Worship at the House of Blues

What a Peach!

2012-01-28T03:13:00.000-08:00

I bought NARS' Barbarella to replace my MAC Jazzed as it melted in the summer heat.

Barbarella is my first NARS lipstick and a close colour match to Jazzed in the tube at least. In reality Jazzed is a far more pigmented coral/peach.

The first thing that I noticed about Barbarella is the lack of scent a big round of applause from me as I have never been fond of MAC's vanilla scent for their lipsticks.

Barbarella is a true peach sheer lipstick that really appeals to my love of this soft reticent colour. The formula is quite waxy without being and is moisturising and long lasting too. Although this is generally silky to apply, there are times when the application is more patchy. Beware if you have any dry bits on your lips for this will be highlighted X 10 with Barbarella.

Barbarella though a bit temperamental has become one of my daily favorites.

I bought this on in Liberty of London but you can also get in in SpaceNK and Selfridges. I usually go wherever the loyalty points are.

Lemons on Friday

2012-01-27T02:42:00.000-08:00

I felt rather chuffed with myself when a generous SpaceNK sales assistant gave me a good sized sample tube of the Jurlique Citrus Hand Cream to try out:

Jurlique is a brand that I hear many good things about and so I merrily added it to the contents of my handbag where it has been a a frequent companion ever since.

The citrus scent is not of a harsh quality and it lingers more towards a slightly candied lightly-does-it lemon fragrance that is refreshing and uplifting at the same time.

The Jurlique Citrus Hand Cream is a lighter and less greasier formula that those of L'Occitane so no greasy paw prints! This is very important to me as I am always working with paper or fabric or glass and unsightly marks drive me bananas!

This cream melts into the skin quickly and does a good job of smoothing my parched hands. The moisturising effect lasts about a couple of hours before my hands feel a bit dry again so rather frequent reapplications are a must.

I really do like this Jurlique number but, I am very glad that I got this free sample and I am still on the look out for my HG hand cream. Jurlique's hand creams are available in Jasmin, Rose and Lavender varieties and are about £33 for a big 125ml tube in SpaceNK which is quite a lot to spend on a hand cream without trying it out first. I would definitely advise others to pop into a store and slather your hands with it before buying online etc.

Doodle Bunny

2012-01-26T06:02:00.000-08:00

It would seem that I am never too busy to doodle.

I am still practising using my iPad as a sketchpad. I now have a stylus which does help a little bit.

Temari

2012-01-25T02:43:00.000-08:00

Hiro's obaachan (grandmother) is a queen of crafting in my eyes.

She made these balls by weaving fine threads into intricate patterns. These examples of her work are quite old now but they still look beautiful to me.

The Wise Folk, Lisboa

2012-01-24T02:36:00.000-08:00

I am back to my old ways!

Long time readers will remember that I have a habit involving the surreptitious snapping of old folk. I am captivated by the stories they feed me without uttering a single world.

Taken with the Hipstamatic iPhone app.

Taken with the iDarkroom iPhone app.

Lisbon has some great looking old folk.

Cheeky Little Doppelgänger

2012-01-23T02:07:00.000-08:00

When my newest Canmake Cream Blush arrived at my office. I inhaled with trepidation. Was this the doppelgänger of #5 Sweet Apricot?

From memory, the similarities were uncanny!

After accosting myself for the follies of online shopping, and actually getting home to do a side by side comparison, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Canmake Cream Cheek #12 Milky Orange is a unique shade of powdery pastel orange with a sprinkle of fine golden shimmer and I am glad that it is mine.

//Canmake Tokyo Cream Cheek Collection:

I should probably stop buying these now.

Q&A

Q: What is the texture like (and where do you buy them from)?

A: Canmake Cream Cheek blushes are STILL among my most favoured cream blushes. The creamy gel-like texture is just brilliant and makes it so easy to apply and blend these into the cheeks. These are also fragrance free and are formulated with vegetal origin squalane which really does up the ante in terms of retaining my skins moisture levels.

I usually have mine CP-ed from Japan but you can buy these from Ichibankao, Mihoko Shop and A Pop of Kawaii. I have bought items from all these shops before and not had any negative experiences so far.

Knowing My Limits and Ignoring Them

2012-01-21T01:54:00.000-08:00

I know that my drawing capabilities are very limited. It won't stop me from trying. Nay it won't stop me from wanting to improve either.

Armed with my iPad and a brain chock-full of inspiration from the artful master, David Hockney, I got doodling and did this:

It's okay! Go ahead and giggle! I know that Hockney need not watch his back with my lack of iPad (or any other medium) drawing skills.

Hockney did the above artwork using an iPad app and stylus as his sketchbook and brush. I very much doubt that knowing exactly what he used would provide me with any help. He has achieved an immediate masterpiece in a new medium without loosing the hallmarks of his style. Perhaps I should mention 74 years of age. I know, I know....I have a looooooooong way to go! Now if you will excuse me, I have to get doodling .

A Bowl of Soup

2012-01-21T01:18:00.000-08:00

I recently tried some yukgaejang which is a traditional Korean spicy shredded beef soup. I was pleasantly surprised with the subtleties of the flavours that played on my palate. I enjoyed this very much.

RBR Fire Drops: Embrace of Cashmere

2012-01-20T02:10:00.001-08:00

I was most fortunate to receive the Fire Drops Loose Glitter Pigment in Embrace of Cashmere to try recently. I was tremendously excited about this as I am a big fan of Rouge Bunny Rouge products but not entirely enamoured with loose powdery things or glitter (I prefer a more delicate shimmer).

I have equated loose pigments with mess in my mind. I have had awful accidents with MAC and Barry M products and have been avoiding such things ever since. RBR however has take an impressive and practical approach to their already beautiful packaging.

There is a clever little stopper at the mouth of the vial that's prevent spillage and helps to release the right amount of pigment onto the sponge applicator. The applicator works well for me and allows for neat mess-free usage of the product. However, I suspect that a few of my friends that are known for their more flamboyant use of eyeshadow might exclaim that not enough pigment is released onto the sponge applicator each time.

I would like to correct the RBR mind that hailed this a glitter item for it is more of a pearly shimmer than a chunky glitter product on me at least. I like the super fine weightless powder to silk formula and I really appreciate the fact that it does not dry out my lids like many shadows tend to at this time of year.

Embrace of Cashmere is a wonderful gleaming complex neutral golden champagne colour appropriate for use as a highlighter or solo as a shadow. I am so pleased with the shade and envisage myself using this plenty much over all seasons. I honestly think that this pigment is a cut above anything similar that I have tried before in terms of it's fine quality, texture and finish.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Embrace of Cashmere worn above with YSL Glossy Stain in #17.

If you are curious about other shades of Fire Drops: Modesty Brown has reviewed the Caress of Mink Loose Glitter HERE

(This was received as a PR sample and was reviewed impartially by me)

Of Flame

2012-01-18T01:34:00.000-08:00

Since having my iPhone, I have found myself capturing photos in themes. What I mean is that, I get this image in my head and then I take photos of a similar language over and over during my traipse-arounds. I thought I should make a little blog feature of it, and to add a side dish of extra helpfulness, I shall let you know which apps I used for each photo.

Wherever I might be, it seems that flames brandish most of my evening these days. They dance a flickering frenzy into my memory.

Taken with iDarkroom

Taken with the standard iPhone camera and edited in iDarkroom.

Taken with the standard iPhone camera and edited in iDarkroom.

Taken with Hipstamatic using the Roboto Glitter Lens and the Ina's 1935 film.

Taken with the standard iPhone camera.

Be it candle or fire light. Naked flames tickle my fancy. Their warm and inconstant light warms the cockles of my soul.

Q&A:

Q: i've only just got an iphone about two weeks ago but already i have been taking a lot of photos. so what is idarkroom then, why's it good compared to others?

A: iDarkroom is a great app with which you can take photos as well as upload photos onto it for editing. The app costs 69p and I think it's money well spent. There are a host of filters and light effects (including some bokeh ones). There is the ability to really mess with your images her with cropping, blurring, tilt shift and and a variety of adjustment facilities and frames. This is one of my certain faves

Fragments of Him

2012-01-17T03:01:00.000-08:00

I am not regularly permitted to blog about Hiro. However, after much negotiating, I have these little fragments of him to expose.

Jacket from Comme des Garcon

Leather Converse trainers//Socks from Tabio//Corduroy trousers from All Saints

Scent One Hinoki by Monocle//Wonderwood by Comme de Garcon//Shirt by Evisu// YuskinA is preferred moisturiser.

Reading materials.

Exacting, eccentric and engrossing. He has a unique style and I hope that he will allow me to share more in the future.

A Satchel of Sorts

2012-01-16T06:41:00.000-08:00

Fred Perry had a sale.

I bought myself a new patent leather satchel that can transform into a backpack with some clipping and un-clipping of hooks.

I am thrilled with it. It's sturdy enough to keep everything in order and glossy enough to make me smile each time I sight it.

Did you buy anything in the sales this year?

The Three Smooches

2012-01-15T09:06:00.000-08:00

Thanks to some wonderful friends, I have been able to try the Revlon Lip Butters for myself. These lip butters are shiny, creamy,moisturising lip treats that are reasonably priced and lovely to use.

Revlon has stuck their flag at the junction where lipstick, lip balm and gloss may collide and had themselves a little party with these little joys. I am looking forward to their arrival on our shores.

// Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberry Shortcake is a bright medium toned pretty pink.

// Candy Apple

Candy Apple is a warm toned pigmented red with an orange lilt.

// Red Velvet

Red Velvet is a very pigmented deep red.

Thank you Jenn, Justine + Sunny for these beauties!

I Went to the Art Shop

2012-01-13T09:55:00.000-08:00

My favourite art supplies shop in London is Cass Art in Islington. Not only is is suitably close to me but it is big and full of magic stuff at generously discounted prices.

Come look through my peepers and obsess about the brilliance of colour:

There is an essence of uncooked enthusiasm that lingers in the air in art shops. I bounce about from shelf to corner to stand and wonder at everything that my little brain can take in.

After all that eagerness I walked away with a small hoard of implements.

I was given a choice of vibrant coloured bag to take all my bits home in. I chose cadmium red.

Of course, I would like to tell you what I have planned for these items but that would spoil the surprise that I have planned for my little Fushigi Shop.

Eye Spy: ArtMind

2012-01-13T01:19:00.001-08:00

ArtMind is a place where feelings are morphed into unique ceramic conversational pieces. I admire them greatly.

//Sleepy

//Agitated

//Confused

//Curious

//Torn

I enjoy the simplicity of some as well as the intricacies of the more complex feelings. There is something really touching and anapestic about these demonstrative pieces and I hope to own one one day.

Take a look at more of ArtMind's feelings in the Etsy shop [HERE]

ArtMind also has a blog [HERE]

Wot's Black + White + Striped All Over?

2012-01-11T02:06:00.000-08:00

Me last Sunday! A black + white shapeless mass.

Hiro and I went a wandering in Shoreditch. I lead him to the heart of Victorian London's most notorious slum, then known as The Old Nichol, now known as the Boundary Estate Bandstand.

I like to embellish my tights with other tights. The fissured texture looks interesting to me.

The Old Nichol was embellished in the tomes of London history as an evil and lamentable place. I wonder if the very name evoked the devil himself (old nick)? It was further demonised in Arthur Morrison's A Child of a Jago. Declared as a slum in 1890, this was home to about 6000 people crammed into a dense network of about 30 streets and courts. Today it is home to the Boundary Estate housing development and in it's very centre stands the bandstand built out of the very rubble from the Old Nichol slum as a centrepiece.

The thing about letting your feet take you wherever they may, is that they often lead you to un-level and sometimes wobbly ground.

//Hat from Japan//White tights from Tabio//Mint Tights from F21//Socks from Tabio//Boots from Office//Silver slip dress from Japan//Black and white shapeless thing from Vero Moda//

Favourite Skincare in 2011

2012-01-10T06:02:00.000-08:00

Acquiring good products that work well with your skin type is no easy undertaking. It has taken me three years to find the right fit that has balanced my skin and settled my need to hunting for more lotions and potions.

// La Roche Posay Physiological Cleansing Gel.

A superbly gentle and thorough cleanser. I use this each evening and also when I use my Clarisonic. This cleans without irritating or stripping my sensitive skin of all it's natural oil. This contains thermal spring water that soothes the skin without blocking pores. Soap, alcohol, paraben and colourant free but is fragranced with a clean fresh scent.

Great for normal to sensitive combination skin types.

// Vichy Purité Thermal Calming Micellar Solution

I don't wash my face in the mornings. I find it a bit much for my old skin especially in the cooler months. I love using Vichy's Micellar Solution as it cleanses my face without drying it out. This has really helped my persistent patches of eczema recover. Formulated with rose phytophenol and thermal water, this is a soothing alternative to washing. This is soap, alcohol and colorant free. Definitely one to stock up on when the 3 for 2 offers are on!

// NUDE Advanced Cellular Renewal Serum

My favourite serum for the warmer months. This silicone free formula allows my skin to breathe with it's super light texture. I noticed a marked improvement in my skin texture after a few weeks of usage and if it were not for the hefty price tag, I would probably bathe in this stuff. Formulated with 100% natural actives.

// Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate

My choice serum for the cooler months as its light oil texture helps to combat dryness effectively. I use this each night and it has made the mornings where I woke with flakey skin a thing of the past. My skin feels replenished and plump each morning. It takes a while to sink into the skin but this is no problem for me as I find it soothing and softening for my skin. A little goes a long way and this little 30ml bottle will last and last making this excellent value for money. This is just a fantastic product and I would recommend it to anyone.

// Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser Normal/Combination

This moisturiser is available in either a tub or a tube and am a fan of the tube format as it is nicer to use and less bulky to cart about. My combination skin veers towards dry cheeks and a more oily T-zone and this sees to both needs just fine without causing any breakouts. I do have to resort to using blotting film by the start of the afternoon but I don't mind this as the moisturiser seems to be doing a grand job of balancing my skin over the year.

I am still on the look out for an even better than just fab eye cream and I still want to try the Pai skin oil that so many of you rave about but I am rather happy with my skincare routine these days.

What have been your 2011 skincare favourites? Please do share!

Made by Me: Ode to the Mori Girl

2012-01-09T12:41:00.000-08:00

'Mori' means forest in Japanese, and a Mori Girl likes loose dresses, lace, vintage prints, snooping in granny's attic, sipping tea and seeking out magical moments. Mori girls take pleasure in stopping to appreciate the little things that others overlook amidst the hustle and bustle and ordinariness of daily life.

I am so glad to be able to add these diaphanous scarves into my shop window. Inspired by the Mori Girl sub-culture of Japan and the eternal Miss Havisham, I have made each scarf using a length of rare, soft, fine, French lace finished with an intricate "baby's breath" fringing.

Sizing: about 150cm long and 17cm wide.

* There are currently only two in stock at the moment. If you would like to custom order a similar piece, please do email me at: questions@worshipblues.com *

Care instructions: Treat as delicate precious silk items. Hand wash with a kind detergent and cool iron only.

Available in the + FUSHIGI SHOP +

I want to see some dissipation in my face

2012-01-09T09:24:00.000-08:00

I just loved that Eartha Mae Kitt. Even after though she has now passed on to the otherside, I still listen to her songs and let them echo throughout my heart.

Ladies and gents, please give it up for the wonderful Eartha Kitt:

❝ Kitt was born Eartha Mae Keith on a cotton plantation in North, a small town in Orangeburg County near Columbia, South Carolina. Kitt's mother was of Cherokee and African-American descent and her father of German or Dutch descent. Kitt was conceived by rape. Kitt was raised by Anna Mae Riley, an African-American woman whom she believed to be her mother. Anna Mae went to live with a black man when Eartha was 8. He refused to accept Kitt because of her relatively pale complexion. Kitt lived with another family until Riley's death. She was then sent to live in New York City with Mamie Kitt, who she learned was her biological mother. She had no knowledge of her father, except that his surname was Kitt and that he was supposedly a son of the owner of the farm where she had been born. Newspaper obituaries state that her white father was "a poor cotton farmer".❞ from Wikipedia

Blogs I Like Very Muchly

2012-01-07T02:17:00.000-08:00

As I don't have a proper blog-roll, I feel that it is my duty to let you in on some of my favourite blogs now and again. Here are some of my regular favourites, I do believe that they would make splendid additions to your feeds.

I look forward to the days when Matt updates his Buckets And Spades. I am bonkers about packaging, presentation and fringe arts and so Buckets And Spades has become a true happy place for me.

Not Just A Pretty Dress is a blog of quiet graceful style. The elegance that it exudes in words and pictures is just mesmerising for me.

The PvdH Journal is a place where I experience regular bouts of jaw-dropping. Her personal style is marvellous but it's her art work that really strikes me with awe.

I do hope that you enjoy browsing through the above blogs as much as I have. I shall be busy making things for my shop today. Wish you all a fab Saturday.

Sound Advice From the Book of Never

2012-01-06T12:41:00.000-08:00

I came across this slight booklet in Liberty. After a brief flick through, I knew that I simply HAD to take it home. There is much wisdom to glean and stow away in my old attic (more commonly known as my head).

I trust that you shall take this on board!

(Disclaimer. never take my advice on cherries)

The Call of the Faerie

2012-01-05T12:59:00.000-08:00

No one dresses a window like Fortnum & Mason. I think these faeries dawdle in finery and like sirens from the ancient myths, they call to us.

Aren't they enchanting?

Unii Winners

2012-01-05T12:12:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway. I never expected to hear from so many of you and am really pleased that you all took the time and effort to join in.

I am sad that I only have two of these to give away. Nevertheless, here are the winners:

Blush you have won the lilac palette.

Sukie you have won the turquoise palette.

Please get in touch with your address soon (questions @ worshipblues . com). If I do not hear from you within a week, I shall have to pick another winner.

24 Karat Wonderful

2012-01-04T12:09:00.000-08:00

I wish that I could squish Jenn for helping me get my grabby paws on this brush set!

//Tokidoki Pittura Brush Set: 24 Karat Edition

The brushes are so cute and so soft and shedding is not a problem that I have had to suffer so far.

Hiro thought that this was child's toy brush set when he saw it!

He has a point! I would have loved to have got my hands on these to destroy my mums makeup with. The only difference is that I would have decorated the walls instead of my face like I would do today.

Thanks again Jenn x

Shiseido Hydro-Power Shadow

2012-01-03T10:03:00.000-08:00

I have been testing out the Shiseido Hydro-Power Shadow in Glistening Sand-H9.

