Thursday 24 June 2010

The anatomy of a night out


I finally got a chance to play with June's Studio Calico kit last night!  As I was looking through my photos from the past couple of months, I couldn't help but chuckle when I saw these. Even though most of my friends from university are *almost* in their mid-20s, we all seem to revert to our inner 19 year old selves when we get together.  So, I thought it might be fun to dedicate a couple of layouts to our various shenanigans (hopefully a couple more to follow!).

I really wanted to emphasise the photos, so I decided on a neutral background and simple colour scheme.  After using the SC stamp (which came with the main kit) with Mustard Seed Distress Ink, I finally understand why everyone is so obsessed with these little ink pads...they are awesome!  And even though I think I might  have gone a bit overboard with the scrapbooking supplies this month, I am totally, unashamedly in love with Studio Calico.  The kits are amazing...I can't wait for July! 

I have so many blogs to catch up on, so expect lots of comments in the next couple of days!  I start my new job this weekend and then I have a week before I start an intensive teacher training course...It 's going to be a busy few weeks!

Thank you so much for looking!

Thursday 17 June 2010

Ever been a tourist in your own town?


A friend of mine is travelling in Europe at the moment (she's originally from New York).  To make the most of the expensive airfare across the pond, she decided to hop on a Eurostar and pay me a visit in London for a few days!  It was her first time in the UK, so we had a packed four day itinerary to make sure that she saw the 'best of British.'  We were exhausted by the end of it, but I had a lot of fun being a tour guide and seeing my hometown from an entirely new perspective.  I was looking through some of the photos this evening and thought it might be fun to play around with the Pioneer Woman's PSE actions (which are awesome!).  Here are some favourites....


I got so frustrated with the lighting whilst we were out and about...my little point-and-shoot camera couldn't handle the brightness of the sun behind the clouds and most of the photographs I took at that time of day were pretty disappointing.  I originally discarded this photo of the London Eye, but came back to it later on and tried out the BW Beauty action.  I love how dramatic it looks!


After we stopped by the Eye, we meandered along the Thames and then crossed Westminster Bridge.  This was a view looking back towards the Eye and County Hall, which is now the London Aquarium (I think PW's Seventies action might be my favourite).


That afternoon we spent a little while exploring Westminster.  I always marvel at how elaborate Big Ben is...the attention to detail is totally mindblowing!


 The next day we decided to visit the Tower of London.  I had never been before and was giddy with excitement (I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this once or twice quite a bit, but just in case...I'm a massive historical fiction fan!).  And wow....it didn't disappoint.  We joined a tour given by a Yeoman Warder (otherwise known as a Beefeater), who was surprisingly funny and amazingly knowledgeable (as a side note, I had no idea that they lived in the Tower compound!  How cool?!).  We saw the infamous ravens, the Crown Jewels, the Bloody Tower and  also Tower Green, where Anne Boleyn, Katherine Howard and Lady Jane Grey were executed.  Jessie was also keen to see Tower Bridge, pictured above.


Something else I didn't know...soldiers are still stationed at the Tower of London, mainly charged with the duty of protecting the Crown Jewels.  And for the record, the door to the vault was H-U-G-E (as were the various jewels which adorned the crowns).  

As we left the Tower, we saw the Naked Bike Ride go past (I think the finishing point was actually the Tower of London).  I was speechless...and still am.  We also went to the British Library where we saw the Magna Carta, as well as the British Museum, where we saw the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles. A massive highlight was watching Les Misérables...the actress who plays Fantine knew one of Jessie's friends from New York, so she kindly met us for coffee, gave us a backstage tour of the theatre and gave us two tickets to watch the evening performance!  She was the nicest person you could possibly hope to meet (she even signed my programme!) with an absolutely phenomenal voice.  And Les Mis was incredible...I would 100000% recommend it if you haven't seen it!

And that was our whirlwind tour of London!  Thank you so much for looking!

Wednesday 9 June 2010

Over the past two and half weeks I've been...

Eating:
1. Chilli con carne at La Perla (seriously delicious, but a massive portion).
2. Irish cream and tiramisu ice cream sundae at Patisserie Valerie (amazing).

Ordering:

I have a confession.

After six months of sitting on the fence...of telling myself that I 100% could not justify the additional expense of a kit each month (even though I lusted after each and every one since January)...I gave in.

I am now a bona fide Studio Calico subscriber.

I experienced my first reveal at the end of May thinking that I would just supplement the main kit with some adhesive and possibly some add-on paper, thereby honouring my promise to Jamie that I would be abstemious.  

Fifteen minutes after the kits went live I was hysterically debating the relative merits of Shade Tree vs. Rec League on the phone with my nearest and dearest.  Five minutes after that, Rec League had sold out (problem solved).  That was, until I decided that I couldn't live without Front Porch.  And some items from the shop.  And some add-on paper.  And then Studio Calico kindly decided to do a 20% offer...so I got the 7 Gypsies receipt holder for my living room...and some more stuff from the shop.

I need an intervention.

Here's hoping I can stay on the straight and narrow next month (I'll keep you posted). 

Inspired by:

I signed up to Tumblr a few weeks ago.  I. LOVE. IT.  I cannot recommend it enough.  Here are a couple of things I've been eyeing up recently:  
 

 By dearcolleen - found via decor8.

 By tagteamtompkins - found via decor8

Finishing:
I finally finished the first year of my Masters on Friday!  It's been a hectic two months....but as I watched the last couple of minutes countdown on the clock in the exam hall (opposite Westminster Abbey - such a cool location!) I just felt so relieved to have some respite from deadlines and revision.  Jamie and I celebrated with curly fries, Desperados and the itbox.  It felt good to be free :)

Creating:

More on this later in the week!  But in the meantime, you can find out more here and here....

Happy Wednesday!