marvellous madeleines

Bristol has been one big party in the last few weeks (which perhaps accounts a little for my total lack of blog presence...I do apologise).  I think at least half of the population of Somerset must have been at the Harbour Festival last weekend, drinking cider, dangling feet above water, scooting around in little motorised boats, idly dotted across railway tracks, before half-heartedly slipping away at the sight of an approaching steam train.

One of the highlights for me were these delightful little Madeleines that we spotted on a French biscuit stall (I've been wanting to try some ever since I saw Michel Roux Jr cooking up a killer batch on MasterChef last year), enjoyed whilst snooping around a giant Naval boat.

(I love this city, I really do.)

the cowshed

New stuff is materialising every day in the mad rush that is the final month of my degree!  Just gotta finish it!

Had fun with Joanna in the studio today.  Although I'm guilty of grumbling sometimes, I will miss being draped in fabric and trekking out to desolate fields with you when all this is over, Miss Cranwell.

let's drive to brighton

One of my favourite places to be.  And perhaps where I will one day end up.

winter feels like...

winter beckons...

A glimpse of the Southbank from behind row after row of books.  I'm struggling to come to terms with the fact that there's no longer golden sunlight pouring through my films.  Luckily this one has aged yellow pages to warm it up.

I am madly excited about going back to London this week to see Rob Ryan's exhibition at the Air Gallery.  Have you been??  Is it wonderful?

Also, to put the word out, the illustrators among the Bath Spa graphics bunch will be selling lots of pretty Christmassy things at the lovely Poot in Frome on Sunday 5 December.  Do come along, there will be lots of other treats!

flickering through films

Because I fancy myself as a bit of an amateur photographer, on the side, I have decided to devote my poor disused flickr account to housing some of my favourite analogue snaps.  So if you would like to show the page some love, you can find it here.

In the meantime, I have picked up a delightful Autumn cold, so it's Peppermint tea, big socks and tissues for me today.  Just in time for the start of term!

a big beautiful update

So, you ask, what have you been up to this summer?  Well.

I have traipsed around Avebury, home to an ancient collection of stones, where ribbons and sepia artifacts dangle freely from trees

Got a little job in the beautiful village of Lacock and enjoyed sneaky slices of cake from behind the reception desk

Scrambled over rocks with a belly full of ice cream in the seaside town of Lynmouth

Waffled a beautiful big veggie feast and several pots of Chocca Chai in the comfort of a special friend's new home

Experienced my first chimnea barbeque

Baked my first batch of (semi-catastrophic) cupcakes with my partner in crime

I suppose the biggie would be that I've moved house...

...To the oh-so-beautiful town...

...of Bradford on Avon (there will always be a place in my heart for you, Bath)...

...Had the best time imaginable...

...At Green Man Festival, in the heart of the Brecon Beacons, in great crevasses of mud

And stayed in a woodland yurt with a beautiful family...

...scavenging the breadth of Dorset for unusual photographs in a battle to beat the boys

I think we know who won, right girls?

Thankfully Autumn is my favourite of the four seasons, so although I will be sad to wave goodbye to the summer once more, I can't wait to snap up a new woolly hat and stroll through crisp sunny breezes in my boots, crunching yellow leaves and saying hello to a new and exciting phase of my life.  My dissertation I'm looking forward to less.  Swings and roundabouts!

analogue prague

Nothing beats the excitement that you get when you go to pick up the photos from your developed film.  I think analogue photography is worth it if only for that.  Here is a mini selection of bright little pictures from my recent trails around Prague. Chuffed!

field trip

Oh, how I do like a little trip to our neighbouring city of Bristol, rife with eclecticism and colourful characters.  If you're planning on going, this is the way to do it, for sure.  Hop off the number nine at Broadmead and take a short stroll through the subway to Stokes Croft where walls play canvas to colourful murals and roundabouts host strange artsy contraptions.  But keep your wits about you.

After perusing the Here gallery (which currently hosts a very lovely show by Lizzy Stewart and Christopher Bettig...lots of lovely wonky handdrawn buildings and shaggy bears) and its shop brimming with gorgeous books and zines, take a little seat at The Arts House next door and enjoy a steaming brew in a hand painted mug.  The homemade complementary biscuit is delicious too.  As coincidence had it (I had excitedly picked up a flyer at the Little Theatre some time before and stuffed it away somewhere and forgotten about it), Jamie Hewlett's beautiful watercolour series exploring the effects of climate change in Bangladesh was showing here, gracing the wood panels in striking deep orangey hues.  This is a unique cosy little coffee spot where the very tables your feet nestle below are a sales piece for a woodsy craftsman, and the cups, a local potter.

On your way to Park Street, a delightful hill sporting a cluster of shops filled with vintage gems and artschool fashions (BS8 is a favourite, a department store divided by bright patchwork floors), take a final peek at the enchanting and bizarre side streets of the Croft.  Next, head to the Clifton Arcade in Clifton Village, stopping off at the tiny but very cute Soma Gallery, for a look at some of Rob Ryan's finest papercuts or an Amelia anthology, and the gift-come-clothes-shop with the pretty dress in the window.

The raspberry and chocolate flapjacks at Boston (above) are to die for by the way.  Grab one of these on your way to the Clifton Suspension Bridge, a perfect place to take photos in the dusky afternoon sun where we conclude our Bristol adventure for today.