starla(dear).

conversion.

2010-04-13T17:44:00.002+01:00

I remember an afternoon in 2008 when Cardy suggested we go to the Apple Store on Regent Street. I was not best pleased. I don't know why, but I'd got it into my head that Apple was the source of all evil (I don't know where I got that notion from).

Over the last two years he has obviously converted me. For Christmas 2008 my parents bought me an iPod Nano. And on Saturday I finally bit the Mac bullet and bought myself a MacBook Pro.

I am absolutely in love. I can't work out why I haven't stopped using Windows sooner. This really is a dream machine.

tourist.

2010-04-11T21:55:00.003+01:00

On Friday I had a wander round central London with my camera. It was the first time I've had the chance just to walk, without wanting to go into shops and without feeling guilty about holding friends up while I pause to snap a scene. It was a glorious day - the sun was shining and it was warm, but not too warm.

I always forget just how much I love Trafalgar Square. I love watching the tourists' faces - they have this expression of wonder. I like to go there in the summer and sit downwind of the fountains. The spray is so soothing.

The set can be found on my Flickr.

spring.

2010-03-28T21:58:00.007+01:00

The clocks went forward today signalling the beginning of a long awaited spring. There is a tree across the road from our flat that is sporting a fresh new blanket of soft pink blossom. When I turn the lights off as I leave the office at the end of the day I'm not longer plunged into darkness.

Life is most certainly sweet.

I'm loving living in London. I'm loving living with Cardy. I'm loving our flat and my job and lounging around at the weekends.

The light in our living room is astonishing - I'm looking forward to getting snap happy over the impending Easter holiday. I love the creamy tones in this photo of Svetlana. I never thought I would be able to take such good photos of my beauty white girls.

style3.

2010-01-05T14:55:00.002Z

I decided that my last layout was too autumnal, so it's time for a rather chillier theme. This palette from angelafaye is perfect for winter.

winter.

2010-01-05T14:24:00.003Z

Winter is in full swing. I don't think I've ever seen this much snow in one season. I feel quite torn with regards to the white stuff; the child in me is in heaven, but the adult in me sees it as a great inconvenience.

I'm moving out tomorrow. I've moved out before when I was a student, but this feels different. Myself and Cardy are finally going to be living together in London and I couldn't be happier.

technical glitch.

2009-11-25T20:17:00.003Z

I've been an avid supporter of Windows and HP for years now, but my enthusiasm is seriously waning. For around one week I have been having issues with my laptop, to the point where it's had to be sent off to be repaired.

In the meantime I'm having to use an ancient laptop that hasn't been used in two years and has sticky keys due to a vodka and cranberry juice incident when I was a student.

Next time I buy a laptop, I'm getting a Mac.

style2.

2009-11-18T19:34:00.003Z

I decided that the blog was looking at bit too summery, so a style change was in order...

Et voila!

Many thanks to WinterLover at COLOURlovers for this fabulously autumnal palette.

happy halloween.

2009-10-31T18:16:00.006Z

That's right, it's that time of year when the days are getting shorter, the leaves are turning red and the wind starts to carry a chill. Unfortunately my halloween is going to be spend watching TV while snuggled under a blanket. I'm hoping there will be some trick or treat sweets left over for later.

In other news, I've had three more BJDs arrive. They're without face-ups as of yet so I haven't got any decent photos of them, but I shall be very snap happy when they're finally complete. I also managed to get Let the Right One In for a very reasonable price, so I'm one happy bunny!

mariella.

2009-09-26T17:32:00.003+01:00

A few years ago my Nan bought me a pretty little tea-light for Easter instead of an egg. It sparked off my love of Rosina Wachtmeister and her perpetually happy cats. This year she gave me some money for my birthday and I thought it only right that I bring another porcelain kitty home.

I ordered her in July and I was finally able to collect her this morning. Her name is Mariella, and she's definitely the pedigree of the bunch.

songbirds.

2009-08-24T17:01:00.011+01:00

It's been a while since I've updated this pretty little corner of the internet. Nothing notable has been going on in the life of yours truly, but my ears have been very happy indeed due to the release of some monumentally amazing albums. So I thought that I would get back into blogging by writing about my top three albums of the summer.

No.3 - Two Suns by Bat for Lashes

I'd seen the album artwork for this record in my favourite Fopp in London but my interest didn't go much further than thinking 'that cover looks rather nice'. When I saw that she had been booked to play at Latitude I thought that I'd better give her a listen. The first track that I tried was 'Siren Song' and I was hooked. Natasha Khan is the brains and the voice behind the outfit, and what a gorgeous voice she has, ranging from delicate soft tones to haunting wailing highs. There is something very Kate Bush about her, which is definitely a point in her favour.

