Curves Glorious Curves ♥

Well hello there dudes and dudettes, it's been a while I know but I DO have a good excuse. Promise.

So I was due to fly out of Dubrovnik, Croatia on the 7th at approximately 13:55 local time (aka Madrid, Paris, time) however... the delightful people known as 'the French' decided to crap on my dream of getting home and so, after pretty much closing French air space and having a strike (again... seriously, enough with the striking already) my flight didn't even set off from Liverpool in time. It eventually landed... 4 hours later at 18:00ish. Now normally I would have just been relieved that it had landed full stop, however... my flight out from Liverpool to the Isle of Man was due to leave at 19:30 (London, Lisbon, Dublin time) so you see the dilemma here!

Suffice to say, we missed the flight to the IOM, we eventually landed in Liverpool at 21:40 UK time so... I wasn't the happiest of chaps let's leave it at that. I guess being stranded overnight in Liverpool with no guarantee we'd make it onto a flight the next day was what you could call an adventure. I'd much rather call it a nightmare though! But, since my boat back from Dublin was cancelled a couple of weeks ago and I ended up stranded in Dun Laoghaire overnight I pretty much took this all in my stride.

It's not just the travelling mishaps that have been keeping me busy though! What with all the travelling i've also been working on a logo design commission, a character editing/colouring job for a local web designer, a character design job for another web design duo, writing an interview type thing for a fashion/lifestyle website (should be up soon... I hope EDIT is up, see end of post) as well as an article for an Illustration website.

So yes... it's been a very busy past couple of days! Busy busy busy!

So today, seeing as I was stranded at Liverpool airport for so long I decided to treat myself to a few fashion mags. I've been a bit blasé with my fashion updates lately, in fact the last fashion mags I bought were in Ireland where I got the national mags 'U' and 'Image' which are kind of like 'Look' and 'Vogue' only specifically Irish and very super duper. Anyway, in the airport I got the latest issues of Elle and Vogue (yes I know they're both pretty similar despite one being published by Hachette Filipacchi and the other by Condé Nast, but they really do both offer different views so I like to get them both. Deal with it!) as well as the latest Grazia which I mainly bought because the utterly gorgeous and fabulously curvy Christina Hendricks was on the cover. Seriously now... how amazing did she look at the Emmy's?! And just look at her husbands hair, I ADORE curls, clearly she does too. This is a genius woman!

Geez louise that woman is so curvy it should be criminal! She looked absoflippinglutely amazing and gorgeous! I couldn't believe it when I read that different designers refused to send out gowns to her because she won't fit into sample sizes! What the hell!!!!

I understand that her figure is quite tricky to dress (big boobs, tiny waist, wide hips etc etc) but come on... she looks fabulous in pretty much anything that clings to those curves you'd think they'd want to help show off that perfect hourglass shape not refuse to dress it! For the record that custom made Zac Posen gown really did show off her curves to full effect, it's no wonder everyone at the Emmy's was talking about her (and her enviable figure) hell, even i'm talking about it all now!

Ok ok, back to the blog! So I stocked up on fashion mags and settled down with a bottle of water for a nice long fashion binge. It was divine and the airport times literally flew by. I also grabbed a copy of the complementary fashion mag 'Stylist' from the airport display. It was actually really, really awesome considering the fact that it didn't cost me a penny. A gorgeous Louis Vuitton shoot inside. Oh that reminds me, best thing about the latest issue of Elle? (apart from the fact it's the 25th anniversary edition and is chock full of awesomeness) the front 3 page pull out advertisement feature is dedicated to the latest Louis Vuitton collection. Yes THOSE ads.

The ones with that delectable trio of buxom lovelies, Karen Elson, Natalia Vodianova and Christy Turlington proving once and for all that beauty has a bust, hips and waist, AND a ladylike handbag + circle skirt combo. God bless you Marc Jacobs, for giving women everywhere a collection made for... women!

Those ads are wonderful though. I watched the LV collection (online... obviously) when it first came out and was literally squealing and clapping by the end of it. I think it was the sight of Laetitia Casta in that balcony corset with eye popping cleavage that did it, it's been far too long since we saw such... womanliness on the catwalk.

