Want some Dolly Mixtures?

Lost in the Forest will be appearing with Magpie tomorrow at Dolly Mixtures, we'll have a wee stall, so come down at 5pm sharp to grab some fabulous gifts for yourself! Then stay for cocktails, cupcakes and cucumber sandwiches and a little bit of (faux) Robbie Williams!

All the details can be found at the Facebook event  

I will make sure I take pictures, it is one of my new years resolutions, as normally I forget, or am too busy to click a few buttons on my camera...shame on me!

MarchéMarché

So, did you go? If you did you will know it was a fabulous day! There was such a lovely atmosphere, helped muchly by the live music and gin in tea cups!

My favourites of the day which I wish I had bought things from, but didn't because I was trying to be good....I knew I'd only live to regret it!

Lindsay Grime - recent ECA illustration graduate, fabulous illustrator and maker of amazing ceramic jewellery...
Lizzy Stewart...more fabulous illustrations, fun zines and lots of bears :)

There's no plans for another yet, but fingers crossed it will become a more regular event - just what Edinburgh needs!

MarchéMarché

I can't believe I haven't mentioned MarchéMarché yet...the time is fast approaching....next Saturday 12pm onwards to be precise and I am very excited to be involved. It's being organised by Kirsty Anderson of Wooden Tree and Susie Brown of SusieMaroon....there will be fancy cake, cocktails music...oh yeah and trinkets, doodles and fabulous things by a selection of Edinburghs finest... Far from your standard table trawling twee craft affair, which makes you flail your arms, yelp and run in the opposite direction, MarchéMarché oozes pizzazz....and I know you like pizzazz, so I expect to see you there?

Today I shall be working on all kinds of fabulous delights which (if they work) will be Lost in the Forest at MarchéMarché exclusives! Hoorah!

sunshine!

My sister has taken a holiday from work this week, the plan was she jump on a train up to see my parents for a week in Aberdeenshire. The reality was, my mother inconsiderately got swine flu and is therefore quarantined and not allowed to receive visitors! (she is OK by the way, just ill, not dying)

So, my sister was at a loss for things to do and a little annoyed to be stuck in Edinburgh. So we planned a lovely day out, brunch, a walk down the Water of Leith, stopping off at the Modern Art Galleries. We had brunch...then decided it was too nice a day to spend a big chunk of it inside, so went to the beach instead!

We wandered from Musselburgh to Portobello and as I was complaining that Scotland seems most incabable of putting a nice cafe, or pub by or on the beach we found Dalrida, overlooking the beach....




Today, I am back to work as there is no week off for me....There are some exciting things afoot at Lost in the Forest towers, exciting things indeed! Coming soon will be the launch of my home range....keep an eye out here, you will be the first to see!

There is also some distant calls of birds, ruffling of feathers, I find the occasional black, oil like feather laying on the ground and I know something exciting is waiting in the wings (ha. sorry) ....

Packing is still under way....but we finally move on Monday!! Normal service will resume shortly from the letter A.....or at least the basement flat below the house which the letter A is pointing to!


Please don't forget about the Made in the Shade summertime hop...20th June. Please come along if you can - it will be lots of fun!

the wise owl...

I am up early today and currently in a debate with myself as to whether or not to go to the street sale at the auction house. I really shouldn't even be tempting myself with extra things, which in 2 weeks I will have to move again.....should I??
I have actually never been before, as I only found out about it a couple of weeks ago and was reminded of it yesterday. I am probably picturing it to be much better than it actually is.....but how do I know if I don't go....there could be vintage eiderdowns and beautiful antique linens, unusual tea cups, old wooden crates, ancient dusty taxidermied squirrels drinking tea and eating cake....

I think I'm just going to have to make do with browsing threepotatofour for now......

My little tale of yesterday doesn't just end with the girls getting the flat/job.....no, no, no.....

I also met up with the fabulous Claira aka The Koru Branch aka Tuileries for a couple of drinks and a bite to eat as well as a natter about crafting, gigs, charity shops, car boot sales......and I probably talked a little too much about my new flat! I'm so glad she waited, as I was near an hour late!

She sells amazing vintage things by the way......

So. I don't usually dedicate a whole post to my personal day to day life...pretty much because it's usually fairly mundane. But I really think I need to document yesterday, just so I can look back when I'm having a shit day and remember that some times things just work out perfectly.

