Lovely Lomo Pt 2

Well a week later and I am still ill. I'm over the worst and after an emergency stock up of a huge amount of fruit, veggies and cough syrup I am on the mend. I am ridiculously behind with my Uni work and sat at my pretty sewing machine trying to work my way through some of my missed workshop. I just wanted to share some pretty new photos from my Easter trip. I tried out slide film and am very happy with the results! The lovely film developers said it would be hit or miss to whether they would come out block bright colour unless I went for a different safer option of processing (that would have basically left me penniless), so I opted to risk it...and they are perfect. 

  Hope you're all managing to keep the bugs away!

Love emme lou x

Birthday Loveliness

I turned 24 on Friday! I had a lovely day and evening with my girls and some pretty surprises! I also got a not too lovely present of a sore throat and chesty cough that is driving me crazy as I am typing this. At least it is complete with runny eyes and blocked ears too! 

I did get lots of lovely presents though, a little box arrived for me on thursday which I opened after about a seconds deliberation and decided it would make me feel better! It was a little box of Illamasqua makeup with no note which could only be from my make up artist sister! Yay for no more eye bags! I opened all my pretty cards just gone midnight after already opening one on the sly only to have glitter all over my hands. In case you couldn't guess I am rather impatient! James wasn't surprised.

 He got me a shiny new phone that is me friendly! (very hard to come by). Here's a little peak at some lovely birthday things...

A very cute stressbuster gift bag full of funny and cute little things to stop me stressing. I laughed so hard!

A very pretty book full of lovely things that I can't wait to make! 

And last but definitely not least this pretty bike from my parents! Yay! Should be with me in a couple of months!

I have another birthday meal with friends to do and to see the little Mitchell family who get back from Scotland today and then my birthday is complete! I'm staying in bed today to ward off this horrid bug. 

Love emme lou x

Rummage Yard

Pinch Punch first of the Month! Just had to put it in there as I was late doing it today. Only 5 days until my birthday yay! Anyway, I'm still playing catchup with the blogging and remembered this pretty little rummage we went on a couple weeks ago by the sea. It was filled to the brim with all things pretty and random. The junk seemed to be in orderly chaos which made it easier to see what was what. Outside was full of doors, a bathroom graveyard and some unusual little buildings constructed of, you guessed it...junk! 

 I want more days like this please! The Mr and I are going on a little Ikea road trip date tomorrow! very excited!

Love emme lou x

Ethereal Architecture

For our Mixed Media Summer brief we have to pick two words from a list as our starting point. I picked Ethereal and Architecture. I took so many photos out in Vienna, looking at the beautiful buildings, the space in between, negative space and tram lines. I felt so inspired but since being home have been in a bit of a creative slump. Time has, as always, ran away from me. I was feeling a little lost and as I'm not sure exactly what we can produce next term, but I guess it's a good thing as I normally have a design in mind and then find references so it will be a good change for me. 

I've been putting off drawing for a couple of weeks now so I really must force myself to this afternoon! I have the house to myself, and I will keep thinking of Trereife tomorrow as my reward for actually doing something! 

Here's some pretty photos from my trip...

 Love emme lou x

Stealing Pretty things...thoughts, designs and work

Reading Ella Masters blog has reminded me of the bad side of doing something you love, in our case Art and Design. Having such passion for something, putting your head and your heart into your work can sometimes end in tears. 

People with no imagination, who copy your ideas and work can be harmless. You start off being angry, wondering how they think no one will notice but when you're a student at least you can think to yourself that they won't get far; however when someone copies your work for sales etc and gets abusive, it is taking things to a whole new level. 

Ella Masters is a Fine Art graduate of Falmouth University and to see follow what a graduate from my Design School is doing is pretty lovely. she has recently opened her online shop, Ruby Rae Love selling her handmade jewellery and is an illustrator. Someone has completely stolen one of her illustrations instead of paying £20 for Ella to design her a header. Pathetic? I think so!! Not to mention the foul language and abusive tone in messages.

She also works for Paperchase who ironically have been involved in a copyright issue from artist Hidden Eloise, and have finally admitted to the design being copied.

This happens worldwide, whether you are a student, small company or designer/maker etc... It's hard to just listen to the saying 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery' when it's something so personal as your career , ideas and design developments. It's not like someone's buying the same pencil case as you at school or getting the same hair cut! 

So for the record Inspiration is to have ideas sparked by an element of design, trend, or even a leaf on a walk through the park! This is perfectly acceptable and necessary in order to create new fresh ideas. This is very different to saying you were inspired by so and so and their concept being evident. Basically when you can't admit to your inspiration you know you have copied!

 (see here for lots of examples!)

 I feel for you Ella, keep your chin up you're awesome! 

Love emme lou x

Single Traveller

Vienna was so pretty...as per usual! It is so lovely visiting my parents as it's like going home as well as a holiday. It was strange not having James with me, but I had time with my parents, just us,  for the first time in a long time. Times that I will treasure. I spent days shopping, eating cake and chatting with my Mum, and ate ribs, paddled feet and visited museums with my Dad. I had lots of cuddles, drinks, sausages and giggles in between. It was perfect. Here's a few snippets from these special days...

Roller blading with my Dad on blades we brought 

16 years ago! So much fun!

Love emme lou x

Playing Catchup!

It has been a ridiculously long time since I last blogged! I felt like I had nothing fun to say in a while, it was all Uni work. I went to visit my parents in Vienna and a friend in Surrey in my first few weeks of half term. It was so lovely getting away but I missed James and Roxy terribly and James got us some new little family members whilst I was gone! I've been doing lots of cleaning and laundry since being back and enjoying baby cuddles, pizza eating with friends and baking and antique rummaging with Em. It's been a really lovely Easter holiday...4 weeks, four whole weeks and yes whilst I do love the long holidays being a Student I am actually itching to go back! I miss my routine, I miss class, I'm getting into a bit of an OCD high with the house and every little thing is driving me mad! So I go back on Tuesday after a fun packed Easter Weekend (and cramming work!) for the last term of my first year.  Hope you enjoy the few blog posts I'm catching up with over the next few days.

Love emme lou x