Back to Bruges

Bruges has some lovely buildings, especially away from the crowded centre. My favourites are the Gothic bay window - which I think belonged to a famous medieval alchemist - and the slightly crooked wooden house squashed between the brick buildings. 

A Cat

Singapore, February 2012

Three Shades of Pink

Spring 2011

Bruges

Bruges, Belgium. May 2012

Park Life - Refashioned Dress

Nope, not auditioning for Singing In The Rain, in case you were wondering why I happen to be posing with a umbrella. These photos were shot on a afternoon when the sky went from frowny nacreous grey to a honey golden light - the kind that Tumblr dreams are made of - all in the space of the less-than-five-minutes it takes to walk to the local park. 

Anyway, back to this dress - another op-shop find which I rather uncharacteristically resisted buying right away, only to keep thinking about it and go back for it two days later. Of course, it was still on the same rack. What, no one else finds a sack-like, shoulderpadded 1980s muumuu desirable? You fools!

It's awesome pointed collar and lovely, soft fabric with that sort of 1950s print was what convinced me. I took it home, and decided to chop off the sleeves, unpad the shoulders, and remove some of the length. That made it a lot better, but it was still too wide. I looked like a green square. I got some elastic, and sewed it to each side of the waist seam, which brought it all in and made the dress a lot more fitted. 

Verdict? This dress is so comfortable that I've already worn it three times in the first week. It's now in the laundry suitcase waiting for a wash, and then it'll be worn again and again and again and again and again...I sure, it's like wearing pyjamas in public, except I don't look disapprovingly at my reflection and raise the corner of my upper lip. The picture below shows you exactly how smug I feel when I wear pyjama-comfy clothes in public - it's practically cheating!

Black felt hat - vintage, antique umbrella - available at the Bobbie and Lola stall, faux leather jacket - Primark, dress - refashioned, tights - Sainsburys, purple suede brogues - Marks and Spencers

Gymnastics

Guess who went to the Olympics last Sunday? Yes, yes I did, thanks to a very generous friend. He invited me the gymnastic finals, which took place at the O2 instead of the more hyped-up Olympic Park. Good thing too, as being among hordes of people always drive me into slightly hyperventilate-y mode, and the O2 wasn't as crowded.(Fun fact - did you know that tickets to Olympics events cost around £1229857 each?)

It was everything I expected of an Olympic event. There was...Drama! Shocked gasps! Spandex! Sparkles! Extremely fit athletes! Lots of chalk dust! Duchess Kate!

And a very tall fish burger for lunch, as seen above. It was...unexciting. Also, a very well-dressed Japanese fan with a large sign covered in shiny red tinsel. Louis Smith may have got silver in the pommel horse, but he's a definite gold in the looks department (you have to imagine me saying that with a big pervy wink on my face). 

Prehistoric

For a long time, I've wanted to have my own darkroom at home. Earlier this year, after finally losing patience with a rather inept young man at the Boots counter, I decided to try and make that a reality - the money I saved by not getting my film processed at the shops would go towards home darkroom equipment. Over the last six or so months, Manbacon and I slowly gathered most of the items we would need - tanks, reels, measuring jugs, and perhaps most costly of all, a fancypants scanner. We finally got around to buying some colour chemicals about two weeks ago, and then I showed Manbacon how to process his first two rolls of film. An exciting time in our household!

These pictures were from the first roll we did - taken in Brussels earlier this summer. A rather apt series of images, don't you think? Prehistoric creatures for an almost extinct method of picture-making. 

Little Old Lady

Hello dearie, look who I met at the boot fair on Wednesday!

My two most favourite parts - her raised finger and braided bun. 

Granny Armitage (from the little label sewn onto her petticoat) was made with such care and attention. Her clothes were made with the most perfect little hand stitches, and her little plaster face has been painted with so much expression. Could she be a close relative of Granny Weatherwax?