It's The Great Pumpkin

I've been feeling extremely under the weather for the last week. I spent an entire day in bed yesterday which I hardly ever do. Anyway enough of the woe is me. When I'm feeling crummy (v.punny) I like to bake: cakes, bread, puddings- it all brings a little cheer to an otherwise dull day. 

Pumpkin pie is something I've never made before today. I had a rather bad run in with it as a child when my mum forgot to put the sugar in (whoops!) and for a number of years I avoided nibbling on any pumpkiny products, deeming them all flavourless and bland. However, last year I was invited for Thanksgiving dinner by a very good Canadian friend of mine and there I sampled the most delicious pumpkin pie; I was converted, it is light, delicious and full of complex flavour. I truly do love it, and for the last week I've been craving a slice. So today for a little light activity during my bout of flu I decided to bake one.

 I followed a recipe from The Guardian which actually turned out to be very time consuming (I'd probably do it a little differently next time). Ever the maverick I made a few additions in the way of adding ground ginger to my pastry (adds a lovely warmth) and nutmeg to the filling as well as substituting the evaporated milk (yuck!) for whipping cream.  I also added much more of each spice than stated as I feel English recipes often tend to under spice. I think next time I might not blind bake the pastry as I'm really not convinced it needed it.  Overall, the results were pretty tasty! It had a lovely colour and the the pastry was delicious; thin and crisp (no soggy bottoms here!)

What recipes have you all tried out recently? I'm always after inspiration!

I'm hoping to be back on my feet next week; I have an exciting project in the works and lots of photographs to shoot!

Happy pumpkin season all! I sadly can't find the full episode online but here's a clip from It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

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Tea Reading

Until yesterday I hadn't given all the much thought to tea reading, well apart from the professor of Divination -and more specifically Tassomancy- in Harry Potter, Sybil Trelawney. A number of people used to say I looked like her due to my thick black rimmed glasses, I'm sure it was meant as an insult but I rather liked her. 

That aside, yesterday I was asked if I'd like to read people's tea leaves at a tea festival next weekend held at Gyllyngdune Gardens in Falmouth. I said yes (of course!) It's the most beautiful location but also what an exciting prospect. I've long been interested in the performative aspects of fortune telling, and although I hadn't given all that much thought to tea reading I am now on a mission to learn!

These pictures are a little taster of what I might wear for the occasion and the expressions I might make on learning your fortune. They are of course inspired by the aforementioned Sybil Trelawney but also in part by Holman Hunt's paintings, in particular this one of his first wife Fanny, for his use of colour and mad eyes (though I have to say Fanny's expression is a little more restrained than his usual models, see The Awakening Conscience).

Sources: 1, 2

If you'd like to practice the art of tea reading (or Tasseography, Tasseomancy or Tassology as it's also know) you will need:

A round tea cup with sloping sides and a saucer

Loose tea (preferably a tasty, aromatic one with smallish leaves)

An open mind

A question you'd like answered

Begin by brewing your tea. Sip it until you have roughly an inch of liquid left. Clear your mind and breath deeply. Think of the question that you would like answered. Swirl the cup counterclockwise three times (clockwise if you're male). Tip the excess liquid and tea leaves into your saucer. Read the leaves left in the cup starting from the top and working down. The outer rim suggests the present and the base is the future. 

Here is a list of basic symbols to help you on your way:

Outfit Details

Silk embroidered smock dress - Gift from my mummy

Floral velvet 1960s skirt - Kilo shop in Poland

Head scarf - Charity shop

Wooden beads and feather necklace - Charity shops

Greek silver owl pendant - Belonged to my maternal grandmother

Eye brooch - Topshop sale (years ago when I worked there)

Pom pom scarf - Gift from a friend

Claddagh ring - A shop in Galway

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I did it again and forgot one very important influence on these images; the painting, The Death of Thomas Chatterton by Henry Wallis

Source: 1

For we may and might never all meet here again

There is a reason for the prolonged absence since my last post, I have been away in Ireland (Oranmore to be exact) at an old friend's wedding.  I was born and grew up in Ireland and hadn't been back there in 5 years, so it was so wonderful to reconnect with so many people and explore some of the places I spent time in as a child. It made me really realise how much I miss it and I have vowed to go back soon!

