A Week In Words

From what I remember, last week was a busy one. I've finally gone back to my job at Topshop but I have been moved down to Topman, where I am now the new Sunday Supervisor. For all that didn't know, I took 4 months leave to go and work in London(but I came home earlier than expected as the job didn't work out, lets just say we weren't on the same wavelength).

On Thursday evening I attended the launch of the new COS concession in Selfridges, Manchester. I got in invite through my other job at Manchester Fashion Network and as it turned out I ended up being the only press person there. The event was to launch the new shop and to preview their A/W collection. As I was the only press there I was given to right to take as many photos as I liked(I spoke to one of COS' PR team and they said they usually don't let people take images, they took exception with me!). I took Hollie as my +1. The concession is only womenswear currently but I personally spoke to COS' Creative Director and told her to sort a menswear bit out.

On the way to the event we got snapped by the multi-talented illustrator/design Kate Mcleish, who is also a friend;

Wearing - J+ Uniqlo Khaki Blazer, vintage turquoise t-shirt, Topman loose chinos, Clarks desert boots.

I'm pretty much wearing that blazer every day, it's linen and unlined so quite thin and perfect for the lead up to summer. It was such a good buy at £39.99. For anyone that may have been wondering me and Hollie have been together for just over 4 years now, still going strong. The only thing that I notice much if I look back at photos of us 4 years ago is that now I have much less hair, I'm trying to grow a beard(early stages of course) to make up for it!


You can see my short write up and images of the COS event here

Painting Is Finished

Well, I finished the painting I was going last week. Let's just say it didn't turn out the way I wanted it too, I messed it up. You may remember the image I posted last week had masking tape on it, I totally forgot that I had originally drew something on the canvas in pencil. I put the masking tape over the drawing and painted all the gaps in.

In the mean time(when it was all drying), I totally forgot about the original pencil drawing. I excitedly pealed away all the masking tape........to my totally annoyance the nice clean white lines I imagined were actually filled with dirty grey marks. 

So I had to improvise;

I didn't have much choice, filled in the gaps with a load of blue paint.

Looks pretty cool up close to. What do you all thing? Not quite how I expected it to look and not really how I wanted it but it's ok I guess. I do quite like the mish-mash of colours.

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Stop the Presses, I'm actually posting a picture of myself. The reason why I don't much is because I really don't think I'm photogenic and for me to find a picture of myself that I am happy with posting I would have to a million to get a good one. But I did manage it. 


I'm warning you, this is the one and only time I'm going to try and look serious. I can't pull the cool, calm guy look off usually. My tastes are quite relaxed at the moment, I'd also wear this outfit with baggy chinos too, Hollie calls it my painter look.

Wearing - J+ Uniqlo khaki linen blazer, Gap stripey blue/white tshirt, Lee jeans, Uniqlo blue socks, Superga mushroom grey trainers.

Hey Homies

Just a quick post this morning, I promise I will post the finished painting(lets just say I had to tweak it somewhat, as I didn't go according to plan) and I may do a sneaky half outfit post over the next day too.


Here's a couple of interesting things I've came across in home ware of late;

Primo Quarto by Saba Italia. Now this is a bookcase I can get on board with.

Floating Magazine Rack by UMA. Pretty stylish, I can imagine that I'm my new room.

Work Station By Miso Soup Design. Now this is one slick mother.

Barcelona Chair by ALIVAR Museum. Update on  Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's classic design, in deep red leather.

Hope every is either enjoying what's left of the sun or if you have been stuck at work, are sneaking a cheeky ice-pop on your break. Thanks for everyone's continuous comments and I'm sorry about the lack of updates, I'm getting there.

Painting Days

I've had a blank canvas knocking about around my house for while, I bought it last year at some point with the intension of painting a seaside scene. The problem was, I had all my paints stolen when I was at college and I hadn't replaced them, till last week. I bought a pack of 10 mini tubes of acrylic for £1.50, at that price why wouldn't you!

What spurred me on was the BBC1 series, Modern Masters. If you have been on Twitter on Sunday's you can see I'm not the only one who is really into programme, "A series charting the life and explaining the work of modern artists Picasso, Matisse, Dali and Warhol, and looking at their influence on contemporary art, design and architecture."

Salavador Dali is by far my favourite artist of the modern time but the episode on Matisse was one that struck a chore with me. I was exposed to a lot of Matisse's work when I was younger and we have a few books on his work. So I thought I'd like my Matisse inspired piece a go.

Cheap paints and the only thing I could find for a palette. 

I stuck masking tape down in random strips, with the intension of filling in all the gaps with different shades of paint. Creating blocked off section....nothing too taxing.

And here we go, now this isn't actually the finished product, I'll have to wait till the paint dries to peal off the making tap. I do actually quite like it with the masking tape still on but I least I have this image to remind me afterwards. Hopefully it will turn out pretty well, it's a good start anyway, I mean I used to do paintings all the time when I was younger (I was never academic in the slightest and ended up in all the bottom sets because of this).


I post the final thing on here soon, permitting it's actually ok of course! What do you guys think?

