Check out our refreshing ‘Into The Blue’ photoshoot. New Feature: Little Ivy presents ‘Book Club’. New recruit Charlotte reviews the lastest ‘Hollywood Hit’ GONE GIRL.
Exclusive: Coffee House Sessions Interviews with the hottest upcoming talent. Photography, interviews, blogging, hot new music, diy handy Craft & More. Do It Yourself: How to transform your room with some quick save ideas.
Little Ivy: Issue 2: Winter 2014/15’
The Little Ivy Story It all began in the late Summer of 2013 when one young girl thought how wonderful it might be to create a a special binding in which to share the most wonderful artists and their various works, so that others may enjoy and even be inspired. Thus with the good help of some very kind people around her, the young girl set about making her dream become a reality and thus in time and with much patience, love and excitement ... Little Ivy was born ...
Editor’s Corner Hello to all you wonderful readers,
a bit here at Little Ivy Hello again! We’ve been on vacation for t with our second issue HQ, but rest assured we’re back at las alth of creative talent! and are delighted to feature such a we to fill our pages more Whilst away we’ve been working hard ive content. As ever than before to bring you new and exclus se of joy and laughter as there’ve been close to tears moments, tho but have no doubt that ’s we’ve ventured to pull it all together, the showcase of talented it ’s still our passion to share with you d bloggers out there and young artists, writers, photographers an d feel that possibly you we hope like us you may be inspired an r creative side . Behind might even have go at unleashing you -most along-side their the scenes our team have given their up d on the pages to follow, studies to help bring you what you fin oy reading what ’s in we’re pretty proud of it hope you too enj tting it all together! store just as much as we’ve enjoyed pu Until next tim ex Don’t forget if you think you’d like to contribute to Little Ivy, feel free to follow us om Facebook to find out the latest, we’d be delighted to get your messages!
Jenna
Contents Pg 3. Editor’s Corner Pg 5. Catie Michel Photography
Catie Michel
presents
‘The Elfin Forest ’
Pg. Jessica Neuwerth (Fearless Photography) Pg 14. Exclusive: Coffee House Sessions Introducing Pg 15. Florrie Pg 17. The Shires Pg 19. James McLaren Pg 21. Into The Sea Photoshoot Pg 35. Review of the month: Gone Girl Pg 36. Millie Clinton Photography: Interview Pg 38. Laura Hunter: Interview (I Love Crafty Blog) Pg 41. Little Ivy Book Club Pg 42. Home Is Where The Heart Is (D.I.Y) Pg 45. Beth Farrelly: Interview (Alphabeth Blog) Pg 47. Introducing...Aimee Coates
Crew List: Editor- In-Chief / Head of Design: Jenna Rainey, Cover Photography: Sarah Porteous, Feature Photgraphy:
Catie Michel, Jessica Neuwerth, Millie Clinton, Aimee Coates, thanks to Sophie @ Coalition Talent and all respective artists. Contributors: Laura Hunter, Beth Farrelly, Charlotte Clayton, Alice Rowlands, additional thanks to Scott Thomas for equipment. and of course as ever to all those who have given support towards the magazine.
Catie Michel is a flourishing American photographer from Colorado. Currently studying in California and says of her work ‘I strive to capture the rawness of the magic that is life, through my keen curiosity in color, light, and feeling. I have a deep appreciation for the earth and the beauty of its nature, along with the complexity of the human subject, both of which my images favour most.’ Whilst Catie’s work has featured in several other magazines, she has created this series of photographs as an exclusive shoot for Little Ivy.
Jessica Neuwerth
presents
Fearless Photography Collection
Born in Ohio, Jessica currently resides in the Western United States and shoots her photos withher beloved Canon Rebel XSi which she got before her first year of college. In her remaining spare time she enjoys sewing, knitting and singing. A specially selected collection of her work has been selected to feature in Little Ivy and we are delighted to showcase her stunning visuals.
