TILT-Things I love Thursday

Hi everyone!

I thought I'd give you all a pre-weekend cheer up. It's the end of the month, and I don't know whether it's because I work at an agency where we work by the month, but gosh I am tired! When I get home of an evening, I spend some time browsing around the internet, and inspired by Kaelah and Gala, I thought I'd show you the things I love this week, on a Thursday. I'm not sure if I'll be able to keep it as regular a feature as these two ladies do, but I'll try.

Anyway, on with the show. This Thursday I am mostly loving:

// My new brooch

// Bert, my new bear

// My friend at work showed me the seven kittens kittencam, and now I'm hooked!

// This month's Studio Calico kit, Elmwood Park

// This pretty dress from boohoo.com

// This bow from StampandStitch (I love bows in my hair right now)

And I'll leave you with this...

When I went to see Ash for their birthday!

Ash are my favourite band. They have been since I was 12, and that's like almost 18 years ago now. I've been a fan for 17 years now, as I started to like them at the end of Year 7, which was 1995. I saw the Girl From Mars video on MTV whilst at a family friends house. It was a hot and sunny day, and I was having a rest from the early afternoon sun, and stuck the TV on. I was hooked.

I've seen them for a total of 18 times now, and through the years they have provided the soundtrack to my life. I've met them a few times, I've been lucky enough to go to some very intimate gigs at BRIT school and at The Union Bar at Maidstone. I saw them play a few times at my beloved Astoria (RIP). I saw such bands as Muse and Snow Patrol support them. This weekend marked the 20th anniversary of them getting together as teenagers, playing The Wagon by Dinosaur Jr in Rick McMurray's garage as their first song as a band. The wonderful Jed Shepherd and his lovely friend Karen decided it was only right to hold a special birthday party for the band and their fans.

Of course, I had to go VIP. These tickets meant I got an exclusive goody bag and was treated to seeing the band playing the 'Trailer' album in full. We were shown Jed's horror movie collab with the band (so, so funny and full of amazing cameos by Dave Grohl, Andy Dick, Moby and many more), got to meet the guys themselves, and were treated to an acoustic set. There was also 'Asheoke' where numerous people, including the incredibly sweet and funny Josie Long, got to sing Ash songs karaoke-style, with the band playing! It looked incredibly fun but I really don't have the guts to do that kind of thing.

(Disclaimer: I suck at gig photos, shhh!!)

In the evening there was a gig downstairs at The Garage (the VIP and Priority stuff was all held upstairs) which was amazing. There was support by Bleech, and by the wonderful GAsh (seriously, those girls need to release this version of A Life Less Ordinary, beautiful), Som from My Vitriol played some beautiful songs, Adam Buxton did an amazing video comments skit (have you seen the one he did when he was on Never Mind the Buzzcocks? It was like that but with Burn Baby Burn!) and then the boys played with many a special guest-Russell and Matt from Bloc Party, Grant Nicholas from Feeder, and of course then wonderful Charlotte Hatherley rejoined the band for a few songs. I was blown away and amazed at how brilliant it was, and I'm still buzzing now.

Jed and Karen who organised the whole thing did bloomin' well, and I cannot wait to see what's next up their sleeves for Piper/Shepherd Productions. Thanks guys, you did darned good.

But most of all, thank you so much to Ash, you guys are simply amazing and here's to another 20 years!

PS check out Tim's 20 favourite moments from the last 20 years of Ash :)

When the night is dark and stormy

I admit I have been suffering from a bit of a blip over the past few days.

So, before I go to bed I thought I would look up some inspiring quotes and things, to look at and cheer myself up hoping that things are brighter in the morning. I hope that when this is published in the morning, that this post will make at least one person be slightly more positive about the day ahead, even if it is only ole me.

Here are a couple I thought were pretty poignant:

source: Rhonna Designs

There are a few more similar things on my Pinterest... if you drop by, don't forget to follow, and I shall follow you back! You'll hear more about that site on my blog soon, that's all I'm going to say about that right now!

Toodle pip!

Midweek Mutterings--Starting to craft again...

My life has been in a state of flux for a while now, but I am starting to settle and find my feet again. Unfortunately I don't currently have my craft materials with me, but I'm starting to make up a basic kit of bits and bobs to keep my papercrafting juices flowing so-to-speak. As I travel a lot at the moment, I thought it best to do something similar to using a SMASH book. I ordered a SMASHpen (pictured above), and some Moleskine Cahiers, and am going to start journalling. I'm not incredibly arty, but I'm hoping to use some craft materials (I may have ordered the July kit from Simon Says Stamp!!), and various ephemera, souvenirs, photos etc to illustrate my life as and when I have the time to. Choosing something like this means I can pop my bits and pieces into my handbag and craft as and when I can.

I do feel inspired, even moreso after the Brighton Bloggers Bash (which the lovely Lauren blogged about!) and meeting such lovely people *waves to new found friends*. Which reminds me, I bought a voucher for an intro to crochet course at the BBB venue (Super+Super HQ) via LivingSocial... I'm not sure if they will realise what they are in for once I get my hands on a hook....!

Sunday Lovin'....10 on 10

Inspired by Shimelle, I have decided to give this a go. I love lists and numbers, so thought it was perfect:

1. The Brighton Bloggers Bash was yesterday and it was wonderful. It was at Super+Super in Brighton, and I got to meet some hella inspiring and lovely people! I am hoping that we all stay in touch! I won a prize in the raffle, a beautiful Kanzashi brooch (pictured above), by Cuttlefishlove
2. I met my brand new Niece yesterday evening, she'll be 2 weeks old tomorrow... and I get to see her again today
3. I am all about pale greens, pinks and coral right now
4. #Ash20 is this coming Sunday! A celebration of my favourite band, and of course I had to go VIP!
5. I have been learning so much in the past few weeks it's unreal
6. I am addicted to green garlic risotto!
7. I cannot wait to get my craft stuff back and get playing. In the meantime, I have ordered a SMASHpen, and am going to do some journalling :)
8. Community is one of my favourite TV shows right now. It is so funny, and it is perfect to watch in the evenings after a long day at work
9. Models Own Ibiza Mix is my favourite nail polish. Ohmygoodness.
10. I'm getting back into letter writing. Love it.

Sunday Lovin'...Great British Craft Ideas and More!

OK, ok, so I'm sure you are all getting a Jubilee/Team GB overload right now, but I thought I'd show you all some of my favourite Jubilee and Union Flag crafts, products and activities and other such things from around the interwebs. As you all well know, there are so many of these around, but lucky for me I am a snob, and so you know that all of the products and ideas in these links are of a most royal quality!! Haha.

Gorgeous cake and bunting by Lizzie at Do It Momma

Diamond Jubilee Nails by Nailed Daily

Jubilee Street Party photos by Betti

Gorgeous Union Jack quilt by TheQuiltPatchUK

Mini Desert Towers by true2scale

This set of 4 Jubilee Prints by rachelkdesign

Queen Elizabeth Reflects print by 2DScrumptious

Such a pretty dress! By Hayley Steadman

London Landmarks cross stitches on The Making Spot (now reduced-bargainous!)

Ooooor, you could colour in this lovely pic from the Hobbycraft site! Cute as.

I'll possibly do another one or two of these lovely things during the summer, so make sure you check!

PS have you seen I have a proper, actual domain name now? How quaint.