Weekly Inspiration: Springtime & Succulents.

Hello! This is a weekly(ish) feature where I share my photos with you. I carry my camera everywhere, and I constantly take pictures of things that excite me. Prepare to see lots of colours and patterns through my lens.

Spring is the season where my camera gets the most action. It’s as though my creative brain comes out of hibernation as soon as the days start getting longer (hallelujah!). Last week I went to my favourite plant nursery and perved on all the beautiful plants. Along with everyone on Instagram and their dog, I do like a succulent or two…but I’m also partial to sherbet-orange petals and rainbow coloured leaves (the last two came home with me, and posed with me for a selfie). #YAYPLANTS

Weekly Inspiration: Visual Overload in Rome.

Hello! This is a weekly feature where I share my photos with you. I carry my camera everywhere, and I constantly take pictures of things that excite me. Prepare to see lots of colours and patterns through my lens.

I spent last week on holiday in Rome. There was so, so much to see! It was an overwhelming bombardment of colours and patterns and forms, a total visual feast. As expected, my camera shutter finger was on rapid-fire mode , and I came home with many reminders of the beautiful things I’d seen. Most of the photos below were taken in the streets of Rome, or the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica. As usual, I’ve focused on small details that caught my eye, so don’t expect a tour guide to Rome and the Vatican!

Above: Tapestries and frescoes in the Vatican Museums. The ornate ceilings are just…off the charts. If I had to paint something while lying on my back, I’d just end up with a splattered face. The mosaics also blow my mind, with their luminous colours and level of intricacy. I was seriously impressed.

Below: A few impressions of St. Peter’s Basilica. My boyfriend made me climb up the (several hundred) stairs to get a view from the top. It was incredible, but it was also very hot and I may or may not have done a lot of whining. Anyway, to the point: Wow. When I see things like this, I think ‘damn! Humans are awesome!’ (And, yes, I do see the irony in using the word ‘damn’ to express my feelings about a church.)

Weekly Inspiration: Shapes and Colours at Kew Gardens.

Hello! This is a weekly feature where I share my photos with you. I carry my camera everywhere, and I constantly take pictures of things that excite me. Prepare to see lots of colours and patterns through my lens.

This weekend I visited Kew Gardens and it was a complete visual assault, of the best kind. As far as I’m concerned, nature is the best source of inspiration. You already know that I’m crazy about beetles, but as an equal opportunities nature lover, I’m also a big fan of plants – the bigger and brighter (and weirder) the better. Here are some of my favourite photos from Kew:

The next few photos were taken inside the Victorian palm house, which was the biggest glass house I’d ever seen. It was filled with warm, humid air as well as exotic plants from all over the world. I would quite happily live in there.

Sunlight passing through leaves never gets boring, I say. Luminous colours are the best colours.

This is the Chenille plant, Acalypha hispida. Can you even believe this thing exists? It looks like a pre-decorated Christmas tree, laden with long, fuzzy strands of hot pink tinsel. I couldn’t stop looking at it.

We climbed to the top of the palm house on this spiral, wrought iron staircase. Below: the view from the top.

I loved these tiny, star-shaped flowers which had 5 stamens apiece. They were barely a half centimetre wide, yet so exquisitely detailed. This is where the phrase ‘small, yet perfectly formed’ comes in.

Weekly Inspiration: Fruit, flowers and feet…in Cyprus!

Hello! This is a weekly feature where I share my photos with you. I carry my camera everywhere, and I constantly take pictures of things that excite me. Prepare to see lots of colours and patterns through my lens.

I spent the first two weeks of May in Cyprus, and I had a pretty rosy time: We visited the mountain village of Agros, which is famous for it’s fragrant Damask rose plantations. I’d always wanted to go but somehow always missed rose blooming season. We visited the rose water distillery, where there were huge piles of pink roses with a smell sweet enough to knock you out! I came home with a bottle of rose liqueur and a bellyful of rose sorbet (my childhood favourite). Below are a few of the most colourful photos from my trip.

Above: Jacaranda petals and geometric markings. So much colour!

Bare toes and bougainvillea petals. Oh man, I miss the Mediterranean summer.