Florrie Little Ivy
Florrie
with
This savvy young starlet began her musical career drumming for the early Girls Aloud tracks, from there she became introduced to various artists and producers as she slowly emerged into writing and performing her own music which would take her global, however it wasn’t until 2014 that she really made it mainstream, withthe aid ofsupport from BBC Radio 1, leading her to perform on their ‘Introducing Stage’ atT in the Park Festival Going by her live performance I’ve just witnessed, this down-to-earth new talent is sure togo far...
presents
LI: When you were young you moved all the way down to London kick-start you music career, how was that? Scary? FLO: It was, it was quite scary, exciting at the same time. I knew it was what it wanted to do, I wanted to do music and I wanted to be in a band and I was half way through my A-Levels at St Brendan’s College, which was kind of between Bristol and Bath and I obviously only kind of did half of them and my parents were really supportive, which was great. LI: So you were initially a drummer and worked with various artists, but how did it feel to be recognised as a leading-lady yourself as an artist? FLO: I think you know it’s been a very organic process moving through - I went through being a drummer to singing and I still obviously want to play drums now, but I really got into writing in the studio where I was playing drums and I got into writing for other artists and then demoing the tracks and thus I thought I’d really like to sing these songs that I’m writing. I was an independent artist for four years and I signed to Sony at the end of last year (2013), but before
that it was really important for me to learn the writing process, to go out and do gigs and build a fanbase and to get my music out there and I felt like when I did sign to Sony I was really sort of ready for that step up, cause you know I’d built a team around me and I perfected my live show and all the things I would want to be ready for in a sense. LI: You’ve travelled round the globe now, with very little promo, that’s quite an achievement! FLO: Thank you, lots of people don’t really know that but you’ve obviously done your research.
The Shires
The Shires
LI; How do playing the Coffee House Sessions compare with playing shows to a global audience? FLO: I think you know I’ve done soo many different shows from polar festival in Slovakia where there were about a thousand people going crazy and they knew, it’s amazing, they knew every word to all of my songs I had no idea, cause I never really knew that people knew my music in Slovakia. That’s the great thing I guess about putting stuff out online, to you know to little gigs in pubs in country pubs or something like this or playing in Shanghai for a fashion brand, you know loads of different types, but the thing I love about doing this (Coffee House Sessions) is first of all its completely new because I usually play with a full band and you know my sound is very big and has to…so it’s really been fun kind of just getting back to basics with the songs, just me and a guitar - I do want to try and get some more drumming into the set, yeah so it’s been real fun and it’s been amazing actually to be just going round the country to all these unis and meeting people and being to places I’ve never been before. LI: Looking back to all the artists you’ve worked with, do you have a particular favourite or alternatively a memorable experience that stands out? FLO: Umm I have like soo many talented people at the Maida Vale studio, um I guess someone who was really memorable was a Mike Chapman who was Blondie’s producer and he, this was amazing, we did these big jam sessions, so there’d be five musicians in a room and he’d be in there Brian Higgins would be in there you know is the producer of Xenomania and we would all just be throwing ideas back and forth. That was pretty cool and then also with Tove Lo, I just think she has the most incredible voice it’s so amazing and she was down at the studio for a couple of weeks so it was really nice to just kind of hang out with her and she’s lovely as well. LI: So it’s got to be asked, what can we expect next from Florrie? FLO: Ah well my album’s nearly finished which is really exciting and it’s kind of scheduled for early next year, but I’ve got a single coming out Jan/Feb time and something really exciting which I can’t tell you about but I’m bursting to tell people, but I’ve been sworn to secrecy and that’s around the same time sort of January/February. Yeah so that’s kind of the next thing. I’m shooting the video for that the week after I get back off this tour, so I’ve kind of been looking through different ideas for the treatment and getting prepared for that which is exciting. LI: It does all sound very exciting!
Florrie’s latest single ‘Too Young To Remember’ is available to pre-order on ITunes now and has collaborated with high-street fashion brand H&M on the single’s video release!
Autumn 2014 has seen a smogasboard of new talent introduced to our airwaves, one such act being The Shires, a delightful country-pop music double-act already well on their way to being a big influence on both sides ofthe Atlantic, it was was a privelege to get to speak to Crissie, one half of this shining duo (Ben being the other) about how they came to collaborate together, discuss their upcoming tour, how their name came about and much more. Hearing their latest track ‘ Nashville Grey Skies’ playing on the radio over Christmas I thought to myself, I recognise that tune - it is just a small sign that this double-act are well on their way to great success.