Some of you may know (I think I have blogged about it) my dislike of my current abode. It was not carefully selected, it was desperately signed up as a last resort....this was all before 'the crunch' - rent was high, people were moving...I live in Edinburgh, well known for it's student population and festival - both of which start to rent flats at a rate of knots around June when we were forced to move last year. Added to the less than ideal flat is the fact that slowly over the past couple of months things are falling apart (the ceiling being the main thing as there is a hole in the roof), getting damp and generally not working. Letting agents notified, nothing gets fixed - or in the case of the ceiling - they spend 3 weeks fixing it, only to find next time it rains that the roof STILL has a hole in so renders the repair job pointless.



Anyway....in a moment of 'I hate this flat and can't stand to be in it a moment longer' last week I started looking at all the rental websites. I found a vague listing for a flat, in a beautiful location (I will just mention that I am currently sat here at 8am with pneumatic drills outside which have been drilling for an hour now as part of the Tram works) it sounded bigger than our current flat.....sounded perfect, but there were no pictures so we had no idea what it was actually like. I was undecided whether to bother even getting the full details...can't really afford to move....where we are is not soo bad...why is it so cheap? It must be horrible.....etc etc....Curiosity got the better of me in the end and I went to enquire and came out having booked a viewing... OK....so I'll get to the point. The flat was beautiful. It has a private patio....leading down to a beautiful mature garden, it has a 2 double rooms so my poor sister doesn't have to live in a tiny room any more..it has a utility room - which is huge and can easily double as dyeing/painting/messy room. It has STORAGE!!! Oh my, how I have missed cupboards...one of the cupboards is actually massive and has a desk and power inside....so we have renamed that Emilys studio. There are big antique mirrors and things all over the place....Perfect for me and my sister to live in perfect harmony! No more clutter, no more papier mache, fabric and jewellery supplies all over the flat, no more cooking in my studio!


We rushed to the letting agents to get a holding deposit in....2 minutes later so did somebody else. They put it to the landlady for a decision.....So, yes, the point.....Yesterday..... I was on the bus to work yesterday morning and received a phonecall asking when we could move....we have to give a months notice on this flat, so a month. She asked if we could possibly move any earlier as this would probably swing in our favour. In a moment of utter madness we said yes. 2 weeks time was fine..... Crazy ladies!! Our mum agreed to lend us the holding deposit and apart from that we would scrape by, and possibly have to scavenge in bins or pick grass and eat that rather than shopping for food.....3 tense hours later we got the news.....YAY!! new flat :D An hour or so later I got another phonecall off my sister, who not only got promoted at work - but they have also moved her to the shop closer to our new flat! Then, a little later, I got confirmation that I would be doing an art residential weekend.....and then heard of another 4 days artist work that I will be doing...and at this point I was grinning, slightly hyper and really rather happy! Just thinking about what if we'd said no to moving sooner because we didn't think we could afford it, not got the flat, and then 2 hours later got better jobs/more work. I'm so glad I'm a little silly and don't think about the whole consequences sometimes!

Images via desire to inspire

on the shore...

I had a lovely day today perusing the antique shops and charity shops of Edinburgh....I found a few old treasures, some of which have already been transformed into new treasures and some which have joined the ever increasing pile of beautiful things I'm not quite sure what to do with yet.

A selection of new necklaces & brooches (above) are coming to the shop very soon...I'm quite excited about them....so much so that one....or two might not actually make it! I will replace with something equally fabulous...:) I just have to wait for the sun to stay out for a wee bit so I can take some pictures that don't look so....blurry!

I'm on a bit of a military/nautical/damsel/fair lady kick at the minute....it possibly has something to do with the constant stream of traditional folk songs and sea shanties played in this flat.......

a shadow of myself

I would say my flat has returned to normal now that my ceiling has been fixed and walls painted, but I'd be lying. It's far from normal. It's a rare thing to be able to see this much carpet, to have cutlery in drawers and a have more than just a vague sense of order. But, it is nice and I think I may (attempt to) keep it like this! There are still the familiar piles of books and newspapers, but I can now navigate the rooms without having to climb over things. Anyway, having painted myself living in vile squalor, akin to Crack Fox in The Mighty Boosh I shall move on.

