mirrormirror

Conversations with the Minx

 

As we are driving past Seattle’s baseball and football stadiums

 

Minx: That’s Safeco Field!

Me: Who plays there?

Minx: The baseball.

Me:  And who plays at Qwest Field?

Minx: The Sounders! (We recently went to a game.) We had to sing ‘go home Chelsea’! (Chorus of ‘go home Chelsea’ from the back seat). But there were no girls (the Minx is a keen soccer player).

Me: Who else plays at Qwest Field? (Silence) The Seahawks play at Qwest Field. We haven’t been to see them but they play American football.

Minx: Do they have girls?

Me: No, girls don’t usually play American football.

Minx: Is there nowhere in Seattle that I can go to watch GIRLS?

How do I explain that one?

Last Drop of Summer

or the final chapter for this year I think in ‘If My Daughter Ever Complains About Her Childhood I Will Refer Her To This Blog’.

 

We spent the weekend at Lake Chelan, about three and a half hours drive from Seattle, high in the Cascade mountains, where the cooler temperate coastal climate of Seattle and its surroundings meets the desert of Eastern Washington. The climate and landscape seemed very Mediterranean and the lake itself reminded me a little of the northern reaches of Lake Garda in Italy, though sadly without the charming jewel-like lakeside towns and delightful Italian restaurants.

Much kayaking and swimming  – in crystal-clear lake and pool – was accomplished and a great time was had by all.  And a good job too, because we got back to find that autumn has finally arrived with a vengeance in Seattle. The words ‘freaking cold’ came to mind this morning.

We’ve got no more weekend trips planned (at least until the end of the month, when the Minx and I need to go to Canada to renew our visas) and I’m relishing the idea of hunkering down a bit with knitting and house stuff – it’s been a long, long, but utterly fabulous summer.

Getting Old

It’s my birthday today and Seattle is rewarding me with the most glorious sunny day imaginable.

The long hot summer of 2009 continues its magic, I’ve picked myself some flowers from the garden, and I’m feeling very lazy, very grateful and very content.

Real birthday celebrations are happening tomorrow, so I can spend the day with Minx, and then on Monday both the Husband and I are taking a day off to go on a very exciting hot date, of which more anon.

See you on Tuesday!

Cute antique milk bottle vase is from Casapinka’s fabulous new Etsy store.

Reboot

Here’s the Minx enjoying her idyllic Pacific Northwest summer 

I’ve been waiting for this moment for nearly five years.

Yesterday the Minx went off to kindergarten (for UK readers that’s the equivalent of ‘infant school’) clutching her new Tinkerbell lunchbag in her sticky little mitt and I got my life back.

I fell pregnant with the Minx two months after deciding to start mirrormirror and was seven months pregnant when the website actually launched.  The Minx was three months old when my then business partner decided it wasn’t for her and eighteen months old when we moved lock, stock and barrel to Seattle while continuing the business in the UK.  So really I’ve never been able to work on the business without fitting it round the needs of a tiny child.

And although I’ve had varying amounts of childcare, since the Minx was born I have never before had the unbelievable luxury of five (albeit short) days a week at my disposal, instead of cramming in odds and ends and bits and pieces of work round the childcare.

So there are going to be some big changes round here.

- First up I really want to start developing this blog. Thanks to my diehard readers for sticking with it even when I’ve hardly been updating. I do love writing it though and now I’ll be able to update it at least daily. So stay tuned.

- Next, there are some changes happening with my poor neglected little shop back in the UK.  I’m not quite sure yet how they’re going to pan out, so no news yet, but stuff IS happening behind the scenes.

- Lastly and, most excitingly,  I hope to launch the US version of mirrormirror early next year, depending on when our green card comes through and I can legitimately work out here. Please keep you fingers crossed that it’s soon.

I’ve got tons of other ideas bubbling up, but we’ll start with this stuff for the moment and see how things pan out.  I’ve also got nearly five years of neglected filing and a disastrous email inbox to take care of.

Cherries

The good news. THIS is what you get when record-breaking rainfall in the early part of May is followed by a month of continuous unbroken sunshine and temps in mid to high 70s.

  

The bad news. These pics were taken from an upstairs window and the tree is so big we will hardly be able to get any of these.  Any ideas on how to get these little beauties down and into our gaping mouths?

Beetle-mania

So here is the new baby.  She's not exactly the colour I would have liked (we saw a fab orange one which was just out of price range) but she's cute and nippy and the Minx loves her very much. We are in ongoing discussions about her name - I favour 'Myrtle' but the Minx pefers the alliteration of 'Belle' (though we should be grateful that Aurora, Ariel and Tinkerbell have not yet come up as options).

I am naturally wondering whether any embellishment is in order - or would that be unspeakably naff and cliche'd?

Options include.

Retro flowers from TonyaBug on Etsy

Daisies from the Daisy People

 

Fabulous and fabulously expensive offical Beetle decals from Mibo.

Daisy tail light covers

and er, 'eyelids'

and, just in case you have money to burn, daisy hubcaps

Just in case I have any readers left after my shameful lack of blogging in recent weeks, here is a poll.

 

Cars & Tulips

I'm back!

