Artist

When people ask what I do, generally I tell them I'm an artist. These images are of the last body of work I made, which was in 2010 for my degree show. Even though I haven't made any work for nearly 4 years I still consider myself an artist, I've just been giving my brain a bit of a rest. I feel like I've finally got to a stage when I can start making work again. I'm definitely in a very different head space than where I was in 2010 but I think that can only be an advantage as now I have four more years of experience to draw from. These are just a few of my favourite images of my work, if anything to inspire me to get off my arse, and start using my brain and making things again. Which is what I love doing. I think I just needed to remember that.

 

Jewish Bread Hair

I am obsessed with Paloma Faith's hair.

I remember watching her on Graham Norton and her saying her hair do was inspired by Jewish bread which has made me like it even more. I especially like it when it's rolled into some giant ridiculous ginger sausage and curled round her head. Being a fellow ginger may have something to do with it (as I believe that most things look better in orange really), I only wish I had the time and patience to make my hair look as exciting as this on a regular basis!

Here are a few of my favourites:

Wishlist number 1...

Month in Pictures

The last month has been pretty busy, mainly taken up with work, which luckily I love so it doesn't seem like too much of a chore! After expecting to finish my job in October, it was a nice surprise to be kept on but did mean my intended rest never really happened... now I'm gunning for February instead! Here's a round up of some of the things I've been up to over the last month...

Pickling beetroot to go in my birthday beetroot pot

Pumpkin carving (I know I'm a bit late with this one sorry...)

Expanding my ever growing plant windowsill... (bit out of focus sorry, my pumpkin looks nice though!)

Making friends with some langoustines and then eating them

Blackheath Fireworks

Spending FOREVER painting things brown in Warehouse 13

Lemon drizzle Birthday cake for Izzy (made by me naturally..)

Amazing sunset on site in Hyde Park

Me looking incredibly stylish in my painting/cherry picker attire. The lunging helps obv.

Saying goodbye to my incredible Aunt. 

In my Sister's words, we will always remember her infectious happiness and amazing laugh.

Testing out my new boots

Braving the crowds in Winter Wonderland

Our new Bar! The Nordic Bar in Winter Wonderland. Isn't it lovely!

Finding Father Christmas (on the ceiling of Euston Station just in case you're looking for him too)

Sorry for the randomness, I seem to have been up to rather random things recently, and I'm sure it'll probably only get worse. Not that I'm complaining it definitely keeps things interesting! Now just 6 more weeks of craziness and hopefully some proper time off. 

Hopefully involving some type of sunshine, and exciting food, and lots of both.

Nigella Love and Knitting

So on Monday I got to have a surprise day off work (paid too woo!) as the stormy winds had broken the shutter on the warehouse next to our workshop and it wasn't safe for us to work. As much as I love it, I'm doing a scenic painting job at the moment, an impromptu day off is always good. Especially when the chances of a massive metal shutter falling on you are quite high.

In my determination to use it for something productive I managed to watch six episodes of Nigellissima whilst knitting and making Christmas decorations. Incidentally I have seen all six episodes on previous occasions however this did not deter me from indulging in them again. I must say this is not my favourite Nigella series, but most of the recipes look tasty and I generally enjoy her programmes and am a little bit obsessed. I obviously ended up being ridiculously hungry and wanting pasta so I adapted her recipe for Pea and Pancetta Risotto and made it with normal pasta as I didn't have any orzo. It was very tasty and I will definitely make it again. To save you scribbling the recipe down as you watch the clip I've added it at the bottom of the page as it's not on the website!

I forgot to take photo of mine but here is Nigella's. This is also a nice bowl.

For a while I was a bit obsessed with the pixie saucepans she uses and I still am on the hunt for some although annoying my current kitchen somewhat resembles a shoe box, and even though they are tiny, I'm not sure we have space for them.

Here is the aforementioned knitting, I have a cardigan that clearly should have pockets, and doesn't. So I've taken matters into my own hands and started to make my own. This is my first attempt at stocking stitch and purl knitting and I'm quite impressed with my efforts so far. Although its hard to see as its black I assure you its quite even and so far has no surprise holes! After a very entertaining conversation with my Mum where she tried in vain to explain to me how to purl (entertaining for her, less so for me..) I found this video (From Kristen at Goodknitkisses) which helped me immensely, so if you are like me and forget how to knit on a regular basis it's worth checking out! Also I like that she uses lime green wool, it's the kind of wool that'd make a really good scarf. When I've finished my pockets and sewn them onthere will be an unveiling of my new and improved cardigan!

As a finishing note here is Nigella talking about 'oozing', enjoy!

Here is the recipe for Pancetta and Pea Risotto, She gives no measurements on the program and its not featured as a recipe on the website so I just guessed and it worked pretty well. As long as the ratio of pasta to water is roughly 1:2 its fine!

Pancetta and Pea Risotto / Orzo
Pancetta
Frozen Peas
Orzo/Pasta
Double volume of water to pasta
Pinch Salt
Knob of butter
Parmesan

Fry and crisp up pancetta in wide pan, add frozen peas and cook till 'they've lost they're frozen look'.
Add Orzo and stir to coat in pancettary oil, add water to the pan with a pitch of salt and bring to the boil.
Turn down to a simmer and stir occasionally, when all the water has been absorbed it is done.
Stir in knob of butter and grated parmesan and serve.

I used penne pasta in mine and it worked fine - a much easier way of cooking one pot dishes with pasta and less washing up!

Skateboarding Skeletons - Light Goes On

Light Goes On
This is amazing, stop motion animation by Darren Pearson about a skateboarding skeleton.
Just in time for Halloween!

Socks

So as its getting colder and more wintery day by day, I have embraced the world of exciting socks. I've always been a lover of the long sock, especially Uniqlo's heat tech over the knee jobby which is one of my personal favourites. As I am also a lover of rolling my trousers up (I like to show off my slender ankles, I'm very proud of them don't you know) it only seems right that I should jump on the 'showing your sock' bandwagon too.
Here are some of my favourites, if only I could warrant spending fifty quid on buying new socks.....

Polly Sock Imoo - Monki

For some reason these remind me of my mum, she is however neither blue or in possession of a beak..

Naomi Sock - Monki

These are named after me. Therefore I should wear them. AND they're my favourite colour. Clever are those people at Monki.

Polly Sock Ikmo - Monki

Who doesn't want a grumpy little face on your foot?

Brachiosaurus Sock - Topshop

These have dinosaurs on them. That is all I need to say.

Eyeball Sock - Topshop

I really like things with eyeballs on. I used to have eyeball fairy lights but they broke which was very sad.

Happy Socks Stripe Sock

If I was a witch I would wear socks like this with my witchy boots.