Been Better

She's quickly becoming a new fave.

Walk Through Walls

...Kyla La Grange.

I always appreciate photos of other peoples homes, seeing all the little nic-nacs they've accumulated, lovingly displayed as part of the décor. It generally fills me with a mix of envy and inspiration, along with a gentle reassurance, knowing that my favourites are a combination of cheap finds and a bit of D.I.Y. that I can copy.

While I don't have the cute country cottage, or rough walled NYC style loft, we've spend the past few months trying to make a modern Ikea furnished flat feel a bit more like a home, with a touch of floral, a few antique finds and hand made bits and bobs.

Lady Daydream

...Twin Sister

I've been having a bit of a play around with various materials lately, taking inspiration from the likes of illustrators Kelly Smith aka Birdy & Me and Caroline Andrieu of Do you like my tight sweater?. Armed with a pencil, copy of Lula and a scanner, I started with the beautiful Eva Mendes, attacking her with a paintbrush and sewing machine.

Scans are a bit naff, but then my scanner is from last century. Literally.

I'm Sleeping in a Submarine

...Arcade Fire

I may be a bit late here, but hey, why break a life long tradition. Submarine may well have stopped showing in cinemas, as it only had a limited release, but if you get chance I'd say give it a watch. I liked it a lot. Particularly the sparklers.

Also - since I've been rather slacking with my blogging, I missed mentioning a lot of other films that I saw around the beginning of the year which were also rather great. So yeah, if you like good stuff (defined by the same as what I like) Alex also recommends;

Blue Valentine - yeah, it's kinda depressing, but it depends who you're empathising with. I watched it with the view that, yeah she [Michelle Williams' character] is right and justified. When I'd finished debating this with Sherree (who thought she was a bitch), I had a realisation that he [Ryan Gosling's character] may have unknowingly slipped into this situation, which can also easily be done. I hope I do not also slip into that accidental comfort. (This will make sense once watched)

The Kings Speech - it was genuinely a good film. Aside from which, I particularly liked the composition of the shots in the speech therapist's room. Yes, this was one of my actual thoughts while watching it - can't shake off those film analysis classes just yet!

127 Hours - I saw two grown men who were sat separately in the theatre turn away as he attacks his arm. I saw this because I was also half watching through my fingers. But that was really the only gorey part, the sunny setting, little stories and funky soundtrack made it much more bright and enjoyable than I was expecting. (I hadn't watched any trailers)

True Grit - MATT DAMON. It's cool, he can carry off the southern accent.

The Fighter - I just like Mark Wahlberg okay? I think he's good. His character was a bit quieter than his usual, which is fine, I particularly liked all the white trash talk from the female family members.

The end. Can you tell I don't read many film reviews?

Sometimes I tie a hair to a piece of lint and I drag it around.

Marcel the Shell with shoes on. Dir. by Dean Fleischer-Camp

I saw this the other day along with a collection of other shorts one evening at Flatpack Festival. By far my favourite, I watched it again last night and I. Just. Love. It.

Undertow

... Warpaint.

Last post... 5 January!? Insanee.

This no internet thing is not doing my blog any favours. Add to those New Year resolutions - write drafts in Word ready to post. It's not like I don't have anything to say, I'm just writing them in my head and forgetting that I haven't actually posted anything.

In the meantime, here are a few photos from a recent trip to Brighton (it was our 1 year, awwww). Weather was v. windy and grey and cold - but it was great. Being used to miserable looking seaside towns I was quite prepared to get wrapped up, plus the fact that Brighton is so cute with all its independent shops, antique stores and cafes in pastel painted town houses made the greyness irrelevant.

(warning, there are no cute pastel pictures just yet, only grey. Little Dianna still needs to finish her film.)

I Belive in Nothing

...Vivian Girls

As the last post suggests, I had intended to carry on with my homemade Christmassy crafts, with my tree decorations, snowflake and candy cane wrapping and cards, buuuut I kept forgetting and before I knew it, Christmas had been and gone, so to post now would seem rather wasted. Still, it means I have a nice dose of fresh material to crack out next year. Boom.

After a brief trip home for Christmas and catching up with old friends, I was back in B'ham in time for NYE celebrations. A change from the usual disappointment offered by new years in Blackpool, this year I opted to let the evening sort itself, and so I entered 2011 doing shots of tequila in a cosy tapas restaurant in Kings Heath before heading over to Selly Oak for party times.

At this point there is the inevitable question of new years resolutions, which I've never really made a habit of making, since I know that if we're really truly honest, I will break them. All my years in education I began the year with 'do work as soon as you get it', yet there I was with my final ever handin, left until last minute in the most spectacular fashion to date.

Now with a life free from deadlines and essays I'm making a few resolutions/ general things to make the most of being young.

• Spend less. Seems obvious, but this definitely needs to happen in order for the others to even have a shot...
• Learn to drive. Figured waiting for the right time might mean I'll be married with kids living in the suburbs before I can drive myself around.
• Start a new course. Just because I'm no longer a full time student, doesn't mean I want to give up learning. In my quest to make up for ditching art, I have enrolled on a weekly textiles class. I start next week.
• Sunbathe. I want a sun, sea, sand & pool holiday, it's been too long.
• Travel to more UK cities. Bristol & Brighton are top of my list. Also must make use of student friends while they last. Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield & St. Andrews - I'm coming for you.
  
• Travel someplace new and interesting. 2009 I did Toronto & NY, 2010 I manged Beijing. Where next??
• Paris. There was talk of a group hosteling trip to Paris over summer. I would like this to happen.
• Take more photos & learn to develop.
  

Organized Scenery

... Au Revoir Simone. They always make me feel a bit festive with their slightly jingley songs.

I have been terrible with my posting since not having the internet. But since it's Christmas and I'm feeling pretty festive with crackers floating around the office, I thought I'd share what I've been keeping myself busy with.

I present to you, Alex's Homemade Christmas: Part One.

Last weekend Adam and I had a lazy festive weekend picking out his Christmas tree, building a mini igloo from icing (which i forgot to take a picture of), and making wreaths. Which, if I do say so myself, are pretty darn great.


If you're not interested in how we made them, stop reading now, but I thought I might as well share for anyone who is.

You will need:

• A bag of moss
• Some form of meshy wire
• Sturdy wire
• Leaves/ branches/ berries/ twigs
  
• Ribbon

1. Cut a long strip of the meshy wire a few inches wide, and enough to make a big loop. Shape it so it makes a long tube and then attach each end. This is the basic structure.
2. Stuff it with moss.
3. Make a few loops with the sturdy wire and attach to the back so it holds its shape.
4. Stuff the front with your leaves and things. Can do it full all the way round in the same direction like the top one, or more rustic by using bigger branches to curve round, leaving bits of the moss on show.
5. When its full, use string or wire to fix any of the loose bits.
6. Add ribbon and berries for decoration.

The end.

Trick Pony

...Charlotte Gainsbourg.

A few photos from Beijing's 798 art district, which is a neighbourhood filled with galleries, artist studios, cafes, art shops and street sculptures. Despite spending all day there, i'm sure there is plenty we missed.

With a bit of cash and dedication, this is what Digbeth could/ should be.

Also filled me with burning a desire for a white wash studio apartment/loft complete with plants.

Selfmachine

...I Blame Coco

My camera popped out of hibernation this week for a quick trip to an aircraft hangar in Coventry, where Rosie Kay was filming her dance piece '5 Soldiers: The Body is the Frontline'. It all looks like it's going to be pretty great, there's lots of photos in Meshed Media's Flickr.