Insta-gratification

I flipping well love Instagram.

I've always loved photography - I am by no means an expert; I just see something I like and take a few photos of it, hoping that one will look as good as the original object did to me in reality.

The humble camera-phone isn't really so humble any more and it turns out I'm a little obsessive about taking photos of everyday things, as well as major things, like weddings and holidays.

For me (as with most things in life!), it's all about the details, rather than scenery or people. And Instagram somehow makes it all the more exciting.

I love choosing my filter, posting it and waiting to see if anyone else likes it either! And the filters make photographs taken by me while I was wearing my pyjamas, or whilst at my desk or when I was watching TV, look somehow....fabulous!

Thought I'd post a few, all taken by me; might also be a little inspiration for someone!

You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours!

Well, I'm going to be brave and hope that someone actually reads my blog. I honestly didn't think anyone did but then I just figured out that there's a 'stats' bar thingy and I was shocked (and I mean shocked) at how many people have had a little-look-see!

So, feeling brave, I'm going to ask for a favour...which then allows me to do someone else a favour!

As you'll see from the photos, I created a moodboard of wedding ideas and a handwritten booklet for one of my friends. Well, I'd like to make one for someone I don't know so that I can get truly honest feedback as to whether I've captured the theme, the ideas and the dream of someone's celebration. Of course, it doesn't have to be a wedding; it could be any event, party or celebration.

If anyone is interested, just leave me a comment and we'll get right on it! x x

Faith and hope in charity

I grew up in a lovely, friendly but run-down town. From the perspective of fashion, the shops there are completely low-end. But I love (and I mean love) shopping there every few Saturdays because of the amazing charity shops.

Yes, they smell; yes, they tend to have strange people in them (although that's part of the appeal for me! Some of the conversations!); yes, they are full of junk. But they also contain real treasures.

The things that adorn my home from a dusty old shop include a vintage glass sweet jar, an Art-deco round mirror, vintage blue liqueur glasses, a cream china jug used to water my plants....

....and now an ever-growing collection of vintage, all-white china. I'm collecting cups and saucers to use as table decorations for my wedding. I'll attach a photo of my two favourite finds. They were grimy and hidden away in the bottom of a cardboard box full of mismatched china but I brought them home, washed them til they were sparkling and just look how beautiful....

And they were 50p for the two.

My first moodboard!

One small step...

My first blog. Suddenly, the thought of writing something is quite scary! And in my head, it was all a lot easier!

So, why am I writing a blog? I suppose to try and get out some of the pent-up creativity that seems to swirl around my head most of the time. I'm a teacher by day and I love being in the classroom but for the last couple of years, I've increasingly found myself being obsessed with interiors magazines (in fact, any magazines! They are my vice!), photography, sparkly bits and beautiful books. And then I got engaged....

....and started going on a popular wedding forum, which to be honest, left me a little cold. Everyone seems to be doing the same things and it was a purely-by-chance post a friend made on Facebook, that led me to rockandrollbride.com which, in turn, led me on to a wonderful world of weddings.

Now I'm no expert on weddings or on art or photography or anything, really. But I absolutely love the details....those touches that people remember about a party, the images that stay with you from a set of beautiful photographs, the warm and fuzzy feeling when you are truly inspired. And I thought to myself, 'Maybe I just need to do something about it'.

So here I am.