Category: Photography
No Shift in the Mood x
(Photo: The Telegraph)
There’s been no let up in the UK weather – January was the wettest in 248 years and February hasn’t been much better. A 74.8 ft wave’s been recorded off Penzanze, Cornwall which, if confirmed will be the highest ever off the coast of Britain – a mere five times the height of a double decker bus..
(Photo: Solent news and photo agency)
The British haven’t lost their sense of humour. Yet.
(first photo by John McLellan, second photo by James Dadzitis)
But 25 miles of Somerset are under 3.2 billion cubic feet of water. This is Sam Notaro’s house – against the odds, he’s doing his damnedest to protect it, after all a man’s home is his castle. Literally. The moat came for free..
In London we’re OK – the Houses of Parliament will be under before we are. But that doesn’t mean everything is rosy…The River Thames is under serious stress and our local Commons have turned into swamps (let Molly off the lead and you’re lucky to see her head) and new rivers and springs keep oozing out of the sodden ground.
I can’t let the kids out in the garden either as it’s seriously awash with Molly’s sloppy poos transformed into puddles of filthy fluids that are nigh on impossible to pick up. I fear the only solution is to invent a liquid hydrogen gun and zap the buggers (the poo’s guys..the poo’s…).
Hmmmmmm I can almost smell a money spinner…sort of…
Laters, Kate x
Salvage Yard x
A few months ago Caitlyn Moran, writer for the Sunday Times, wrote an article on the deficits of money. She decided that once she had money she always chose the easy option..got an Event, need a dress? Buy it. But without it she was forced to be creative – rumble through wardrobe, find something, get sewing machine out. Go to Event as the new Lady Godiva. Her conclusion was that her brain was far better and more inventive in her desperate youth than it is today…and that the ability to adapt and alter is something we need to treasure and nurture.
New bedside tables perhaps?
A rather dramatic floor lamp?
A unique piece of Art…
Just because..
Fur coat, no knickers in the downstairs toilet?
Stunning.
A kitchen..or a new industrial office?
A new headboard?
Life is really what you want to see.
Laters, Kate x
Walker-lust
Isabella Blow as Joan of Arc by Tim Walker
Yesterday I had the treasure of going with friends to indulge in the Isabella Blow exhibition at Somerset House. If you get the chance, go because it was a pure joy to be immersed in her original, outrageous and extravagant world: Blow found normality in the perfectly absurd and utterly fabulous and, with her instinctive eye for style she had an unstoppable enthusiasm for creative genius – she was happy to break boundaries with those special people prepared to leap out of the mediocrity trap with her. Reflecting afterwards, we talked about the rich source of inspiration that English eccentricity is and I mentioned the photographer Tim Walker, another lover of high drama and magical thinking. My lovely mate Galliana D’ove had never come across his work..so Galliana..inspired by our trip and wanting to luxuriate in the delights of maximalism for a little bit longer, this post is just for you!
Laters, Kate x
Air & Grace x
It was two years ago that Claire Burrows first started talking to me about her ideas to create her own shoe label. She’s always had a thing about shoes and studied at London College of Fashion before going on to create award winning ranges for international footwear brands including Kurt Geiger and Fitflop. With nearly 20 years of experience and insider industry knowledge she has an understanding of footwear that’s second to none. It’s a joy to hear Claire talk about shoes as her passion just pours out – she thinks about every aspect and no stone is left unturned. But that doesn’t make it any easier to escape the security of the 9 to 5 and walk down an unknown road..even if you’re wearing the most comfortable shoes ever.. 
But the lovely Claire is special, brave and courageous and she’s taken that leap of faith, producing her very first range based on her beliefs and intuitive knowledge: As a woman wearing shoes every day Claire firmly believes that shoes should be as comfortable as they are fashionable. 
Air and Grace is Claire’s new baby. Her first range of shoes are a series of ballerina pumps: Luxurious butter soft leathers, modern feminine designs..but most importantly..sumptuous, clever underfoot cushioning in all the right places so your feet don’t have to suffer the knocks of every day life, even when you do. 
With her magic she’s turned the ordinary shoe into gloves for your feet and banned the pain of ‘heel smack’ and ‘ball-of-foot-shock’ forever.
I’ve tried them on..and I can honestly say I didn’t want to take them off!
They really can take the strain out of every day..no matter what life throws at you!!
(And before anyone says ‘congratulations’..this isn’t me!)
Of course this is just the start for Claire – these shoes are literally the first designs hot from the factory – she’s now deep in discussions with buyers and designing an e-commerce site with full social media support, but if you believe like I do that women should support women and that beautiful and practical is a wining combination, please show your appreciation for someone brave enough to set out alone in the big wide commercial world and ‘like’ her Facebook page – every little bit helps. They say the journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step..but at least for Claire with her Air and Grace shoes her steps will always be in style and comfort! Go Claire!
