Let the last month of childhood commence

Warning: this post may seem a little random, because well, it is. From ducks, to Hello Kitty, to coats.
Pretty patterns on the car window as I set out for my shopping trip

Lots of pretty birds in the park.

And just amusing birds.

They all came over when I was having my outfit photo taken. I'm sorry, I have no bread! Eek I once got bitten, hard, by a swan, not fun, but ducks are pretty.

I spy Hello Kitty in the toy window! Oh my! It's like the Duplo I had when I was ickle- but prettier. I also had a nosey at Sylvanian Familes on way to cafe- haven't they gotten nice! Now why weren't they like that when I was younger, now there's a yacht! Sylvanians do Cannes film festival..

Recycle the sparkles

I hope you all got lots of lovely things under your Christmas tree, but don't forget to recycle (or reuse) the paper and packaging! That goes for unwanted cards and envelopes too.
A random flier from my council, gotta listen to the muscular guy in the green suit and Christmas hat.. haha.

That's just a random snowman biscuit from a bakery in my home town. :D What yummy icing.

I'm a (shoe) Barbie girl

My sister (thank you!) got me this fabulous book called Barbie: All Dolled Up: Celebrating 50 Years of Barbie by Jenny D'Amato. It's really nicely presented and lovely to read. The fashion world went crazy for Barbies 50th anniversary this year, the latest doll to make a buzz is designed by Christian Louboutin.

Barbie in Chanel style tweed.

And one very iconic Christian Dior dress.

But these have to be my favourites. Slightly predictably they are both pink and floral. The book comes with a few lovely illustrations like the one on the right.

I have an admission: I am a Barbie shoe addict.

I collected them even after I stopped making stories with the dolls themselves. My local (now long gone) toystore used to stock packs of six pairs and I loved it when a new one came in. There are over 200 pairs there.

Here's the classic shape in some of my favourite colour variations that was the norm when my sister and I were very little indeed.

I thought I'd share some of my other favourites and see if the styles made it into my adult wardrobe!

The sparkly ones:

Indeed my love of sparkly shoes has prevailed. My very first pair of heels (above) were bought sneakily in New Look and hidden in my wardrobe. This is very unlike me behaviour so I must have really loved them, my mum just laughed and was pleased for me when I told her! She's so lovely, I also once came home with (temporary) purple bits in my hair and she said 'good for you' then.
The ones that didn't make it:

I'm really not into shoes without a back now, I don't think I own any.
The floral wedge

The lace up bootie

Best shoe style ever me thinks.
The boots

Worked brilliantly with Barbies outfits but I've never found a grown up sized one I loved. 2 to make a pair would be even nicer.. ;)
The ladylike high heels

The 3D flower

I think these were my very favourites for a long while. It's the kind of shoe I admire in a magazine but not on my feet.
The practical ones

Well these Chanel shoes fit the bill now, but I don't feel the same about the above ones with brown trim anymore. My shoe collection in general has left behind the practical styles too.

Early signs of the madness I think.

Did you have a Barbie, and what was the best bit-clothes, shoes or bags?

And, readers, what lovely things did you get for Christmas?

Oooh- shiny award time.

The ever so lovely Oranges and Apples (whose outfits never fail to impress me with her use of colour by the way) nominated me for the Beautiful Blogger award- thank you!!

Here are the rules that came with the award:1) Thank the person who nominated me for this award.2) Copy the award & place it on my blog.3) Link to the person who nominated me for this award.4) Tell us 7 interesting things about yourself.5) Nominate 7 bloggers.6) Post links to the 7 blogs I nominate.