This is a very light airy silky textured cream shadow that glides onto my lids with little effort. Though it is sheer and shimmery, it is easy to tone down or layer up for a more intense look.

Glistening Sand is a pale golden shimmering champagne shade. It is almost fool proof to apply with the sponge applicator that is provided or with my fingers. For this reason it has become my most reached for shadow of late.

This bit of Shiseido magic does a brilliant job of making me look more awake. I think that it is the cream to powder formula that makes this shadow last and last without the need for a base. I shall not question the magic! It works and that is good enough for me.

Make it Count

2012-01-03T01:30:00.001-08:00

I wish you all a wonderful 2012!

I am doggedly determined to make my mark this year. By hook or by crook I shall carve my name into 2012 and make it one to remember for all the right reasons.

We are not Buddhist but we still have a little host of Shichifukujin (seven lucky gods). Tradition believes that upon New Year's Eve, these seven deities arrive upon a treasure ship laden with gifts for the gods to bestow upon their faithful.

The seven symbolise the essential virtues of man: candour (Ebisu), fortune (Daikokuten), amiability (Benzaiten), magnanimity (Hotei), popularity (Fukurokuju), longevity (Juroujin) and dignity (Bishamonten).

Our Shichifukujin actually stay out all year round. They keep me company while I work at home. I bought them in a shop that Hiro often refers to as "the old ladies shop". I hope to make them a treasure ship one day.

Perhaps the most notable tradition in our household is the penning of the memories of the the year onto a scroll. This is a custom inherited from Hiro's grandfather who has written his own annual "family history" over many many years.

Our scrolls are stored away safely in a lacquer box.

❝I have said that lacquer-ware decorated in gold was made to be seen in the dark; and for this same reason were the fabrics of the past so lavishly woven of threads of silver and gold❞ Tanizaki Junichiro

Phantasma

2011-12-30T06:46:00.000-08:00

Christmas is a funny time of year for tradition flouters like us. We witness London draw into itself and dissolve into silence for one day only.

We like to go for a stroll on Christmas afternoon. We peer through the windows of the merry-makers and shuffle about the forsaken streets.

Said Hari to I; "Please don't wear that mask Sumi. It's scary".
Said I to Hari; "I like it".
Hiro smiled knowingly.

Much love from your slightly creepy but often very nice curator.

Pastel Palette

2011-12-29T03:35:00.000-08:00

Sorry for my absence of late. I have been spending time with the loved ones. I didn't want to leave you in blog reader limbo so I have a little giveaway to help keep the cobwebs at bay.

As you may know Unii palettes have recently landed on our frostbitten shores of Blighty. These are my favoured customisable palettes for multiple brand shadows/blush etc.

I am rather fond of their multi coloured exteriors/magnetic interior/rubber seal to prevent leakage/secure clip closure/magnetic stick on pad to allow non magnetic pans to work.

I have two palettes. One that I use to assemble stray singles. One to corral the colours I want to take with me on a journey, this way I don't have to amble about with the extra bulk that my various palettes add.

// The 2 up for grabs:

Win yourself one of the above (turquoise or lilac) Unii Palettes.

How to enter:

Leave a message in this posts comment box letting me know which colour (turquoise or lilac) you would like to win.

International entries welcome.

You do not have to be a follower. Just be nice x

Giveaway end on New Year Days 6pm London time.

Spirit of Christmas Now

2011-12-24T04:18:00.000-08:00

Christmas is traditionally a tumultuous time in my head and heart. For many many many years, I have found myself unable to shake the pertinacious ghosts of Christmas past. Troublesome demons that inhabit memories that should be long forgotten but just wont let go.

Christmas times with my extended family left blistering scars that have never really healed.

This year I spent Christmas Eve's eve with wonderful people. I laughed so much and and enjoyed myself so fully that I thought that I may burst.

We had a delicious supper. We built a house. We played with shadows. We spooned raisins out of our mulled wine and had some joulu torttu.

"I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school-boy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to every-body! A happy New Year to all the world! Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo!"
Ebenezer Scrooge

The Glossy Smooch

2011-12-22T07:15:00.000-08:00

YSL has gone and rocked the lip stain boat with their newly released Glossy Stain.

I bought #1 and #17 which are 2 contrasting shades in rather sleek looking plastic packaging with little peep holes for convenience.

The Glossy Stains are exactly that = long lasting lip colours with a high shine polished finish. I love the fact that they do not contain any shimmer at all just pure wonderful mega pigmented flat colourfulness.

When applied, the stains leave a rather waxy feel to my lips. Not sticky...just waxy and somehow creamy. This probably helps the colour to cling fast with the high shine glossiness without being drying.

The applicator is a brilliant bit of kit. The slanted wideness of it ensures a precise smooth, even application.

Shade 1 is a deep purple berry hue and shade 17 is a blue toned pink.

Both can be toned down for a subtle look or layered for a more intense looking smoocher. I am very glad that I like these as Chanel seem to be in the throes of discontinuing their Rouge Laque that I loved and YSL have provided me with a super and vastly improved alternative. I hope to seem them more widely available in the future.

[I wore Glossy Stain #17 HERE.]

Toasty

2011-12-22T02:22:00.001-08:00

Gotta keep my toes toasty in the chill. Once a year I indulge in some fine Tabio socks:

Keep it cosy my people.

A Bloody Good Read

2011-12-21T12:50:00.000-08:00

Getting into a Nick Cave book is like immersing your brain into a solution of the finest gin and then setting it alight then dancing around the flames and fireworks. Is that a good thing? I shall let you make up your own mind.

I am currently lapping this up:

His brilliance for me lies in his hazy slicing prose and tender observations. He can touch on the suggestions of humanness without degrading them into negations. No contrived word salad nonsense here.

Fucked-up. Slightly psycho. Beautiful.

I would also recommend his debut literary offering And The Ass Saw The Angel:

The Stories of Cire Trudon

2011-12-20T08:34:00.000-08:00

Cire Trudon is one of my most favoured chandlers.

Their story opens with its founder Claude Trudon in 1643 and is a tale steeped and thoroughly intertwined with the history of France. By 1687 Calude's son Jacques entered into the court of the Sun King Louis XIV as the personal apothecary and distiller of Marie-Thérese, queen of France. Trudon went on to supply candles to the French court and to many of the most important churches throughout France until the demise of the monarchy when it continued its survival by supplying candles to Napoleon. Today, through the company's resilience and continual provision of excellence, Cire Trudon is the oldest and most prestigious wax candle maker in the world.

I have owned two of their candles. Both were bought to mark sentimental anniversaries and both served me very well.

//Spiritus Sancti. The scent of my childhood memories of being forced to sit through mass each Sunday stewing in my doubtful malaise . A Catholic mass distilled into flickering wax. This is heavy with smoking incense, rife with the dusty smell of bibles of old. A fragrance of mischief hidden behind heavy velvet and of confession boxes and of course prayer candles burdened with the hopes of the faithful.

//Dada. Quite a revolution in scent. A mix of tea, earthy vetiver sodden with muddled mint and eucalyptus leaves. This is like a cocktail of fresh confusion and it brought an intriguing resonance into the room each time it was lit.

Cire Trudon candles are made with vegetal wax and are biodegradable. They burn evenly and last a long long time releasing fragrance even when unlit.

Some candle makers produce some lovely illustrated brochures to accompany their candles. These are not given away willy-nilly but if you ask for them they are there for the taking unless you are in the Paris shop when you may get a miserable old mare regarding you with a most disdainful leer.

The current brochure is illustrated by Lawrence Mynott and is is a joy to behold. I am very glad that I have one.

\\Listening to Go it Alone by Beck:
"See me down at the station
By the lane
With my hands in my pocket
Jingling a wish coin
That I stole from a fountain
That was drowning all the cares in the world"

The Little Chimney Sweep

2011-12-20T04:43:00.001-08:00

I am continually charmed by the work of Lotte Reiniger. In my artless way with words, I call her a shadow puppeteer. She was a film director and silhouette animator that is unsurpassed in her field even today.

Lotte drew inspiration from the ancient Chinese art of shadow puppetry and adapted it into a workable film medium. She trained herself in paper cutting and honed her skills to the point that she was able to create free-hand silhouette portraits at a whim.

Here is her rendition of the Tale of the Little Chimney Sweep that was completed in 1954.

Charlotte Reiniger was born in Berlin in 1899 and her works have continued to inspire and influence the work of many artists long after she died in 1981.

[ See Lotte Reiniger's fascinating Biography from the BFI here ]

Plied With Ponderosa

2011-12-19T10:25:00.000-08:00

The word "ponderosa" is derived from the Latin for ponderous or heavy. Quite an irony for this is a shadow not best applied with a heavy touch as things can get messy.

NARS single shadows are so cute! I just wish that the rubbery finish of the packaging wasn't such a magnet for all things grubby. Moaning over, on with the review.

Ponderosa is a deeply delicious looking chocolate brown. It is more milk chocolate than dark chocolate and it does have some deep red and bronze shimmer that certainly makes it more interesting. The shadow is very light on the eye and easily manipulated so that I found it simple to apply with my little finger.

NARS cream shadows don't seem to work for everyone. There are raves out there. There are also some less than happy wearers that report much creasing. Thankfully, these work well on me. I apply the cream shadow on top of the NARS Smudge Proof Base (reviewed here) and then follow with a quick sweep of a suitable shadow and this seems to set everything in a budge proof manner for at least 9 hours.