In other news, I was lucky enough to be invited down to Harvey Nicohols, Manchester,  the other day to check out the newly opened, "Men's Quarterly" section. I was sent down to check it out for my job. This is the first time men's grooming has had its very own section. I was talked through all the products and then offered a facial! I have to say I was a wee bit apprehensive at first but it did feel a bit great. 


I left with a lovely goodie bag filled with products from Korres, Lab Series, Ren and Kyoku. I don't usually spend much on bathroomy products and resulting in me having terrible skin. So I will give them a go and hopefully they will convince me to carry on using some of the brands. On first whiff, the Korres Juniper and Rum shower gel just smells amazing.

Viaducts

Leaderfoot, Scotland

Glenfinnan, Scotland

Langwies, Switzerland 

Stockport, England

I'm quite into viaducts right now. They are not something I have really ever seen from a distance before, I'm usually just sat on the train as we past over one.  They have a certain charm, especially the older ones, would you agree?

Swap Shop

So it's Blogger's Swap Shop time...I mentioned in my previous post that I was thinking of doing some kind of swap with my readers, as a way of recycling unwanted things and hopefully it will build up the relationship between everyone. I encourage everyone else to do this, it sort of follows on from Tweet's Pen Pal's.

Anyone can have whichever items they want, but we have to do a trade which is either a fair swap or if you think you have something they I may like, just offer it! If that sounds like you and you want to trade please just comment below and we will go on from there.

So here's what I have on offer;

Books - Mrs Wippy and To Kill A Mockingbird. 

Selection of badges - Including, The Long Blondes, Mickey Mouse, Pac Man...

Necklaces - Both Topshop, big brass boat (TAKEN) and plated anchor chain.

DVD - The Mighty Boosh Live (double disc woohoo) (TAKEN)

T-Shirts, both we work oversized - Green 7-up tee, mens size M.

H & M "High Rollers" tee, mens S, small logo on the front too.

That's all I have found up to know, all items come separately apart from the badges (one person can have them all). I look forward to seeing if anyone does actually want my junk and what everyone else has on offer (it can be anything you want to swap, I like random junk so just offer it. I'm looking for a a new cushion/pillow!)

So just comment below and lets get swapping! It's open to anyone, so who wants what?

The Sun Was Out...

...but now it's raining. How unpredictable is the British weather, or you could say it's very predictable for it to be unpredictable, I suppose. 

Not technically turquoise but it's in the area. I sit opposite Clare from Tweet, at work.

Following on from my previous post, do you ever get the feeling that a colour is following your around? Maybe that fact that I have more than a little liking for turquoise is because my house has been painted that colour since I was a little boy. And without me really realising, the colour has crept its way inside and has its feet firmly up on the coffee table.

Time for a favourite colour change? I'm slowly edging towards purples and nudes I think. 

Does anyone out there fancy doing some kind of swap shop? Not just clothes but anything really, I think it would be a good way to brighten up our lifes! Whose in?

The Un-Importance Of Being Slow

This is one of the reasons for slow/very little updates this week. I'm finally getting round to painting the other side of my new room. One wall we be this turquoise colour, I'm very happy with the shade.


The other thing that has been keeping me busy with week is the photo shoot I have been helping out on for Drapers, which the company I work for has arranged. I wasn't directly involved with the shoot but along with Clare from Tweet we're helping out with interviews and "back stage" photographs ect. It was a pretty exciting day.


In other news I recently did an interview for Qype, which is sort of a online directory/community. If you get a minute check it out and let me know your thoughts. It's all about me and my blog.

Stephen Walter's Art

Look but Do Not Touch

Hub

Cyclesea

Product Wall

Isle of Mort

There Must be a Wilderness Out There, Somewhere

Chairs 1

Autumn

I stumbled upon Stephen Walter's work when I was searching the internet for world map's, which I'm going to have on the wall in my new bedroom(when I finally finish decorating). I discovered his work at and so say I. I've always had a fascination with geology, and maps come along with that.


Walter experiments with pencil sketches, mixed media and photography, sometimes combining all those elements. He messes around with things that can trick the eye at first glance, forcing the viewer to take a second look. All is not what it seems. I just love it.


The piece named, "There Must be a Wilderness Out There, Somewhere" is actually a photograph with has been layered up with acrylic paint and along with Hub, is one of my favourite. If you visit Stephen Walter's website you can see close-up detail shots of each piece of his work. I suggest you all zoom into some of his map work, the intricate detail is just amazing. As always, well I see sometime I like I will have to have a go myself.

I'll leave you with a little lost alien guy that landed on my desktop;

Anyone want to name him?

In Need Of A Sit Down

United We Stand by Rob Southcott

Spool Chair by Keisuke Fujiwara

Neo Neo by Philippe Riehling

Buitenbeentje by Anna Ter Haar

Cup by Eric Degenhardt

Teotitlan 1 by Tanya Aguiniga

I have probably mentioned a few times lately that I'm really into furniture design at the moment. So I thought I would share a few of my favourites with you all. They may not all by the most practical but it's not always really about that, I do like practical ones too, honest.

I've also had quite a lot of ideas spinning around in my head, usually just before I get to sleep. I've been sketching some of them down, most the time they are forgotten by the morning. I'm not really ready to share them as yet, but maybe soon.

Happy Weekend everyone!