The Wilky Way

I have no idea what this is or where it’s come from, but I’m absolutely loving it – everything about it is adorable.

The little green character even looks a bit like me. (it doesn’t).

No Comments | In: art, pretty things | tags: adventures of wilky way, wilky way. | #

I never make the time to holiday in the UK. Not even for long weekends. I get so embedded in my beloved hometown that I have to be pretty much shoe-horned out of the city to visit friends or family.

So as an anniversary treat for my lovely BF I whisked us up to Bristol for a weekend retreat to catch up on some couple time and maybe see a little more of what Britain has to offer.

What a lovely city! The laid back student feel and the constant blend of old and new  architecture works beautifully to create a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere, and helped us to feel right at home straight away. I cleverly managed to leave my camera at home, so unfortunately we were forced to rely on the iPhone’s camera to document our weekend away. Slighty fuzzy and dark, but you get the gist.

Despite the gray skies and chilly weather we managed to pack tons into one day of wandering. We began with a stroll around the stunning Cathedral, before wandering up Park Street to the City Museum, where the fascinating Ancient Egypt exhibit kept us warm and enthralled and we both had the chance to poke at a few dinosaur bones.

A stroll back towards the river took us down the Christmas Steps, and to the adorable ‘Shop’ vintage store – a community run not-for-profit enterprise, where everything on sale was pre-90s and the interior decor was just gorgeous.

A detour down a side-street suddenly brought us to the incredible St. Nicholas’ Market. Wow! I couldn’t believe what we’d found – a huge sprawling mass of stall after stall selling anything and everything; from lamps to jewellery, t-shirts to fossils it had it all.

But the absolute best bit was the food market. Double wow. Seeing as it was starting to get dangerously past lunchtime (I get unfathomably grumpy if I surpass the healthy hunger levels) it seemed we had hit the jackpot. Particularly when we noticed a couple of spare seats in the gorgeous little Moroccan cafe. I would highly recommend eating here if you ever get a chance. Slow cooked lamb tagine with vegetables and cous cous, with some toasty hot tea. Just incredible!

No Comments | In: pretty things, travel | tags: Bristol, Bristol Cathedral, Bristol City Museum, cous cous, lamb stew, Moroccan, St. Nicholas' Market, tagine. | #

John Lennon would have been 70 this month, and this short interview by Jerry Levitan seems a fitting memorial.

In 1969, at the age of 14, Levitan snuck into Lennon’s hotel room on Toronto with a recorder and asked the revolutionary performer a few questions. This video uses drawings by James Braithwaite and digital illustrations by Alex Kurina to beautifully illustrate Lennon’s words and the meaning behind them.

1 Comment | In: art, music, pretty things | tags: 1969, animation, Beatles, I met the walrus, jerry levitan, john lennon. | #

I figured it’s time to introduce little Daisy, the newest addition to my household. She’s a Chocolate point Birman, a breed we chose particularly because they are notoriously good natured, and are fine to keep as indoor pets (I don’t have a garden so needed to make sure she’d be okay). She’s also absolutely beautiful – little brown nose and bright blue eyes!
I’m certainly a smitten kitten-spoiler, and seem to be succumbing to her every demand, which mostly mean lots of cuddles and plenty of food. The house seems to have a new princess, and one who eats, sleeps and demands as much attention as I do!

There’s an ancient legend about how her breed came to be, which has often resulted in the term ‘the sacred Birman’ – a name that will no doubt go straight to little Daisy’s head.

This is how birmankitten.co.uk describes the story:

The myth of the Sacred Cat of Birma takes us back a very long time, indeed, many centuries ago, near Lake Incaougji in Indo-china. There lives a rule of monks, known as kittahs. They belonged to the cult of the god Song Ho in the temple of Lao-Tsun. The temple housed the sapphire-eyed golden statue of the goddess Tsun-Kian-Kse who was responsible for residing over the souls of priests when they died. In their vast monastery lived a hundred sacred cats whose job it was to receive the souls of dead monks who later would be reincarnated. When the cat died, the priest’s soul would be released to complete its ethereal journey to paradise.