The eagle eyed among you may have noticed that my little Etsy shop has been unloved for some time now. I'm hoping to rectify that.....soonish. No promises of time scales yet, as I'm sure to break them. All that I was complaining talking about going on and not going on a month ago, is still going on...although not for much longer! I have 1 week left of my internship. It has been fabulous, I have learnt so much. I thoroughly recommend anybody to go and do something you love, even if it seems so ridiculous and scary and means being destitute for a while. At times I can't see how I have coped (thank you Chloe - my sister - whom I live with and who has put food in the fridge and covered the odd bill when I couldn't) but it has been totally worth it....for myself, my confidence, my art, my career......I can quite happily say that I will be continuing to work there on a freelance basis, at least until August, and then we will see what happens next. . And the actual change - the end and the beginning happens on 30th April so celebrating at Beltane .

Well, this post has turned out nothing like I had expected....it was going to be about new work....I guess it was in a way....but more about the polaroids and the ideas I have forming...ho hum, maybe next time.....

Today I went a wandering....down a 'silver thread in a ribbon of green'. I decided I need to explore this city that I have found myself living in. It is quite amazing how it is enclosed by the city, yet feels, at times a million miles away. I shall be wandering that way again I think.


As I was walking, I planned activities for my return home, finishing off the dress I started yesterday, priming some canvas for new paintings, stitching pendants and wrist cuffs whilst watching a film, cooking fabulous food.....But instead, I have come home and done nothing. (I am so tired, and obviously need to wander on a more regular basis!) Ok, so nothing is maybe a little bit of an exaggeration. I have ordered new supplies, (over)cooked a baked potato, and read blogs, followed links, listened to music and generally done things which require little brain power, or tidying up. Now, I shall watch that film, or just fall asleep when the lights are turned off....

....my over optimistic to-do list will have to wait until tomorrow!

wet and windy weekend in the shade

Well, Made in the Shade has been and gone, and a great time was had by all I think (apart from me feeling sick all afternoon from a dodgy sandwich) - thanks to everybody that showed up and said hi....I'm surprised it was as busy as it was due to the torrential rain that hovered over Glasgow & Edinburgh all weekend, but a bit of rain won't stop die hard shoppers, although it nearly stopped us getting out of the train station on the way home! I found out that it's quite hard to walk through a wall of water and wind!

Also huge thank yous to the Made in the Shade team and everybody else involved in the organising for putting the event on....and letting me be a part of it!! It's the first time Lost in the Forest has been out in public, and it was excellent being among such brilliant designers, in such a wonderful building, with wonderful customers! It is just a shame I didn't get time for much shopping.....although came away with plenty of business cards for future reference :D

I call for less rain next time please!!....this is me arriving home....

just a little wet!

P.S - the etsy shop is closed for re-stocking and things at the moment, but will be back up by the end of the week if all goes to plan!

For now, I have been tagged by Angie of Artangel.....

The rules are -
1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by including links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs.

So random, weird and interesting facts.....oh, interesting was never mentioned? - that's handy as I'm not sure how interesting mine will be!!
1. I will be an auntie in a few days (hopefully anyway - the baby is already a week and a half late!)
2. I work for a bank during the day.....which is something I never mention, but don't mind too much....for the time being anyway!
3. I have an ambition to open a gallery/art/craft space
4. Given a choice I prefer Rose wine.....but will really just drink what you're offering!!
5. I sometimes wish I'd done a history degree rather than an art degree....
6. I forgot how to spell additional today.
7. I'm not tagging anybody, as everybody has already done this - but if you're reading this and feel left out, or want to do it again then let me know!! What do you mean, that's cheating??

all change!

Well, apologies for my lack of updates and responding to comments! I've been so rushed packing, sorting through and getting rid of all the useless things I've been carrying round with me for years. I think I've moved house 7 times in the past 4 years and I decided it was time to let go of a lot of things. This move really counts as 2, as I am moving, but also my parents are, so the things which I though could remain in their loft can't anymore. So it's all been sorted and thinned down. It's all quite liberating really!

I actually move on Tuesday, so won't be around until after then. It's all coming together now, so I'm a lot more excited than nervous about it now!

See you in Edinburgh :D

avoiding the issue

Why, when you know there are important things you have to do, do you find anything you possibly can to do to avoid it!? The thing I need to do...??....sort my stuff out and start packing for the move. I've done nothing so far. Well, that's not strictly true. I have realised I won't be able to paint once I leave here, until I find somewhere of my own....so I started some paintings! A large self portrait and also some tiny (3x3 inch) collaged paintings. I have also, this very second, realised I shall also be without sewing machine and piles of fabric. The ability to make a new dress whenever I fancy shall be taken away. Perhaps I should draw up some designs and get started on some new ones immediately?? I still have three weeks to pack after all.