 

Thank you so much for all your good wishes. I was quite taken aback by how badly affected I was by the shock of it all. The first couple of days I was all over the place and after that I was very, very tired - presumably as the adrenaline left my body.  Fortunately the only major physical injury was to my tongue, which I managed to bite, and to my jaw, which I think was bruised by the seatbelt and which seemed slightly misaligned and made eating hugely difficult.  I've had some bodywork though, and if you are in the Seattle area I can't recommend my chiropractor Dr Ted, who straightened my back out, or the magic fingers of Anne the rolfer - who managed to straighten my jaw out - highly enough. 

The car was a complete write-off though, so we're currently in the market for a little practical runaround. My head tells me that I should be getting a little fuel-efficient and practical hatchback, though such things are as rare as hens' teeth in the land of the Hummer, but my heart is telling me to get a VW Beetle.  If anyone's got any experiences, good or bad, to share then I'm all ears. 

This might have to be a light week of posting, as I've got a lot to catch up on with mirrormirror, but here are some photos from the annual tulip festival in Skagit County that we went to the weekend before last. I'm also writing some posts over on Shelterrific if you can't get enough of me.

 

  

Crash Diet

Just to let you know that I was in a car accident on Monday.  All pretty much OK, but I've been taking some time to rest. I was amazed by how shocked and discombobulated I felt for a day or too afterwards and I'm still feeling rather tired and unable to concentrate.

I appear to have sustained some damage to my jaw and bit my tongue hard, so eating has been rather painful and difficult. It's getting better and I'm having treatment, but in the meantime I'm living on a diet of Greek yogurt, mashed potato, applesauce and soup.  Please do not mention steak or crusty bread in my presence.

I hope to be back posting next Monday. Don't miss me too much!

This Makes Me Proud To Be A Quarter Welsh

Yet another awesome video

Be My Valentine

These are the Valentines that were exchanged in the 'mirrormirror' household this weekend. I wonder if you can guess who got what.

A Jean Pelle candlestick.  Sometimes dropping hints via your blog actually works. My vintage lucite owl likes it too.

 

The beautifully packaged Chocolate Pie Chart from Mary and Matt, perfect for the geek in your life.

 

A tee-shirt featuring parachuting Bambis from Etsy shop Circles and Squares. This is NOT the Husband.

 A heart-shaped Hello Kitty pendant necklace with matching bracelet (I have no idea what has become of the bracelet though)

Life is for Sharing

When I first started working in the City I used to commute into Liverpool Street Station every day.  I miss London SO much. Best TV advert EVAH.

Picasa for Mac

 

The Husband only offers tech support for PCs so there's no way I could ever get a Mac, however much I might crave the ethereal beauty of their designs.

And I have been able to keep my jealousy under control because, to date, only PC users have been able to use Picasa - Google's utterly, fantastically, amazing and FREE photo editing software, which I use for pretty much all my photo post-production and to make clever collages like the one above.

Now though, not only do all you Mac users get to taunt me with the slimness and whiteness of your laptops, but you can also sign up for the Picasa for Mac beta.  I hate you all.

Pretty Buildings

We are back. UK was fab.  I have flu. Off to bed.  

Here are a few pics of lovely OLD buildings....and one or two new ones.

More Lipstick on a Pig

In these troubled economic times (I'm starting to suspect that mirrormirror is not going to have a particularly good Christmas), I thought readers in the UK at least would appreciate this exemplar of learned political discourse from here in the US, as Americans go about the process of electing the leader of the free world.

To be fair, this comes from Fox News, which is not exactly noted for its unbiased opinions. For more sensible analysis and opinions (and proof that not all Americans are certifiably insane), this site is aces www.fivethirtyeight.com.

Gwyneth Obnoxiously Opinionated Paltrow?

So Gwyneth Paltrow is apparently starting up her own 'lifestyle' website, entitled, somewhat peculiarly, GOOP.

At the moment, it's a strange little two-paged affair - click on any one of the icons above and you get a vacuous and somewhat patronising little essay about how Gwyneth has created her own very lovely life - the very loveliness of which I'm sure has NOTHING to do with the many millions of pounds she and her husband earn. The site is currently as content-free as its owner, though it does promise that in due course it will be full of fabulous hints and tips so that we too can lead lives as fabulous as hers.

I'm sure Gwynnie is hoping to become the next Martha Stewart and I don't fundamentally have a problem with that.  After all, isn't that what all of us 'lifestyle' bloggers are secretly hoping might happen to us?  And it's not just that I find her profoundly irritating as a person - as you know I'm not overly keen on Martha or Nigella as people, but blimey, do they have some great ideas.

And that, I'm afraid is my problem with GOOP.  I just don't believe that Gwynnie will have anything to say that will interest me.

After all, would you take fashion advice from someone who, with all the money and stylists in the world, manages to look like she forgot her trousers on the red carpet?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or take interiors advice from someone who, with all the money and interior designers in the world, has a house that looks like a somewhat soulless collaboration with the Sugar Plum Fairy?

Or indeed, take foodie advice from someone with a concave chest?

And anyway how can we trust her taste when she is married to HIM?

Will you be taking lifestyle advice from Gwynnie?  Or are there any other celebs who you wish would put together a lifestyle website? (Personally I can't wait for Sarah Palin's).

Some updates

It's my birthday today and I'm feeling lazy (and old), so only a very small post.

First up fruit flies.  I was sitting with my friend at the playground yesterday evening, watching our kids trying to kill themselves and discussing fruit flies (as you do), and she suggested using a solution of apple cider vinegar and washing up liquid in the trap, which apparently kills the flies stone dead.  I will combine this with the cling film method and report back.

