Steampunk.

I absoloutley adore the Steampunk look...especially the wonderful goggles they tend to don. I fell even more in love with the look after the Dr. Sketchy's show, where a few Steampunks showed up. I have an obsession with the Victorian era, and any way in which Victorian fashion can be brought back is brilliant and I have such adoration for people who pull off this look. I myself, own a Victorian-esque vintage skirt which I adore. It's a little small on me though, which is dissapointing. I once wore it with a waistcoat, white frilly shirt, a nice belt and some victorian-esque boots I used to own.

Some Sketchy's Photo's; Scarlett Daggers

Downloaded some editing software out of boredom and had a play around with it. It's quite cool actually :) Unfortunatley, there is no Dr. Sketchy's on next month due to a mix up with the venue. But I am so excited for when it's next on!! I have loads more pictures, just have to try and remove a bit of red eye from the photo's.

Also, my boyfriend shaved his hair off just before attending this event with me. I know this sounds shallow but his hair was the only pleasing thing about him. When someone has the personality of a moose but you for SOME UNKNOWN REASON ARE STILL WITH THE MOOSE AND THEN THEY SHAVE THEIR HAIR TO BE 'ZEN' IT MAKES YOU A LITTLE BIT SICK INSIDE.

I sense singledom.

Might get a girlfriend instead.

Favourite Blog

I've been obsessing over Aya Smith's blog now for ages! I actually found this beautiful young woman on Youtube, watching some of her amazingly helpful hair tutorials. (hers is the one I put on when trimming my fringe, or 'bangs' as she would say.) Her blog, Strawberry Koi Vintage Style, is the one I look at when I feel like some inspiration. All of her photographs remind me of some sort of fairy tale and I adore her sense of style. She teams classic vintage pieces with modern ones and has the most gorgeous brogue shoes I've ever seen. Aya also has some fabulous tips on Youtube on dating vintage peices. In fact, she has fabulous tips in general! (She is also, might I add, very lovely!)

Memoryhouse - Bonfire from Jamie Harley on Vimeo.

Video from Aya's 'Little white dress' post.

You can also shop online at her Etsy Store.

Elizabeth Taylor

I really did love Elizabeth Taylor before I read about what she did to Debbie Reynolds, one of the sweetest women in Hollywood. (They were best friends, and she bedded her husband...then married him for those of you who don't know.) The worst of it, was that Debbie said she wasn't surprised, due to the fact that she thought Elizabeth was so much more beautiful than her, and that she was just "cute." Elizabeth was one of the most beautiful women of all time, but Debbie Reynolds was beautiful too!! I really did admire her as well, especially due to her role in 'Cleopatra.' (1963) Oh well, if the lovely Debbie forgave her, then that's good enough for me. My love for Cleopatra will overlook this. She was a man eater too! (except...she didn't have to steal men...)

NOODLE.

Today, my friend, Ell, bought me some noodles at Wok 'something or other.' I skillfully mastered the art of using chopsticks. (<---Lie.)

The concentration on my face is comical.

Pleased with myself.

My Hands.

I love having a short fringe, you can push it over whenever you feel like! It's two inches above my eyebrows now, that's before I roll it under with tongs. I always cut my own fringe, as when I said to the hair dresser back in February; "I want a cross between Bettie Page and Cleopatra," one, she said ''Who's Bettie Page??'' and two, she insisted I wouldn't like it, and only just it just above my brows. So when I got home, I did the usual; found the scissors and did it myself.

Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette.

"In its early stages, insomnia is almost an oasis in which those who have to think or suffer darkly take refuge." -

Sometimes, I think this woman can read my mind...even though she wrote this a long time before I was born...oh, you know what I mean.

Oh, and, the next Dr. Sketchy's isn't next month!! :( Genuinley gutted. I'll be attending another Burlesque perfomance in the mean time though, so it's grand.

Dr Sketchy's.