Ben Earles and Crissie Rhodes came together by chance after Ben had spent nine years writing without only minor success, when a friend mentioned Crissie to him, she came round and they played a few songs and thus became the double-act now known as The Shires. Having got together in May of 2013, the pair had released only a handful of live dates when they managed to seal the approval of industry professionals. The duo signed to Decca Records just before their big debut at the reknowned Country 2 Country music Festival at London’s 02 arena. But it didn;t stop as merely 24 hours later the pair were performing at a prestigious London reception held jointly by BBC Radio 2 and the Country Music Association. The whirlwind would continue, as the following morning they were on a plane headed for Music City USA, Nashville for their first songwriting session. Two days later Ben and Crissie made an appearance in the Radio 2 documentary ‘Nashville UK,’ celebrating the growing rise of country music on these shores. Such a feat to achieve this all only days after signing with a label, so what was next?
The act’s debut single ‘Nashville Grey Skies’ is just the first taster of the album they’ve recorded in the world capital of country music. Both Ben and Crissie are self-declared admirers of the craftsmanship of country songwriting, and the two copliment theother’s vocal tremendously, as Ben strikes on the accoustic guitar. Together they’ve found a piece of country to call their own, although in love with American music they’re proudly British and very keen to introduce some real native strands; their song ‘Made In England’ is a prime example of this.
James McLaren James McLaren
However despite the rocketing success Crissie claims that “we don’t want to be known as just springing out of nowhere, because behind the scenes, we’ve worked really hard. As is evident in the craftmanship of their debut single when you break down all the layers. Both are inspired by the old-style of hard graph that is displayed by the best modern country songwriters. Crissie says “I love the simplicity of the lyrics, the stories that they tell, and the fact you get that progression throughout the song. Both artists came from humble beginnings in Herefordshire and Bedfordshire. Whilst Ben was working hard at solo as singer song-writer, Crissie graduated from music college in Surrey before working the covers circuit as a vocalist. People would approach her sayinghow much the song suited her voice, but Crissie admits “I didn’t realise how much I listened to it. I was singing ‘9 To 5’ just as a fun song for people to dance to,” Speaking back to when the pair first came together Crissie exclaims that when she saw Ben’s facebook post “I was like ‘Yeah, send me some stuff, I really like country music.’ He saw my videos that I’d put up online of me singing just generic country songs, Faith Hill, Martina McBride. Ben was so quick sending songs, I literally listened to half of one of them, and emailed straight back. I was sold straight away.” It was then as the pair realised that they were surprisingly close by in the ’shires’ that the name of the double-act came about. In the Autumn season of 2014 The Shires went touring the UK free of charge, at a selection of university student unions up and down the country with the help of the Coffee House Sessions. Here thwey played some wondul accoustic sessions in often intimate surroundings and the tour appeared to prove to some success, introducing the duo to a new student audience that wouldn’t necessarily have heard of them otherwise. Since then Ben and Crissie have been busytouring the UK again, this time with their ‘Little Big Town Tour’ which wraps up on February 12th 2015’. In the meantime they have also exclusively released the cover and tracklist of their debut album ‘Brave’ - due out on February 23rd 2015. The Shires debut album ‘Brave’ is currently available to pre-order as a standard 11 track record or deluxe edition - signed copies available. General release is February 23rd 2015.
James McLaren is an up and coming singer songwriter currently touring as part of the CoffeeHouse Tours. I was lucky enough to catch his acoustic gig at the Bath Spa Student Union and was treated to a laid back sound with beautiful songwriting and vocals. Exactly the kind of music you need to perk up a rainy Friday afternoon! James is a passionate performer, the set begins even as he is warming up by teasing the audience with 'Another One Bites the Dust' and other classics on his guitar. He plays alongside his friends Matthew Blakey and Mario, the music is uplifting with simple beats and breathy vocals. James spoke to us after he finished his awesome gig and it turns out that he is as friendly onstage as he is offstage! LI: How did you first get into music? JM: I started off in school in a punk band with some friends. It was just for fun really, we couldn't really play much to begin with but we were really into 'Misfits' and 'Offspring' and other punk bands like that. We started gigging really early, although it was very different to this! I just got more and more involved and enjoyed playing the guitar. But I only really started singing a couple of years back, I was trying to start a band but couldn't find any singers! And that's really how I got to where I am now. LI: And did you teach yourself to play the guitar? JM: I had a teacher for a while called Mark Owens, he's a rock and blues guitarist and is a great player. But I taught myself the acoustic style that I play, so a bit of both really!