This is a quick more office friendly approach to Ponderosa. I applied it very lightly and swept a little Voyage (also by NARS) over it for some seasonal gleam.

I am glad that I got this as it is a Limited Edition and just the kind of thing that I would kick myself over missing.

London in Dream Shades

2011-12-18T11:39:00.000-08:00

My Polaroid Supercolor and I are companions inseparable at the moment. People often ask about the availability of type 600 film. YES, buying age old Polaroid type 600 film will bite into your wallet with no mercy BUT The Impossible Project are doing a fine job of creating some impressive film that allows for the capturing of some wonderful images.

Here are some photographs taken recently in London using the Impossible Project Colour Shade PX 680 film:

I think that it is fair to say that this film has some "behavioural issues", this may irritate some but I happen to think that this only adds to the charm and wonderment of the end result. The quirks seem to depend on the weather, light, temperature amongst other considerations.

I am very pleased with this little set of pictures and hope to share more with you soon.

Sweetness

2011-12-17T12:16:00.000-08:00

I now have my grabby hands on my second Canmake Tokyo Creamy Touch Rouge lipstick. I loved the colour/texture/finish of the Sweet Cherry version so much that getting another shade didn't really require a second thought.

//This is the Marshmallow Pink shade:

This is a very creamy baby pink semi matte shade. It is highly pigmented, creamy to apply, long lasting and moisturising just like the Sweet Cherry shade.

I can't help loving this pink!

Calatrava's Lisbon pt 1

2011-12-15T12:50:00.000-08:00

Calatrava's structures blew me away. The architect is a master of his style. The lines of the Gare do Oriente were sublime. There is a purity about it that stands it's ground amidst all the concrete.

Above photographs were taken with my Polaroid Spectra camera using Impossible Project's Silver Shade film. I am so happy with how they turned out.

Hiro's photos above show lithe looking pillars and how they mimic palm trees. It is almost as though the station were an oasis against the bright Lisbon sky.

I have gained a new respect for Calatrava. It is not often that one encounters the work of an individual skilled in architecture AND structural engineering. Boy oh boy...how wonderful an experience it was.

Always Watching

2011-12-14T04:03:00.000-08:00

Hiro took this photo in Dalston a few weeks ago. We are being watched at every turn here in London.

If that doesn't give you a case of the collywobbles at some point, then I don't know about you.

Black Ki

2011-12-13T06:44:00.000-08:00

I like these opalescent nail varnishes that shine their different colours at different light angles.

This is Ki by Zoya:

Sometimes it's purple. Sometimes it's green. Like peacock feathers or oil on water.

This was a gift from my darling friend Vicky from //Vanity Fashionista//

We Are Shadows

2011-12-13T01:13:00.000-08:00

I would like to have this print. I would hang it in my bathroom. A good place for guests to contemplate how they may fit into my scheme of things.

Created by //WE ARE SHADOWS//

Window Watching

2011-12-12T01:26:00.000-08:00

Window watching is yet another preoccupation of mine. Lapping up details, cooing over packaging, admiring well thought out displays. I am an expert at investing my time wisely. Really I am.

Liberty of London.

Ladurée, Burlington Arcade.

A tailors on Saville Row.

The ceiling in a corner of Dover Street Market.

In the hearth at Milk, Shoreditch.

Button drawing pins. SCP, Shoreditch.

Bars of soap, Present, Shoreditch.

I can never tire of consuming the little details around me.

Slight Gold

2011-12-11T14:12:00.000-08:00

Have you ever kicked yourself for missing out on a particular limited edition makeup item from a particular limited edition line?

I have.

It was MAC's Royal Assets shadow palettes from 2007.

Then my dear friend Justine from Sakura Lovely sent me a pristine Royal Assets Metallic Eyes palette. I was bowled over by her kindness.

I just love the colours and the heavyweight packaging.

My first mess-about with it resulted in a slightly golden with peachy blossomings at the edge eyes.

I like it super much.

Thanks again Justine

x

The Packaging Files: Font Appeal

2011-12-09T23:24:00.000-08:00

I really like simple packaging emblazoned with a bold font. It appeals to my more minimalist side.

The Compagnie de Provence make some excellent body care goods. I have long been a fan of their packaging since spotting their liquid soap pump bottles in the Conran Shop many years ago. Come to think of it, this is a brand much favoured in lifestyle design shops. It's no wonder! Such effortlessly cool packaging!

I am always washing my hands. Sewing and working with metals have nudges my OCD-ness into washing my hands more than necessary so I have to compensate by buying large amounts of hand cream. This has a soft and soothing powdery marine and clean linen in the sunshine scent.

Dont Let Appearances Fool You

2011-12-09T01:13:00.000-08:00

These photos were taken in Lisbon.

According to a taxi driver in Murakami Haruki's latest book; when you do something out of your ordinary, the everyday look of things might seem to shift a little. Things may begin to look different to you than they did before.

This fluctuation of normality manifested itself in a cleft within my being, sometime during my childhood. I was good at spotting things that the grown-ups didn't. I was excellent at making reality out of things that were not really real. I could discover entire worlds in a single afternoon. I could invent extraordinary adventures every bedtime and creating wonderful new uses for everyday objects came as easy as breathing. Due to a free-falling series of slightly tragic events, I lived in a bubble of my own making because reality was too painful. However, I may be guilty of inflicting this questionable lilt on life onto my little sister. In my defence though, this was the only way in which I felt that I could protect her.

Now that I am grown-up. I cannot abandon my ways. I still spot things that most walk straight past. I still walk around peering into corners/inspecting pavements and the tops of buildings. I purposefully get lost or go the wrong way just to allow for a break in the beat of the humdrum. I still fill my sisters head with preposterous junk and I generally find it hard to fit into most circles.

Don't let appearances fool you. I am about 10 years old at heart.

Jeans from GAP//Jersey swing top from Allsaints//Snood from Topshop//Shoes from Bloch//Bag from Marc Jacobs//Jacket vintage.

The Yummies: A Bit of Battenburg

2011-12-08T10:12:00.001-08:00

On "making days", I often require the assistance of a little sugar rush to help me on my way with me beads, fabrics, pins and ting! One of my favourite little treats is a stick of Battenburg cake upon a pretty little plate.

An exceedingly good nibble indeed.

Mocha Brown Moist Souffle For Your Eyes Only!

2011-12-08T03:38:00.000-08:00

I am a huge fan of cream shadows. I tend to slick them on like war paint before rushing out. I have added two more Japanese cream shadows to my collection and thought that brief reviews may be helpful to some of you.

//Canmake Tokyo Moist Souffle Shadow in Mocha Brown:

Presented in a jewel-like clear plastic casing, the shadow is indeed much like a souffle. It has a light springy texture that just glides onto the lids.

Applied, mocha brown is more of a translucent caramel brown shade with flecks of gold and bronze shimmer throughout. I rather like the subtle glow and sheen that it provides.

The Canmake Moist Souffle has the additional bonus of containing squalane, hyaluronic acid and aloe leaf extract to help treat the lids.

Heavily swatched.

I find this a little to thin to wear on it's own or as a base as it tends to fade quite quickly. Layering the product only results in aggravating the amount of creasing after a few hours. However, when used with the NARS Smudge Proof Eye Shadow Base it does stay put.

What it looks like on the eye with nothing else.

Stay Warm!

2011-12-07T09:30:00.000-08:00

I can really feel the bite of winter now.

Stay warm everyone!

1st Base

2011-12-07T05:12:00.001-08:00

Hello Urban Decay Primer Potion fans! Guess what? I have chucked my UDPP in the bin! Yes I have. Now before you go and get your knickers in a twist, hear me out. I have replaced the said shadow base with NARS' Smudge Proof Shadow Base.

The UDPP started to prove itself to be far too oily for my lids and I begun to notice strange little bumps appearing on my lids. After a period of discontinued use, they disappeared and hence the reason for my remainder tube ending up in the bin.

I really enjoy using this product and have come to rely on it entirely for cementing my shadow in place for hours upon hours at a time. We have to deal with the usual irritations of NARS' rubberised packaging but the applicator wand works well for me. I find this to be very light, easy to apply and non-greasy.

The base is an off-white shade that dries to a near clear and very smooth finish . A little goes a long way and it works well with both cream and powder shadows.

This is pricier than the UDPP but if it prevents me from getting toad-ish eyes than that is fine with me!

Too Cool For Shoes

2011-12-06T01:41:00.000-08:00

My jaw dropped when I stumbled across the mind jerking imaginative shoes of Kobi Levi.

//Blow

//Sling-shot

//Miao 2010

//Olive Oyl

❝In my artistic footwear design, the shoe is my canvas. The trigger to create a new piece comes when an idea, a concept and/or an image comes to mind. The combination of the image and footwear creates a new hybrid and the design/concept comes to life. The piece is a wearable sculpture. It is "alive" with/out the foot/body.❞

10x10 London

2011-12-05T04:58:00.000-08:00

London's financial heart has been dissected into 100 neat squares.

These little sections of the 10x10 grid were portioned out to some of the most prominent architects and artists to provide an impression of the City.

The 10X10 project aims to raise money towards the projects of Article 25, an international development and disaster relief charity that provides architectural, design and construction expertise in some of the worlds poorest nations to ensure that the right to adequate shelter is met.

Please do take a moment to flick through the gallery. Some of the work is really inspiring/thought provoking.