Every last Sunday of the month shall be Sketchy's day. This is my new rule...a rule that won't take any effort keeping to. Burlesque, drinks, drawing, prizes and lovely, lovely people. What more could you ask for from a Sunday??!!! I shall post pictures when I get the chance. :) I will be buying the tickets again early!

I found it difficult drawing in such short time spaces as I normally take forever when drawing, trying to get everything perfect. I also, really needed the loo (due to punishment drinks) so couldn't concentrate through one of my favourite poses...so I took photo's and will be drawing from them. Next time, I'll be taking my pen...I draw better in pen and make less mistakes for some reason. I'll get some quick drawing practice in, and then neaten things up at home I think.

Sophie Dahl's Flourless Chocolate Cake Recipe.

Ingredients; Butter for greasing, 300g of broken plain chocolate, 225g Caster Sugar, 180ml of boiling water, 225g salted butter (cut into cubes), 6 eggs (free range always better) separated obviously, 1tsp of instant coffee powder, 1tbsp of vanilla extract, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, (whatever fruit you want really) and finally, 200ml of creme fraiche.

What to do;

1.Grease and line the base of a solid-bottomed 23cm/9inch round cake tin (a springform is best).

2.Preheat the oven to 180ºC/160ºC fan/gas 4.

3.In a large food processor pulse the chocolate and sugar until fine. Add the boiling water, butter, egg yolks, coffee powder and vanilla extract.

4.In a glass bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff and then fold them into the chocolate mixture.

5.Pour the mixture into the prepared cake tin and bake in the hot oven for about 45 - 55 minutes. The top will be cracked like a desert fault line.

6.After you take the cake out of the oven it will collapse into itself quite a bit. This is ok - its not meant to be a proud cool cake, its meant to be slightly rough around the edges and the crème fraiche and berries will hide any dips and cracks.

7.Let the cake cool, then put it in the fridge for a few hours. When you are ready to serve, remove from the tin, smother the top in crème fraiche, then raspberries, strawberries and redcurrants (or blueberries, blackcurrants and blackberries). You can also grate some more chocolate on top or dust some icing sugar.

~Good Luck~ I've also decided to post a different recipe every week! So, don't go anywhere!!!!

The Delicious Miss Dahl.

I've been meaning to make a post for some time now about the programme "The Delicious Miss Dahl." It has been slated by people for some reason! I love it. Sophie Dahl is beautiful and has such a kind face. If she wants to make a cookery programme, let her! I personally think it's brilliant. She has such quirky and delicious looking recipies. The thing I like most about it is she's not a narky professional chef making everything in tiny portions with perfection...she's messy and realistic and knows how to cook a decent meal. :)

Blossom

I am so happy that the Blossom trees are blooming! Blossom is my favourite flower ever. It makes em soo happy when I see it, especially when the leaves are floating gently to the ground.

Girl from the North Country.

All morning, I've been dying to get home and listen to Bob Dylan, have a cup of tea, tidy up and get some drawing practice in for Sunday. I am listening to one of my all time favourite Bob songs; Girl from the North Country. It's one of those songs, that makes you feel sad and happy at the same time. He writes such beatiful songs. This one is simple and from the heart, which is why I appreciate it so.


This video is one I love especially. It was filmed in Canada when Bob Dylan was only young.

Howard Carter.

I wish I could go back in time and meet this man. When I was in little school, I had to write a letter to someone I admired in History. I chose him. If I find it, I'll type it out. :)

Radio Shows

www.radiolovers.com

The joy of listening to a play on the radio is not something to be missed out on. I always remember listening to comedy shows on tape in the car when I was a child, my Mum and Dad laughing along to the voice of Billy Connoly, me, small, not understanding a word of it, but finding the drone comforting. I might buy myself a Roberts Ramber II. Cath Kidston do some, but I'd really like a little blue one. :)

Thanks to Miss Matilda, I have just downloaded Vincent Price's radio plays from the website up there. ^ I am enjoying them in their chilling glory, Price's voice drawing my ear closer to the speaker whilst I get ready to bathe. I am in bliss... I've also just downloaded the Haunted Hour.