LI: Who or what inspires your music and songwriting? JM: Hearing great tunes that I like makes you want to have a go. I'm a really big Warren Evans fan, and Bob Dylan and Tom Petty are some of the older guys that I like. Older british rock, american rock and I'm quite into country as well! In terms of inspiration I just try and be natural with it. I don't really think what I'm going to write about or brainstorm it, I just have glass of red and write stuff! LI: How have you found the CoffeeHouse tour so far? What have been your highlights? JM: It's just been really good playing regularly as I'm doing a few gigs a day. It's nice driving around and playing to different people. I've never been to these Uni's before and people seem to like it! LI: You've just recorded your debut EP, how did you find the recording process? JM: It was very fun, we didn't have everything laid exactly as we were going to do it, so it was quite a creative process. We only had a about fours songs that I had made demos for, and we just made them a lot better produced but still quite raw. The songs are quite similar to the demos I do but I'm just not very good at recording! LI: What do you think you'd be doing if you weren't a musician? JM: I'd probably be more bored! I didn't really know what I wanted to do, I only went to college for about a week. I left a class and the next lesson the teacher asked where I was and my mate said 'He's left' and she said 'Good, because this is the worst piece of homework I've ever seen'. It was written on this ripped up piece of paper and it was a for a history class! I liked history but I just wanted into it and wanted to do my own thing. LI: Is there anything else you like to do to relax? JM: I used to play football, not so much now although I'm still a member of a local team in Southampton, but I'm hardly ever there! I like going out with friends and having a few drinks in a bar or watching other gigs. I like to think that I like reading but I've been a bit bad recently, my reading back log is about 20 books long!
Into
LI: How would you describe your style of music? JM: I don't know. I'm not really pop or rock, but kind of a mix of those. Sort of darkish folk rock. My music is very atmospheric especially the stuff on the CD, there's a lot more effects not quite electronic but a bit more layered. The gigs have been very stripped down versions. LI: Last question, what are your hopes for the future? JM: I'd like to be writing the best songs I can and keep releasing stuff and getting more people into it. Ideally I'd like to start doing worldwide tours, not necessarily on a big stadium level. I'm doing another EP at the moment, so I'm going to finish that in the studio and should be done by early next year. There's a follow up for this CD already so just trying to keep that going. James’ debut EP 'Stay Aboard', which has been produced with Ian Grimble is set to be released in November. Watch this space!
The
Blue
GONE GIRL - Film Review 'Gone Girl' written by Gillian Flynn is the latest book to screen adaptation. Normally my feelings are that the book is nearly always better than the film and that the film industry should start coming up with more unique ideas rather than just doing adaptations all the time, but that is a rant for another time! However, the film has been adapted by Flynn herself and is directed by the amazing David Fincher, so it's actually pretty good. The story follows Nick (Ben Affleck) who comes home to discover his house has been wrecked and his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) is missing. Soon, stories from Amy and Nick's marriage start to creep out of the woodwork and lead to Nick being the prime suspect in what is slowly becoming a murder investigation. The story has many twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat, and for people who already know them the film is kept as close to the book as can be done in a two hour film. Affleck is a perfect choice for Nick, playing his awkwardness and temper in a very understated and believable way. Pike also gives an astounding performance, especially with such a complex character! Fincher has directed the film very well, in signature style there are some great gory scenes and the use of lighting throughout the film gives off the right mood. However, I did feel that some of the scenes were a bit too 'clean' for what they should've been and could've done with more of an edge. The edginess in the film comes from the the music, which really adds a touch of madness or suspense in the right places. I think this is a good adaptation of the book and is incredibly well acted. However, my own opinion about both the book and the film is that the storyline is a little far-fetched. That being said, it is still definitely worth a watch! 3.5 Stars
Photographer: Millie Clinton Model pictured: Georgie Anderson
Meet
If you were given the chance to photographic anyone, anywhere, in any circumstance, who and where would it be and why?
Millie Clinton
Hey Millie, we currently can’t get enough of your dreamy pics, but can you give our readers a quick insight as to the girl behind the camera? First of all, thanks for all your lovely words. I get the impression from messages and comments I receive online that I come across as artistic; I’m really not. I’m quite the opposite. I’d say - without sounding arrogant! - I’m more academically inclined. I’m a student of history, psychology and English literature as well as photography.