Top three tracks:
1. 'Siren Song' - the track that first made me sit up and pay attention to this magnificent album. It's an intimate song that allows Khan to show off her full vocal talent.
2. 'Pearl's Dream' - not only is the tune incredibly catchy, but the lyrics are astonishingly beautiful. I especially like the break down and build up at the end.
3. 'Glass' - a really powerful song that opens the album. It definitely sets the tone.

No.2 - Lungs by Florence + the Machine

I remember hunting down Florence + the Machine a number of months ago when their track 'Kiss With a Fist' was used as part of an advert. I listened to it on their MySpace but didn't really think about the band after that. Until they released 'Rabbit Heart [Raise It Up]' and got me thoroughly addicted. I was on a bus in London with Cardy and saw a whole wall covered in the promotional poster - it was a real hard sell! I downloaded the single from iTunes and when the rest of the album was available I ended up buying the deluxe version.

What really attracts me to the band is the powerful voice of Florence Welch, the front woman and founder, and the texture that she builds in her music. Tracks such as 'Drumming Song' are real treasures, as though she has woven together several beautiful threads to create something that is rich and full. Many songs on the album could be described as 'love songs', but Welch writes about the all-engulfing nature of love and how it can overwhelm you. Definitely one to watch for the future.

Top three tracks:
1. 'Rabbit Heart [Raise It Up]' - the first track that really showed me the power of Florence and her Machine. A fantastic place to start if you are yet to be introduced to the band.
2. 'Drumming Song' - probably my favourite track on the album. It builds to a delicious crescendo that leaves the listener exhausted and exhilarated.
3. 'Dog Days are Over' - a fantastic single that really demonstrates the passion and energy that Welch has for her art. Her vocal performance is astounding.

No.1 - Ellipse by Imogen Heap

I have been waiting for this album ever since Imogen Heap started her YouTube vBlog two years ago. Her previous album, Speak for Yourself, was a favourite of mine when I was back in university and was a symbol of my musical liberation and I knew that her next offering would be nothing less than perfect.

Heap doesn't disappoint. From the moment you hear the opening chords of 'First Train' home you know that this album is going to be something remarkable.

I haven't had the chance to listen to the whole album yet as I've held back from the temptations of iTunes and have ordered the two disc CD set, so at the moment I'm relying on the free stream that Immi has so generously provided (she really is a sweetheart). When it arrives it think it will deserve a post of its very own.

Top three tracks (so far...):
1. 'Swoon' - this was the track that really got me going when Immi would give her fans tauntingly short but sweet glimpses of the new album. Listening to it in full is a real treat!
2. 'Wait It Out' - it has a hint of 'Hide and Seek' at the beginning, but then the instruments come in and the magic really starts.
3. 'Earth' - I really like the rhythm of this track, but on further listening is may be replaced...

birthday.

2009-07-23T22:18:00.004+01:00

It was my birthday on Sunday. I meant to write a blog to mark the occasion, but I was so caught up in enjoying myself that the thought fluttered out of my mind like a slightly dizzy butterfly with mild amnesia. Not that I've ever had the pleasure of meeting such a creature.

To anyone else it probably looked like a pretty unimpressive day. We had a deliciously lazy morning which included opening cards and presents in bed. Cardy bought me a Moon Jar and the most exciting necklace that managed to combine two of my favourite things; graphic novels and Lego. My parents had given me my gifts before I left; an amazing pair of metallic blue DMs and an oddly cute Ice Bat plush.

After watching some Derren Brown on 4oD (my current poison) we got reasonably glammed up and headed out for my birthday treat - dinner at Wagamamas. In order to make sure we had worked up a sufficient appetite we went for a leisurely stroll along the south bank, stopping on occasion to bask in the period charm of the Globe or stare in awe at the industrial presence that is the Tate Modern (and so I could hoist up the damned tights that I had to wear in order to give my glorious purple skirt a public airing - I do try to be lady-like).

I ordered a glass of ginger beer, a chicken katsu curry and an extra portion of red pickles. Bloody brilliant. Cardy finds it amusing that I always go for the same thing, but I love it so very much! We returned home full of sticky rice and noodles and continued the Japanese theme by watching Spirited Away, then went to bed and played 'I Spy' in the dark until we fell asleep.

