Archive for January, 2008

:: Crochet with Kirsty

Posted by Kirsty on January 29, 2008 | Permalink

As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve just learned to crochet. I’m finding it really fascinating to learn and I thought that, as I’m at the beginning of my crocheted road, some of you might like to learn along with me. So, over the next few weeks/months/however long it takes me, I’ll be posting little tutorials of new techniques and tips that I’ve been trying my hand at.

The very first thing that I learnt to crochet was a square - yeah, forget the boring bits like making a chain or single crochet, try a square on your first day! You’ll be so pleased with yourself.

Read more…

Categories: craft, tutorial
Tags: crochet, squares

10 comments

:: Not so silent cinema

Posted by Vanessa on January 29, 2008 | Permalink

I love that LA is a film town. I don’t love it because I want to be an actress; and although I love writing, I don’t love it because I hold ambitions of being the author of a screenplay. Nope, I love it because of the weird and wonderful films you can see, and the equally fascinating places you can watch them.

The Silent Movie Theatre is located at 611 Fairfax and it shows the bizarre and wondeful, such as ‘Stunt Rock’. It has folding down chairs - but sofas at the front, if you’re early; posters of starlets mounted on the walls, and cupcakes (the smores cupcake disappointed me somewhat though) and buttered popcorn for sale in the lobby. Best of all, it has a rowdy, we’re-all-in-for-a-good time atmosphere that permeates throughout. This time, the director was even there to do a Q & A and tell hilarious anecdotes…

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Categories: about us, adventure, los angeles
Tags:

2 comments

:: Under the sea!

Posted by Kirsty on January 27, 2008 | Permalink

Many tides ago (well, six months), before I moved to London and the heady world of publishing, I was doing a PhD on mermaids in medieval literature. I adore my new direction, but I occasionally miss my mermaids. This bag, freshly finished this afternoon, is my little piece of the sea, complete with three feisty mermaids!

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Categories: adventure, craft
Tags: knitting, mermaid bag, PhD

7 comments

:: My Pointy Kitty

Posted by Joelle on January 26, 2008 | Permalink

Time I posted one of my recent makes I think, and here’s one I was really pleased with. It’s worth sharing here because it is made with a free downloadable pattern available from the ever lovely Hillary Lang of Wee Wonderfuls. It’s not too hard either - some slightly fiddly little curves to sew, and you do have to stuff, stuff and stuff some more to pack her legs tightly enough to stand up, but this cute little kitty can be put together in two or three sessions. Isn’t she sweet?

More cute patterns for embroidery and stuffed toys from Hillary are available in her shop.

Categories: about us
Tags:

11 comments

:: Kent Rogowski’s bears

Posted by Joelle on January 24, 2008 | Permalink

I can’t decide if I want to run away from these or give them a hug. Through the rather straightforward method of turning stuffed toys inside out, restuffing and sewing them up, artist Kent Rogowski has created something very arresting. They are pathetic, adorable, monstrous looking things, don’t you think?

See the rest of the project on Kent’s site. A book is availble here, I believe prints can be sourced through the Foley Gallery in NYC, or how about creating some of your own?

Categories: about us
Tags: art, craft, sewing, toys

8 comments

:: Dollar Dress

Posted by Vanessa on January 24, 2008 | Permalink

Here’s my latest $1 dress find - this vintage gingham dress is from Jetrag which has an excellent $1 dollar rummage on Sundays as I’ve mentioned before. I’m trying to work out when is a suitable occasion to wear it - more LA sunshine, less LA rain please! I think a picnic might be the perfect occasion. What’s your favourite bargain piece of clothing or jewellery, and where did you get it? Whether it’s in LA or in the UK I’d be pleased to know where else to shop!

Categories: adventure, los angeles, shopping, style
Tags:

2 comments

:: My favourite corner of… my flat!

Posted by Kirsty on January 22, 2008 | Permalink

Hmm, I seem to have a thing about stairs. Any Freudians care to hypothesise? I’m moving out of this flat soon, and I’m really going to miss my little garden, so I thought I’d share it with you while I still had it. I know that I was lucky to have a garden in zone 2, even for a short while…

Okay, I want to start a debate! How necessary is personal outside space to your lifestyle? I’ve lived in places without it and really missed it, then lived in a house with a front garden and not used it. How and when do you use your garden/balcony/patio? How do you cope if you don’t have one?

Categories: london
Tags: favourite corners, garden, living

3 comments

:: Sherbert

Posted by Kirsty on January 20, 2008 | Permalink

It’s no secret that I have a thing for bags. Making them, buying them, reluctantly parting with them when I realise that I have too many - yet again. I have a glorious plan for a luscious mermaid bag, using a beautiful teal Colinette point 5 and some mermaid charms, but for now I’ve practised my fledging crochet skills on Sherbert. I couldn’t stop marvelling at how simple it was - I didn’t even need to line it. Crochet rocks.

The pink and orange acrylic blends were from my stash.

Categories: craft
Tags: bags, colinette point 5, crochet, mermaid, sherbert

7 comments

:: My favourite corner of… Prague

Posted by Kirsty on January 18, 2008 | Permalink

I took plenty photos in Prague, but this is by far my favourite. It’s a staircase tucked away at the back of St. Michael’s Church and it just made me feel happy. I loved the way the light was shining through the window and how all the surfaces had been worn smooth with age. One day, I want to live in a house with a spiral staircase up to my turret library with a window seat!

Categories: adventure
Tags: favourite corners, light, prague, staircase, travel

No comments yet

:: Spam one-liners by Linzie Hunter

Posted by Joelle on January 18, 2008 | Permalink

I am a fan of hand drawn lettering in general, and I really love this
series of spam one-liners by London based illustrator Linzie Hunter.

12 different prints from the series are available to buy at Thumbtack Press priced $24.99-$34.99
There’s just a few left of the limitied edition print at 20×200, from just $20.

At those prices it is tempting to snap up several to hang together. Also worth checking out is Linzie’s other freelance illustration work over at her Drawger blog. Her style is bright, witty and cutely vintage influenced, and often features great lettering.

Categories: art, design
Tags: affordable art, hand drawn lettering, illustration, linzie hunter, spam one-liners

1 comment