Audrey Hepburn in Paris. I think Hepburn was the most beautiful woman to live, her look is so classic and timeless. I’ve never explored Paris, but it seems to have a traditional aesthetic andand incredibly architecture, which is a aesthetic incredibly architecture, whichvery very photogenic combination. photogenic combination. is a very photogenic combination. Clearly you’re a seasoned pro with film, what is it that gives film the edge over digital for you as a photographer? I wouldn’t say so, I’ve still a lot to learn! I find film to have a more 3D, lifelike look. Digital is just too perfect. It’s perfectly exposed and focused...’imperfections’ are what make photographs unique. The more manualnature of film photography over digital photography also makes me feel as though I’m putting more ‘me’ into my work.
We’ve been a fan of your photography for some time now, where did it initially bloom from? The initial interest was spurred by two things: my granddad and my dad are both photography enthusiasts so I’ve always been around photography lovers. Secondly, all the women in my family work in caring for elderly who suffer with Alzheimers. I attended various fetes and fundraisers of Alzheimers care homes in my childhood, and the reality of the fragile nature of memory definitely had an impact. I love to solidify moments in time, and make permanent memories for myself, friends and family through photography. If you don’t mind my saying, you photographs have a very distinct aspect about them, the lighting is exquist, is there a reason behind this? I take that as a compliment, thank you! I always overexpose and compensate by a couple of stops. I work always on a wide aperture, it seldom goes above f/2.8. It’s just my personal preference. Has your hobby taken you on any interesting journeys? Or have you endured any experiences of particular note or interest? There’s always some random, funny memories... for example, I was photographing Matilda once, and a man who lived nearby came out of his house, stood behind a bush in his garden, and poked his head out at random intervals the entire time we were there..
You’re evergrowing album of work contains a fair mixture of both portraiture and lifestyle photography, do you favour one over the other?
I prefer photographing people, but at the moment, with my school work and such, lifestyle is more convenient because I can photograph whatever I’m doing as I’m doing it. Portraiture takes a lot more effort. Rigorous weather watching, organising a convenient date for myself and model, outfits,locations, getting there and back...etcetera.
Do you consider photography something that you would like to explore further, possibly even as a full-time career further down the line? I always want to keep it as a hobby, I don’t plan on studying it at university or becoming fully pro. What does the future currently hold for Millie, photography or otherwise? Clearly you have great creative potential!
That’s so sweet, but right now I really don’t know. I’m just about to begin the last year of my A levels and choosing universities. I’m thinking of studying English literature. Care to disperse any small nuggets of knowledge you’ve learnt along the way for any aspiring photographers out there? Trial and error is the best method. Just keep experimenting and have patience, making mistakes leads to progress. ................................ You can find Millie’s work on her website/flickr/ facebook via the links below: www.mcphotography.org.uk
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeunefilledeuce
https://www.facebook.com/millieclintonphotography
L aura
Hunter Hi! I'm Laura, designer and the brains behind I Love Crafty where I design and make perspex jewellery. I'm crafty by name, crafty by nature, I'm happiest creating beautiful things that my customers will love for ever! I'm also a Mum to my daughter Lux and part-time blogger where I like to share recipes, DIY's, outfit posts and write about how great Lux is!
I believe you were the brain child of a shop (the same name as your brand) in Bristol which sold a compilation of miscellaneous crafty goods, by various artists. What’s the story? It sounds amazing.
Well, I started selling my own crafty creations at markets I things were going well. To be honest I was pretty shy about approaching shops to sell my work so I opened my own! It might sound crazy but once I get an idea in my head I have to do it and I'd always dreamed of owning and running my own store. I opened my shop in Bristol in 2010 and at times there were over 20 other artists selling their work there too! I loved the sociability of running the shop and meeting other like minded artists some of whom I'm still friends with today. I closed the shop at christmas 2011 and it was sad but I was starting to feel tied down, having to work in the shop 6 days a week and make products, it was hard work! the saddest part was saying goodbye to my fellow artists and customers whom I had got a small group of loyal customers who I still miss today, but Im so glad I did it! It was a real life goal and accomplishment and if I ever wanted to i open a shop again I'd like to think I have the experience to make it a success. It would probably be something completely different though like a wedding dress shop, another dream of mine!
How did your blogging journey begin?
Gosh, I started writing my blog back in 2010 when I opened my shop, also called I Love Crafty. I wanted to share my shop stories, cat pictures and life long love of fashion. I didn't really have a plan or know what I was doing to be honest so my posting was pretty sporadic and unfocused but I've always loved writing spit was a great place to keep that up. It led to me writing a monthly column for a craft magazine which was a great experience! How do you decide what to blog about and what inspires your posts?
