this week.

1. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic - it's so nice to see something that you loved so dearly as a child being given a good treatment when it's rebooted years later. I haven't quite forgiven them for what they did to Polly Pocket (she's meant to fit in your pocket - POCKET!) so I was overjoyed to see My Little Pony being turned into something fun and exciting that adults seem to enjoy as well as the target audience.
2. Japan Day - I really loved Cardy's suggestion to have a Japan Day. Lovely food was eaten, yummy/cute things were bought and a very good if somewhat confusing anime was watched.
3. The Nintendo 3DS - I got to have a play on one of these beauties today and OH MY WORD it is spectacular! I think that tomorrow Cardy and I are going to be trawling the internet to find the best offer and then put in a pre-order. Squee!
4. The free SXSW FreePak from Hipstamatic - I love it when Hipstamatic release free sets, especially when a new lens is involved. The new SXSW pack including the Tejas lens is full of fun.
5. Flowers by Sweet Female Attitude - we did this in choir this week and it sounded amazing! I've had it in my head all weekend.
   

my milk toof.

One of my resolutions for 2011 is to try my hand at photostories. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to use yet, most probably my LittleFee dolls as they are small and easy to pose, but I'm slightly irked that I don't have any in-scale props for them.

It got me thinking about one of my favourite photostory blogs, My Milk Toof. It's the work of Inhae Lee, a Korean artist living in California. Whilst taking an employment break having just left a job in the video game industry she happened upon the term 'milk tooth' and the idea blossomed. She created two little teeth, ickle and Lardee, who are inquisitive, just a little bit naughty but completely loveable.

Inhae has created around five different models for both characters in order to be able to show them with different facial expressions. She's also created tiny props for them to use, although the teeth are shown to be very small in relation to their environment. It's this attention to detail combined with the gorgeous quality of her photos that make this blog a true gem. I heartily suggest that you keep an eye on this one over the coming year. I can't chose a favourite story - go read them all!

All images used belong to Inhae Lee.

resolutions.

I don't usually like to make resolutions as I only feel guilty when I break/don't achieve them, but I'm feeling rather positive about this year. This is what I'm hoping to achieve over the next twelve months:

• pass my roller derby minimum skills test
• pick up my DSLR camera more and not just to take photos of dolls
• start writing again
• actually pick up my guitar instead of just using it as an ornament
• develop my professional knowledge at work
• continue to save up for a mortgage
• save up and buy Neko and Blythe
• try my hand at photostories
• finish my Project 365

portraits.

I spent this morning taking some photos of the girls. I'm rather impressed with how the winter light turned out.

this week.

1. My new iPhone - I've never even had a contract phone before, so getting an iPhone was a huge step. I'm really glad I made the leap. i've already been in contact with people much more than I would've usually. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful geeky friendship.
2. The Hipstamatic app - I'm not ashamed to admit that this was one of the reasons for getting the iPhone over other SmartPhones on the market. I would love to be able to take my DSLR everywhere with me, but it isn't going to happen. This will be a great toy to take everywhere with me and I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do. I've already started a 365 project.
3. The arrival of Autumn - while I do appreciate that summer bring sunshine, lazy days in the park and a brilliant excuse to eat copious amounts of ice cream, I'm not really a huge fan. If I had to pick I would have to say that Autumn is my favourite season. Burnished leaves, layered clothing and fuzzy scarves, it doesn't get any better.
4. hine on Etsy - I remember finding hine's Etsy store a number of years ago due to the cult status of her camera camera cases. I've recently treated myself to one of her iPhone cases and a Holga style purse that is meant for a digital camera but will serve as my make-up bag. I'm stupidly thrilled to finally own some of her work.
5. Douglas Coupland's Girlfriend in a Coma - Coupland is up there in my top five authors, and Girlfriend in a Coma and Microserfs are my favourite books of his. I try to get everyone reading Coupland, I think it would make the world a better and more beautiful place.

365.

As I am head over heads in love with my new iPhone 4 I have decided that I'm going to start a 365 photo project. It has it's own blog and everything.

I'm going to take a photo everyday for one year using the Hipstamatic app and upload it to Flickr and the blog. Hopefully the 'camera on the go' nature of the iPhone will mean that I find it easy to keep up!

burning.

I couldn't resist taking photos of the leaves growing on the trellis outside our flat. The colours are absolutely stunning. I love the shades of Autumn.

In other Autumnal news, it's started to get really chilly out. This means layers. This makes me very happy.

peacock.

Last month my lovely Mother came down to London so we could have a girly day out. My Father was also in London on business, so we met up with him after we'd eaten lunch. That morning myself and Mum had found the most spectacular coat in my favourite shop, Desigual. Seeing as I'm such a fantastic daughter and all, they decided to treat me (thank you so much, if you're reading! I love you both to bits). Now I just need to wait for it to get cold enough to wear it!

This afternoon I decided to take some shots of the different textures and fabrics going on in this masterpiece. I did take more, but my Photoshop couldn't quite cope with the pretty.

You can see more shots on my Flickr.

ghost.

I do so love my little Asphodel. Bisou is such an amazing sculpt.

tourist.

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.

winter.

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.

mariella.

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.

summer.

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.

d.

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.

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.

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.

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.