Gee How Quaint

Hostess with the Mostess Blog makes me want to entertain dozens

Sometimes, only sometimes, I give myself permission to play a bit during my lunch half hour.  Just to click and follow links and to see what gorgeous things I can find out there.  As I am feeling very under the weather today, I haven't committed much time to actual work.  Can't focus. Feeling too sorry for myself.  Pathetic, I know.

It was during my ramble through the gazillion pages of internet stuff, where I found this most delicious blog: Hostess with the Mostess.  Party advice for Bridal, Birthday and Beyond.  Cupcake recipes.  Gifts galore.  It's so full of funness and happy lovely things, it's so easy to get lost in it.  But that's okay.  It's a delicious place to be.

The above photo is just one example from one of their party pages.

Along this theme of happy, I am also currently diggin Kirstie's Home Made Home, found on Channel 4, Thursday at 8pm.  It has been lovely watching her deck out her delapidated house in her homemade craftiness.  Ah.  If only there were more shows like this. 

The Sage, Gateshead

 

Recently,  I have been commissioned to do an artwork based on the The Sage, Gateshead. It is remarkable to behold from any angle, but finding the right one to represent in an artwork is a bit of a trick.  If my view is straight to the side, I risk making it look like a beheaded and betailed catepillar.  If I catch it on either end, then I lose the easy undulations.

This is a tricky one, to be sure.  I think the reason the other building artworks work is due to the constrast of hard edges and soft textures of the material. I may need to change my focus for this one.  Don't worry.  I'm not defeated...just currently perplexed.

A case of mistaken identity

Lately, I have become aware that I spend much of my time by myself.  Working from home has its perks:  proper coffee whenever I want it, a late start (later end time...but it all evens out), lounging in the reading window to answer emails, 2 walkies a day with Josey, lunch 3 paces away.  It's all very nicey nicey, busy busy, but generally very quiet.

It was with this revelation that I decided I needed to get 'out there' more, so I did some detective work that lasted all of 2 minutes, and found a morning coffee networking event.  Every Friday.  From 8am to 9am.  Perfect.  Time to be bold and get out of my comfy shell and go and meet people.  Great.

I had been looking forward to this networking lark all week.  Planning Josey's walkies around it, as I am usually walking her at that hour.  And even getting a bit excited about the 'What to wear' issue.  The usual jeans and t-shirt, or perhaps something a bit more girlie, colourful and fun. 

So, late Thursday night, when my eyes feel so tired that they may just slide right out of my face, I opened up my laptop, turned it on and began to find directions to this fabulous coffee networking morning.  Newcastle.  Fine.  There was even a little map provided by Google. 

Looking at the map confused me, but only slightly.  Didn't quite remember those street names, but hey, I haven't lived here long and I couldn't possibly know every street in the city.  Zoomed out to see the bigger area.  Again...didn't ring any bells.  Although I was certain it was in the area of town where I get my car serviced.

(Do you know where I am going with this, yet?)

Zoomed out again.  Hm.  Now, I didn't get the orientation.  Surely that was on the wrong side of the river.

Zoomed out again.  NSW?  Where did that tiny island come from????

I was looking at the East coast of Australia. So very VERY different from the East coast of England.

This is Newcastle, Australia:

 

This is Newcastle upon Tyne, England:

Bespoke Bride Travel Set

 

 

They're here!  They're here!  The first order for a bespoke 'BRIDE' travel set has arrived and I am lovin' it!  This order was especially made for a dear friend of an even dearer friend, for her wedding day. 

How can you get your pretty, dainty fingers onto your own Bride gift set?  Simply click on www.geehowquaint.com and visit the 'Wedding and Wedding Party' Section to make your purchase.  Please be aware that these are bespoke bags.  You decide (yes, you!) on the lining colour and ribbon colour.  The nifty and super fabulous thing about this is that you tell us the Bride's wedding colours and we use those colours to make the bags!  Hurrah!  O Happy Joyous Day! 

The outer shell is white and printed with that fun and fluid (yet somehow boxy, too) print. 

Please be aware that it will take up to 3 weeks from the date of your order to the time you receive it.  These are hand printed and handmade and completely adorable.

Break on Through

 

After days of fog and cloud and rain, the sun did shine...for 30 seconds.  I captured this incredible event right outside my window.

I've put the little birdie on the back

Flying free...

 

This will be the latest addition to the Wear Me range of t-shirts on www.geehowquaint.com. I need to put a bird on here somewhere, but where?

The birdcage is situated on the lower left part of the t-shirt.  Should the bird be printed up by the right shoulder?  On the back perhaps?  Centre front?  Hm... I haven't quite decided.

Sold! To a lovely lady living North-er than me

 

After walking Josey, I received a phone call from a woman who was looking at my artwork at Starbucks.  Having lived in Gateshead, her and her husband shared a mutual appreciation for the iconic Get Carter car park and the Baltic.  And just like that, two pieces sold at my latest arty venue. 

There's really only one thing to say here.  And that thing to say is this:  Why don't you put that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr. H? (Sorry...this is a bit of an inside joke of which most of you...yes...the three of you who read this....you won't get it. I don't mean to exclude you.  In fact, please do add a comment and ask to be included for any future inside jokes.

Kind regards,

Management)

www.cassandraharrison.co.uk

Becky's at the Beach waterproof swimsuit bag revamp

 

Previously, I have mentioned getting rid of the old and coming up with something new, now, more vibrant, more interesting.  It seems that Becky has lost a popularity contest and is no longer wanted.  Such is life.  We live.  We learn.  We re-ajust.  And we move on.

As in life, so also in art.  Here is the new Becky design.  You may notice that we have strayed from the usual single colour background and have gone for something in pattern.  You can thank your lucky stars and Amy Butler for this geometric design.  It wouldn't be a Cassandra product if it didn't have a little linear detail, thus the addition of the retro swim wear... when bottoms were adequately covered and halter necks began the rage.

These will soon be on offer at the usual place: www.geehowquaint.com

De-flation

Hypothetical situation:

Your girlfriend/wife/partner has recently hung up a display of her artwork at coffee house/Starbucks/local cafe.  You have not seen this work before.

You

a) Don't even mention going to see it.  Yes, it may be a new venue to see her work.  But honestly, you went to that one art opening last year.  Do you really need to go and see her stuff in a different situation?

b) When she mentions that she's a bit annoyed at you for not showing an interest, continue to not show an interest and carry on as before?

c) Say something like 'Well done!  I am quite proud of you.  Let's go and have a cup of coffee at that coffee house/Starbucks/local cafe.

d) Both a and b

I'm getting very both tired and bored of trying to rouse an interest.  This is me admitting defeat and putting a stop to extending the invitation.