Next, one of Megan Not Martha's lovely commenters has pointed out that there is a knitting pattern available HERE for yesterday's 'cappuccio'. I would love to knit it, but don't think it looks half as wonderful here as it does below.  Do you think it's just because they've used an acrylic yarn? I think I will give it a go, but in merino or cashmere.  Can anyone recommend a fabulous merino or cashmere chunky weight yarn?  (Is chunky the same as aran weight in the UK?)

Finally if you want to know what your name would be if Sarah Palin were your mother, then click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lipstick on a Pig

 

This blog really isn't the place for political stuff, though some days it doesn't feel right to be wittering on about cushions and cupcakes.  Today is one of those days.

I used to work in the City.  I stuck at investment banking for about nine years until I worked out that I hated it.  And one of the things I hated most was this feeling that we were putting lipstick on pigs and never really admitting they were pigs. But today the chickens and the pigs as well are coming home to roost.

As an outsider to the American political process, it has been fascinating and terrifying to watch it from the 'inside'.  I had some idea when back in the UK that abortion was a big issue here.  I had no idea that even with so much negative crap going on, it would still be one of the most important issues on the agenda. People here don't believe me when I say that back in the UK I don't have a clue where top politicians stand on abortion, that it's hardly even mentioned.

Amazing as it may seem, I feel nostalgic for the British political process.  For discussion that, however sleazily or simplistically, still focuses on things like taxation, healthcare, education, the Iraq war and the environment.  Here, the discussion is all about abortion, teenage pregnancy, lipstick, guns and where Sarah Palin gets her glasses.

Americans, and the rest of the world, deserve better than that.

Here, for what it's worth, is some of the most insightful and funniest commentary so far. (Sorry I can't embed a video as NBC has had all the ones on YouTube deleted).

La fin

For about twelve short but glorious weeks of the year - from the end of June to the middle of September - Seattle is the best place to be on earth. 

For the last couple of weeks we've been enjoying the most glorious Indian summer, temperatures in the mid-to-high 70s (around 25 degrees) and cloudless clear blue skies.  This weekend was another such but with added poignancy.  The slight chill on the breeze in the morning and the leaves starting to turn red round the edges told their own story.  The weather is supposed to turn colder by next weekend, so this weekend was full of small goodbyes.

 

The last sandcastles on the beach

The last lunch by the sea

 

The last strawberry lemonade                                                  The last margaritas on the deck

The last popsicle princesses

The last vestigial sunset through the trees

The last chance to watch the lights come on over Seattle and the sun glinting off the downtown buildings

The last chance to watch the moonlight on the water

The last chance to have a candlelit dinner with friends

It was also the last chance for some crazy drunken dancing under the stars but I've decided to spare you the photos

Mrs Thomas's Book of Household Management

This is hands down the grossest thing I've ever posted, so those of you of a delicate constitution please look away now.  This handy household tip is intended only for those of you who are plagued by fruit flies as I currently am. (Is it just a Seattle thing?)

Take one small bowl. Put a piece of overripe fruit in the bottom (they are appear to be very partial to pineapple). Cover with clingfilm and pierce several small holes in the top. Ha ha! The flies are clever enough to work out how to get into the bowl, but too stupid to work out how to get out.

God, this blog spoils you lot sometimes.

Back

this is why I haven't been blogging 

I can't believe how long it is since I've blogged.  I'm not sure what happened, but we've just been trying to make the most of the summer here in Seattle and my blogging mojo just seemed to get left on a beach somewhere.  And funnily enough this is a busy time of year for mirrormirror what with all the pre-Christmas ordering and PR to work on.

Thank you so much for all your kind and concerned comments and emails - I'm sorry I just abandoned you without a word - and I'm touched (and somewhat astonished) that people have been missing my somewhat random musings.

But anyway, just to get things back on track.

Things I've been doing over the last month in no particular order.

- Loafing about on beaches (including another trip to Cannon Beach, still the most photogenic place on earth)

- Travelling on ferries

- Eating Dancing Deer chocolate brownies (perfect for picnics).

- Watching the Olympics (we managed to get a live stream of the BBC's coverage to make up for the godawful coverage provided by NBC.  You have to feel sorry for Americans sometimes.)

- Getting really stuck into Project Runway.  And Project Rungay.  Leanne is my hot, hot favourite. I just wish I'd found my way to her Etsy store before she got famous.

-  Finally watching Season One of the The Tudors and realising it is much better than I thought it would be.  And what a lustbunny Charles Brandon is.

- Researching my family tree.  And finding out that I come from a long line of Londoners and craftspeople.

- Making aubergine (eggplant) and pistachio salad over and over again.  It is SO good. 

- Eating pistachio icecream.  I like pistachios.

- Getting into a new school routine. The Minx is finally now going to school four days a week, although they are much shorter days, with more commuting.  But finally it feels like I have time to focus on stuff.

- Photographing new stuff for the shop.

 

Things I have NOT been doing.

- Following my eating plan

- Exercising

- Gardening

- House stuff

- Reading and commenting on other blogs (except for Project Rungay and er, PerezHilton). Sorry fellow bloggers.

Normal blog service will now be resumed...

