May Drawing Challenge - Day 4

today the theme was 'a bird'.

i had a good think about this because when it comes to birds i really like Owls but i figured that lots of people might have a go at doodling an owl so instead i decided to try and paint a little picture of a Cockatiel...

it's not as random a choice as you might think since my mum actually has 2 pet cockatiels called George and Sid! here's a snap of them (i know you can't really see them properly but they moved around too much for me to get a good shot)

+ a slightly clearer one of just George

so i guess that today's doodle is dedicated to my luuurvely mama! hope you like it mum x

and until tomorrow, that's all folks... xX


ps - i went to see the new Avengers movie last night. it. was. AMAZING! if you haven't seen it yet i recommend that you run to the cinema and see it asap :)

Discover Vintage ★

so today i went to Leamington for the day with my dear mama + my lovely Vintage-obsessed cousin Aimi to go and see the 'Discover Vintage: Home and Fashion Show' 

... for which i designed the flyers and posters!!!

it was sooo SO amazing to finally get to see one of these shows! i've been designing the flyers for them since June but this is the first one i've actually been able to visit in person

it was also the first time i got to meet Keeley, the very lovely lady that's been commissioning me to design these flyers for the past few months

it really was an amazing show though, the stalls were just divine! i think Aimi and myself were in our element! gorgeous vintage stuff left right and centre! Aimi got a few cute vintage bits

my mum didn't get anything but she did have fun trying on hats...

and i treated myself to a lovely vintage copy of 'Heidi'! it was always one of my favourite stories when i was little + i just LOVE collecting vintage books

but apart from that the place was PACKED with all manner of gorgeous vintage bits and pieces...

including some really gorgeous dresses and sets of china! 

Keeley even had one of the little toy dogs EXACTLY like the one i drew for the shows flyer! she takes him to all the shows now, his name is Charles...

it was surreal to see my flyers all stacked up on display as well, weird but very cool :)

as well as the fun flyers for Keeley's vintage shop in York (see this post for more info + pics - Vintage Times) there was also one of the other flyers i designed for the Vintage Wedding Fair being held next month in London

but i'll admit that i might have gotten a little bit over-excited when i spotted my posters/flyers out and about in Leamington...

i fell in love with some of the gorgeous vintage jewellery as well! the brooch collections were to die for!

i also grabbed a copy of 'the Vintage Directory' 

and was delighted to spot 'Rockalily Lipsticks' on the first page

and then later on i also spotted this...

and the venue itself was just as divine, the Pump Rooms in Leamington are so beautiful and with the lovely music from the 40's and 50's piping around the room, the setting was perfect for a vintage show

it really was a heavenly day, i absolutely adore Leamington! it's always a pleasure to visit such a beautiful town

the Vintage show was really fab and i recommend it + similar ones up and down the country

+ there were amazing stalls from the likes of - 

More Tea Vicar - vintage china and kitchenalia 

Rock Follies Vintage - vintage clothing, jewellery, bags and luggage

Blighty Boutique - vintage and handmade fairs

Retro Bazaar - collectables and furnishings

* * *

so it's been a busy few days here so far in Coventry, this is the first real chance i've had to post a blog since the night i got here!

the other day i spent the day in town with my gorgeous little nieces Madison and Daisy (although they're pulling funny faces here so you can't really tell how adorabubble they both are!!!)

anyway we had a great day mooching around Cov, shopping and people watching + getting stuck in car rides...

then, as a special surprise, in the evening i took them to see my favourite movie at the cinema, can you guess what we went to see...

that's right, it was GHOSTBUSTERS!!!

despite having originally come out in 1984, this week Ghostbusters is being shown at various cinemas up and down the country so i've had this planned for weeks since i was 100% determined to see this movie on the big screen

obviously... it was amazing :D

i was like a little kid in a sweet/toy shop, sooo ridiculously excited and giddy! it was brilliant though!

* * *

i've a bit more to tell you but i've got a bugger of a headache so it'll have to wait for another night!

so until next time, that's all folks... ◕‿◕ ★ xX

Happy Birthday Mum ♥

so today is my mum's Birthday . . .

for those of you that don't know, her name is Joy and she is totally awesome! (fact)

here is a charming photo of my mum + me taken in Leamington (last year) by my darling niece Madison

so i'd like to take a moment to wish a big ol' Happy Birthday to mama Boylan . . . Happy Birthday mum! x

also, here is the deliciously yummy big toffee cake i got made especially for her Birthday

the letters are kind of ruined now but it will undoubtedly taste wonderful! 

big thanks to the lovely Liesl at 'The Alpine' cafe, for making it for me

* * *

in other news . . .

in a strange twist of fate and utter madness i decided to wear trousers today (shock horror!!!)

i'm really REALLY not a jeans kind of gal but today i didn't feel like putting on a dress (which is odd for me) so i grabbed some jeans + a pair of wedges + the lovely yet hideously bright coat i got in Cork, Ireland last August

and look . . . i also wore one of my new ribbon flower corsage anywhere clip thingymabob type things

and last but not least . . . i also now have slightly darker hair!

i always feel somewhat left out since pretty much all of the women in my family have really dark brown hair and i just . . . don't!

well, now i do!