Well as my life has changed so too has my blog, when my shop closed I took a break from blogging as I didn't feel I had much to write about but once I had my daughter I got blogging bug again. While I was pregnant I'd read a lot of mummy blogs and I found them the best place online for advice and inspiration. This year my jewellery business turned 5 years old and as a present I gave my blog a makeover and thought more about its purpose. I love writing about my experiences as a mother and have found that my readers respond to my most personal and honest posts, plus their my favourite to write! I also LOVE sharing recipes and DIY's as I think every things better handmade and thoughtful made and of course, theres always an element of fashion and self expression in there! I also want my blog to be a place of positivity and inspiration as they're the kind of blogs I can't get enough of! I have some exciting plans for it next year and I'm hoping that some day it will apart of my business and income, fingers crossed! Do you find it easy working from home? What are the pros and cons?
I'm a real home bird so I love working from home. It has its good bits band bad bits, I'll start with the bad, not being able to "switch off." Sometimes I find it really hard to relax at home when I know I have a lot of work to do in the office. It niggles me at the back of my head and in the past I've worked all the way through the night to get work done. I can tell you, this is not a good way to work and I try to stand back, take a breathe and think, "does this really need doing right now?" These days with my daughter I can only work when she naps, and she does love a good long nap, I'm very lucky. When things get busy I do tend to work in the evenings but then I have a definite no work on weekends rule, but as they say, rules are meant to be broken! The good side to working from home is that I'm with my daughter and dog and if I want to take a day off (which is rare) I can, or if I want to meet up with friends for a coffee I can. This flexibility is defiantly the best part of working from home, just as long as the work is done!
How do you find the inspiration behind your jewellery collections?
I'm a bit of a hoarder so my home office is stuffed full of kitsch objet d'art, postcards from my favourite holidays and thrift store treasures so I'm constantly surrounded by inspiring things! I also love to watch films and listen to music while I work which inevitably influences my jewellery's tone and atheistic so sometimes when I start designing it can be a surprise what comes out! One of my new years resolutions (I'm thinking ahead!) for 2015 is to design everyday, I can't wait and I'm sure this will make my designs even better!
What do you find are the highlights of your job?
Defiantly seeing pictures of my customers in their I Love Crafty jewellery and hearing their feedback. Its one thing for me to design the pieces in my little home office on my own but once they get worn and loved they come to life and it makes me so happy! Hands down, my favourite part of my business but I've got to admit,
What do enjoy doing when you’re not busy working away with the I Love Crafty brand?
Ha! I'm not sure I can remember that far back! I love playing with my daughter, she's just turned 1 and is a lot of fun! A good day off would be walking around an old city like York or Bath (I love history) going from coffee shop to coffee shop (I love coffee) with a little bit of shopping and finish the day off with cocktails! I also love being crafty in my spare time and I have a collection of cute fabrics that I keep meaning to make Lux some clothes from, maybe next year! What’s next for Laura; blog, jewellery collection, personally etc, what are your aims/aspirations for the future?
Wow, thats a lot of stuff! With my blog I'd like to write more personal posts about life as a designer and make that apart of my business. Jewellery and collection wise I have some very exiting collaborations planned and keep your eyes peeled for my unicorn collection that is on the way! Personally I'd like to spend more time with my family and Lux and keep working on my life/ work balance. I'm planning on working smarter not harder next year!
Book Club Book
What advice would you give to any young/budding creative entrepreneurs, or indeed future bloggers out there?
Be you, sounds simple but it can take awhile to feel confident enough to do so and do what you love and make it happen! I recently read "Girl Boss" and the best thing I took from it was, "if you don't ask for it, you wont get it." That can be asking for help and advise or approaching your idol or dream collaborator, don't overthink it, just go for it!
Check out ‘I Love Crafty’ web-wide... https://www.facebook.com/ilovecrafty https://twitter.com/ilovecrafty http://instagram.com/ilovecrafty http://www.ilovecraftyblog.com/
Cider with Rosie is a telling memoir of the author’s rustic upbringings in rural England. Poetically descriptive, Lee brings the words to fruition. Eight years after Gen Loxley lost her beloved daughter Beth, the grief has got no easier, but while husband Art continues to build his fortune he urges his wife to try again, move foward. But gen feels it a betrayal to Beth, then one day a strange arrives on their doostep claiming that their daughter was not stillborn and was actually given away quite alive and well. Is there any truth behind this stranger’s words? Why soen’t Art want to get involved? Is there somethingmore sinsister going on? What is thr truth about Beth Loxely?