[ See the Gallery here ]

Old Fashioned Charm

2011-12-02T00:08:00.000-08:00

If ever there was/is/will be a modern day palette with more old fashioned charm than this, I need to find it!

Paul & Joe Manhattan Colour Palette #3:

The Paul & Joe Manhattan Colour Palette #3 comprises of 4 eye shadows and 1 blush, all of which are shimmerish (new word, that I made up earlier). I was pleasantly surprised at how pigmented and how buttery soft these shades are and although they are easily duped, they are presented so beautifully. I just love the art-deco inspired charm of it all.

Through the Darkness

2011-11-30T10:47:00.000-08:00

One of my favourite iPhone apps is Lo-Mob. The camera is nothing to shout about but the editor is rather brilliant. I upload regular iPhone pics onto the app to edit them. Just a bit of fun.

Here are some recent views from my strolls.

Save my Skin

2011-11-30T03:17:00.000-08:00

My skin is dry-as-a-bone. I also suffer from patches of eczema at this time of brrr-year. Here are two products that have served me well all year and are still holding their ground in the chill.

//Haus of Gloi's Pumpkin Butter "Aether".

Scented with the pureness of "absolute nothingness" and formulated with the goodness of shea butter and pumpkin seed oil,this is my favourite body butter for serious moisturising.

This has a creamy, yet smooth and silky texture. I find that this glides onto my skin is quickly absorbed leaving little greasiness. Don't frown at my grease! I need this to keep my skin moist.

Pumpkin seed oil is an excellent source of antioxidant cartenoids, essential fatty acids and zinc.

//Kiehls Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion:

This is my lighter alternative to the Aether butter mentioned above.
It is scented with an interesting slightly earthy, citrus, herby waft that may not be everyone's cuppa tea but it suits me fine as it doesn't linger for too long.

This is a very thick lotion and I am surprised that it is packaged in a pump bottle. This doesn't apply as silky smoothly as Aether but it does pack a good moisturising punch, and it leaves my skin soft and irritation free. This is an excellent after-sun for me as it adds a subtle radiance to my skin without being too greasy.

Both the above potions work very well to keep my skin moist for many hours. They also succeed in keeping any irritation and itchiness at bay.

Security Gates Made to Measure + Install

2011-11-29T02:18:00.000-08:00

I just dunno why the husband thinks it's fun to take photos of me with random sale sign posts.

I also just dunno:

Why I am loving the Frozen Planet series on the Beeb when I despise coldness, hell is a frost bucket// I dunno why running makes me angry//Or why I love natto (Japanese fermented beans)// Why do I think better whilst hula-hooping? I DUNNO.

Burgundy cords from GAP + Snood from Topshop + Shirt by Supreme + Cardigan from PRESENT + Bag from See by Chloe + Lipstick is Tongue Tickles by Rouge Bunny Rouge.

//Listening to: "Giving up the Gun' by Vampire Weekend

"Your sword's grown old and rusty
Burnt beneath the rising sun
It's locked up like a trophy
Forgetting all the things it's done"

Fushigi Shop

2011-11-28T06:58:00.000-08:00

After much noodle whirling, we have a new name for my little shop window:

Pronounced: FU-SHEE-GHEE.

Fushigi is a Japanese word that's definition means; mystery, wonder, miracle, strange, marvel, curiosity.

In celebration of my little shop window's new name I have made my 1st collection of bracelets:

True to the Worshipblues way, these are limited editions and each design has a little tale to tale. I hope that you like them.

Spread the word

Gold is my Nude

2011-11-28T02:34:00.000-08:00

I can't wear nude lip anything! It makes me look quite ill in a crack-head sort of way. Utterly inelegant and perfectly wrong. The closest that I can comfortably get to nude lips is a pale but sparkly gold, and no one does this better than CHANEL.

Once in a while Chanel bring out a golden gloss and this year they wooed us with Sparkle D'or.

Strip away all the jazz-hands-coz-it-is-CHANEL and what you have is actually a clear gloss packed with golden shimmery bits. Now bring the jazz-hands back and add some table-top fireworks because the shimmer is ever so refined. No chunky gritty bits here! This gloss catches the light ever so nicely. Think pretty almost ethereal wowness.

This works well over nude lippies. It's like magickness and it works to bring the shades to life. I do this with //MAC's Shy Girl and //D&G's Nude.

I bought this in Selfridges. It is a Limited Edition Item...BEWARE!

Wanderlust

2011-11-26T16:17:00.000-08:00

I like soap. I especially like handmade soap. Wanderlust is a persistent infliction of mine.

I have recently used up a bar of Future Primitive's Wanderlust soap.

Future Primitive's website description of the scent:

❝ A late summer cargo from distant shores. Cologne-splashed Englishmen in starched ivory linens and panama hats bring bushels of citrus fruits, wooden crates filled with Rosemary leaf, oaken barrels filled with West Indian Bay oil & rich perfumery from old town apothecaries.❞

I think that the scent description is very accurate. This is certainly a unisex scent that Hiro and I were happy to share. It has a lingering spicy freshness with bursts of citrus that hold these contrasting elements together nicely.

This is a generous bar that lasted us a few months providing a good lather despite London's hideously hard water. A remarkable point to note about this soap is that it does not go slimly and disgusting in your soap tray. A wonder indeed!

I look forward to trying more soaps from Future Primitive's interesting range of bars and I am actually eyeing up the Inches Lane hand made soap as I type.

[ Future Primitive Website ]

Foresaken

2011-11-25T09:06:00.001-08:00

It is estimated that there are approximately 4000 abandoned buildings in Lisbon (last counted in 2008), add to that the glaring truth that this is also one of Europe's fastest shrinking urban populations and what you have a harvest of neglected deserted edifices scattered throughout it's limits.

See what we saw:

Our obsession with abandoned, neglected decaying buildings soared to new heights in Lisbon. I have to be careful what I say for it wouldn't be right to give away too much detail about these locations. Seek and ye shall find.

The immense trepidation and overwhelmingly claustrophobic mix of anxiety, fear and inner disquiet and at times utter disgust I feel whilst exploring the interior of such places is almost explosive. I wont deny that leaving each place is followed with a tremendous sense of PHEW!!! Relief! Combined together, somewhere within is the thrill of why I do this. I am addicted.

Big love to Hiro for the smashing pictures.

✈ Currently listening to: Walking on a Dream by Empire of the Sun.

"We are always running for the thrill of it thrill of it
Always pushing up the hill searching for the thrill of it
On and on and on we are calling out and out again
Never looking down I’m just in awe of what’s in front of me"

I Sewed This Fing

2011-11-24T11:34:00.000-08:00

My sewing machine and I are good friends. We positively relish new sewing challenges. Here are a few things that we 'ave been putting together.

I made a little insulated bread basket.

Little goldfish that wallow on the surface.

Waves simmer within.

I use the highest quality Japanese fabrics that I could find. Linen on the outside and a smooth cotton inside. I used a cosy wadding as an insulator and even gave it some handles.

You may very well see this and more home-ware appear in my little [SHOP WINDOW]

Thanks for listening!

Fore♡er Polaroid

2011-11-23T11:14:00.000-08:00

My stack of Polaroid photos keeps growing. As they grow, I love them ever more.

Here is a stack of Polaroids from our trip to Berlin that I have scanned in your viewing pleasure:

Tacheles

Altes Museum

Berlin Wall

Berliner Dom

In this digital age, the magic of Polaroid images is ever more charming to my soul. These photos were taken with a Polaroid 1200 camera and film.

Thank you for allowing me to share them with you.

Where's Wally

2011-11-22T00:18:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my slightly rubbish version of that aforementioned and commonly known spotting game.

I did not purposefully intend to impersonate the elusive stripy fellow It just happened....

These photos were taken in the temperate climate of of recent trip to Lisbon.

//Brogues from Kate Kanzier//Tights from Tabio//Shorts from Whistles//Top from GAP//Scarf from Topshop//

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

2011-11-21T07:35:00.001-08:00

This is an exceeding odd little book.

Perhaps you should read it too.

It's got lots of very strange photos and the story is unconventional and a rare brew of fantastic with creepy bits and magical bit and proper bonkers bits too.

So Long Summer.

2011-11-21T04:04:00.001-08:00

Thank you for the happy times. I hope that you make a prompt return next year and that you will bring with you your most brilliant and dazzling smile.

These photos were taken by Hiro whilst we camped in Norfolk this summer. They mirror my feelings most well today.

A Blushing Pair

2011-11-20T02:17:00.000-08:00

Winter drains the colour from my face and I turn into a creature that much resembles a walking corpse. I attempt to combat this sallow pallor by slapping my cheeks real hard with some pink blush. In my mind this adds just a bit of pinched-by -the-frost colour.

Cream blush is my choice in winter as my skin is parchment dry around now. I have but two creamy pinks lurking in my kit and they are formidable in terms of their hue, quality and finish.

//Canmake Tokyo Cream Cheek in #8 Marshmallow Pink

A soft pretty pink of pure girliness with a peachy twist. This does contain a very fine shimmer that helps to add some pearly va-va-voom to my complexion.

Canmake Cream Cheek blushes are STILL among my most favoured cream blushes. The creamy gel-like texture is just brilliant and makes it so easy to apply and blend these into the cheeks. These are also fragrance free and are formulated with vegetal origin squalane which really does up the ante in terms of retaining my skins moisture levels.