Wii Fit and Paul McKenna Weight Loss Challenge

OK, so this is all very off topic and self-indulgent, so if you're here for some nice pics of cushions or something then it's probably best to go now.

As I've mentioned before, I've not been very happy with my weight since the Minx was born (and was hardly thrilled with it beforehand, to be honest).

I was doing Weight Watchers at the beginning of the year and managed to lose a bit, but I do find all the weighing and measuring and logging food etc to be very tedious, and I really didn't feel it was improving my already warped relationship with food.

I've recently been reading a book by Paul McKenna called I Can Make You Thin which I've been finding really interesting. 

He's very 'anti-diet' and instead suggests following four simple rules.

- Whenever you're hungry, EAT.  I've been trying this for two or three days and it's a revelation to be able to go and find food whenever you feel hungry, instead of trying to hold out until the next mealtime.

- Eat what you want, not what you think you should.  This is amazingly difficult to get my head round. So many foods are labelled 'bad' in my head. But I've been trying to consciously examine what my body feels it needs when I'm hungry,  and not eat stuff I don't really like and which isn't emotionally satisfying just for the sake of it, or else eat treat foods just because I can.

- Eat CONSCIOUSLY and enjoy every mouthful.  Again, really difficult for me.  I'm always picking stuff out of the fridge or eating on the run or at my computer without really noticing what goes in my mouth.

- When you think you are full, STOP eating.  The most difficult one of all.  I actually eat quite a good diet, with very little junk and processed food.  But I do eat the most enormous portions (not helped by living with someone who's 6'2" and naturally skinny).  I just love my food. So now I'm trying to pay attention to when my body feels full, and it's scary just how small portions have to be.

And that's it. The rest of the book is full of NLP stuff and before-and-afters and also includes a self-hypnosis tape, which is relaxing if nothing else.  He's also put out a 90 Day Success Journal, which is probably a bit of a waste of money as it mostly encourages you to record whether you followed the rules with a daily inspirational thought, but I've got it anyway as I like the thought of having a bit more focus for 90 days. 

In addition I've finally managed to score a Wii Fit  which, on the first day of using, appears to be much, much more fun than going to gym, though I don't quite understand why. So I'm going to commit to playing on the Wii Fit for between 30 and 60 minutes every day for the next 90 days to get some basic exercise in.

And that's it.  I'm doing this post to challenge myself to stick to this regime for the next 90 days.  I'll post updates every couple of weeks (Paul McKenna suggests weighing yourself only every two weeks if that) and hopefully some gobsmackingly gorgeous AFTER shots at the end of September when the 90 days is up.

This bit is absolutely not self-indulgent.  In fact it's probably one of the scarier things I've ever done.  But here are some BEFORE pics of me in tight-fitting clothes, online for all the world to see. 

Free magazines

I'm having a massive clear out ahead of the imminent arrival of my crazy Italian rellies (who hopefully do NOT read this blog) and have decided to limit myself to only a year's worth of magazines. 

So if anyone in the Seattle area fancies getting their sticky mitts on back copies (from before June 2007, going back to 2005 in some cases) of Elle Decoration UK, Homes & Gardens UK, Vogue UK, Domino, Real Simple, Elle Decor then please contact me quick before they go in the recycling bin.

What Posh Has For Lunch

So, you're Posh Spice and you're off for lunch at New York's latest powerhouse restaurant Lever House, where a whole brigade of chefs is ready to tantalize your tastebuds with exquisite morsels.

So apparently, according to fashion blog Fashion Addict Diary you order

- a mixed green salad with balsamic vinegar

- steamed veggies

- a fruit plate

- sparkling mineral water

Inspiration

So, I know we've been somewhat mean about her in the past, and that she's recently had a facelift, and is no doubt Botoxed to the hilt and airbrushed to the max, but good grief, her Madgeness is looking HAWT in her latest vid.  And very inspirational to those of us who may be past our first flush of youth.

The song is the best thing she's done in ages too.

You know you're addicted to design when...

...you're reading your daughter a bedtime story and admiring the Marimekko wallpaper and cushion.

From That Pesky Rat by Lauren Child

An Entirely Satisfactory Evening

A bowl of linguine alle vongole  from Nigel Slater's The Kitchen Diaries (the clams in this part of the world are so good and so cheap).

A bar of Green & Black's Almond chocolate (if you couldn't get this in Seattle I would have returned to the UK by now).

The definitive BBC version of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle (the perfect Lizzie Bennett, eat your heart out Keira Knightley) on the telly.

Some knitting.

No, I've not exactly become American quite yet.

Instant Contraception

We've been doing the tourist thing this week, as friends from London have been visiting, which has meant three kids aged three, two and one in the house.

I take my hat off to any mother who has more than one child - one child can be considered an excusable mistake, but any more is sheer lunacy.

Anyway, they went yesterday and this morning the Minx is out with her father and I am revelling in the quiet and trying to make sense of the chaos.  And recovering from the terrible cold which is of course inevitable when you hang around kids.

They can occasionally be cute though.

 

 

I'm a lucky girl - part 1

Sometimes the Husband gets things so right.

Bouquet from Fleurish - the best florist we have come across in Seattle.  I love how they enclose a little card telling you what's in the bouquet.

Also much loving the use of ripening blackberries in the bouquet - though I have no idea where they get them at this time of year.

