Better Late Than Never

It's been almost two months since my birthday and Im only just getting round to updating my blog, well, better late than never I say! and here are those photos I promised taken by cristina as I still have'nt got round to buying myself a camera with my birthday money. I've decided that I might as well leave it to the sales now and hopefully get a bargin. x.

27years...

It's my Birthday today!!! Usually when I turn another year older I feel a bit sad and reflective and then I start worrying that I'm a year older and heading closer to the big fat three zero! but this time I'm not dwelling too much and I feel happy to have reached this age and be alive and healthy. As far as I'm concerned I'm 27 Years Young!

Almost another year older...

Its my birthday in one weeks time! I cant believe how quickly a year has gone by. I'm really hoping to get a camera for my birthday as I've wanted and needed one for ages and nows the perfect opportunity to get one with the masses of birthday money im hoping to get! It will make me update my blog more regularly as I hate not having any visuals to put up when im writing here. I've booked the week off work so I'm aiming for total relaxation and pampering along with getting up to date with all the mundane stuff that I'd rather not do! Im having a joint celebration with my friend stephanie as our birthdays are four days apart. So Im hoping that my next entry will include some fun photos of my birthday bash taken with my new camera! x

"A Bigger Bang"

Last Thursday I went to see the Rolling Stones in Concert with my friend Cristina at The O2 Arena on the London leg of their, A Bigger Bang tour. I had an amazing time! Mick Jagger seems to have the energy of a five year old, its crazy! He didn't seem to stop dancing all night.

The stones are a band I dont think I would ever have got the chance to see but luckily cristina's aunt won tickets and because she was unable to go gave her the tickets and I was fortunate enough to be able to go too. This included two nights at a hotel in Marble Arch which was really nice.

I loved their triubte version of the late James Brown song "I go crazy" and their own hits, Start up, paint it black and of course, Satisfaction! x

create to learn:Exhibition!

Last week Wednesday Cristina and I put up the work that we had been doing with the school children for the exhibition. Wednesday night was the private view and it was really great to see the work up and finished and also what the other students and classes had been working on.The exhibition is on until sunday 22nd July at the.gallery@oxo, south bank. So please go and have a look if you get the chance.

I also managed to get a portrait of myself drawn whilst i was there, along with Cristinas friend Sarah. I think their pretty good!

I have photos!

Im getting a bit slack on the blogger front, as you can tell its not been updated in a while. I need to up my game and start getting creative! Cristina took pity on my no camera situation and forwarded me these pics of our last day of teaching, it went really well, the children seemed to enjoy themselves and the work looks great.The last stage of the project is going to be the exhibition at the Oxo Tower in July. Unfortunatley I have not been very creative of late but I plan to put a stop to that soon, the warm weather is making me feel a lot more optomistic and i've even started a little exercise plan of jogging in the mornings, so I feel a lot less guilty about my expanding sweet tooth. I did a lot of athletics in my teens and I was also 1500 Meter borough champion for two years running! so hopefully it wont take me forever to get fit.

Back Again

Im finally better, no more news of more time off work and chest infections! I've been back at work for two weeks now and it feels like I was never away.
Tomorrow Im teaching for the last time with Cristina at the school in south London. The children just need to finish off their masks and the giant fruit so everything is ready for the exhibition in July.
On saturday night I've got cristina's 25th birthday celebrations to go to, Im quite looking forward to it as I haven't been out in ages and their's a bonnie and clyde dress code so that will be fun. My penpal Ingrid from Austria is also coming to london next week and Im hoping to meet up with her.x.

Chest Infections cont...

I went to the doctors on friday because when I went to the hospital the doctor there said I should see my own doctor in a weeks time to check my progress, luckily I was fast tracked an appoinment otherwise I would have been waiting weeks. My doctor said I should have another two weeks off work! I was planning to go back next week, and he sent me off for a chest x-ray, I get the results in two weeks time. I've also been given a new set of medication and some asthma type pumps, I could'nt believe it when I had to pay the chemist £27 for it all! But since starting the new medication I feel like Im on the mend now. Yesterday I started some art work which Im really pleased with, If only I had a camera I would have shown it here but Im hoping by the time I get one I will have amassed a load of work to put up!
I got an email from Cox & power with an update on my exhibition and theres been a lot of positive interest and comments, I've also sold a badge! which is very pleasing to hear even if its only one so far! I'm hoping to go there soon and take some photos. The exhibition finishes on the 9th May, so please go and see it if you get a chance!
'Familiar Strands' At Cox & Power, 35C Marylebone High Street, London. Nearest Tube Stations: Baker Street or Bond Street