And yet this sort of figure is more common than the straight-up-straight-down look of many of the most popular supermodels of recent years (excluding the fabulous Lara Stone and drop-dead-gorgeous Crystal Renn). I guess it was just relievingly refreshing for such a prestigious fashion house to fill their catwalk (and their latest collection pieces) with delicious women whose physical attributes have acted as a disqualification for fashion show participation for so long! These women clearly don't starve themselves to fit into clothes and if sample sizes don't fit them it doesn't seem to faze them in the slightest. It's the fashion houses loss... not theirs.

Speaking of starving yourself, because i've been so ill over the past couple of days it's now been about three or four days since I last ate anything more substantial than a handful of cornflakes and a couple of pretzel sticks. Well I say that, when we eventually got home today I think i'd been in the house about three minutes before I was stuffing my face with kinder and milka chocolate, fresh crusty bread and a can of vimto. Oh it's good to be home...

by the way, I'm writing this at about 00:37 time so I guess I should bugger off and try and go to bed soon. You see I accidentally fell asleep at about 5:45pm and only woke up about 30 mins ago! Not the smartest move I know but it's too late now. I lay in bed trying to drop back off and suddenly started writing this post in my head, so as not to lose the creative flow (ahahahaha I couldn't even type that with a straight face!) I leapt up and grabbed my laptop for some typing times.

EDIT: present time... Eeeerrrgh! I feel bad that haven’t posted anything in ages! I know this is a pretty long post so why stop now! Just to make it even better... here’s my latest desktop wallpaper courtesy of the fabulous Joseph Kloepfer who started following me on twitter yesterday and in doing so, has now made me a huuuuge fan of his super duper adorabubble vector illustrations

check out his site here - JOKLO

OOOOOOH ALSO

today my 'Luscious' interview thing was put up. they wrote such a nice statement about me + my work as well,

'We think this talented young illustrator from the Isle of Man exudes lusciousness. Check out the new story on our "Five minutes of fabulous". Well done Jade!'

isn't that lovely! they also posted 20 of my illustrations in a facebook photo gallery along with a snap of me. here's the LUSCIOUS page on facebook

but... HERE is the actual 'Five Minutes of Fabulous' post - Fabulous newcomer: Jade Boylan

words cannot begin to decribe how excited i was when this appeared in my facebook news feed! Natasha Wood (Director of the site, total super duper genius superstar) sent me an email letting me know it was all up and running. i couldn't help but tell her that i actually squealed when i spotted the link! she said,'Remember us when you are famous!'

well if i'm ever famous it'll be partly down to her for posting such a fabulous piece about me. i can't thank her enough, and the rest of the team at 'mylusciouslife.com', they are all superstars and if i ever do 'make it big' i will personally visit their offices with a huge cupcake basket from the Magnolia Bakery and enough pink lemonade to last for months and months of girly lusciousness!

and as i always say, that's all for now (geez i'm like an old looney tunes cartoon, 'er that's all folks') well it is anyway, i'm off to try and work on some of these web design commission doo-daas now, oh and to get my etsy shop up and running at last! because... very soon i may actually have something to sell on it! shock horror and wow! here's the SHOP keep checking it over the next few days and hopefully it'll be fully operational soon enough,

oh, i also go back to College on Monday which isn't so marvy and terrific, but i'll try to make the best of it just like i always do.

peace out dudes and dudettes and don't forget... keep smiling

◕‿◕ xX

Mademoiselle 'lucky bitch'

This is an old post that i originally posted on my alternate (all about fashion) blog back in February 2010.

i only found this old blog again today and thought i'd share this little post with you because...

A - i'm far FAR too tired to come up with anything new today

B - it has rained all day and even my bright coral pink ruffled coat and lemon dress couldn't brighten my mood sufficiently

C - my cousin Emma and her little 4-year-old daughter Sienna are staying with us (i'm using it as an excuse to be lazy with my blogging)

and D- ... i can't think of a D right now but there probably is one, somewhere. hiding.

enjoy...