OK, so 7 things about myself (hopefully which I haven't put somewhere before!)
1. My natural hair colour seems to be getting darker and darker so after January Pinkness I think I'm going to go less blonde, I loved it being naturally golden blonde but now there are sections verging on black this doesn't seem the way to go.
2. I used to be very, very obsessed with the movie 'The Phantom of the Opera'. Seriously. I bought the DVD just before I was ill off school for a couple of weeks and sometimes watched it three times a day- always two. I know every single note, and can also play a fair bit on piano and flute. Gotta love that high E. I hate to think what would have happened if I'd discovered it while it was still in the cinema!
3. On the subject of film obsessions, when I was very little indeed I loved Disney's Sleeping Beauty and wore the video tape out.
4. I like wearing my dad's jumpers when it gets cold- he's 6ft 4&1/2 so they're all big and snuggly, the guinea pigs like them too!
5. I have a sister who is in her fourth year at medical school.
6. When I'm on my laptop, as I am now, I have a sense of nostalgia, for I was very behind in acquiring internet access and used to go on my Granny's laptop when I visited. She was such a very lovely, kind lady.
7. I've been on holiday to Llandudno in Wales more times than I would like to say, but my mum really loves it and would like to actually move there. In 2010 I am definitely going to get to Paris!

In no particular order, I am passing on the award to the following wonderful blogs:
HiFashion
Leah
LONDON--ROSE ♥
Previously Owned
Pontecarlo or Bust
The Dream Machine
Through the Wilderness
Hmm, that's actually very near to alphabetical order!

Bag Lady

I had been planning a really big post for today, but silly me I went and got a horrid migraine so I guess it shall have to wait till another day. I really should start writing these things in advance, but also think it's nice to be inspired on the day.
Anyway, what I would really like right now it a big, squishy Dior bag.

My lovely mum and I both fell for a lilac/move version of the pink one above in Birmingham Selfridges a while back, but now I fancy something pink and more squidgable in the same fabric as the red centre one. I shall probably have to wait till after by birthday in January to treat myself to one, but it is always nice to ponder upon them.
Which one's your favourite?

Time for change

I've been on the lookout for a new watch because I don't really like the thought of D&G and oil paint mixing, but look at this pretty thing!
OK, it actually came from the children's gift section, but when I saw it, it was love. I just adore ribbons; always have always will. And if I happen to completely and utterly trash it in the midst of creating my coursework it doesn't matter because there are 6 other straps: FYI a total of 35 combinations. :O *nods knowingly*

It just makes me smile- a very happy little watch.

£9.50 from Marks and Spencer

Early

To get to Bicester last Friday I had to get up rather too early for my liking, but it was still definitely worth it (was I going to miss a chance of some Luella, I think not). The sky was rather pretty too- well it was really beautiful actually, and very hard for my little digital camera to capture the loveliness! I loved the colours.

BSB gets festive

Over at British Style Bloggers we're having a virtual Christmas party, and want to see you in your festive get-ups. As a contributor I sadly cannot win the wonderful prizes, but that doesn't mean you can't! There's still time to become a member (and I highly reccommend doing so, it's such a lovely community) and enter, so get out those seasonal sparkles and perfect party dresses! I shall be posting my own outfit in the coming days. :-)
Full details here: http://ukstylebloggers.onsugar.com/6453318

Surprise Eggs Kitty Style

I first found these lovely Hello Kitty surprise eggs in Topshop at Easter 2008- they are so sweet! Inside is some candy (hmm), some stickers (ooooooh) and a little kitty figure (yay!).

I did not see them return this year but found the figures in these gifts at Claire's Accessories (they do have some nice HK stuff). On the plus side you're guarenteed to get the one you want, but then it is stuck to the base and could be tricky to separate.

Yesterday I went to Manchester with college to go to the UCAS art & design event and look round the various university stands.