Allergies & Chest Infections

On Wednesday I helped to put up the work for my exhibition 'Familiar Strands' with the staff at Cox & Power who have been extremley helpful. It looks brilliant! so if you get a chance, please go and see it! But I was feeling really unwell, as over the last few days I've been coughing a lot, feeling breathless and experiencing chest and back pains, I usually put it down to my hayfever and having allergies but I felt a lot worse than usual so I thought I had better go to the doctor as last year I got a chest infection. Ringing up for an appointment I was told that the soonest I could get one was in two weeks time! its such a joke! So after putting up the exhibition my mum took me to the hospital and the doctor there said I had a very bad chest infection and would need to rest in bed for ten days! Im glad I got a professional opinion as knowing me I would have carried on with my daily routines as usual and it would have just got worse, but I feel that now I have been given permission to give my body a much needed rest.

Familiar Strands: My exhibition at the Jewellers Cox & Power

On wednesday Im going to be putting up my work at Cox & Power. So come along to see and maybe even buy my work. Officially opening on, Saturday 14th April at 35c Marylebone High Street, London. Nearest tube stations are Baker Street or Bond Street.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to everyone! Its been a beautiful day hope you have enjoyed it. x

RIP K800!

Im really upset at the moment as last Wednesday my phone died!It was my phone, diary and camera all rolled in to one. As I dont have a decent camera of my own I was using the camera on it to take all my photos as it was really good, all the photos on this blog were taken by it so its quite a loss to me. As I wasn't insured I have to buy a brand new one and theres no chance of that as it costs £289! I got mine free on a line rental contract. I went to hyde Park on Thursday as it was a beautiful day and there were loads of photo opportunities that I had and could have blogged here, Im really gutted! At the moment Im using an old LG phone which is fine for calls but Im gonna have to consider buying a camera from a catalogue and paying it off monthly.

Aprons and picture pocket details

Today I have been sorting out the paper work that I need to hand in for the exhibiton, thinking that tomorrow I will be installing my work, but luckily I checked my emails and its next week Wednesday not tomorrow! that everything goes up. Im such a ditz at times! I hope that I can swap shifts with someone as Im scheduled to be working next wednesday. I've taken some photos of the aprons that are going up and some close up shots of the pockets and picture details which I really like.

Easter Chickens

I love this display of paper mache chickens, it reminds me of the paper mache fruit project that Cristina and I did at the school we've been teaching at. After easter we will be back for one more day to finish the project.

Exhibition Preparation

Last Tuesday I went to Cox & Power to hand in some more of my work for the exhibition which is fast approaching! Cristina came with me as I needed the extra hands to help carry my mannequin.I took a few photos of the shops interior and exterior, I love the design its so original.

Vespa crew

On sunday I had to go to work. I never work on sundays unless im asked in advance so I was really annoyed as I had already made plans for the day, plus I was feeling really tired and needed a day of rest as on top of that I had been teaching friday afternoon, worked on saturday and now sunday and was also working on monday! Anyway on my tea break I took this photograph as its not often you see this many Vespas in one place! I think its the annual ride from Carnaby Street to Brighton as Carnaby Street was the place to be seen in the sixties and there were quite a few Mod shops around back then too.

Giant fruit!

Due to the chaos of last weeks lesson cristina and I thought we should give the class a helping hand by making the structures of the peaches and for a bit of variety to add some different fruits in too, so my evenings last week were spent in a sticky mess of ballons glue and newspaper! Fridays lesson was as noisy as usual but I could tell that the class were really enjoying themselves and seeing the inital structures transform into the intended fruits.

Happy Mothers Day!

Just Wishing my Mum a happy mothers day as she is one in a million and I know I can rely on her for anything and everything and she will be there for me and my siblings whenever we need her ( well, most of the time!). This photo was taken on her wedding day. Love you Mum! xxx

Swan Lake

Today has been another bright and beautiful day, apart from it being extremley cold and windy, my face nearly blew off!
I went out this morning to get a few bits for my fridge and decided to take a different route to a supermarket I rarely go to, as its a bit further than my usual, but on my way I passed this little river I did'nt know was there, and saw these two lovely swans! I had to run abit ahead to get this shot as they were being blown pretty quickly along the river. They look so sweet! x

Art in the community 2

This is another work of art that has quite recently been installed in my local area it's the centre piece of a large roundabout and I think it looks pretty good. At night it lights up, so I will post a photo of that soon as it looks great. This area is really starting to change for the better and it becomes a pleasure to see these sights on a regular basis.