My mum, her partner, my brother and I all drove over in the camper van. It was a very long journey- we drove right up to Holyhead from Cornwall and then across Ireland. The van was packed to the brim with decorations; pinatas, bunting, banners and soft sculptures! My brother George and I were a little space restricted in the back but it was definitely worth it; just look at how gorgeous it all looks in the marquee! The wedding took place at Heather's (the bride's!) childhood home, Oranmore Castle, which is one of my favourite places in the world, it's breathtakingly beautiful. It was so funny to go back there having just decorated my own home and see how much of my aesthetic I've taken onboard from there.

We spent the first few days decorating and helping with all the wedding preparation and then on Saturday it was the big day. We got dressed up in our finest togs and watched Heather & Niall's blessing in the Great Hall; the fire crackling behind us and the smell of delicious food wafting in. The food was gorgeous, some particular highlights were the gorgeous cheesecake below and some delicious lobster caught fresh that afternoon. George and I stayed up far too late (we ended up with 3 hours sleep!) and had the best time dancing, chatting and eating! The next day we were back off in the van at 8 for the drive back to Cornwall. It all went so quickly it felt like a whirlwind.

We all had the most gorgeous time and met new and old friends.  I can't wait to go back and see everyone. I'm also looking forward to finally inviting people to visit us over in Cornwall! It feels so lovely to reconnect the two parts of my life and it made me realise the importance of keeping in touch and also how formative my time in Ireland was in the creating the person I am today.

I'll leave you all with this, the first verse and chorus

of an Irish folk song which everyone sang after the bride and the groom cut the cake (with a sabre sword!) It's sentiment is beautiful and it seemed to perfectly fit the mood at that moment:

Kind friends and companions, come join me in rhyme 

Come lift up your voices in chorus with mine 

Let us drink and be merry, all grief to refrain 

For we may and might never all meet here again

Here's a health to the company and one to my lass 

Let us drink and be merry all out of one glass 

Let us drink and be merry, all grief to refrain 

For we may and might never all meet here again

[There will be even more (!) photos soon when I get my disposables developed] 

Outfit Details

Green silk 1930s dress - car boot sale

Green pashmina - charity shop

Floral Headdress - Mrs MacBeth's Department Store

Indian silver bell bangle - charity shop

Velvet heart earrings- Mrs MacBeth's Department Store 

Third eye necklace - Mrs MacBeth's Department Store

Claddagh Ring - a shop in Galway

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CH-CH-CHANGES

The weather has turned dramatically. Long hot nights have been replaced with drizzle and chilly winds. To celebrate this change of season let me present a series of still lifes, or if you like vanitas, including a whole variety of plastic fruits that I have collected over the years and a stuffed sardine. There will be more images in this vein later this week as I'm not entirely happy with the outcome of these; the light was not on my side today.

I'm always very intrigued by the English attitude to seasons. I constantly hear people say 'OH I wish it was Summer' or 'Winter really seems to be dragging on'. Sometimes I wish people could enjoy the moment they are in a little more. Change is a beautiful thing if you watch it. There is something so quiet and lovely about watching the flowers in the garden slowly fall off or the gentle sound of rain. I wish we had a word for it in English but we sadly don't so instead I turn to the Japanese phrase wabi-sabi. I recommend this book to anyone interested in thinking about change in more depth.

The outfit is a little inspired by this, if it had been painted in the late 1960s:

The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein

Source

and a little by this photograph of my dad (sorry for the terrible quality, I photographed it in a frame which should just never been done ever, I hope you get the gist):

As you may notice there was an outfit change. I was actually originally wearing a velvet 1970s jumpsuit but it, although beautiful, is not very photogenic against this fruity backdrop! So I did a quick switch to something a little greener.