Washington counts

For the first time I think in like EVER, Washington state gets a chance to influence the presidential nominations (usually it's all sewn up by Super Tuesday or even before, and this year nobody thought that Super Duper Tuesday would be anything other than decisive).  All the candidates were in town yesterday, and people I've been speaking to seem really excited that they get a chance to make a difference.

I'm loving the fact that the 'script' for this election appears to come courtesy of the West Wing's scriptwriters - young, idealistic, minority Democrat v. old guard, maverick, not completely insane Republican.  Though even the WW didn't think to throw a credible female candidate into the mix.

Interestingly Washington votes via the public caucus system, which means that everyone has turn up at a neighbourhood location and vote in person. There also appears to be a state primary, but that doesn't apparently count for anything, so just colour me confused there.

Here are local bloggers Not Martha and Decorno's takes on the matter.  I really wish I were eligible to go to a caucus as it would be a fascinating slice of American life. 

As a woman I still believe it's an honour and a privilege to vote, so if you're a Washingtonian just get out there and do it.  I don't really care who you vote for (as long as it's not Huckabee) but if anyone fancies casting a vote for Obama on my behalf then be my guest.

Interesting discussion here, via Swiss Miss, on what the fonts used by the different candidates in their campaign literature say about them.

Two Countries Separated by Common Bed Linen - Part 2

As an amusing postscript to our previous discussion about the difference between a duvet and a comforter, Metafilter asks, 'Do British people use sheets?'.  Cue lots of Americans horrifed by insanitary British habits.

Where to go in Mexico?

We're thinking of going to Mexico in March and April, but don't know where to go. Any suggestions?

We need a nice beach for the Minx but would also like to find somewhere with a bustling Mexican vibe and traditional Colonial architecture, but not too touristy - which I think rules out Acapulco, Cancun and possibly PV -, and not too remote either as I fancy sitting in little cafes and restaurants and watching the world go by.

And any recommendations for beautiful, smallish (and cheap!) boutique-y hotels would also be much appreciated.   It is possible that the things I desire are not actually available in reality.

Let me know all your ideas - I know next to nothing about Mexico, so the smallest bits of information would be useful. Thank you!

For Mothers Everywhere

Resolution Watch

Another image from my Green Chair Press calendar

So how am I doing?

Get thin - I've lost a stone (14lb) since mid November! Still a ways to go though, but thrilled since WeightWatchers really does seem to be working.

Get dancing - Not quite yet, but have just completely Rolfing session 4 and can't describe how much better my whole body is feeling.

Get organised - Bedroom/office still a tip.  Top priority at the moment as we have friends from the UK coming next week and it's EMBARRASSING.

Get making - I've done my beading class.  Need to find another beading project to make.  

Get going on the house - Have got various meetings lined up with remodelling people, architects and painters.  Have bought nice furniture (of which more anon) and have decided on colours for main room and Minx's room (of which also more anon).

Get photographing- launched my daily photo diary Today I Am Mostly

Get blogging - still don't seem to have time to do all that I want with the blog 

Get rich - January's revenues were up about 40% on last January!  But then last January was very, very bad for some reason.

16 January 2008 in Ramblings | Permalink

From the sublime to the...

I just wanted to introduce you to the work of another hot new jewellery designer... me!

I took my first jewellery-making class - 'Beginning Beaded Jewellery' -  at Fusion Beads the other evening and this is what I came up with.

They took us through the basics of making the little chain link loops that join the beads together and then had us rushing about the store choosing beads and findings to make our earrings. Talk about a kid in a candy store - I felt like one of the designers on Project Runway rushing around Mood in a very stressed way, while trying to 'design' something on the fly.

In the end I chose a mixture of gold-filled findings, Swarovski crystals and pearls and black wooden beads for texture, though realise now that there are so many things to think about - such as weight and size -  other than just colour and sparkle.  These would be a lot nicer, for example, if the square clear crystals didn't line up exactly with the bottom of the hoop.  You also really don't want to look too closely at my loops - they aren't very round or robust at all. 

They took me forever to make - we were shown how to thread a bracelet and add a crimp beads and a clasp at the ends, but I really didn't have the time (in a three hour class!) to thread anything.

But I'm hooked, it really was the most tremendous fun, though I now have a huge new found respect for anyone who makes jewellery. I've bought a set of little tools and a mat and will try a couple of the 'recipes' on the Fusion Beads inspiration pages so I can practise my loops and crimping before doing 'Beginning Wire Wrapping' next month.  I have a feeling this is going to become a horribly expensive hobby.

I photographed the earrings on my new rug!  Just a sneaky peak before I show it to you next week.  It really is the most exquisite thing but I need to tidy up the bedroom before I do.  And yes, I do realise I've had about five months since actually ordering the rug to tidy up.

Resolutions

The 'January' page from the beautiful letterpress calendar I got from Green Chair Press

I know, late again.  But I had a birthday party to organise.

Even though I didn't do particularly well with last year's, (I failed in all of them except the last one) here are my resolutions for this year since writing things down is supposed to make them happen (I may have to get this book).

Get thin - last year I resolved to lose 2 stone (28lbs).  I didn't manage to do that but am thrilled to have lost 11lbs so far since starting WeightWatchers in November.  Finally something seems to be working and I'm actually finding it comparatively do-able, so now there's no excuse.