Laters, Kate x
Springing Ahead..
Spotted! – The first Snowdrops.
Let’s be honest, haute couture is something we observe and aspire to but more often than not it’s the High Street where we spend our money. Thankfully in the UK the two are virtually joined at the hip, fused together in taste, habits, socks and everything else, meaning that many of the clothes available to us mere mortals are just as sleek and lush as their designer relatives. Take these from the quintessentially British Jigsaw: Following the trends and perfect for Spring…the blue diffused silk flower top and the purple digital print floral scarf.
Combined together they sing the song of bold pattern and colour clashes. Add the precision cut Melton coat and a classic satchel..
Plus a pair of 3/4 length, loose boyfriend jeans and pair of emerald green kitten heels…
And it’s a rich thread of satisfaction…
Laters, Kate x
Jack Frost x
Erik Madigan Heck x
All photos from his website. Make a cup of tea and go and indulge in cocaine for the eyes.
A pure visual feast – Erik Madigan Heck is an award winning Photographer who’s developed his own uniquely beguilingly and surprisingly tender technique, blurring the lines between photography and the painted Arts.
In our minimalist world he’s looked to the past and found forgotten, curiously exotic textures to weave and layer into his creations.
Drawing inspiration from painters such as Matisse and Monet he revels in colour, clash and pattern with almost brutal thematic clarity.
Unconventional yet timeless with total emotional clout that hits you in the heart, I love him.
Laters, Kate x
Spring Edition x
The February edition of UK Vogue landed with a plump thud on my doormat yesterday. Such a thrill to flick through the pages and drink in the professional visuals. I always have to look through first..then I read, starting from the back, last article first. Lord knows why, it might be something to do with being left handed, but that’s the way I like it. There’s a feeling of freedom and stepping away from the norm..which is what this edition is all about…enjoy the mismatching matching, the return of colour and the championing of the midi, whether it be in skirts or trousers. Pure lush.
Laters, Kate x
An Epiphany.. x
Yesterday, the 6th of January was Epiphany – the Christian feast celebrating the wise men meeting baby Jesus, but also informally recognised as the date by which (certainly in Europe) all Christmas decorations have to be down. Which really seems a far better date to make New Year Resolutions – far away from hangovers, chaos and tinsel – and when there’s a general sense of cleansing and moving on. There’s been time to think about what really matters and mull over plans. For instance, I’m taking on this idea..a thought jar..a place for one captivating thought or quote a day which can be put away for a rainy moment…it’s by my computer now.
Charlie and I have also started on our Epiphany Tablecloth..an idea adapted from the lovely Kerry from Love Those Hands at Home (who also sells vintage linen at her etsy shop)…she re-blogged a special story about a family Christmas cloth, with little messages embroidered on every year by members of the family, of love, of happiness, of major events. I recognise my limitations and before Christmas is too much..but now? I want to reminisce about Christmas and year gone by, and I so appreciate these treasures created out of nothing but time and love till they have a magical, talismanic quality created by and just for the family.
Each family member writes their name and something on the cloth with pencil (We want it to be special so we’re using a vintage irish linen tablecloth) then it’s simply embroidered. The original cloth was made with red and green embroidery thread for alternate odd and even years…we’ve gone for white and creams, just to be a bit different., to be able to use it at different times of the year…and keep people looking closer..
There was another post that hit a chord.. Rachel Olsen wrote on the Huffington post about not having a list of resolutions that will inevitably get broken, but rather have a single word that encapsulates the whole year. I’ve thought about what my word would be..fitter? tighter? creative?
But the one I’m going to go with is ‘Zone’. If I can zone my mind to all the things I really want to do…then they’ll all happen.
Well..that’s the plan!
Laters, Zoning already…Kate x
Rain, Rain Go Away..
It’s dismal in London with driving rain, strong winds and the knowledge that we’re no longer in the land of fairy lights, pine cones and endless glitter. So I thought what better time than the New Year to break the diet fall off the wagon get even more depressed give me a facelift to give the Blog a facelift?
I’m liking the new size of pictures..
Means you can now see the clouds reflecting in this one.
And this tree.
This is our new pond on the Common. Has the ducks mighty confused.
The weather means the sky has been turning all sorts of colours.
At least we’ve all been safe at home, snuggled up – next week it’s back to the daily grind and the school run…weather please, please improve otherwise I’ll be investing in a fisherman’s sou’wester. And a boat.
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 
