Month: April 2011 (page 1 of 2)

Royal Wedding Round-Up

Today is the day of the Royal Wedding and I am very excited! Just what the World needs right now with everything that is going on, a happy event that is all about  LOVE!

Here are a few Royal Wedding Round-Up Ideas just for you:

1) If you are throwing a party with your friends to watch the “Big Day”, go to Design Editor to print out adorable bunting, labels and even your own crown for your festivities.

2) Don’t let your guest go home without a treat. 100 Layer Cake have an adorable and simple idea to package up shortbread for all your wedding attendees.

3) What British Royal occasion would be complete without the dogs? You can find a pattern to knit your own little royal corgi here.

*(All images are copyrighted to their respective blogs)

Writing on the Wall #9

“If you come to love and say please me, care for me, fulfill me, you will be disappointed. It is what YOU bring to love that matters. Don’t you disappoint love!”

Micheline Presle (playing the role of “Germaine Stacy” in: If A Man Answers)

(Image found on Flickr)

Sweet Paul

I always enjoy perusing Sweet Paul’s blog. There are a multitude of beautiful images to look at and the simplistic style of his blog gives it a classic distinction.

I don’t just visit his site to gaze at the alluring and interestingly taken photos, I also go there to read his magazine. The best part is, you can read it online, if you so chose, without having to purchase a physical copy.

His latest issue is a children’s edition, packed full of the wonderful sweet things I have come to love and expect from him and his team.

This apple green horse alone, makes me want to eat this pie, if only to have the chance to stare at him while I munch away.

While flipping through the current issue I came across these and maybe it was because I was craving something sweet at the time and they were decorated in brightly coloured sprinkles, or maybe it is because I find this photograph simplistically charming, but I thought I would share it with you: Chocolate Sprinkle Ice Cream Bites. Nothing fancy, but mouth-wateringly presented and the essence of the perfect bite!

(All images are copyright Sweet Paul Blog, first image was embellished by J. Michie)

Easter Bonnet

Never saw you look quite so pretty before

Never saw you dressed quite so lovely what’s more

I could hardly wait to keep our date this lovely

Easter Morning…

 And my heart beat fast as I came through the door.

For in your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it

You’ll be the grandest lady in the Easter Parade.

When my Mom was a little girl, my Nana made all of her and her sister’s Easter outfits herself. They all had a new dress, new coat, new white gloves and a new little Easter bonnet for Easter Sunday.

When my sister and I were growing up, my Mom did the same for us. We always had a new outfit for Easter. I love that some things never change. Your Easter hat says so much about you. I couldn’t wait to get to church Easter Morning to see what hat Mrs. S. had on. She was in my Nana’s altar society and her hats were straight out of a Hollywood movie of the 1950’s.

In perusing Flickr, I came across a few Easter Bonnet clad ladies of yore and I thought I would share them with you. What is it about that brand new Easter outfit and hat? Enjoy!

(Flower embellishment: Pugly Pixel Freebie. All images found on Flickr)

Buttermilk

Mr. Michie and I don’t watch a lot of TV, but when we do, it tends to be American TV shows. One of our favourites is: Castle. Nathan Fillion is very easy on the eyes and being a fan of detective shows, I enjoy watching this one. It has all the key crime show points, that make it perfect for both of us to view: the mystery, the drama, the humour, the romantic tension between Castle and Beckett…

Watching this show, a few weeks ago, brought to our attention, something that I had no idea existed on the scale that it does. After they wrap up a hard case, Beckett offers to buy Castle a hot chocolate and some macaroni and cheese from the “Food Truck”. This sparked our interests, what was the “Food Truck”. Thus, began an internet research session, that uncovered a culture we were not aware of.

When I was in College there were more food “stands” than trucks. The usual ice-cream stalls for the tourists and a great hot dog guy near the Museum I worked at, but that was it. In England, the most you get is a guy selling kebabs or possibly fish and chips. This is a social event that I am truly missing out on. It is more than your usual hot dog and pretzel vendors, it is, in some cases, gourmet food on wheels.

By the time we were done researching we were left starving. Like, when you watch “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives” at 11pm at night and you know 5 minutes into it, that it was a mistake, because you are now desiring everything that Guy is munching away on.

Out of all the food trucks we discovered in our mini research session my favourite was: Buttermilk. Maybe, it is because I am a girl from the South, but anything that has buttermilk in it, just has to be good! By the time I was done looking at their website, I headed to bed very hungry and dreaming of Hawaiian Bread Cinnamon French Toast Sticks. MMMM!

Besides the delicious looking menu, who wouldn’t want to eat out of a truck that has such an adorable little face on the side? Klippy the Buttermilk Boy is a cutie and I love his back story! Do you have any amazing food trucks in your neck of the woods?

Check out the Buttermilk Truck here.

Eggstraordinary

A small Easter Round-Up, as we move closer and closer to the Easter Bunny coming. Here are 3 “eggstraordinary” ideas from 3  places I like to visit! Enjoy!

1) Abby Try Again, has created a carton of confetti filled eggs to brighten up any Easter party:

2)The gang at PoppyTalk have constructed painted eggs with a hidden message inside:

3)Molly at The Purl Bee has designed 3 different Spring time coloured bags, to hold all the eggs and surprises you find at the Easter Egg Hunt:

(All images are copyrighted to their respective Blog, Easter banner created by J. Michie)

Catherine Campbell

One aspect of  not only being an Art Historian, but also an Artist and appreciator of Art is the opportunity to continually discover new Artists.

I am constantly making suggestions to the Art students to look at this Artist or that Artist and they in turn open my eyes to Artists I am not familiar with.

While flipping through the Illustration Now: Volume 3 book one afternoon in the department, I was inspired to do a little online research on an Artist I had come across. Her name is, Catherine Campbell and her work is hauntingly beautiful, I fell in love with the girl and owl in the teacup. Her work is colourful and imaginative and I like her use of mixed media.

I endeavour to always make new discoveries and continue to explore, that is what life is about, just keeping yourself open to something new.

(All images copyright Catherine Campbell)