February 7 2010

'So today i once again found myself in town surrounded by shops (hurrah) but sadly there was no sign of the delectable male shop assistant in Next (booo) but it was a fruitful day nonetheless.

anyway, as i was sauntering (in as nice and as normal a way as possible) through the aisles of shampoo and hair dye in Boots, i found myself face to face with a woman i may have to refer to as my new idol!

she was tall and quite skinny with gorgeous long titian red hair, a beautiful Hermès scarf tied around her little neck, a gorgeous black Louis Vuitton shoulder bag and the most heavenly black studded Christian Louboutin boots!

i (of course) recognised that the boots were Louboutins STRAIGHT away, despite only seeing them from the front, i'm not a fashion addict for nothing you know!

but the two slightly older girls that were behind me choosing platinum blonde hair dyes to add to their baskets (already filled with fake tan and lipgloss) and i realised they hadn't really 'clocked' any part of woman's super duper outfit (her jeans looked like Madewell 'matchstick' jeans and her coat was definitely designer, perhaps Moschino, i'm not totally sure) that was until she turned around.

the girls eyes widened at the flash of red on the boots soles as she wiggled over to the hair spray section and i clearly heard one of them hiss 'lucky bitch' as the realization set in of how much the boots alone must be worth etc.

how jealous was i?

insanely?!

well maybe a little bit!

ok maybe a bit more!

if she hadn't of been so effortlessly chic and stunning, and if her coat hadn't been quite so wonderfully tailored i too might have hissed 'lucky bitch' or something similar, but she was so demure and quiet and normal that i just sort of sighed and immediately wished that one day i too could be so utterly fabulous!

xXx'

so that's it. a v old post, seemed somehow relevant despite being from yonks ago.

ok time for some tea now.

i'm off to the Groudle Glen railway tomorrow for a teddy bears picnic (or something) with Sienna so that will hopefully give me some proper blog fodder

night night all

♫ ♪ ♥ ☆ ◕‿◕ xX

kicking back in Kinsale

>NOTE< - click on the photos for bigger versions xX

Today we (me + the parents) made our way out to Kinsale a lovely little town renowned for it's food, apparently it's the Gourmet capital of Ireland and it is home to dozens of ridiculously good restaurants. It's also famous for it's picturesque streets filled with pretty little cafes, bistros and shops. We got there at about 10:30am and had a quick breakfast in a cute little cafe overlooking the bay before popping off to look at the beautiful Norman church and a little wander around the park. Dad had us all booked in for a lunch at the famous Blue Haven hotel restaurant, famous for it's fish dishes... but I had other plans! I ditched the rents, skipped the food and spent my lunchtime wandering around the streets of Kinsale searching for some cute little shops to spend my time (and money) in.

I really wasn't disappointed this time! As well as being home to dozens of gorgeous independent boutiques, Kinsale also has a super set of little galleries exhibiting and selling work from local artists.

These are some of the fabulous paintings I saw today in the various galleries I stopped to look at along my travels. I'm lucky that they were all so kind enough to let me grab a few snaps during my visits.

After a few little stationary shops and a whizz around the delicious Farmer's market I found this amazing little shop called 'Kismet' selling all sorts of gloriously ethical bits and pieces. The place was bursting with rainbow saris, intricately decorated pashminas and gorgeous beaded jewellery as well as loads of other fabulous things. The girl behind the counter was happy to let me take a photo just so I could show you how gorgeous it was in there!

I bought some lovely little bits including this adorable little blue Kokeshi doll (to add to my collection), a super duper handmade 'ugly doll' plush toy, the cute little bracelet with tiny 'idol' charms (I had one just like this but left it in London during my trip there last November) and the truly gorgeous hand painted wooden fan.

After that I wandered off down some of the other side streets and stumbled upon the wonderfully named vintage shop, 'hello again!' perched right on the corner of the street. It was closed for lunch when I first spotted it but I rushed back once it was open and had a lovely mooch about in there.