//Illamasqua Cream Blush in Sob

This is a true pale pink that imparts a healthy dewy look without any shimmer. The blueish under tones can be a bit peculiar during other seasons but it works brilliantly during winter. This applies and blends smoothly and is long lasting on the cheeks. My only gripe is it's sweet fragrance.

Side by side

Left: Sob. Right Marshmallow Pink.

Ode to Os Gemeos

2011-11-18T10:15:00.001-08:00

I spotted this Os Gemeos grafitti on our way to our hotel from the airport in Lisbon. I literally screamed out..."OS GEMEOS" when I saw it. I seldom get so excited about street art but this...THIS was different. See this in person was a dream come true.

The scale of the piece was magnificent.I have long been a fan (from a far) of their work and seeing their work up close and in person was just awesome.

Os Gemeos are, Otavios + Gustavo Pandolfo. They are identical twins and they hail from Sao Paulo,Brazil. Their dream like creations are now iconic examples of Brazilian street art and have even graced the walls of our very own Tate Modern with just as much ease as it dis the street walls from whence they started.

❝ When we dream, everything we dream has yellow tones', Gustavo Pandolfo explains. 'This is something of ours, myself and my brother. We use it in our painting. We can't use another colour. We have to use yellow.❞

Hiro found this clip to share with you and it accompanies his photos above perfectly. The video shows the creation of Os Gemeo's and Blu's works in the Saldanha area of Lisbon. The soundtrack was recorded after dinner.

I have mentioned Blu's work before in a previous post that you can find [ HERE ]. Blu is no stranger to our East London Streets.

{Slicker Than Your Average}

2011-11-18T01:07:00.000-08:00

My hair has the capacity (and and audacity) to block a 2000W vacuum cleaner. It is thick, coarse and frizzy and it takes much effort to control it. Splendid hair products are like little angels in bottles for me and finding a good hair oil has been at the top of my hairy wish list for many many years.

I don't ask for much! I just want it to tick the following boxes:

Make my hair shiny
Tame the frizz
Resist humidity
Smell wonderful
Not be too heavy and turn me into a chip-fat head!

I happened to stumble across Percy & Reed's collection of hair products a couple of months ago and I thought nothing about trying their No Oil, Oil.

Percy & Reed's hair oil offers a choice of 2 formulas. One for thick hair and one for fine hair.

This immediately passed my sniff test. It has a clean powdery fragrance that is inoffensive and refreshing.

I have been using this for a while now and am really happy with the results. I use this on wet hair when I plan to leave my hair wavy and I use it on my dray hair as a finishing product after I have been at my hair with the GHDs. A little goes a long way so the £14.00 price tag is worth the splash out as this will last me a long while.

Formulated with the silky and light goodness of pomegranate seed oil, this does a great job of banishing my frizz and adding shine to my matte hair without weighing it down and leaving it greasy.

This is now my HG hair oil and I will certainly be buying it again. Oh and I love the packaging. Illustrations get me every time!

Curious Gifts for Curious Minded People Pt 1.

2011-11-16T07:40:00.000-08:00

I have a peculiar talent for selecting curious gifts. Of course this talent of mine is not always appreciated but nonetheless, here are some suggestions for you, in case you are buying Christmas gifts for curious people:

☃HOLE ON EX Pinhole Camera

A complete DIY pinhole camera kit that uses easy to find 35mm film.

£14.50 from The Design Museum Shop or Magma Books.

☃Subversive Cross Stitch Kit

For the creative, strongly opinionated and not easily offended. Available from HERE.

☃WACOM Inkling

For the constant doodle-bug!

€169.00 available from HERE

☃A monocle designed by Tio L'Atelier d'exercices for Maison Martin Margiela.

For those whose lives need magnifying.
£60 from Twentytwentyone

☃Ridley's Harmonica

For the noise makers.
£5.50 and available from Lifestyle Bazaar.

☃An empty but pretty bottle designed by Tina Tsang of Undergrowth Design.

Excellent for the moonshine makers.

£15.00 and buyable from Harvey Nichols.

☃More Empties! The Bobble is a reusable water bottle with replaceable carbon filters. Filter tap water and help save the planet.

Available in various sizes and cost between £8.00 - £13.00 and are available from may places including Oliver Bonas. The replacement filters cost about £7.00 and come in a range of colours.

Fings What I Like #19

2011-11-16T01:33:00.000-08:00

One of my favourite windows to press my face against whilst attempting to mouth the word WOW, is the Issey Miyake window on Conduit Street.

Extraordinary talent! Those pleats......they make me quiver with delight!

Funky Granny on Fallen Leaves and Autumn Light.

2011-11-15T04:34:00.000-08:00

I didn't grow up with AUTUMN. Trees never chucked their leaves across the place where I was born. I remember being genuinely impressed with the colours of autumn when I first arrived in this country. It still impresses me today.

Incidentally, Hiro says I look like a "funky granny" when I dress like this. Good thing I happen to think granny style is FAB.

Autumn is less of a display in the city scape of London. Though there are some spots where I can still immerse myself in the wonderment of it all. We took these photos in the front garden of the splendid Geffrye Museum in Hackney before they cleared away the leafy litter.

The Allure of Alfama

2011-11-14T02:27:00.000-08:00

Come along! We haven't the time to delay! Come with me, and let me take you on a little stroll through my favourite part of Lisbon, the Alfama District.

The Alfama's roots linger in the Muslim occupation of Lisbon which dated from around 711 - 1108. Originally called Al-Hamma, this is Lisbon's oldest district and area in which the Muslim influence is still felt and seen today. Alfama still retains its labyrinth of towering houses, narrow winding streets and intimidatingly steep narrow stairwells, that both do a grand job of confusing visitors.

Alfama's location by the River Tejo leads me to believe that the original purpose of such a bewildering muddle of streets was a defence strategy. Perhaps the tall buildings was a strategy to keep the street level cooler in the glaring sun? It is thought that the layout and structure of the area was a contributing factor in Alfama's survival of the great earthquake of 1755. The quake nearly obliterated Portugal and destroyed 85% of Lisbon alone, killing around 40,000 people.

Today, like ever before, Alfama is also associated with poverty. However, despite the run-down appearance of the area, we never felt threatened at any point, not even when we were still lurking about after sunset. There is a strong sense of community here and even us as strangers could feel it resonating through the cobbles.

The best way to get to Alfama is by tram. From then on, it's down to your feet so wear wise footwear and your instinct.....go where you will!

If you are lucky enough to spot an old lady grilling sardines on the road side at the Porta D'Alfama eaterie then you absolutely MUST stop for a bite and a glass of something!

If we were to move to Lisbon (grand lottery win depending), I could see us living here. It is an inspiring place with a warm heart, humble clothing, beautiful face and a profoundly boundless soul. This is our kind of place.

I hope that you have enjoyed our little stroll. Let's do this again sometime.

Photography credit: Porto Foto. Salut!

Around but flat

2011-11-13T02:05:00.000-08:00

Hiro is rather good at making these purposefully jaggedy collages. He stands in one place and and with the staggered movement of a slow-mo spinning top, he snaps his 360° sight.

This was taken on the Norfolk coast.

Girls That Stare at Palettes

2011-11-12T00:54:00.000-08:00

I have cut back tremendously on personal cosmetic purchases lately. BUT, I ask you this: just how is a girl to resist something as wonderful as NARS' Holiday 2011 offering?

NARS drew inspiration from Japanese Kabuki theatre for this special edition palette.This makes me smile as Kabuki is an art form dominated by men. Wonderful androgyny!

Impeccably parcelled, it has it's own fabric case to house the infamous trademark NARS rubberised palette and the accompanying brush.

The palette consists of 4 shades,a shimmering white, gold, a rich deep rose and matte black, presented to us immaculately in this intricately detailed floral impression.

Shall we sit and swoon for a little while? Feel free to stroke your screens if you feel so inclined.

The palette also comes with a brush.

This is one of the most elegant and visually stunning palettes that I own. I cannot suffer actually using it for the moment so please don't expect any swatches any time soon! Now, please excuse me while I go back to my staring.

Incidentally, if ever anyone wanted to make a film about beauty bloggers, then "GIRLS WHO STARE A PALETTES" may be a good title.

Tales of a Packaging Fiend

2011-11-11T03:39:00.001-08:00

Things wot are nicely presented make me feel oh-so pleased wiv them!

Here are a few bits n' bobs that I have recently acquired. Fings wot make me smile for a while.

A little collection of simple fings.

A box of long matches for lighting candles. The Archivist Gallery has an assortment of excellent safety matches.

A little turned wooden case of 12 size 8 easy threading needles from Merchant & Mills.

A gift from a lovely friend. A memo block cunningly disguised posh old fashioned luggage. A product of Marks.jp.

A floral print pencil for doodling. Another gift from my friend.

A brightly wrapped tin of Sardines from Portugal.

Glass headed pins from Merchant & Mills' fine selection of notions.

Percy & Reed's hairspray decorated with an elegant illustration.

//I am fond of everyday items made an extra bit special by thoughtful packaging.

What is the last nicely packaged item that you bought?

See my last packing obsessed post [ HERE ]

Vincent Malloy

2011-11-10T01:46:00.000-08:00

I chanced across this most splendid animation in glorious greys whilst stumbling through the wonderful Tumblr of [Seven Silent Forms].

I strongly suggest that you grab your poison, rest up your feet and dream away with this.