All in all, a brilliant birthday and a fantastic start to my 23rd year!

summer.

2009-07-03T23:15:00.006+01:00

Well summer is here in full force and I feel as though I'm gradually melting. The air is hot and humid and there isn't enough rain.

On a positive note, the heat is bringing out some rather interesting finds in the garden. I've been informed by the lovely regulars at the gardening corner that this is a Crocosmia 'Lucifer'. All I know is that it looks pretty.

The summer also means it's tennis season and I have found myself addicted to Wimbledon. A few evenings ago when watching the Murray-Wawrinka five set epic, Cardy taught me how tennis actually works, and now my enjoyment of the sport has increased. Brilliant stuff, and a very patient boyfriend!

I've also enjoyed some lovely lighting, so I have been busy with the camera. Tigerlily and Ophelia are home and they are making the most perfect models.

I am so utterly in love with them. There shall be plenty of more photos to come! I've also decided that when she arrives, my Miyu shall be called Étoile. It was Cardy's idea.

tea.

2009-06-30T19:47:00.007+01:00

I had a pretty rotten day last Thursday, so my Mum took me for a drive to a local garden centre. She bought me a jasmine plant to cheer me up.

I named her Tea, and today she started flowering. The smell is wonderful.

reset.

2009-06-16T14:06:00.002+01:00

I haven't updated in nearly two months. So much has happened and if I were to try to write it all down it would take too long. So here is the bare bones:

My MiniFee girls arrived, the heads were sent off, presumed lost and then turned up safely at Silvia's. They're having their face-ups done after over a month of looking like ghosts.
The three Dals turned up and have been causing havoc in their own bratty way.
A very enthusiastic hairdresser has given me the Annie Lennox look.
I left my job.
Myself and Cardy celebrated our first anniversary and decided that we are going to move in together.

So yes, it's all changed rather a lot. I've also started saving for a MiniFee Miyu. I'm not sure what to call her as of yet - I seem to flit from one name to another. All I know is that she's going to be a redhead.

wait.

2009-04-17T16:36:00.006+01:00

I'm on the train to London to stay with Cardy for the weekend. I'm looking forward to being in the city again - the last few days at home have been too quiet for my liking. I'm definitely a town mouse.

I've been having dreams about my MiniFee girls arriving. In some dreams I want to take photos of them but I can't find my camera - in others I have really grubby hands and can't touch them. Akiko at Vitta Vera sent me an email yesterday to let me know that photos of their clothes should be in my inbox soon. Perhaps that will take the edge off things? Then again, it may make it worse.

Waiting for the MiniFees has instilled me with the need to throw myself into my Pullips and Dals. I've bought Hero a new outfit - Rovam's stock! I'm looking forward to her being a proper pirate. There has also been a shift in the Dal tribe. My two Dals have been renamed Vesper and Video, and I have plans to get three more, all with names beginning with V (to tie in with the Roman numeral for five). Vesper and Video certainly have much more personality now. I've ordered a new wig, dress and teddy for Vesper, and the two of them along with Hero are getting boots from Ixtee.

All in all, a good week in Starla's dollhouse.

pressure.

2009-04-15T14:49:00.014+01:00

Click the picture to read the episode.

let the right one in.

2009-04-10T22:36:00.001+01:00

This afternoon myself and Cardy went to see Let the Right One In at the Ritzy Picture House in Brixton. We've been gushing about how excited we were at the thought of finally seeing this film for over a week, so it had a lot to live up to.

Our 'OHMYGODIHOPEIT'SGOOD' gushing has since turned into 'OHMYGODTHATWASAMAZING' gushing. We were originally going to the Soho Curzon to watch it but decided that £12 was a bit steep for a cinema ticket. I would gladly pay that about of cash to see what can only be described as a cinematic gem.

Let the Right One In, a subtitled Swedish film, tells the story of Oskar and Eli, two twelve year olds ('more or less') living in Stockholm in the 1980s. Oskar is a mild-mannered boy who is bullied regularly at school. He spends his evenings imaging revenge and practising his knife-fighting skills on a tree in the courtyard of his apartment block. One night, whilst shouting at the poor, innocent tree, he is startled by Eli, a sombre-looking girl who is adamant that they can never be friends. The next evening, however, these two lonely characters find themselves talking in the snowy courtyard and a friendship quickly blossoms. Unlike your average twelve year old girl, however, Eli is a vampire who struggles to control her predatory instinct. Although she has to battle against her cravings, she becomes very protective over Oskar and gives him the strength to stand up for himself.