Bernie Dexter

Bernie Dexter is like, a dream come true. I found her on a corsetry website when I was doing my Art GCSE and found a picture of her in my old sketch book before. She's perfect, looks just like Betty!!! One of the main things I want for this Summer is a pin up inspired swim suit. I found loads on http://www.unique-vintage.com/ which are gorgeous. I based my ICT coursework on that shop last year, so I got to know the website pretty well. It's lovely. Co-incidently, she also models for this online shop. This made me re-kindle my adoration for her last year and now. Now, to get pin up body...to go with said swim suit. I'm not all that fat, but to pull something like that off, my size 12 self needs to shape up!! I am not ashamed to say...I like that coffin she has. I've always had a soft spot for the macabre.

Vincent Price

I love Vincent so, so much. Especially his voice, and moustache. In fact...I think I might be obsessed with him. An obsession which has been growing for a few years now. I consider himself and Bob Dylan to be the best men of all time. (And Howard Carter...Winston Churchill) Vincent Price makes me want to be on a stage, acting. Why can't horror go back to the way it used to be????!!!

And a big thank you to Miss Matilda! I am listening to 'The Price of Fear' on the iPlayer now. Oh YAY!

Falling in love with the Rockabilly look.

Enduring Love

Yesterday I read 'Enduring Love' by Ian McEwan and couldn't put it down. After that I stayed up until 6am and read half of 'The Diplomats Wife' by Pat Jenoff. Might I add, it is a bit far fetched in bits, and the protagonist is annoying and always cries. I don't care what ordeal she's been through in the prison camp...she's annoying.

Anyway, back on to Enduring Love. I loved it so much. I love McEwan anyway, he always grasps the readers attention! Well, mine at least. I kept thinking about how creepy it would be to have Parry following you around claiming that you loved him and God loved you and that he wrote your name over and over on 5 sheets of paper. Creepy guy!

Yesterday, I bought a vile lace cardigan thing and now regret it. So, I am taking it back...meaning I will be £8 richer.

Vile Bodies.

Just finished reading 'Vile Bodies' by Evelyn Waugh. I loved every minute of it. It made me laugh so much and it really makes you think about how mad people were in the 1920's and 30's. SO, anyway, I found out there's a film version of it which I HAVE TO SEE, due to the fact that Stephen Fry directs it! Yaaaaay :)

"There are days when solitude is a heady wine that intoxicates you with freedom, others when it is a bitter tonic, and still others when it is a poison that makes you beat your head against the wall." - Sidonie Gabrielle Colette.

The Eye of Horus, is the eye of a human, with the markings of a falcon. It is a powerful and protective symbol against evil. The wearer, is given power by the Gods. This symbol had 'protected' the Pharos of Ancient Egypt for centuries.

The story behind the eye is an interesting one; Horus, went into battle with the God Set, to avenge his father. Set tore out Horus' eye, shredded it and cast it away. Horus however, was victorious in battle and the God Thoth, the God of magic and wisdom, had mended Horus' eye for him. Upon the retrival of his eye, Horus gave it to his father. This act of love and compassion brought him back to life. Therefore, the eye, is a symbol for not only power and protection, but for love, compassion and victory.

I like what it represents and what it means. Egypt has been my obsessesion since a very young age which is what compelled me to get this tattoo. Suprisingly, it didn't hurt as much as I imagined. It was more, uncomfortable than anything. Certain bits made me clench my teeth though.

Croxteth Park.

I love walks in the park. :) My boyfriend bought me that straw hat from Primark. I like it, as it reminds me of a cross between a Cambridge goer and some sort of hill-billy farmer. :)

Makeup.

Over the past few days, I realised just how annoying makeup is. My lipstick, no matter how expensive, always goes manky in the corners of my mouth and rubs off after not very long at all. My eyeliner, never goes right due to the fact my eye lids are odd, ergo, flicks just end up looking weird. It always ends up too thick too. My foundation always makes me look shiny as does my blusher and my mascara is running out. The only thing that ever goes right on my face are my eyebrows.