Get dancing - I made that resolution last year too, but had to give up salsa dancing after two sessions because my left foot was in agonizing pain.  Lots of chiropractic over the past year has done a lot to sort out my foot and back problems (though spraining my ankle badly in the summer didn't help). I've also just started a course of ten Rolfing sessions, which, although fairly excruciating while it's happening, could turn out to be the best thing I've ever done. So ballroom dancing classes here I come!

Get organised - now that the Minx is going to school for one extra day a week I've got a bit more time to do all that deep-seated organisational stuff instead of chasing my tail all the time. I might even get round to unpacking all the stuff we brought from England. We even went to Ikea this weekend to buy storage and organisational things.  The first project is my workspace in our bedroom.

Get making - I've recently realised that I live round the corner from one of the most incredible bead shops I've ever come across and they run jewellery-making classes.  So I've signed up for Beginners' Beading and Beginners' Wire Wrapping.

Get going on the house - all the house remodelling stuff rather ground to a halt last year but now I'm full of ideas and raring to go now.  First up I've lined up a consultation with this lady (who comes highly recommended by Daily Candy -Seattle).  I'm hoping she will be able to help me cut through all the design overwhelm that is bogging me down at the moment and also help me source stuff in Seattle and the US in general. I need to tidy before she comes though.

Get photographing- this year I want to take my photography to a whole new level, both with my new table-top studio and also in general.  Maybe even open a little Etsy shop to sell prints and postcards of my work.  We'll see.

Get blogging - Now I've got more time, I  also want to take this blog to another level.  Not a design blog per se, but include lots more design inspiration, lots more house stuff and lots more photography.

Get rich - last year I resolved to double mirrormirror's revenues.  That didn't happen, though when we do the annual accounts this year, I'm hoping that we'll see it became a lot more profitable after ditching the PR company. But I feel like it's in a great place currently.  I'm loving working with my friend Diane back in the UK, so hopefully things will be staying as they are for the foreseeable future, which gives us a fab platform to work off. And if I now have 50% more time to dedicate to the business then revenues must go up by at least 50%, no?

Minx Eye View

I was not the not the only person who had my camera out this Christmas.

Here I am in a (surprisingly good - most of her other photos are of people's groins or elbows) photo taken by the Minx with her new camera.  I fear resolutions must be made.

Additional photo-editing (and quite possibly the photo itself now I think about it) courtesy of Nell Robins, using the camera's sophisticated inbuilt software.

And a Happy New Year...

Christmas is a time to feast with friends

take arty pics of the Christmas pud

Have a post lunch nap

by an open fire

while waiting for Santa 

Picture courtesy of Ben Robins

to bring the most enormous trainset

Picture courtesy of Ben Robins

For taking arty photos of chandeliers

and winter trees

And strolling along the South Bank on a glorious sunny day

 

and seeing old friends

And looking extremely grown up in one's Christmas cape

and going up in a big wheel

and taking more arty pics of it from below

   

for tweaking your BFF's nose

and pulling faces on a carousel

 

and watching the New Year's Eve fireworks through the trees.

We had the most wonderful time in England.

Bear with me while I unpack, recover from the Minx's jetlag (have been awake since 4.15 am) and do a ton of mirrormirror admin. Happy New Year!

Good Tidings We Bring

to you and your kin etc. etc.

It is impossible to describe how proud the Minx (and I) are of this little creation, made with an excellent kit from Dancing Deer Baking Co. which is packed in a useful box which is also the form around which the house is built. 

It's the first time we've ever built a gingerbread house, but it certainly won't be the last.  We were going to put dancing gingerbread men in the 'garden' but didn't quite get round to it.

It's funny how Christmas in the US is much more 'Germanic' than in the UK.  I suppose because the Puritans weren't that into Christmas pudding, mince pies and Christmas cakes.

We're flying off to the UK in a couple of hours time to indulge in unseemly quantities of Christmas pudding, crackers, mince pies, Christmas cakes and Strictly Come Dancing. 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone who has visited this blog in the past year - I really appreciate all your emails and comments.

We're flying back on the 2nd January, and I probably won't be posting much much until then.  I've got big plans for next year though since, as from January, the Minx is going to be in daycare three days a week!  So I'll have one more day to work on the shop and the blog.

Tedious Minutiae

I have joined WeightWatchers!  I have been very inspired by my friend in New York who has lost a ton of weight on their programme. 

It's been OK so far - the online tools are really helpful and easy to follow since nothing is out of bounds - though I'm somewhat staggered by how small the portions are.  It needs to be done though, as apparently I look like this.

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving.  We've decided that we really like this holiday as we're under no pressure whatsoever to spend it with family, can't be bothered to celebrate it ourselves at home and so can instead go for a walk on the beach in the morning and get friends to cook for us in the evening.

This year we were treated to a fabulous turducken - a turkey, stuffed with a chicken, stuffed with a duck.  Tony - now known as the Turducken King - had apparently spent the best part of 48 hours researching how to make it on You Tube, brining the birds, deboning them, assembling the whole thing and then sewing it up, and I have to say every single minute was worth it. 

It truly was the most delicious turkey-related food I have ever eaten, and I can now never eat normal turkey again, which might prove problematic.  It is possible that this is not a good time of year to be starting WeightWatchers.

 

Here are the Minx and her friends enjoying themselves enormously on the same day.  

