wallpaper removal

I know I've somewhat neglected my blog as of late, so I thought I had better do a quick round up! Firstly, new pieces. Though perhaps not so new.... a clear reminder of how long I've actually been working on this post! Also the new Jen Tees - I hope the new lace collars are liked as much as the old ones were - I actually think I prefer these, but we'll see how it goes. My t-shirt supplier also seems to be phasing out the t-shirts I use, which is a massive shame, I don't seem to be able to get either of the burgundy shades now.

In other news, today was the last day of my three month internship, so I'm now back trawling through websites looking for new opportunities. I've also started working in the loveliest of shops, SMUG! (Expect regular Smug updates - as I already have a ridiculous internal shopping list.) Smug is a wonderfully quirky lifestyle shop in Camden Passage, Islington that sells an array of new and vintage homeware, furniture, accessories and apparel. The shop is also beautifully designed if you needed any further incentive to visit. 

You can also follow SMUG of facebook and twitter.

At the end of February I was lucky enough to win the Deer Brains Birthday competition and I've finally (nearly) received all of the prizes! A ridiculous bounty I know. I'm particularly taken with my new friend, Vincent. He currently resides on my bed, but has been known to hang out on the sofa.

Again, another massive thank you to the Deer Brains team.

I'm not usually someone lucky enough to win anything, so was quite confused to also be chosen at random (huzzah for coincidence) to win Dixi's facebook competition. I received this rather lovely Dorothy Perkins satchel. Dixi sells a range of modern and vintage women's apparel - I'm particularly enamoured with their Freya Peter Pan Collar dress.

To celebrate the opening of their new building and photography at the University of wales, Newport, they selected a variety of work, predominantly by ex-students, to adorn the glass walls. I was lucky enough to have one of my images selected. Sadly I haven't had the chance to get back to Newport to see it, but I'm pleased none the less! The image used is the one below:

'Fable' copyright of Louise Nowelle Gibbs.

For one of my best friend's birthday, I made him an infamous sock monkey.

I have made three sock monkeys in my life time and I have learnt the following:

1. Never use mens socks. You will be stuffing for eternity. 

2. They make a rather lovely present, particularly for boys, as you cannot give them jewellery.

3. Ears and mouths are not my strong point.

4. No matter how many mistakes you make, or how bad they look, you can dismiss it all with the word 'handmade'.

This is Sam's monkey, who I still believe is nameless (!!!) with Alan. Alan is the rather dashing monkey on the left, the first I made and the only one that will ever be made out of men's socks. He belongs to my beloved and is naturally named after Alan Rickman. The best Alan Man there will ever be. (If you don't agree, you clearly haven't watched Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves or Truly madly Deeply.)

I've rather foolishly got emotionally attached to the Neal by Neal Sperling cable cardigan at Urban Outfitters, again. This time in rust. It's taking the majority of my will power not to buy it and truthfully I cannot promise I won't cave. My mum is still in the process of knitting my bottle green version - apparently every time she sits down to knit she ends up with a cat on her lap. 

Given the choice of knitting or Rufus and Indie, I'd choose Rufus and Indie every time.

I've also realised from this photograph that with my badly DIY'd fringe and my eyebrows, I look like Spock. 

There is no way this can be interpreted positively.

Sadly I didn't get to see my Mum on Mother's Day as I was working and not really in the right part of the country. So I just wanted to share a little appreciation here for being fortunate enough to have her. To bastardise Tina Turner's lyrics, she's simply the best.

And while I was showing embarrassing photos, I thought I would share the precursor to Reservoir Dogs.

Over and Out x

About two or perhaps three Friday's ago now (yes, that is how long I've been writing this post) I had the most wonderful surprise of walking into my living room to be greeted by two of my favourite people, Sophie and Sam! 

Somewhat ashamedly there was probably an amount of squealing and a few tears on my part - ever the embarrassment as I hadn't seen Sam since before Christmas and Sophie since Graduation back in September! I would like to add, both had lied to me a few days previously, when I tried to arrange to get them both to come and visit our new flat, they had hit me with a barrage of refusals because of time and money! It transpired it had been arranged as a surprise since we hadn't been able to do anything for my birthday back in January and my god what a surprise it was! 

They even had code names.

We literally had the best weekend! It mainly consisted of eating fine foods (above Wagamama's, below Belgo!) drinking copious amounts - alas I have no photographic evidence of the jager bombs and generally an all round good time! Sam had also knitted us the most amazing cushion (yes cushion!) and a bobble hat, which I promise to photograph soon and Sophie gave us the most lovely cake stand, which you can just about see in a photo further down, which I can't wait to photograph jewellery on! Though I can tell you the only thing prettier than he cake stand, is the cake stand covered in Millie's cookies. Which it was. And truth be told I think I probably ate 75% of them. 

Monday Monday - Valentine's Day Souffle

Charlie and I aren't especially 'Valentine's' people, we're both strongly of the mind set that we don't need someone to tell us when we should express our love for each other, especially with a god awful card and some cliche roses, so it's rare that we will do something of a valentine's nature. However Charlie did cook me dinner, which was utterly lovely. When we went to Paris at the end of last year we went to the most amazing Souffle restaurant (I say amazing, I hadn't ever had souffle before, so didn't have anything to compare it to, though I would say it's possibly the best meal I've ever had out!) and since then we've been vowing to learn how to cook souffles. Anyway, on the Monday after a long trek up and down Islington after work looking for ramekins, Charlie cooked us the finest of cheese souffles which we will undoubtably be cooking again!

NEW to Wallpaper Rose - everything has been a bit hectic (as per usual it seems) so I haven't had much of a chance to sit down and make some new pieces - which I'm absolutely desperate to do soon, but here are a couple of pieces I made when I managed to steal a couple of hours to myself!

Rainy Days -Last weekend it absolutely poured down all Saturday,so everything we had intended to do, failed somewhat. So instead the boy and I decided to embrace a 'home day', remaining in pajamas and baking! Below are some photos of the lovely carrot cake and savory muffins we made. Both are recipes from the Hummingbird Bakery cookbook - a really good investment if you have a jonesing for carrot cake as it turned out really well.

In other news, I found out in the same wonderful weekend when my friends were down that I had won the DEERBRAINS first birthday giveaway! (They ran a separate competition for the guys) Which was absolutely insane - so a massive thank you to them! So far I've received these lovely mittens and necklace from Lazy oaf. I'm particularly excited by the Models Own nail polish and the Remade Levi Bitchy shorts, I can't wait for those to arrive in the post. I'll keep you updated as things arrive.

Lazy Oaf are actually having a sale at the moment and I am a little bit in love with this sweater but alas even with 25% off it's still well out of my price range, but do go and check them out!

And that brings me pretty much up to date! I hope everyone is having a rather lovely weekend- I think I'm about to be roped into some kind of DIY... wish me luck x