Throw Back: Valentino S15 RTW

Throw back to the gorgeous Valentino S15 RTW range.

xx

To plan, or not to plan

Bitching Menswear

On my last birthday I was asked if I had achieved all I had hoped to, at this stage.

I spent a bit of time thinking back on all the plans I had for my life, and what I had hoped to achieve by this stage. Honestly, I have to admit, that life has not really gone as I had planned.

I am a planner; a list writer; a goal setter.
Spontaneity is a little out of my comfort zone – and often causes more anxiety than I believe it is worth. However, I get just as anxious if my plans don’t go as intended, or if I don’t manage to complete my goals within the set timelines.

I never did get around to doing that sky dive before I turned 30.
I have not yet learned to play the cello.
And I haven’t even started my novel.

I completed a degree.
I attended classes, and enjoyed my subjects. I struggled through one, but I did my best. It took me a little longer than planned, to complete my degree, but I did. And I am proud of my achievement.

I planned on marrying my high school boyfriend.
We were together for eleven years, which I guess to some degree is longer than most marriages last these days.
Natural progression would have lead to us having children – He wanted three.

Instead we lived together for 2 years, and broke up shortly after I had to move back home due to financial difficulties.

If things had gone according to plan, I would have advanced in my career, and would be earning a massive salary.
Instead I had been retrenched three times before I turned 30.

flickr

I fell in love, again. I dreamed of marriage, and a little girl I would call Mia.
I no longer had my life packed in boxes.
I had a home I was proud of. I was a girlfriend I was proud of.

Three years later I wasn’t married, and I didn’t have a beautiful little girl called Mia.
Instead I packed up my life again.
And once again, all of me was covered in dust in my mom’s garage.

I decided I needed a home of my own, and 6 months later, I had just that.
This was a long term plan, which happened sooner than expected.
My home is my happy place – filled with all the things that spent some time in darkness, just like I did.

But I am proud of all that I have achieved at this stage.
And I look forward to accomplishing so much more.
Looking back, and thinking of all the plans I had, I have to conclude that despite my best intentions, some things just can’t be planned.

xx

Danielle Clough Embroidery

Every now and then I get bitten by a creative bug – I start thinking off all the little artistic projects I would like to embark on, and ways in which to do them in a unique way, and then I see something like this, which makes me feel completely inadequate in so many ways.

I don’t know whether I feel inspired, or completely demotivated…
But there really is no denying the amazing talent of the proudly South African, Danielle Clough, who besides an insane embroiderer is a super talented photographer...and that's not all...  

Images Danielle Clough

I have been doing a lot of thinking about how short life really is. It is as if the older one gets the faster time seems to fly by. There really is so much more I would like to do with my life, and reading about people like Danielle makes me aware of how much more I could, and in fact should, be doing.

So in response to my above quandary, I choose to be inspired!

xx

Monday Musing

You’re packing up your sleeping bag,

Your lantern and your tent,

And you’re off to find the life you lost,

But you aren’t sure where it went.

And I hope those mountains teach you,

How to stand both tall and proud,

That you see your life much clearer,

With your head above the cloud.

I hope you swim through rivers,

With their currents swift and fast,

That they show you must be careful,

When you wash away your past.

I hope that you are humbled,

By the vastness of the sea,

That the eagles high above you,

Make you feel like your free.

I hope when night has fallen,

And your fire’s just a spark,

The stars shine to remind you,

That there’s beauty in the dark.

But most of all I’m hoping,

That you’re learning while you roam,

That no matter the distance,

You can always come home

e.h.

xx

Katharine Morling Porcelain

A while ago I decided that I would love to take a pottery class, and began searching for places nearby, which were reasonably priced, and offered classes after hours or on weekends. Unfortunately, my search was fruitless.

At the beginning of the year, I decided to re-visit this quest for creativity. I found a place in the area, and immediately emailed an inquiry.

While waiting for the response, I began searching for inspiration online… You know, the sugar bowl, the tea cup, perhaps a little jewelry holder… That kind of thing.

That’s when I discovered Katharine Morling  via The Jelous Curator .

"Katharine creates sculptures in porcelain in her signature monochromatic aesthetic. Each piece on the surface, an inanimate object, is inspired by Katharine's personal narrative. The work is made fired without glaze accentuating the 'drawn' quality of the work." (Artistic statement) 

Images Katherine Morling

xx

Monday Musing

The Original Be Wild and Wonder Co.

xx

Happy Home

It has been over two months since my last post, and loads has happened since then. Well maybe that’s an exaggeration, but it really feels that way. I won’t bore you with the details, but I will say that I am slowly beginning to feel like myself again, and am once again enjoying the things I love doing rather than sitting on the couch like a lump.

Last night I did a bit of an autumn clean… And have been looking at my lovely little home with fresh eyes. As always, I have loads of ideas about what I would like to do and change, but I lack the budget to do so. So it is more about strategic re-arranging than massive overhauls.

In the spirit of beautiful homes, I wanted to share the beautiful home of Joni Lay of  Lay Baby Lay, which I spotted on The Glitter Guide.

All pictures The Glitter Guide

xx

A Captivating Collection

I recently discovered the amazingly creative designer, Xiao Li.
She studied BA Womenswear at London College of Fashion and MA Womenswear Knitwear at Royal College of Art, graduating in 2013.In the year of her graduation, she moulded her own hand knit pieces, and using silicone created the most captivating, candy-coloured, whimsical collection.

All images, Google

xx