This film could have so easily have ventured into the Twilight realm where vampires are glamorous beings who twinkle in the sunlight and manage to curb their need for blood. Let the Right One In is a stark and chilling portrayal of vampirism and the effect it has on the infected. The audience, whilst acknowledging that Eli is no innocent, empathises with her and begins to understand her way of life.

The compelling plot is delivered with perfection by Kåre Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson, its two child stars. For actors of such a young age, the pair are a joy to watch and present two extremely well-developed characters. The tenderness that they share onscreen is achingly beautiful. The direction and production are also terrific - the whole film is very sparse, only Eli's red clothing occassionally shining through the snowscapes and cold blue lighting.

As Cardy has just said to me, 'this film is not about escapism'. It is not your average vampire flick with a gorgeous blonde heroine and a dark handsome hero. Let the Right One In is a blunt depiction of what it means to be a vampire and a victim, and how the two cannot help but go hand in hand.

All in all, a fantastic film. 10/10.

wardrobe.

2009-04-08T12:33:00.000+01:00

I often chastise myself over the state of my Pullips' wardrobe. None of them have what I would consider to be a 'complete' outfit and only a few of them have shoes. I did have a finished outfit for Lux, but then I Obitsued her and now her leggings won't go over her bum. Oh the shame.

This problem must be resolved. I will, somehow, find the funds to kit out my girls. I'm considering selling some of my Bleeding Edge Goth dolls - I've worked out that if I sold off my whole collection for around £10 a piece I could raise over £800. When I get the dosh I think that adequate footwear will be the first thing to tick off my list. I'm aiming to get all my girls a pair of Ixtee boots. If I could make them clothes I would, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to search further afield for those.

In order to make sure that my resin girls don't suffer the same fate as the vinyl gang, I've put in an order with Vitta Vera. Photos will be posted when the outfits arrive!

suck at life.

2009-04-06T10:33:00.001+01:00

During my late night net surfage I came across Lawrence Yang's online portfolio, suckatlife.com. Not only did the domain name tickle me, but his art is also extremely cool and just the kind of thing that makes me tick.

This is his biography:

Lawrence Yang wrestles with informational abstractions by day and paints by night. Influenced by graffiti art and traditional Chinese painting, he employs ink, marker, and watercolor, as the permanence of this media adds a sense of immediacy to his work. Lawrence's paintings make use of color to communicate atmosphere and emotion, and they are concerned primarily with creating order out of chaos (and vice versa). Lawrence once ate an entire bag of Fun Size Three Musketeers™. He lives in San Francisco with his imaginary pets, Cholo and Binky.

See, just up my street.

d.

2009-04-05T19:11:00.000+01:00

I finally managed to get some decent photographys of Daphne, my Delirium custom.

She's hard to capture due to her pale face and vivid orange hair, but I've finally got her.

easter.

2009-04-02T17:49:00.000+01:00

My Mother came home from work bearing gifts - well, one gift in point of fact.

Let me introduce you to Easter

I love orchids so very much. And Easter (I name my plants) is a divine specimen. She's a glorious shade of purple and her petals have a pearlescent quality.

Much better than an egg.

We'll be seeing more from her in future.

rush.

2009-04-02T02:25:00.000+01:00

In my haste to leave the house this morning I failed to eat a proper breakfast. All I had was a pitiful portion of honey nut cereal. I found myself snowed under by a blizzard of printing and photocopying and, despite my plummeting blood sugar levels, I didn’t manage to consume anything until after midday.

The sugar is filtering gently into my system. I can feel it, like a tingling under my skin. It’s glorious.

Cardy has begun to read The Sandman. I’m so glad that he’s finally giving it a go. Neil Gaiman is a literary genius. I need to do a photo-shoot with my Endless girls next week.

Daphne is finished but I feel that Lux needs an eye of Horace to look legit. And then I need to attempt to sew.

fresh.

2009-04-01T01:51:00.000+01:00

I’ve decided that today is the first day of spring. It’s been the first day in a while that has not been accompanied by drizzle and a biting wind. The sky is a bright tapestry of white cotton wool clouds and a marigold sun. The heady scent of pollen is on the breeze, making me dizzy with delight.

Today was an Astrid flavoured day.

Her lime hair and apricot lips have a real kick. She’s like eating tangy sorbet on a warm day.

style1.

2009-04-01T01:50:00.000+01:00