* * *

wasn't that a thrilling post!

geez louise i really need to stop writing such boring blithering posts, it's a wonder i have any readers at all! 

we're supposed to be going out to dinner tonight for the Birthday celebrations but i am literally falling asleep here so i might have to be bad and stay at home like the boring person that i am!!!

thinking i might have a nap then get to work on the new plushies i have to make + pop some tunes on, maybe Sliimy or Mika or something, i need something bright and happy

and now i'll stop rambling on and on and on and on and on and on

until next time, that's all folks . . .

◕‿◕ ★ xX 

Sunny Sunday ★

so apologies once again for the lack of posts, i've not been too well this week and i guess i just haven't really been up to the whole blogging malarkey!

mainly due to lack of stuff to post about . . .

this is a short but sweet post since there really isn't much going on in my life to talk about at the moment!

anyway today i've been making some little ribbon flowers

i thought it was about time i used some of the gorgeous ribbons i have stashed about all over my room

so i sorted out my old hot glue gun, grabbed my sewing box and got making . . .

i'm hoping to pop into my new fave haberdashery shop 'Just Enough' tomorrow morning to get some pretty buttons to finish these with and then i might stitch them all onto hair clips or brooches, not really sure yet, what would you do with one of these???

* * *

in other news . . .

today i also edited another one of the candy themed characters that i've been working on

sort of . . .

this is 'Sprinkles' the dog, he belongs to the eldest Cupcake Princess (who you've seen before)

i'm still working on the little Princess' pet, not telling you what type of animal it is yet but i will tell you that it's name is 'Swirly'

* * *

nothing else to tell you about really

today's blog title is 'sunny sunday' because it has been gloriously sunny all day here today, unfortunately i've been cooped up inside all day coughing my lungs up + watching endless episodes of 'Fringe' (while making ribbon flowers)

college tomorrow 

+ tomorrow night it's the next 'welcome to the neighbourhood' exhibition from Juan Moore (more about him here in this post - Arty Stuff ) it's a gig/exhibition aptly names the 'gighibition' and i'm hoping to pop down to it with an old college friend (if she's not working and gets her act together) that is providing i don't wake up feeling ill. . . again!

that's all folks . . .

★ ◕‿◕ xX

College, Cupcakes and La Catrina ★

so today i went back to college seeing as i only managed to make it in for one day last week! 

i spent the day working on some new stuff including a sort of 'la Catrina' + dia de los muertos inspired pin-up girl 

initially inspired by the Calavera de la Catrina 

she's also based on one of the 666 photography shoots i wrote a little about in this post - Curvy Corsets & Pretty Pinup Photography

i've used an old lingerie pin-up girl from a commission as the base

 and started adding Catrina/sugar skull style make-up and tattoos using the sugar skull design i drew out the other day

still can't make up my mind about the colours though...

and i keep mixing it all up

i'm sure i'll work out how to fix her eventually!

* * *

i also painted my nails today (who knew this post would be SO interesting...) 

i used the new Barry M 'nail effects' varnish i bought during my trip to Coventry a few weeks ago

i hadn't used it until today but it works really well! makes the most awesome crackled patterns on your nails! can highly recommend it to you all...

* * *

oh as well as the Catrina style girly i also started a new embroidery piece today,

they're legs by the way... bizarre i know but i never said i was a good sewer or embroiderer!!!

seeing as this is my first EVER attempt at hand sewn applique it's bound to be rubbish though... right?!

ah it's a work in progress anyway and still has a LOOOONG way to go!

 it's supposed to be an embroidered + appliqued version of this

only time will tell as to whether or not i succeed...

* * *

in other news, my mum came home today with a goodie bag of... goodies for me from town

i absolutely loathe Monday's (who doesn't...) so it was extra awesome of her to gather this stuff for me today

we have...

a cute mini kokeshi doll...

...that opens up into a lipgloss!!!

+ a pack of yummy strawberry cupcake scented mini-wipes (genius!!!)

awesome sets of earrings

totally awesome in fact...

and last but not least, a REAL cupcake...

so cute (not to mention downright delicious) 

isn't she a total star! thanks mum x

* * *

s'all for today, i need some food now seeing as i haven't had any breakfast or lunch to speak of...

until next time

that's all folks...

★ ◕‿◕ ♥ xX