Each kittah therefore had his own cat, as did a very saintly old monk (some say the Head Monk), Mun Ha, who, accompanied by his white cat Sinh, passes his hours in meditation at the feed of Tsun Kian Tse. The kittahs’ reputation for holiness was well established in the region and infuriated the Brahmans and one night as the holy man meditated in front of the golden goddess, the temple was attacked and Mun Ha died. At the moment of his dead, Sinh, his pure white cat, placed his feet on his fallen master and turned to face the golden goddess, gazing into her eyes. As he did so the hairs of his body turned golden and his yellow eyes became sapphire blue like hers; his four white legs turned earthy brown as did the other extremities of his body – but where his feet rested gently on his dead master they remained white as a symbol fo purity. Thus the soul of Mun Ha passed into the body of Sinh.


Here the legend varies slightly – either the other priests rallied and drove the attackers from the temple or they escaped with their cats and build an underground temple to Tsun Kian Tse in Burma. Sinh singled out a young priest called Ligoa who was thus chosen as the next high priest. By the next day, the rest of the cats also changed colour to match those of Sinh. During the next seven days Sinh refused all food and water and did not leave his maters side He dies peacefully on the seventh day. His spirit and the soul of his master journeyed to their heavenly paradise to be embraced by the great god Song Ho.

No Comments | In: catty things, pretty things | tags: Birman, Birman kitten, cat, Chocolate Point Birman, Daisy, kitten, Legend, Sacred Birman. | #

A friend recently pointed me in the direction of the Rockett St George interiors site. Everything on this site is so beautiful, I want it all. Unfortunately, have just had my living room flooring sanded, stained and varnished, my interiors fund is entirely wiped out.

However, as soon as I have some money to spare I’ll be heading straight to this fantastic online store and emptying it out.

In the meantime I’ll content myself with wistfully staring at all the wondrous delights it has to offer, like the Jeeves and Wooster top hat pendant lights or some of these gorgeous wall stickers and art prints.

No Comments | In: art, gifts, jewellery, pretty things | tags: cushions, interiors, jeeves & wooster top hat pendant lights, Rockett St George, screenprints, signs, wall stickers. | #

As a child I was always obsessed with lockets – I’m pretty sure it had something to do with Annie; if in doubt always blame Annie.

I’ve never really been able to shake off the feeling that if I had a shiny locket around my neck, with a tiny photograph of me and whatever prince is lucky enough to have won my affections nestled inside then the world would be a happier place.

That’s why I’m a little bit in love with these beautiful vintage-effect photograph lockets from heartworksbylori and photographer Irene Suchocki on Etsy.

There are dozens of images to choose from and each comes in a brass frame pendant with space for two of your own photos to slot inside. Plus they arrive in a tiny velvet drawstring bag, so you can keep secret and safe when it’s not being worn.

With postage and delivery they cost just over £30.00 and make great presents for friends or yourself.

No Comments | In: gifts, jewellery, pretty things | tags: etsy, frame, heartworksbylori, Irene Suchocki, jewellery, locket, necklace, pendant, vintage. | #

Yes, I know, I’m about a 9 months behind EVERYONE on this, but last weekend I discovered Beyond Retro in the North Laines, Brighton and am now a super smitten retro vintage kitten.

Well, at least now I know where the cool kids of Brighton have been buying their goodies all this time.

The shop itself is pretty much a warehouse stocked from floor to ceiling with clothes, accessories, shoes and hats, all in an off-beat vintage style that can suit a range of budgets, from students to designers.

Beyond Retro, Brighton

It’s a real treasure trove for anyone looking for something that little bit different. Even I could spend hours in there and I usually can’t face that ‘rummaging’ style of shopping that  others seem to have such a patience for (I don’t think I can hack more than 10 minutes in TK Maxx before hyperventilating with stress and fleeing the premises).

After 10 minutes in the shop I had found a gorgeous leather satchel (a steal at £18), a red anchor necklace for £6 and a MASSIVE pair of bright red sunglasses that I’ll probably never wear for fear that I’m not cool enough (£10).

Definitely take a look if you have some time and cash to spare. Beyond Retro has also had a couple of warehouse shops in London for years now – one of which is a decade old – for those who aren’t local to Brighton.

I know where I’ll be spending my lunch break today….