It was filled with some beautiful vintage dresses and outfits as well as lots of hats, shoes and charming little jewellery pieces. The store also had some delectable handbags on show including two gorgeously structured, ladylike ones that could have been plucked straight from the Louis Vuitton A/W 2010 show. They were so on trend it was almost unfair! There was also a gorgeous little woven box bag from the 1960's that I really fell for, but after my spending sprees of recent days, I just couldn't afford it :-(

The painting on the outside of the shop (and the ones decorating the walls inside) is by Colin Kerr, a graduate of RISD (the Rhode Island School of Design) as the lovely girl in the shop so kindly informed me. She had some of his prints and paintings for sale in the shop as well, I chose these two handmade, printed cards as I loved the designs so much. Well you know me and Owls, I can't get enough! But the girl print is my favourite, there's something so beautiful about it I just love it. Check out his awesome website HERE

it was such a great shop I could have spent all day in there just rooting through the racks of clothes and the cabinets overflowing with old bits of jewellery as well as some other stunning little accessories. I like a shop with a good playlist as well and I think hearing 'jaded' by Aerosmith as i'm examining a vintage handbag definitely counts as a successful day in my eyes, mostly because of it's name but still... good times! I got another compliment on my dress as well during my visit to the store so i'd like to say thank you for that as well (she got a business card so hopefully she'll see this at some point) and to compliment her on a really fabulous shop! If i'm ever back in Kinsale in the future I will definitely be stopping by for a visit ◕‿◕

if you're interested in more info about the shop check out it's Facebook Fan Page HERE

after all that shopping I was in dire need of some refreshment and found myself stood outside an incredible little ice cream parlour decorated in a totally gorgeous 50's style! It was called 'Sundays' and was chock full of rainbow ice cream flavours, rainbow straws, rainbow sprinkles, just rainbows of fabulous girly colour everywhere! I secured myself a little booth right next to the massive James Dean poster, and had a truly scrumptious 'Monroe Milkshake' made with strawberry and vanilla ice cream as well as a handful of fresh strawberries and raspberries. Did someone say heaven!

The cafe owner was lovely enough to let me take some photos of her amazing place so I grabbed a few snaps showing the cute booths, the pink polka-dot counter and checkerboard floor as well as the wall of vintage postcards and the amazing pin-up style sign on the door. I actually L-O-V-E-D the place! Check out the matching pink apron as well! I swear it's one of the cutest cafes i've ever been in. Just gorgeous.

Well dudes and dudettes, as I say every night, that's all for now...

I have absolutely NO idea where i'm off to tomorrow!

I know that Thursday will be spent in Cork city centre but tomorrow remains a mystery.

So I shall bid you adieu while I head off to take another look at all the goodies I bought today!

Ciao ◕‿◕ xX

greetings from heaven... aka Dublin

so this is where i spent my afternoon...

in HEAVEN!!!

also known as Brown Thomas on Grafton street in Dublin

also known as my heaven

i'd slowly been making my way to it all day, cleverly steering the parents away from O'Connell street, over the bridge up past Trinity College to the delights of Grafton street, they were none the wiser thank god but i certainly was! i was hardly going to come to Dublin and not visit Brown Thomas was i!

naturally i did my research before leaving the island!

but thank god i had my trusty cream Chloé Paddington with me otherwise i swear they might have kicked me out of the shop! it was soooo luscious and gorgeous inside! it was basically Selfridges in Dublin... only with a little bit of added Irish charm

my mum nearly bought these patent mary janes from the Christian Louboutin section, i physically had to try and remove her from the shop only somehow we ended up stuck in the Louis Vuitton section instead drooling while the lovely shop assistant gladly sorted out the latest season bags for us to parade around in front of the mirror with.

it was a pair of little Lanvin pumps that i had to be dragged away from though!

i pretty much wept in the Chanel section. too many 2.55's, in every colour! i could have died for the delicious burgundy one!

the only place i felt at home was the Chloé section because at least i've got a taste of that from my two Paddingtons

still... as soon as i found the Marc Jacobs bit it was the end! one day that stam will be mine i swear to god!

i also fell in love with this little bejewelled bag in the Miu Miu area, gorgeous, sparkly, perfect.

it came in mint, blushed champagne and charcoal. any colour would suit me fine if anyone fancies getting me one for Christmas!

God bless Brown Thomas that's all i can say!

that's all for now,

arrivederci mia amicas

◕‿◕ xX