A weaving mystery of an abonded cottage in the rural North. A tale offriendships, romance and betrayal. Weaving between to tales of the same place past and present, the story draws you in and leads you down thegarden path before concluding with an unexpected twist at the end.
This delighful novel is just of of many wonderful reads from Jenny Colgan. Polly Waterford has hit rough times and goes out to seek a new life on a rural island, but how will the new girl go down with the locals? Can Polly make a new name for herself? Will island life cause Polly to flourish or fail? Oh and to finish with three words - Neil The Puffin..aww.
... Home is where the heart is ... - dO iT yOURSELF Loans, bills, overdrafts, nonchalant phone calls to parents that somehow segue into “… by the way, I’m a little short on cash. Could you lend me some?” We’ve all been there. Most of us still are there. So when we move into our new rooms and spot the strange carpet stain and the hideous orange curtains, it seems all we can do is grimace and hope no-one comments on the smell. But don’t despair! No room is un-saveable, no matter how tiny, drab or damp. All it needs is a little L.O.V.E.
‘So how do you get the feel of a tastefully decorated, well-loved home, without spending frivolously?’
Make Your Own Canvas An idea I first learned from popular youtuber Jim Chapman, this is a great way to get your favourite picture on canvas without having to fork out. You need collage gloss gel, your chosen picture, and an art canvas (available from most stationers/art stores and online for less than five pounds). Jim also links the Amazon pages of all these products in his video, “DIY with Jim”. First off, print your picture on normal printer paper. Next, take your canvas (which you’ve hopefully bought in proportions that match A4 paper) and cover it in gloss. Carefully stick your picture ink side down onto the canvas, rub it down firmly, and leave overnight. Once this is done, liberally spray the paper with water, and gently rub off the top layer. This will leave a relatively clear print of your picture on your canvas. Then just cover the picture in gloss to give it a nice shine, and it’s ready to hang on your wall!
The biggest problem is finding pretty things at a reasonable price. The easiest and most obvious way is to scour the charity shops.. all of them, every single one. Find junk shops disguised as antiques dealers if you want an old-fashioned look. It’s easy to find time-tarnished doorknobs and mirror frames for a few pounds than spending, say, fifty, and these junk-shop items may even have an interesting history. Another way to save on cash is to make your own stuff. If you’re not that artistic, channel your inner child; it’s your home, what you make doesn’t have to look professional. It just has to reflect you.
Makeshift Candle-Holders
Make Your Own Picture Wall
Instead of fairy lights, try saving old glass jars to use as tea-light holders, and scatter them around your room for a twinkling twilight look. Fill the bottoms with coloured sand to match your scheme, or add pebbles or seashells. You can even make them into lanterns with a few twists of wire around the rim of the jar, before threading more wire or a ribbon through the loops. Voila! A quick, simple way to light up your house or garden. Just remember to be safe around candles; don’t leave them unattended and keep them away from anything flammable! Tutorials are all over the internet, so a quick google search should pull one right up.
Picture walls are a quick way to make the room your own, as well as staving off any pangs of home-sickness. Simply find a printing machine (often found in Boots, WHSmith, or specialist photography shops), choose your favourite pictures, and blu-tack them to your wall to create the speediest collage ever created. You can even blow up your favourites to poster size! Or, if you prefer a more professional look, use the gloss gel from canvas making, find a board, and create a real collage to hang on your wall instead.
Scavenge Your Christmas Decorations This one kind of depends on your location; if you’re an intrepid forester, read on! If not, maybe skip to the next tip. Basically, the next time you go for a walk in a forest or wooded area, keep an eye out for pine cones. Collect as many as you can, and hoard them like a squirrel. They make great seasonal decorations by themselves, in a bowl or a jar, or you can even spray paint them to create Christmas tree decorations! They also make great general decorations for country cottages or green themed rooms.
Would you mind introducing yourself, just give us a little snippit if you like about yourself/background? Well, my name’s Beth and I’m a 19 year old full-time student, part-time blogger from Belfast, Northern Ireland. At the minute, however, I’m living in the North West of England where I’m studying towards a degree in management and European languages. How did your blogging journey begin?