The following day Seattle got its gladrags on and we went downtown for the morning parade and the evening lighting of the tree and star.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since we've been here just over a year, we're starting to do things again which we did at the same time last year - it seems odd to have actually started some family Seattle traditions.

And so I'm back...

...from outer space yadda yadda etc. etc.

It's funny how quickly you get out of the habit of things.

After our trip to New York, I was so fiendishly busy recently trying to get everything updated on the site for Christmas (and doing lots of Thanksgiving socialising) that blogging sort of went by the wayside.  And the longer I went without blogging the more difficult it seemed to get back into it. And suddenly it's been nearly three weeks with nary a post.

It's a shame too as the blog recently seemed to have gained a lot of traction and readership after the Design*Sponge interview and links from various other blogs, but I'm sure most of those new readers will have moved on to pastures new.  Self-sabotage is a great speciality of mine.

But anyway, those of you who thought you were safe from the tedious minutiae of my life, click away NOW.

Treat or Treat

I wonder why the Minx likes Halloween so much?

This picture comes courtesy of Laurie, who is wondering whether to start up a business photographing children. I am, of course, trying to persuade her she should.

Separated at Birth

This will mean beans to anyone in the US, so I suggest you carry on trick or treating and come back again tomorrow.

 

                         Kelly Brook                                               Edwina Currie

Magnolia

Some of you may have seen this on my Flickr.

It's a photo I took at Kew Gardens ooh, about eighteen months ago, but I was wondering if it might work blown up big and printed on canvas.  I'm a bit worried that it might be too blurred and/or too pink. What do you think?

Hehe - thought I'd take advantage of all the people visiting from Design*Sponge to get lots of free decorating advice...

Things I've Learned The Hard Way About Product Photography

I've been spending a lot of time over the last few weeks or so on product photography and had an interesting chat with Megan Not Martha about it a few weeks back, so I thought it might be useful for those of you with Etsy or Ebay shops to put together a list of things I've learned through trial and error about photographing and styling.

I don't pretend to be any sort of an expert, but since the initial mirrormirror photoshoot where we did the styling and a photographer friend came and shot the images, I've done the styling and product photography for mirrormirror myself.  

Most of what I'm going to say below is nothing but common sense.  But these are all mistakes I've made not once, but several times.   (Mind you, it's possible you've got more common sense than I have.)

• Get the best camera, and particularly lens, you can afford.  My photography has dramatically improved since I bought a dedicated 60mm lens for my Canon EOS 350. There is a reason why pros have all that fancy gear.
• Use a tripod.  It's a pain to adjust it, but you'll thank me I promise. Perfectly sharp shots always look best.
• Experiment with depth of field (how blurry the background is).  I try to shoot a number of shots at different apertures so I can choose how much or how little of the background I want to blur out.  But always have at least part of the picture perfectly focused and sharp.

Maybe the photographer was drunk.  Early prototype of the shot that was recently featured in Homes & Gardens.

• Make sure your camera and lens are clean.  It's a pain to have to Photoshop out fluff on the lens from otherwise great shots.
• Underexposure can be corrected.  Overexposure can't be.

Never knew a shiny printer could be so useful

Cropped and lightened.  How did you get that reflection?

• I don't use artificial light, preferring to take my chances with daylight.  Mostly because I wouldn't know where to begin with lightmeters and suchlike.  Remember though that bright sunlight will give you dark shadows, without the subtlety that you see through the viewfinder. Soft diffuse light is generally best unless you want your pic to look really 'summery'.

Hard dark shadows work in this case (I think) 

• White light is best.  I've learned to my cost that light diffused through sheer green curtains will give everything a sickly green cast.
• Crumbs and dirt will always, always, always show up. It's easier to brush them aside than spend hours photoshopping them out.
• Creases.  Always show up more in front of the camera for some reason. Copious ironing is essential. Unfortunately.
• Check what's in the background.  I photograph in odd corners of my house, so unattractive piles of filing always seem to get in the shot.

Hey nice cot!

• But remember, the crop tool is your friend.

Hey presto, no more telephone point or scraggy bit of torn watercolour paper

• Collect beautiful linens and fabrics - which are not too patterned and distracting.  They're the easiest backdrop.  Use any fabrics that come to hand - teatowels, bath towels, napkins, pillow cases. 

I hope that changing table is clean

 

 Very obviously a baby muslin

Shot which has appeared in The Times amongst others

 

Is it usual to eat brownies off an old pillowcase? 

• Collect beautiful and interesting objects. Small things which can add a bit of life or beauty to an image.  I've photographed products on books, bars of chocolate and matchboxes amongst other things.  Cakes, biscuits, fruits and flowers are cheap additions for a hint of human interest. 

Fame at last for my old teddy

Books are a great prop

• Use Picasa for most photo enhancing applications.  It's much easier than Photoshop.
• Identify the elements you want to highlight and focus on them. Make sure patterns, labels, jewels or other design elements are clearly visible and pin sharp..
• Jewellery needs a lot of adjusting to make sure it hangs properly. Focus on arranging the necklace not the model.
• Having said that, get the model to comb her hair and touch up her make-up between shots.

Get a hairbrush!

• Look out for unwelcome reflections in mirrors and windows.  Photographing mirrors is a nightmare for this reason.

Oh and check out Abigail, Ursula and Corey for very different, but wonderfully effective ways of styling products.