I need a precision eyeliner...(maybe the Mac one i've seen in Vogue) and am going to try a Chanel lipstick as hopefully, it won't irritate my skin/feel melty and disgusting. Laura Power (a good friend of mine) has suggested some foundation and as for blusher, I'm not all that bothered. NOW FOR SOME MONEY...

warmth & spooks.

The weather was beautiful today. It felt to good to not put my heavy coat on and walk around feeling free and comfortably warm. I met my friends in the park for a walk and we visited 'Croxteth Hall.' It's such a gorgeous house, and very haunted. Naturally, I was pleased. My friend Laura has a picture of a ghost maid. I really want to see it. I only ever get orbs on camera, but most of them could be specs of dust. My Dad took a picture of my sister once though, and on it, is a ghost rabbit. Call me crazy, but it's no lie. We also have a picture of a woman in my Mum and Dad's bedroom. My house = very haunted.

Marie Antoinette

This film always makes me think of Summer and the French Countryside. I love the French Countryside. Paris is nice of course, but, it's so beautiful outside of the city in France. This film is like my perfect life. Grass, nature, gorgeous clothes and lots of parties and drink.

(This is me...ahaha) ^

"The strongest influences in my life and my work are always whomever I love. Whomever I love and am with most of the time, or whomever I remember most vividly. I think that's true of everyone, don't you? "

Vintage Roberts Rambler II Radio

The intolerable one bought Vintage Roberts Rambler II Radio, which might I add, would look gorgeous in my dream kitchen. My dream kitchen is an odd mixture between Victorian grandeur, a homely cottage and kitsch.

Playhouse Pictures.

Lovely Day :)

Today, I had a lovely, lovely day. I managed to get last minute tickets to see Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie for £5 each! Myself and Andrew sat at the bar waiting for the play to begin and I spent my time taking pictures of flowers and drinking Southern Comfort with Lime, my second favourite drink. He was obviously intolerable and fidgeted like a child and I was obviously told off for drinking too much to be able to cope with his intolerableness. (Becoming increasingly aware that 1. I am far too much of a drunk for him. 2. we have nothing in common. 3. He is intolerable.)

The Glass Menagerie was brillaint. A chap next to me studying Tennessee Williams in English kept pointing out key similarities between the play and one of his others, ''A Street Car Named Desire.'' I have only seen it once and yet the similarities between Blance in Streetcar and the Mother, Amanda, in this play were striking. I really enjoyed it and would definiatley see it again. I think I shall buy last minute tickets for the theatre more often as i'd much rather go and see a play than go to the pictures.

I'll post pictures of my day in my next post :)

As the word falls down.

I've been watching this movie on repeat now for ages. It's one of my favourite ever films. And David Bowie is one of my favourite music artists, so bonus. I danced like this with Richard at Ell's fancy dress. :') Everyone should dance like this always! Or like they did in the 50's and 60's. mmmmm.

Amami gone :(

I was gutted to find out Amami has gone out of production! It was truly the secret to perfect curls. Superdrug have their own version now called "StaySet" which is £1.99. I went in the other day to ask and as usual, the Superdrug staff were about as useful as a broken leg. :( It should have been in stock on Tuesday. I instead bought some other form of Superdrug Gel Spray which is rubbish might I add. BRING BACK AMAMI SETTING LOTION!

Cruella De Ville, pictures.

Me as Cruella!

Me, Laura and Chlo. Laura went as Moaning Myrtle from Harry Potter and Chlo as the Mad Hatter. I lent Chlo my vintage blazer to go with the costume as it always reminds me of an Alice in Wonderland-esque piece.

I had a hell of a time, and a hell of a lot of hair loss trying to get the white spray from out of my hair!

This is one of my favourite pictures ever; a still from the movie Atonement.