Monday 30 June 2014

Instagram snaps...June 2014

Well, let's see...
 What did June bring...

Yummy new purchases from Anthropologie

The beginning of an obsession with smoothies

A new camera! (happy dance)

Some P&C bits spotted in Paperchase

Pancakes for breakfast

A little work in progress for my 'Hello June' post with some Sharpie pens (big kid right?)

Al fresco lunchtimes (sun, yay!)

Fathers Day and a country fayre 

Lots of healthy eating and venturing into eating raw with these raisin and ginger bars. 
Raw brownies and chocolate using cacao powder coming next, mmm. 
(watch this space)

Lots of moments of utter cuteness from the fluffy one we call Alfie

How was your month?


x x x

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Friday 27 June 2014

Etsy shop find...a chat with Mademoiselleyo!

I'm chatting with another owner behind a beautiful etsy shop today.
This time its the turn of Mademoiselle Yo.
There are some lovely items for sale in her shop and Yolande has sent me some little sneaky peeks of her new calendar for 2015, available towards the end of the year.

Go get that cuppa!


1. Can you tell us a bit about you and your background... 

I began to design at the School of Fine Arts, in Lyon, to prepare my work as a photographer; I drew to research ideas for staging objects. 
I pursued photography work in black and white since leaving Fine Arts and you can see exhibits, even if at the moment this work is in stand by! 
I did some book projects, and with my husband we created a small Publishing House, 
releasing the first calendars and cards to fund our books. 
Then I decided to create  Mademoiselle in 2009/2010 to devote myself more to my illustrations.
I opened my shop and sometime did fairs also.
In parallel, I work as a freelance textile designer, designing surface patterns for children and illustrations for stationery with the awesome studio Paper and Cloth.


2. What books/ magazines are currently on your coffee table?

When I buy a book with "beautiful" illustrations, I put in a corner of my apartment, I open it whenever I pass across and look at the pictures.
Grain de sel, is a local magazine for children's activities and family with lots of design to discover 
I also have travel books, novels, etc...


3. Who is your design hero and what inspires you?

Rob Ryan, I love his paper cuts, the small details. 
I also like the staging of Christian Voltz and Isidro Ferrer very poetic.


4. Tell us about a typical day for you...

I start by looking at my emails, respond and prepare my orders to send in the day. 
I have a coffee. 
Then I look at my favorite blogs Print & Pattern, Loveprintstudio, my brain starts... 
Once I made this little ritual, I start my work day. 
There are days drawings in my sketchbook, and then days where I work the color of my drawings on the computer. 
There are days when I look for colour trends, trends for textile design, 
and more technical work layout, or cut paper to prepare cards or calendars.


5. Can you give us an insight into your creative process?

I draw with a pencil directly or black felt (Micron) in my sketchbook.
I scan drawings and I work the colours. 
I use wallpapers, coloured paper or I draw with a colored pencil, then I use as color. 
I make all-over geometric patterns that I also use for my coloured birds. 
The layout is important, I like to put in place the drawing in space. (Often white) 
For the geometric all-over, I also make drawings in my sketchbook, research association forms and then I work the colours and the all-over with my computer.


6. What art do you have on your wall?

On the wall behind my desk, I hang the drawings I'm doing. 
I love screen prints, prints and drawings. 
I'll see fair creators, and I try to buy prints.
A poster of a Czech illustrator years 70 serigraphs, a print of Angela Harding and Clare Curtis ...


7. What makes you laugh?

Children make me laugh, especially their sentences. 
I remember my daughter; we made a cake, flour was not well mixed with eggs, 
my daughter told me "there are a lot of big words," instead of saying lumps!
(il y a plein de gros mots", au lieu de dire plein de grumeaux!!!)
This is a French expression I can translate the feeling. 
The word has the same sound but does not mean the same thing.


8. What are your top three blogs?


Anna Emilial, I love these designs, and I love the red houses of the Scandinavian countries.

Sandra Juto, I love his way to show us Berlin.
Ana Ventura is a Portuguese illustrator, I Love Lisbon.


9. Why do you like being an illustrator/designer? (in 10 words or less)

I find a lot of freedom, a lot of creations in the world of illustration, continuous innovation.


 10. What do you do in your spare time?

I work a lot ... 
but when I stop, I'm a fan of reading, I have a big stack of books next to my bed!! I love going into bookstores. 
In the city where I live, there are several literary festivals, I'll listen to authors talk about their books. 
I like to know how they found their characters, how it grows or not with their lives. 
I also love to see shows, contemporary circus. 
That's all that I love living in the city see lots of shows, concerts, strolling in the street.




 You can find and follow Yolande/ MademoiselleYo here...



 Thank you so much Yolande for sparing the time to share a bit of your world with us!
Merci beaucoup Yolande d'épargner le temps de partager un peu de votre monde avec nous!

x x x
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Wednesday 25 June 2014

Raw raisin and ginger bars...

Following from my post on Monday, here's a related recipe for you that I found on www.deliciouslyella.com
These little guys are raw raisin and ginger bars, made from lots of goodness; dates, nuts, raisins, ginger, yum!
Heres a link to the original recipe.
They're super easy to make...everything is literally thrown in the food processor and given a whirl!

I've spotted some raw brownies on Ella's blog too, so I'm sure I'll be giving them a go soon, mmmm.




(all photos above are taken by me for use on loveprintstudio blog)

x x x

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Monday 23 June 2014

A healthy foodie...well, atleast twice a week!

Well, Monday soon rolls round again doesn't it?
Bit of a different post for me today, it's a lengthy one!
Let's talk food...

