Happy New Year!

Happy New Year my lovely readers! So this is a video I made about a month ago and have since been debating whether to post it or not because... well watch it...but...why not, dont judge me too much! I'm sorry! It covers vintage shopping, Eddie Redmayne (sigh) and other fabulously mundane facts about my life, delivered in a deliciously awkward manner (!) Unanswered questions will be answered in another post I think (I didnt want it to be too long...) Not sure why the quality is so bad either.... Im a bit of a youtube rookie so my apologies for that!
A post of Christmas etc will be coming your way in the very near future so stay tuned!
Let me know what you think of the whole awkward video thing!
Hope you all had great holidays,
LB xx

Woods

One of the things I have been meaning to do for ages was to photograph some of the things I've designed and made myself recently. Due to portfolio, I was finally pushed into action by necessity and called once again on my good friend Stan. Frankly it's a wonder she still agrees to see me when she has been doing some form of modelling for me every weekend for the past month or so. Not to mention I make her paddle in lakes/ walk around in corsets in the freezing cold- it's hardly ideal conditions! Furthermore she has been running some form of starbucks delivery service for me when i cant leave the art block or my house, a true mark of friendship i think you'll agree! So this post, the photos and the garments are all dedicated to her, my muse, and her continuing cooperation (I have this other project you see and I need a model....) so yes, to Stan! *a medieval clank of goblets, a unanimous battle-cry of huzzah,and some loud gulping sounds*
I digress slightly, but here are the pictures- I will just explain them all upfront (because I'm blogging from my phone and can't really interchange pictures and text) Look one: a blue ballgown, inspired by last season's Dior skirts with different fabric panels making up the skirt, it is partly backless with eyelet lace up at the top. It was a challenge if I'm honest and took a whole to get right but yeah!
Next one is a corset I made ages ago in a time when I didn't have quite as much work- it is cream with black lace on top, it has boning structure and laces up with velvet blue ribbon.
Next is a blue top I made by accident when I twisted the back in my haste to finish it, ended up quite liking the result so it stayed like that! The skirt is the only thing I have ever made with a pattern and was adapted from a skirt pattern my grandma gave me- I used a really nice thick wholly material so is great in the winter.
Next is the first proper garment I made and I wore it to a school mufti day and it was the first thing I wore that got complimented by people! My younger self loved that, I remember it well! But yeah that's why it's so short now, it's got a huge massive bow on the front. Pity I can't really get away with it anymore...
Finally is a dress made out of netting in my sheer phase which actually now belongs to Susie but I borrowed it back for my shoot (thanks!). Again, it's a bit short now but it was good in its day I think!
Yeah! Many memories! Hope you like!

China

I'm back! 'Where has she been? you may be asking yourselves: the answer, my friends, is the art department. At advanced stages of portfolio preparation so there really hasn't been any blogging time- sad yet true! But I thought, seeing as I got back from China about a month ago, I should put up all the pictures I took (or some of the 436...). It was a history trip to Beijing, Shanghai and Suzhou, thus the span of photography and it was an incredible couple of weeks- learnt a lot and was with lovely people so it was great. The weather was mainly pretty good and I almost cried when the (12 hour) plane landed in London saying its 5 degrees after 26 in Shanghai.... Particularly enjoyed talking to some of the people there- we visited various schools and universities on our travels and it was bizarre sometimes how much of a culture gap there was! Another strange thing was Chinese tourists taking pictures of me the whole time! Literally 2 hours off the plane, a woman put her baby into my arms (to my shock and confusion) and took a photo! By the end of the week I was very accustomed to it- standard celebrity treatment really....ahem joke. I figured I have far far too much to say so instead I am giving you the 2 weeks in pictures (plus a couple of annotations here and there)....

 birds nest stadium, beijing

 the forbidden city, beijing

 forbidden city, beijing

 Possibly the only outfit post on here (I know I had 2 weeks of Oriental themed outfits and this is all I have!)- trousers and t-shirt- Topshop, Coat- mango, doc martens

Tiananmen Square, beijing

Great Wall

Suzhou

 Jade Buddha Temple- Shanghai

 Glass Floor of Pearl tower in Shanghai!!!

 The whole group....

Ah brill you can see the trousers above and below- basically I found these in Brick Lane ages ago and they are sooooo comfortable you have no idea- I have been meaning to show you for literally years!

 Our personalised China sweatshirts!

Yeah! An amazing trip and a very interesting country!
Keep reading deavenue, we had a networking event a couple of weeks ago which was a great success so i recommend you find the article I wrote and get along to the next one!
Back to work now.....
LBxx

Christmas Jumpers

A few weeks back, Stan and I decided it was about time we started celebrating Christmas (actually this was decided I early August so be thankful we held back until October/ November!) so we ceremoniously went to... Primark *wince*. But how worth it, even I must admit, with thick jumpers direct from the men's section (always the hub of great knitwear)
We happened to be in Bushy Park that day because I was shooting some art (standard) and as the sunset it was absolutely stunning. Naturally being, well, us,we had to get some photos in. These are the select few that don't feature us pulling faces or in poses reminiscent of interpretive dance. Yeah we are so normal! As you can hopefully see (not sure how clear the pics are) I went for a Fair isle reindeer affair, while Stan opted for a more vibrant snowman jumper. My only regret is that they don't light up (next year...)

50

Last weekend, my family, plus spanish exchange, trekked up to Yorkshire for a party in honour of my Grandparents' 50th Wedding Anniversary (Congrats). By some bizarre turn of events, the weather was actually very nice and everything ran unbelievably smoothly because of it (and the insane amount of planning M committed to the event!)! There was a marquee, a string quartet, champagne and golden bunting, as well as a large collection of the extended family, all with satisfyingly northern accents. Basically thats all the ingredients for a good party!

I'm wearing:

cardigan- Topshop

top and skirt- All Saints

Boots- Topshop

(These are my cousins, my bro and his spanish friend)

Right. i have to get on with work now- this art application thing is hardy fun and games. You will hear from me soon as I have stuff to tell you (do contain your excitement, please).

Laters.

LBxx