All the world is green

Happy St Patricks Day

Even though I'm half Irish I didn't realise it was St Patricks Day until I saw lots of drunken students swaying past the shop wearing foam guinness top (of the mornin') hats. Classy.

Luckily it gave me a theme for taking some shop photos, because although the shop is chock full to the brim of stuff, I sometimes can't think what the hell to photograph.

So here's to all things green in celebration of the patron saint of Ireland

Cool wig Mandy

The shop is looking so good, and we have great stock coming in all of the time. I know that sounds boastful, but I can't help it, I'm having a proud  Beatnik moment. If you're in the area, come by, say hello and take a look.

I'll end with something a bit Irish

Sundrops

The sky is blue, the air feels clear and everything is starting to look shiny and new

My first butterfly of the year.  For more spring excitement pop over to see Holly for a chance to win one of her beautiful flower drawings.


To put a spring in your step (see what I did there) I recommend a healthy dose of


sixties surf tunes


Tiki music


and some sixties bossa nova

works
for me

Our Window

Spring is beginning to unfurl.  I know it is because the days are getting longer, there are crocuses dotted about the place and when the sun shines it feels like the taste of things to come.  This week however has been cold, the sort that takes you by surprise and has your coat collar turned firmly up and head bowed into the chilly easterly. Come on Spring do your thing. 

Some views from our window

Cool musician types are immune to the cold

I've got the people watching bug. I would love to be able to take photos as good as this guy

A purple view

Thanks to everyone that took part in the walking past Beatnik photo shoot
you were all
fabulous

My Favourite Things

We all have favourite things, and  these are some of mine in the last few days.

Gorgeous leather handbag, wonderful wooden (too high for me) wedges and a fabulous floppy felt hat 

Oooh what a lovely sequin guitar on a tee shirt, ( the spotty dress isn't bad either)

 A positive message

No raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens, but finding a den in the woods on a dismal day has got to be a good thing.

More favourite things

soon

and listen to PJ Harvey

if you get a chance

so

good

At The Heart Of Love

The date ...... February 14th

The Place ..... Blackpool

The Event ...... A Gruff Rhys solo gig

The motive ....... A proposal of marriage

 Some photos of hearts and flowers in honour of St Valentines day.

  

James and I decided to book tickets to see Gruff Rhys ( singer from a favourite band of ours, Super Furry Animals) who was performing at this funny little hotel, in Blackpool of all places.

Have you ever been to Blackpool?  Have you ever been to Blackpool in February, in the rain?  If the answer to the last question is a yes, then I can completely sympathise, because you know and I know that it sucks.  Any town in the grey British drizzle is not going to be at its best so perhaps I can forgive it a little, (or can I)?  I bravely took a few photos.

Not much to work with I'm afraid.

Rain, fish and chips and kiss me quick hats were the order of the day.  Thank goodness that the gig we went to was fantastic.  It was really special and a little surreal.

 Blackpool must have brought out the romantic in me (I'm not sure how), because the next morning (Valentines) I asked James to marry me.

He said 

Yes

Phew!

Enough soppy stuff for now.  Normal service will be resumed shortly.

xxx

It's Only Love

It's time for some love, and also some hearts.  Thank you for the inspiration Holly and Domesticali

 Ok, they may be a little wonky, but I feel that just adds to their charm. 

The wonky hearts in action

They are quite simple to make.  All you need is a magazine or newspaper, scissors that are blunt and too big, a heart template that you cut out using the big old scissors.
I always find it handy to serve customers while you're in the middle of crafting. A top tip is not to use pva glue on newspaper because it may take ages to dry and end up all wrinkled and curled over, and so you will have to screw everything up and start over again.

Love is in the air

Time for a love song me thinks




More of the soppy stuff to come


xx

True Colours

It is after school drop off and I am walking Katy the dog.  It is cold.  The sort of cold that is dense and unyielding. The sort of cold that makes me wish I had put on some thermal leggings and an extra pair of socks before I left the house, indeed it makes me wish that I had never left the house in the first place.  There is a slight wind that I try to ignore but it bothers me anyway.  I need to buck myself up and out of these February blues, and then I remember, with a little pop of excitement, that it is Splash of Colour week.  Oh frabjous day callooh callay!  I can look for colour, take a photo (or ten) and feel a little more cheery.


I gaze about the frigid landscape.  There is an awful lot of brown, quite a lot of grey and bits of dark boring green.  I walk for a while, thinking that I shall have to make do with taking a photo of some rhubarb when I get home, and then, I spy, nestled in amongst the frozen bracken, a PINK BALLOON.


What the.... How the.... I must admit I am surprised, also a bit happy and strangely a little sad.  I also must admit that I made quite a meal out of telling that story.

The pink balloon on a colourless day

and some more bursts of colour that I have come across in the last few days

From a lost balloon to happy havianas in three colourful photos

Join the colour parade

here

and stay warm