diana

porcelain-print corset / blue high-waist shorts / white trainers / fabric

How pretty is the Qing Hua Diana F+ ? Pretty enough to inspire a collage anyway :) South Africa's lomography stores have just got them back in stock and they look so nice and China/Ming-vase-y I might just buy one

watch this: Derek

What you should be watching 

by Andie 'Ronge' Reeves

The year was 2001. My friend returned from her annual trip to London with an exciting find; The Office. She'd watched the show on her holiday and loved it so much that she bought the scripts which we read back home together, crying with laughter. 11 years on and Ricky Gervais still gets the tears rolling down my cheeks. His latest show, 'Derek', is a comedy-drama starring Gervais as the 'funny little nerd' Derek and is both hilarious and touching.

Just a few reasons to watch Derek:

〮Ricky Gervais

This show is Ricky at his best. He's sometimes criticised for playing characters that are too similar to each other but, aside from a few very Brent-esque glances at the camera, Derek is unique. If you've watched his stand-up you'll recognise the Derek look of hunched-up shoulders and the jutting jaw 

 "And yes, my jaw aches and I get a stiff neck from being hunched up all the time when I'm playing Derek. I suffer for my art, and now I want you to suffer for it too"

〮Controversy

Even before the show had aired people were up in arms at the idea of Ricky Gervais playing a mentally handicapped person. Here's what he had to say about him:

"Derek is a fictional character and is defined by his creator. Me. If I say I don't mean him to be disabled then that’s it. A fictional doctor can't come along and prove me wrong. 

He's different. But then so are a lot of people. He's not the smartest tool in the box but he's cleverer than Father Dougal, and not as different as Mr. Bean. He's based on those people you meet who are on the margins of society. Nerds, loners, under achievers" 

I think it's been really well done. Derek is not the butt of the jokes because of his handicap  and he is not being poked fun at. He is so sweet, endearing and believable and if you're not a crying mess by the end of the pilot I worry for your lack of soul.

〮Music

The Office had that lovely song Handbags and Gladrags, and who could forget the haunting tune of 'When The Whistle Blows' from Extras? 'Derek' is full of Satie and ends of with this beauty of a piece. It also features the Youtube clip Hamster on a Piano which I guarantee will be stuck in your head forevermore. You're welcome!

〮Karl Pilkington

Karl makes his acting debut as Derek's best friend Dougie, the caretaker of the old-age home. He is basically playing himself so if you're a fan of him from The Ricky Gervais Show or An Idiot Abroad you'll love him in this.

I don't know when the next episode will be airing but in the meantime get your hands on the pilot if you're in the mood for a good laugh/a little cry/watching a hamster on a piano, eating popcorn on a piano!

D.I.Y. Sunday ♡

Three D.I.Y. projects I'd really like to attempt this week, join me why don't you

1. Kitty Loafers

easy how-to-make-your-own-adorable-kitty-cat-shoes. I'm sure I saw some shoes like this in Mr Price recently for cheap. Also feel free to be artistic and make the cat's face less terrifying and more cute than this girl has.

 via P.S. I Made This (an excellent source for DIY things)

2. Skull Shirt

I love the forgiving nature and versatility of t-shirt fabric, don't you? T-Shirting (NOTE: probably not the proper name?) doesn't fray so you can cut out things like, I dunno, a SKULL into a t-shirt and it won't unravel, neat-o!

  I found this vague diagram through Pinterest (original source unknown, of course). Make a stencil with some paper, trace it onto your shirt with chalk and cut it out!

spooky/sexy, always a killer combo

3. Floral Sunglasses

what delightful sunglasses, Dolce & Gabbana! I was just thinking that I'd quite like some for myself and then NYLON put together a how-to here. You'll need some pretty flowers from a bead shop + some glue + a plain pair of sunnies.

♡

new book!

a belated birthday gift from my brother: SEW! by Cath Kidston

Cath Kidston is my favourite of things! Their fabric is so beautiful

ooh!

this book is full of sewing projects (patterns included!) which I am ever so excited to get stuck into and it comes with this cute needle-book

I have had my eye on this waterproof leopard-print fabric for a while and now know what I must make from it; a bath hat!

p.s. if you were admiring the background fabric it's this dress which I OWN because I am a lucky girl ♡

you are feeling sleepy

just been choosing the softest, cuddly-est, sleepy-est fabric around town for more pyjama onesies

♡

dusty pink

more sheer blouses 〮other colours coming soon

♡

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little white mouse

I went to check out the Toffie Pop Culture Conference and Festival today. It looked really fun (it included a jumping castle room and some interactive arty shit) and the market part was nice, but the whole thing was a bit spread out and sometimes I got the feeling I'd arrived too late and missed out on the fun. Sure, I got that some artiste wanted me to write a letter to my love, put it in a bottle and seal it up, cute idea but where was the paper/pen/empty bottles?! Also found myself looking at a lot of the installations and thinking "hmmm...must be conceptual" and/or "WHAT IS 'ART'?"

anywayz enough negativity 'cause I actually bought something really sa-weet there!

HELLO!

from Milame who also had some bea-u-tiful pendants

Then I found this little fella!

!!!

how cute would a cat drinking milk out of this thing look?