Has anyone got any more tips they'd like to share? Or seen other great online stylists?

With thee

Ten years ago yesterday I went to church, took a walk in a graveyard, travelled across London on top of a double decker bus, held a cocktail party in a bijou London hotel and went for dinner at the Ivy in a corset.

Here's one of the readings we had during the service.

With thee conversing I forget all time,  
All seasons and thir change, all please alike.  
Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet,  
With charm of earliest Birds; pleasant the Sun  
When first on this delightful Land he spreads  
His orient Beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flour,  
Glistring with dew; fragrant the fertil earth  
After soft showers; and sweet the coming on  
Of grateful Eevning milde, then silent Night  
With this her solemn Bird and this fair Moon,  
And these the Gemms of Heav'n, her starrie train:  
But neither breath of Morn when she ascends  
With charm of earliest Birds, nor rising Sun  
On this delightful land, nor herb, fruit, floure,  
Glistring with dew, nor fragrance after showers,  
Nor grateful Evening mild, nor silent Night  
With this her solemn Bird, nor walk by Moon,  
Or glittering Starr-light without thee is sweet.

              From Paradise Lost by John Milton

I would still have the same reading today.  Thank you for all the love and laughter.

Playing with my new lens

For those of you who emailed concernedly, I didn't just get cheese for my birthday.

Happy Birthday to Me

I got a piece of Brie.

It was my birthday on our last day in London and my husband's gift was a very smelly piece of unpasteurised Brie.  Never let it be said that that man is not a romantic. God it was good though.

We of course had a phenomenally lovely time. The sun shone (even on my birthday, which absolutely NEVER happens); we met friends and family seemingly at every hour of the day and night; the Minx was beside herself with excitement and kept exclaiming ' I LOVE England'; we went to a very glamorous and lovely party; and mirrormirror was successfully transferred to its new base in Cambridge. 

And the Minx only woke up twice last night and managed to sleep through to 6 am which is a new jetlag record. So life is charmed indeed. 

A Strange Thing Has Happened

We're going back to the UK tomorrow - just for a week.  And I don't particularly want to go. Which is something I never thought I'd say. 

Maybe it's the wonderful Indian summer we're having here.  Or maybe just the thought of dealing with a jetlagged Minx again.  Or just the fact that is is mostly going to be work.  But even so Seattle is really starting to feel like home.

View from the 520 floating bridge over Lake Washington this weekend.  This is the view the Husband gets on his commute every day if the 'Mountain' is 'out'.

 

Here is a photo I took back in March of the shops on Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill's premier shopping street which is full of gorgeous boutiques and cafes.

 

We're going back because mirrormirror is on the move again.  Last year the wonderful Helen stepped into the breach when I was desperately looking for someone to take over the UK end of operations prior to our move out to Seattle, and it's been huge amounts of fun working with her over the last year.  I can never thank her and my lucky stars enough for popping into my inbox at just the right time.

Unfortunately over the past few months the silly girl has gone and got herself a fabulously glamorous and interesting-sounding job at the Design Museum, moved to a new house outside of London and become engaged, so mirrormirror doesn't exactly fit into her life any more.  We always knew this was going to happen though I can't believe a year has flown by so quickly. 

Extremely fortunately my lovely friend Diane is going to be taking over.  I'm really looking forward to working with her as she's got a ton of marketing and marcomms experience and has just gone freelance, so we're hoping that mirrormirror will fit in with her nicely.  So next weekend, we'll be moving everything up to Cambridge.  Do wish us luck driving a van full of ceramics up the motorway.

Chipped Nail Polish

and floral pyjamas, on our new garden steps.  At er, 2.15 pm. 

For feet week. (Which I discovered thanks to Lottie).

Getting Personal

Today's lunch 

I know, I know.  You don't care what I had for lunch*.  But this picture marks the start of a new regime round these parts.

I had my first session with a personal trainer today. 

I can no longer deny it, the pounds that have been piling on as a result of stress, miscarriages, depression following the Minx's birth (though not the pregnancy itself, I actually lost weight as a result of eating incredibly healthily and exercising throughout) and cupcakes, have meant that I am now downright fat, and not just pleasingly plump as I have been fondly imagining.

Fortunately I am also feeling better about my body than I have for ages, since a course of chiropractic treatment with the wondrous Dr Ted has been working miracles to alleviate the chronic back and foot pain that I've been suffering from for years as a result of a yoga injury (see, exercise is bad for you) and ancient knee injury.  I already feel about ten years younger and am finding it so much easier to be active.  I'm just kicking myself that I didn't do this sooner, why on earth isn't chiropractic available on the NHS?

Anyway Heather was very lovely and didn't 'whup my ass' as much as I feared, though maybe she was just saving it up for next time. We've set a year as a realistic timeframe for me to get back to the size I was when I got married ten years ago, through lots more activity, focused training sessions and portion control and I'm feeling more motivated than I have in forever.

*Just for the record, that is the remains of last night's chicken and vegetable skewer with some pea and mint salad and some chopped tomatoes.  Served on a fabulous kids' melamine plate from Not Neutral. And it managed to fill me up for oh, about two hours.

Must dash now as friends are coming to sit on the deck and I need to work on our menu of insalata caprese, beer can chicken (I've been wanting to try this for AGES) and cherry clafoutis.  And yes, I have noted the inherent contradictions in this blog post.