Rosy Lady

A room with a view

While I'm a little 'under the weather', I get to spend a bit more time in my studio with the winter wonderland view outside:

xx 
 

Handmade with love - a trip down memory lane

I grew up in a family with very talented people where handmade items were treasured and admired. My Nan used to make me smocked dresses with fine embroidered flowers and roses.  I loved wearing these dresses, they were great for twirling and I loved admiring the embroidery work up close.  When I recently visited my parents in South Africa, I asked my mum to get some of these dresses out for me.

This turquoise dress with the red roses was my favourite:

My favourite flower, roses..

Then there was this one:

And this one:

When my Nan was too old to sew, embroider, knit or crochet, she one day handed me a paper bag full of all her embroidery patterns.  That was so special to me and I continue to keep them safe, maybe one day I'll think of the perfect project to use them.

xx      

Happy New Year

 I have so many dreams and goals for 2010 on a personal and professional level, that I am going to put some of them 'out there' in the hope that saying them out loud would help to focus me in taking the steps to see them through.  For one, I am also going to get rid of the things that have held me back - a stressful job; anxieties, self-doubt, depression, fears.  Instead, I am going to be a little kinder to myself.  Love myself and others; loose a little weight; find a job with a better home-work life balance that would enable me to start my design business whilst paying the bills; rest more; take less crap; be more self assertive; maybe buy a house; start a family.  Live my life to the fullest and fulfill my potential.  Use my talents.  Submit my first fabric line, do freelance work, get my name and work out there. Be happy.  Count my blessings.

What are your goals for 2010?  

xx

 

African textile designs

I was more aware of and focussed on textile designs and illustrations in South Africa, during my recent holiday to visit family.  Here are a few of the photos that I have taken:

 

The following were T-shirt designs from Truworths.  I just loved the African illustrative style to them.

xx                         

Images of Africa

I would like to share a few photos with you that was taken during my recent holiday to South Africa.

        

  

xx     

 

All is calm, all is bright

It was so good to spend some time with my family in South Africa where it was hot and sunny.  We talked, laughed, ate, shopped and I took lots of photos.  I took my smaller Nikon coolpix so the photo quality is not as good as with the bigger camera but there is still plenty to show you.  I also want to say a big thank you to all who have shown me so much love and support.  I am so happy to tell you that a full body PET scan has shown that my Hubby doesn't have any cancer in his body.  That was such an answer to our prayers.  We feel like a weight has been lifted from our shoulders and we can finally start to look towards the future rather than to live from day to day.

 

I always try to visit South Africa during the UK winter.  The sunshine and beautiful flowers have a way of lifting my spirit and it is always a good time to reflect on my life, my goals and to be inspired.

As it is Christmas Eve, I wanted to show you some of the Christmas decorations that I saw in a couple of malls:

 

Maybe not traditional but, I like how they have an 'Africa' feel to them.

I had a great time.

But, then I came home to this:

Photo taken through train window.  

This was the train platform:

I was in the last train carriage so, this chick had to walk through all of that and then over a bridge (to get to the other side.

May I take this opportunity to wish you a very blessed Christmas and say thank you so much for your support and for reading my random ramblings. 

xx

  

Blog break

I'm all packed and ready for my flight tonight to South Africa where it is Summer and where I will have two weeks with my family.  

 

So much has been happening here that I feel exhausted and in need of some tlc.  The timing of this holiday is a difficult one as my Hubby has been ill for some time and will be undergoing tests to see if the cancer that he has had almost two years ago is back.  We will probably get those results around the time of our wedding anniversary, just before Christmas.  It is therefore with mixed emotions that I am leaving him for this pre-planned holiday while I am looking forward to seeing my family.  If you are the praying kind, I would really appreciate your prayers.

I am taking my sketch pad and pencil and am hoping that the time, rest and space would give me some creative time.

I wish you happy holidays!  I will be back just before Christmas.

xx 

Coco Chanel

I saw the beautiful film, Coco before Chanel, this week.  It is based on the life of French fashion designer Coco Chanel.   Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel was born in 1883 outside Paris. I have always admired the French women for their sense of style and this film made me realize how much Coco Chanel had to do with it.  It is a French film with English subtitles.

 

I am always interested in the stories of successful people and how they discovered the path to their destiny or place in this world.  The designer was called Coco (little pet) following a brief career as cafe singer and the name stuck.  She grew up in an orphanage and did not seek out to become a fashion designer.  She did some sewing which was mainly repairs or hemming garments.  Nothing exciting or creative.  So, her association with sewing was purely a means to an end.   Her dream was to become an actress.

 

She made a suggestion of wearing a smaller, simpler hat to an actress which was an instant hit.  Requests for her hats started to flood in.  At first she was resistant as it was not the path she chose for herself, but as she starts to embrace her destiny, everything starts to fall into place.  Her life was certainly full of challenges and heart aches but, she remained true to herself which served her well.

Some of her famous sayings include:

"Fashion fades, only style remains the same."

"A girl should be two things:  classy and fabulous."

"A woman who doesn't wear perfume has no future."

In fashion terms, Coco Chanel replaced the corset with clothing that was comfortable, simple and elegant.  Her style was often inspired by menswear.  Coco Chanel brought us tweed jackets, the little black dress, the quilted bag and the 'blue and white' striped sailors top.

I leave you with a few images of the film:

 

I love how she stood out from the other women and made them look like over the top wedding cakes.  

 

  A fashion trend-setter rather than a follower.

    
What an inspiration she is.  I definitely recommend the film if you have an interest in fashion and a beautiful story about life, love and people.  

 xx

Christmas food

I have entered two entries for Tigerprint's Christmas Food photography competition:

First, cookies and milk for Santa:

Not forgetting the carrots for the reindeer ;-)

The second one is a still life photo of mulled wine and cranberries.  I really wanted to show the colours of Christmas with this one:

xx

Busy little spinster

I wanted to share a few more Autumn photos with you before Winter sets in properly.  I'm always fascinated with spiderwebs and the shapes or designs that they take on.

I love these for being so unusual.

I have taken the day off work and am planning to make the most of it.  Come on Illustrator, prepare yourself to be conquered!

Have a nice day everyone and thanks for stopping by.  I'm planning to post a bit more regular again.

xx