The next few photos are from the local fruit market, selling fresh fruit, veg, cured meats and flowers.

Below: A few quick snaps from a wedding I attended. I couldn’t resist those colourful legs!

Have you ever visited Cyprus? It’s a very small but very beautiful island, and on grey London days I dream of its pristine beaches and blue skies. I love it there.

Weekly Inspiration: Earthy Greens & Muted Tones.

Hello! This is a weekly feature where I share my photos with you. I carry my camera everywhere, and I constantly take pictures of things that excite me. Prepare to see lots of colours and patterns through my lens.

I went to the Beach House concert in London last week, and the stage was filled with ethereal lights and smoky colours. The show seemed to subconsciously inspire me, because I’ve been taking a lot of foggy photos in a similar colour palette. I’ve thrown all the photos together in this post, as I think they play off each other nicely. I hope you enjoy them!

STARS / SKY / SNOW / RAIN / GREEN / LEAVES / LIGHT / NATURE

Weekly Inspiration: Black + White + Neon.

Hello! This is a weekly feature where I share my photos with you. I carry my camera everywhere, and I’m always taking pictures of things that excite me. Prepare to see lots of colours, patterns and good times through my lens!

My latest jumper + necklace combo. It’s still really cold in London, so I’m trying to keep my winter clothes interesting!

I’ve been eating a lot more soft boiled eggs since I bought these fluoro plastic egg cups. Aren’t they great? (Yes.)

Speaking  of fluoro, I think this is the brightest lunch I’ve ever had.

So. I’d been perving on this mug from Design House Stockholm for a very long time…so when I spotted its doppelgänger on sale for a mere 95p in a charity shop, I had to buy it! So, so pleased.

Now, this was even more exciting than the mug. I was photographing specimens at the museum when this label caught my eye. It’s one of Charles Darwin‘s own specimens! Argh! This resulted in a complete fangirl meltdown moment.

These biscuits are Iced VoVos, a favourite treat from my Aussie childhood. I finally cracked open the box I’d brought back from my holiday last December, and they were good.

On my desk this week: Jars of paint water, bowls of fruit, and brand new drawings.

It has been a bright and jam-packed week! What have you been up to?

Weekly Inspiration: Spring Colours and Jelly Brains!

Hello! This is a weekly feature where I share my photos with you. I carry my camera everywhere, and I’m always taking pictures of things that excite me. Prepare to see lots of colours, patterns and good times through my lens!

Last week was oh so colourful! For a brief moment I convinced myself that spring had arrived.

A snippet of my embarrassingly large and tacky earring collection. The fish bones are my current favourites.

Isn’t this mask beautiful? I love the colour scheme and those crazy yellow eyes.

I dug out my old headphones last week, and realised that they’re the exact same colour as my new phone case. Ha!As soon as the sun came out I ran to the flower nursery. Sadly, I was too indecisive to buy any plants.

A massive pan of  melting marshmallows: Rice Krispie treats in the making.

Weekly Inspiration: Markets and Museums.

Hello! This is a weekly feature where I share my photos with you. I carry my camera everywhere, and I’m always taking pictures of things that inspire me. Prepare to see lots of colours, patterns and good times through my lens!

This is meant to be a weekly feature but I’ve been oh so busy over the last…er…month. To apologise, I’m giving you a mega-mashup of my favourite photos from February. They include a couple of market trips (to East London and Camden Passage) and some colourful ones taken at home. Also, because I’m feeling extra-generous, there’s a bonus video at the end. Oh yes. Enjoy!

For the record, I don’t think the East End sucks. I love it. I spent a freeeezing Sunday walking around Brick Lane and Spitalfields Market, snapping at street art and old-school bric-a-brac.

A sneaky self portrait taken in a vintage mirror.
My flat is often full of rainbows. (I’ve got crystals on my windows, you see.)

More pictures after the jump.

Something For All Fledgling Creatives: Stay On The Bus!