Tea of the Week : Kusmi Tea Anastasia

2011-11-09T11:46:00.000-08:00

Kusmi Tea was established in St Petersburg in 1867. In 1917, the tea company moved from London to Paris where it's headquarters remain even today.

The Kusmi Tea Anastasia Blend is my current favourite tea:

Anastasia is a black tea blend of Ceylon and China teas with essences of bergamot, lemon and orange flowers.

This is a wonderfully fragrant tea in which all the ingredients come alive in my cup. I can actually single out the scent of each note.

This is a sunny tea for me. It's like being sat on a veranda surrounded gorgeous aromas. It is not the smoothest tea blend that I have gulped down but the breezy astringency works well to rouse me on gloomy mornings.

I hope that you like my tea cup?

It is from the Wedgwood Polka Dot Tea Story collection and is made of fine bone china.

We Loitered in Lisbon

2011-11-08T01:02:00.001-08:00

Thank you to everyone that took part in my little guessing game! I was indeed in Lisboa!

I knew the instant we set foot upon the uneven cobbles of Lisbon that THIS, this was a city that we were going to LOVE.

Lisbon's seams are worn ragged and while this may seem shabby to many, for us this is beauty of a unique and moving quality.

This is a living collage of history/culture/dilapidation/ but this is a city that will not ram it's qualities down your throat like so many other European cities would. This is a city that would rather let you discover it's wonder quietly and within your own time. Sadly, Lisbon and it's citizens have suffered gravely from the economic crisis and while the cost of living is on parr with the most expensive European cities, wages, and pensions are far below. Also, Lisbon has not experienced the gentrification and urban renewal like other cities that have been slapped with the COOL CITY label fully loaded with the creative crowd following closely behind....YET!

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world predating London, Paris and even Rome, it is a remarkably hilly place with streets that change from grand and wide parades that must have been resplendent in their former glory to compact, claustrophobic alley ways and stairways that go on for what seems like forever!

This is absolutely my favourite city that I have visit in Europe. I cannot imagine a city with more interesting textures or a more unique skin such as this. I just cannot wait to visit again. In the meanwhile, I have so many stories to share with you and I hope that you will stick around for my babbling tales.

Where in the World

2011-11-07T00:33:00.001-08:00

We are back in London and as another voyage has reached it's conclusion, I've resolved myself to clinging onto our memories and photographs yet I feel freshly invigorated and inspired by breathing the multifarious air of this city.

Can you guess where we were?

A Face full of Honey Tea

2011-11-06T10:13:00.000-08:00

I know! I know! MORE tea fings!

//Skinfood Good Afternoon Honey Black Tea BB Cream in Natural Beige #2.

This BB cream is formulated to have moisturising and illuminating qualities through the use of ingredients that include honey and black and red teas.

There are a many good points about this BB cream but the scent is not one of them. If you like sweet scents then you may lap this up (not literally, I hope) but if like me you prefer your base makeup to be unfragranced then this may irk you too. It does smell more of honey than tea but thankfully it doesn't linger once applied.

I opted for the darker of the 2 shades available and though it is a little pale for me on application, thanks to it oxidising, it adjusts to fit my mug nicely after a few minutes. It imparts a nice dewy finish BUT it is slightly, only slightly sticky which is fine for me as this will help keep my face moist in the winter. However this might be a bit crap in more humid weather. (Note to me: leave this one at home on holidays).

I would say that this provides full coverage and it hides imperfections well enough. However,this does make it a bit heavy and so again, rubbish for summer despite the SPF20++

A fellow blogger kindly CP-ed this item from Korea me. I have seen this on eBay for about £8.00.

If you would like to see how a swatch of this looks against other BB creams please refer to my swatch post ☛ HERE ☚

Londonscapes

2011-11-05T02:59:00.000-07:00

Hiro was recently allowed special access to one of London's most loved and famous buildings.

I am gutted that I cannot share the more unusual shots that he took with you all but here are a few interesting ones just so you can make a guess where we was.

Fly Light

2011-11-04T01:16:00.000-07:00

I found myself mesmerised with [Design Drift's] Fly Light video:

Here light captured within 160 glass tubes rise and fall in response to the viewer. Inspired by the natural behaviour of a flock of birds, they make seemingly random patterns. Of course neither the behaviour of the birds nor the lights is truly random. Instead they are the product of a culmination of fine tuning and equilibrium between the "flock".

Probably Not a Proper Post

2011-11-02T08:51:00.000-07:00

This is probably not a proper blog post in that it is more muddled than my usual offerings, but on we go nonetheless.

mt tape make sticky stuff that I just cannot get enough of. Here is a little look at my current collection. Those who have ever purchased something from my Emporium may be familiar with some of these:

These are great for decorating/wrapping/sticking anything you care to with vivid flair.

Speaking of Japanese things that I like mucho muchly, I wore a new red lipstick today.

This is from Canmake Tokyo's new line "Creamy Touch Rouge".

Creamy Touch Rouge is a semi matte, highly pigmented, long lasting and moisturising lipstick.

My friend sent me the Sweet Cherry Shade which is a red with a pink/coral lilt.

Today I learnt that love at first smooch was a real life possibility and I seriously love this lipstick. Slap me into reality if you want, but the fact is that this glides on wonderfully, it is moisturising yet feels so light on the lips and the colour pay off is wonderful. This is the best matte(ish) product that I have come across yet. I wish that we could get this in Boots or something and I am about to place an order for the Marshmallow Pink shade.

Oh ummm, now where was I?

Ah yes, I visited Dalston Mill Fabrics again (I do this very often), and today I found myself transfixed with the buttons.

I bought some fruit from the Market. Our little thriving roaring Ridley Road Market has been getting lots of airtime this week on C4 with their gritty drama Top Boy. It's great fun playing "guess where that is in Hackney" with each scene.

I fancy sprucing up the [vintage] Liberty + Cacharel shirt that I found in a charity shop a while ago by replacing the old buttons with some more gaudy ones.

Oh and one more thing:

Expect delays for the next few days.

I have lined up some posts to keep the fire going while I will be absent from the online world. I shall still be reading your comments/messages/emails but it may take my tardy self an extra bit longer to reply than normal.

ichi-kew-hachi-yon

2011-11-01T13:19:00.000-07:00

Currently reading:

I have waited for this book to land in Ingerlish for years.

I have had to suffer the agony, yes AGONY - no exaggeration, of watching Hiro read it in Japanese and other friends devour it in French or Dutch and FINALLY....I can sink my teeth into it!

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I am reading man!

Beware The Sandman

2011-11-01T03:12:00.000-07:00

My friend Suvi sent me a link to this, which I watched before retiring to bed. This was not the best idea because I was stricken with a chilling bout of the heebie -jeebies soon after. I seem to enjoy having the heebie-jeebies because I have watched it a further 3 times since. Beautiful/haunting/frightening stuff.

7 Deadly Sins

2011-10-31T06:06:00.000-07:00

Collaborations with fellow bloggers is great fun and our latest challenge took a dark turn into the realm of the 7 Deadly Sins.

Yes, my sin is indeed WRATH. For years I have struggled with my temper/my anger/my rage. My anger is black. Seething, deadly and abysmal with red ruthlessness at it's edges.

I have it in check now but that is much to do with the calming influence of Hiro rather than my own personal ability to transcend the bloody curse of it. I am not proud of my sin. I cannot be proud of allowing something to consume me so entirely that I lose control of the reins of sensibility/reason/empathy I become a reckless fire and by the time it subsides, I hate myself for it for I often realise that it is myself that I have hurt the most.

I used ADDICTION #Shangri La with L'oreal Infallible #Burning Black for my eyes and Dolce & Gabbana lipstick in Nude. I didnt use any foundation.

My honest opinion is that these so called Deadly Sins are in fact shit that make us all very human.But stipulations and exposed guts aside, I am not the only sinner. I have 6 sinners to wallow in the Styx with:

Pinkfish Tart's Sin is Gluttony:

Yumeko's Sin is Pride:

Justine's Sin is Envy:

More Sinners will be arriving soon.

x

Focus on Rouge Bunny Rouge

2011-10-31T03:27:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a couple of my favourite bloggers (London Makeup Girl + Modesty Brown), I have followed the Rouge Bunny down the winding rabbit hole and collected a fair selection of choice items.

I can honestly say that I really like all the items above and am very pleased with their individual performances in general.

//Rouge Bunny Rouge Original Skin Blush - For the Love of Roses:

This is "Starina" and it is one of my favourite blushes.

An illuminating pale coral/peach with a mere whisp of shimmer that provides an easy to achieve barely there look yet can be built up for a stronger look.

//Rouge Bunny Rouge Sheer Lipstick - The Succulence of Dew

This is the shade known as "Jasmine Weighted Air". A sheer light orange with golden shimmer. This was a firm favourite during my summer holiday.

"Tongue Tickles" is a glorious shade of pink and is my everyday-when-I-can-be-bothered-to-wear-lipstick-lipstick. A shiny girly flowery pink with glow giving white shimmer. I wore this [HERE]

//Rouge Bunny Rouge Gleaming Temptations Lipgloss

I enjoy using these glosses immensely. The redder shade is called "Come here Sweetie" and I have reviewed this previously [HERE]. The other more delicate shades is "Relish of Heaven" and this too was reviewed separately HERE.

//Rouge Bunny Rouge Silk Aether Long Lasting Cream Eye Shadow

Both of these were sent to me as PR samples. I have to say that I like them plenty much. Curiously, although these are lovely and creamy, they are not as smooth to apply as the watery Chanel Ombres D'Eau see [HERE]. They do need a little blending to create an even finish but they are long lasting and the colour pay off is wonderful.

