the best toy ever, and I adored it. I had hours and hours of fun with that windmill, making the rabbit family potter about the place, playing with the simple pulley system, opening the entire thing out to play with it in it's full glory. Plus it was a pretty impressive toy to have on display - I felt like I had won some great prize when I finally had one of my own, and to think I got it for myself, with money that I had saved up, was just astounding.
I've always been pretty good at saving, which might come as a shock to anyone who knows me. Yes, I have the odd day when I get really excited about a particular crafting project and spend £40 on glitter, fabric or beads, but more often than not I'll only treat myself to crafty bits when I've made a few sales or I've had an exceptionally bad day and need something pretty to perk me up. Sometimes I will come home from work to be greeted by a package of charms or similar, forgetting that I had bought them in a moment of great upset or annoyance a week or so beforehand...
But despite these tiny lapses in financial maturity, I do have savings. It was drilled into me that saving a bit of money every month is a good thing to do. And it's not just because of memories of this, though it might have helped:
This year is going to be a big year. I have a lot of things I want to do, and I think it might be the year I completely blow my savings. New years are typically for setting up a saving plan of some sort, but I'm going to be setting myself up a spending plan instead...
I am moving house, that's almost always expensive. Plus home improvements and furnishings etc. for the new house. Plus rent, which in London is just crazy money.
One of my 30 before 30 objectives is to set up a pension, so I should probably look into that.
My Mummy and Daddy are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary in the summer and I would love to send them to Venice for a holiday. I might not be able to pay for the entire thing, but I would at least like to help them out.
I always like to save something from every paycheck in a 'just in case' fund, so that if anything comes up I know it can be dealt with.
I want to continue giving money regularly to charity - whether that's through sponsorship or what, I don't know yet.
That's already a fair amount without taking into account food, stuff for Yoyo, daily travel, medicine/toiletries, holidays, business stuff, birthday gifts or pretty things. This year looks set to be tough, but if I can remain flexible and try to control my urges to buy sequins and other (supposedly) non-necessary items, it should all be OK.
{money hats seen here}
Let's start here: when one leaves university it is expected that one will find a job and a house and take the first few tentative steps along the path towards adulthood; part of that involves earning money. Almost everyone does it.
As a child my family didn't have a lot of money. I never went without, but nor was I given every single thing I asked for. If I wanted something badly enough I was taught that I should save up for it myself. Sometimes I may have wanted things just because they were pretty, but other times it was completely worth going without trinkets at the weekend if it meant a bigger gift at the end of it...
The first big thing I ever saved up for was a Sylvanian Family windmill. It was so expensive that I couldn't possibly have asked for it as a birthday or Christmas gift, nor even as a joint birthday and Christmas gift. There was only one thing for it: saving up my pocket money week after week, not spending any of my birthday money and hoarding away, like a magpie, any shiny coins I was given by the ladies at church.
It was so worth saving up for - it was the best toy ever, and I adored it. I had hours and hours of fun with that windmill, making the rabbit family potter about the place, playing with the simple pulley system, opening the entire thing out to play with it in it's full glory. Plus it was a pretty impressive toy to have on display - I felt like I had won some great prize when I finally had one of my own, and to think I got it for myself, with money that I had saved up, was just astounding.
I've always been pretty good at saving, which might come as a shock to anyone who knows me. Yes, I have the odd day when I get really excited about a particular crafting project and spend £40 on glitter, fabric or beads, but more often than not I'll only treat myself to crafty bits when I've made a few sales or I've had an exceptionally bad day and need something pretty to perk me up. Sometimes I will come home from work to be greeted by a package of charms or similar, forgetting that I had bought them in a moment of great upset or annoyance a week or so beforehand...
But despite these tiny lapses in financial maturity, I do have savings. It was drilled into me that saving a bit of money every month is a good thing to do. And it's not just because of memories of this, though it might have helped:
get one of your own on ebay here
~~~~~~~
This year is going to be a big year. I have a lot of things I want to do, and I think it might be the year I completely blow my savings. New years are typically for setting up a saving plan of some sort, but I'm going to be setting myself up a spending plan instead...
Breakdown of Vixie's 2012 Spending Plan
The Basics
Luckily, I have no real debt. So I'm basically starting at £0.00.
Objectives
To purchase everything I set forth, and still end the year with more than I started with.
The Savings/Spendings
I am moving house, that's almost always expensive. Plus home improvements and furnishings etc. for the new house. Plus rent, which in London is just crazy money.
One of my 30 before 30 objectives is to set up a pension, so I should probably look into that.
My Mummy and Daddy are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary in the summer and I would love to send them to Venice for a holiday. I might not be able to pay for the entire thing, but I would at least like to help them out.
I always like to save something from every paycheck in a 'just in case' fund, so that if anything comes up I know it can be dealt with.
I want to continue giving money regularly to charity - whether that's through sponsorship or what, I don't know yet.
That's already a fair amount without taking into account food, stuff for Yoyo, daily travel, medicine/toiletries, holidays, business stuff, birthday gifts or pretty things. This year looks set to be tough, but if I can remain flexible and try to control my urges to buy sequins and other (supposedly) non-necessary items, it should all be OK.
~~~~~~~
Do you have any financial goals or plans for this year?
must have Monday: epaulettes
I've never really been one for uniforms of any sort - the pomp and majesty of it all is of no real interest to me - yet I am more than a little enamoured of one aspect of the military uniform: epaulettes.
The word epaulette means 'little shoulder' in French - how adorable is that? It just makes me love them even more. And not necessarily the ceremonial fringey military ones, rather prettier ones that can be added to just about any outfit, like these lovelies:
The word epaulette means 'little shoulder' in French - how adorable is that? It just makes me love them even more. And not necessarily the ceremonial fringey military ones, rather prettier ones that can be added to just about any outfit, like these lovelies:
Or how about something a bit more... spiky?
Don't you think those spiked ones are reminiscent of armour?
I wonder if spaulders will be next...?
original images from here - how did you know I added the pink bits...?
How do you feel about epaulettes - awesome? ridiculous?
And do you think spaulders will be next???
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