No Comments | In: Brighton, fashion, jewellery, pretty things | tags: accessories, Beyond Retro, Brighton, clothes, North Laines, Shopping, vintage. | #

I was lucky enough to be able to interview Brighton-based artist, Imbue, at the end of last year for a feature I was putting together. He manages to very cleverly subvert messages and images through graffiti, stickers and prints and I’ve become a big fan of his work.

A lot of street art I’ve been lucky enough to see in Brighton has really impressed me, it’s a genre of art and design that tends to strikes a chord and forces people to notice what’s around them. Imbue manages to transfer the same sort of style into screen-printed images that can look great in the home.

In fact, I’ve already got my eye on this rather sexy new print he’s putting together – the one pictured is layered on steel:

And are some of my faves from his past work – I particularly like his manipulation of the WKD poster, it was hard hitting enough that WKD themselves sent Imbue a letter asking him to revoke his prints – what a cheeky scamp that Imbue is…

No Comments | In: art, pretty things | tags: art, design, Imbue, screenprints. | #

In a couple of weekends (Sat 20th March) I’m hoping to head up to Brixton Jamm to see my friend DJ Jonny Clark, who will be gracing the decks with his awesome presence at the Mad Hats and Moustaches night. It sounds like it should be a fun evening filled with dancing and dressing up silliness. If there’s an excuse to dress up like a doofus then it’s got to be a good night. 

The website describes the event as:

‘a magical night beyond your wildest dreams as Jamm is transformed into a veritable Wonderland. Following their sell out party in November 2009, they take on a bigger venue and a night filled with nonsense looms: step through the looking glass and immerse yourself in the pleasures and mysteries that await you within!’

In true Mad Hatter’s Tea Party style, we all have to don a fancy hat and ‘tache especially for the occasion.  I’m not too worried about the moustache (if in doubt I can scribble something artistic on with a marker pen), so it’s just been a case of finding the right head wear.

I spotted this top hat accessory in Monsoon a few weeks ago, and loved it, but seeing as I couldn’t think of any occassion in my life that would call for a veiled top hat head band (some kind of circus-themed funeral?), I reluctantly had to leave it behind. 

Mad Hats and Moustaches could be the ideal opportunity for me to spend my hard earned cash on something that I’ll no doubt wear just once before it gathers dust on top of my wardrobe for all eternity. I’ll still keep an eye out for anything else that catches my eye, but I think this may be a winner.

A Brixton tea party, who’d have thunk it.

“But I don’t want to go among mad people,” Alice remarked.
“Oh, you can’t help that,” said the Cat: “we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.”
“How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice.
“You must be,” said the Cat, “or you wouldn’t have come here.”

No Comments | In: events, fashion, pretty things | | #

Mother’s Day is coming up – yep, I know, I’d nearly forgotten as well. If you’re running short on ideas then here’s a gorgeous little gift I was lucky enough to be given by a very pleased with himself BF back on Valentine’s Day. And he had good reason to feel chuffed with his achievements, as he was allowing for me to be the very lucky owner of this ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS sterling silver Book of Charms necklace and pendant set by Vanessa Harrington.

I. Love. It. I mean, just look at it. It’s dreamy and wondrous. Each individual charm has a little saying on the box in teeny tiny script, which adds zillions onto the cuteness factor. ‘Storm in a teaup’ represented by a cute little teacup, ‘all a flutter’ above a tiny detailed butterfly, and ‘dragonfly’ represented by… well, a dragonfly (maybe Ms Harrington had an imagination overload on that one, I won’t judge). Each can be hooked onto the included necklace – or I suppose anything else you fancied hooking it onto – and changed or added to at whim.

And the best bit? Well, a very good part of it at least (let’s not get carried away), is this beautiful packaging, designed to look like something Alice would pluck from a shelf to leaf through whilst waiting for that nutter in the hat to pour another cup.

And yes, being the nose that I am I took a little peek, and if you are interested in picking a set up for Mum’s Day or maybe just feel like dropping a hint or tip for your next Birthday/anniversary/post argument make-up gift, then this beautiful set can be picked up from Oasis for around £85.

No Comments | In: pretty things | tags: gifts, jewellery. | #