I have also been thinking that I may need to put the etsy shop to rest whilst I stay with my sister. I'm not quite sure how it's going to work out out otherwise. Such a shame as I've really only just got started with it! But without my computer things may get a little difficult. But it would only be temporary....if at all! watch this space I guess!

I return.....

Well, I'm back, and being the useless tourist that I am this is the only photo I have of my time spent in Edinburgh - exhibition and all!
The exhibition was at the GRV and went well, there was some really interesting work from artists and philosophers and was followed up by good conversation, good people and good coffee!
Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to visit much else - I had planned a trip to the museum of childhood and a few galleries, but the set-up took a lot longer than anticipated, as it usually does.

I returned to a nice surprise - another Etsy frontpage, thanks to CuriosityKilledthecat full of gorgeous things from UK etsy people. From top left; Lupin, Abibasnal, Seaurchin Supples, Me, swank, hippyofdoom, siansburys, laurafallulah, greygoat, cutedesigns, illustratorjen and KMCdesigns.

Today I have been getting back into the swing of things, and got quite a bit done today after imposing a ban on unnecessary internetting! The ban will continue - as I quite like being productive!! This necklace was inspired by Coraline by Neil Gaiman, which I stole/borrowed from my sister this weekend. She recommended it after seeing my 'Button it' locket and it kept me company on the train ride back home. Go read it - it's good!


I just hope for better weather tomorrow, so I can take better pictures of my productivity and list them all! But not too good, otherwise I can't see what I'm doing in my studio until about 3pm when the sun moves! I really need to get a curtain in there!

close

New in the shop!

Quick post just to say I'm still alive!! I'm busy preparing for my trip to Edinburgh. I'm only going for 4 days, but it's taking a lot of preparation!

Big plans are afoot which I shall hopefully be able to divulge soon !

I am tired and liable to rant and ramble about silly things...

I've been fairly busy the last few days, although it's the kind of busy that seems to show no finished result. I was like this at uni - constanly busy, but people (well other students, the tutors were aware I was working) always commented on the lack of work I had done, or lack of work I had to show. I apologise for being able to look lazy whilst I work, I apologise for appearing to take day long coffee breaks and most importantly I apologise for not churning out shit. I've been thinking about college a lot recently. I suppose it's because I am waiting quite anxiously to hear about my MA (although it is not yet mine). I loved it, I loved the tutors, but the other students...maybe I shouldn't go there! If you've got nothing nice to say and all that.

Anyway....I have lots of ideas whirling around my head, things that don't quite make sense to me yet, but will hopefully transform to fully formed ideas after a little more thought and reading and scribbling and writing.

I'm off to Edinburgh next weekend, my work is going in an exhibition about which aims to ask the age old question - What is Art? run by the Philosophy Society. It should be interesting. I'm exhibiting The Family (book with mouse to give it it's common name!), although I am changing it a little before it gets shown. I've also been volunteered to advise on the hanging of the work, as this is the first exhibition they've put on and at the end of the day are philosophers, so are much better at thinking about things than actually doing them! I can just imagine them in a huge debate about which is the right screw to use or something!
So anyway, three days in the Capital, which means culture, people, excitement, activity! What shall I do....must find out what else is on, as my last visit was spent mostly hungover, well actually mostly drunk and the remainder hungover thus missing a great deal of things. This time shall be different. If I say it with enough conviction, it will become true!

I'm currently listening to Blue Mountain by Michael Hurley - such a beautiful song and such a beautiful, honest voice. Espers have also done a version, which is also good, but not quite as good as Mr. Hurley.

I am going to go and get myself lost in my journals again now. I love working, thinking, imagining when I'm tired - it brings a whole new perspective to things.

too many spirits...

I return! Well infact, I returned on Tuesday, but I guess that's neither here nor there. Edinburgh was, as usual amazing. Although this time more so because of the visit to the college. It really was totally overwhelming - the size, the stuff, facilities, the atmosphere. But they are all good things that have made me want to go there even more. Now it's just a small matter of getting together application, portfolio, proposal and funding...to the tune of £6500ish..!! I'm going to have to throw all of my energy into this, when I can actually find some that is! I am so very tired and just feel like crawling back into bed - too many spirits visited me this weekend, both the alcoholic kind and the ones in my head. By tomorrow I'm hoping I can push them all to one side and just really get on with finding funding and sorting out my application...and new work. Aside from the visits by spirits I had a really, really good weekend.