Find A Signature Scent There’s more to a pretty room than just visuals; a smell can say a lot about a room as well. Needless to say, if it smells bad, it doesn’t really matter how pretty the room is; the bad impression has already been made on your visitor. Obviously, keeping sheets washed, surfaces clean and the floor hoovered is the basis of a sweet-smelling home. But even the smell of your favourite detergent can be tiring after a while. Candles are the easiest way to go, and while shops like Yankee Candles can be ridiculously expensive, there are always ranges to choose from in stores such as Debenhams, Next and M&S for around a fiver. If you live somewhere with restrictions on open flames (such as Halls of Residence), you could invest in an electric tartlet burner (available at Yankee Candle). Tartlets are recommended as you can change your scent on the cheap, without investing in another large candle. Another flame-free way to scent your room is potpourri, also available at most shops with a “Home” section. Just find a cheap bowl or jar from your local charity shop, it makes a welcome addition to any room.
I started my blog ‘Alphabeth’ in its earliest of forms a couple of days after I got back from working as an au pair in Spain in July 2013. The family’s holiday home where I was staying in Spain was on the top of a mountain overlooking a little seaside town and as lovely as it was, the house had no WiFi. At the beginning the peace and quiet was bliss but after a while I found myself spending a lot of time thinking about all the things I was going to do once I got back to civilisation. Since I always enjoyed reading other people’s blogs I decided that starting a blog of my own was at the top of my to-do list (followed by starting a vinyl collection and changing up my wardrobe, neither of which I really followed-through with). I guess you could say then that it was basically the result of some serious internet deprivation. I actually stayed up all night designing my blog’s original layout and bought myself a custom domain there and then! However, I will add that my initial blogging journey was short-lived. I ended up shutting it down just before I started uni but in April 2014 I decided to pick it back up again and haven’t looked back since! How do you decide what to blog about and what inspires your posts? As a general rule I try to write about things I would enjoy reading myself. When I first started my blog I mostly just wrote about little daytrips with my family and friends, and almost started using it as an alternative to Facebook as a way to share what was going on in my life. After a while however I started branching out into posts about student life, books, films and a bit of interior design which is what my blog is mostly made up of these days. How do you find balancing your uni work/lifestyle with blogging on a regular basis? It’s hard, I’ll admit! I don’t think I do it very successfully either, especially recently. It’s difficult to find a good balance because it’s hard to know what to prioritise. For me blogging is a hobby so it sort of falls into the “leisure time” part of my day, but then so does seeing friends, keeping up with the books I’m reading, having a little down time etc. In the past I’ve just been blogging whenever I’ve had a free moment but I think I might need to start about introducing some sort of blogging schedule for during term time.
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What to you find are the highlights of your job? The biggest highlight of blogging for me is definitely being part of such a positive and supportive community. Blogging is a great way to connect with other people with common interests and in the time I’ve been blogging I’ve only ever received very kind and encouraging words from my fellow bloggers and have made some great friends! What do enjoy doing when you’re not busy working away? At the minute I’m just really enjoying university life and chilling out with my housemates having American Horror Story marathons and playing Sims 24/7. One of the perks of living in Lancashire is also having the Lake District right on your doorstep so I love taking trips up there whenever I can too.
What’s next for Beth; what are your aims/aspirations for the future?
I don’t really have many immediate aspirations for my blog other than trying to write worthwhile content that people will want to read. Though I’d really like it if my readership continued to grow since it’s always nice knowing that there are people who enjoy reading what you write. What advice would you give to any young/budding future bloggers out there? I would definitely say that if you’re thinking of starting a blog, just give it a go because there’s so much to gain from it. Not only are there loads of friends to be made but it also helps you develop a whole load of skills over time (e.g. writing, photography, critical thinking, just to name a few). Not to mention the fact it gives you your very own platform where you can express yourself in whatever way you like. Don’t worry what anyone is going to think of you either, just have the confidence to do your thing and you won’t regret it! Discover more about Beth and her blog via the links mentioned below:
http://www.alphabeth.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/alphabethblog
http://www.twitter.com/alphabethblog
http://instagram.com/beth_farrelly
Introducing...AIMEE COATES A Creative Writng and English Literature student, Aimee finds herself emersed in books of well-wrtten, poetic and intriguing worth. She also enjoys exploring and on her travel across the UK, Ireland and greater Europe has collected an array of wonderful photographs, some of whichshe has kindly agreed to share with us. AImee has also recently founded her own poetry gathering in the historical city of Bath.