Yesterday I read this article and it really struck a chord with me. By using a neat metaphor about Finnish bus stations (yes, really), the article stresses the importance of having persistence when starting out in any creative discipline. This idea is boiled down into 5 words by Arno Minkkinen: ‘Stay On The F***ing Bus’. Strong words, yes, but strong sentiments also.

If you’re a fledgling creative (or know someone who is), I urge you to do two things:

1. Read the article.

2. Print out my doodle and stick it above your desk. (I already have.) I’ve uploaded an uncensored version after the jump in case you don’t like asterisks.

New Posters In Store!

Hello! I’ve revamped my online store and I have a new set of posters in stock!

If you want something on your wall that oozes colour and good vibes, then you’re in luck! The posters are printed on beautiful, 235gsm satin photo paper with a semi-gloss finish, and come in two sizes (A3 and A2). Check them out here.

Weekly Inspiration:A foodie rainbow.

Hello! This is a weekly feature where I share my photos with you. I carry my camera everywhere, and I’m always taking pictures of things that inspire me. Prepare to see lots of colours, patterns and good times through my lens!

So, this week I’ve been eating. A lot. Whenever my parents are in town, this is what happens. Today’s pictures are a foodie rainbow: home-cooked food, as well as treats from Portobello Road market, The Brass Rail in Selfridges, and high tea at The Orangery. Enjoy!

Be Happy: Good Vibe Doodles.

Here are some good vibes for you:

Hello! These are some sketches from the last few days. Ironically, I started drawing while I was in a very bad mood. I’ve now cheered up considerably (and I like to think that’s ’cause of these doodles). I’m thinking of turning them into posters. What do you think?

Weekly Inspiration: Snowy, colourful London.

Hello! This is a weekly feature where I share my photos with you. I carry my camera everywhere, and I’m always taking pictures of things that inspire me. Prepare to see lots of colours, patterns and good times through my lens!

This has been a busy week. My parents came to visit me, I wrapped up work on my latest project, and…it snowed. A lot.

A night at the theatre. We watched Billy Elliot and it was great. (I cried. Twice.)

I took my parents to the Tower of London.

Weekly Inspiration: Allsorts.

Hello! This is a weekly feature where I share my photos with you. I carry my camera everywhere, and I’m always taking pictures of things that inspire me. Prepare to see lots of colours, patterns and good times through my lens!

This has been the sort of week where I’ve been doing a million things: Drawing, photographing, cleaning, baking, (eating), partying. It’s been manic, and it looks set to stay that way for another few weeks. Argh!

Hand washing clothes: My least favourite (but most colourful) chore.

Hand decorated flower pot number two! I used bright yellow acrylic paint and drew the triangles with a silver marker.

Animal cupcakes at Whole Foods.

The Rocking Horse at Trafalgar Square.

I spent a morning in Dalston on a photo shoot.

Weekly Inspiration: Happy New Year!

Hello! This is a weekly feature where I share my photos with you. I carry my camera everywhere, and I’m always taking pictures of things that inspire me. Prepare to see lots of colours, patterns and good times through my lens!

Happy 2013, guys! What did you get up to on new year’s eve? We had a little party in our flat. I made a lot of cake, as usual. There were lots of bright and kitschy decorations…as usual. Have a look:

Vasilopita is a traditional Greek new year’s eve cake. It’s usually a simple orange sponge cake, but I took it to new, technicolour heights. I’m not sure my mum would approve.

Lemon cupcakes with blueberry frosting, inspired by this recipe.

I got a lot of Turkish Delight chocolate for Christmas, so I baked a bar of it into chocolate brownies. I highly recommend it!

Earl Grey scented cupcakes with clementine frosting. (The cake recipe is from here, but I made a simpler frosting: icing sugar, butter, and the juice and zest of 2 clementines.)

The food table at our party. Yum, yum, yum, yum.

Midnight! Every year, we welcome the new year by banging on pots and pans with wooden spoons (and potato mashers, tongs, and any other utensil we can find).

Party poppers! We like to party like it’s 1993.

A doorway-ful of streamers.

We love a bit of neon.

Some gorgeous, gorgeous wine packaging.

The morning after was beautifully sunny…and totally messy.

May your 2013 be filled with cake, friends, sunshine and happiness.