My sister and I visited museums and spent some time looking at all kinds of stuffed creatures and creepy crawly things. I saw Sweeney Todd (which I would reccommend to anybody - another amazing film by Mr. Burton) I went to a Philosophy Society discussion group about 'the right to vote', met lovely people, I got myself lost and wandered around bits of Edinburgh I've not seen before, ate more mozerella and basil panninis than I cared for, tried various liqours I've never tasted before - I warn against Lovage Liqour, it was not nice, although I was apparantly drinking it incorrectly, bought new shoes, and hair clips, drank lots of coffee...I could go on, but I will stop there...
Anyway, as much as it was nice to be back in my own bed, I already want to go back. And to do that I must sort myself out and get on with it! Today, I'm going to finish off my website. Not too much energy needed for that and it's a step in the right direction, and something that can go on my application somewhere.

P.S Etsy shop update tomorrow Monday evening!

so long....

Tomorrow I am off on a jaunt across the country so I'll be away until next Tuesday. I still have so much to sort out for the trip - packing being the main one! I have an interview for a 'real job' on the way there - a complete inconvenience really! It means I have to wear suitable interview clothing, which is comfortable enough to wear on a train for a few hours, which I also don't mind wearing out sociably, because as soon as I get to Edinburgh I'm off out!

Today has been most pleasant, and fairly productive (which is a good thing seen as I'm away for so long!) I got lots of new brooches and things almost finished this morning which I shall finish off and list on etsy on my return. I did a bit more work on the secret project - it worked well! But I've now misplaced it...or I should say my Dad has!
This afternoon I accompanied my Mother to the supermarket - always good fun! We spent ages going round in circles as she was convinced they were going to reduce things. The eternal bargain hunter! I'm exactly the same, I spend so long looking for a good deal that if I took into account my time, by time I find one it's cost about 10 times as much as if I'd bought the first thing I found!
We then went on a mini adventure. Mum decided we should go a different way home and find somewhere new! We ended up in St. Fergus, home to the gas terminal you can sometimes see from our kitchen window and a beautiful beach. We had a little stroll along the beach picking up shells and things. It was such a beautiful day! Unfortunatley I didn't have either my camera or phone - so no pictures!!

I also came up with a new design for some necklaces this afternoon - it has a couple of tiny flaws, so I'm keeping this one myself.

Just on a side thought The Cure must make a killing on having their music being used as background music on practically every programme on the BBC!!

Well, I should stop putting off this packing...

....

I have an appointment next week to see the MFA course director at Edinburgh college of art next week. Just to have a look around and see what they have to offer. I hope it doesn't disappoint.
I've been researching artists and my artwork today and it's left me longing to be back in a creative space. A real working creative art space, a place to share ideas and get excited about ideas and put those ideas into practice. I've got so many things I want to do. Things that aren't really possible in a domestic situation....well they may be possible, but I'm sure my parents really wouldn't appreciate it! I'm not really sure people at my last college appreciated it. My studio space was filled with dead rodents, jars full of dust and other bits of 'clutter'. Saying that, the only thing on that list that is missing from my current work space is the jars of dust....and I'm sure if I looked under the bed, behind the curtains or wherever I'd be sure to find some of that - along with dead insects no doubt. I like to leave them there.....

Anyway, enough of that, it almost started to sound like I was complaining there! I wasn't, I promise!! I still have small ideas too, so I am quite content, more than content sitting in my attic rooms making pretty things. But hey, soon I could be sitting in a lovely room in Edinburgh doing that :) I'll just make sure I find nice and understanding flat mates who don't mind my procession of dead things!

Talking of small pretty things my Etsy shop will (hopefully) have things in it by Monday evening! I have been finishing things off today, and I plan to get some more things done tomorrow. Then photos on Monday morning - sunshine forecast for the next week!!
I was going to wait until I came back from Edinburgh, but that would be putting things off again. Just bite the bullet and get on with it my little shop has been sitting empty for far too long now.

Hmm...another all text post....oh well I will post prettiness soon!