"Chiffon Ringlet" is the darker mauvey chocolate shade on the right. This shade is buildable and you can achieve a rather intense smouldering look very easily.

"Brocade Skipper"=" is the lighter creamy gold shade. This is wonderful on its own for a natural look or as a base.

//Rouge Bunny Rouge When Birds are Singing Long-Lasting Eye Shadow

These shadows are a bit of luxury for me. Many people like to hurl the fact that these shades are easily duped and I have to agree that they are indeed. However, if you are after some dependable extra special shadows then you cannot go wrong with RBR's collection.

"Solstice Halcyon" is my current everyday shadow. I use this on it's own or accompany it with slightly more shimmery shades.

"Solstice Halcyon" is a semi matte maauvey, taupey, beigey shade.

"Abyssinian Catbird" is a deliciously rich golden olive khaki bronze shade that does the job in one swipe.

Like all RBR shadows that I have tried, it is buttery soft and smooth to apply and very pigmented.

//Rouge Bunny Rouge Highlighting liquid.

The highlighting liquid in "Sea of Tranquillity" has been reviewed [HERE]

I hope that this focus review is helpful to all my readers that have requested more information on this brand. I shall continue to add in the hope that it will be a comprehensive guide to my collection.

A Bit of Super Design 2011

2011-10-30T02:33:00.000-07:00

Hiro + 1 Roos Bro + co went along to the Super Design 2011 event recently. With an iPhone at the ready, he took pictures for me to blog about. I seem to have got a range of people thinking about blogging material for me these days! Anyway, Super Design is London's premier Design Art exhibition. It focuses on that blurry line where visual art and design embrace/collide/meet.

This is Paolo Giordano's remix of Eames an classic chair.

Entitled "Ethno-Eames", there are two variations. One of cast aluminium and the other cast Bronze.

The Ghost Queen Chair is a marvellous creation of Design Drift.

It is astounding to know that each Ghost chair has been handmade.

While the "inner ghost" may be conceived as a random occurrence in the creation process, it has actually been carefully considered and each line, curve and movement has been designed.

❝ The Ghost Chair is an experiment in: shape, high tech production methods and crafts.❞ Design Drift

Excuse me! I seem to have a Ripper in my Tea

2011-10-29T04:25:00.000-07:00

Donkey Products of Germany make these quirky tea bags and the Ripper one seemed the most fitting for this weekend.

Little Crowns, Sort of but not really

2011-10-28T05:32:00.000-07:00

I have been busy stocking up my little shop window [HERE] with these curious hair accessories which I hope to delight you with.

Each one is handmade and painstakingly composed by me. I have tried to achieve an arrangement of balance, contrast + beauty in each piece. Each piece is unique and a one off item that will never be created again. I suppose these are my lasting little flower arrangements.

Sakura in Darkness

Curious Shrubbery

Chrysanthemum Coruscation

Placid Peonies

I have used a mix of rare Japanese tensha beads, Swarovski crystals and reclaimed glass beads on a high quality hair elastic. The bows are made of snake chain and were hand tied by me.

[THIS WAY TO THE WORSHIPBLUES EMPORIUM]

The Yummies: Mango Pudding

2011-10-28T00:55:00.000-07:00

There is a rather funky Asian supermarket in Shoreditch (Shoreditch side of Hackney Road) and this is where I found some Taiwanese mango pudding.

It was cheap to buy the pudding powder and easy to make. It is sort of a creamy mango flavour with a melt-in-the-mouth jelly texture. I used some silicone moulds to create this pretty looking specimen. This is yummy stuff!

London Stalker

2011-10-26T08:05:00.000-07:00

I plod about London a plenty. My iPhone is an easy way to capture moments as they pass me by. This new medium is not everyone's cuppa tea I know. Yet, for me, any method of capturing an essence of a moment/feeling/place/sight/expression is a valuable of creative articulation.

Here are my scenes of London's curious in betweens:

Many Colours of the Union Jack

2011-10-25T02:38:00.000-07:00

I really like these Union Jack palettes. Apparently, many of you do too as I have had a good handful of requests for swatches.

Rimmel London Glam'Eyes HD Eyeshadows:

English Oak:

Bark like browns, a gold leaf shade and an autumnal rosy copper.

Green Park:

Mucky browns, fresh grassy green, scorched grass yellow.

Black Cab:

Charred, smoky foggy shades with a brilliant glittering white.

I am generally pleased with these palettes. They have great pigmentation and are buttery soft. They do tend to break when pressure is applied but the clever separators within the palette keep things from getting too messy. Both Boots and Superdrug are doing some excellent 3 for 2 offers at the moment and these are certainly worth a look in.

The Process of Making INI Pumps

2011-10-24T01:04:00.000-07:00

I am always excited when I get to introduce you to one of our friends. You may recall our friend the shoemaker HERE.

There are so many processes involved. Too many for me to follow and show here. Nonetheless, I hope that I have given you an idea of the intricacies of the work of my shoemaker friend.

He has promised to make me a pair one day, I just can't wait!

From the Black Book of Worshipblues

2011-10-22T01:46:00.000-07:00

New things doth sparkle within my shop window.

I have searched far and wide, been up with the larks and busy until dawn creating new and unique shiny things I hope that you like what you see.

The Yummies: Black + Blue Cupcake

2011-10-21T00:35:00.000-07:00

If ever you venture to Brick Lane my dears,

It will need to be on a Sunday my dears,

Stop by Kooky Bakes and sample a fine cupcake!

Black + Blue
Blueberry Sponge
Black Current Jam Injection
Blackberry Mouse Buttercream
Fresh Blackberry

I think that this is among the most delicious cupcakes that I have ever stuffed down my greedy gullet. Not, too sweet, a rounded flavour and enchanting to the eye.

☛ Visit the Kooky Bakes website here ☚

Mouth of Redness

2011-10-19T02:51:00.000-07:00

Red is my favourite lipstick colour - You may have figured this out already! Be that as it may, I have but 5 hues of redness in my collection.

From left to right:

Dolce & Gabanna: Scarlett//Lipstick Queen: Red Sinner//MAC: Russian Red//MUFE: Moulin Rouge.

Red lipstick is like a smear of daring, a provocative pucker, a cool confidence and a snarl of insolence.

Red lipstick is also high maintenance and so I recommend THIS as an accompaniment.

The Independents: CA4LA

2011-10-18T03:38:00.000-07:00

Okay, so some may argue that this is not strictly speaking an independent shop. Yes, there are branches in throughout Japan, but, here in London, this wonderful little hat shop stands alone just off Old Street roundabout and opposite a kebab shop and so strictly speaking, in my book, this qualifies it as Independent.

CA4LA is pronounced, KA-SHI-LA and it means "head" in Japanese.

CA4LA is a well appointed boutique that houses a large and varied array of hats and head/hair accessories. You can find anything here from, top hats to bowlers, trilbies, fedoras caps and more.

The shop opened in 2006 and is the 1st branch outside of Japan. All of the hats are designed and made in Japan and are created in limited amounts.

The shop itself has two floors and is curiously furnished with old chandeliers, worn looking wooden units and a fair share of taxidermy animals. The staff are very helpful without being bothersome and were quite happy to leave us to try on every single hat on display without even raising an eyebrow.

We visited CA4LA during one of their sample sales. We both left with 2 knit hats each. Here is but a fleeting glimpse of mine:

Very handy now that my neck is utterly exposed! I shall certainly be making many return visits to this shop. We both love hats and it is such fun trying new looks. Why, I think even Alice's Mad Hatter would like it here!

☛ Visit the CA4LA website here ☚

A Remarkable Amount of Hot Air

2011-10-17T02:29:00.000-07:00

Brick Lane is a good place to go for a wonder-filled wander about on a sunny Sunday. The streets in the area are pulsating with folk engaging in all manners of activities. For me it's a fab place to people watch and grab a bite to eat.

We like to make regular breaks from the crowds by making for the well-preserved antiquated and story-like side streets such as Fournier, Wilkes, Folgate, Elder and Princelet Streets.

These are my most favourite streets in London and I never tire of walking through them. And, if I am to be completely honest, I like to try and surreptitiously glance through the windows to see what the houses are like within.

If you are as odd as I am, then you too may find yourself captivated by the textures of the walls in the Spitalfield/Brick Lane area. I just can't get enough of the contrast of bricks, wood, peeling paint, neglected concrete and random street art.

Things have a way of sitting side by side in a seemingly uncomfortable yet entirely appropriate way here.

Now on the subject of hot air, we came across a curious spectacle in which the fellow below was engrossed in playing his flaming tuba.

We were not entirely convinced if he was ACTUALLY playing the instrument, I would like to imagine that he was. Either way, he did a good job of making a marvellous display of himself!

Walking is hungry work and the chosen snack for the occassion was some vegetable okonomiyaki (a Japanese sort of fritter like thing) and yaki-onigiri (a sort of grilled rice ball) from the Sunday Up Market.

Thank you for sticking with us on our little saunter.

Thanks the Ponster for taking the pics.

✓Credits: Lipstick: D&G "Scarlet", Tee: BAPE, Jeggings: GAP, Shoes: Kate Kanzier, Snood: Topshop, Bag: Marc Jacobs, Jacket: Warehouse.✓