Jason Rydquist

I love Jason Rydquist's photos of abandoned homesteads in Oregon - you can buy prints here or flip through his portfolio here. Some of the interior shots are very sad, whole fridges of food left behind and family photos still on the walls - makes you wonder about the circumstances that led to their abandonment -  go have a look.

Beach Weekend

Sunshine, good waves, warm rockpools and a new camera to play with -  there was something for everyone this weekend!

Nearly famous...

Very, very slightly famous - my design is the purple one with the bouquet!
We're off down to our caravan for the weekend - hoping for a warm one - went out without a coat on today - gasp!

Graveyard with a view

I'm not really the kind of person who lurks around in graveyards, but this one has amazing views and loads of snowdrops. 

Beach Find

I love this Clamshell book from Odelae on Etsy - such a good idea!
I'm off to tidy the house for a viewing this afternoon - have a great weekend everyone!

Excitement...

Four Mother's Day cards I designed for WHSmith are in stores now! I went in after work yesterday to gaze at them in disbelief... (They've got little sparkly bits on them which I love)


They're also available as personalised cards on the Funky Pigeon website

What I've read so far this year...

Last January I gave myself a reading list.
It didn't go well...
This year I'm just reading whatever catches my eye - so far.....

Solar by Ian McEwan

I find myself reading an Ian McEwan book, getting a quarter of the way through and thinking why am I reading this depressing book... but then I have to finish it.. (See also Enduring Love and The Innocent - Atonement is also depressing but in a good way..)

A Neville Shute triple bill - The Far Country, On the Beach and A Town like Alice - I love novels about Australia, and these three sum up a certain era of Australian history which I love. 

Wise Children by Angela Carter - I must be getting old because I heard an extract from Susannah Clapp's 'A card from Angela Carter' on Radio 4 (?!) on the way to work and remembered how much I loved 'The Magic Toyshop'.  
I love Wise Children too.


Finally, from the library - Ice Road by Gillian Slovo

I love books about the siege of Leningrad, I read The Siege by Helen Dunmore when I was in hospital having Bill... Cheery I know!


What are you reading at the moment? What's on your Amazon wishlist....

Missed Connections

I've loved Sophie Blackall's 'Missed Connections' illustrations for a while now - and this clip from the Etsy Handmade Portrait series is great - I love all the different characters and the fondness she has for each one of them.

Handmade Portraits: Sophie Blackall from Etsy on Vimeo.

I've just informed Mark that he's bought me the book for Valentine's Day - get your own here!

Thursday Stuff

This is Betsy Rhinoceros - he (yes - Betsy is a boy's name) is tiny and therefore will shortly break Tom's heart by getting lost...


Other news: 


Our new dishwasher has arrived and if I had any plumbing know-how I would have fitted it immediately! Hiding the washing up inside our broken dishwasher is not a good long term plan.


I am going swimming now - really I am... my channel swim has stalled and I'm currently treading water in the middle of a very busy shipping lane.


Exciting news - one of my designs may soon be featured on a Funky Pigeon.com advert! On the telly! Watch this space...

Rag Rug

I'm crocheting a rag rug for the boys' bedroom floor and it's really addictive - makes your arms ache after a while though... Planning a charity shop prowl tomorrow for more fabric..

More 4

I do love the new More 4 ident -

MvsM / More4 On-screen GFX from ManvsMachine on Vimeo.

Read all about it here

February Sunshine

Beautiful sunshine today which has helped get rid of my January blues - now it's February I'm thinking positive!