I love food,
I love the 'event' of a meal with family or friends,
I love baking, cooking and everything in between,
but since doing the 5:2 diet, I've been looking at food a little differently.

The idea behind it is that you limit yourself to 500 calories twice a week and on the other days you're able to eat normally, i.e. the 2000 recommended calories for a woman.

My goal was never to lose weight as such, more to be healthier...fitter...have more energy,
and the 5:2 was the motivation I needed to restrict myself for two days a week, and literally have days off from eating (sounds silly I know).

For recipe inspiration, the itsu cookbook is great, and also the fast diet book.
But there's also so much information online too;

www.thisrawsomeveganlife.com
http://ohsheglows.com
http://deliciouslyella.co.uk
http://www.mynewroots.org/site/
http://katieatthekitchendoor.com
http://www.skinnytaste.com

I've felt so much better, my skins improved, I never have that bloated feeling after eating now, and alongside drinking lots of mineral water and swimming once a week, happy days!
The main thing I've found a huge difference in, is cutting out white bread and white rice, totally.
If you can only manage one small change, seriously, let it be this!
Stick to brown and wholegrain and trust me, you'll feel better.

I don't religiously stick to 500 calories on my fast days now, instead I prefer to stick to whole foods; fruit and vegetables, brown rice, white meat, eggs, nuts, dried fruit, seeds, natural yoghurt, but strictly no chocolate, sugar, or anything processed, etc..
and on the other days I eat what I feel like, which to be honest seems to still be pretty healthy, but I allow myself that cheeky biscuit if I want it.
Everything in moderation right?

Theres so much buzz around at the moment on different diets, or more honestly 'lifestyle choices'; raw, vegan, quit sugar, paleo, no carb, non dairy, etc...  and whilst I'm not interested in cutting things totally out of my diet and or making a lifestyle choice that limits the enjoyment I get from food... what I'm definitely interested in is eating better, making healthier choices, and seeing what could be the more wholesome and nutritious versions of some of my favourite foods, (and especially something to replace that 3pm chocolate hit I usually require!)

I'll definitely still be having pancakes for breakfast at the weekend, the occasional pub meal and those generous pieces of chocolate brownie (yum).

So, after all my ramblings, here are a few recipes I'll be trying soon, with links to their websites that are worth checking out if you're interested about reading more on the subject of eating healthier, wholesome foods, and cutting those nasties hidden in some shop bought bits and bobs...


Bread...a big nemesis
I've been avoiding white bread for quite some time now, sticking to wholemeal, nuts and seed varieties.
I came across this gorgeous 'Life changing loaf of bread' on a new blog find www.mynewroots.org and its definitely a keeper.


The afternoon snack...
These look like some great alternatives to try.

Full of goodness...walnuts, seeds, dates...to keep you going past the 3 o'clock dip.





Granola...looooove granola, but some of that shop bought stuff is full of sugar, so here's a good homemade version, and even with a little bit of chocolate, should you want it.


And here are some good books that will be winging their way to my bookshelf pretty sharpish...


If the other Leon books are anything to go by, this is sure to be a good buy!


Not out until January 2015 but this should be a goodie!






So, hopefully a little bit of food inspiration for your Monday!

I'll be trying out some recipes I've found over the next few weeks so watch this space.
Right now I'm off to order some medjool dates, cacao powder and a truck load of nuts!

Mmmmmm...

Here's a link to my healthy eating board and healthy snacks board on pinterest if you'd like to follow.

x x x
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Friday 20 June 2014

Friday loveliness...

A few little things I've loved this week.
What more do you need for a Friday...? cherry nutella scones, thats what!

Happy weekend everyone.



1 | Cherry nutella scones..oh my!?
3 | Painted floral (unknown)
4 | Flamingo shirt (unknown)


x x x

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Wednesday 18 June 2014

Colour Crush...

This is a gorgeous colour combo, hope you like it too...
Oh so springy!








(clockwise from top left)

x x x

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Monday 16 June 2014

Feeling peachy...

Start the week with a yummy mood board...?
Ooh don't mind if I do!

Happy Monday!



x x x
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Friday 13 June 2014

Fathers Day...

It's Fathers Day here in the UK this weekend, so I thought I'd do a little round up of some of the cards I've seen here and there...

Hope you all have a lovely weekend. 
I'll be spending mine with my folks at a Summer Country Fayre, ooooooh!



x x x

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Wednesday 11 June 2014

Colour crush...

On the beach with todays colour crush post.
How amazing is this photo by Antoine Rose.
It's part of a series of photographs, 'Up in the air : The Hamptons'
I love all the little dots of colour with that sea 'border', yum!
Find it here...


x x x

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Monday 9 June 2014

Anthropologie...

There are always so many lovely things to be found in Anthropologie, and it fuels my bowl obsession very nicely whenever I'm able to pay one of their stores a visit.
Here are a few of my current favourite bits and bobs...












 (All images taken from www.anthropologie.com)

x x x
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Friday 6 June 2014

This & That...

A 'This & That' post of a dotty, floral variety for you today...
Happy Friday!

left...
right...

x x x

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Wednesday 4 June 2014

Take Four...

I've got a sugary sweet, cute candy Take Four post for you today.
Loving the colours in these images, and together they make me want to crack open the sprinkles and sweets and get baking!



(clockwise from top left)

x x x

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Monday 2 June 2014

Hello June...

Well..there goes May.

Seriously, where did it go?

Way too fast, thats where!
Atleast it was a good month, filled with lots of nice things going on, and so, heres to June being more of the same, and getting that ickle little bit closer to summer, woooo hoooo!
Happy days indeed, and happy June everyone!


(image above copyright of louise/loveprintstudio blog)

x x x

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