Thanks for all the encouraging comments about the magazine! It's making slow (but steady!) progress and I hope we'll have the first issue together by the start of October (fingers crossed). I did mention submissions in the last post, if you'd like to email me (details in my contact page) as I am the most likely to reply hah!

Also a quick plug (again!) I visited The Glorious Art House for their preview night on Friday and it was magnificent, I've scarcely been in more gorgeous and uplifting environment. They open tomorrow (Monday 25th!) so what are you waiting for, get to Exeter!

I hope you all enjoy the long weekend, I wish I could say make the most of the lovely weather but instead read, draw and enjoy the quiet, calming sound of the rain falling. Be happy with the here and now or as the wise Buddha says "Do not dwell on the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment". Enjoy the change and listen to Bowie the King of change.

Linking to Visible Monday

 

Outfit Details

Main:

Green floral Indian silk dress - Gift

Vintage faux fur cap - Gift

1960s white Alpaca coat - Oxfam

1960s purple paisley Cravat - Charity shop

Other:

1970s black velvet jumpsuit - Enjoy Clothing

Floral bangle - Mrs MacBeth's Department Store

Faux suede 1980s hat - Vintage Marks & Sparks

Anna Della Russo for H&M serpent necklace - H&M sale 

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A small amendment, I was V.heavily influenced by Derek Jarman's film Caravaggio (if you haven't seen it stop NOW and WATCH it!!) In my foggy, not enough coffees mind I forgot to include it so here:

Source

Far Out

Firstly a small apology for taking a very unintentional break from blog life. August is always one of those funny months which starts off being quiet and then ends up being packed to the brim. I've mostly just been making the most of all the good weather and spending as much time outside exploring. I've also been planning a couple of big shoots which you will see very soon but I thought to keep the wolf from the door I'd do a short snappy update!

I have two really exciting pieces of news number one is that I recently visited The Glorious Art House in Exeter. It's going to be the most beautiful, colourful coffee shop and gallery! It's opening this coming Monday (25th August) and I wholeheartedly suggest that you go if you are even remotely close to Exeter! I will hopefully be having my first solo show there next year too.

The other news snippet is that my brother, boyfriend and I are starting a small, very eccentric magazine. It's called arte-facts and we are currently calling for submissions. We're looking for poetry, short stories, photography and articles on odd subjects (take The Saturday Book as a reference point), although we will consider all submissions! Email us here! Also note that it will be a print publication, although in time we hope to post online content too. We do have a tumblr, lovin dis/not a lover of which we update nearly daily. The magazine may or may not be more serious.

Moving aside from these announcements these pictures were inspired by all things early noughties and my early teenage years (before I dyed my hair black and went to the dark side for a number of years). I've been on a lot of VERY long train journeys lately and my mum purchased this bead kit for £1 and we spent a considerable amount of the time making silly bracelets. I went up a grade and made myself a chocker that says far out. I really do feel like I've gone back in time to my 11 year old self. The top was a recent sale purchase from Zara when I was in Exeter. I never go to the high street and my recent excursion only confirmed why: badly made, plastic fabrics and SO pricey! This top however is made from a really lovely heavyweight cotton and was only a fiver. The bell bottoms are very old American Apparel that I got as a gift for Christmas.


My hair is heavily inspired by the glorious centre partings of Christina Aguilera and v.early Britney. As well as the 2002 film Blue Crush which I saw at the cinema aged 12 and was completely enamoured with (I am deeply concerned to learn that they made a second film). Judy Blume novels also featured majorly in the inspiration for this post, especially the 1990s editions, which were about the only books available in my school library.

The patches in the photographs are all from Etsy should you wish to indulge in some noughties vibes:

Alien
Pineapple
Pink Flower
Daisy
Earth Heart

Sorry this turned out to be a bit wordy!

I hope you are all well and I'll catch up on all your posts now.

Linking to Share-in-Style

Outfit Details

Navy polka dot top - Zara

Navy bell bottoms- American Apparel

Rings- All Portobello or remnants from my childhood.

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