I also went to abakhan haberdashery in Oldham Street to go on a bit of a ribbon spree, and while successfully staying away from the basket of lovely tweeds (got a gorgeous pink one last time to make into a Chanel style pencil skirt) and all the yummy vintage shops, I was drawn into Forbidden Planet (a collectables shop, very expensive for Twilight fans- there was so much merchandise) by some very pretty Hello Kitty items in the window. They had some really unusual plush toys and things. I had been hoping for some Hello Kitty Pearl Cards as my local W H Smiths has sold out :( and my collection is not quite complete, but was very happy to find a tray of the surprise eggs. I also got a HK goody bag, but considering some past shopping trips spending £6.50 is not so bad! And I also went out with a very lovely friend, who (un)fortunately encourages me in my spending and I do likewise in return (she likes florals too) and managed to only buy drinks etc! I was very proud, and did not have to come home and tell me lovely mum about going over budget as usual. :)

Even more of a surprise with the eggs is that there aren't 12 designs now- there are 24!! :O I really want the ballerina one (circled in pink above).

Below are my new ones: :) I think the left one is rather cute.

Having some glove issues.

I can only come to the conclusion that I need some new gloves, or a new super-warm cardigan, or alternatively both; because this is just not working:The clash is too much even for me.

But my fingers would have been grateful for any gloves yesterday- I went out drawing in the freezing cold and never have my fingers hurt more or been such an odd colour. Not good.

My fashion deadline at college is tomorrow, which shall be a relieve and then I've got to work on my Fine Art to hand in on Thursday, after that I may actually get a rest. :)

Pleating my life away...

I love this machine:
I admit it looks a bit scary but it's actually quite fabulous. It's an industrial pleater, and when you thread it up you can work some fabric through and it comes out all crinkly!

I've been trying it with all kinds of fabrics from cottons to ribbons, so now I just need to boil them all so I can take the threads out.

With my fashion coursework due in next week, it's very time consuming at the moment and I'm sorry I've been neglecting all your lovely blogs! But after Monday (assuming my Fine Art is sorted too! Yet another deadline.) I'll hopefully have some more time to relax and read though them to my hearts content. Thank you to everybody who follows or comments this blog, or just takes the time to read my ramblings. :)

Eco Kitty!

I would just like to applaud the Hello Kitty UK magazine for it's section on being a Hello Kitty Eco Warrior. I've never bought it before, but was enticed my the lovely stickers that came free, and was just in the mood. There aren't articles that require a lot of reading but there are lots of pretty Kitty images. =]
Anyway, I think it's a great idea to make children aware of environmental issues and to get them to recycle and such. My personal favourite is 'put on an extra jumper instead of turning the heating on'. It's too easy to go put the radiator on, when an extra layer will do just as well.
Speaking of Hello Kitty, I'm planning a HK tea party for my 18th. =D I'm also dying my hair (sections only) pink(!), which I've been planning for years but now I'm at a college that shouldn't expel me for it. I'm sure Blair Waldorf and Charlotte York would not approve but it'll be fun and the appointment's booked, I'm going for a Rachel McAdams look if anyone remembers when she went partially pale pink.
Now I am very sleepy and ought to be thinking about getting to bed. Lots of work to do towards my coursework projects in the coming week.

Poppy

Wear your poppy with pride!
Or if you watch It Takes Two you may have been inspired by certain guests (Craig here's looking at you) to put sparkly crystals on- pretty.
Even those dancing on Strictly Come Dancing tonight had them on their bedazzling outfits. Speaking of which I liked Ola's dress, and I LOVE the swing jive! My very favourite style of dance to do. =D I adore the jive and 40s music, so it's a very good combination.

Vogue covershoot: Day 2: All smiles

What a beautiful smile. My favourite shots.
Let's hope one of them makes the cover!
I'll be back to normal posts tomorrow. See the links to all of my coverage of the shoot at the bottom of this post. =]

Further coverage of the shoot:
Vogue covershoot: Day 2: The cover shot!
Vogue covershoot: Day 2
Oooh exciting: Vogue shoot Part SIX
Oooh exciting: Vogue shoot Part FIVE
Oooh exciting: Vogue shoot Part FOUR
Oooh exciting: Vogue shoot Part THREE
Oooh exciting: Vogue shoot. Part TWO
Oooh exciting: Vogue shoot