Week Word: Dragon

Just as I thought we were going to be weekwordless this week, Biomouse popped up with her word - dragon.


Possibly because I went to university in Cardiff, my first thought was the dragon on the Welsh flag. So here are two... one from our trip to Aberystwyth last year, and one from my sketchbook. 

I'm wondering if Sally, who's actually in Wales, will immediately think of the same image as me this week?

New Bike and Old Buildings

An exciting day - I've just picked up my new bike, a very pretty one of these!

The lovely people at Tokyo Fixed had been customising it a little bit to my (very fussy) specifications, and I'm really looking forward to riding home tonight without a wobbly headset.

Despite the fact that it's freezy-cold here, the sun was out today so whilst I trotted through Soho I took a few pictures of some of the things I love about that part of London.

Unusual bits of architecture where you least expect them.

Beautiful typography on old shop signs. 

Remembering to look up to see what's above street-level.

Little details left when buildings change purpose.

CPSH: January

This month's topics were thought up by The Awesome Lady - go visit her to see who else has been playing in January.

Something I made

I did so much baking this weekend as we had a housewarming/birthday party - there were cookies, cupcakes, brownies, cheese biscuits, gin and tonic jelly shots - but it all got eaten before I managed to take a picture. I did make a lot of tea, though, so that's what the picture's of. And my new, lovely, vintage china that Mama gave me.

Inspiration

The only piece of furniture we've actually bought for this house is a beautiful 1930s drinks cabinet/sideboard. It's inspiring because it's so beautifully made, and has lovely carved details.

Outdoors

This is the Welsh Church in Fitzrovia - it's wedged between two much less pretty buildings and always seems such a surprise when I walk past it. And it's as close to outdoors as I've got this month!

Details

Beautiful embroidery on a vintage dress I tried on. Sadly too big, but the fabric was lovely.

Motif: Animal

Not so much a motif as an actual animal...

Week Word: Weather

We're very nearly unpacked and the house is starting to look like a home, so I'm hopefully going to have time to get back to posting more updates here.

A nice easy start though with this week's Weekword, Weather, chosen by Emma at The Gift Shed. 

Weather at this time of year mostly says 'rain' to me, so this is a quick scribble of the usual view out of my office window in January (although it's bright sunshine at the moment!)

Go have a look at Emma's weather post, and see who else is participating this week.

Boxes and Bikes

My life currently looks something like this...

So I'm just passing by to point you in direction of this amusing List of Bicycle Don'ts for Women from 1895 (via Walk You Home).  Useful tips include 'Don't ask "What do you think of my bloomers?"' and 'Don't scream if you meet a cow'.


Which reminded me of a lovely Christmas present I received...

A cycling tea-towel! By Saranotsarah and available via Cabbages and Kings. I think it will be one of the first things we unpack in the new house.

CPSH December

Little bit late with this, but I think I have a valid excuse as someone (quite possibly the Grinch...) broke into my house just before Christmas and stole all the presents. And my laptop. So I'm currently coming to you from Nick's old one, which is a bit temperamental.


(In best Dr Seuss style, though, the lack of presents wasn't that much of a disaster. 


He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME! 
Somehow or other, it came just the same! 
And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, 
Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?" 
"It came without ribbons! It came without tags!" 
"It came without packages, boxes or bags!" 
And he puzzled three hours, `till his puzzler was sore. 
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! 
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store." 
"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"


Anyway... on with the pictures.)


Inspiration


This post isn't scheduled... it really is before lunch time on New Year's Day. Therefore the most inspiring thing in my life at the moment is this massive cup of tea.

Something I made


I have done lots of Christmas baking, but not managed to take any pictures. Looking round my flat today I've realised that the only other thing I've really made is a mess. And this massive pile of boxes of books (this time next week I will have moved house!)

Colour

Another holiday photo I'm afraid - a temple on Koh Samui.

Festive


Due to the impending house move, holiday, and not being at home much over the festive season, we didn't really do any decorating. I'm afraid a pile of fir-cones was a festive as it got.

Motifs: Geometric


Base of a lamp. Not yet packed.

Head over to Emma at The Gift Shed to see her pictures for December and links to everyone else who's played this month. 


And a very happy 2012!

Thailand Snapshots

Safely back from beautiful Thailand, and thank you to everyone who wished me a good holiday. Just flying by to share some of the hundreds of photos we took:

And the best bit of the holiday? We managed to get engaged! So just to add to all the excitement of Christmas and moving house, we're now planning a wedding. Please expect my rather sporadic updating regime to continue into the new year...