Christopher Payne

 Buffalo State Hospital, New York

Christopher Payne is a photographer whom I discovered a couple of years ago because of his work on old mental asylums.  Asylums have always been fascinating to me partly because of my career having been in mental health for a number of years but mostly because abandoned building are the most fascinating thing on earth (to me anyway).  There is something creepily beautiful about the gradual decay and the things that got left behind, particularly in buildings that housed such horrors.

Patient Toothbrushes, Hudson River State Hospital, New York

Patient Suitcases, Bolivar State Hospital, Tennessee

 Beauty Salon, Trenton State Hospital, New Jersey

Autopsy Theater, St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Washington, DC

Linen Closets, Traverse City State Hospital, Michigan

All of these photos were taken from Christopher Payne's website which you can find here. He also has a book out called 'Asylum', featuring more of his work inside old mental hospitals as well as an essay by Oliver Stacks.  The book is available here.

Kate

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❤ Illustration Love ❤

This week I have chosen to show you Julia Swaney's illustrations.  She uses the name 'Oh my Cavalier' for her work and I think you will agree that they are all beautiful.

All pictures were sourced either from Julia's website or her blog.

Julia also sells her work in the from of brooches and paper goods which are available in her shop. Incredible!

I love the Victorian influences and the ethereality of her work.

Kate

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Lovely things of the week

1.Last week I entered a competition on ASOS and I won £144 to spend on their website. My lovely freebies arrived yesterday so I would just like to say 

2. Oh Comely magazine.  A friend told me about this magazine and I am yet to pick up a copy but their website is so lovely that I am itching to get my hands on the magazine.

'oh comely is a magazine about people and their quirks and their creativity, rather than money and what it can buy. It's nice to see you here.

It's a magazine that inspires people to be creative, talk to their neighbours and explore new things, rather than buy stuff or lose weight. Imagine sitting down with a cup of tea and a creative friend to hear all the strange things she says, all the curious stuff she does, and about the things she loves'.

3. America chairs from the Conran shop.  These £12.95 lovelies are beautiful and would look great as dining chairs around a rustic wooden table.

4. Snapatorium. A collection of vintage photos, found art and other vintage curiosities on Flickr.  Be warned, you could lose several hours of your day looking through these photos.

5. Nadinoo's AW11 collection film by Crena Watson. Pretty pretty!

    

Nadinoo-Vimeo HD from Crena Watson on Vimeo.

Enjoy!

Kate

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Orla Kiely.....again!

I will admit that I am obsessed with Orla Kiely.  I have had a fascination with the 1960's since I was small and Orla's obvious 60's aesthetic encapsulates exactly what it is that I love about the decade. The prints, the shapes, the hem lengths and the sense of fun that 60's fashion was known for.

Her new Autumn/Winter 11 collection which was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, doesn't disappoint and neither does the incredible little film showcasing the collection. You can watch is HERE.
It's worth it I promise.

Here are some photos of the collection.

source

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Kate

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Folksy Friday

A textiles theme for this weeks Folksy Friday.

Click on the picture to be taken to the store.

I particularly like the bunny fabric.  I'd quite like to make some cushion covers with it.

Kate

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❤ Illustration Love ❤

I am going to try and do  ❤ Illustration Love ❤ as regular feature.  I keep discovering new Illustrators all of the time and thought it would be nice to share them.

This week I am in love with the superlative illustrations of Claire Hartigan. 

 I want every single one of these adorning my walls.  

Above photos sources from Elphicks

Claire also sells her illustrations as key rings, mirrors and greeting cards which are all available in her shop 

All above photos sourced from Claire's shop 

In case there are any Birthday present buyers reading, the Heart of Gold print is my favourite. ;)

Kate

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Lovely things of the week

Source 

Meet Sprout, our new Bunny.  We are going to pick him up when he turns 8 weeks old in March.  I can't wait to meet the little cutie.  He was bred by the lovely Janet at My Bunny Kingdom 

 

Source 

Clothkits. The best online haberdasher and fabric seller by far

 

Source 

The Vamoose.  I bought myself one of her necklaces last year and it is one of the loveliest and most original pieces of jewellery that I own.  Beautiful!

What are you loving this week?

Kate

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Folksy Friday- Featured on the Folksy Blog

Today my Folksy Friday is the official Folksy Blog's, Folksy Friday so go over and take a look here

 Kate

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D.I.Y Full o' Sheep Easy Mitts

 

I mentioned that I was working on a project using my Stitch Nation, Full o' Sheep wool.  Well here it is.  A lovely pair of mitts.

They were so easy to make that I thought they would make a good tutorial.

What you need:

• 1 Ball of Stitch Nation, Full o' sheep.
• 1 pair 4 1/2 mm knitting needles.
• Darning needle.
• Pair of scissors. 

The Pattern:

•  Cast on 38 stitches (you may want to cast on a few less if you have small hands, just make sure you use an even number).
• Work in K2, p2 Rib for 4 rows.
• Work in Moss stitch for 34 rows (click here for an explanation if you are unsure)
• Work in K2, p2 Rib for 10 rows.
• Cast off in rib

You now have one mitt so repeat the above instructions so that you have two.

Now you need to sew the edge of each mitt up using a darning needle and some of the leftover wool.  Leave a space for your thumb.

Tadaaaa! You have yourself some pretty mitts. 

Kate

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